What We’re Reading: COVID-19 Rebound Explained; Teen Vaping Continues; Racial Disparities in Monkeypox Rates

Heightened Immune System Causing Rebound COVID-19

Researchers found that rebounded symptoms of COVID-19 after receiving treatment with Pfizer’s Paxlovid may be caused by a heightened immune response rather than a weak one, according to a report from Reuters. The report also noted that taking the drug over the recommended 5-day course was not found to reduce the risk of rebound symptoms. Patients who experienced rebound symptoms had higher levels of antibodies vs those who did not. This news comes as the CDC announced that starting October 20, it will cease daily reporting of COVID-19 cases in favor of weekly reports, hoping to reduce the reporting burden for state and local governments.

Teen Vaping Rates Continue to Be High

An article from The Associated Press reported that a government survey found little progress has been made to reduce rates of teens vaping. The data showed that 14% of high school students said they had recently used an e-cigarette compared with 11% last year, suggesting that teen vaping rates are on the rise. However, experts warned that changes in the survey made it difficult to compare the results, including that a higher percentage of students took the survey at school this year and that vaping tends to be reported more in schools than at home. The survey also found that 28% of high school students said they use e-cigarettes every day and 85% of those who said they vape use flavored products.

Monkeypox Rates Higher Among Black Americans

According to the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, researchers found that monkeypox infection disproportionally affects Black and Latino Americans compared with White Americans. In particular, rates were 5 times higher among Black Americans vs White Americans (14.4 vs 2.6 cases per 100,000). The statistics were based on data from the CDC, which concluded that 70% of the cases where a race or ethnicity are known as of September 23 were among people of color, despite representing 40% of the population. The report also said there has been racial inequity in the distribution of monkeypox vaccinations.