Article Summary
March 10, 2021
Comparison of COVID-19 Vaccine Prioritization Strategies in the United States
[Pre-print, not peer-reviewed] A static simulation model using California as an example to compare the impact of different vaccine prioritization strategies in the United States found that prioritizing older individuals averted the highest proportion of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs, 40% for 5 million individuals vaccinated) and deaths (65%), but the lowest proportion of cases (12%)….
The Plasmablast Response to SARS-CoV-2 MRNA Vaccination Is Dominated by Non-Neutralizing Antibodies That Target Both the NTD and the RBD
[Pre-print, not peer-reviewed] A study of vaccine-induced polyclonal antibodies and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) from subjects who received SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines found that polyclonal antibody responses were robust and comparable to or exceeded those observed after natural infection. However, most vaccine-induced mAbs did not demonstrate neutralizing activity. Neutralizing activity of N-terminal domain (NTD) mAbs, but not…
Extremely Potent Human Monoclonal Antibodies from COVID-19 Convalescent Patients
A study that identified highly potent human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) found that the most potent mAbs recognized the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor-binding domain, followed by those that recognized the S1 domain, the spike protein trimer, and the S2 subunit. Only 1.4% neutralized the virus with a potency of 1–10 ng/mL. The authors also engineered the most…
Transmission Infectivity and Antibody Neutralization of an Emerging SARS-CoV-2 Variant in California Carrying a L452R Spike Protein Mutation
[Pre-print, not peer-reviewed] Whole genome sequencing of 2,172 remnant nasal/nasopharyngeal swab samples from 44 counties in California identified a novel SARS-CoV-2 variant characterized by three mutations in the spike protein named B.1.427/B.1.429 or 20C/L452R. This variant emerged around May 2020, and by January 29, 2021 represented >50% of sequenced cases, exhibiting an estimated 19-24% increase…
COVID-19-Associated School Closures and Related Efforts to Sustain Education and Subsidized Meal Programs United States February 18-June 30 2020
[Pre-print, not peer-reviewed] A study using daily media searches to identify publicly announced COVID-19–related school closures lasting ≥1 day in the United States, and statewide school closure policies from state government websites, found that the vast majority of the 600 districts sampled in the study offered distance learning (91%) and continued provision of subsidized meal…
March 9, 2021
When You’ve Been Fully Vaccinated
New recommendations from CDC indicate that fully vaccinated individuals can now safely gather indoors with other fully vaccinated individuals without wearing a mask, in light of the increasing evidence that vaccinated individuals are less likely to have asymptomatic infection and to transmit SARS-CoV-2 to others. In contrast, CDC recommends that fully vaccinated individuals only gather…
Elevated Mortality among People Experiencing Homelessness with COVID-19
[Pre-print, not peer-reviewed] The COVID-19 case fatality rate (CFR) among people experiencing homelessness (PEH) residing in 7 of the most populous US health jurisdictions was 1.3-times higher than that of the general population. In Los Angeles County, where PEH data is further stratified by additional demographic characteristics, the PEH CFR was up to 14-times higher…
Case Fatality Risk of the SARS-CoV-2 Variant of Concern B.1.1.7 in England
[Pre-print, not peer-reviewed] Infection with the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 variant was associated with 1.7-fold increased risk of death compared to infection with non-B.1.1.7 strains, according to UK electronic health record data collected from November 2020 to February 2021. Increased risk of death was consistent across subgroups by age, number of comorbidities, ethnicity, and deprivation index quintile….
Covid-19 in the California State Prison System An Observational Study of Decarceration Ongoing Risks and Risk Factors
[Pre-print, not peer-reviewed] In 9 California prisons that experienced major COVID-19 outbreaks, risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection included living in a dormitory vs. in a cell (2.5-fold risk) and living in a room with residents who participated in out-of-room labor vs. other rooms (1.6-fold). By the end of the study, 18% had high COVID-19 risk…
Clinical and Economic Effects of Widespread Rapid Testing to Decrease SARS-CoV-2 Transmission
A transmission model calibrated to the US population suggests that implementing weekly home-based SARS-CoV-2 antigen testing could avert 2.8 million infections and 15,700 deaths over 60 days. In contrast, a scenario with no testing anticipates 11.6 million infections and 119,000 deaths over the same time period. While the scenario with testing could cost an additional…
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