Health and Wellness 10

New Study Suggests

COVID Patients More Susceptible to Mental Illness

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire

Medical and scientific experts have sounded the alarm, wanting people to understand that COVID is not the flu or a common cold, and recovery may not be permanent.

According to a new study, 20 percent of recovering coronavirus patients develop some form of mental illness within 90 days.

Researchers at Oxford University in Great Britain noted that first-time diagnosis of anxiety, depression, and insomnia increased two-fold in patients after they’ve recovered from COVID.

Further, they discovered that COVID survivors also found significantly higher risks of dementia.

“People have been worried that COVID-19 survivors will be at greater risk of mental health problems, and our findings … show this to be likely,” Paul Harrison, a professor of psychiatry at Oxford, told Reuters.

“(Health) services need to be ready to provide care, especially since our results are likely to be

underestimates (of the number of psychiatric patients),” he added.

The study, published in The Lancet Psychiatry journal, analyzed electronic health records of 69 million people in the United States, including more than 62,000 cases of COVID-19

The findings are likely to be the same for those afflicted by COVID-19 worldwide, the Oxford researchers noted, according to Reuters.

In the three months following testing positive for COVID, 1 in 5 survivors were recorded as having a first-time diagnosis of anxiety, depression, or insomnia — about twice as likely as for other groups of patients in the same period, the researchers said.

The study further revealed that people with a preexisting mental illness were 65 percent more likely to be diagnosed with COVID-19 than those without.

More than 10 million Americans have been diagnosed with the coronavirus, and over 238,000 have died.

African Americans comprise more than 20 percent of the total deaths in the United States.

Blacks and other communities of color continue to suffer disproportionately from the economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Urban Institute.

Over one-quarter of adults in Black households surveyed between August 19-31 used savings or sold assets to meet economic needs on the previous week.

Twenty-four percent of Black adults lived in households that were behind on rent payments. And approximately one-third of African Americans shared a home with someone expected to lose employment income this month.

“COVID-19 affects the central nervous system, and so might directly increase subsequent disorders,” Simon Wessely, regius professor at King’s College London, told Reuters.

“But this research confirms that is not the whole story, and that this risk is increased by previous ill health.”

Raises HIV/AIDS Awareness With Courage Tiffany Quinton

By d-mars.com News Provider

World AIDS Day, held each year on December 1st, is an opportunity to celebrate and support global efforts to prevent new HIV infections, increasing HIV awareness and knowledge, and supporting those living with HIV. When it comes to this disease, our community accounts for a higher proportion of new HIV diagnoses and people with HIV, compared to other races/ethnicities.

The poverty rate among African Americans is high. The socioeconomic issues associated with poverty—including limited access to high-quality health care, housing, and HIV prevention education—directly and indirectly increase the risk for HIV infection and affect the health of people living with and at risk for HIV. These factors may explain why African Americans have worse outcomes on the HIV continuum of care, including lower rates of linkage to care and viral suppression.

Helping to combat these statistics in our community is Tiffany Quinton, a soughtafter speaker and advocate who diligently continues to raise awareness on HIV/AIDS. Behind her boldness and passion to educate on this issue is a personal experience, as she has been living with HIV for over twenty years. With a beautiful smile and selfless spirit, she is courageous in sharing her testimony with others, hoping that her story and community outreach efforts will educate and empower others to be responsible with their health, lowering these numbers.

d-mars.com Health & Wellness Q&A with Tiffany Quinton:

1. Please tell us how long you have been living with HIV. I have been living with HIV for 26 years.

2. Do you see yourself as a victim or a survivor? I don't see myself as a victim or a survivor, but as an overcomer.

3. What is the difference between HIV and AIDS? HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks cells that help the body fight infection, making a person more vulnerable to other infections and diseases. If left untreated, HIV can lead to the disease, AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). AIDS is the late stage of HIV infection that occurs when the body’s immune system is badly damaged because of the virus.

4. What outreach efforts do you participate in/lead to raise awareness on HIV/AIDS in the community? In addition to my speaking and activism, I am involved in many HIV/AIDS community outreach

initiatives, such as a team captain for the AIDS Walk and lead counselor at Camp Hope, a camp for children living with HIV. Also, I am a leader of the HIV Ministry at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, my church.

5. What challenges do you face living with HIV? A major challenge that I face today is not being able to go out and enjoy life because I am at high-risk for other diseases, like COVID-19.

6. What are some of the attitudes of others that you and those living with HIV experience? There are definitely judgments. Some people look at us like we don't deserve to be happy. And there are those who feel that we deserve to live with the virus, looking at us like we are less than a child of God.

Courage and Hope

New Coronavirus Vaccine Requires ‘Trust’ of African American Community

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire

News that Pfizer and BioNTech’s announcement that their coronavirus vaccine was more than 90 percent effective in preventing COVID-19 among those without previous infection arrives as the United States continues to realize recordbreaking new cases.

The total number of cases soared past 10.5 million, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Both California and Texas have recorded more than 1 million total cases, while states like Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey have seen significant rises in COVID infections.

More than 242,000 people have died in the United States since the declaration of the outbreak of the pandemic in March. Health officials have expressed that the new vaccine offers real hope for the future.

“It is a great day for science and humanity. The first set of results from our Phase 3 COVID-19 vaccine trial provides the initial evidence of our vaccine’s ability to prevent COVID-19,” Dr. Albert Bourla, Pfizer Chairman and CEO, offered in a news release.

During Phase I, small groups of people receive the trial vaccine.

In Phase II, the clinical study is expanded, and vaccine is given to people who have characteristics (such as age and physical health) similar to those for whom the new vaccine is intended.

In Phase III, the vaccine is given to thousands of people and tested for efficacy and safety.

Many vaccines undergo Phase IV formal, ongoing studies after the vaccine is approved and licensed.

Pfizer’s vaccine is the first in the United States to generate late-stage data.

An analysis of individuals that received two injections of the vaccine, spaced three weeks apart, revealed more than 90 percent fewer cases of symptomatic COVID-19 when compared to those who received the placebo.

The results are significant because health and science experts have stated that they expected a vaccine to yield an effective rate of no more than 70 percent.

In spite of this good news, many in the African American community continue to take a wait-and-see approach.

“Somehow, scientific, education and community leaders must reassure a skeptical community of color that the vaccine will help and protect them,” said Gina Harper.

She created an urban garden in New York after growing up on a farm in Oklahoma.

“Perhaps the best way would be to prove the point by exemplifying members of the Black community who have taken the vaccine and remained healthy,” Harper remarked.

7. Do you find that some organizations/churches/schools are still silent on this issue, or are you seeing more acknowledgement that the outreach is needed? We are starting to talk about it more, but we can do much better, being that HIV/ AIDS impacts our community more than others. Some don't want to talk about it because it hasn't hit their house, and some choose to ignore it, hoping it will go away. I am happy to see an increase of our young

people seeking information on HIV/AIDS. I love that my church has a ministry and support system for those living with HIV/ AIDS, and I’m hoping more churches in our community will follow suit.

8. What else do you want our readers to know? HIV is 100% preventable. Never trust anyone with your body. Treat everyone as if they have the virus. And if you are living with the virus, be truthful with your partner. Don’t take someone else’s life.

Since COVID-19, talk of HIV/AIDS has been on the backburner. But HIV remains a disproportionate risk to African Americans.

1 in 7 blacks/African Americans with HIV are unaware they have it. “I have been living with HIV for over twenty years, and I am not ashamed to tell my story. God still has me on this earth for a reason. And if my sharing saves just one person’s life, my living has not been in vain,” says Tiffany.

Sources: hivinfo.nih.gov cdc.gov hiv.gov

“We are reaching this critical milestone in our vaccine development program at a time when the world needs it most, with infection rates setting new records, hospitals nearing over-capacity, and economies struggling to reopen,” Dr. Bourla remarked.

He continued:

“We are a significant step closer to providing people around the world with a muchneeded breakthrough to help bring an end to this global health crisis. We look forward to sharing additional efficacy and safety data generated from thousands of participants in the coming weeks.”

Pfizer has maintained a strategic partnership with the National Newspaper Publishers Association, offering insight on various rare diseases like sickle cell that disproportionately affect the African American community.

Dr. Kevin Williams, the Chief Medical Officer for Pfizer’s Rare Disease unit, periodically writes a column in the Black Press to help keep the African American community informed.

According to information posted on the CDC’s website, clinical development is a three-phase process.

The Pfizer vaccine clinical trial “went out of its way in their recruitment and enlarged their initial population of 30,000 to almost 44,000 to recruit more people of color,” stated Dale Yuzuki, a biotech executive and author of “COVID-19: From Chaos to Cure. The Biology Behind the Fight Against the Novel Coronavirus.”

“It is certainly a focus within the National Institutes of Health, where they are sensitized to the acute needs of minority populations and their justified suspicion of governmentsponsored public health programs.”

Dr. James E.K. Hildreth, one of the world’s foremost immunologists and president and CEO of Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn., is a recent appointee to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s commission that will ultimately approve the Pfizer vaccine and any others.

Hildreth, an African American, insists that any vaccine must have the confidence of Black people.

“I’ve made the decision that I’m going to participate in one of the vaccine trials. The trust issue cannot be overstated,” Dr. Hildreth said.

“We have to have more trusted messengers and more trusted opinion leaders to make this work.”

Source: NNPA Newswire

Get a Clue About the Flu: What You Need To Know

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire

As flu season collides with the COVID-19 pandemic this year, it's critical to think about how to best protect yourself, your loved ones and the members of your community from getting sick and overburdening an increasingly strained healthcare system. Getting a flu shot each season is an easy and safe way to take preventative action.

In a recent Walgreens survey conducted online in August by The Harris Poll, 72% of Americans say they probably or definitely will get the flu shot this season, with 32% of all U.S. adults saying they are more likely to get a flu shot this year than in previous years.

While encouraging, the survey also revealed that 28% of Americans have not made plans to get their flu shot this year and many common misconceptions about the flu continue to prevail. Misinformation can discourage some from getting a flu shot and taking the best preventative step they can to ward off seasonal illness.

To help make sure Americans are getting the right information, Dr. Kevin Ban, chief medical officer at Walgreens, addresses some of the top questions people have about flu shots.

Question 1: I'm already social distancing, wearing a face mask and frequently washing my hands. Do I really still need a flu shot?

While these measures are all important steps to help limit the spread of COVID-19, the flu and other respiratory illnesses, getting a flu shot every year can help prevent community spread of the flu and a possible "twindemic" with both flu and COVID-19 circulating at the same time. Last season, the flu shot prevented 3.69 million doctor's visits and 105,000 hospitalizations, and everyone needs to do their part to preserve healthcare resources as COVID-19 continues to spread.

Question 2: What if my insurance doesn't cover my flu shot?

Flu shots are covered by most insurance plans with a $0 co-pay, although provider networks may vary. People enrolled in Medicare Part B and many with Medicaid in certain states may also receive the flu shot at no cost, according to the CDC. Members of the Walgreens Prescription Savings Club may also get a discount of 20% off cash retail price. You can speak with your local pharmacist to learn more about your payment options.

Question 3: Is it safe to get a flu shot

during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Doctor's offices and pharmacies are taking all the necessary precautions to safely immunize patients. For example, at our pharmacies, we conduct temperature checks and symptom screenings prior to administering a flu shot, require pharmacy team members to wear face masks and plastic face shields, promote social distancing and clean and disinfect the immunization area after the patient has left. Patients can also complete paperwork in advance and schedule appointments online to reduce time in the pharmacy.

Staying up to date on routine immunizations like influenza, shingles and pneumonia is more important during the COVID-19 pandemic to help protect communities from vaccine-preventable illnesses.

Question 4: How do I know what flu shot is right for me?

Your local pharmacist can work with you to determine which flu vaccine is right for you based on your age and health history. In addition to the standard-dose flu shot, there are also flu vaccines designed specifically for people 65 years and older. While high-dose or adjuvanted flu vaccines can help improve antibody response for older people, according to the CDC , seniors may receive any currently licensed flu vaccine that is available.

Question 5: Is it too late for me to get a flu shot this year?

It's not too late to get your flu shot for protection during this year's flu season. Primary care providers and pharmacies typically offer flu vaccines past the peak of the flu season well into the spring. If you haven't already received your flu shot, now is the time, as it takes about two weeks to develop the antibodies to fight the flu after getting your flu shot.

For more information on what to expect when getting your flu shot this year or to make an appointment for a flu shot, visit Walgreens. com/flu.

Source: BPT