Hey Health Deskers! This week we’re looking at booster shots, new results from Regeneron and the future of the Delta Plus variant. You’ve asked us questions about N95 masks, diabetes and diclofenac, answers to which are in this roundup and on our site, health-desk.org.
Want us to write about non-COVID-19 health and science? You can drop us a DM at health@meedan.com on anything from reproductive health to nutrition to environmental science. Our experts have diverse backgrounds and can dive into the research to deliver you an explainer on demand and on deadline.
First, a look ahead …
Pushback on COVID-19 booster shots
With the Delta variant ravaging even heavily vaccinated countries, several vaccine manufacturers have touted the potential benefits of booster shots with supporting data, including Pfizer and AstraZeneca. This week the World Health Organization strongly advocated against the use of booster shots in high-income countries and called for a halt to the practice. Given how limited access has been to vaccines for many low- and middle-income countries, this decision is not surprising. The WHO says all current and future vaccine supply should be distributed across as many populations as possible in order to achieve a substantial level of protection globally.
Nations like Germany, Israel, and the United States of America are still planning to give booster shots to their fully vaccinated populations, especially among the immunocompromised, in an attempt to enhance their protection against the virus. We expect more rich nations to participate in this move, including the mixing of different vaccines, which may exacerbate tensions among the wealthier and poorer countries of the world.
REGEN-COV likely reduces risk for symptomatic COVID-19 infection
Regeneron's monoclonal antibody cocktail REGEN-COV was shown to be an effective post-exposure drug for people exposed to a COVID-19 patient, according to a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine. This two-drug combination was administered to household contacts of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 within 96 hours of a positive diagnosis. Researchers saw an 81% reduction in confirmed symptomatic cases of the virus 28 days after receiving the drugs. This indicates REGEN-COV may have prevented both symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19 infection in previously uninfected people who were in close contact with a household member who tested positive.
Participants who were infected saw reduced duration of symptoms and high viral load so infections were milder and shorter. This data helped the United States Food and Drug Administration make a choice to expand the drug's emergency use authorization as a post-exposure prophylaxis for people over 12 at high risk of severe infection. This new finding may help alleviate some risk for those vulnerable to severe disease.
Delta Plus variant even more contagious?
Despite no formal designation or recognition by the World Health Organization or the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it appears that a version of the Delta variant called B.1.617.2.1 or AY.1 (now referred to as Delta Plus) may be circulating widely. Delta plus was first detected in India in February but wasn't deemed a variant of concern in the county until late June.
This variant has one additional mutation in the spike protein which the original delta variant does but surprisingly, has also been found in the Beta variant. This is a cause for concern as it is believed that this mutation might reduce the effectiveness of some monoclonal antibody treatments and help the variant evade immune responses.
Additionally, the Indian Ministry of Health and Welfare believe the Delta Plus variant may increase transmissibility and cause a stronger binding to lung cell receptors. This poses an additional threat to global health as the emergence of new and more contagious variants like the Delta Plus will continue to emerge until vaccination rates across the globe reach the 70-80%+ range and widespread transmission of the virus can stop.
You asked, we answered. Here are the latest topics our scientists are unpacking for you:
What do we know about COVID-19 and the development of diabetes?
Scientists have observed a two-way relationship between COVID-19 and diabetes:
1. Pre-existing diabetes is associated with an increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
2. New-onset diabetes has been observed in patients with COVID-19.
More research is needed to better understand how COVID-19 may impair our ability to metabolize glucose, and the type of diabetes that is developed as a result of this potential symptom. Recent studies suggest that COVID-19 may preferentially infect beta cells, because beta cells express three proteins that the COVID-19 virus targets to infect cells. Once infected, the coronavirus may cause beta cells to die or change the way they function. This would result in decreased insulin production and release.
“There are two common types of diabetes. Type 1 occurs in people whose pancreatic beta cells do not produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone needed to transport glucose (sugar), the digested form of carbohydrates, into human cells to produce energy. Type 2 occurs in people whose bodies are not as sensitive to the insulin they produce. In both Type 1 and 2, cells cannot properly use or metabolize the glucose available in the blood, resulting in high blood sugar levels.”
Most N95 masks are made of a material called polypropylene; a synthetic plastic fiber made out of fossil fuels like oil. This fiber is similar to ones found in clothing like rain jackets, yoga pants, and stretchy fabric. Polypropylene is also used to make looser fitting surgical masks, but these masks are not as good at filtering particles as N95 masks.
“To make the polypropylene filters, thousands of nonwoven fibers are melted together in a process called 'melt blow extrusion.' Each fiber is thinner than a strand of hair. Each thread passes through a hole on a machine to create a layer of fibers that has the consistency of cotton candy. Hot air is then applied to the masks, which fuses the fibers together tightly enough that 95% of microbes can't get through, but air still can. The result of this process is a web-like filter that is often given an electrostatic charge that makes them even more efficient. In one recent study, adding this electrostatic charge to masks helped filter out even more tiny microbes than non-electrostatic masks by 10 times.”
How do drugs like diclofenac interact with COVID-19 vaccines?
The controversy of using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like diclofenac after COVID-19 vaccination stems from three main sources:
Concerns that NSAIDs could worsen COVID-19 in patients. However, recent findings from several studies conclude no increased risk of poor outcomes with NSAID use in COVID-19 patients.
A study found that NSAIDs reduced production of antibodies and other immune responses to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This raised the possibility that NSAIDs could also dampen the immune response to COVID-19 vaccines. Clinical trials indicate this not to be the case, with Pfizer and Moderna trials allowing patients to take NSAIDs if needed.
Messages circulating on social media about NSAIDs and COVID-19 outcomes, which were later proven not to be true.
“Following vaccination it is common for someone to experience mild and temporary side effects such as fever, headaches etc. This is a normal response to vaccination. It is a sign that the immune system is being activated. Janssen vaccine recipients’ data shows that 50% experienced at least one temporary side effect. To treat these mild side effects, health authorities recommend the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and diclofenac when needed.”
What do we know about eating dates as a COVID-19 prevention or treatment?
No current scientific evidence suggests that consuming dates can improve or worsen conditions among COVID-19 patients, as is misleadingly claimed by some social media posts. Additionally, according to the United States National Institutes of Health, there is not enough information to suggest any vitamin, minerals, herbal or botanical ingredient can prevent or treat COVID-19. Experts recommend eating a well-balanced diet to stay healthy and build a strong immune system that can fight infections and illnesses.
“Some social media posts that have been circulating claim there are benefits to consuming dates to treat COVID-19 infection, while other posts claim there can be harmful effects. There is no scientific evidence to validate such claims. The World Health Organization and the U.S. CDC recommend eating adequate amounts of nutritious food like vegetables, fruits, protein, and whole grains, along with plenty of water to stay hydrated. Eating a well-balanced diet helps to stay healthy and have a stronger immune system to fight illness and infectious diseases. It is recommended that sugar, fat, and salt intake should be moderated to lower risks of overweight, obesity, heart conditions, diabetes, and some other chronic illnesses.”
That’s all for this time folks, have a good week and we’ll be back soon with more science to share!