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News for February 15 — Vaccine Approval; Nursing Home Deaths

COVID conspiracy theorists: https://apnews.com/article/conspiracy-theories-iran-only-on-ap-media-misinformation-bfca6d5b236a29d61c4dd38702495ffe . The global nut festival, these folks swim in their own ocean. And it’s polluted. Cuomo on defensive over nursing home deaths: https://apnews.com/article/new-york-andrew-cuomo-coronavirus-pandemic-nursing-homes-b8af86bb6b1f8f6fb557f08f8a973996 . His aide admitted that the lack of transparency was for exactly the reason people suspect: they were burying adverse data. The proper response is to apologize clearly …

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News for February 14 — Convergent Evolution — The 677 Mutation

Convergent evolution – the 677 mutation: https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/7-virus-variants-found-in-u-s-carrying-the-same-mutation/  (link replaced 3/7/21). More: https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/14/health/coronavirus-mutations-birds-us/index.html . As readers know, I completely support the criticism in these articles of a lack of comprehensive genomic sequencing in the US. It unnecessarily risks seriously prolonging the pandemic. I’m also critical of the naming conventions for the virus. The bird names do …

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News for February 13 — Clinical Frailty; Special Acquittal Edition

Clinical frailty triples risk of death from COVID: https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/people-with-this-condition-are-3-times-more-likely-to-die-of-covid . For patients who survived COVID, those with clinical frailty were 7 times more likely to require at-home care. Here is the study abstract and link: https://academic.oup.com/ageing/advance-article/doi/10.1093/ageing/afab026/6128535 . “Clinical frailty” is the loss of reserve and function across multiple physiologic systems. The five indicators are: unintentional …

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News for February 12 — Vaccine Diplomacy; California Variant Spreads

WSJ: Vaccine diplomacy: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-vaccines-are-becoming-important-diplomatic-currency-11613152854 . California variant spreads: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2021-02-12/southern-california-is-origin-of-new-covid-19-variant . Remote work gains favor: https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2021-02-12/majority-of-americans-work-remotely-a-year-into-coronavirus-pandemic-poll-finds . New mothers need vaccination: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2021-02-12/new-moms-need-the-covid-vaccine . This is an interesting perspective, and I am sympathetic. However, I continue to believe “oldest first” is the most appropriate approach. Mortality is highly correlated with age. Vaccinated patients appear less contagious: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-science/vaccinated-covid-19-patients-appear-less-contagious-arthritis-drug-in-spotlight-idUSKBN2AC2CZ …

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News for February 11 — More Vaccine Supply Coming

More vaccine supply coming: https://www.npr.org/2021/02/11/967194072/biden-announces-deal-for-200-million-more-covid-19-vaccines . The federal government has secured another 200 million doses of vaccine. And 200 million doses already ordered will be delivered one month earlier. The need for boosters to deal with emerging variants remains an open question. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-says-u-s-struck-deals-for-200-million-more-covid-19-vaccine-doses-11613080885 . WSJ: AstraZeneca to speed up vaccine production: https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-york-lawmakers-push-for-change-in-nursing-homes-after-covid-19-deaths-11613060311 . …

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News for February 10 — Vaccine Skepticism; Black Clergy Vaccine Outreach

Vaccine skepticism lingers: https://apnews.com/article/ap-norc-poll-3rd-adult-skeptical-vaccine-3779574a6d45d38cfc1d8615eb176b2d . WSJ: Vaccine skepticism demographics: https://www.wsj.com/articles/which-americans-are-least-willing-to-get-a-covid-19-vaccine-11612979857 . Blacks, young Americans, and Southerners are the most skeptical. Instagram tosses RFK Jr. over anti-vaccine remarks: https://www.wsj.com/articles/instagram-bans-robert-f-kennedy-jr-over-covid-19-vaccine-misinformation-11613029259 . Predicting our future with COVID-19: https://www.axios.com/coronavirus-endemic-new-normal-pandemic-94cb05ac-e3f5-4b2c-ab16-c4883ace1e65.html . WSJ: NYC subway air highly polluted: https://www.wsj.com/articles/air-in-new-yorks-subway-systems-is-highly-polluted-nyu-study-shows-11613001497 . Once again, there must be a lot of grant money out …

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News for February 9 — Kid’s Flu Vaccinations Reduce COVID Severity

Kids’ flu vaccinations reduce COVID severity: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/kids-flu-shot-covid-181915519.html . As there’s virtually no flu this winter, it’s nice that we found new uses for flu vaccinations. The UK variant: latest news: https://www.prevention.com/health/a35120192/what-is-b117-variant-covid-19-coronavirus/ . US genomic sequencing efforts: https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/02/us-rushes-fill-void-viral-sequencing-worrisome-coronavirus-variants-spread . “Rushing” does not describe the US efforts on genomic testing. Can the US create effective contact tracing?: …

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News for February 8 — Vaccination Blood Disorder Suspected

Vaccination blood disorder suspected: https://www.deseret.com/u-s-world/2021/2/11/22276114/new-covid-19-vaccine-symptom-patients-rare-blood-disorder (link replaced 3/21/21). The disorder is exceedingly rare, but it raises another issue which will fuel vaccine skeptics. Pfizer will significantly ramp up vaccine production: https://bgr.com/2021/02/08/coronavirus-vaccine-supply-pfizer-output-increase/ . Hopefully ingredient shortages are not a problem here. AstraZeneca vaccine suffers setbacks: https://sg.news.yahoo.com/early-hopes-astrazeneca-oxford-vaccine-171007839.html . South Africa will turn to the J&J vaccine: https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-africa/south-africa-looks-to-jj-vaccine-after-disappointing-astrazeneca-data-idUSKBN2A81GY …

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News for February 7 — COVID Reinfection Risk

COVID reinfection risk: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/covid-reinfections-may-be-more-common-realized-why-isn-t-n1256898 . This article raises several issues which are discussed in the next section. The three most dangerous COVID comorbidities: https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2021/covid-underlying-conditions.html . The conditions (obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure/heart disease) all involve inflammation. Given COVID’s method of attack, it is logical that underlying inflammation increases the danger of COVID. Global COVID …

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News for February 6 — COVID Genomic Recombination Risks

COVID genomic recombination risks: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/05/health/covid-variants-genome-recombination.html . UK variant is 35% deadlier: https://bgr.com/2021/02/06/coronavirus-death-risk-increased-uk-mutation-b117/ . Combined with 50% to 70% higher transmissibility, this is a very significant concern. The good news is that the mRNA vaccines can be rather quickly adapted to the new strains out there. AstraZeneca vaccine weak against South African variant: https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-astrazeneca-varian-idUSKBN2A60RH . Clearly, …

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