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| Discussions and questions over the third COVID-19 vaccine booster shots dominated the Chancellor’s Town Hall on September 23 at UAMS, even as decisions about them were made nationally.
Lt. Col. Suzanne Cobleigh, left, talks to Robert Hopkins, MD, and Michelle Krause, MD, MPH., Before the start of Town Hall at UAMS.Image of Evan Lewis
Around midnight on September 23, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved booster shots for people employed in primary patient care, people over 65, and others who may be vulnerable to COVID -19. (More information on booster injections at UAMS)
Only people who received the first two doses of Pfizer vaccine are eligible for a booster according to the new criteria.
“It’s important to know that we don’t mix vaccines,” said Michelle Krause, MD, MPH, a professor in the division of nephrology in the department of internal medicine at UAMS College of Medicine. “If you have received the first set of Moderna vaccines and come for your third dose with Pfizer, we will not give this third injection. Your first set should be Pfizer for this third dose.
After urging everyone to get their seasonal flu shot, Robert Hopkins, MD, said during a question-and-answer segment of the meeting that it is safe to receive the COVID-19 vaccination, including booster injections, at the same time as the annual injection.
Hopkins is Professor at UAMS and Division Director of General Internal Medicine and Chairman of the National Vaccine Advisory Committee of the US Department of Health and Human Services.
John Arthur, MD, Ph.D., presents the findings of his research team.Image of Evan Lewis
Chancellor Cam Patterson, MD, MBA, answered the first question posed to City Hall: Will UAMS require all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in accordance with a proposed federal mandate?
“Our demanding path requires the approval of the Arkansas Legislative Council,” Patterson said. “We are having conversations with members of the state legislative bodies to determine this path forward because at the end of the day they will determine, based on state law, whether we can actually go ahead with this. Obviously, we’re in a bit of a sticky situation between state law and federal guidelines to comply with vaccination requirements. “
The chancellor said it appears that healthcare providers who fail to comply with federal guidelines for requiring vaccines, with few exceptions, could run the risk of losing all Medicare and Medicaid. It would be very bad for UAMS and for the people of Arkansas.
In addition, a non-compliance could result in the loss of federal funding for scientific research performed at UAMS, as the research results presented to City Hall by John Arthur, MD, Ph.D., said Patterson.
Arthur has briefed the public on recent findings from his collaborators and members of his research team regarding the long COVID syndrome.
Up to 30% of COVID-19 patients experience persistent fatigue, brain fog, and shortness of breath. Scientists have missed the cause of the long COVID-19, but the UAMS team’s discovery sheds important new light on the molecular-level mechanisms behind it.
The research team was brought together quickly this spring by the UAMS Translational Research Institute to test the hypothesis that developed through discussions between Arthur and Terry Harville of UAMS, MD, Ph.D. ., Professor in the Department of Pathology and Medical Director of the Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics Laboratories.
The town hall panel included, left, Steppe Mette, Michelle Krause, Suzanne Cobleigh and Robert Hopkins.
Researchers Karl Boehme, Ph.D., Craig Forrest, Ph.D., and Shana Owens, Ph.D., from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology developed the test used to identify the two antibodies that are inflammatory factors that causes the symptoms of COVID along.
Arthur said that different lines of research of the team members had to come together to lead to his findings. Researchers who had never worked together before had to collaborate closely.
“Our next step is to enroll patients, assess their symptoms, and then measure their antibody levels for it,” Arthur said. “If we are successful, we hope it will lead to treatment for the long term COVID syndrome. I have been contacted by people from across the country with heartbreaking stories of all the terrible symptoms they have along with COVID. “
Steppe Mette, MD, CEO of UAMS Medical Center and Senior Vice Chancellor of UAMS Health, and Mark Williams, Ph.D., Dean of UAMS College of Public Health, also delivered positive news, although with certain stipulations.
Mette said UAMS medical center had the fewest COVID-19 patients – 34 on September 23 – in three months. There are sufficient medical supplies and the hospital capacity is “reasonable”.
The daily rate of new cases statewide is declining and the death rate from COVID-19 is stable, Williams said. Arkansas may be on the falling side of an exponential growth curve.
“We have to be careful with our outlook,” said Dean. “It’s too early to be sure. “
Patterson, Mette and other speakers at the meeting thanked Lt. Col. Suzanne Cobleigh for the presence of the 21-member military medical team she leads, which relieves the doctors, nurses and respiratory therapists at the Medical Center of UAMS. She said that in just over a week, the team had already dedicated 1,572 clinical hours to patient care.
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