Dr. Alvarez stated that COVID-19 is a serious illness. Patients who are admitted to the ICU have an increased morbidity/mortality rate of 30%. Sadly, COVID-19 does not take its victims quickly. Dr. Alvarez stated that death occurs approximately 28 days after admission to a critical care unit.
With that being said, COVID-19 daily admissions to Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC) are less than 3%, and HUMC has 400 COVID-19 patients in total. Therefore, Dr. Alvarez believes that New Jersey is finally heading in a positive direction with regards to the pandemic. He cautioned that residents should remain vigilant and continue with social distancing, wearing of masks and good hand sanitizing practice for the foreseeable future.
Dr. Alvarez stated that COVID-19 is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by the virus known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. Both viruses share some similar symptoms, such as:
- Fever or feeling feverish/chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue (tiredness)
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Muscle pain or body aches
- Headache
- Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults
*Not everyone with flu will have a fever.
COVID-19 disproportionately affects men and people who are older with conditions such as diabetes and obesity. Some, but not all, of the emergency warming signs for COVID-19 that require immediate medical attention are:
- Trouble breathing
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- New confusion
- Inability to wake or stay awake
- Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone
- New loss of taste or smell
Dr. Alvarez went on to say that COVID-19 symptoms can sometimes persist for months. The virus can damage the lungs, heart and brain, which increases the risk of long-term health problems.
Older people and people with many serious medical conditions are the most likely to experience lingering
COVID-19 symptoms, but even young, otherwise healthy people can feel unwell for weeks to months after infection.
Organ damage caused by COVID-19
- Heart. Imaging tests taken months after recovery from COVID-19 have shown lasting damage to the heart muscle, even in people who experienced only mild COVID-19 symptoms. This may increase the risk of heart failure or other heart complications in the future.
- Dr. Alvarez suggests COVID-19 patients screen for cardiovascular disease.
- Lungs. The type of pneumonia often associated with COVID-19 can cause long-standing damage to the tiny air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs. The resulting scar tissue can lead to long-term breathing problems.
- Brain. Even in young people, COVID-19 can cause strokes, seizures and Guillain-Barre syndrome — a condition that causes temporary paralysis. COVID-19 may also increase the risk of developing Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.
Blood clots and blood vessel problems
- COVID-19 can make blood cells more likely to clump up and form clots.
- Other parts of the body affected by blood clots include the lungs, legs, liver, and kidneys.
- COVID-19 can also weaken blood vessels and cause them to leak, which contributes to potentially long-lasting problems with the liver and kidneys.
Many long-term COVID-19 effects still unknown
Dr. Alvarez said that most people who have COVID-19 recover quickly, but the potentially long-lasting problems from COVID-19 make it even more important to reduce the spread of the disease by following precautions such as getting vaccinated, wearing masks, avoiding crowds, and keeping hands clean.
COVID-19 Treatments at HUMC
- Steroids
- Remdesivir
- Rheumatoid Arthritis drugs: Tocilizumab or Sarilumab
- Plasma Therapy *
* Antibody-rich plasma treatments are considered the Gold Standard for treating COVID-19.
Dr. Alvarez stated that individuals experiencing serious COVID-19 symptoms should go to HUMC for an outpatient Plasma Therapy injection as this treatment protocol has been shown to reduce the progression of COVID-19.
If you have had COVID-19, Dr. Alvarez asks that you please donate your plasma to help fight this pandemic!
Vaccines
Dr. Alvarez stated that the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccines keep 100% of COVID-19 patients from dying.
Both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines use mRNA: Messenger RNA
COVID-19 mRNA vaccines give instructions for our cells to make a harmless piece of what is called the “spike protein.” The spike protein is found on the surface of the virus that causes COVID-19. These vaccines require two shots. The first shot gives 70% protection from the contracting COVID-19. The second shot gives up to 95% protection from contracting the virus.
Researchers have been studying and working with mRNA vaccines for decades.
- Interest has grown in these vaccines because they can be developed in a laboratory using readily available materials.
- mRNA vaccines have been studied before for flu, Zika, rabies, and cytomegalovirus
- Cancer research has used mRNA to trigger the immune system to target specific cancer cells
Once the necessary information about the virus that causes COVID-19 was available, scientists began designing the mRNA instructions for cells to build the unique spike protein into an mRNA vaccine.
The single dose J&J vaccine is a more traditional style formulation
J&J’s researchers added the gene for the coronavirus spike protein to another virus called Adenovirus 26. Adenoviruses are common viruses that typically cause colds or flu-like symptoms. The J&J team used a modified adenovirus that can enter cells but cannot replicate inside them or cause illness.
While the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have revolutionized the manufacture of vaccines, Dr. Alvarez believes that the J&J vaccine will be the yearly vaccine given for new strains of COVID-19.
Children/young adults/pregnant women and the vaccine
Dr. Alvarez indicated that small children, young teens (tweens) and young adults ages 19 – 30 years old have a lower incidence of admission and death due to COVID-19 as they have fewer or no co-morbidities.
However, Dr. Alvarez cautioned that risk factors for children with co-morbidities such as obesity, diabetes, and asthma must be considered when deciding whether or not to give a child or young person the vaccine. He said to consult with your physician in all instances, especially for children below the age of 16.
Dr. Alvarez stated that there are no studies to indicate complications for pregnant women getting the vaccine. He did suggest that pregnant women in the third trimester abstain from getting the vaccine. He also stated that the vaccines do not cause infertility in women. He suggests that pregnant women and those women wanting to become pregnant speak with their ObGYN about getting the vaccine.
Reactions to the vaccines
The side effects are similar for all three vaccines and are an indication that the vaccines are helping to build protection against disease. These are the most reported side effects:
- Injection site pain and swelling
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Chills
- Fever
- Muscle and joint pain
- Nausea
- Delayed swelling, redness, or a rash at the injection site
- Swollen lymph nodes (typically manifests as a lump in your armpit or above your collarbone)
Getting back to normal
Dr. Alvarez believes New Jersey residents will be able to get back to a more normal lifestyle by the Fall of 2021, when the rate of immunization is higher, and the State reaches herd immunity levels.
Dr. Manuel Alvarez is the Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Science at Hackensack University Medical Center as well as the Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Hackensack Meridian Health Palisades Medical Center.
Dr. Alvarez is also Professor and Chairman of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine in Nutley, New Jersey. He is an adjunct professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at New York University School of Medicine (New York, NY) as well as a visiting professor at Yale School of Medicine (New Haven, CT).
Dr. Alvarez has an extensive broadcast presence, currently serving as medical contributor and medical correspondent for the FOX News Channel. Additional television credits include a variety of local, national and international programming for CNN International, FOX News, ABC, CBS, NBC, UNIVISION CHANNEL41, and TELEMUNDO, CHANNEL 47. Ray Show and on the Montel Williams Show, where he addressed new medical discoveries as well as medical conditions that affect the average population.
Dr. Alvarez earned his medical degree at the Universidad del Este School of Medicine (San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic). He completed his residency at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center (Paterson, NJ) and his fellowship at Mount Sinai Medical Center (NewYork, NY). He is certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and is also board-certified in maternal fetal medicine.
