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October 14, 2020

Amid COVID uptick, Yale to participate in second vaccine trial

IMAGE | Pixabay.com
By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo

The number of patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 across the Yale New Haven Health system has more than doubled over the past week, officials reported Tuesday.

Marna P. Borgstrom, CEO of Yale New Haven Health, said the system had 64 in-patients with the disease. This included 29 at Yale New Haven Hospital, 14 at Bridgeport Hospital, 13 at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London and eight at Greenwich Hospital.

“We have to keep our guard up, we are seeing spikes with people going back to school,” Borgstrom said.

In contrast, during a late September media briefing, Borgstrom indicated there were just 28 COVID-19 in-patients across the health system. Much of the spike has been in the past week.

The health system had a COVID in-patient population around 800 in the spring, according to Borgstrom.

To date, the health system has discharged more than 4,000 COVID patients and has had 596 patients succumb to the disease, she said.

Thomas Balcezak, MD, executive vice president and chief clinical officer, noted how many people might be tempted to let their guard down as time goes on, but he cautioned against it.

“Social distancing, wearing masks and avoiding large crowds,” are key, according to Balcezak. “If you are ill, don’t come to work, stay home. When you tough it out, you are putting others at risk.”

He also urged people to get a flu shot if they haven’t already.

Gov. Ned Lamont said 172 individuals were hospitalized due to COVID-19 statewide as of Tuesday.

Vaccine trials

Meanwhile, Yale New Haven Health officials are involved in a second trial related to a potential vaccine against the virus.

The Yale Center for Clinical Investigation will be participating in New Jersey-based pharmaceutical company Merck’s clinical trial of its COVID vaccine candidate, which uses a weakened measles virus as a vector, according to Balcezak.

The health system has already been involved in pharmaceutical company Pfizer Inc.’s ongoing late stage trial. While individuals from the region have signed up to participate, more volunteers are needed. Anyone interested in participating can do so by visiting yalecovidvaccine.org.

Contact Michelle Tuccitto Sullo at msullo@newhavenbiz.com.

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