COVID-19: Early Vaccine Results / Blood Donation Changes / Environmental Contamination

By Kelly Young

Edited by André Sofair, MD, MPH, and William E. Chavey, MD, MS

Here are some of the latest developments on the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) front:

Early vaccine results: A vaccine candidate delivered via microneedle arrays has prompted an immune response to SARS-CoV-2 in rodents. The study, published in EBioMedicine, found that when mice received PittCoVax, they had an increase of antibodies within 2 weeks. Clinical trials in humans could begin in months.

Blood donation guidance: The FDA has updated its blood donation guidance to expand its donor pool. Some of the changes include shortening the deferral period for men who've had sex with men from 12 months to 3 months. The same change applies to those who have received tattoos and piercings or have traveled to malaria-endemic countries.

Environmental contamination: A generally healthy infant with COVID-19 can still contaminate its surroundings, according to a research letter in the Annals of Internal Medicine. A 6-month-old infant tested positive for COVID-19 with a high viral load but no respiratory symptoms. The personal protective equipment (PPE) of the healthcare worker who cared for the infant tested negative for SARS-CoV-2, but the infant's bedding, bed rail, and a table located 1 meter away from the bed all tested positive. The authors say the environment could have been contaminated through crying or drooling. In addition, they note that the surface farthest from the infant — the table — had a high reading, and they speculate that there may have been indirect contamination from baby wipes, formula, and other items that were put on it.

Stroke guidance: The American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association have issued emergency guidance on stroke care during the COVID-19 pandemic. The guidance addresses shortages in PPE, staffing, and available beds. For instance, if an ICU bed is needed for COVID-19, "it is feasible to move stable stroke patients to step-down or other units" after thrombolysis or thrombectomy. The groups cite a study in which over a third of COVID-19 patients experienced neurologic symptoms, including dizziness, headache, and encephalopathy. Separately, a New York Times story examines various neurologic impairments — including stroke and seizures — found in a small subset of COVID-19 patients.

And finally, roughly 1 million COVID-19 cases have now been confirmed worldwide.