Cass County sees an uptick in Covid cases

Within the month of July, Cass County has seen nearly 50 new Covid-19 cases. This comes at a time when people were beginning to be hopeful of a post-pandemic life. As the increase has happened in our community there also has been an increase of people wearing masks indoors. As of July 9, there have been 4678 reported cases since the start of the pandemic.

Currently, there are still three vaccines that people can take that health officials believe statistically will reduce the effects and mortality rate of the illness. A new vaccine Novavax is seeking approval from the FDA. According to Yale Medicine, “Unlike the mRNA and vector vaccines, this is a protein adjuvant (an adjuvant is an ingredient used to strengthen the immune response). While other vaccines trick the body’s cells into creating parts of the virus that can trigger the immune system, the Novavax vaccine takes a different approach. It contains the spike protein of the coronavirus itself, but formulated as a nanoparticle, which cannot cause disease. When the vaccine is injected, this stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies and T-cell immune responses.”

According to studies, it is “90% effective against lab-confirmed, symptomatic infection and 100% against moderate and severe disease in Phase 3 trial results published in The New England Journal of Medicine in December 2021.” Novavax will be welcome news when it is approved for people concerned about the mRNA vaccines.

Regarding new treatments, also according to Yale Medicine, Paxlovid is the latest COVID-19 treatment that’s been all over the news. The drug was granted an emergency use authorization (EUA) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December for anyone ages 12 and older who weighs at least 88 pounds and is at high risk for severe disease.

“Paxlovid (developed by Pfizer) is an oral antiviral pill that can be taken at home to help keep high-risk patients from getting so sick that they need to be hospitalized. So, if you test positive for the coronavirus and a health care provider writes you a prescription, you can take pills at home and lower your risk of going to the hospital.”

Paxlovid has had an 89% reduction in the risk of hospitalization and death in clinical trials. It’s also cheaper than many other COVID-19 drugs. “I think it is the beginning of a ‘game-changer,’” says Scott Roberts, MD, a Yale Medicine infectious diseases specialist. “It’s really our first efficacious oral antiviral pill for this virus. It shows clear benefit, and it really can prevent hospitalization and death in people who are at high risk.”