It’s the one year anniversary of this daily newsletter — 366 straight and counting …
Study suggests mRNA vaccines create “persistent” immune reaction: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2021-06-28/study-moderna-pfizer-vaccines-likely-induce-persistent-immunity-to-coronavirus . The US booster focus remains on the variant risk.
UK data on Delta variant deaths: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/vaccinated-people-are-dying-from-the-delta-variant-but-in-small-numbers-and-almost-all-are-over-50-uk-data-shows/ar-AALx7Iw?li=BBnbfcL . So, the AstraZeneca vaccine used in the UK is highly effective in preventing death from the Delta variant.
WSJ: Third AstraZeneca shot can be an effective booster: https://www.wsj.com/articles/third-astrazeneca-covid-shot-can-be-effective-booster-study-shows-11624896656 . So, the leading viral vector vaccine may require boosters for some patients. Again, the mRNA technology will likely become the dominant vaccine technology in the future.
The “mix and match” vaccination alternative: https://news.yahoo.com/mix-match-coronavirus-vaccines-robust-immunity-150013140.html . So, these results are very much in line with the ideas that stronger immune response comes with the second dose, and the mRNA vaccine produces a stronger immune response.
WSJ: The global “immunity debt”: https://www.wsj.com/articles/post-covid-19-world-risks-having-to-pay-off-immunity-debt-11624863679 . Will other diseases spread as the world opens up? The data in the article suggests this concept is most applicable to children. Their immature immune systems have not had the typical exposure to common viruses.
Dr. Gottlieb expects regional COVID US outbreaks: https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/28/health/us-coronavirus-monday/index.html . Dr. Gottlieb’s comments are pretty much on target. However, the term “hyper-regionalized” is somewhat misleading. Outbreaks will continue to be regional, as they have been so far. Serious illness and death will almost exclusively strike the unvaccinated, with increasing risk with age. Variant risk continues to be an important unknown, especially as the global viral load will not be significantly reduced for some time.
US donates 2 million Pfizer doses to Peru: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2021-06-28/us-ships-first-coronavirus-vaccines-abroad-donating-2-million-to-peru . The doses are expected to arrive this week.
The Lambda variant is dominant in Peru: https://www.livemint.com/news/india/new-covid-variant-scientists-detect-lambda-variant-here-s-all-you-need-to-know-11624885114609.html . So perhaps we will get data on the efficacy of an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer) against Lambda.
South Africa reels under another COVID surge, lack of vaccinations: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/27/south-africa-expected-tighten-covid-rules-third-wave-gathers-pace . The wave is being blamed on the Delta variant, although the article gives no supporting data. Ditto for Moscow: https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3139014/coronavirus-moscow-deaths-surge-south-africa-hardens . WSJ: More on Africa: https://www.wsj.com/articles/delta-variant-of-covid-19-surges-across-unvaccinated-africa-11624896315 .
Australian scientist discounts COVID lab leak theory: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/an-australian-scientist-who-was-the-only-foreigner-at-the-wuhan-virus-lab-says-she-never-got-covid-19-and-doesnt-believe-the-center-leaked-it/ar-AALwUo4?li=BBnbfcL . So, no. Working there until November 2019 does not imply she would have gotten sick. Not observing others around her getting ill ignores the fact that 40% of COVID infections are asymptomatic. And it’s a large lab. Did she know the three people who went to the hospital? There is essentially no value in this testimony.
WSJ: Pelosi lays out ground rules for January 6 select committee: https://www.wsj.com/articles/pelosi-discloses-details-of-planned-jan-6-capitol-riot-committee-11624919608 . If she appoints the Republican members “in consultation” with Republicans, don’t expect losers like Jim Jordan and Marjorie Taylor Greene to be on the committee. The Republicans should have taken the independent commission deal.
Clarence Thomas on weed: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/clarence-thomas-says-federal-laws-against-marijuana-may-no-longer-n1272524 .
WSJ: The US strike against Syria and Iran targets … : https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-conducts-airstrikes-in-syria-and-iraq-against-iranian-backed-militias-11624835752 … is met with another militia strike: https://www.wsj.com/articles/iran-backed-militias-threaten-revenge-after-u-s-airstrikes-in-iraq-syria-11624877977 . Can Biden maintain “proportionate” responses?
OJ focuses his insanity on top Republicans: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-blasts-mcconnell-barr-for-working-to-seal-corrupt-election-for-joe-biden/ar-AALyjIL?li=BBnb7Kz . So you thought it was just the election that was certifiable. Fittingly, the GOP has received what it asked for. Whatever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Initial charges against OJ Inc may not include OJ: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-lawyer-says-new-york-da-considering-charges-related-to-employee-perks/ar-AALypxG?li=BBnb7Kz . Translation: We will charge OJ Inc executives first to pressure them to flip on OJ.
Finding Flipper: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-organization-executives-cant-stomach-prison-time-and-may-flip-if-faced-with-criminal-charges-former-evp-says/ar-AALy7RV?li=BBnb7Kz . Yes, Nemo, the lead pun is on porpoise.
The personal tragedy of the Miami condo collapse: https://www.yahoo.com/news/surfside-mayor-charles-burkett-girl-jewish-prayer-172044726.html . Note that Florida International University says the building has been sinking into the wetlands at an alarming rate dating back to the 1990’s. However, you may recall that FIU has direct experience with construction collapse: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_International_University_pedestrian_bridge_collapse . Also, standing water occurred in the same area as the “major” design flaw: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/an-area-of-standing-water-beneath-the-miami-condo-that-collapsed-was-in-the-same-place-as-a-major-design-flaw-found-in-2018-a-new-report-says/ar-AALyBzQ?li=BBnb7Kz . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/miami-area-building-collapse-condo-board-president-warned-of-need-for-repairs-in-april-letter-11624930495 .
Meanwhile, progress is painstakingly slow: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/building-that-collapsed-deemed-in-very-good-shape-by-town-official-in-2018-11-dead-150-still-missing/ar-AALxs36?li=BBnb7Kz . The possibility of any survivors seems quite remote, and fading.
The Portland meltdown is finally breaking. We hit 113 today, and were at 109 at 6:30 pm. But then we dropped to 95 at 8:30 pm and 79 at 10 pm. After an overnight low of 66, tomorrow’s high is forecast for 95, an 18 degree drop from today. WSJ: https://www.wsj.com/articles/record-setting-heat-wave-engulfs-pacific-northwest-11624832021 . More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/record-heat-wave-continues-in-pacific-northwest-will-move-inland-11624907349 .
A women’s hurdles world record: https://apnews.com/article/eugene-track-and-field-olympic-games-sports-86571d3401e2c243fa84e60bb25070e7 . This is a shocking record. The women’s world record in the 400 meters, set in 1985, is 47.60. So this is traveling around the track at 4.3 seconds slower than the world record, while clearing 10 hurdles. Just FYI, the women’s hurdles (2 ½ feet) are shorter than the men’s hurdles (3 feet). And of course this was accomplished during record heat in Eugene.