Over the previous two years, an unprecedented tsunami of pandemic info has guided and knowledgeable the choice making of governments, health-care employees, the worldwide scientific group, and the general public.
No different occasion in historical past has precipitated this stage of intense and simultaneous analysis and trade of experience from scientists all over the world in such a brief interval. New and evolving info make it troublesome to maintain up. In the meantime, misinformation and faux information have muddied the flood of information.
CTVNews.ca has compiled a abstract of important COVID-19 details and myths in regards to the illness, masks, and vaccines, together with hyperlinks to extra in-depth tales we’ve written over the previous yr on these points.
Learn on to study the most recent scientific considering on airborne unfold, masks effectiveness, pure immunity and different necessary subjects.
COVID-19 IS AIRBORNE
Within the early months of the pandemic, when scientists have been nonetheless studying about SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, it was believed that transmission was primarily by contact with massive droplets. Quite a few research have since proven that the virus is within the air. Transmission dangers are highest in crowded, poorly ventilated, indoor areas. One research, for instance, confirmed how a choir singer probably contaminated members of his church choral group. One other research discovered that new variants have been turning into extra environment friendly at producing aerosols.
The World Well being Group (WHO) says present proof suggests “the virus can unfold from an contaminated particular person’s mouth or nostril in small liquid particles after they cough, sneeze, converse, sing or breath. One other particular person can then contract the virus when infectious particles that go by the air are inhaled at a brief vary (that is usually referred to as short-range aerosol or short-range airborne transmission).”
MASKS WORK
The worldwide well being group extensively agrees that carrying a masks is a key, life-saving measure in serving to to curb the unfold of the virus. An overwhelming physique of analysis – a lot of it out there on the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention web site – demonstrates masks' effectiveness in considerably lowering viral transmission.
In case you are contaminated, carrying a masks helps shield others by controlling the unfold on the supply – you. Whether or not you're wholesome or immunocompromised, you're additionally defending your self by carrying a masks. It's a easy and non-intrusive methodology of decreasing transmission, specialists say. False claims that masks trigger well being issues or pose a larger menace than the pandemic itself haven't been supported by analysis, the CDC says.
Because the virus developed, so have suggestions on the kind of masks the general public ought to use. Public well being and medical specialists suggest a well-fitted masks with good filtration, and medical grade masks for many who are high-risk. A 3-layer fabric masks labored fairly nicely for earlier variants, however Omicron’s excessive transmissibility prompted suggestions for N95s or KN95s and KF94s, which have extraordinarily excessive filtration efficacy and could be reused numerous occasions.
Quite a few research have additionally proven that considerations that masks are dangerous to youngsters are unfounded. The American Academy of Pediatrics says masks is not going to have an effect on a toddler’s means to focus or study, and won't have an effect on a toddler’s lung growth or weaken their immune system. It additionally doesn't entice carbon dioxide molecules, that are too small to be captured by breathable supplies. Public Well being Ontario additionally revealed a report that checked out information and research on the difficulty, with related conclusions. In the meantime, U.S. counties that had masks mandates for college, for instance, noticed fewer pediatric COVID-19 instances in contrast with counties that didn't have masks necessities. Not less than one research additionally discovered that younger youngsters can nonetheless inform how an individual is feeling, even with a masks on.
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A health-care volunteer primes a syringe with the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at Pinnacle Financial institution Area on Friday, Jan. 22, 2021 in Lincoln, Neb. (Kenneth Ferriera/Lincoln Journal Star by way of AP)
VACCINE FACTS AND MYTHS
There are six completely different vaccines approved in Canada now, based mostly on 4 completely different applied sciences: Pfizer-BioNTech's Comirnaty and Moderna Spikevax, that are each mRNA vaccines, and AstraZeneca's Vaxzevria and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine, that are viral vector-based vaccines. Novavax’s Nuvaxovid is protein-based and Medicago’s Covifenz is plant-based.
A mRNA vaccine teaches our cells to make a selected protein that triggers an immune response to supply protecting antibodies. The protein itself is innocent,and the cells in our our bodies rapidly break down the mRNA after the directions have been delivered and the protein made. It's not gene remedy and doesn't alter your genes as a result of the vaccine doesn't enter into the a part of the cell that carries our DNA genome.
A viral vector-based vaccine makes use of a innocent virus – like those that trigger the frequent chilly – as a supply system. It too is designed to stimulate the immune system to create antibodies. The virus used has been altered in order that it cannot replicate or make you sick. It is usually not the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19.
A protein-based vaccine is constituted of purified proteins and different components administered to the recipient and designed to set off an immune response. This explicit methodology has been round for many years and is how vaccines for shingles and hepatitis work.
Medicago’s plant-based vaccine incorporates virus-like particles derived from vegetation, which function mini bioreactors. The vegetation learn the genetic directions of a selected virus and produce massive portions of virus-like particles, that are then harvested and made right into a vaccine. The particles themselves don't include genetic materials so they don't seem to be infectious, however they imitate the construction of the virus which stimulates an immune response.
COVID-19 vaccines are usually not linked to a wave of deaths and diseases amongst athletes and different wholesome folks, for instance, regardless of misleading video compilations circulating on-line suggesting in any other case. Sudden coronary heart assaults amongst athletes have been the main reason behind demise in athletes lengthy earlier than COVID-19 and are usually not all of a sudden growing.
Novavax and Medicago: How are their COVID-19 vaccines completely different from all of the others?
What's the distinction between mRNA and viral vector-based vaccines?
VACCINE SIDE-EFFECTS
As of February 25, 2022, there have been a complete of 40,011 “hostile occasions” reported following vaccination, representing 0.05 per cent of all doses administered, in response to publicly out there information revealed by the federal authorities. Of the whole, 31,596, or 0.039 per cent, are non-serious. One other 8,415 reviews, or 0.01 per cent, are categorized as critical. Antagonistic occasions could also be any unfavourable or unintended signal, corresponding to a pores and skin rash, or any irregular laboratory discovering, a symptom, or illness. An occasion is taken into account critical if it leads to demise, is life-threatening, requires hospitalization or extending current hospitalization, leads to persistent or important incapacity, incapacity, beginning defect, or congenital anomaly.
There's a uncommon risk of creating gentle myocarditis – an irritation of the guts muscle – after receiving an mRNA shot. Quite a few research, the CDC and Well being Canada, nevertheless, say the chance is low, resolves rapidly, and importantly, the advantages outweigh the dangers of catching COVID-19. Analysis from a big research discovered that the chance of latest coronary heart issues was considerably larger after recovering from a COVID-19 an infection. One other massive research, which checked out medical information protecting one-fifth of the U.S. inhabitants discovered that the chance of myocarditis amongst teenage boys inside three months of an infection was about 450 instances per million in contrast with 67 instances per million after the second dose of an mRNA vaccine.
There have additionally been reviews of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) and Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) following the AstraZeneca Vaxzevria/COVISHIELD vaccination and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen shot. The CDC additionally contemplate these potential hostile occasions uncommon, noting that within the case of GBS, research counsel that an individual is extra more likely to get GBS after being contaminated with the flu than after vaccination.
There have been a number of dozen reported instances of blood clots brought on by TTS involving the Janssen vaccine within the U.S., for instance, out of greater than 18.4 million doses administered. Solely six instances of capillary leak syndrome involving AstraZeneca’s vaccine have been reported out of 78 million doses administered in Europe and the U.Ok., in response to Well being Canada.
Within the U.S., misinformation about vaccine security unfold partially as a result of info drawn from reviews made on VAERS (Vaccine Antagonistic Occasion Reporting System), which might embrace info that's unverified, inaccurate, coincidental, or incomplete, the CDC disclaimer states.
What's an 'hostile occasion?' Contained in the report on Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine
Individuals are proven on the Invoice Durnan Area COVID-19 vaccination web site in Montreal, Saturday, Might 22, 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS / Graham Hughes)
VACCINES DO NOT GUARANTEE IMMUNITY
Actual-world information and quite a few research present that vaccines considerably cut back the chance of hospitalization and demise, proving that the vaccines work. You'll be able to nonetheless get a breakthrough an infection, nevertheless, and it's also possible to turn out to be asymptomatically contaminated. This in flip means you'll be able to nonetheless expose and transmit the virus to others, which is why protecting measures are nonetheless helpful even after vaccination, particularly round those that are immunocompromised or in any other case susceptible. The vaccines themselves cannot provide the virus as a result of they don't include the precise stay virus.
Is it doable to get reinfected with Omicron?
VACCINES, FERTILITY, AND PREGNANCIES FACTS AND MYTHS
Tens of millions of individuals have been vaccinated all over the world,and there may be no proof to help the declare that the vaccines trigger fertility points, in response to quite a few medical well being organizations, advisory teams, and research. Tales claiming a spike in stillbirths among the many vaccinated, for instance, are false. Knowledge taking a look at 35,000 pregnancies additionally discovered no mRNA vaccine security considerations throughout being pregnant both, says Well being Canada. Vaccine antibodies present in breast milk do counsel protecting potential for infants, in response to at the least one research.
There's ample proof, nevertheless, of the intense dangers COVID-19 poses for many who are pregnant and unvaccinated, together with a CDC report reviewing 1.25 million deliveries. Actual-world hospitalization information and instances have additionally prompted teams just like the Society of Obstetrician and Gynecologists of Canada to strongly suggest COVID-19 vaccines for people who're pregnant. Quite a few research have discovered that a COVID-19 an infection may cause being pregnant issues, and that extreme COVID-19 and new child deaths have been extra probably amongst those that are pregnant and unvaccinated.
No proof linking vaccinations for kids and fertility points later in life: specialists
Extreme COVID-19, new child deaths extra probably amongst unvaccinated: research
An infection throughout being pregnant may cause irritation, being pregnant issues: research
Submit-mRNA vaccine antibodies in breast milk raises protecting potential for infants
MAKING SENSE OF THE NUMBERS
When taking a look at COVID-19 information, context issues. Uncooked numbers are helpful for hospitalizations as a result of it helps seize how stretched the health-care system could also be. But when we are attempting to gauge the effectiveness of the vaccines in stopping hospitalizations and deaths, the numbers have to be calculated as a proportion of the general inhabitants in query: What number of vaccinated sufferers have been hospitalized or died out of the whole variety of folks vaccinated? What number of unvaccinated sufferers have been hospitalized or died out of the whole unvaccinated inhabitants?
Unvaccinated sufferers dying from COVID-19 at larger charges in a number of provinces
Making sense of the numbers: Larger proportion of unvaccinated are being hospitalized
The 'gray zone' hindering efforts to depend Canada's COVID-19 deaths
Individuals put on masks as they look ahead to the arrivals on the Worldwide terminal at Toronto Pearson Worldwide Airport in Toronto on Saturday, January 25, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
FORGET HERD IMMUNITY
Whereas Canada has a formidable vaccination price general, reaching “herd immunity” with the coronavirus is unlikely, specialists say. That is due partially to the big disparities in vaccination charges all over the world – vaccine hesitancy in wealthier nations and poor vaccine entry in low-income nations. Most youngsters, particularly these below 5 years of age additionally stay ineligible for a vaccine. On the similar time, antibody safety wanes over time. These elements mixed imply the virus will proceed to outlive and unfold so long as it has the chance to maintain mutating into new variants. Some scientists consider we might transfer to herd resistance as an alternative, which implies populations shall be protected sufficient in order that future waves in instances will turn out to be much less disruptive to society.
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VACCINES VS NATURAL IMMUNITY
Quite a few research have checked out immune responses following vaccination and an infection. Basically, they present that each shield folks from related variants for at the least six months, in response to the CDC. The extent of immunity after an infection varies from individual to individual, nevertheless, as a result of variations in particular person immune programs, the severity of the an infection, for instance. A rising variety of research and epidemiological proof does present that getting vaccinated after an an infection supplies considerably higher safety, together with towards extra infectious variants.
The explanation why the scientific and medical group don't advocate purposely catching COVID-19 to amass pure immunity as an alternative of vaccination, nevertheless, is as a result of important dangers related to COVID-19, even among the many wholesome. One research prompt that the overwhelming majority of sufferers hospitalized as a result of COVID-19 expertise neurological issues, whereas one other one taking a look at information from the U.S. Division of Veterans Affairs discovered that those that recovered from an infection have been at a lot larger threat of creating new coronary heart issues. One other massive U.Ok. research linked COVID-19 to important “cognitive deficits”. Lastly, numerous folks are actually grappling with "lengthy COVID," a situation following an infection that leads to all kinds of signs together with extreme fatigue, psychological well being points, mind fog, and different lasting results.
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LONG COVID
It's not clear precisely how many individuals undergo from lengthy COVID, or put up COVID-19 situation, usually characterised as extraordinarily debilitating. One evaluation of 9 research from all over the world means that at the least one in three individuals who have been hospitalized with COVID-19 expertise important long-term well being issues, corresponding to a number of organ points and poor psychological well being. A Danish research additionally prompt about a 3rd of individuals expertise persistent signs half a yr to a yr following an infection. A research out of Norway discovered that signs may linger for as much as half a yr, even in gentle instances amongst younger folks. Many Canadian “long-haulers” say they're coping with cognitive impairment months later.
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BUSTING MISINFORMATION
The dissemination of pretend information reached new heights throughout the pandemic, with one report out of the U.Ok. discovering that misinformation popping out of Fb communities grew by practically 50 per cent throughout a six month interval within the first yr of the pandemic. Misinformation is commonly woven with partial truths, or details taken out of context, which makes them seem extra credible. For instance, those that object to public well being measures pointed to the survival price of over 99 per cent, which is true. However in a inhabitants of tens of hundreds of thousands, that also interprets to tons of of 1000's of individuals dying. In the meantime, the vaccine pictures, which underwent rigorous, rigorously monitored, large-scale scientific trials previous to even being reviewed by Well being Canada, are not in violation of the Nuremberg Code, which is about medical experimentation with out consent.
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