What We’re Reading: Duration of COVID-19 Immunity; Caregiver Political Support; T2D Drug Recalled

Study Examines Duration of COVID-19 Immunity After Infection

As reported by Reuters, a study from the United Kingdom examining a small patient cohort of 100 nonhospitalized patients with mild or asymptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) found that cellular immunity to the virus remained present after 6 months, indicating that those infected may have some level of protection for at least that amount of time. Although scientists presenting the findings indicated that this discovery is reassuring, they note that people may still be prone to rare cases of being infected twice with COVID-19.

COVID-19 Caregivers’ Political Support

In an article by The New York Times, political support amongst caregivers of patients with COVID-19 was spotlighted. With almost 40% of all American COVID-19 deaths being linked to nursing homes and similar facilities, caregivers and frontline workers have been subject to rising fatalities as they provide support to older people at risk of isolation, distress, and mortality. In Pennsylvania, 1 of the country’s most important battleground states, caregivers described how their experiences are shaping their political support amidst the election, with some noting that faster, clearer, and better-coordinated government intervention could have saved lives.

T2D Drug Metformin Recalled Over Possible Carcinogen Contamination

CNN reports that 2 lots of the widely used type 2 diabetes (T2D) medication metformin were recalled over possible contamination with a potentially cancer-causing compound known as nitrosamine, or NDMA. The recall, which was posted by the FDA, occurred in Nostrum Laboratories Inc, based in Kansas City, Missouri, and involved metformin HCI extended release tablets, USP 750 mg. Considered a possible carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency, NDMA has been found in certain blood pressure drugs and antacids, with this case exhibiting levels of the compound that are above the acceptable limit.