9 Schema That Change The Way You See The World, and will effect your Health

About the Author

Dr. Monica Johnson

Dr. Monica Johnson is a clinical psychologist and owner of Kind Mind Psychology, a private practice in NYC that specializes in evidenced based approaches to treating a wide range of mental health issues (e.g. depression, anxiety, trauma, and personality disorders). Additionally, she has a focus on working with marginalized groups of people including BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and alternative lifestyles to manage minority stress. She is also dedicated to contributing to her field professionally through speaking, training, supervision, and writing. She routinely speaks at conferences, provides training and workshops at organizations, supervises mental health trainees, and co-authored a book for professionals on addressing race-based stress in therapy.

Dr. Johnson earned her bachelor's degree from the University of South Carolina, completed her Psy.D. at the Arizona School of Professional Psychology, and completed her postdoctoral training year at Cherokee Health Systems in Knoxville, TN. She currently lives in Manhattan where she indulges in horror movies, sarcasm, and intentional introversion. You can find her on Instagram and online at kindmindpsych.com. 

Schemas are not obvious Social Determinants of Health (SDOH). 

THE QUICK AND DIRTY

There are 18 different schemas that can develop in childhood that may have an adverse effect on how you view the world. You may not even realize you have one of the schemas—in fact, the belief system may feel entirely normal to you. That's why awareness of a schema is the first step towards changing it.For instance, children who develop a schema that they aren’t good enough rarely challenge this belief, even as adults. They can be the CEO of a Fortune 500 company and still go home feeling as though they're inadequate. Schemas, like emotions, are self-serving. They attempt to mold your experiences and encourage you to engage in actions that keep them around.  Today, we're going to discuss early maladaptive schemas. There are so many of them that this will be a 2-part episode, so listen through to the end and make sure you're ready for next week!

Have you ever heard of a schema before? A schema is a stable and enduring negative pattern that develops during childhood or adolescence. It persists and expands throughout our lives.

We view the world through the lens of our schemas. Schemas are closely held beliefs and feelings about yourself, others, and the world. Typically, you accept these beliefs without question and many people are not aware that they have them. They are self-perpetuating and are very resistant to change, but with appropriate treatment, you can change them!

For instance, children who develop a schema that they aren’t good enough rarely challenge this belief, even as adults. They can be the CEO of a Fortune 500 company and still go home feeling as though they're inadequate. Schemas, like emotions, are self-serving. They attempt to mold your experiences and encourage you to engage in actions that keep them around.

Usually, schemas operate in subtle ways, outside of our awareness. However, when a schema is triggered by stimuli in our environment, our thoughts and feelings are dominated by schema-related content. In these moments we may experience maladaptive thinking, extreme and/or intense emotions, and have urges to act in ways that might not be in the interest of our psychological well-being.

(1) An Upgraded Hippocratic Oath Is Needed In The Digital And A.I. Era | LinkedIn

The Hippocratic Oath is the most famous text in Western medicine. It constitutes the ethical basis of the medical profession. For centuries, it has provided an overview of the principles of this noble mission and doctors’ professional behaviour. At the dawn of a new era in medicine, it is high time to rewrite the Oath so that it would reflect the state of technological development, changes in social structures and in general, the requirements of the 21st century.

What is the Hippocratic Oath?

Used by many medical schools at graduation ceremonies, the medical profession adopted the Oath of Hippocrates as its ethical code of conduct centuries ago. That’s not a mere chance. The text articulates perfectly what the noble profession of being a doctor entails and in a compact overview takes a side in every major ethical issue a physician might encounter during their career.

Only a few know that although the oath bears the name of Hippocrates, the well-known Greek physician, there is no evidence that he wrote it. It is claimed that the document was created 100 years after his death; still some 2500 years ago.

The intimacy of a doctor patient encounter has changed since telehealth, electronic medical records have increased social distancing in the past 20 years.  Many people now have access to the medical record, given implied consent to perform their duties.  Can patients still be assured of their privacy and confidentiality of the visit with their physician(s)?  What do physicians think of the HIPPOCRATIC OATH?  As in other modern interpretations of oaths and features of the U.S. Constitution the interpretation varies widely among today's physicians. Some (few) take it's meaning literally.  Others have been influenced by bureaucracy, regulations and common peer behavior to abandon it's meaning as written by our forefathers Upon graduation, many medical students take a modern version of the oath written by Louis Lasagna in 1964.  

MODERN VERSION.  Upon graduation, many medical students take a modern version of the oath written by Louis Lasagna in 196

4. 

CLASSICAL VERSION

The bottom line for patients is do your trust your physician, and will he keep your innermost secrets, sins and indiscretions.  Most will, and will not include any specifics in the electronic medical records. It is up to you to instruct him to not include that which  you do not want passed along.  Most will do so.

Digital Health Space advises. you to not disclose sensitive information on a telehealth visit, nor to an assistant.

Our message to you, get vaccinated against Covid 19 and have a Happy and safe New Year, 2022

1) An Upgraded Hippocratic Oath Is Needed In The Digital And A.I. Era | LinkedIn

Longevity Insider

 

Our daily newsletter curates innovations from the most reputable sources then delivers to your inbox for free.

Thanks to Peter Diamandis, these suggestions for 2022 could turn your life around.

My first suggestion is to ignore the media blitz about Covid.  Get your vaccination, and wear a mask where it is required. Most of what you read or hear about Covid is hype and is aimed at you to maximize readership. Boosters are important as recommended. Reduce your anxiety and focus on your own health.  Do not postpone important doctor visits, and avoid delaying needed treatments.  Use telehealth as your first go to for doctor visits.

VIOME: IMAGINE NO CHRONIC DISEASES OR CANCER

This is a bit far-fetched, aging will always take place, however we can slow it down.

What if we could reverse or even prevent chronic diseases such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and cancer?

That’s the mission of Viome: a revolutionary biotech company that uses an AI-driven platform to analyze the biochemical activity in your body by looking at your saliva, blood, and stool. Their goal is to give you an accurate picture of your unique health, and what you can do to optimize it through food and made-to-order, precision supplements and probiotics. (Full disclosure: my venture fund BOLD Capital is an investor in Viome.The web site offers you the opportunity to purchase supplements.  None of these are FDA approved and peer reviewed studies are limited.  Remember the supplement industry is a multibillion dollar business.  If you spend $150 a month on these products you will feel better whether you are or not.  Many studies have shown antioxidants are worthless.  Many natural foodstuffs that contain bioflavonoids in a natural vegetable or fruit are healthy. Hard evidence reveals that vegetarians do live longer. (studies at Loma Linda University, where a vegetarian life style predominants reveal longer life spans in that region. (Loma Linda, California). The University in Loma Linda teaches this nutritional lifestyle. The students and medical staff live this on a daily basis.  My observation as an outsider M.D. that taught there is it is a lean healthy demographic that age well without many chronic illnesses.

Here are some claims Viome makes,

"Viome recently did a study of 10,000 people to measure the effects of receiving Viome’s recommendations of supplements over a period of 4 months.

Here are some of the findings:

Clinical scores of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) came down by 40%;

Depression among participants decreased by 36%;

The participants’ diabetes risk score also decreased by 30%--simply with changes to diet and recommended supplements.

In another study, 550 people in Japan and 500 people in the United States were put on continuous glucose monitoring and then given 35,000 different types of food.

Viome then used a machine learning model that analyzed microbial activity, which was able to actually predict the glycemic response of different foods: if you eat this food, then this will be your body’s sugar response in your blood.

Viome then combines this analysis with predictive biomarkers and precision diagnostics to detect cancers, metabolic and autoimmune disease, inflammation, and other chronic conditions."

Our current healthcare is actually “sick care”—passive, reactive, and focused on damage control. It is "revenue based care".

Our goal needs to actually be “healthcare.” wherein we use advanced diagnostics and exponential tech to achieve an outcome that is personalized, precise, predictive, and preventive. (probably a well meaning hype).

More food for thought and perhaps good health are Peter's Laws.  Some of this post must be taken with a grain of salt and perhaps a modicum of supplements. Peter Diamandis is an excellent speaker and a visionary of things which have taken place and to come.

I recommend his books

Longevity Insider

Eight substances added to 15th Report on Carcinogens | National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Our civilization produces and uses many compounds that do not exist natively, except for those trapped in underground  petroleum deposits.   Many have been identified in the past and identified as dangerous to humans, especially children.

Eight substances added to 15th Report on Carcinogens

A chronic bacterial infection, a flame retardant, and six water disinfection byproducts are listed in a new HHS cancer report.

Eight substances have been added to the Report on Carcinogens, bringing the total list to 256 substances that are known, or reasonably anticipated, to cause cancer in humans. This is the 15th Report on Carcinogens, which is a cumulative report, mandated by Congress and prepared by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) for the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The release of this report coincides with the 50th Anniversary of the National Cancer Act of 1971, which initiated the nation’s war on cancer.

In the new report, chronic infection with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is listed as known to be a human carcinogen. The flame-retardant chemical antimony trioxide, and six haloacetic acids (HAAs) found as water disinfection byproducts are listed as reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.

“Cancer affects almost everyone’s life, either directly or indirectly,” said Rick Woychik, Ph.D., director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and NTP. “As the identification of carcinogens is a key step in cancer prevention, publication of the report represents an important government activity towards improving public health.”

The Report on Carcinogens identifies many different environmental factors, collectively called substances, including chemicals; infectious agents, such as viruses; physical agents, such as X-rays and ultraviolet radiation; and exposure scenarios. A substance is listed as either known to be a human carcinogen or reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen, to indicate the potential hazard.

The report does not include estimates of cancer risk because many factors affect whether a person will or will not develop cancer. Those include the carcinogenic potency of the substance, the level and duration of exposure, and an individual’s susceptibility to the carcinogenic action of the substance.

Chronic infection with H. pylori

H. pylori is a bacterium that colonizes in the stomach and can cause gastritis and peptic ulcers. Most people do not show symptoms. Chronic infection may lead to stomach cancer and a rare type of stomach lymphoma. Infection primarily occurs from person-to-person contact, especially in crowded housing conditions, and may occur by drinking well water contaminated with H. pylori.

People living in poverty and certain racial, ethnic, and immigrant groups are disproportionately affected by H. pylori infection. Treatment of infected people who have stomach ulcers or signs of stomach infection can decrease their risk of cancer.  H.pylori can be treated with antibiotics orally.

There are natural treatments available.  One should consult with their physician before trying any treatments, natural or otherwise.  if you suspect you have H.Pylori there is a breathe test that detects the bacteria, which is also an oral disease.

Antimony trioxide

Antimony trioxide is primarily used as a component of flame-retardants in plastics, textiles, and other consumer products. Highest exposure occurs among workers who produce the substance or use it to make flame retardants.

Other people are potentially exposed to low levels of antimony trioxide from breathing contaminated outdoor air or dust from the wear and tear of flame-retardant-treated consumer products, such as carpets and furniture. State and federal agencies limit exposure to the substance in the workplace and the environment through regulation.

Six haloacetic acids (HAAs) found as water disinfection byproducts

Water treatment removes contaminants and disease-causing agents from drinking water. HAAs are formed during the disinfection of water from a reaction between the chlorine-based disinfection agents and organic matter in the source water.

Approximately 250 million U.S. residents use community water systems and are potentially exposed to HAAs in disinfected water. Municipal water systems monitor for some HAAs. Improvements in disinfection technology, such as filtration methods, can reduce the levels of HAAs in drinking water.

The following six HAAs are included in the report:

• Bromochloroacetic acid (BCA)
• Bromodichloroacetic acid (BDCA)
• Chlorodibromoacetic acid (CDBA)
• Dibromoacetic acid (DBA)
• Dichloroacetic acid (DCA)
• Tribromoacetic acid (TBA)

The National Toxicology Program (NTP) is a federal inter-agency program within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Three federal agencies comprise NTP: The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, part of the National Institutes of Health; the National Center for Toxicological Research(link is external), part of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health(link is external), part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) supports research to understand the effects of the environment on human health, and it is part of the National Institutes of Health. For more information on NIEHS or environmental health topics, visit https://www.niehs.nih.gov/ or subscribe to a news list.

Eight substances added to 15th Report on Carcinogens | National Institutes of Health (NIH)

If you developed serious complications from the Covid 19 Vaccine (Moderna, Johnson and Johnson or others you may be eligible for compensation.

Claim Alleging Injury or Death From a COVID-19 Countermeasure to Be Compensated

More than 4,000 other claims await decision by the U.S. government compensation program. For the first time amid the pandemic, the U.S. government compensation program will pay out one of the 4,751 claims alleging injuries or death arising from the administration of a covered countermeasure used to diagnose, treat, or prevent COVID-19.  Countermeasures may include emergency authorized or federally approved vaccines, drugs, and medical devices that the Food and Drug Administration allows for use during a public health emergency. 

The compensation program is run by the HRSA, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Established in 2010 through the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act of 2005, the CICP not only provides benefits to people who’ve suffered serious injuries or death as a result of being given a countermeasure, but it also protects individuals and companies involved in producing or administering the countermeasures from lawsuits, unless it can be shown that there was willful misconduct.

In the past the CCIP program covered vaccine complications from HN1 vaccinations and others. Complete medical records must be submitted.  To be considered for benefits, people must file a claim within one year of the date they received a countermeasure, or their claim will be rejected. All three COVID-19 vaccines—Pfizer, Takeda/Moderna, and AstraZeneca—administered in Japan are covered in the compensation program

But in the event that the CICP develops a COVID-19 Countermeasures Injury Table and the HHS Secretary publishes it on the Federal Register, people have one year from the effective date of the injury table to file a claim even though their previous claim was denied.  Because of the rapidly evolving Coronavirus these tables may not be available in a timely fashion. 

The CICP is the payer of last resort and can only reimburse or pay for medical expenses or lost employment income that are not covered by other third-party payers. To date, the CICP has paid compensation for 29 CICP claims, totaling more than $6 million. An additional 10 CICP claims were eligible for compensation after a review of the required medical records and documentation; however, in these cases there were no eligible reported medical expenses or lost employment income for the CICP to compensate.

How to electronically file a CICP Request for Benefits

By US Postal Mail:

Your petition must be filed with the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

Submit your petition, one original and two copies, including cover sheet, medical records, and other documentation plus the appropriate filing fee to:

Clerk

U.S. Court of Federal Claims

717 Madison Place NW

Washington, DC 20439

Electronic Filing

Claim Alleging Injury or Death From a COVID-19 Countermeasure to Be Compensated

Even before COVID, Dr. Michael Greiwe, knew that telemedicine technology would help his orthopedic practice, OrthoCincy, grow as well as increase his patient’s satisfaction and engagement. So he developed the OrthoLive telemedicine platform because there was nothing that met his needs as an orthopedic provider.In this episode, hosts John Ellis and Jennifer Thompson chat with Dr. Greiwe, Founder of Ortholive, which provides convenient, secure access to care while increasing efficiency, revenue, and user satisfaction without a steep or unnecessary learning curve. Listen as we discuss how telemedicine has affected the healthcare industry, the challenges, and the opportunities and what it may look like a few years from now.

Post Covid demand for healthcare continues as the cycle continues to be a seasonal one.  The latest iteration of Covid 19 is now called "Omicron". It is even more easily transmitted and highly infections.  Current rates of growth are double daily.

Even in non related medical specialties physicians are finding it helpful if not necessary to use telehealth to improve patient access, decrease transportation and diminish exposure especially to elderly patients with chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, or immun-compromise. The key ingredient for prevention was and always will be vaccination.  The third jab is recommended for all those who are eligible.

 

Tune in to discover:

 

• The process and the challenges of implementing telemedicine
• The evolution and role of improved technology
• What happens to telemedicine post-COVID?
• Is there data that correlates to increased revenue for practices?
• Is telemedicine a sustainable model where healthcare clinics use telemedicine to fill empty appointment slots?
• The accessibility of telemedicine for rural communities and healthcare practices

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) continues to reshape the globe.

New York's COVID Surge Is Back and So Is Its Mask Mandate.

The resurgence of Covid 19 appears to have become regional, and appears in waves. The earliest cases in the United States were easily found to be near and around international airports originating from airline traffic from South Africa.  It did not take long for community outbreaks to occur.  Twenty-first Century travel and transportation makes case tracking very difficult, since public health resources are already strained.

Mask fatigue and vaccine resistance by the public add a troublesome component to the war on COVID. Facing a winter surge in COVID-19 infections, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Friday that masks will be required in all indoor public places unless the businesses or venues implement a vaccine requirement.  Though supported by many, mask mandates also have become a hot-button issue. Republican elected officials reacting to Hochul's announcement called it an unnecessary burden on businesses.

"This newest mask mandate is government overreach at its worst," said Republican Assemblyman Mike Lawler of suburban Rockland County. "Across New York state, we are getting shots in arms and our vaccination rate is one of the highest in the nation."

COVID disinformation has also affected good judgment amongs caregivers. The Federated Board of State Medical Boards of Medical Examiners and the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners have issued warnings and reprimands to those M.D. issuing false information about COVID vaccinations and treatments.

12 State Boards Have Disciplined Docs for COVID Misinformation

The FSMB board of directors warned physicians in July that they risked disciplinary action if they spread COVID-19 vaccine misinformation or disinformation.

“Physicians who generate and spread COVID-19 vaccine misinformation or disinformation are risking disciplinary action by state medical boards, including the suspension or revocation of their medical license. Due to their specialized knowledge and training, licensed physicians possess a high degree of public trust and therefore have a powerful platform in society, whether they recognize it or not. They also have an ethical and professional responsibility to practice medicine in the best interests of their patients and must share information that is factual, scientifically grounded and consensus-driven for the betterment of public health. Spreading inaccurate COVID-19 vaccine information contradicts that responsibility, threatens to further erode public trust in the medical profession and puts all patients at risk.”

The organization said 15 state boards have now adopted similar statements.

Chaudhry said the FSMB was "encouraged by the number of boards that have already taken action to combat COVID-19 disinformation by disciplining physicians who engage in that behavior and by reminding all physicians that their words and actions matter, and they should think twice before spreading disinformation that may harm patients."

Only 12 state medical boards have taken action against physicians who have spread false or misleading information about COVID-19, according to a new survey from the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB).

The FSMB reports that in its 2021 annual survey two-thirds of its 71 member boards (which includes the United States, its territories, and Washington, DC) reported an increase in complaints about doctors spreading false or misleading information.

"The staggering number of state medical boards that have seen an increase in COVID-19 disinformation complaints is a sign of how widespread the issue has become," said Humayun J. Chaudhry, DO, MACP, president and CEO of the FSMB, in a statement.

COVID-19 Infections Among Vaccinated More Common and Severe in Immunocompromised: Study

Breakthrough COVID-19 cases are more common and severe in people with weakened immune systems, according to a new study.

Breakthrough infections are those that occur in vaccinated people.

Immunocompromised vaccinated people were three times more likely to contract COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, according to researchers, who published their findings in the Journal of Medical Economics.

The Epoch Times refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Party’s coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic.

The study found that just 0.08 percent of fully vaccinated people had a breakthrough case, but that 0.18 percent of immunocompromised people had a breakthrough infection. While immunocompromised people represented 18 percent of those studied, they accounted for over 38 percent of infections, nearly six in 10 hospitalizations, and all the deaths.

Researchers analyzed nearly 1.2 million U.S. HealthVerity database records between Dec. 10, 2020, and July 8.

The study was conducted by Pfizer scientists and funded by the company, which makes one of the three COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States.

“The results supplement other real-world studies, and support the introduction of a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to increase protection among the immunocompromised individuals,” Manuela Di Fusco, the lead author and a part of Pfizer’s health economics and outcomes research team, said in a statement.

The cutoff date means researchers excluded records from the time period when other research indicates vaccine effectiveness against infection waned significantly, as many Americans were vaccinated in late 2020 or early 2021. Breakthrough infections, hospitalizations, and deaths have risen over time.

Booster doses, or third doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, were cleared by U.S. drug regulators in recent weeks because of the waning effectiveness.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which initially recommended the additional shots for those 50 and older, announced on Nov. 29 that its now advising all individuals 18 and older to get one.

The agency cited the emergence of the Omicron CCP virus variant, although many scientists say it’s too soon to tell if the variant evades immunity better than other strains.

The new study was published after researchers in the Netherlands reported that an examination of 378 breakthrough infections identified in the country between January and July signaled the emergence of the CCP virus Delta variant and “a strong increase in breakthrough infections,” with more seen in people vaccinated with the AstraZeneca or Johnson & Johnson jabs than people who got a Pfizer or Moderna shot.

Researchers said in the pre-print paper that they saw many severe breakthrough cases among the elderly, although symptomatic cases were recorded in a number of younger people.

“Altogether, these results indicate that the emergence of the Delta variant might have lowered the efficiency of particular vaccine types to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infections and that, although rare, the elderly are particularly at risk of becoming severely infected as the consequence of a breakthrough infection,” they said.

COVID-19 Infections Among Vaccinated More Common and Severe in Immunocompromised: Study

What went wrong in December 2019 ?

From the very beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya has been on the front lines of analyzing, studying, and even personally fighting the pandemic. In this wide-ranging interview, Dr. Bhattacharya takes us through how it started, how it spread throughout the world, the efficacy of lockdowns, the development and distribution of the vaccines, and the rise of the Delta variant. He delves into what we got right, what we got wrong, and what we got really wrong. Finally, Dr. Bhattacharya looks to the future and how we will learn to live with COVID rather than trying to extinguish it, and how we might be prepared to deal with another inevitable pandemic that we know will arrive at some point.

Omicron, where did it come from?

 

First Case of Omicron Virus Variant Detected in US: Officials

The first case of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus Omicron variant was detected in California, officials said Wednesday.

Genomic sequencing conducted at the University of California, San Francisco, and confirmed by scientists with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the case was caused by the variant.

The patient traveled from South Africa on Nov. 22 and tested positive for COVID-19 a week later.

The person, who has not been publicly identified, is self-isolating, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the longtime director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told reporters in Washington.

All of the person’s close contacts have been contacted and, thus far, all have tested negative for COVID-19, a disease caused by the CCP virus.

The person is fully vaccinated. He or she is experiencing mild symptoms that are improving.

“We knew that it was just a matter of time before the first case of Omicron would be detected in the United States,” Fauci said.

He urged people to get a COVID-19 vaccine if they have not and to get a booster if they already have.

Health authorities have not identified any additional potential cases at this point.

The United States restricted travel from South Africa and seven other African counties on Monday under an order from President Joe Biden. Passengers from other countries entering America will soon face stricter rules.

Officials around the world have imposed similar measures, citing the emergence of the variant in Africa.

The earliest known cases were identified in South Africa and Botswana in November, though testing of samples showed a patient with Omicron was in Nigeria in October, officials announced there earlier Wednesday.

Experts aren’t sure whether Omicron is more transmissible or whether it causes more severe disease. They have also expressed uncertainty on whether the variant evades immunity, including the protection bestowed by vaccines, better than other strains.

The omicron variant appears to be highly transmissible and less virulent.  There is still some doubt about the effectiveness of the original covid vaccines against Omicron Covid. 

Serologic tests and sampling is being performed on current cases of   Omicron.  Laboratory analysis will take several weeks to yield data.

The revolution in manufacturing , using mRNA technique will allow rapid manufacturing of a new vaccine can be accomplished in about one month. Approval by the FDA, EC and WHO will take several additional months for clinical trials.  If safety margins are good an emergency usage authorization EUA could be granted by the FDA.

First Case of Omicron Virus Variant Detected in US: Officials

Black Friday and Cyber-Monday bring more surprises from COVID

The news this weekend about a new variant "Omicron" has fueled speculation about up coming events in the world of pandemics.  Truly, no one knows much about it yet.  It will require about two weeks to gather meaningful data about Covid Omicron.

Fortunately the WHO and the nations of the world are not taking any chances, based upon the original outbreak in December 2019.  Poor communications, delays in lockdowns and the unavailability of a vaccine contributed to the fiasco in early 2020. Viral immunologists are already making plans to develop a new vaccine based upon early samples from already infected patients.  The affected countries, U.K. South Africa, Botswana and other countrie have been quarantined until these issues are determined.

The World Health Organization reports

Much of the previous tests, and treatments probably will be unchanged

Current knowledge about Omicron 

Researchers in South Africa and around the world are conducting studies to better understand many aspects of Omicron and will continue to share the findings of these studies as they become available.  

Transmissibility: It is not yet clear whether Omicron is more transmissible (e.g., more easily spread from person to person) compared to other variants, including Delta. The number of people testing positive has risen in areas of South Africa affected by this variant, but epidemiologic studies are underway to understand if it is because of Omicron or other factors.  

Severity of disease: It is not yet clear whether infection with Omicron causes more severe disease compared to infections with other variants, including Delta.  Preliminary data suggests that there are increasing rates of hospitalization in South Africa, but this may be due to increasing overall numbers of people becoming infected, rather than a result of specific infection with Omicron.  There is currently no information to suggest that symptoms associated with Omicron are different from those from other variants.  Initial reported infections were among university students—younger individuals who tend to have more mild disease—but understanding the level of severity of the Omicron variant will take days to several weeks.  All variants of COVID-19, including the Delta variant that is dominant worldwide, can cause severe disease or death, in particular for the most vulnerable people, and thus prevention is always key. 

Effectiveness of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection 

Preliminary evidence suggests there may be an increased risk of reinfection with Omicron (ie, people who have previously had COVID-19 could become reinfected more easily with Omicron), as compared to other variants of concern, but information is limited. More information on this will become available in the coming days and weeks. 

Effectiveness of vaccines: WHO is working with technical partners to understand the potential impact of this variant on our existing countermeasures, including vaccines. Vaccines remain critical to reducing severe disease and death, including against the dominant circulating variant, Delta. Current vaccines remain effective against severe disease and death.   

Effectiveness of current tests: The widely used PCR tests continue to detect infection, including infection with Omicron, as we have seen with other variants as well. Studies are ongoing to determine whether there is any impact on other types of tests, including rapid antigen detection tests.  

Effectiveness of current treatments:   Corticosteroids and IL6 Receptor Blockers will still be effective for managing patients with severe COVID-19. Other treatments will be assessed to see if they are still as effective given the changes to parts of the virus in the Omicron variant.  

 China has not reported cases of the Omicron variant, nor have Brazil, or Russia.

Expert Newsletters - MashupMD: A Tribute to Omicron