Dear Patient:
I hope this finds you well. Currently there are 29 persons hospitalized at NCH with COVID and we have treated 1215 people in the hospital successfully since the beginning of the pandemic. The positivity rate has started to rise in Collier County as we see more cases. This was inevitable as we have seen rises elsewhere in the country. Fortunately, NCH has enough bed capacity and PPE to enable us to adequately care for patients who are admitted. Remember, 85% of those affected have a “mild” form of the illness and the review article I sent last week shows the outpatient treatment options available.
Vaccines: A vaccine is a biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a particular infectious disease. There are several different “biological preparations” being actively investigated to provide the active immune response to Coronavirus. Four different vaccines are end-stage for clinical trials at this time. Two were halted briefly but have resumed. Two vaccines use messenger RNA to stimulate a response while the latter two use RNA that is transmitted on an adenovirus. The FDA has made extraordinary steps to assure the safety and efficacy of the vaccines prior to approval. The vaccine will also be covered by Medicare.
FDA drafting guidance to track COVID-19 vaccine safety
The FDA’s Office of Biostatistics and Epidemiology is currently working on master protocols to be used in monitoring the safety and effectiveness of a COVID-19 vaccine once it is authorized or approved, in addition to postmarket surveillance requirements. The protocols will be posted for public comment.
Full Story: Regulatory Focus (10/22)
Below is an updated link for Collier County testing sites:
http://collier.floridahealth.gov/newsroom/2020/06/0601testinginformation.html
Below is the link to the updated NCH COVID information page:
https://nchmd.org/news-and-events/newsroom/coronavirus-covid19
As always, take care and remember to wash your hands, wear a mask and practice at least 6 feet of physical distancing. Please also get your flu shot now if you have not done so yet.
Paul Jones MD