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Starting on January 1, 2022, a new law came into effect that should be a breath of fresh air for insured families all over the United States — no more surprise medical bills. This law applies to patients receiving medical care in emergency rooms as well as other health services such as nonelective emergency cases and air ambulances. 

With bipartisan support, the No Surprises Act was passed by Congress last December. The law puts into motion, with federal protection, no surprise medical bills for consum-ers. 

What constitutes a “surprise” medical bill? 

For starters, it’s important to understand what type of medical bills are protected by this new law, how patients’ wallets are shielded, and if there are any financial implications when it comes to medical care costs and premiums. 

Healthline Media interviewed policy experts to help answer these questions. 

Research professor emeritus in the Health Policy Institute of Georgetown University’s School of Public Policy, Jack Hoadley, PhD, explained, “This is important because there are numerous situations that can be surprising but don’t fall into this official bucket of surprise medical bills.” Hoadley continued, “When we talk about surprise medical bills for the purposes of the No Surprises Act, it means situations where you end up using an out-of-network healthcare facility or healthcare provider, generally, through no fault of your own.” 

For example, some circumstances include not realizing that your insurance coverage requires a high deductible to be met, or not knowing that particular surgeries and proce-dures are quite expensive. A recurrent situation in this type of dynamic often takes place in crisis scenarios — such as being transported to a hospital by ambulance that isn’t in your insurance plan’s network; you later receive a surprise medical bill even though you had no involvement in choosing an out of network hospital. 

Another example would be if you do go to a hospital that is within your insurance plan’s network (for an emergency or elective procedure), but you are treated by a physician who isn’t considered in-network by your plan. 

Hoadley clarified, “So even if you’ve done your due diligence and pick an in-network fa-cility and picked an in-network surgeon to do your procedure or an in-network obstetri-cian to deliver your baby, while you’re there, you can also be treated by an out-of-net-work anesthesiologist, or radiologist, or a cardiologist. And again, it’s not something you were told about or could control.” 

The outcome of these situations can oftentimes end with an unexpected bill showing up in the mail, informing the patient there is a balance due; this is the difference owed be-tween what the insurance company covered vs. the total amount charged for the ser-vices. According to research, approximately 20% of inpatient visits to the ER can result in a surprise medical bill, ranging anywhere from $750 all the way to $2,600 depending on what healthcare services were provided. 

How does this bill protect you? 

Patients with private insurance are protected by the No Surprises Act by not paying more than their in-network rate, even when they’re treated at out-of-network medical in-stitutions or cared for by out-of-network medical professionals, without their signed con-sent. 

As of this moment, the law does not include ambulances on the ground, however there is an advisory committee in place to formulate recommendations and help streamline the system. Their advisement covers a range of items such as full disclosure of medical service charges, to enforcement systems. 

Patients have the right to receive elective procedures by medical workers outside of their insurance plan’s network, however the No Surprises Act mandates that they have to be informed beforehand and give consent. 

What should you do if you receive a surprise medical bill? 

Ideally, after January 1, the surprise medical bills should come to a halt, but certainly the system isn’t foolproof from day one. If you still get an unexpected payment request in the mail, there are recommendations in place on how to handle it. 

Step one is to contact your health insurance company. 

Hoadley said, “When you receive your explanation of benefits, it will tell you how much you’re liable to pay and how much the policy is paying, and then you can compare that with the bill you got from the medical facility, and see whether you’re getting billed for more than you should be.” 

Next, utilize resources that are available for people who have questions about whether or not their medical bill constitutes as a surprise under this new law. The toll-free phone number to call is 1-800-985-3059, and the website is https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises. 

As always, stay tuned for the latest in healthcare news by visiting our Auxo Medical blog.

Anticipation is high within the healthcare industry for upcoming pioneering innovations based on what transpired in 2021. Here are our top six predictions for 2022 when it comes to technologies and trends within the medical space. 

Trailblazing Drug Development 

Developing several effective COVID-19 vaccines in under a year may go down as one of the most notable scientific achievements in the history of mankind. The groundbreaking rollout was expedited by governing regulatory experts, as well as innovative vaccine trials. Hosting virtual clinical studies enabled the participation not to be compromised. The FDA announced new guidelines for virtual trials, which opens up the doors for the creation and exploration of new drugs down the road. 

Additionally, it must be noted that pharmaceutical competitors came together in a collaborative effort, which further helped speed along the novel vaccine and drug developments. For example, pharma giants Gilead, Novartis, and WuXi AppTec have formed an alliance to explore antiviral therapies. 

Telehealth 2.0 

Throughout the pandemic, telehealth was the shining star. Prior to the coronavirus outbreak in 2020, approximately 24 percent of healthcare organizations had telehealth services available. After only one year, more than one billion telehealth appointments were conducted. By 2021, nearly all healthcare institutions had telehealth programs at the top of their priority lists. 

Thanks to telehealth, accessibility to health care providers and mental health support has grown and will continue to grow exponentially. 

Digital Assistances 

Digital staples in countless households across the globe, including Alexa and Google Home, have fundamentally shifted the manner in which people live their lives. Digital assistances, so to speak, have also played a contributing role within healthcare. 

Data capturing has been embedded within the medical arena for years. So, it only makes sense that natural language systems and ambient listening have found their place as it relates to capturing and processing healthcare data. 

The two most prominent electronic health care records (EHR), Epic and Cerner, started to use voice-enabled virtual assistants as part of their software in 2020. We expect this technology to advance with further refinement over time. 

Nanomedicine 

Nanotechnology is the branch of technology that deals with dimensions and tolerances of less than 100 nanometers. Nanomedicine utilizes nanotechnology in order to work on incremental scales such as atomic, molecular, and supramolecular. In 2021, researchers navigated innovative techniques in order to reach individual cells using nanomedicine. One clever example is a biopharmaceutical company leveraging nanotechnology which can combat bacteria and viruses. 

Intelligent Pacemakers 

A significant advancement within the medical field is the Bluetooth-enabled pacemaker. This technology provides patients the ability to connect their pacemaker to their mobile device, which in-turn advances monitoring the health of their heart. 

A pacemaker’s purpose is to transport electrical pulses throughout chambers of the patient’s heart in order to avoid heart arrhythmias. Historically, the monitoring system is too complicated for a lay person to comprehend. Now, with the ability to connect mobile devices, it gives medical providers the ability to safely track their patients’ health status from afar. 

Smarter Wearables 

Fitness trackers became popular years ago, and their attraction to consumers has not slowed down. In 2019, the popular fitness tracking device FitBit, shipped nearly 10 mil-lion products. 

Next up in 2022 — wearables within the medical technology space will become even more specified. For example, wearable continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) are set to become the new normal for people with diabetes. These wearable monitors offer real-time blood sugar level readings, vs. the need to periodically take glucose tests. Besides the convenience factor, it also provides instant insights from food consumption and fitness activity. 

We wish everyone a healthy and prosperous New Year from Auxo Medical. In 2022, you can continue to count on us for delivering relevant, timely and valuable content as it pertains to healthcare.  

If you plan on traveling during the 2021 holiday season, there are several COVID-19 considerations you should take into account.

Adopting Healthy Habits

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) published a list of healthy habits to adopt during the holiday season.

1. Wash your hands regularly to aid in preventing the spread of germs; it is flu season after all. Briskly wash your hands with soap and warm water for a minimum of 20 seconds.

2. When going outdoors, layer your clothes to ensure you stay warm and dry. Don’t forget your gloves, a hat, scarves.

3. Stress is linked to taking a toll on our immune systems. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a time-out. That could look like a walk outside to get some fresh air and clear your head. It also includes getting restful sleep, as well as having outlets for releasing the stress such as catching up with a friend over the phone, or practicing meditation.

4. If you’ve been putting them off — now is the time to call your providers’ offices and book routine exams and screenings.

5. Make sure you are current on all relevant vaccinations. Vaccines save lives.

6. The holidays are often spent around the dining room table enjoying home cooked meals. Remember to regularly wash your hands and disinfect surfaces to avoid cross contamination.

7. It’s perfectly normal to indulge a bit more during this time of year, but don’t aban-don clean eating entirely — consuming daily servings of fruits and vegetables will help lower your risk for certain diseases.

Vaccine Mandates

Healthline interviewed pulmonary and critical care physician at the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Joseph Khabbaza, If you plan on traveling during the holiday season, Khabbaza suggests continually researching requirements for various forms of travel — that includes understanding vaccine requirements at your final destination. Travel can be stressful enough, so avoiding any surprises will make for a much more pleasant experience.

At this time, the only place that currently requires proof of vaccination within the United States is entry into Hawaii. The state has an online portal to upload proof of vaccination status.

If you have received the COVID-19 vaccine within the United States and its territories, you’ll steer clear of the mandatory 10-day quarantine. Of course you’ll need to prove your vaccine history in order to avoid this mandate.

If you do not want to indicate proof of your vaccination status, then you can undergo a pre-travel test, proving a negative COVID-19 test result. This process needs to be completed no more than 72 hours before the final leg of your trip to the state.

Quarantine Protocols

Look into the CDC’s latest quarantine protocols prior to solidifying your travel accommodations.

According to countless industry experts, the most reliable source to research quarantine mandates for your destination is the CDC’s website.

Keep in mind that COVID-19 statistics are constantly changing, which means that travel guidance will also regularly change. A country could require self-isolation upon arrival tomorrow, whereas today there are no quarantining protocols in place. Also, remember that vaccination status will often play a part in self-isolating requirements after entering the country.

Tropical Destinations

It goes without saying that any travel during the coronavirus pandemic, no matter the method or the destination, incurs risk. Some experts say that picking a tropical location could be slightly safer given the fact it likely means you’ll spend a lot of time outdoors with lower transmission rates.

Once again, even if a particular tropical destination boasts lower COVID-19 infection rates, you’ll still need to consider the local vaccination rates. Additionally, if a particular country isn’t very strict with their COVID-19 regulations, it would be particularly prudent of you to practice safe social distancing in those locations.

Final Thoughts

The CDC has created a helpful Travel Recommendations by Destination map. Using this resource can assist in circumventing destinations that may be considered high risk.

Please continue to visit our Auxo Medical Blog for updated, relevant healthcare infor-mation.

Meta Description: This article highlights safety considerations for travelers during the 2021 holiday season, including vaccines, quarantining, and health habits.

Last month, a Final Rule was adopted by the Library of Congress regarding access to medical device software as a means to diagnose, repair, and maintain the products; the ruling states that this accessibility is regarded as fair use under copyright law. The Librarian of Congress ruling in its entirety can be found here. 

A recommendation came from the Copyright Office Registrar, advising exemption to the provision of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) which prohibited “circumvention of technical measures that control access to copyrighted works” according to the published document released on October 28, 2021. 

Notably, the ruling exempts responsibility for medical device manufacturers accessing copyrighted software and associated data files on legally procured medical devices or systems when it’s imperative to maintaining and/or restoring a device to operate congruently with its original framework. 

The ruling states that in order to, “establish the need for an exemption, proponents must show, at a minimum, (1) that uses affected by the prohibition on circumvention are or are likely to be non-infringing; and (2) that as a result of a technological measure controlling access to a copyrighted work, the prohibition is causing, or in the next three years is likely to cause, an adverse impact on those uses.” 

Jay Crabtree, Auxo Medical’s President, said, “We feel that this is a great decision for both healthcare operators and independent service operators. This will give healthcare operators more choices, and will help keep cost of providing care at reasonable levels.” 

A thorough overview of the rule making process, evidentiary record, as well as the Register’s analysis of proposed exemptions are available for review here. 

Additionally, here are resources and links to better understand the ruling’s history and implications. 

As always, stay tuned for relevant and timely healthcare content on the Auxo Medical blog. In our next post, with the pandemic in mind, we’ll review recommendations for safe travels during the 2021 holiday season.

With Breast Cancer Awareness Month nearing the end of its annual October campaign, and continued hope for a cure remains thanks to developing technologies and ongoing research, it is equally important to provide mental health support as women fight this disease. 

Many hospitals and clinics around the United States offer group and individual counseling. One in particular is the Breast Cancer Support Group at Augusta Health in Virginia. The organization’s breast cancer advocates give credit to this group for preserving their patients’ mental health while on their own cancer crusades. 

The support group was created nearly six years ago at the health system once the need for a dedicated support infrastructure solely for breast cancer patients was identified. 

A breast nurse navigator at August Health, Donna Berdeaux, shared during a discussion with news station WHSV, “We have women that are stage one, women that are stage four. They are able to sit down and talk about their diagnosis but we try to bring a lot of thankfulness, gratefulness, we just don’t focus on the diagnosis.” 

Patients are usually put in touch with Berdeaux once they’ve received a breast cancer diagnosis. Every week, the group of patients and survivors meet — their time together includes supportive conversation and the opportunity to share their experiences among each other. However, they don’t strictly talk about their diagnosis, they also focus on gratitude. 

Berdeaux explained, “Being able to come to a group and speak with other breast patients that are going through or have gone through. Everyone’s journey is different but they realize that they are experiencing the same thing other people are experiencing, so they actually do better.” 

Three women who have either previously battled or are currently battling a breast cancer diagnosis, Suzanne Vanvalkenburg, Patty Piccinino and Carol Cobb, give credit to the support group for being a safe environment and allowing them to be vulnerable about their worries and fears. They say that the circle of women learn from and draw strength from each other. 

Cobb shared, “Don’t have to be brave and strong like you do for your family. You just feel so welcomed and loved.” 

There has been a mental health crisis explosion during the pandemic, so people facing a life-changing diagnosis on top of developing COVID-19 virus fatigue, are certainly in need of emotional and mental care. 

Vanvalkenburg added, “I ended up with mouth sores after my first chemo, which was awful. Somebody in the Breast Cancer Support Group was able to say ‘hey chew ice while you get your chemo, it will slow it down and I bet you you won’t get mouth sores again’ and I never got mouth sores again for the rest of my chemo treatment. I was very thankful for that.” 

Piccinino commented, “You are with a group of women who understand that. People can be sympathetic and can be helpful but no one can completely understand what that feels like.” 

In addition to finding support within the actual meetings, members oftentimes create friendships outside of the group — even throughout the coronavirus pandemic. You may find them chatting virtually, or taking a walk in the park together. 

Cobb continued, “We have been to Williamsburg and we have done line dancing. We have made Christmas cards and have had Christmas parties at a nursing home.” 

Recently members of the group hand-painted messages of hope onto rocks. They are committed to contributing support among the community as well as generate breast cancer education and awareness. 

“You are not alone, there are people in your community that are here to support you and understand what you are going through,” Vanvalkenburg mentioned. 

The ladies encourage anyone facing a breast cancer diagnosis to reach out to your local clinician’s office and ask to be put in touch with in-person or virtual support groups. 

Piccinino concluded, “You are stronger than you think you are because initially it feels so overwhelming and it is really difficult. You will be surprised at how strong you really are.”

On the heels of Breast Cancer Awareness month, it is certainly timely to hear of a new breast cancer vaccine trial that is underway. 

Statistics indicate that approximately 1 in 8 women will receive an invasive breast cancer diagnosis at some point in their lifetime. Of those women, some will battle the most deadly form of this disease — triple-negative breast cancer. The treatments for this type of cancer currently have the least effective options. 

For that reason, experts at the Cleveland Clinic are focused on improving outcomes for women facing this particularly aggressive disease. A phase 1 clinical trial has begun with a goal of developing an effective vaccine that will help with prevention. Albeit they anticipate it could take decades for the vaccine to get developed, approved, and launched into market, researchers are hopeful their efforts will materialize. 

This study is comprised of women who have recently completed treatment for early-stage triple negative breast cancer. Part of the participation criteria includes that they are not nursing and will also not become pregnant. Lastly, those involved in the study have no signs of disease, but are still considered high risk for the cancer to return. 

The small group of people in the trial,18-24 participants, will be given assorted doses of the vaccine; this strategy will help researchers understand any side effects, and determine if it produces the expected immunologic response. The women will receive a total of three vaccine shots and each dose will be administered two weeks apart. 

Dr. G. Thomas Budd, an oncologist at the Cleveland Clinic, is the principal investigator of the study. Budd said, “What we hope to do is, first, show that we can mount an immune response against one protein that is expressed in the majority of triple-negative breast cancer.” 

He continued, “And if we can, we might be able to vaccinate patients or people who are at risk to develop breast cancer, and then prevent them from getting it in the first place — that’s the long-term goal.” 

The study’s phase 1 goal is to identify which dose should be implemented in future studies. 

“The ultimate goal, ultimately, not of this trial, but future trials, would be to be able to prevent breast cancer, triple-negative breast cancer in those who are at very high risk for it,” Budd explained. “So, initially this would be people with family histories and genetic mutations known to predispose them to triple-negative breast cancer.” 

The Cleveland Clinic’s vaccine targets alpha-lactalbumin, a protein, which is typically produced in lactating breasts. According to experts, there isn’t another time when (normal) human cells create that protein, with the exception of nearly 70% of triple-negative breast cancers. 

Budd wants to be very clear about this study’s timeline expectations. “I think the main thing I do want to just emphasize is this is very, very early in development. It will take really decades to prove what we need to prove because it takes years to develop breast cancer.” 

Vincent Tuohy, the vaccine’s primary inventor and a staff immunologist at Lerner Research Institute said in a press release, “This vaccine approach represents a potential new way to control breast cancer.” Tuohy went onto say, “The long-term objective of this research is to determine if this vaccine can prevent breast cancer before it occurs, particularly the more aggressive forms of this disease that predominate in high-risk women.” 

Triple-negative breast cancer comprises between 10%-15% of women with breast cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Of that population, Black women, women with the BRCA1 mutation, and women under 40-years-old are the most susceptible. 

Please be sure to visit our Auxo Medical blog for timely, relevant healthcare content.

While COVID-19 booster shots are dominating news headlines at the moment, results of a noteworthy U.S. study by the Hospitalized Adult Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Network (HAIVEN), was recently published in Clinical Infection Diseases. 

Flu Shot Timing 

Examining the timing of receiving the influenza vaccine, comparative to flu-associated hospitalizations across more than 5,500 adult study participants, this newly discovered data is congruent with other findings in past and recent studies. 

The takeaway? A one or even a two month lag in getting an annual influenza vaccine has the ability to improve protection effectiveness by anywhere from 10% to 20%. 

Clinicians concur that the medical community should keep following the vaccination recommendations of receiving the flu shot by late October. Epidemiologist and influenza expert at the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Jill Ferdinands, suggests that postponing the vaccine by a couple of months warrants consideration, “if [it] doesn’t encroach on the annual influenza season, delay vaccine delivery, or reduce vaccine uptake.” 

Avoiding a Twindemic 

Another recent study suggests that receiving a flu shot could provide some protection against extreme effects of the coronavirus. 

If you get infected with the COVID-19 virus, and you’ve previously received a flu shot within the same season, then according to the study you are not likely to endure severe infection, suffer a stroke, be burdened by blood clots, or need to be treated at an intensive care unit. 

The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine’s Dr. Devinder Singh shared, “the global population may benefit from influenza vaccination, as it can dually act to prevent a coronavirus and influenza ‘twindemic,’ which could potentially overwhelm health care resources.” 

Experts are not completely sure why the flu shot may offer protection from some of the more dire COVID-19 symptoms. However, one hypothesis is that it equips the immune system to lower the chances of body-wide distress that is commonly detected with the flu.

Top Influenza Vaccine Myths 

Despite the fact that flu vaccinations successfully prevented approximately 7.5 million illnesses from 2019 to 2020 — not to mention avoiding hospitalizations and deaths — still myths run rampant when it comes to the influenza vaccine. 

One common myth that circulates every year is that someone can actually contract the flu by getting the flu shot. The truth is that the vaccine does not have an active virus, therefore you cannot “get” the flu. 

While many experience no side effects, it’s true that some folks do experience mild side effects that could be confused for flu-like symptoms. The most typical indications range from minor swelling or soreness at the injection site, a low grade fever, or a subtle headache. With that said, a few days of light discomfort is a small price to pay when experiencing the worst that a flu virus can bring, such as extraordinary fatigue, high grade fevers, and body aches for several days. 

Another typical folklore is that among people who historically don’t get the flu, they don’t need to bother getting the vaccine. The truth is that a clean bill of health in your past does not promise a future without a flu. Because strains transform year after year, season after season, we are all at risk to come down with the flu, particularly without receiving the vaccine. And much like we hear the message when it comes to spreading COVID-19, the same is true for influenza — when you don’t get the vaccine but you do catch the virus — you are a carrier and can infect others. 

For more information on the flu, vaccines, and other relevant healthcare content, be sure to check out the Auxo Medical blog archives.

September is here — this time of year delivers a change of seasons and weather, as well as children going back to school.

With the COVID-19 pandemic still ever-present, health and safety recommendations across the United States continue to evolve.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) have compiled recommendations to help keep children healthy during the pandemic while returning school:

• Anyone who is 12 years and older should receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
• School staff and students alike, over the age of two-years-old, should be cognizantof wearing protective face masks while indoors. This recommendation applies topeople who aren’t vaccinated, and those who are.
• Schools are encouraged to practice “layered” measures, such as improving ventilation, persistent hand-washing, physically staying at least three feet apart from peopleas much as possible, and not coming to school when someone isn’t feeling well.
• When employees and students come across exposures while in school, COVID-19 policies should be in place and diligently enforced, including contact tracing and quarantining as soon as possible.

These recommendations were driven by a variety of factors:

• Before vaccines were available, a significant amount of scientific data concluded that whenever a school used layered measures, the transmission rates were quite low.
• Many schools are not prepared to keep tabs on the vaccine status for students and staff.
• There are staff and students (over the age of 12) who are not yet partially or fully vaccinated.
• At this point in time, students under the age of 12 are not yet eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine; layered approaches help protect this group of people, including those who are deemed immunocompromised.

The Evolution of Vaccine Recommendations

There was a time when the CDC claimed that fully vaccinated school staff and students did not need to wear a protective face mask. However, because the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant has been causing ‘breakthrough’ infections, the agency changed their recommendations again.

Although prevailing data maintains that COVID-19 vaccines are still extremely effective at preventing serious illness, being admitted to the hospital, or even preventing death, people who are vaccinated and contract the virus, are still able to infect others. Therefore, it is highly recommended that these people continue to wear masks in public and social settings.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases’ Director, Dr. Anthony Fauci, recently shared that he anticipates the FDA and the CDC will establish a “strong benefit-risk ratio” for children with regards to approving them for COVID-19 vaccinations.

Fauci said during an interview on the cable network, CNN, “When that gets established, which I believe it certainly will, I believe that mandating vaccines for children to appear in school is a good idea.”

He continued, “We’ve done this for decades and decades, requiring polio, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis. So, this would not be something new — requiring vaccinations for children to come to school.”

Routine Healthcare Screenings

Delaying or outright avoiding routine healthcare screenings has been a common occurrence among adults throughout the 2020 pandemic and into 2021. This theme of avoiding the doctor’s office has also impacted children.

In the spring of 2021, it was reported by the Children’s Defense Fund that as many as 80% of children had missed their routine “well visit” appointments because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Pediatrician and professor, Dr. Carlos Lerner, said, “While visits have significantly increased since the spring shutdown, well-child visits are still lower than pre-pandemic levels.”

Understandably it can be confusing for caretakers to make these tough decisions during such unprecedented times, but missing preventative visits at the child’s pediatrician’s office could lead to negative health consequences in the future.

In our next blog post, we’ll discuss all things flu vaccine — debunking myths, addressing the optimal time for getting a flu vaccine, and share how it could even ward off severe symptoms of COVID-19.

While the public has been inundated with COVID-19 virus information, last month health officials in the U.S. faced yet another virus scare — a potential monkeypox outbreak. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) asked that over 200 people across 27 states be monitored for exposure since they were in contact with a resident of Dallas, Texas who contracted monkeypox. This was the first confirmed case ever reported in a human for the state of Texas. 

The patient had traveled to Nigeria and returned by way of a flight through Atlanta and then onto Dallas. This person, whose identity was not released, was put into isolation at a hospital in Dallas four days after arriving home; his condition was considered stable. Initially health officials deemed the risk for the general population as very low. 

Together with the airline, health officials worked to pinpoint people who could have been in close proximity with the passenger during these flights. Because travelers are re-quired to wear face masks on planes and inside airports due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the amount of possible contacts was anticipated to be on the low end. 

Those who were identified would go onto be monitored for 21 days. The protocol is for health officials to call each contact twice a day to see if any symptoms evolved. 

At the conclusion of the monitoring on July 30, according to the CDC, thankfully no new monkeypox cases were identified among the people who were possibly exposed. The agency continued to monitor other individuals who were considered ‘very low risk.’ 

What are Symptoms of Monkeypox? 

Initial signs of monkeypox include symptoms that resemble having the flu, including headache, fever, achy muscles, fatigue, and inflamed lymph nodes. Next, patients will typically produce a rash; it is common to start on the face, and then spread throughout the rest of the body. Sickness usually spans anywhere from two weeks to four weeks. 

As with many diseases, monkeypox tends to be a larger threat to those with immuno-compromised health. Although as much as 10% of monkeypox in humans end in fatal results, this U.S. case is thought to be less dangerous with a 1% fatality rate. 

How is the Monkeypox Virus Transmitted? 

It is believed that humans pass on the virus by way of large respiratory droplets, discharged by people who have contracted the disease. It can also be transferred by hav-ing direct contact with bodily fluids. If you are asymptomatic, you cannot pass on the vi-rus. 

Where did Monkeypox Come From? 

The monkeypox virus was first identified during laboratory research in 1958 among monkeys. The first case in humans was identified in Congo. The majority of human cases since then took place in central and western Africa. In 2017, a monkeypox uptick took place in Nigeria. 

Rodents and prairie dogs imported from Africa in 2003, led to an outbreak in the United States. No patients died, but 47 human cases were recorded. 

What is the Treatment for Monkeypox? 

According to the CDC, there is no effective, safe treatment for this virus. However, the smallpox vaccine may be used in order to restrain an outbreak. 

Visit Auxo Medical’s blog for timely information regarding pandemic related content, as well as other relevant news taking place in healthcare.

It is no easy task to keep up with the ongoing changes, mandates, and data with regards to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In the United States, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated in May 2021 that fully vaccinated individuals could leave their face masks at home in the majority of circumstances. 

However, the Delta variant’s warpath sabotaged plans for a glimpse of normalcy. Millions of Americans have still not received the vaccine. For those reasons, the advice regarding masks was reversed in July 2021. The organization is imploring people to put masks on when they’re visiting indoor public environments; this safety protocol includes the immunized population. The advice is particularly important for areas with “substantial or high transmission” rates. What does that mean? “Substantial” equates to more than 50 new cases per week, per 100,000 residents, or “high” equates to more than 100 new cases, per 100,000 residents. 

With approximately two-thirds of the country’s counties susceptible to the latest guidance, changes are expected elsewhere. 

One caveat is for people in school — whether or not they’ve been vaccinated, and no matter where they live — are urged to wear masks. Additionally, those who have been vaccinated but do not reside in high-transmission locations should still think about wearing a mask in public settings if they or someone in their household is considered high risk for critical illness. Some examples include the immunocompromised community, and children who are not yet permitted to receive the vaccination. 

What Does Break-Through Infections & Viral Load Mean

When someone has been fully vaccinated, and they become infected with COVID-19, they transmit small amounts of the virus. Break-through infections were first thought to be a rare occurrence, but as time passes, the Delta variant is proving to challenge statistics. However, it is well known that the vaccines will not fully protect individuals in avoiding the virus. Their primary responsibility is to avoid being admitted to the hospital and battling severe illness. 

An infectious disease expert, William Schaffner, M.D., explained this thought process, “The vast majority of break-through cases are really minor. People are getting what feels like a bad cold or are just having a day in bed.” 

Viral loads are deemed a realistic representation for someone’s capability to transmit the virus. According to the Director of the CDC, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, and taking into consideration data procured over the last several months — viral loads in some vaccinated individuals who are asymptomatic with the Delta variant are very similar to people infected with the virus, but have not been vaccinated. 

What is the Status for FDA to Approve Vaccines? 

One argument by those who will not voluntarily receive the vaccine is that the substance has yet to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Until now, the vaccines have been considered for “emergency use authorization,” which was granted last December. 

However, at the time of this blog post being published, the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine was formally approved. This is the first COVID-19 vaccine to receive full FDA approval. The formal approval could propel employers, universities, military, and other organizations to execute legal authority and make receiving the vaccine mandatory. It may also help reassure those who have been holding off on getting vaccinated. 

FDA Commissioner Janet Woodstock released a statement about the approval, ”While this and other vaccines have met the FDA’s rigorous, scientific standards for emergency use authorization, as the first FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine, the public can be very confident that this vaccine meets the high standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality the FDA requires of an approved product. Today’s milestone puts us one step closer to altering the course of this pandemic in the U.S.” 

Stay tuned for our upcoming Auxo Medical blog post about Monkeypox — what is it and why should you care.