Tag: COVID-19

How should we measure immunity in children? Hint; its not just about antibodies.

Posted on by bill
How should we measure immunity in children? Hint; it’s not just about antibodies. Immunity requires much more than antibodies. During the covid-19 pandemic, news services were telling us that our antibody levels had to be high to prevent infection from the virus.   We were also told that we needed a booster to maintain antibodies to protect ourselves. Then, we were told that we needed to be vaccinated or else we couldn’t see a Broadway play, or get on an airplane.   Then those who were vaccinated were getting covid-19 anyway.  Then came the variants and anyone who did not have the Read More »

Does anyone really need or want a fourth covid vaccine?

Posted on by bill
Does anyone really need or want a fourth covid vaccine? Recent headlines suggest that Pfizer and now Moderna are lobbying the FDA to approve a fourth covid-19 booster. Do we really need this?   Pfizer attempted using Israel which has been where their other studies were staged for a second booster only a few months after people had their third booster.   The study failed to show any significant antibody increase that would warrant the second booster. Another recent study said that the one-shot Johnson and Johnson vaccine which did not increase our antibody counts like the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines did Read More »

Growing evidence suggests the Omicron variant could be the end of the pandemic. Here’s why.

Posted on by bill
Growing evidence suggests the Omicron variant could be the end of the pandemic. Here’s why. The headlines scream Omicron is here and the infection rates are soaring.  There is another variant discovered somewhere else. Welcome to cold, flu, and covid season coronavirus style. This highly efficient and infective variant is infecting those who are vaccinated, not vaccinated, or boosted.  The government is suggesting we don’t look at the overall number of infections which is likely a good idea as it is not helpful to do so. Fewer people are being hospitalized or dying from the Omicron variant and the illness Read More »

What the vax? Why are highly vaccinated areas seeing an increase in cases?

Posted on by bill
What the vax? Why are highly vaccinated areas seeing an increase in cases? A while ago I explained to patients and our blog audience that the vaccines for covid-19 were approved for emergency usage and you, the recipients are the trial.   Most trials of vaccinations take years but the mRNA and J and J vaccines were produced in record time for public consumption to reduce the damage the pandemic could cause and allow society to reopen again.   The protocols for administration mirrored the public trials that were performed before they were released to the public after having abbreviated trials that Read More »

Viral evolution, Covid-19 and us according to the NY Times.

Posted on by bill
Viral evolution, Covid-19 and us according to the NY Times. I am just as tired of covid-19 as many of you are.   Most of us are trying to find normal and return to normal activities such as going out to eat, going to the theater, and attending crowded events such as ball games and concerts. Viral evolution will always give us the next variant, as it always has.  The flu for instance is a variant from the 1918 pandemic. On the other hand, some of us are still too scared to do certain things because we are immunocompromised or because Read More »