Tag: COVID-19

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 »

Mix and match vaccines for covid-19 boosters; is this effective?

Posted on by bill
Mix and match vaccines for covid-19 boosters; is this effective? Mix and match vaccines for covid-19 were explored in other western countries that didn’t have the same vaccine access as the USA did. They claimed that the method was highly effective in immunizing the public. Countries such as Great Britain also found that expanding the time between the first and the second dose beyond the trial protocols due to supply constraints was highly effective too. There have been a number of articles and studies showing the mix and match approach to covid-19 vaccines is effective and may even be superior Read More »

High costs for some covid-19 tests are just because they can.

Posted on by bill
High costs for some covid-19 tests are just because they can. The NY Times recently reported on a lab that had charged $380 for a covid test.  Your local CVS probably charges $20. The company which is a start-up named GS labs regularly charges $380 because they legally can. Welcome to healthcare capitalism American style. If this is not a strong argument for the government to play a role in healthcare prices, I am not sure there ever will be. Apparently,  GS labs who is headquartered in Nebraska is giving insurers and the public the business literally. Congress probably never Read More »