As Vaccines Roll Out, New COVID Strain Rolls In
December 21st 2020Healthcare experts around the world worry that the COVID-19 mutation—called VUI–202012/01—might be 70% more infectious than the standard SARS-CoV-2 strain. There are no indications yet that it may also be more lethal or that vaccines can’t neutralize it.
Moderna’s COVID-19 Vaccine Approved by FDA
December 21st 2020Unlike traditional forms, Moderna’s mRNA-1273 vaccine does not put weakened or inactivated germs inside the body. Rather, it teaches cells to make proteins that will trigger an immune response by injecting ribonucleic acid into cells which gives them instructions.
Q&A: ‘Are You Going to Get the Vaccine?’
December 17th 2020Bruce Y. Lee, MD, MBA: “We have to remember that infection control and prevention is not just dealing with the pathogen itself but dealing with the consequences and the downstream effects of what happens when you are dealing with the pathogen.”
Truckloads of COVID-19 Vaccine Rolling to US Distribution Sites
December 14th 2020Angela Rasmussen, PhD: “Even if you are in the first group to get the vaccine, even if the vaccine becomes available widely beyond the first groups that are going to get it, we still need to be wearing masks, social distancing, thinking about ventilation, and avoiding large gatherings for some time to come.”
How to Train Environmental Services Teams
December 11th 2020Infection preventionists can work with environmental services (EVS) leadership to implement a routine practice for quality assurance checks that EVS leadership can follow. These metrics can then be reviewed as an aggregate with the IP department to target whether further education may be beneficial.
Bracing for ‘Logistical Nightmare’ of COVID Vaccine Distribution
December 9th 2020Sharon Ward-Fore, MS, MT(ASCP), CIC: “If it were my institution, I would make sure that infection preventionists are educated on everything they need to know about the COVID vaccine, as well as the flu vaccine side effects.”
A Great Divide: Kansans Line Up on Opposite Sides of a Mask Mandate
December 8th 2020What’s the matter with Kansas? Well, for one thing, counties could choose whether to follow state health department guidelines on masking. COVID-19 case-count differences between counties that did and those that didn’t is striking.
Infection Preventionist: ‘We On the Frontlines Have to be Strong’
December 3rd 2020Rebecca Leach: “I think the biggest thing is just having support, whoever it is. If it’s a fellow infection preventionist…. It really is that emotional support of being able to talk to each other about your experiences and really process your feelings.”
Healthcare Workers to Be First in Line for a COVID Vaccine
December 2nd 2020Healthcare providers, according to the CDC advisory panel, includes workers at hospitals, outpatient clinics, long-term care facilities, public health agencies, home healthcare firms, pharmacies, and emergency medical services. About 24 million Americans in all.