The Evening Report - May 6th
Denmark and Norway release study findings behind AstraZeneca decision
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Denmark and Norway have published the results of a study into rare but potentially fatal side effects from AstraZeneca vaccinations. The findings were the basis for a decision by both countries to drop the vaccine from each country’s vaccination effort.
The study found there was an “over-frequency of specific side effects, especially blood clots in the veins of the brain, after vaccination with AstraZeneca.”
However the researchers also concluded “the rate of adverse events low; benefits of the vaccine still outweigh risks in most situations.”
Danish National Health Board Director Søren Brostrøm:
“The results of the now published study confirm the severity of these serious side effects of AstraZeneca and give us a very reliable estimate of this frequency. Because this is a large Danish-Norwegian study, using some of the best health registries in the world, we have great confidence in this finding. But it is important that we also include other scientific studies from other countries that look at other vaccinated groups and other vaccines before we draw final conclusions.”
For those who want to sink into all the data the full report is HERE
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Danish Agency for Patient Safety says cases of the B.1.617 corona variant first identified in India have been found in households on Tagensvej, Tuborgvej, Charlotte Munks Vej in Copenhagen’s northwest. It is working with the Kommune on what it called “intensified infection detection” in the area.
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A couple of variants of concern continue to gain ground in Denmark. The further mutated U.K. corona variant with the E484K mutation has increased by 13 cases to 38 total. The Staten Serum Institut says all the variant infections of this strain remain concentrated on Sjælland.
The B.1.617 variant, first identified in India, has seen an increase of confirmed infections going from 47 to 51 across three health regions.
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Denmark is reporting 1,012 COVID infections, the first time since March 30th daily infections have exceeded 1,000, and one more coronavirus death in the last day.
Yesterday 556,801 total corona tests were done, 187,203 PCR and 369,598 rapid, for a (PCR only) positivity percentage of 0.54%.
COVID hospitalizations (156) have declined (-5) while the number of infected people in an ICU (34) also dropped (-6) and of those the number on a ventilator (20) inched down as well (-1).
On the vaccination front, to date 1,415,117 1st dose vaccinations (24.2% of the population) have been administered while 740,184 people (12.7%) are fully vaccinated.
Yesterday there were 52,253 total vaccinations done.
Denmark’s Health Minister Magnus Heunicke is welcoming a deal struck between the International Olympic Committee and Pfizer/BioNTech to vaccinate Olympic athletes. Heunicke says the dedicated vaccines are a “gratifying” solution to get Danish olympians vaccinated with no impact on Denmark’s vaccination program.
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In an effort to get vaccination information to Muslims in Denmark the national health board has collaborated with a number of Islamic organizations to create an information pamphlet. The goal is to provide answers about common questions that Danish Muslims may have about coronavirus vaccinations.
SST Unit Manager Niels Sandø:
“It is voluntary if you want to be vaccinated. What we want to be sure of is that everyone makes the decision on an informed basis. Therefore, it is important that you as a citizen get answers to the questions that matter for the decision you have to make about vaccination. The booklet therefore answers the key questions that citizens with a Muslim background may have.”
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Sweden has added 6,526 infections and seven corona deaths since yesterday’s update.
Sverige is now the first Nordic country, 13th in the E.U, to surpass 1,000,000 total to date infections. Its total infections are almost four times that of Denmark.
On the vaccination campaign, to date 2,769,411 1st dose vaccinations (33.8% of the population) have been administered while 794,198 people (9.7%) are now fully vaccinated
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The latest COVID prevalence study in Sweden has found a sharp increase in infection spread. The Swedish Public Health Institute tested blood samples for coronavirus antibodies from donors as well as surplus blood samples from outpatient care. They have determined 22% of the general population have COVID antibodies. Regionally Stockholm and Västra Götaland came in at the highest end with one in every four people having coronavirus antibodies.
Deputy State Epidemiologist Karin Tegmark Wisell:
“These levels reflect a history of infection with COVID at least ten months back in time. But some groups have also received vaccines, even though we do not consider that it has any major significance for the results when it comes to blood donors.”
The latest results of the prevalence study are three times higher than the last one in December, which found 7% of people at the national level had corona antibodies.
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The Swedish Public Health agency isn’t calling it a forecast but they have outlined three potential scenarios for infection activity in the months ahead. To determine the projections they factored in COVID activity, warmer weather, whether existing restrictions remain in place or not, and vaccinations.
The first scenario assumes more restrictions and decreased social contact resulting in coronavirus activity dropping sharply before leveling off in June. The next scenario where restrictions remain in place with existing social contacts more or less unchanged resulting in infections declining in mid-May before leveling off in July and August. In the final scenario restrictions are lifted and social contact increases resulting in increased infections spread with no downturn until mid-June with low levels through the fall.
Agency CEO Johan Carlson:
“Even if more and more people are vaccinated, it has not had time to have an effect on the entire population. Our scenarios indicate that we must continue to limit our contacts, keep our distance and follow the recommendations in order for the spread of infection to decrease as quickly as possible.”
The public health agency emphasizes it does not anticipate COVID infections disappearing completely as it anticipates coronavirus flare ups through the fall among unvaccinated groups.
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Finland has registered 280 infections and one more death since yesterday’s update.
COVID hospitalizations (127) are down (-3) while the number of infected people in an ICU (27) increased (+3).
On the vaccination effort, to date 1,804,953 1st dose vaccinations (32.4% of the population) have been administered while 185,821 people (3.3%) are now fully vaccinated.
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A COVID situation report from the Finnish Health Institute has found infection activity continues to ebb in Finland but hospitalizations remained a concern. Between week 10 and 17 the number of coronavirus cases dropped by 73%. Over the last two weeks there have been 2,890 new infections, which is about 1,490 less than the two week prior. Infections are also declining across all age groups. However those 10 to 19 years old are seeing the highest incidence rate.
Hospitalizations peaked just before Easter and since then the number of COVID patients has declined by 50%. However over the past two weeks those declines have slowed and hospital admissions have “remained fairly stable.”
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Finland is reporting success with its program of COVID testing wastewater at 28 wastewater treatment plants across the country. The Finnish Health Institute testing since April showed COVID infection activity at 24 of the 28 wastewater plants with the results roughly mirroring the national infection picture.
The wastewater surveillance effort has provided the country with an COVID early warning system according to the health institute. It says they often detect COVID in wastewater in an area before it shows up in the actual testing of people. This allows them to anticipate infection outbreaks and adapt accordingly.
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Norway has added 758 infections and had no new virus deaths since yesterday’s update.
COVID hospitalizations (115) are up (+6) ICU numbers (42) are down (-1) ventilator numbers (31) also dipped (-2).
To date 26.53% of Norwegians have one vaccine dose and 7.74% have had both.
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The Norwegian Public Health Institute has found immigrant groups weren’t just hit harder by the pandemic they are also being vaccinated at a much lower rate. The health institute had already determined that ‘foreign born’ people living in Norway were overrepresented among infected and hospitalized COVID patients. So they decided to study vaccination rates based on country of birth.
What they found is that among people over the age of 75 those born in Iraq and Somalia had much lower vaccination coverage, 51% and 34% respectively, than those born in Norway, Sweden, or Denmark, all over 90%.
A very similar result was found for COVID at risk populations, people with underlying health conditions. Those born in Iraq (27%), Somalia (25%), Poland (21%), Eritrea (22 Lithuania (17%), and Syria (13%) had much lower vaccination coverage than anyone born in the Scandinavian countries.
And again among health care workers with those born in Denmark or Sweden having over 70% uptake on vaccinations while it was the opposite story for those born in Somalia (39%), Eritrea (36%), and Syria (34%).
Director of Infection Control Geir Bukholm:
“What the cause of the different vaccination coverage is not known. Language barrier or other practical barriers such as accessibility may contribute to some not having used the vaccination offer. The information we have now received is valuable in the further work of ensuring an equal vaccination for everyone.”
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For the second time to date daily vaccinations exceeded one-million in Germany yesterday. Health Minister Jens Spahn says there were 1.1 million vaccinations yesterday including over 200,000 2nd doses, a record high. To date 25.4 million people in Germany (30.6% of the population) have one vaccine dose while 7.1 million people (8.6%) are now fully vaccinated.
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The European Union appears to be ready to wave patent protections on COVID vaccines a day after the United States tabled such a proposal. European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen opened the door to changing the bloc’s position but also continued criticism of both the U.S. and U.K. for not allowing vaccine exports.
“The European Union is also ready to discuss any proposal that addresses the crisis in an effective and pragmatic manner. Some might say countries like the U.S. and the United Kingdom have been fast at the beginning. But I say Europe achieved this success while remaining open to the world, while others keep their vaccine production for themselves.”
The World Health Organization has blamed the E.U. and others for standing in the way of removing patent protections for coronavirus vaccines. It says if those patent protections were removed it would help poorer nations produce cheaper generic versions of the vaccines and vastly boost vaccinations in third world countries.
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In Canada there were 7,379 infections and 57 corona deaths yesterday as the variant driven infection wave continues to ease.
On the vaccination front 13,394,105 1st dose vaccinations (35.24% of the population) have been administered while 1,173,962 people are fully vaccinated.
In Ontario today per Health Minister Christine Elliott who tweeted “Ontario is reporting 3,424 cases of COVID19 and over 54,100 tests completed. Locally, there are 958 new cases in Toronto, 900 in Peel, 291 in York Region, 175 in Durham and 155 in Hamilton. As of 8:00 p.m. yesterday, 5,740,761 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered.“ There were also 26 more deaths.
Quebec reported 907 infections and seven more corona deaths today. Reports say the province will soon announce it will open up vaccinations for people as young as 12 years old to be vaccinated using Pfizer vaccines.
In Atlantic Canada, Nova Scotia reported a record high 175 infections. New Brunswick had 11. While Newfoundland and Labrador had six.
Manitoba had 272 infections two infections yesterday.
There were 196 infections and two deaths in Saskatchewan yesterday.
Alberta recorded 2,271 new infections and suffered three more deaths yesterday. The province has a positivity percentage of 11%. There are 666 people in hospital with 146 in an ICU.
B.C. reported 572 infections with no new virus deaths yesterday. There are 481 people in hospital with 161 in an ICU.