Quantification of Vitamin D at Different Levels of Clinical Worsening of COVID-19.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Vitamin D is the name given to a group of lipid-soluble steroidal substances of physiological importance in the body, especially in bone metabolism. The active form of vitamin D is believed to have immunomodulatory effects on immune system cells, especially T lymphocytes, as well as on the production and action of several cytokines and on the expression of potent antimicrobial peptides in epithelial cells that line the respiratory tract, playing an important role in protecting the lung from infections. The aim of this study was to assess vitamin D levels in patients with COVID-19 in healthcare service and to verify that these levels are adequate to protect the progression of this infection. METHODS: The aim of this observational study was to evaluate the serum concentration of vitamin D in 300 patients suspected of being infected with COVID-19, treated at Basic Health Units (BHUs) and at the Hospital Complex in the municipality of São Bernardo do Campo. RESULTS: 294 patients were included, 195 (66%) of which tested positive for COVID-19 and 99 (34%) negative for COVID-19. Among the patients in the positive group, 163 patients were in the mild group (84%); 22 patients in the moderate group (11%); 8 patients in the severe group (4%), and 2 patients in the deceased group (1%). CONCLUSION: For the patients in this study, no association was observed for the protective factor of vitamin D against COVID-19 infection, and its role in controlling the clinical staging of the disease was not verified.

Impact of the Vaccination Against COVID-19 on Frontline Health Workers.

INTRODUCTION: Brazil has been facing the pandemic of COVID-19 since march 2020. More than 540,000 people have died from this disease in the country. Some estimates indicate that the population exposed to SARS-CoV-2 represents 1 to 20%. However, these data are questionable due to the number of asymptomatic and untested individuals. As a result, vaccination for COVID- 19 has become the main means of achieving herd immunity. OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate, through local sampling, that broad and rapid vaccination may decrease the rate of COVID-19 detection in individuals potentially exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. METHODS: A total of 1,128 individuals were studied, including students and health professionals from Centro Universitário FMABC, who received the two doses of the vaccine for COVID-19 (Oxford/Astrazeneca ® and CoronaVac®). RESULTS: In the studied period, there was a 41% reduction in the demand for RT-PCR tests after vaccination. And a 78.3% reduction in positive results after vaccination started. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that even vaccinating a population with higher exposure to the risk of contamination significantly reduced test positivity and the demand to perform these tests. This emphasizes that vaccination is the best strategy to achieve herd immunity and reduce the spread of the disease.