Europe rejects AstraZeneca vaccine: https://news.yahoo.com/how-europe-soured-on-the-astra-zeneca-vaccine-090034721.html . The new mRNA vaccine technology has simply outperformed the viral vector technology on which the AstraZeneca vaccine is based. Further, the AstraZeneca vaccine is apparently less effective against many of the coronavirus variants. AstraZeneca has compounded its problems by failing to meet multiple delivery dates.
Keep in mind that data on COVID spread from the UK is somewhat unreliable in generalizing to other countries. The UK population is highly vaccinated, but predominantly with the AstraZeneca vaccine. The current US surge is predominantly cause by the large numbers of unvaccinated Americans.
The vaccinated are angry: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2021/08/08/covid-vaccinated-angry-unvaccinated-insults-masks-delta-variant/5434096001/ . The point in this article is understandable. In the context of trying to get a friend to get the shot, it’s valid. However, those promoting disinformation must face consequences for their actions. Specifically, no one should ever vote for Greg Abbott or Ron DeMentis again. They are endangering all of us. And Fox News and their hosts should be sued out of financial existence. They are profiting off their lying, anti-social endangerment.
Austin has 6 ICU beds left: https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/us-city-with-24-million-population-has-just-six-icu-beds-left-warns-of-dire . So, what happens if “Governor” Abbott gets sick?
Statistics on the current US COVID surge: https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/08/us/five-figures-us-summer-covid-surge/index.html .
Fauci hopes for full FDA vaccine approvals within weeks: https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-8905fc1d3be22b7b83110f04e909753e . WSJ: Fauci also endorses local vaccine mandates: https://www.wsj.com/articles/local-vaccine-mandates-needed-to-fight-covid-19-u-s-officials-say-11628451801 .
Florida school districts allow students to opt out of mask mandates: https://abcnews.go.com/US/floridas-largest-school-districts-impose-mask-mandates-students/story?id=79349671 . If my children were small and we lived in Florida, I would have them in remote learning at least until they were vaccinated. It would be easier on the children if everyone just wore a mask. Schools caving to “Governor” DeMentis are failing to protect the children.
WSJ: Meanwhile, DeMentis loses on banning cruises from requiring vaccinations: https://www.wsj.com/articles/judge-sides-with-norwegian-cruise-line-in-suit-over-vaccination-proof-in-florida-11628471468 . Gee, science and safety, what novel concepts!
WSJ: Companies delay return to office: https://www.wsj.com/articles/companies-thought-they-had-a-plan-for-fall-now-they-are-scrapping-it-11628415001 .
Rural America still needs someone close by to die of COVID in order to get vaccinated: https://www.wsj.com/articles/neighbors-deaths-from-covid-19-have-an-arkansas-town-reassessing-vaccines-11628424001 . But even that’s not enough for a nurse who lost both of her parents in recent weeks, but thinks the vaccines are too new.
Iceland controls COVID through high levels of vaccination: https://qz.com/2044284/icelands-rising-covid-19-cases-demonstrate-vaccine-efficacy/ . We also see the decoupling of infections from severe illness through vaccination.
The future of the zero COVID strategy: https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/08/asia/delta-covid-zero-china-australia-intl-dst-hnk/index.html . Good grief. This is just a really stupid article. The key failure, obvious to anyone, is that these countries were slow to roll out vaccines. The article mentions this about 15 paragraphs in. The zero strategy could never be permanent because COVID is embedded in the global population for the foreseeable future. Anyone who didn’t realize that is not paying attention.
The pandemic is not ending anytime soon: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/09/covid-epidemiologist-larry-brilliant-on-delta-variant-vaccinations.html . Well, no kidding. While there isn’t much new information here, there is some use in having a well-known epidemiologist say so.
UK study on those receiving two different vaccines: https://www.businessinsider.com/covid-19-2-vaccines-gives-50-60-protection-delta-variant-2021-8 (link replaced 10/30/21) . This study raises more questions than it answers. However, you can draw your own conclusions.
WSJ: Infrastructure bill continues advance in Senate: https://www.wsj.com/articles/infrastructure-bill-clears-senate-procedural-hurdle-11628361290 .
GOP mantra: “Give me liberty and give me COVID”: https://news.yahoo.com/new-texas-school-guidelines-rattle-medical-experts-161539300.html . This newsletter has continuously reported on the politics surrounding COVID because they drive many aspects of the pandemic. As bizarre as the GOP’s anti-science approach is, the anti-fact advocacy has no future. The Delta variant is not going to become less contagious. People who are unvaccinated are at high risk. Reopening schools where children are under 12 and unvaccinated will result in viral spread. Doing so without mask mandates will create much greater spread. All of this has already happened and will happen again.
WSJ: Meet New York’s governor-in-waiting: https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-york-lt-gov-kathy-hochul-prepares-for-a-cuomo-resignation-11628446342 .
WSJ: COVID Olympics closes in Tokyo, one year late and more than a few yen short: https://www.wsj.com/articles/closing-ceremony-ends-dour-tokyo-olympics-after-battle-with-covid-19-and-the-japanese-public-11628420555 . Frankly, NBC’s coverage sucked. Too much talk, too many commercials, not enough actual competition.
Chunks of the Earth’s mantle exposed in Maryland: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/earth-mantle-exposed-maryland-b1838681.html . Again, research reminds us of how little we know. However, it is remarkable that science has come this far.