An Epidemiologist, Musician and Programmer. Follow my blog, BroadlyEpi.Com, for full articles and code writeups! Otherwise check out N0n-B1nary, my music alias. They/Them Pronouns.
Tracking COVID-19 With Surveys on Rapid Tests: A New Frontier for Public Health Monitoring, Since We Couldn't Manage To Do Anything Else.
How do we track COVID-19 when official testing declines and policies fail? A recent study shows how survey data can fill gaps in monitoring, especially with rapid at-home test distributions. Read about this method of public health surveillance: https://www.broadlyepi.com/emerging-study/tracking-covid-19-with-surveys-on-rapid-tests-a-new-frontier-for-public-health-monitoring/
Covid-19 has seen small decreases lately across Highland County and statewide, but is still up significantly from a couple of months ago acc
Also preserved on our archive
This is why it's so important to follow your local or regional wastewater data if you can: The national news declares Covid over for everyone when New York and California so much as dip. In Ohio, even while rates are slowing, Covid is still on the rise.
By Jacob Clary
Covid-19 has seen small decreases lately across Highland County and statewide, but is still up significantly from a couple of months ago according to Ohio Department of Health (ODH) statistics.
According to ODH, Highland County’s case rate has increase significantly since the last time The Times-Gazette reported on Covid-19 on Aug. 5, 2024. On that date, the latest statistics were from Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, which showed that Highland County’s case rate was at 64.9 cases per a population of 100,000 for the two weeks before that date.
The newest statistics for Highland County have seen that case rate skyrocket to 150.6 cases per a population of 100,000 for the two weeks before Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, with 65 cases. Ohio’s overall case rate for this period was 110.4. This increase is even slightly muted compared to the increases from a few weeks prior, as the number released on Sept. 26 is down from the data seen earlier this month.
On Sept. 19, 2024, the data showed that Highland County had a case rate of 178.4 cases per a population of 100,000 for the two weeks before then, with Ohio’s rate being 145.6. Surprisingly, even this was a drop compared to the week prior, as on Sept. 12, 2024, ODH reported that Highland County’s case rate was 187.7 cases per a population of 100,000 for the two weeks before that date, as Ohio’s rate was at 161.8
However, the county’s most significant case rate of this period was reported on Sept. 5, 2024, when the county’s case rate was 243.3 cases per a population of 100,000 for the two weeks before then. Ohio’s rate was reported at 165.2.
ODH also reported multiple other statistics that show Covid-19’s slight falling off in Ohio as a whole following the highs of a couple of weeks ago, with all of these statistics having been last updated on Sept. 26, 2024.
In terms of overall Ohio cases, from the week of Sept. 6, 2024, through Sept. 12, 2024, there was a seven-day case increase of 10,315. For the week of Sept. 13, 2024, through Sept. 19, 2024, there was a seven-day increase of 8,391 cases and then a seven-day increase of 6,103 Covid-19 cases for the week of Sept. 20, 2024, through Sept. 26, 2024. These statistics show the fall-off between a couple of weeks ago in case rate, with that case rate down significantly since early September.
In terms of Ohio hospitalizations, those have also followed a similar path, having gone down, but also went up slightly a couple of weeks ago. For the week of Sept. 6, 2024, through Sept. 12, 2024, ODH reported that there was a seven-day hospitalizations increase of 281. That number then increased during the week of Sept. 13, 2024, through Sept. 19, 2024, when there was seven-day hospitalizations increase of 311. That number then went back down, with the seven-day hospitalizations increase at 245 for the week of Sept. 20, 2024, through Sept. 26, 2024.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Covid Data Center, Ohio’s test positivity went down for the week through Sept. 21, 2024, to 12.4 percent, a decrease of 2.2 percent from the previous data set.
Falls in Older Adults: A Key Risk Factor for Dementia – Public Health Insights
Did you know that a fall could be an early sign of dementia? New research reveals a 21% higher risk of dementia diagnosis after a fall in older adults. Learn why screening is key to better outcomes. 🌿 Full story with original study link: https://www.broadlyepi.com/emerging-study/falls-in-older-adults-a-key-risk-factor-for-dementia-public-health-insights/
If you enjoy these quick bites of recent studies, please do like and/or reblog. We're just starting out and would like to provide free analysis and education for a long while. Your support will be greatly appreciated!
Greenspaces and Cardiovascular Health: Unpacking Urban-Rural Differences
Not all greenspaces are equal. 🌳 A new study reveals how urban and rural greenspaces differently impact heart health. Learn more with our summary and link to original research here: https://www.broadlyepi.com/emerging-study/greenspaces-and-cardiovascular-health-unpacking-urban-rural-differences/
Anosmia May Indicate further Disability according to new study
Anosmia during COVID-19 may be more than just a temporary loss of smell. New research suggests it's linked to lasting brain alterations, even in mild cases. Read More (with a link to the original study) Here: https://www.broadlyepi.com/emerging-study/anosmia-in-covid-19-a-marker-for-brain-alterations-in-recovered-patients/
Study Reveals Semaglutide May Reduce Opioid Overdose Risk in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes and Opioid Use Disorder
🔍 Semaglutide’s potential just expanded beyond Type 2 diabetes. A new study shows it might lower opioid overdose risks in patients with opioid use disorder. Could this be a new tool in the fight against the opioid overdose epidemic?
Read our summary (with a link to the actual study) here: https://buff.ly/3BjW5JJ
#PublicHealth #OpioidCrisis #Semaglutide #T2D
like, if you're a bomb disposal guy and your team has a cool bomb-disposal robot which you've given a cutesy name to, you may hesitate to put that robot in harm's way, which is NOT OPTIMAL in the bomb-disposing field.
it also doesn't help if you hold funerals for the robots after they get exploded (this happens pretty regularly).
anyway nobody has worked out how to stop humans from pack-bonding with literally inanimate objects and they probably never will. (like even knowing it's a problem, I *still* think those EOD robots deserve funerals).
Scientists in films: this alien/AI is not human and therefore undeserving of any kindness or sympathy
Scientists irl: This is my friend Robob he's five feet long, has ten legs and was built to explode mines and if anybody hurts him I will tear apart time and space to get revenge
As The Oracle: Tegan Morris [She/Her] @TeganMorrisVO
As Cesar: Adam Robinson [Any] @AdamRobinsonVO
As Rory: Josh Begazo [He/Him] @GazeboVoices
As Maon: Micah Carmichael [They/Them]
As Saagnika: Moneesha "Misha" Bakshi [She/They/He]
As King Victor: Miles Garnica [He/Him] @milesgvo
As Queen Ximena: Caroline Orejuela [She/They] @carolineorejuela
We have quite a large cast, so if you haven't seen part 1 of our casting announcement, please see our page! We cannot be more excited to work with so many talented folks on this project, and we're even more excited to begin production this month!
As Leonardo: Alejandro Pedroza [He/Him] @Alej_Pedroza
As Luka: Marvin Sohl [He/It] @marvinsgardenVA
As Perlah: Vanessa Benoit [She/Her] @VanessaBenVO
As Norah: Morgie Bee [They/Any] @morgiebeeVA
As Ezra: Julian Dailey [He/They/She] @dailey_julian
As Keeva: M. Molder [They/Them] @themooncrownpod
As Ayden: Asher Amor-Train [They/Them] @AsherATVA
Our cast is quite large, so this announcement is split up into two parts! Please check our page for part 2 if it doesn't show up on your dash alongside this one! We couldn't be more happy to bring these talented folks onto the project, and we're looking forward to beginning production this month!
Hello! This newsletter will have both last weeks content and some less recent articles as well (excluding archived MMWR Boosters as otherwise that’d be way too many links). I hope you’re all doing great!
MMWR Boosters (Current Edition):
MMWR Booster for: Outbreak Linked to Morel Mushroom Exposure — Montana, 2023, Weekly / March 14, 2024 / 73(10);219–224
MMWR Booster for: Notes from the Field: Surveillance for Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children — United States, 2023 , Weekly / March 14, 2024 / 73(10);225–228
MMWR Booster for: Surveillance of Waterborne Disease Outbreaks Associated with Drinking Water — United States, 2015–2020 , Surveillance Summaries / March 14, 2024 / 73(1);1–23
MMWR Booster for: Notes from the Field: Measles Outbreak — Cook County, Illinois, October–November 2023, Weekly / March 14, 2024 / 73(10);229–230
MMWR Booster for: Surveillance for Coccidioidomycosis, Histoplasmosis, and Blastomycosis During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, 2019–2021 / Weekly / March 21, 2024 / 73(11);239–244
MMWR Booster for: Tuberculosis Preventive Treatment Update — U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, 36 Countries, 2016–2023 / Weekly / March 21, 2024 / 73(11);233–238
MMWR Booster for: Notes from the Field: Expanded Laboratory Testing for Varicella — Minnesota, 2016–2023 / Weekly / March 21, 2024 / 73(11);245–246
Epi Explained, ThuRsday and PyFriday Tutorials:
Epi Explained: Understanding T-Tests, Relative Risk and SIR Models
ThuRsday Tutorial: How to Calculate T-Tests, Relative Risk and SIR Models in R
PyFriday Tutorial: How to Calculate T-Tests, Relative Risk, and SIR Models in Python
As a final general announcement, we’re happy to report that BroadlyEpi is now a major sponsor of the Twin Strangers Production network of Audio Drama Podcasts. If you haven’t checked out any of their great work, you absolutely should.
MMWR Booster for: Federal Retail Pharmacy Program Contributions to Bivalent mRNA COVID-19 Vaccinations Across Sociodemographic Characteristics — United States, September 1, 2022–September 30, 2023 / Weekly / April 4, 2024 / 73(13);286–290
Top 5 Takeaways
Significant Contribution by FRPP: The Federal Retail Pharmacy Program (FRPP) partners administered 67.7% of the 59.8 million COVID-19 bivalent vaccine doses in the U.S. during the study period.
Variation Across Age Groups: The highest uptake of bivalent vaccine doses administered by FRPP partners was observed among adults aged 18–49 years (70.6%), while the lowest was among children aged 6 months–4 years (5.9%).
Equitable Access Across Racial and Ethnic Groups: FRPP partners administered a significant portion of bivalent doses to racial and ethnic minority groups, demonstrating a key role in ensuring equitable vaccine access.
Urban vs. Rural Distribution: FRPP partners administered a higher proportion of bivalent doses in urban areas (81.6%) compared to rural areas (60.0%), highlighting differences in pharmacy accessibility.
Potential Model for Future Public Health Responses: The success of the FRPP in administering bivalent COVID-19 vaccine doses suggests it could serve as a model for future vaccine-preventable disease responses.
El Kalach R, Jones-Jack N, Elam MA, et al. Federal Retail Pharmacy Program Contributions to Bivalent mRNA COVID-19 Vaccinations Across Sociodemographic Characteristics — United States, September 1, 2022–September 30, 2023. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2024;73:286–290. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7313a2.
Summary
This study evaluates the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program's contribution to administering COVID-19 bivalent mRNA vaccine doses across various sociodemographic groups in the U.S. from September 1, 2022, to September 30, 2023. It found that 67.7% of the total 59.8 million doses were administered by FRPP partners, with significant variations across age groups, and equitable access across racial and ethnic groups.
Methods
The analysis utilized two data sources: FRPP bivalent dose administration data reported directly to CDC and all-provider data on bivalent vaccine dose administration reported to CDC by each jurisdiction. It examined the proportion of doses administered by FRPP partners across different age cohorts, sexes, racial and ethnic groups, and urban-rural classifications.
Discussion
The FRPP's substantial role in administering bivalent doses indicates its effectiveness in making COVID-19 vaccines accessible across the U.S. Differences in vaccine uptake among different demographic groups highlight areas for further investigation and potential improvement in public health strategies.
Conclusion
The Federal Retail Pharmacy Program has been crucial in ensuring access to bivalent COVID-19 vaccinations across the U.S., demonstrating the potential for pharmacies to play a key role in future public health responses. Further strategies are needed to improve data collection and reporting, especially in pharmacy settings, to guide public health practices effectively.
This has been your booster shot of MMWR Info! Please check back for more MMWR, Public Health, and Programming Tutorial content daily.
MMWR Booster for: Vital Signs: Hepatitis C Treatment Among Insured Adults — United States, 2019–2020 / Weekly / August 12, 2022 / 71(32);1011-1017
Top 5 Takeaways
Low Treatment Rates Across Age and Insurance Types: Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment rates for hepatitis C are notably low, especially among young adults aged 18–29 years and Medicaid recipients, highlighting significant disparities in access to this life-saving treatment.
Impact of Medicaid Treatment Restrictions: Within Medicaid, treatment initiation is lower among persons in states with treatment restrictions, and among individuals identifying as Black or of other races, underscoring the need for policy changes to improve equity in treatment access.
Disparities in Treatment Initiation: Treatment initiation within 360 days of diagnosis varies significantly by insurance type, with private insurance recipients having the highest rates (35%), followed by Medicare (28%) and Medicaid (23%), indicating insurance type as a barrier to timely treatment.
Significance of Timely DAA Treatment: Timely initiation of DAA treatment is crucial for reducing hepatitis C virus-related mortality, disparities, and transmission, emphasizing the need for unrestricted access to DAA treatment across all insurance types.
Recommendations for Public Health Practice: Enhancing access to hepatitis C treatment, especially for Medicaid and Medicare recipients, and removing Medicaid treatment restrictions are critical steps towards achieving hepatitis C elimination goals.
Thompson WW, Symum H, Sandul A, et al. Vital Signs: Hepatitis C Treatment Among Insured Adults — United States, 2019–2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2022;71:1011-1017. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7132e1.
Summary
This article highlights the urgent need for improved access to hepatitis C treatment among insured adults in the United States, focusing on disparities related to age, race, and insurance type. Despite the high efficacy of DAA treatments, which can cure over 95% of cases, treatment rates remain low, particularly among young adults and Medicaid recipients. The report emphasizes the importance of timely DAA treatment initiation to reduce hepatitis C virus-related mortality, disparities, and transmission.
Methods
The study used data from HealthVerity to construct a cohort of adults aged 18–69 years with diagnosed hepatitis C infection, analyzing the association between DAA treatment initiation and factors such as sex, age, race, insurance payor, and Medicaid restriction status through multivariable logistic regression.
Discussion
Disparities in DAA treatment initiation are evident, with lower rates among Medicaid and Medicare recipients compared to those with private insurance. The analysis also reveals that treatment initiation is particularly low among young adults and individuals in states with Medicaid treatment restrictions. These disparities highlight the need for policy interventions to improve access to hepatitis C treatment.
Conclusion
To reduce hepatitis C virus-related mortality, disparities, and transmission, it is crucial to ensure unrestricted access to DAA treatment for all individuals, regardless of insurance type or state-imposed Medicaid treatment restrictions. Public health efforts should focus on removing barriers to treatment and promoting timely initiation of DAA therapy.
This has been your booster shot of MMWR Info! Please check back for more MMWR, Public Health, and Programming Tutorial content daily.
tumblr just nuked @milf-adjacent's blog with zero warning, no explanation from staff or e-mail whatsoever. her blog has been a vital resource for documenting COVID-19, and she did nothing ban worthy. she seems to be another target of the transmisogyny being carried out by staff.
Boosting this as milf-adjacent's blog was incredibly helpful and contained professionally verified information including my own. Hey @staff , what's it like to have your head so far up your ass that your hate removes useful information that can aid in saving lives? Do you enjoy being lumped in with the likes of MTG and JKR? Is that your kink?
Broadly Epi/ N0n-B1nary @broadlyepi - Tumblr Blog | Tumgag
