More COVID-19 Cases Expected to Hit Mexico

Despite successful vaccine campaigns and low COVID-19 numbers, Mexico’s health officials expect future COVID-19 cases in the near future. The UK’s MHRA approved molnupiravir, the first COVID-19 oral treatment for its emergency use. In addition, rising obesity rates are will continue to impact Mexico’s economy. .

Here is the week in health!

Fourth, Fifth, Sixth Waves of COVID-19 Expected

Vice Minister of Prevention and Health Promotion Hugo López-Gatell is not ruling out future COVID-19 infections in Mexico despite the country giving two doses of COVID-19 vaccinations to nearly half of its population and continues to administer vaccines at a fast rate The world’s leading countries in vaccine administration provide an estimate regarding the future of the pandemic in Mexico.

UK Approves Molnupiravir: Will it be Available in Mexico?

The UK became the first country to give emergency use authorization to Molnupiravir, Merck’s COVID-19 pill. While the FDA is still studying the approval of the pill, Merck’s executives are ready to talk with Mexican health officials aiming to bring molnupiravir to the country. The pill’s arrival to Mexico depends on both the government and the regulatory agency, said Javier Báez-Villaseñor Moreno, Associate Director, Government Vaccines, Medical Affairs, Merck México.

Obesity Cuts 2.1 Percent of Mexico’s GDP

A study by the World Obesity Federation (WOF) and the Research Triangle Institute (RTI) released yesterday analyzed the financial impact of obesity in eight different countries in 2019. For Mexico, researchers found that 2019 obesity levels have cost the country US$26 billion, totaling 2.1 percent of its GDP or US$204 per capita.

Patient’s Role in Health Outcomes

Patients who share responsibility for their medical care have the best results, reports the Shingletown Medical Center (SMC). The center suggests that shared responsibility discussion should include what the patient may expect during treatment and outcome. “A similar approach should be followed in planning tests, consultations or referrals,” says the SMC.

Pfizer’s COVID-19 Pill Prevents Nine out of Ten Hospitalizations

Pfizer has recently announced the results of the second phase of trials of Paxlovid, a COVID-19 antiviral oral treatment that has proven to be 89 percent effective in preventing hospitalizations or death among infected people.

HPV Vaccine Reports 87 Percent Effectiveness

Cervarix, a vaccine made to prevent the transmission of the human papilloma virus (HPV), has reduced the rate of cervical cancer among women by 87 percent, revealed a study at Kings College London and published in the scientific journal The Lancet. In order to study the effectiveness of the vaccine, scientists used data from a total of 13.7 million-years of follow ups of women under 20. Scientists observed that the vaccine reduced cervical cancer by 34 percent among girls between 16 and 18 years, 62 percent among girls ages 14–16 years and 87 percent among girls ages 12–13 years, in comparison to the unvaccinated.