AMA Update August 28, 2024 N/A Unger: Hello and welcome to the
AMA Update video and podcast. Today, we have our weekly
look at the headlines with the AMA's Vice President
of Science, Medicine and Public Health, Andrea Garcia. I'm Todd Unger, AMA's
chief experience officer. Andrea, welcome back. Garcia: Thanks, Todd. It's always great to be here. Unger: We got a
lot to talk about. This week, we're going to
be discussing the updated COVID vaccines, the return
of free COVID tests, surprising new symptoms
of long COVID in kids and what to know about
mosquito-borne illnesses as we head into the
Labor Day weekend. Let's start with the
updated COVID vaccines. Andrea, we're
going to be talking with the AMA's vaccine expert,
Dr. Sandra Fryhofer, next week. But in the meantime, can you
give us a high level overview of what we need to know now? Pfizer Moderna COVID vaccine: Has FDA approved new COVID vaccines? Garcia: Sure, Todd. It was last Thursday when
we saw the FDA both approve and authorize those updated
COVID vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer. These updated vaccines target
the strain of the virus called KP.2. And you'll probably
remember KP.2 really took off last spring. And although the dominant
variant is now KP.3.1.1, those two are closely related. And those updated
vaccines were really developed to provide better
protection against the currently circulating variants. When will new COVID vaccine be available fall 2024 The updated vaccines
are expected to begin shipping to pharmacies
and doctor's offices. And they should
be available soon. It may take several
weeks for all locations to receive vaccine supply. Novavax COVID vaccine (latest COVID 19 vaccine) The Novavax vaccine, which is
the protein-based vaccine that is going to target the
earlier strain called JN.1, has not been authorized yet. But we're expecting to see
the FDA authorize that soon. KP.2 vaccine: When to get updated COVID vaccine 2024 These updated vaccines
are recommended for everyone six
months of age and older to protect against the
potentially serious outcomes of COVID, which include
hospitalization and death. Unger: Well, I'm grateful
for those new vaccines. And I'm looking forward to mine
after the Labor Day holiday. Because I know a lot of people
who've got COVID right now. Andrea, are we still
seeing those kind of serious outcomes with COVID? CDC COVID tracker Garcia: We are. And if we look at the
CDC COVID tracker that shows severity indicators of
hospitalizations and deaths both increased as of the
last data reported in August. And in recent weeks, people have
been hospitalized with COVID COVID hospitalizations 2024 at a rate nearly twice
as high as last summer. There was a recent
New York Times article that noted that by
late July, COVID COVID deaths 2024 was responsible for the deaths
of 600 people in the U.S. each week. Now, that's a big
drop from this winter, but it's double the number
that we saw this spring. We do have preventive measures. We're not doing a great
job of using them. What percentage of U.S. is vaccinated for COVID 2024? The availability
of vaccines has not translated into
actual vaccinations. By spring, only about
one in five adults had received last year's
updated COVID vaccines. Even older adults haven't
turned out in large numbers to get vaccinated. Only about 40% of
people 75 and older received last year's vaccine. And according to the CDC,
even less than one third of nursing home residents
are considered up to date on their COVID vaccinations. Hopefully, uptake will be
better with these new vaccines. Unger: Andrea, when you look
at that kind of low uptake, is that because the shots are
no longer free for everybody? Are COVID vaccines still free 2024? (free COVID vaccine no insurance) Garcia: Well, for the most
part, they still will be. We've talked about how the
Bridge Access Program, which is the program the
administration had in place to provide access
to uninsured Americans, expires this month. However on Friday, Dr.
Cohen, CDC director, said that the CDC would be
distributing about $62 million to health departments. And that's in order to
provide free COVID vaccines to adults who otherwise
wouldn't be able to afford them. COVID vaccines for free Adults with both public
and private insurance will still have access to the
COVID vaccines with no co-pay. Free COVID vaccines for kids And then we'll still have free
vaccines available to children from low income families. And that's through the
government's Vaccine for Children program. Those highest numbers of
emergency department visits COVID vaccines for kids under 5 for COVID over the summer
were among children under the age of five. So it's important
that we remember that these vaccines do remain
important for children to-- it will be incumbent on
physicians in the coming months to help patients understand the
importance of these vaccines and work through
appropriate timing, which I'm sure you'll discuss
with Dr. Fryhofer next week. Unger: Yes, and I'm looking
forward to that conversation. Make sure to tune
that in next week. Andrea, staying on
COVID for a moment, in addition to more
funding for vaccines, free tests and treatments
for COVID are coming back. Tell us more about that. Free COVID tests 2024: Where can I buy a COVID test? Garcia: Yeah, the
free COVID tests won't be available right away. But they are coming back in time
for fall and winter gatherings. Free Paxlovid 2024 The government also purchased
supplies of Paxlovid. That will be
available at no charge to people who are uninsured or
who are on Medicare or Medicaid through the end of
the year, and that's through the government's
PACS Access program, which is run by Pfizer. COVID medication Pfizer PAXCESS Pfizer then will be taking over
the program starting in 2025. And they'll continue to provide
government-purchased Paxlovid to people who are
uninsured or underinsured. Antiviral for COVID: Lagevrio (Molnupiravir Merck) Merck is also running a
patient assistance program, and that's to help
people get access to its antiviral
medication, Lagevrio. Unger: Andrea, how do we go
about getting those free tests? Garcia: So starting
in late September, Free government covid test kits by mail (COVID test. gov) the government is
going to reopen its covidtest.gov website. And like last year,
each household can order up to four free
at-home tests which will be delivered through the mail. At-home covid test near me Additional free
tests are also going to be made available at
community sites, so libraries, food banks and at
long-term care facilities. Dr. Cohen said on Friday, the
best plan going into this winter is for everyone
to remain vigilant and use the tools we have. Those obviously include
vaccines, testing and treatments. Unger: Absolutely. And I was supposed to have
breakfast with a friend this week. And he called and
said he woke up with a sore throat and a cough. And I said, maybe we
should just cancel that. And fortunately, he had a home
test and a couple of hours later, he got the indication
that he has COVID. So those home tests
are very valuable. Andrea, prevention of COVID is
also key for another reason. The possibility of long COVID,
which made headlines this week because of a new
study looking at long COVID in children
and adolescents. Andrea, what's the
news about that? Garcia: Well, first of
all, you're exactly right. JAMA study: Long COVID in children 2024 And Dr. Peter Marks,
who's the director of FDA's center for Biologics
Evaluation and Research, said on Friday that the
only way you get long COVID is by having COVID. So this is yet another
important reason why we should be
getting vaccinated. As for long COVID in
kids and adolescents, there was a large national
study that was published last Wednesday in JAMA. It asked caregivers of more
than 3,800 children about their kids' symptoms at
least 90 days after COVID. And then they also surveyed
caregivers of around 1,500 children without a
history of COVID. And they compared
those responses. The study was part of
the RECOVER Initiative. It's one of the world's largest
investigations into long COVID. It's funded by the NIH. Long term effects of COVID in children What researchers found is that
although COVID itself has really historically been
milder in kids, it may have debilitating
long-term side effects that make it difficult
to attend school, to participate in
extracurricular activities, or to spend time with
family or friends. And younger kids also seem to
experience different symptoms than adults do. Unger: Tell us more about that. What symptoms do
kids usually have? COVID symptoms in kids 2024 Garcia: So among kids ages
6 to 11, there was headache, trouble with memory or
focus, trouble sleeping and stomach pain. Those were the most
common symptoms associated with long COVID. Symptoms of long COVID in adolescents In adolescents,
common symptoms were more similar to those in adults,
so post-exertional malaise, fatigue, brain fog, dizziness,
GI issues, heart palpitations. Long COVID in teenagers The new research showed
that those aged 12 to 17 were more likely than
young kids to experience daytime sleepiness
or low energy, and then body,
muscle or joint pain. These differences are really
important because if we don't know them, then physicians could
be missing those children who are experiencing long COVID. A great deal certainly is
still unknown about long COVID. So any clarity we can bring
to diagnosing and treating it is extremely valuable. Unger: All right. And we'll continue
to cover new research as it becomes available. Wrapping up this week,
let's turn to another topic that's making headlines,
and that's mosquitoes. We know they're typically
bad this time of year, but it feels like we're seeing
more mosquito-borne illness. Andrea, is that true? What's going on? Does Anthony Fauci have the West Nile virus? Garcia: Yeah, it really
does feel that way. And I think especially with Dr.
Fauci making headlines this week for his hospitalization
with West Nile virus, it's been in the news. Thankfully, he's back
home and doing well. New mosquito virus 2024: Eastern equine encephalitis Massachusetts Massachusetts has also
been in the headlines this week for its bout with a
mosquito-borne illness called Eastern equine encephalitis
virus, otherwise known as EEE, which is much easier to say. Triple E symptoms: Is Triple E deadly? It is rare, but serious. About 30% of people
with the virus die. And many survivors suffer
ongoing neurological problems. Triple E Massachusetts: Eastern equine encephalitis outbreak The Massachusetts
state health officials have designated 10
communities that are at high or critical
risk for the virus. But those communities
have largely shut down all outdoor spaces
and activities from dusk until dawn, when
mosquitoes are most active. Dr. Robbie Goldstein, who's
the Massachusetts state health commissioner, said
in a statement that their state has not seen an
outbreak of EEE for four years. Unger: So after
that amount of time, why do you think this
is happening now? Where does Triple E come from? (climate change) Garcia: Well, Todd,
I think it likely comes back to climate change. Essentially, the mosquito season
has lengthened across the United States. That was really
detailed at length in an article in The
Washington Post last week. Climate change has fueled
rising global temperatures, and that's true for more
than two-thirds of the U.S. Mosquito season: When do mosquitoes come out temperature It's also increased the
number of mosquito days. So that's those days with an
average humidity of at least 42%, and then temperatures
between 50 and 95 degrees. We know that the Northeast
has warmed faster than the rest of the country. And they've experienced
the biggest increase in mosquito days. So if we look at
Massachusetts, for example, there they have been having
an average of 14 more mosquito days. If we compare it to the
period from 1980 to 2009, Mosquito borne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, West Nile, eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEE virus) we know that scientists have
warned that longer mosquito seasons could heighten that
risk of outbreaks of diseases like dengue,
malaria, and as we're seeing, with West Nile and EEE. Triple E mosquito virus: Preventing diseases caused by mosquitoes The best protection
here is prevention. So mosquito repellents,
clothing that covers your skin,
and if possible, rescheduling those
outdoor activities that take place
between dusk and dawn. Unger: All right. Well, Thank you so
much for that update. And it's important to
know, of course, as we head into the holiday weekend. That's all we have
time for this week. And as always, thank you
for being here, Andrea, and for sharing
this information. If you found this
discussion valuable, you can support more programming
like it by becoming an AMA member at ama-assn.org/join. And you can always find
our videos and podcasts at ama-assn.org/podcasts. Thanks for joining us today. Please take care. [MUSIC PLAYING] N/A