COVID-19 vaccines

COVID-19 vaccines

By Gino Bottino, MD

As of January 2021, 69 COVID-19 vaccine candidates were in clinical research using multiple technologies. Several COVID-19 vaccines demonstrated efficacy as high as 95% in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 infections.

At that time, 10 vaccines had been authorized by at least one national regulatory authority for public use: two RNA vaccines (the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines), four conventional inactivated vaccines (Sinopharm, Covaxin from Bharat Biotech, Sinovac, and Sinopharm), three viral vector vaccines (Sputnik V from the Gamaleya Research Institute, AstraZeneca, and CanSino), and one peptide vaccine (EpiVacCorona).

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Flu, common cold or COVID?

By Gino Bottino, MD

Even with COVID-19 soaring, we need to remember that winter is also cold and flu season.

In the United States, more days of work (and probably play) are lost to colds and flu than any other illness, and mortality remains high.
Colds and allergies are frequently confused, and now it’s hard to tell the difference between these illnesses and COVID-19.

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Boating and COVID-19

By Gino Bottino, MD

As a member of the US Sailing Sports Medical committee, I have been working on plans to reopen sailing centers for sail training and Olympic sailing, as well as big boat sailing, amid the pandemic. Here are a few recommendations that can be made applicable to recreational boaters as well:

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Couple battles boat trouble and COVID-19

By Shelli Swaim

My husband, Jeff, drove to Las Vegas on March 15 to attend a three-day golf tournament put on by a group of friends from the central coast of California. Though social distancing was relatively new, he armed himself with hand sanitizer, a can of Lysol, disinfectant wipes and medical gloves.

Shortly after returning home, however, he developed a headache. By the next day, he had a fever. He wore an N95 mask he found in the garage to prevent infecting me. By then, he had a constant headache, fever and loss of appetite. Just three days after his symptoms began, I developed a cough and fever. Realizing we’d both contracted COVID-19, we were glad we’d been isolated at home since Jeff’s return from Las Vegas.

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National, squadrons cope with COVID-19

National, squadrons cope with COVID-19

By The Ensign staff

As the national pandemic crisis stretches on and states begin to reopen businesses and public places, finding ways to stay safe while coping with social distancing requirements continues to be important for everyone.

At the start of the crisis, United States Power Squadrons, America’s Boating Club, temporarily closed its headquarters office in Raleigh, to comply with North Carolina’s guidelines. Squadrons and districts followed similar precautions, cancelling classes and events to keep their members safe. In short order, national, district and squadrons found ways to cope with social distancing restrictions while continuing to support our members.

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