Covid-19 Vaccine Effectiveness in New York State.

Background: Population-based data from the United States on the effectiveness of the three coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines currently authorized by the Food and Drug Administration are limited. Whether declines in effectiveness are due to waning immunity, the B.1.

New COVID-19 Cases and Hospitalizations Among Adults, by Vaccination Status - New York, May 3-July 25, 2021.

Data from randomized clinical trials and real-world observational studies show that all three COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration* are safe and highly effective for preventing COVID-19-related serious illness, hospitalization, and death (1,2). Studies of vaccine effectiveness (VE) for preventing new infections and hospitalizations attributable to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19), particularly as the B.1.

New COVID-19 Cases and Hospitalizations Among Adults, by Vaccination Status - New York, May 3-July 25, 2021.

Data from randomized clinical trials and real-world observational studies show that all three COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration* are safe and highly effective for preventing COVID-19-related serious illness, hospitalization, and death (1,2). Studies of vaccine effectiveness (VE) for preventing new infections and hospitalizations attributable to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19), particularly as the B.1.

Cumulative incidence and diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection in New York.

Purpose: New York State (NYS) is an epicenter of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in the United States. Reliable estimates of cumulative incidence in the population are critical to tracking the extent of transmission and informing policies.

Methods: We conducted a statewide seroprevalence study in a 15,101 patron convenience sample at 99 grocery stores in 26 counties throughout NYS.

Association of Treatment With Hydroxychloroquine or Azithromycin With In-Hospital Mortality in Patients With COVID-19 in New York State.

Importance: Hydroxychloroquine, with or without azithromycin, has been considered as a possible therapeutic agent for patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, there are limited data on efficacy and associated adverse events.

Objective: To describe the association between use of hydroxychloroquine, with or without azithromycin, and clinical outcomes among hospital inpatients diagnosed with COVID-19.

COVID-19 Testing, Epidemic Features, Hospital Outcomes, and Household Prevalence, New York State-March 2020.

Background: The US' coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic has grown extensively since February 2020, with substantial associated hospitalizations and mortality; New York State has emerged as the national epicenter. We report on the extent of testing and test results during the month of March in New York State, along with risk factors, outcomes, and household prevalence among initial cases subject to in-depth investigations.

Methods: Specimen collection for COVID-19 testing was conducted in healthcare settings, community-based collection sites, and by home testing teams.

Legionnaires' Disease Outbreak Caused by Endemic Strain of Legionella pneumophila, New York, New York, USA, 2015.

During the summer of 2015, New York, New York, USA, had one of the largest and deadliest outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease in the history of the United States. A total of 138 cases and 16 deaths were linked to a single cooling tower in the South Bronx. Analysis of environmental samples and clinical isolates showed that sporadic cases of legionellosis before, during, and after the outbreak could be traced to a slowly evolving, single-ancestor strain.

Evaluation of the Impact of Mandating Health Care Providers to Offer Hepatitis C Virus Screening to All Persons Born During 1945-1965 - New York, 2014.

Approximately 75% of all hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in the United States and 73% of HCV-associated mortality occur in persons born during 1945-1965, placing this birth cohort at increased risk for liver cancer and other HCV-related liver disease (1). In the United States, an estimated 2.7 million persons are living with HCV infection, and it is estimated that up to 75% of these persons do not know their status.

Zika Virus Testing Considerations: Lessons Learned from the First 80 Real-Time Reverse Transcription-PCR-Positive Cases Diagnosed in New York State.

The performance and interpretation of laboratory tests for Zika virus (ZKV) continue to be evaluated. Serology is cross-reactive, laborious, and frequently difficult to interpret, and serum was initially solely recommended for molecular diagnosis. ZKV testing was initiated in January 2016 in New York State for symptomatic patients, pregnant women, their infants, and patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome who had traveled to areas with ZKV transmission.

Lessons From New York State's Preparedness Efforts for Ebola.

Preparing an entire health care system for an outbreak of a deadly infectious disease is an intensive, time-consuming process that requires collaboration and cooperation at all levels. New York achieved this goal when it became apparent that the Ebola outbreak in West Africa had the potential to spread beyond the 3 most heavily impacted countries. We discuss New York's work with health care associations to prepare the multiple tiers of the state's health care system to successfully transport, identify, diagnose, and treat the disease, while also handling clinical, consequence, and communications management of the outbreak.

Vital Signs: Increased Medicaid Prescriptions for Preexposure Prophylaxis Against HIV infection--New York, 2012-2015.

Background: Approximately 3,000 incident cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection occur in New York state each year. Daily HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with the oral antiretroviral medication Truvada is a key component of New York's plan to end HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) as an epidemic in the state by 2020.

Methods: Prescription data from the New York state Medicaid program from July 2012 through June 2015 were analyzed with an algorithm using medication and diagnoses codes to identify continuous use of Truvada for >30 days, after excluding use for postexposure prophylaxis or treatment of HIV or chronic hepatitis B infection.

Effects of ventilation and catheter position on catheter movement on the tricuspid annulus during ablation in children.

Introduction: There are little data on the effect of catheter position and mechanical ventilation on ablation catheter stability during electrophysiology study in children. We sought to determine the magnitude of catheter movement with mechanical ventilation, the effect of ventilation maneuvers on catheter movement, and to compare the degree of movement observed between the right lateral (RL) and right posteroseptal (RPS) regions.

Methods: From June 2012 to June 2013, patients ≤ 21 years of age undergoing ablation for supraventricular tachycardia with CARTO® 3 (Biosense Webster, Diamond Bar, CA, USA) were included.

NYS: Tackling the Issue of High Users of Healthcare.

A disproportionate amount of healthcare costs in developed nations are attributed to a small percentage of high-needs patients. New York is no exception. Addressing the needs of this subgroup of Medicaid patients was part of reforms begun in 2011 with the creation of the Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT).

Hypocellularity and absence of compaction as criteria for embryonic death.

Background: A precise definition of death is important for the appropriate application of medical resources and the harvesting of tissues for transplantation. For developed humans, life is considered to end when the criteria for brain death are met, but corresponding criteria are lacking for human embryos, and thus, we undertook a natural history study of embryonic death.

Methods: De-identified records of the observations of human embryos in culture were analyzed retrospectively.

Embryonic death and the creation of human embryonic stem cells.

The creation of human embryonic stem cells through the destruction of a human embryo pits the value of a potential therapeutic tool against that of an early human life. This contest of values has resulted in a polarized debate that neglects areas of common interest and perspective. We suggest that a common ground for pursuing research on human embryonic stem cells can be found by reconsidering the death of the human embryo and by applying to this research the ethical norms of essential organ donation.