Justin's HIV Journal

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

U.S. pauses use of J&J COVID-19 vaccine over rare blood clots

U.S. federal health agencies on Tuesday recommended pausing the use of Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine for at least a few days after six women under age 50 developed rare blood clots after receiving the shot, dealing a fresh setback to efforts to tackle the pandemic.

Johnson & Johnson (J&J) said it would delay rollout of the vaccine to Europe, a week after regulators there said they were reviewing rare blood clots in four recipients of the shot in the United States.

Acting U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Janet Woodcock said the agency expected the pause to be a matter of days, and was aimed at providing information to healthcare providers on how to diagnose and treat the clots.

The moves come after European regulators said earlier this month they had found a possible link between AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine and a similar rare blood clotting problem that led to a small number of deaths.

J&J's single-dose shot and AstraZeneca's low-cost vaccine are seen as vital weapons in the fight against a pandemic that has claimed more than three million lives. But in the United States, vaccines from Moderna Inc and Pfizer Inc/BioNTech SE have accounted the vast majority of vaccinations so far.

Immunology experts echoed U.S. officials in underscoring that the risk posed by the J&J vaccine appeared extremely low, and it remained a valuable tool against the risks of COVID-19.

"Even if causally linked to the vaccine: 6 cases with about 7 million doses ... is not something to panic about," Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease expert at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security in Baltimore, said in an email, noting that the risk appears lower than the risk of clots from oral contraceptives.

"People are asking me if they should cancel their J&J vaccine appointments and I have told them not to but I know many will and this will stall progress in controlling the pandemic," he added.

The FDA said there had been one reported death from the rare blood clotting condition among recipients of the J&J vaccine, while another person was in a critical condition.

FDA official Peter Marks said it was "plainly obvious" the J&J cases were "very similar" to the AstraZeneca ones.

However, officials said there had been no similar blood clot cases reported among recipients of the Moderna or Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines, which use a different technology.

The White House said the J&J vaccine pause would not have a "significant" impact on its plan to administer about three million shots per day and a total of 200 million before President Joe Biden's 100th day in office.

Marks said part of the reason for the pause was to warn doctors that administering the standard treatments for clots can cause tremendous harm, or be fatal.

BALANCE OF RISKS

J&J's vaccine rollout has been limited by production issues. As of April 12, more than 6.8 million doses of the J&J vaccine had been administered in the United States, representing about one reported blood clot case per million people.

An advisory committee to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will meet on Wednesday to review the cases, and the FDA will review the analysis, the agencies said in a statement.

All six cases involved women between the ages of 18 and 48, with symptoms occurring six to 13 days after vaccination. The FDA said symptoms can arise three weeks after the shot and include severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain or shortness of breath.

In the cases, a type of blood clot called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) was seen in combination with low levels of blood platelets, or thrombocytopenia.

J&J, whose shares were down 2%, said it was working closely with regulators and noted no clear causal relationship had been established between the clots and its vaccine.

"To put this into perspective, it's similar to the chance of being struck by lightning in any given year in the UK. On the other hand, the risks from COVID-19 are substantial," said Ian Douglas from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

"If all 6.8 million people who've received the J&J vaccine in the U.S. were infected with the virus, several thousand would likely die and many more, including younger adults, would experience serious and long-lasting after effects."

 

PROBLEMS

The J&J and AstraZeneca vaccines both use an adenovirus vector - a harmless cold virus - to deliver instructions for  human cells to produce a protein found on the surface of the coronavirus, spurring the immune system to recognize and attack the actual virus.

Among leading global COVID-19 vaccine developers, China's CanSino Biological and Russia's Gamaleya Institute with its Sputnik V vaccine also rely on this approach. The Pfizer/BioNtech and Moderna vaccines use messenger RNA (mRNA) technology.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) continues to recommend  use of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine, saying the benefits outweigh the risks. Several EU countries, however, have limited its use to certain age groups.

As of April 4, the EMA said 169 cases of CVST and 53 of splanchnic vein thrombosis had been reported after vaccination with the AstraZeneca shot. About 34 million people had been given the shot in Europe by then.

J&J only began delivering its COVID-19 vaccine to European Union countries this week.

(Reporting by Manas Mishra in Bengaluru and Michael Erman in Maplewood, N.J., additional reporting by Julie Steenhuysen in Chicago, Ludwig Burger in Frankfurt and Kate Kelland in London; Editing by Caroline Humer, Mark Potter and Bill Berkrot)


Tuesday, April 6, 2021

S1:E10- The One About Two Black Veterans and Dads in a Non-Monogamous Relationship The Story of Justin & Philip

"Watch two Black veterans share their love journey: how they adopted their LGBTQ kids, how they loved while in the military under DADT (Don't Ask, Don't Tell), and how they thrive as a non-monogamous couple. If you've ever wondered about open relationships, this right here is a Master Class in non-traditional love. Warning: these series are not made for everyone. They are made for the very few special people who need to see them. Hence if these stories come to you, please care for them". Kehinde Bademosi #HappinessHis

To see the video click here or go to the link below

https://www.happinesshis.com/episodes-1/thesmiths?fbclid=IwAR2z0ilUNvXK78ihbh9SZnQash4PIN82sxeC8Luw7kl0waDIgHQCMu8hk10


Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Black Lives Matter Round Table w/ Special Guest Dr. Justin Terry Smith #NBHAAD #BlackLivesMatter #NicePackage

 


We observed National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. This is an opportunity to increase awareness about HIV education, testing, and care and treatment services among the Black community, as well as highlight the work being here at Southwest Center. 

Today we launch a video created by the Black Lives Matter Coalition at Southwest Center featuring four of our staff members: 

Chel’sea Ryan, LCSW, Clinical Supervisor

Michael Sheppard, Medical Case Manager

Aretha Moore, Medical Case Manager Supervisor

Robert Carter, Registered Dietician

www.SWCenter.org

HIV activist and creator of "Justin's HIV Journal" Justin B Terry Smith is a featured guest on the show.  www.JustinTerrySmith.com

Also featured in our video are special BLM Bags available by request at SW Center with condoms, lube and more from www.NicePackage.org

 for the month of February.

#NBHAAD #BlackLivesMatter #NicePackage #HIVAwareness


Sunday, February 14, 2021

"Healthy Fantasies" Podcast, Episode #12- February, 2021 Dr. Justin Terry Smith on HIV/AIDS.

 


"Releasing of Episode #13- HIV/Aids with Justin Terry-Smith - Drph. We are excited about 2021 Podcasts and have an amazing line up.

This podcast is in honor of all our Brothers and Sisters that we have lost in our community to Aids/HIV. We pause during this podcast for a moment of silence in their honor. We also want to set aside space in honor of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Sunday, February 7th, 2021.

Actor, Activist, and  Author of the two new book, "Just*in Time" and "PrEP" Justin Terry-Smiths.

https://www.justinterrysmith.com

 What a honor and privilege it was to host Justin ty for your time and service Justin.

"Although the Lifestyle may be therapeutic, it is not meant to be therapy" ~ Kat

#MTJAF

#HealthyFantasies


Friday, January 1, 2021

ANNOUNCEMENT (ANOTHER NEW BOOK?!?): Factors Influencing Use of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)


ANNOUNCEMENT (ANOTHER NEW BOOK?!?): Happy New Year EVERYONE, I know it's the New Year but wanted to make the announcement that I'm debuting another book called, "Factors Influencing Use of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)", which can be found on Amazon.com. It is a cross-sectional study that examines the association between education level, employment status, number of sexual partners, access to health resources, and the use of PrEP. I hope all of you have a Happy New Year and hopefully 2021 will be a better one for us all. Please follow the link below to check it out

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1716297540/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1


Sunday, December 27, 2020

NEW BOOK Just*in Time A Compilation of Public Health Advice


This book is a compilation of Public Health advice articles that were written by Justin Terry-Smith for A&U Magazine. Justin Terry-Smith is an Award-Winning Activist. He is an Advice Columnist, Author, Actor, Producer and has a Doctorate in Public Health His websites are https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11894893/ and www.justinterrysmith.com

Sunday, November 22, 2020

Justin takes Home COVID-19 test!


After having a fever of 101.2 and muscle aches, I felt like I should take a COVID test. My husband and I isolate ourselves as much as possible. I didn't think I had COVID, only because my husband and I isolate and don't really go out a lot. COVID has been responsible for over 180 thousand deaths in Maryland, 12.2 million deaths in the United States, and over 55.6 million deaths all over the world. BE CAREFUL OUT THERE. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19: Fever or chills Cough Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Fatigue Muscle or body aches Headache New loss of taste or smell Sore throat Congestion or runny nose Nausea or vomiting Diarrhea Look for emergency warning signs for COVID-19. If someone is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately: Trouble breathing Persistent pain or pressure in the chest New confusion Inability to wake or stay awake Bluish lips or face Call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.

Monday, November 9, 2020

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

COVID-19/Corona Virus Stay At Home Order ignored





#COVID-19 #CoronaVirus #StayAtHomeOrder People do not understand that COVID-19 is a deadly disease. The LEADER OF NORTH CAROLINA PROTESTS AGAINST STAY-AT-HOME TESTS POSITIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS so she ignored the Stay-At-Home order and could've infected others who would take the virus back to their homes and infect other people. When I posted that story people gave me crap for shaming her. I'm not shaming here I'm pissed off that she would ignore regulations and then unknowingly infect other people. Privilege and entitlement for a hair cut are ridiculous and then ignoring the stay at home order is dangerous. Well, I can say that if I die of this disease I did not knowingly contribute to its spread. Please exercise your constitutional right to be an asshole somewhere else and not near me.

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Quarantine and Isolation reading of I Have A Secret for the kids







Right now, the whole world is going through a lot. Many children are having to stay at home with their parents. I decide to do my first YouTube reading of my book I Have A Secret for those children. Isolation and quarantine can bring out the worst in us and we have to be mindful of each other. I wanted to give something to the kids that can give them hope. This is a nighttime story to help them sleep soundly in a world of trauma. The book I Have A Secret by J.B. Terry-Smith can be found on Amazon.com!


or follow the link below


Monday, April 13, 2020

Justin B Terry-Smith - Drph (#JustinTerrySmith) talks about Corona Virus (COVID-19) vs. The Church



Justin B Terry-Smith - Drph
(#JustinTerrySmith) talks about Corona Virus (COVID-19) vs. The Church



YouTube Video Link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBsz1y9owNc

Thursday, March 5, 2020

****BREAKING*** Gov. Hogan declares a State of Emergency in Maryland to deal with Coronavirus & Corona Virus and HIV




#MarylandStateofEmergency | ****BREAKING*** Gov. Hogan declares a State of Emergency in Maryland to deal with what he calls:

"the rapidly evolving nature of this threat to public health, it is critical that we have the flexibility to access rersources," regarding Coronavirus. Three known Coronavirus cases have been discovered in Montgomery County, MD.

Potential school closures and other continuity plans are being reviewed by state agencies at this time. Hogans says Marylanders should not panic, but instead be prepared and informed. The Governor also says mass gatherings and other events may need to be postponed.

Updated info @ https://phpa.health.maryland.gov/Pages/Novel-coronavirus.aspx


This is a rapidly evolving situation and the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) will provide updates as they become available.

COVID-19 Testing and Confirmed Case Counts in Maryland

Number of patients tested for COVID-19: 31
Number of COVID-19 tests pending: 14
Number of negative COVID-19 tests: 17
Number of positive COVID-19 tests: 0 ​




Background

In December 2019, Chinese health officials announced they were investigating a pneumonia outbreak of unknown etiology (cause) in the city of Wuhan, China.  At that time, it was reported that many of the cases were linked to a seafood and animal market in Wuhan.  Since then, health officials have reported that the outbreak was caused by a novel coronavirus, and the illness has been named "coronavirus disease 2019" (abbreviated "COVID-19").  

Since then, thousands of cases have been reported and some cases have been fatal.  Cases of COVID-19 have been identified elsewhere in China, and in other countries, including in the United States. 

About Coronaviruses

There are many viruses in the coronavirus family that can cause illness in both humans and animals.  Several coronaviruses commonly circulate among people all of the time, and cause mild to moderate illnesses, such as the common cold.  Other coronaviruses commonly circulate only in animals.  Rarely, animal coronaviruses can evolve and infect people and then spread between people as has been seen with MERS and SARS.

Symptoms of COVID-19

Commonly reported symptoms of COVID-19 infection include:
  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath
  • Pneumonia​​

While the exact incubation period for this coronavirus has not yet been determined, it is believed that most infected people will develop symptoms 2-14 days after they were exposed.

Transmission

Many of the patients in the pneumonia outbreak caused by COVID-19 in Wuhan, China had some link to a large seafood and live animal market, suggesting animal-to-person spread. However, person-to-person spread is now widely occurring.

Prevention

There is no vaccine available for COVID-19.  In general, people can protect themselves and others against respiratory viruses by taking the following precautions:
  • Wash your hands frequently with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer or soap & water.
  • Cover your mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • If you are sick, stay home from work or school.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Practice good health habits.
It's not too late to get your flu shot!  While the influenza vaccine does not protect against coronavirus infection, it can help keep you healthy during the flu season.

Diagnosis

Currently, testing for COVID-19 can only be done at certain public health laboratories.  Clinical laboratories do not have the ability to test for this particular virus, though they do have the ability to test for the other, more common coronaviruses that circulate in people all the time.​

Treatment

People with COVID-19 should receive supportive care. There is no specific antiviral treatment for this illness. 


Guidance for people who recently traveled to China 

Public health authorities have implemented travel procedures for travelers from China arriving in the United States. 

  • Guidance for travelers from other parts of China (outside Hubei Province) in the past 14 days includes:
    • ​If you have fever, cough, or trouble breathing: CDC staff at the airport will evaluate you for illness. You will be taken to a medical facility for further evaluation and care. You may not be able to complete your travel itinerary.
    • If you do not have symptoms: You will be allowed to reach your final destination. After arrival at your final destination, you will be asked to monitor your health for a period of 14 days from the time you left China. You will receive a health information card that tells you what symptoms to look for and what to do if you develop symptoms. During that time, you should stay home and limit interactions with others as much as possible. Your state or local health department will contact you for further follow up.
  • Guidance for travelers from the Hubei Province, and other resources for returning travelers are available on the CDC Information for Travelers website​.  

Guidance for people who recently traveled to other countries with community spread of COVID-19
Monitor CDC Travel Health Notices webpage for important travel notifications.

Travelers returning from countries outside of China with community spread of COVID-19 are encouraged to monitor for symptoms, and call their healthcare provider if symptoms develop.  


Saturday, January 25, 2020

Justin builds muscle healthily and goes from 130lbs to 165lbs in 2 years (Uses MRE) !!

Justin builds muscle healthily and goes from 130lbs to 165lbs in 2 years (Uses MRE) !!

Sunday, December 22, 2019

NEW SURVEY UNCOVERS LACK OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HIV AMONG MILLENNIALS AND GEN Z


NEW SURVEY UNCOVERS LACK OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HIV AMONG MILLENNIALS AND GEN Z


Murray Penner- Executive Director, North America, Prevention Access Campaign (PAC)
Peter Sklar M.D., director, clinical research, Merck Research Laboratories

BACKGROUND:
While enormous strides have been made since the beginning of the HIV epidemic, the crisis is far from over. In fact, rates of HIV diagnoses among young adults in the U.S. have surged in recent years – accounting for more than half of new diagnoses – despite overall new diagnoses remaining stable.

In partnership with the Prevention Access Campaign (PAC), Merck launched Owning HIV: Young Adults and the Fight Ahead, a new campaign featuring results from a new survey to better understand young adults’ perceptions and beliefs about HIV.

The survey, fielded by Kantar Group between June 17 and August 5, 2019, was a cross-sectional, one-time online survey of approximately 1,600 US-based Gen Z (18-22) and millennials (23-36) who were self-reported HIV positive, or self-reported HIV negative/unknown, including Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, gay, bisexual, transgender and straight individuals. The goal of this study was to uncover attitudes and perceptions around HIV among young adults in the U.S. To date, this is the first survey to focus on the beliefs and perceptions about HIV among Generation Z (Gen Z) and millennials in the U.S.

Survey findings show a jarring trend of general confusion and insufficient knowledge of HIV and transmission, along with the existence of high-risk sexual practices, poor disease management, and stigmatizing behaviors among young adults.

Key Survey Findings Include:

•Survey findings showed a profound lack of accurate sex and HIV education among all participants, however the trend worsened in Gen Z

oMore than two-thirds of HIV-negative young adults said they were most concerned about getting HIV as compared to other sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

o54% of HIV-negative respondents did not report using condoms or pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to protect themselves against the HIV virus and other STIs

•Although millennials and Gen Z did not experience the start of the HIV epidemic firsthand, they still perpetuate the stigma seen in the early days of HIV

oMore than one quarter of HIV-negative millennials said they have avoided hugging, talking to or being friends with someone with HIV, and 30% said they would prefer not to interact socially with someone with HIV

oPeople with HIV who take HIV medicine as prescribed and get and keep an undetectable viral load (or stay virally suppressed) have effectively no risk of transmitting HIV to their HIV-negative sexual partners. The survey found that respondents had varying perceptions about what it means to be undetectable and the risk of transmitting the virus to another person.
o84% of Gen Z and 65% of millennials living with HIV who are abstaining from sex do so because of their HIV-positive status.

Murray Penner- Executive Director, North America, Prevention Access Campaign

Murray Penner is the Executive Director, North America of Prevention Access Campaign. He has a strong personal interest in helping people living with HIV achieve sexual health and well-being and reducing HIV stigma and shame. Prior to joining PAC, Murray served as Executive Director at NASTAD from 2015-2018 and served as NASTAD’s Deputy Executive Director and director of its care & treatment program from 2001-2015.

About Peter Sklar, M.D. director, clinical research, Merck Research Laboratories

Dr. Peter Sklar is a practicing physician who treats people living with HIV and maintains a clinical practice at the Partnership Comprehensive Care Program in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr. Sklar joined Merck in 2007 to advance the clinical research of new drug candidates for infectious diseases and has made significant contributions to the company’s virology portfolio. Dr. Sklar has also published numerous abstracts and articles in peer-reviewed journals and has served as the principal investigator on many clinical research protocols, including serving as site-PI of the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's HIV Research Network.

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