>> New RSV vaccine, but not for babies
>> Experimental Alzheimer’s drug: benefit and risks
>> Death certificate figures on fentanyl
>> Milestone for major hospital
The Med & Mic™ 05.04.23
MED NEWS blog post from Dr. Maria ON Speaking, LLC
First RSV Vaccine Approved
The FDA has approved a vaccine against RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) for adults 60 and older. The vaccine targets proteins on the virus surface that help with cell attachment. Prior attempts at an RSV vaccine failed as far back as the 1960s. The CDC’s vaccine advisory panel must make recommendations before the new immunization is available to the public. A vaccine for infants is expected to be approved later this year, however it is given during pregnancy to protect both mother and child. (Source: STAT News, H. Branswell, 5.3.23)
Experimental Alzheimer’s Drug Slows Decline
In a 1,700-patient, 18-month study, people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease who received an experimental drug showed 35% less decline in thinking skills compared to placebo. The I.V. medication targets and clears away a sticky protein in the brain called beta-amyloid. Brain swelling and bleeding are risks. Three study participants died. The data will be reviewed by independent experts and will presented at an Alzheimer’s conference this summer. (Source: AP, 5.3.23)
Fentanyl on More Death Certificates
The CDC reports deaths involving fentanyl have jumped fourfold in five years. In 2021, nearly 70,000 people died of drug overdoses that included the powerful synthetic opioid. Fentanyl played a part in two out of every three overdose deaths and was the most common drug in fatal overdoses across age groups, race, ethnicity, and gender in 2021. (Source: CNN, D. McPhillips, 5.3.23)
No COVID Patients in Major Hospital since 2020
Tufts Medical Center in Boston says it has no patients in the hospital with COVID, a first since March 2020. The city of Boston, however, still has thousands of positive cases this week, and across Boston hospitals, 54 people with COVID are inpatients. (Source: MassLive.com, R. Mancini, 5.3.23)
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