The AMA Update provides expert commentary on COVID-19, monkeypox, medical education, advocacy issues, burnout, and vaccines. The latest issue includes an interview with AMA Vice President for Science, Medicine and Public Health John C. Conway, MD, who discusses the surge in RSV cases and what can be done to limit the spread of the virus. The AMA COVID-19 resource center also features healthcare news expert commentary on the epidemic.
Table of Contents
Black people less likely to receive a COVID-19 shot than white people
There are many factors that contribute to racial health disparities. Inequity in health care, historical inequities, and institutional racism are just a few examples. Furthermore, a lack of diversity among health care practitioners, combined with substandard care and service, are contributing factors in the poor health of Black Americans.
The results of the survey also indicate that racial and ethnic groups are equally likely to have received the vaccine. Overall, 72% of Black adults reported that they had received at least one dose of the vaccine during the month of August. However, this number doesn’t include people of color who were born outside the United States.
Children’s immunity to RSV waned during the pandemic
Researchers have now found that a pandemic of COVID-19 has altered the immune response to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The virus, which affects the lower respiratory tract, can cause severe illness and even death in young children. During a typical year, Canada would see up to 20,000 cases of RSV. However, in the winter of 2020-2021, only 239 positive cases were reported. This increase in RSV cases could be due to the relaxed public health measures that were put into place during the pandemic.
The peak season for RSV was earlier than usual this fall, but it has hit hospitals hard this year. This has caused infectious disease specialists to worry about a potential epidemic. A epidemic would overwhelm the medical system, disrupting elective surgeries and crowding emergency rooms.
While the Yamagata strain of influenza B did not return after the pandemic, enterovirus D68 is expected to re-emerge in Europe in the autumn of 2021 outside of its biennial cycle. Moreover, returning viral outbreaks have varied by location and pathogen.
Impact of COVID-19 on schools
The impact of the two-year COVID-19 pandemic on schools cannot be underestimated. While the disruption caused by the virus was devastating for schools and students, a review of the school system’s experience has revealed some key lessons. The report highlights the key challenges faced by schools, identifies key learning outcomes, and provides actionable lessons for school leaders and administrators.
As one of the major issues affecting schools in Ghana, the impact of COVID-19 is likely to affect students’ future well beyond its immediate impact on the current school year. Studies have shown that the virus has negative impacts on education and could cause lower wages and national GDP in the future. Additionally, it may worsen students’ mental health.
The government should commission a study on the impact of COVID-19 loans on schools. It should include data on the number of schools benefited and the types of schools that were impacted. The report should then be published. It should also look into the issue of statutory payments, which often hamper private schools from taking advantage of government relief packages. This information could help the government design relief packages for private schools.
Impact of COVID-19 on airlines
The COVID-19 pandemic has created an enormous economic and social impact on airlines and aviation markets. Although travel bans have reduced the number of imported cases, they have had little effect on COVID-19’s trajectory. The impact on air travel is huge, as it is the primary means of transportation for millions of people and tons of cargo.
COVID-19 affects the demand for air travel for all segments of the population, but the extent of this effect differs according to individual preferences and household incomes. Airlines should consider these factors when developing their recovery strategies. A study that considers a passenger’s willingness to travel may also be able to predict the impact of COVID-19 on passenger demand.
Airline margins are already stretched thin, and airlines may need to cut flights during the worst periods of the epidemic. While airlines are trying to cut costs and improve passenger service, they must also focus on customer retention. In addition to lowering fares and reducing capacity, airlines may need to offer booking incentives to attract customers. However, this strategy has limited value if consumers are unwilling to fly.
