Forecasting the future of COVID-19
How will the global population continue to interact with the virus in the long-term? Articles in Nature and the Journal of the American Medical Association offer several scenarios, ranging from the complete eradication of the virus to the potential for ongoing severe infections, and to the evolution of the virus, among others.
Long Covid – Next Public Health Disaster on the Horizon
According to a recent New England Journal of Medicine article, more than 15 million cases of long COVID are expected in the United States alone.
Differences in immune response based on age after vaccination with the Pfizer vaccine
The mRNA-based Pfizer vaccine has demonstrated remarkable efficacy and is approved for use across a wide range of age groups from children aged 12 and up to the elderly.
Literature Review: effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in Canada against circulating variants of concern
Variants of concern (VOCs) can potentially make COVID-19 vaccines less effective, both in terms of the immediate immune response and the durability of immunity.
Study in primates suggests that COVID vaccines in young children may be safe and effective
Immune responses to infections and vaccines may be different in children, compared to adults. A careful evaluation of novel vaccines in the pediatric population is therefore warranted.
Is it safe to go back to school? – Effects of SARS-CoV-2 viral load in children
The global COVID-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented levels of educational disruption through school closures. The resumption of in-person learning has proven to be controversial, as officials and communities weigh the risks of potential transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in schools against the benefits of in-person learning.
Antibodies can last for at least 6 months after the second dose of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine
Members of the Moderna COVID-19 mRNA vaccine study group recently released a short correspondence in the New England Journal of Medicine, highlighting the persistent antibody response after the first six months of receiving the second dose of this vaccine.
Vaccines offer significant protection against many variants, including Delta
The clinical efficacy of several vaccines in protecting against symptomatic COVID-19, especially in light of the circulating variants, has been an emerging research topic.
Immunity in people who had COVID-19 appears to be long-lasting
Long-term data have emerged regarding the durability of antibody responses in people who had COVID-19. In a recent Nature article, a team lead by Rockefeller University researcher Dr. Michel Nussenzweig reported immunity results from 63 people recovering from severe COVID-19 (convalescent individuals) up to 12 months post-infection.