Head of the Oxford jab programme Andrew Pollard says that the threat of COVID is diminishing for those who are vaccinated. While the vaccine does not confer immunity or prevent transmission, current statistics suggest that those who are succumbing to severe symptoms are largely unvaccinated.
Snoring is common. While more prevalent among men, the elderly and those who are overweight, snoring can occur in individuals even during childhood.
Despite the drastic measures employed since the beginning of 2020, European nations are experiencing a ‘Fourth Wave’ of the novel coronavirus. With deaths rising precipitously, leaders including Belgium’s Prime Minister have said that the situation is on “red alert”. Even among countries with the highest vaccination rates such as the UK, record case numbers are being recorded. Countries including Belgium, Italy, Germany and Russia are scrambling to implement countermeasures to reduce the spread of infection before the Christmas period.
A recent study found that adults with sleep apnea are 31% more likely to be hospitalized after being infected with Covid-19 and are 31% more likely to die from it.
Health officials in the US are warning that more fully vaccinated people are being hospitalized. Dr Anthony Fauci explained, “What we’re starting to see now is an uptick in hospitalizations among people who’ve been vaccinated but not boosted. It’s a significant proportion, but not the majority by any means.”
New South Wales’ COVID-19 cases peaked in early September with over 1,600 cases, before dropping rapidly to around 200-250 new cases a day now. By contrast, Victoria’s cases peaked in mid-October at 2,200 cases, but have plateaued around 1000 cases now. So why did Sydney’s cases drop further and faster than Melbourne’s?
New data from the ZOE COVID study in the UK shows that the most common COVID-19 symptoms amongst the fully vaccinated are almost indistinguishable from a common cold. The most common COVID-19 symptoms in vaccinated people are a headache (73%), runny nose (73%), sneezing (60%), sore throat (49%), and cough (49%).
Children aged 5-11 are unlikely to receive a COVID-19 vaccination before the end of 2021 according to Health Minister Greg Hunt. The United States has approved the Pfizer vaccine for this age group, but Australia’s medical regulator is still reviewing the health and safety data. According to Mr Hunt, the final approval will most likely happen early next year.
Despite a high vaccination rate (94%), Singapore is facing a new spike in COVID-19 cases since restrictions lifted in August. Australian infectious disease expert and advisor to the WHO, Dale Fisher, has warned that Australia could see a similar wave next year after a ‘summer honeymoon’.
