Coronavirus vaccine news, updates and information for 5-25-2021

<p>This is Vaccine 411, the latest coronavirus vaccine information for May 25th, 2021.</p><p><br></p><p>India crossed another milestone yesterday with more than 300,000 people lost to the coronavirus. That death toll is the third highest in the world after the U.S. and Brazil, accounting for 8.6% of coronavirus fatalities globally. It’s still believed the real numbers are much higher. Speaking of Brazil, its Health Ministry confirmed just shy of 450,000 dead from the virus.</p><p><br></p><p>A damning report based on NHS data shows up to 8,700 patients in England died after catching Covid-19 while in a hospital being treated for another medical problem. Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt said hospital-acquired Covid “remains one of the silent scandals of this pandemic”.</p><p><br></p><p>Many people who had COVID-19 don’t feel the need to get the vaccine because they believe they have ongoing immunity. Research out of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis appears to back them up. It shows months after recovery, when antibody levels in the blood have declined, immune cells in bone marrow stay ready to dispatch new antibodies against the coronavirus. These cells were found up to eleven months after mild COVID-19. It’s not clear yet if the same results would be seen in survivors of moderate to severe COVID-19.</p><p><br></p><p>Even as they worried about dying from COVID-19, many people this past year were risking death from alcoholic liver disease. Cases are up 30% at the University of Michigan's health system, and liver specialist Dr. Jessica Mellinger says colleagues at other institutions tell her it’s “off the charts.” The CDC has not collected data on increase in hospitalizations from alcoholic liver disease since the pandemic began.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Add this group to the list of people who are really good about getting vaccinated. Pharmacists. A survey found 88% are fully vaccinated and 92% plan to or have already had a dose. 98% feel comfortable addressing vaccine hesitancy concerns with c