Vaccine hesitancy — Medical-expert-endorsed correction of vaccine misconceptions

Corticosteroid treatment during hospital stay would change in-hospital mortality among COVID-19 patients.

In a single-hospital cohort of 1,444 RT-PCR-confirmed patients, 559 received corticosteroids. Crude mortality was higher in the treated group (30.6% vs 21.7%), but after overlap-weight propensity balancing there was no association with in-hospital death (adjusted p = 0.25).

Why it matched: shares COVID-19 · similar wording

Two doses of the 4CMenB meningococcal vaccine would reduce gonorrhoea incidence in gay and bisexual men, as observational studies suggested.

In the open-label MenGO trial with 2 years of 3-monthly follow-up, vaccination did not significantly reduce gonorrhoea incidence (IRR 0.78, 95% CI 0.40–1.51, p = 0.457), although it raised serum bactericidal titres against N. gonorrhoeae at 6 months.

Why it matched: shares COVID-19

Two 200 ml transfusions of convalescent plasma would reduce the need for non-invasive or mechanical ventilation in patients with severe COVID-19.

In an open-label pilot of 20 plasma versus 20 standard-care patients, ventilation was needed by 4 and 6 respectively (risk ratio 0.67, 95% CI 0.22-2.0, p = 0.72); time on ventilation, biochemical measures and 28-day mortality did not differ.

Why it matched: shares COVID-19

Because of its immunomodulatory effects, azithromycin 500 mg daily for up to 10 days would lower 28-day mortality in patients hospitalised with COVID-19.

In the RECOVERY platform trial, 7763 patients were randomised (2582 azithromycin, 5181 usual care); 22% died within 28 days in each arm (rate ratio 0.97, 95% CI 0.87-1.07, p = 0.50). Length of stay and the proportion discharged alive within 28 days also did not differ.

Why it matched: shares COVID-19