Majority of US companies may mandate vaccines: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/majority-u-companies-may-mandate-165133705.html . This appears to be a large employer survey, as the companies on average employ 10,000 employees. Companies of this size typically self-insure their health plans, which are almost always their largest single benefit expense. As such, a mandate not only protects their workforce and their customers, but is also in the company’s financial interest in managing healthcare costs.
Also, based just on the averages here, an additional 3 million individuals employed by the companies in the survey may soon find themselves under a vaccine mandate. If corporate movement to mandates is as rapid as suggested here, this may stampede other large employers to the same decision. If this occurs, it will be interesting to see the reaction of GOP politicians. The base is one thing, but that is not where the big money is.
WSJ: Enforcement problems for employer vaccine mandates: https://www.wsj.com/articles/enforcing-vaccine-mandates-is-messy-business-11630582742 . Um, being prepared to answer questions is not really a major enforcement problem.
Another perspective on employer vaccine mandates: https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/grocery-workers-were-frontlines-pandemic-so-why-do-so-many-n1277682 . Again, the US education system has failed so many. People are “dying like crazy”, you dimwit – 640,000 in the US and counting.
Fauci supports 3 shot course for vaccines: https://news.yahoo.com/fauci-defends-covid-boosters-says-three-shots-will-likely-be-the-new-norm-210524610.html . Many vaccines have multiple shot regimens. It must be remembered that time was of the essence to respond to the pandemic. The evidence now is moving in the direction of a 3-shot standard regimen. WSJ: Racing for boosters: https://www.wsj.com/articles/for-covid-19-vaccine-boosters-some-people-jump-the-line-11630585801 .
WSJ: What’s the right dose for the third shot?: https://www.wsj.com/articles/fda-weighing-dose-of-moderna-covid-19-booster-11630593980 .
Moderna’s vaccine contaminant is stainless steel, not believed dangerous: https://www.wsj.com/articles/moderna-says-covid-19-vaccine-contaminant-in-japan-was-stainless-steel-sees-no-safety-issue-11630596275 .
Delta: Is it okay to just make stuff up?: https://news.yahoo.com/delta-seems-to-be-peaking-in-states-like-florida-4-reasons-why-it-may-not-hit-other-states-as-hard-this-fall-090043637.html . While everyone wants an answer as to the future of COVID and Delta, this mishmash of prediction is not helpful. Remember last year, when everyone was predicting a fall surge because COVID was a respiratory illness? This newsletter has argued all along that there is no evidence of seasonality.
The key thing we know about this fall is that children are returning to school. None of the children under 12 are vaccinated. While the original COVID was less contagious among women and children, that is not true of Delta. Delta is already spreading through schools (particularly so in Florida), and those children will take Delta home to their parents and grandparents. We do not yet have a good handle on breakthrough infections.
Where is this information in the article? Instead, we get predictions from Ron DeMentis, Florida’s all-time leading COVID mass murderer. At some point, COVID will wane in Florida. Ron will claim victory and move on. He will be wrong to do so, because he did not protect his citizens. All you have to do is look at his school mask mandate ban. But here’s more on the DeMentis war on sanity: https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/local/state/2021/09/02/florida-desantis-5000-fines-requiring-proof-vaccination-vaccine-passport/5694871001/ . Here’s an article more properly focused on reality: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/pediatric-hospitalizations-rise-less-vaccinated-areas-delta-spreads-rcna1875 .
Medicine moves to the courts: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/judge-orders-ohio-hospital-treat-covid-patient-ivermectin-n1278267 . So now science is secondary to internet insanities? Why did the judge rule that the hospital must administer a drug not approved by the FDA (in fact actively discouraged)? Why must the hospital follow a prescription from a doctor not affiliated with the hospital? The prescribing doctor has said publically failure to use ivermectin to treat COVID is equivalent to genocide. He’s a nut.
Presumably the hospital will appeal this ruling. However, they may have failed to properly defend themselves. State law allows them to decline: https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2021/08/30/judge-orders-cinci-hospital-to-treat-covid-19-patient-with-ivermectin-despite-cdc-warnings/ . I have to wonder if the plaintiffs chose to bring this matter to this particular judge.
WSJ: More on the US Supreme Court ruling on the Texas abortion restrictions: https://www.wsj.com/articles/supreme-court-rejects-emergency-request-to-block-texas-six-week-abortion-ban-11630556283 . Still more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/texas-abortion-law-what-to-know-as-supreme-court-allows-it-to-take-effect-11630606238 . Remarkably, WSJ does not think the abortion law will survive Supreme Court review: https://www.wsj.com/articles/texas-abortion-law-blunder-supreme-court-samuel-alito-john-roberts-whole-womans-health-11630619631 . This is an interesting position. However, the Court’s initial action is typically a (very) strong predictor of their ultimate ruling. Here, Roberts may have the time to change some minds. Still more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/supreme-court-abortion-ruling-brings-new-uncertainty-to-decades-old-fight-11630621820 . And questions about Roberts’ control: https://www.wsj.com/articles/texas-ruling-raises-doubts-about-chief-justices-hold-on-the-roberts-court-11630624331 .
Ida is not over: https://apnews.com/article/business-environment-and-nature-8ebd69bcb484f3b07cd150a48068de73 . The question is, what was the source of this oil release? WSJ: Most residential flood damage is not covered: https://www.wsj.com/articles/for-many-americans-hit-by-ida-flood-damage-wont-be-covered-by-insurance-11630611883 .
Hedge funds execs take it in the shorts, will pay IRS $7 billion: https://apnews.com/article/business-807fd82240233b5034baf14770ed38fa . WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/james-simons-robert-mercer-others-at-renaissance-to-pay-7-billion-to-settle-tax-probe-11630617328 . Ouch!
Insurrection at the US Capitol, part 2: https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-887b2b3a4bcc3c667858765b1281c959 . “Intel” presumably means internet chatter. There will likely be adequate security precautions. Violence is likely to be prosecuted. So the insurrectionists would be foolish to break the law in this setting.
Liz Cheney named vice-chair of January 6 select committee: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/liz-cheney-named-vice-chair-jan-6-select-committee-n1278343 . Will the select committee call Kevin McCarthy as a witness, since he spoke to Orange Julius multiple times on Insurrection Day? I would really like to know what McCarthy has to say under oath.
Meanwhile, judge returns insurrectionist to jail for violating probation: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/jan-riot-defendant-returned-jail-internet-79792184 . These losers demand personal freedoms without having any capacity for personal responsibility.
Virginia can finally remove General Lee statue from Richmond: https://apnews.com/article/courts-george-floyd-virginia-fa71756f4028936350a72d2e1a8cd4a1 . Robert E. Lee was the most effective insurrectionist the US has ever seen. He does not deserve to be honored. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/virginia-can-remove-statue-of-gen-robert-e-lee-states-high-court-rules-11630590120 .
WSJ: Afghanistan’s neighbors close borders, trapping those fleeing the Taliban: https://www.wsj.com/articles/tens-of-thousands-trapped-as-afghanistans-neighbors-close-borders-11630588397 .