Even people with mild cases of COVID-19 may commonly feel run down and unwell months later, a new study suggests. The study, of patients at one Irish medical center, found that 62% said they had not returned to “full health” when they had a follow-up appointment a few months after their COVID-19 diagnosis. Nearly half complained of ongoing fatigue. Surprisingly, the severity of patients’ initial COVID-19 infections were not a factor: People who’d managed at home were as likely to feel unwell as those who’d been hospitalized. A year into the global pandemic, the problem of “long-haul” COVID-19 is getting increasing attention. Some recent studies estimate that 10% of COVID-19 patients become long haulers, complaining of stubborn problems like fatigue, insomnia, shortness of breath and “brain fog” (problems with memory, focus and other mental skills). Dr. Luis Ostrosky, a professor of infectious diseases at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth in Houston, is among the doctors seeing long haulers. “The number-one complaint we see is fatigue,” he said, “and number-two is brain fog.” Ostrosky, who is also a fellow with the Infectious Diseases Society of America, was not involved in the new study. He said most patients who come to his center’s “post-COVID” clinic were sick enough to be hospitalized for the infection. “People who have a more severe, prolonged illness are more likely to have…  read on >  read on >

Concerns about “long-haul” symptoms in COVID-19 survivors may be reignited by a new study: It finds that 3 out of 4 patients from Wuhan, China — where the pandemic originated — were still suffering at least one lingering health problem six months later. The study from China involved more than 1,700 patients first diagnosed with the virus in Wuhan between January and May, and then followed to June and September. Researchers report that 76% of these patients had at least one symptom six months after symptoms began. The most common symptoms were fatigue or muscle weakness (63%) along with trouble sleeping (26%) and anxiety or depression (23%). “Because COVID-19 is such a new disease, we are only beginning to understand some of its long-term effects on patients’ health,” said researcher Dr. Bin Cao, from the National Center for Respiratory Medicine at the China-Japan Friendship Hospital and Capital Medical University, both in Beijing. His team published the findings in The Lancet journal Jan. 8. “Our analysis indicates that most patients continue to live with at least some of the effects of the virus after leaving the hospital, and highlights a need for post-discharge care, particularly for those who experience severe infections,” Cao said in a journal news release. “Our work also underscores the importance of conducting longer follow-up studies in larger populations in order to understand…  read on >  read on >

President-elect Joe Biden plans to release nearly all available doses of COVID-19 vaccine when he takes office, reversing the Trump administration’s strategy of holding back half the supply to ensure second doses are available. The potentially risky move is meant to boost a nationwide COVID-19 vaccination program that has gotten off to a slow start, with only about 5.9 million doses administered out of 29.4 million distributed, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “The President-elect believes we must accelerate distribution of the vaccine while continuing to ensure the Americans who need it most get it as soon as possible,” T.J. Ducklo, a spokesperson for Biden’s transition, told CNN. Biden “will share additional details next week on how his administration will begin releasing available doses when he assumes office on January 20th,” Ducklo added. One infectious diseases expert noted that supply is not the only issue hampering the vaccine rollout. “I do think it is important to get all of those out as fast as possible so we can accelerate the process of vaccination,” said Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, in Baltimore. “However, it’s not just an issue of doses, it’s about turning those doses into actual vaccinations, so we do still need more support at the state level to actually implement vaccination programs.…  read on >  read on >

A task force of allergists and immunologists recommends those administering the COVID-19 vaccine ask patients some key questions beforehand. While reactions to vaccines are extremely rare, the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) said anyone being vaccinated should be asked if they have a history of a severe allergic reaction to an injectable medication. If the answer is yes, the individual should be referred to a board-certified allergist for evaluation before getting the COVID-19 vaccination, ACAAI said in a news release. The academy also said COVID-19 vaccines should be given in a health care facility where an allergic reaction can be treated. Patients must be monitored for at least 15 to 30 minutes after injection for any adverse reaction. COVID-19 vaccines should not be given to people with a known history of severe allergic reaction to any component of the vaccine. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, if you have a severe allergic reaction after the first shot, you should not get the second shot. Data regarding risk in individuals with a history of allergic reactions is very limited and evolving, according to ACAAI. Patients and doctors should balance the risks and benefits of vaccination. People with allergies to medications, foods, inhalants, insects and latex are probably no more likely than others to have an allergic reaction to COVID-19…  read on >  read on >