Len writes:

Hi Dr Griffin, I’m a long time listener and truly appreciate the objective knowledge you share with humanity…that said, this is a burning question of mine and likely many other curious minds out there. When using a naso-dilator like Afrin to decongest your nose, one usually only needs it for a few days at most, which is what the manufacturer recommends as well. So, we are left with a nearly full container to throw away. Given we become immune to the virus that causes our common cold or Covid specific variant or whatever, can we wipe the applicator with alcohol and safely re-use it up to its expiration date ? Really looking forward to your insight on this 😄

Volker writes:

Dear Daniel,

I am 49 years old, in very good health, and run about 100 kilometers each month. I have been vaccinated three times and had Covid-19 at least once almost two years ago.

Last Saturday, I started to notice some symptoms and performed a SARS-CoV-2 test on Monday morning, which returned a positive result. Since you recently took Paxlovid, despite having no comorbidities or risk factors that I am aware of as a very-long-time listener of TWiV, I requested my general practitioner to prescribe it to me. He did so, albeit reluctantly, stating that I would not benefit from it.

Could you please explain how I might benefit from Paxlovid? Are we talking about a shorter recovery time? Milder symptoms? Lower viral load? Reduced risk of long Covid? Could you also provide links to relevant studies that I could forward to my GP? Generally, who should take Paxlovid in the absence of risk factors?

Thank you very much for your time and assistance.

Greetings from Bavaria,

Volker

Lauren writes:

Hi Dr Griffin,

Is there any news regarding updating rapid antigen tests with more accurate versions?

I imagine the commercial value of developing better antigen tests is low as demand has probably dropped off a cliff, but they’re such an important tool for those of us who are still trying to avoid Covid—it would be incredible to be able to depend on them a bit more, and be able to gather more safely via testing friends/family/caretakers/colleagues/etc.

Obviously I’d love to hear that this was coming, but I haven’t seen any news on the topic myself…

Thanks,

Lauren

Allan writes:

Hi,

I am a regular listener and find your talks so helpful. 

With respect to rapid tests… Is there any meaning to them after one has tested positive. 

I have patients and family who have Covid who monitor the “redness” of their positive test line. Does a lighter colour mean anything? Does a negative test after 5 or 6 days mean that you don’t have to mask till day 10. Is there magic in 2 negative days in a row… If that were days 5 and 6, would it really mean you are not contagious. 

Is there any reliable literature on this topic. 

Thanks very much, 

Keep up the great work, 

By listening to Twiv, notwithstanding being a psychiatrist, people come to me for advice on Covid. 

Allan

Nicole writes:

Hi Dr. Griffin, I love your TWIV clinical updates! Thank you so much for all that you do.

Many doctors remain unsure how to answer this question so I am hoping to get your expertise. Are you universally recommending RSV vaccination for adults over 60 even those without cardiopulmonary or other comorbidities or immunocompromise, strictly on the basis of age? The CDC website highlights the small neurologic signal seen in the trials and therefore some have only been recommending this vaccine to the highest risk patients (defined by comorbidities or perhaps extremes of age, not solely based on age >60). Would you recommend it for everyone over 60 despite the small neurologic signal (which may or may not be related to the vaccine) and if not, would your answer change for even older adults (i.e, over 70, but without significant comorbidities or immunocompromise)?

Thank you so much – I really appreciate your opinion!

Nicole