Hi @katy, (apologies for the tag, reply function not working)
Agreed, re COVID-19 mutating & being endemic like the flu. They will also probably need to continue tweaking vaccines like the annual flu shot to cover mutant strains.
The Pfizer vaccine was the one with issues with anaphylaxis and they think it’s the small amount of PEG in it. I’ve noticed that is also in some other vaccines also (my daughter is due for booster shot for triple antigen & HPV vaccine at school).
People become unknowingly sensitised to it because it is contained in some medications, shampoos and cosmetics. Most Australians will be getting the AstraZeneca vaccine and of course with any vaccine there is a risk of allergic reaction, which is why you need to stay for 1/2 hour observation afterwards, but they are rare.
It’s not practical to be doing allergy testing for PEG prior to mass vaccination. Anywhere that provides immunisation must have emergency drugs available including adrenaline and oxygen. We will be getting the Pfizer jab (in a hospital clinic) & sure I am a little apprehensive about it, purely because it’s a new technology (mRNA) & the increased risk of anaphylaxis (although uncommon). Feel a bit better about it now after reading advice & position statement on it, and not what is in the media, but still there have been some deaths post vaccination in otherwise healthy people.
Big labs are projecting their earnings from COVID testing will go down, but core business will increase post-COVID & I think this is where PromarkerD will come in very handy to look at kidney function & prediction of further decline. The long term effects of COVID-19 are pretty concerning in kidney disease. I think labs will be super busy screening people for chronic and complex diseases, such as diabetes and kidney disease.
There are some biomarkers identified in predicting severe COVID-19, MCP-1 is one of those. Agreed it will be very useful to have a standardised test to start treatment early, as these patients are not always identifiable by existing risk factors. I think this is where the genetic risk factors may come into it with younger, healthy people who get really sick.
Anyway, bring on some news PIQ!
Have a great day all.
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