Medicinal herbs can be effective in treating some diseases or alleviating their symptoms. However, no clinical data so far has shown that mullein leaves or marshmallow roots are effective at treating or mitigating COVID-19.
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a common medical condition making it difficult for people to stand up. Data showed that both COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccination could increase the risk of POTS. However, data also showed that the risk is five times higher following the disease than following the vaccination, illustrating the benefits of vaccination.
The spread of the COVID-19 pandemic was accompanied by an unprecedented spread of misinformation, occasionally exacerbated by mixed messages from public health authorities. However, changing recommendations reflect the fact that it takes time to conduct research, particularly amid a global health crisis with a novel pathogen, and authorities changed course as our scientific understanding of COVID-19 evolved over time.
Most people who recover from COVID-19 develop some level of protective immunity. However, this level varies greatly from person to person and might be insufficient in some cases to protect the person against the disease. COVID-19 vaccines tend to generate a more consistent immune response than infection and are also a much safer way of acquiring immunity because they don’t expose the person to the risks of the disease. Vaccination can also benefit COVID-19 survivors by enhancing the protection resulting from infection.
Key results 1. A study of 490 “misinformation superspreaders” (here defined as accounts that have repeatedly published popular tweets linking to known misinformation) shows that their collective popularity has significantly grown (on average, +42% interactions per tweet) since Elon Musk took effective control of the platform on 27 October 2022. Accounts from established and credible … Continued
Randomized controlled trials are considered the gold standard when assessing the effectiveness of an intervention. However, this type of study can vary greatly in quality, particularly in complex interventions such as face masks, affecting the reliability of the results. In this context, many scientists consider that randomized controlled trials should be seen as a part of a more broader evidence including other study designs. When taking those studies into account, evidence suggests that widespread mask usage can reduce community transmission of SARS-CoV-2, especially when combined with other interventions like frequent handwashing and physical distancing.
Moderna began to work on mRNA vaccines in 2010 and was already collaborating with the U.S. National Institutes of Health before the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, the company was able to produce around 100,000 doses of mRNA vaccines of any kind. The COVID-19 outbreak in late 2019 and the decision to produce a vaccine against COVID-19 led the company to scale up its manufacturing capacity to address the possibility of an oncoming pandemic.
PCR is a commonly used method to replicate genetic sequences. This is called “molecular cloning”. It is distinct from reproductive cloning, which is the cloning of entire organisms. PCR-based COVID-19 tests are designed to specifically replicate SARS-CoV-2 genetic material that may be contained in people’s collected fluids but don’t contain other genetic material.
Vaccines train the immune system to efficiently respond to one specific pathogen; they don’t prevent our immune system from combating other pathogens or cancer. COVID-19 vaccines are effective at protecting against death and severe COVID-19 and aren’t responsible for the excess mortality observed in 2022.
Despite claims made on social media, a study published by the peer-reviewed journal BMC Infectious Diseases doesn’t actually provide the necessary scientific evidence for its claim that nearly 300,000 people died from COVID-19 vaccines. This estimate is based on a survey of about 2,800 people, but doesn’t involve verifying the accuracy of survey responses by examining medical records. As such, the study doesn’t offer a reliable estimate of deaths related to the COVID-19 vaccines.
