January 2024 marks the 30th anniversary of the Oral Rabies Vaccination Program (ORVP) in South Texas, which has successfully controlled and prevented domestic dog / coyote variant rabies and gray fox variant rabies infections among wildlife, livestock, and people.
No human rabies cases have been attributable to any of these variants in Texas since the ORVP began.
Texas Department of State Health Services’ airdrop flights launched on January 9, 2024, from Edinburg in Hidalgo County, distributing rabies vaccine baits over 18 border counties.
30th Oral Rabies Vaccination Air-Drop Program Launches in South Texas
Preexisting Conditions Seen in All Patients With Tachycardia After COVID-19 Vaccine
Reduced heart rate variability observed in patients with postvaccination postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome
Will Vaccines Reach a Tipping Point in 2024
With the decreasing uptake of well-known influenza and COVID-19 vaccines, leaders of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently published an insightful editorial regarding the future of virology in the United States.
Published by The JAMA Network on January 5, 2024, Peter Marks, MD, PhD, and Robert Califf, MD wrote a Viewpoint titled: Is Vaccination Approaching a Dangerous Tipping Point?
Child Care Stress Affects Health, Work of U.S. HCWs During Pandemic
High child care stress tied to anxiety, depression, burnout, as well as retention issues
U.S. Safety-Net Providers Report Moral Distress in Early Pandemic
Moral distress emerged from being unable to provide optimal care, seeing pandemic’s effects on patients, coworkers
COVID-19 Pandemic Tied to Burnout in Health Care Professionals
Emotional exhaustion and depersonalization increased as the pandemic wore on in 2020
Immunize Infants with Beyfortus As Quickly As Possible
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today announced a change in its guidance regarding using Nirsevimab (Beyfortus™) in a Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity email.
As of January 5, 2023, the CDC says that infants and children recommended to receive Beyfortus should be immunized as quickly as possible.
Mass Vaccinations Target Brazil's Dengue Outbreak
Throughout 2023, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reported significant increases in the number of dengue virus cases. By mid-December, the Region had experienced about 57% increase in dengue cases compared with data published in 2022.
And the Region experienced a case fatality rate of 0.049%.
The ongoing dengue outbreak has significantly impacted the Federative Republic of Brazil, which confirmed over 1.6 million dengue cases in 2023.
Nirmatrelvir During Acute SARS-CoV-2 Does Not Reduce Risk for Long COVID
No association seen for rebound symptoms or test positivity with symptoms of long COVID
Mean Adjusted Cost of Inpatient Stay for COVID-19 Was $11,275 Overall
Cost increased from $10,394 at end of March 2020 to $13,072 at end of March 2022; was higher with specific comorbidities