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Post-Vaccination Syndrome

covid vaccine

Ari Kustiawan from Getty Images/CanvaPro

A small study led by Yale University is investigating people with COVID-19 post-vaccination syndrome (PVS). While COVID-19 vaccines likely prevented millions of deaths, a small number of those vaccinated have developed long-term health issues, including fatigue, exercise intolerance, brain fog, tinnitus and dizziness. The researchers compared blood samples from 42 people with PVS and 22 healthy individuals without it, as well as 134 people with and without long COVID, a chronic condition present for at least three months after a COVID-19 infection with a range of symptoms that may include fatigue, shortness of breath, brain fog, heart palpitations, dizziness, joint pain and muscle aches.

The researchers discovered that those with PVS have distinct proportions of immune cells, but these differences have yet to be directly linked to their symptoms. Both PVS and long COVID patients experienced a reawakening of the Epstein-Barr virus linked to mononucleosis and multiple sclerosis. The PVS patients had higher levels of a coronavirus protein in their blood compared to patients with long COVID. Although the study has not definitively determined what makes these people sick, the findings suggests that further research is warranted.

Tick Talk

Spring officially sprung on March 21. We have turned our clocks ahead. We are looking forward to warm winds, sunny skies and the smell of fresh cut grass. The daffodils and tulips have recently bloomed and we are just starting with the yard work that comes with the warmer weather.  Sadly, another season has started ramping up.  Tick season.

•             The best form of protection is prevention. Educating oneself about tick activity and how our behaviors overlap with tick habitats is the first step.

•             According to the NJ DOH, in 2022 Hunterdon County led the state with a Lyme disease incidence rate of 426 cases per 100,000 people. The fact is ticks spend approximately 90% of their lives not on a host but aggressively searching for one, molting to their next stage or over-wintering. This is why a tick remediation program should be implemented on school grounds where NJ DOH deems high risk for tick exposure and subsequent attachment to human hosts.

•             Governor Murphy has signed a bill that mandates tick education in NJ public schools. See this for the details.  Tick education must now be incorporated into K-12 school curriculum. See link:

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2023/sept/27/TicksandTick-BorneIllnessEducation.pdf

•             May is a great month to remind the public that tick activity is in full swing. In New Jersey, there are many tickborne diseases that affect residents, including Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis.

•             For years, the focus has mainly been about protecting ourselves from Lyme disease. But other tick-borne diseases are on the rise in Central Jersey. An increase of incidence of Babesia and Anaplasma are sidelining people too. These two pathogens are scary because they effect our blood cells. Babesia affects the red blood cells and Anaplasma effects the white blood cells.

•             Ticks can be infected with more than one pathogen. When you contract Lyme it is possible to contract more than just that one disease. This is called a co-infection. It is super important to pay attention to your symptoms. See link.

https://twp.freehold.nj.us/480/Disease-Co-Infection

A good resource from the State:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/tickborne.shtml

 

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