The Dose: The Multiplicative Power of Masks
Paxlovid rebound and the multiplicative power of masks
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The Serious Stuff
In this section, we share the most important pandemic and science updates.
💊 Paxlovid rebound. Paxlovid, also known as nirmatrelvir or ritonavir, is an antiviral medication that is used to treat COVID-19. Recently, there have been some anecdotal reports of patients who experienced a ‘rebound’ after taking Paxlovid. This ‘rebound’ occurs when these patients take Paxlovid early in their COVID-19 infection, had some or all symptoms resolve and test negative, only to experience a return of their symptoms and positive tests after their initial recovery. This ‘rebound’ was recorded among 1-2% of participants during its clinical trials among individuals who received Paxlovid and individuals who did not. At this point, more data are needed to understand why this is occurring. Read more
💉 Boosters in light of BA.5. Omicron BA.5 cases have been surging across the country. This subvariant appears to evade the vaccines more than previous strains, and a booster will ensure that if we do get infected, we are protected from severe infection and death. Hence, do not put off getting a booster, even if you are waiting to get a booster that is targeted to a specific variant later this year. We also recommend for you to get boosted even if you already had COVID-19 due to the risk of a re-infection. Here is our summary of the number of boosters currently authorized in the US. View the infographic on Instagram for extra information to determine whether you are immunocompromised, as well booster guidelines for those who have received the J&J vaccine. Read more
Expanding vaccine equity. 6 countries in Africa will now receive training and equipment for manufacturing mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. Manufacturing and transfer of knowledge will be facilitated with the help of the mRNA Vaccine Technology Transfer Hub based in South Africa, which ultimately aims to equip the continent with COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing capacities in light of the unequal distribution of COVID-19 vaccines around the world. The 6 countries are South Africa, Kenya, Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal and Nigeria. This marks a significant step forward for countries in Africa to have 60% of vaccines used on the continent to be made in Africa by 2040, and ultimately reduce reliance on other countries for vaccine supplies. Read more
The Beautiful Stuff
In this section, we share pieces at the intersection of science and art that have us obsessed.
🎨 Meet Lokun. She’s a Singaporean doctor whose talent lies not only within the hospital walls but also in conveying life’s most important messages. Whenever we scroll past her work on our feed, we know we are in for a valuable insight. Some insights may be completely new to us, while others we urgently need reminders of. Her work may be painted in a simple black and white- but that is all she needs; her gift is evident from the colorful storytelling that is intricately weaved into every stroke and word.
❤️ We may not all be doctors, but she brings us easily (and with so much grace) through the hospital walls and right into her very personal encounters with her patients. And we feel as though we are right there with her. She realizes that that greatest lessons about life are not taught in the classrooms, but between hospital walls and the very intimate moments between healthcare provider and patient. Lucky us, she shares her experiences with us.
👩⚕️ Her work may resonate strongest with the very overworked and oftentimes under-appreciated healthcare workers. If that sounds like you, you may just find Lokun conveying your story with a tenderness and vulnerability you did not know you needed.
😷 The multiplicative power of masks. Masks work better than you think. Masks also protect both the wearer and the people around them. But why is that? We love this interactive article for its adorable animations and intuitive, step-by-step explanation of masks. Catch some of your favorite emojis in action as you explore the math behind how virus particles can be effectively blocked by the masks that separate any two individuals. For the truly curious, this interactive site breaks down the extent of protection our masks truly provide and how they influence the chances of disease transmission. Play here
🌌 The story of Stephen Hawking. What is the story behind the extraordinary scientist who catapulted our understanding of space and time forward? We found one of the most engaging comics- one that is best read on your phone! Lose yourself in the love story between Hawking and Jane, his fascination with physics and unlocking the secret to the theory of everything, his revolutionary discoveries (including the Hawking radiation), the disease and subsequent infection that robbed him of his speaking voice, and when his bestseller, ‘A Brief History of Time’ became a household name. Read more
That’s it for this issue!
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Love love love all of this! Great information and a wonderful variety of news, education, and sheer human interest (including some feel good stuff).