ABSTRACT
Objectives: Few studies evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of different COVID-19 vaccine platforms in patients with primary Sjogren's Syndrome (pSS). The present study aims to assess the immunogenicity through anti-spike IgG antibodies after the COVID-19 vaccine dose in heterologous groups compared to homologous regimen in patients with pSS. Method(s): These data are from the SAFER study: 'Safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine in rheumatic disease', a real-life phase IV multicenter longitudinal study, evaluating patients since before the first dose. Pregnant women, those with a history of serious adverse events prior to any vaccine, and those with other causes of immunosuppression were excluded. Patients with pSS > 18 years, classified according to ACR/EULAR 2016 classification criteria were included. Antibodies against the Receptor Binding Domain - RBD portion of the Spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 (IgG-S) were measured by chemiluminescence (Architect SARS-CoV-2 Quanti II, Abbott), before the first dose and 28 days after the 2nd and 3rd dose. Seropositivity was defined as IgG-Spike titers >=7.1 BAU/mL. Patients received adenoviral vector (ChAdOx1, Astrazeneca), mRNA (Pfizer) or inactivated SARS-COV-2 (Coronavac). Non-parametric methods were used. The alpha level of significance was set at 5%. Result(s): 56 participants received 3 doses, 46 +/- 11 years old, disease duration 7.62 years, 92.9% female, 41.1% White and 55.4% Mixed. The homologous third-booster dose group (n = 15, all ChAdOx1) and heterologous group (n = 41) were homogeneous for age, sex, ethnicity, comorbidities, medication and baseline IgG-S median [IQR] titers. After primary vaccination (2 doses) IgG-S median and titers [IQR] were similar in homologous and heterologous groups (373.03 [179.58, 843.92] vs. 473.36 [119.05, 1059.60], p = 0.705). Third-booster dose induced higher IgG-S median [IQR] titers compared to only 2 doses (1229.54 [333.55, 4365.47] vs 464.95 [140.42, 1015.25], p alpha 0.001). Heterologous 3rd-booster induced higher IgG-S median [IQR] titers than homologous scheme with ChAdOx1 (1779.52 [335.83, 4523.89] vs 730.76 [303.37, 1858.98], p = 0.150), Fig 1 and 2, although not statistically significant. Conclusion(s): Third booster dose induced higher humoral immune response compared to two doses whichmay improve protection against COVID-19 in patients with pSS. Although not statistically significant, the response to the heterologous scheme tended to be better than the response to the homologous booster vaccination, which heterologous booster scheme tended to respond better than homologous booster vaccination, which is relevant in this immunosuppressed population. Increasing the sample size will help clarify this issue. .
ABSTRACT
In the light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are faced with the need to develop intercultural health education strategies from the perspective of health promotion, as a collective empowerment tool to confront the pandemic and for protection and comprehensive health care for indigenous peoples. This chapter describes the alternative educational and pedagogical strategies for conducting a collaborative training course with indigenous empowerment through gathering the knowledge of traditional medicine in communities and creating viable and consensual alternatives for addressing their health problems and solutions. In 2020-2021, a training course in mental health was conducted exclusively to mitigate the psychosocial impact of COVID-19 on indigenous populations in the Brazilian Amazon. It was possible to rethink pedagogical practices, technological tools, the student's culture, the curriculum, and the social environment. This sensitivity demonstrates respect for different cultures, ethnicities, and languages, highlighting intercultural dialogue. The completion of the course evidenced the construction of unpublished knowledge about COVID-19 in promoting self-care and autonomy of indigenous people for decision-making based on healthy choices, which protect life in indigenous villages in the Amazon. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) are predisposed to serious infections due to immunocompromise, comorbidities, immunomodulatory and/or immunosuppressive therapy, as well as the lack of these medications faced by patients dependent on the Sistema Unico de Saude (SUS) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Studies revealed a low risk of worsening disease activity after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 and safety in the continuity of immunomodulatory therapy during the vaccination stages. Thus, immunization against COVID-19 is an important pillar in reducingmorbidity and mortality related to infectious conditions and SLE. This study had the objective to understand the disease activity in SLE patients after vaccination against COVID-19. Method(s): This is an observational, longitudinal, ambidirectional study with follow-up of subgroups of patients with immune-mediated rheumatic diseases immunized with vaccines made available by the Programa Nacional de Imunizacao (Butantan Institute, Pfizer/BioNTech, BioManguinhos/Fiocruz and Janssen). Data from the SLE disease activity index 2000 (SLEDAI-2 K) and sociodemographic data were collected and stored via an online platform, with a comparison of the index before and after each dose. This study was approved by the local Research Ethics Committee, and it is associated to the SAFER Project from Brazilian Society of Rheumatology. Result(s): A total of 223 patients were included, of which 83% were female and 39% had SLE, 36.7 +/- 11.76 years old. Regarding the disease activity, at inclusion the mean PGA score(SD) was 2,61 +/- 2,77. After the 1st dose it was 1.38 +/- 2.17, after the 2nd dose it was 2,35 +/- 2,99, after the 3rd dose it was 2,19 +/- 2,58 and after the 4th dose 1.18 +/- 1.88. The mean SLEDAI-2 K score at inclusion was 7,27 +/- 9,70, after the 1st dose it was 2,75 +/- 5,29, after the 2nd dose it was 4,73 +/- 6,40, after the 3rd dose 3,33 +/- 5,51 and after the 4th dose 2.12 +/- 4.27. 6% of the patients referred worsening disease activity after the 1st dose, 14,3%after the 2nd dose, and no patient reportedworsening of disease activity after the 3rd and 4th doses. Conclusion(s): Vaccination did not contribute toworsening disease activity of the SLE patientss studied, according to the indices used to assess disease activity.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: Immunization against SARS-CoV-2 is an effective strategy to reduce morbidity and mortality in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. People with Immune-mediated Rheumatic Diseases (IMRD) also benefited from this campaign. However, there is a limited amount of data on the outcome of vaccination in these patients, in terms of those who were infected by the virus. This study had the objective to evaluate the rate of COVID-19 cases in patients with IMRD after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. Method(s): Observational, longitudinal and ambidirectional study with follow-up of subgroups of patients with IMRD immunized with vaccines made available by the National Immunization Plan (inactivated adsorbed vaccine registered by the Instituto Butantan (IB), recombinant vaccines registered by Bio Manguinhos/ Fiocruz and by Janssen, and Pfizer/BioNTech). Sociodemographic data and questionnaires on flu syndrome, laboratory confirmation of infection and need for hospitalization and outcomes were collected and stored via an online platform. This study is associated to the SAFER Project from the Brazilian Society of Rheumatology and it was approved by the local Research Ethics Committee. Result(s): A total of 223 patients aged over 18 years, mean age 42.79 +/- 15.18 years, were included. All were within the inclusion/exclusion criteria, with 83% being female. The main IMRD included were systemic lupus erythematosus (39%) and rheumatoid arthritis (33.6%). After the 1st dose, 1.45% of patients had COVID-19, 50% sought health services (emergency care), without the need for hospitalization and after the 2nd dose, 1.5% had the disease, of which none sought health services, required hospitalization or had a negative outcome. After the 3rd dose,: 2.9%were infected with SARS-CoV-2 one month later, 15.6% two to three months later and 5.5% four to six months later, all with laboratory confirmation;only 4% presenting any serious complication;there were no deaths. After the 4th dose, 9.1%of patients had COVID-19, of which 40%were hospitalized, without the need for assisted ventilation;half of these patients had a serious complication, but there no deaths. Conclusion(s): In this study, we observed the effectiveness of the vaccine in preventing severe cases of COVID-19 and complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: Chronic Inflammatory Immune-mediated Diseases (CIMD) can cause pain and severe discomfort to the patient, leading to significant reductions in his/her quality of life. Vaccination against COVID-19 has proven to be an efficient method in preventing cases and serious repercussions. However, there is insufficient evidence on the safety of these vaccines in the CIMD population. Objective(s): To assess disease activity in adolescent patients with CIMD after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. Method(s): Observational, longitudinal, ambidirectional study with follow-up of groups of adolescent patients with CIMDwho received the vaccine provided by the National Immunization Program -Pfizer/BioNTech. Sociodemographic and clinical disease activity data were collected before and after each vaccine dose. Data were stored through an online platform (REDCap). This study is associated to the SAFER Project from the Brazilian Society of Rheumatology and was approved by the local Research Ethics Committee. Result(s): Nineteen adolescents aged between 12 and 17 years were included, all of whom met the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Of the total, 31.6% have Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA)-14.33 +/- 2.25 years of age, whose subtypes included persistent oligoarticular JIA (16.7%), Polyarticular Rheumatoid Factor (RF) negative (33.3%), Polyarticular RF positive (16.7%) and Systemic (33.3%);68.4% have Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) -14.77 +/- 1.96 years of age. Regarding JIA patients, at inclusion, the mean disease activity assessed by the physician was 3 +/- 3.83 and 3.25 +/- 3.77 as assessed by the patient. After the 1st dose, the mean activity assessed by the physician was 2.8 +/- 3.9 and after the 2nd dose it was 3 +/- 4.24. Themean activity after the first dose as assessed by the patient was 3.2 +/- 3.96, and after the 2nd dose it was 2.8 +/- 3.11. In the SLE patients, at inclusion, the mean degree of disease activity was 1.92 +/- 1.83 and of the SLEDAI-2 K was 4.67 +/- 5.14. After the 1st dose, the mean disease activity was 1.11 +/- 1.96, and after the 2nd dose, it was 2.25 +/- 2.76. After the 1st dose, the SLEDAI-2 K was 1.11 +/- 1.76, and after the 2nd dose it was 4.25 +/- 5.28. No reports of worsening of disease activity after the vaccine were found. Conclusion(s): The vaccination proved not to contribute to worsening of clinical activity of rheumatic diseases in adolescents, without significant changes in SLE assessment indices and in the personal and medical assessment of JIA patients.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: In the Chronic Inflammatory Immune-mediated Diseases (CIMD), infections mainly occur in the respiratory tract and their occurrence is related to drug-induced immunosuppression, underlying diseases and comorbidities. To reduce this morbidity and mortality, vaccination is an effective means of prevention. However, the available studies on SARS-CoV-2 vaccines have not addressed this group of patients with CIMD, and there are still many doubts regarding the indications, adverse effects, safety and efficacy of these vaccines. Objective(s): to evaluate the adverse effects of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 in adolescent patients with CIMD. Method(s): Research associated to the SAFER Project from Brazilian Society of Rheumatology. It is an observational, longitudinal, ambidirectional study, with follow-up of groups of vaccinated adolescent patients with CIMD, vaccine by Pfizer/BioNTech. Sociodemographic data were collected, stored on an online platform, and adverse events were presented by filling in diaries issued for each patient. This study was approved by the local Research Ethics Committee. Result(s): We included 19 adolescents, aged between 12 to 17 years, who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The mean age was 14.63 +/- 2.01 years. Of these, 68.4% were female. In relation to CIMD, 31.6% have Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and 68.4% have Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. All were vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine. In the 1st dose, the main adverse effects presented were Pain at the injection site (85.7%), Headache (42.9%), Tiredness (33.3%) and Edema and skin induration at the injection site (26, 7%). After the 2nd dose, the only adverse effect reported was Pain at the injection site (57.1%), with no other complaints. Conclusion(s): The adverse effects reported are of mild tomoderate reactogenicity;no serious adverse events were reported.
ABSTRACT
Health diplomacy has played a vital role worldwide during the coronavirus outbreak. One crucial mechanism in this regard has been "vaccine diplomacy," which describes country efforts to share COVID-19 vaccines. China and India are ahead of other countries in bilateral vaccine donations due to their South-South Cooperation policies. Looking forward, how and why are these two countries employing their vaccine diplomacy strategies? We compare the engagement of both in this field using a Comparative Foreign Policy Analysis framework. Our results suggest that neither is acting only for altruistic reasons, because economic and political interests are the main drivers behind their strategies.
ABSTRACT
Health diplomacy has played a vital role worldwide during the coronavirus outbreak. One crucial mechanism in this regard has been "vaccine diplomacy,” which describes country efforts to share COVID-19 vaccines. China and India are ahead of other countries in bilateral vaccine donations due to their South-South Cooperation policies. Looking forward, how and why are these two countries employing their vaccine diplomacy strategies? We compare the engagement of both in this field using a Comparative Foreign Policy Analysis framework. Our results suggest that neither is acting only for altruistic reasons, because economic and political interests are the main drivers behind their strategies. © 2022, INSTBRASILEIRORELACOESINT. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
A resposta imune a infeccao por SARS-CoV-2 durante o periodo gravidico puerperal e as alteracoes que podem aumentar o risco de complicacoes maternas, fetais e neonatais ainda nao sao bem caracterizadas. Para isso, foram determinados, atraves de citometria de fluxo, niveis perifericos de linfocitos T-totais (CD3+), T-auxiliar (CD3+/CD4+), T-citotoxico (CD3+/CD8+), linfocitos B (CD19+), celulas NK (CD16+/56+) e NKT (CD3+/CD16-56+) em gestantes e puerperas com suspeita de COVID-19 com o objetivo de identificar potenciais alteracoes imunologicas induzidas pelo coronavirus. Foram utilizadas amostras de sangue periferico de mulheres que realizaram RT-PCR para COVID-19 entre maio de 2021 e marco de 2022. As amostras foram coletadas em tres maternidades publicas do Rio Grande do Norte na admissao para parto e no puerperio imediato nos casos suspeitos. O sangue foi coletado em tubos contendo EDTA para a realizacao da citometria de fluxo, utilizando o analisador de fluorescencia celular ativado (FACScan) e o software Cell Quest. Os linfocitos foram identificados por alta expressao de CD45 e baixa dispersao lateral, utilizando as seguintes combinacoes de 3 cores de anticorpo monoclonal: isotiocianato de uoresceina (FITC), ficoeritrina (PE) e Proteina Clorofila Piridina (PerCP). Cinquenta mulheres precisaram realizar o RT-PCR e 32 (64%) testaram positivo para COVID-19. Gestantes e puerperas infectadas pelo SARS-CoV-2 apresentaram niveis elevados de celulas T citotoxicas, mediana (ME) = 495,0;intervalo interquartil (IIQ) = 391,5, quando comparadas com pacientes nao infectadas, ME=356,2;IIQ=297,8;p=0.032. Com relacao a quantidade das celulas NK, ME=159,1;IIQ=220,4, e dos linfocitos B, ME=126,7;IIQ=186.4, as contagens foram significativamente mais baixas no grupo com menos de 30 dias de infeccao, em comparacao com o grupo em que o RT-PCR foi negativo, ME=280,8;IIQ=214,9;p=0,021 e ME=323,9;IIQ=365,5;p=0,045, respectivamente. Gestantes e puerperas com COVID-19 apresentam maior numero de linfocitos T citotoxicos no sangue periferico e menor numero de celulas NK e linfocitos B. Considerando que gravidez e pos-parto alteram fisiologicamente o sistema imunologico e que esse estudo transversal nao permite analisar causalidade entre infeccao e alteracoes celulares, mais estudos sao necessarios para elucidar as alteracoes causadas pela COVID-19 no sistema imunologico durante o periodo gravidico puerperal, para confirmar se a infeccao viral compromete a imunidade, aumentando o risco de complicacoes para o binomio mae-feto. Declaramos que nao houve apoio financeiro e (ou) material recebido para o desenvolvimento deste trabalho. Copyright © 2022
ABSTRACT
The objective of this work was to obtain the perception of the population about: (1) the importance of immunization;(2) knowledge of methodologies (genetic manipulation) used for vaccine production;(3) acceptance of the vaccine against COVID-19. To this end, an online questionnaire produced via Google Forms was made available. This form was disseminated in various virtual environments such as academic and social media. Over six months, 353 responses were obtained. In this survey, responses were obtained from participants residing in 14 states in Brazil. Considering the investigation about vaccines, the results showed that most (90.6%) have already been vaccinated, as well as their families, and understand the importance of immunization. The techniques of genetic manipulation are complex and more widespread in the scientific environment, so it was observed that a large part of the interviewed population does not have an opinion on the subject. The research showed that because of the state of calamity caused by the pandemic, people had urgency in immunization, even with distrust in aspects such as efficiency. Currently, it is clear that vaccination does not prevent infection with the virus, but minimizes the damage caused by the infection. Data from the Ministry of Health show that the number of cases and deaths has reduced by more than 40%, showing once again the effectiveness and necessity of immunization of the population.
ABSTRACT
Objective: This study's objective was to know Brazilian university students' social representations regarding the influences on adherence to distancing-social isolation during the new coronavirus pandemic. Methods: The research design of this study was qualitative research, guided by the Theory of Social Representations. The students were selected by convenience by the "snowball" sampling method. The environment for access and invitation to participants consisted of groups on social media. Data were collected through an electronic questionnaire prepared by the authors using the Google Forms platform. For analysis, content analysis was used with the aid of the IraMuTeQ software. Results: Seven hundred and ninety-eight Brazilian university students participated, with a mean age of 23.59 years;71.7% of respondents were female, 28.1% were male, and 0.3% were intersex. As a result, four classes were obtained, organized into two categories, entitled "Reproducing the voice of science: Scientific knowledge as a determinant of conduct" and "Life at home: Risk and fear in everyday life". Conclusions: It appears that the participants structure their representations based on scientific recommendations and assume the position of reproducing the hegemonic discourse on distancing/social isolation;however, the symbolic elaboration process is marked by the fear of infecting close people and the desire to protect them.
ABSTRACT
Background: COVID-19 pandemic information is critical to study it further, but the virus has still not been confined. In addition, even if there is no longer any threat, more knowledge may be gathered from these resources. Methods: The data used in this study was gathered from several scientific areas and the links between them. Since the COVID-19 pandemic has not been fully contained, and additional information can be gleaned from these references, bibliometric analysis of it is important. Results: A total of 155 publications on the topic of "COVID-19" and the keyword "nanotechnology" was identified in the Scopus database between 2020 and 2021 in a network visualization map. Conclusion: As a result, our analysis was conducted appropriately to provide a comprehensive understanding of COVID-19 and nanotechnology and prospective research directions for medicinal chemistry.
ABSTRACT
In early 2021, Brazil saw a dramatic recurrence in Covid-19 cases associated to the spread of a novel variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the P1 variant. In light of previous reports showing that this variant is more transmissible and more likely to infect people who had recovered from previous infection, a retrospective analysis was conducted to assess if the early 2021 Covid-19 wave in Brazil was associated with an increase in the number of individuals presenting with a more severe clinical course. Fifty-one thousand and fourteen individuals who underwent telemedicine consultations were divided into two groups: patients seen on or before January 31, 2021, and on or after February 1, 2021. These dates were chosen based on the spread of the P1 variant in Brazil. Referral to the emergency department (ED) was used as a marker of a more severe course of the disease. No differences were seen in the proportion of patients referred to the ED in each group nor in the odds ratio of being referred to the ED from the 1st of February 2021 (OR=0.909; 95%CI: 0.81-1.01). Considering the entire cohort, age had an impact on the odds of being referred to the ED, with individuals older than 59 years showing twice the risk of the remaining population and those less than 19 years showing a lower risk.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Telemedicine , Brazil/epidemiology , Humans , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
In this text, we aim to show up the Literary Soiree teaching project, an event promoted at Farroupilha Federal Institute Campus São Vicente do Sul, by professors from Language area in collaboration with Education administrative technicians. Thus, we bring a reflection about changing the way it was presented in 2020, because of covid-19 pandemic, from a classroom activity to a remote one. In this way, we present the event timeline and its outspread, as well as we highlight the importance of a project of this size for students' knowledge dissemination and their training as subjects who interfere in the context in which they live and, through art, reinvent multiple ways of living at the educational institution. In particular, we discuss the seventh edition, which took place in 2020, in live format, and the Multicampi Soiree, an event created because of the Literary Soiree success and presented during a pedagogical training week. The event has become recognized as a successful practice at the Institute and allows each of the students involved to show themselves and give voice to their concerns, through art, music, literature or other artistic-visual representation. © 2022 Eduem - Editora da Universidade Estadual de Maringa. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
This study presents a research experience with engineering students at undergraduate and graduate levels, during the summer of 2020 at the School of Engineering, University of Minho, Portugal. Following the first pandemic event in Portugal, from March to May 2020, the Foundation for promoting Science and Technology (FCT) has opened a call for research projects among students and researchers at different Universities. The main aim of these projects was to motivate students to return physically to the campus during a summer course, and to promote a research environment among them. i9Masks was one of the projects approved by the University of Minho and its main objective was the development of innovative masks in a silicone elastomer for the protection of COVID-19 with the use of state-of-the-art technologies. The development of masks was at the time a very hot topic as well as a fashionable subject for research. Considering the results obtained, from the final works presented by students, a very positive balance of the experience was achieved. The i9Masks project was a useful learning experience for engineering education, particularly in Portugal, where the opportunity to participate in this type of "learning by doing" experience is very small. Copyright © 2021 by ASME
ABSTRACT
Modern computer vision techniques applied to radiographic studies are presented as an alternative to assist the specialist in screening and diagnosing the respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2), assisting in clinically severe cases, such as acute pneumonia, acute respiratory failure, organ failure, and death. This work proposes a screening method based on the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) based on deep learning techniques for the classification of COVID-19 from chest X-ray (CXR) exams. The proposed system called Computer-Aided Remote medical diagnostics System (CARMEDSys) applied to the diagnosis of COVID-19 consists of three main stages: 1) segmentation of the lung region in X-ray images, 2) deep extraction of attributes from the filtered pulmonary area and 3) Prediction patient status with machine learning assistance. The performance of CARMEDSys was evaluated considering twelve different deep neural networks, via the transfer of learning. Besides, the performance of this approach is evaluated against recent studies for the classification of healthy patients, with pneumonia, or with COVID-19. The evaluation methodology considered two different sets of radiographic images, reaching Sensitivity (99.97%), F1-Score (99.43%), and Accuracy (98.89%) promising to distinguish patients with pneumonia and COVID-19 combining DenseNet201 as attribute extractor with Support Vector Machine with radial basis function, exceeding up to 12.31% sensitivity for prediction of COVID-19 recent related works.
ABSTRACT
The outbreak of COVID-19 had a great impact on education with the sudden shift from traditional to online learning. As a result, the difficulties experienced by students increased, professors had to adapt the teaching method of the contents and experimental activities were all transmitted from a screen, making this a difficult task for everyone. In this context, the resumption of in-person activities is of great importance to surpass the difficulties that this pandemic crisis has brought to students learning. Motivated by this necessity, the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), proposed a program called “Summer with Science”. This program aimed to develop presential activities with the participation of students, professors, and researchers in the summer of 2020, that involved innovative solutions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. i9Masks was one of the interesting projects that emerged from this initiative and it consisted of developing transparent facial masks for preventing the virus’ dissemination. This project joined students of different engineering and biological sciences at any level in a Higher Education Institution to learn science. In order to understand the impact of this course on student’s motivation to conduct research, in the present study, a questionnaire was used to collect the data from the students who participated in the i9Masks summer project. The same questionnaire was applied to non-participants as a control group. After the data are gathered, the results were evaluated, and it was observed that effectively this course had a great and positive impact on student’s perspective on research activities. Significant differences were observed regarding the attitudes towards research between participants and non-participants. © 2021 University of Minho. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
A rapidly evolving situation such as the COVID-19 pandemic is a significant challenge for AI/ML models because of its unpredictability. The most reliable indicator of the pandemic spreading has been the number of test positive cases. However, the tests are both incomplete (due to untested asymptomatic cases) and late (due the lag from the initial contact event, worsening symptoms, and test results). Social media can complement physical test data due to faster and higher coverage, but they present a different challenge: significant amounts of noise, misinformation and disinformation. We believe that social media can become good indicators of pandemic, provided two conditions are met. The first (True Novelty) is the capture of new, previously unknown, information from unpredictably evolving situations. The second (Fact vs. Fiction) is the distinction of verifiable facts from misinformation and disinformation. Social media information that satisfy those two conditions are called live knowledge. We apply evidence-based knowledge acquisition (EBKA) approach to collect, filter, and update live knowledge through the integration of social media sources with authoritative sources. Although limited in quantity, the reliable training data from authoritative sources enable the filtering of misinformation as well as capturing truly new information. We describe the EDNA/LITMUS tools that implement EBKA, integrating social media such as Twitter and Facebook with authoritative sources such as WHO and CDC, creating and updating live knowledge on the COVID-19 pandemic. © 2020 IEEE.