The Squad Should Resign From Congress

I saw on TV that Rashida Tlaib and her Israel-hating Squadmates were giving a protest-speech on the Capitol steps demanding a ceasefire after Gazans were killed while in a stampede over humanitarian aid.

Of course they are blaming Israel. There's not a word against Hamas. And we all know about Hamas and their lies about Israelis targeting hospitals, civilians, etc.

Watch: New footage shows IDF not involved in Gaza tragic incident

"The incident, which Hamas says resulted in more than 100 killed, happened in the early morning. Some 30 trucks with humanitarian aid encountered a Palestinian mob that tried to loot the supplies."

"In an attempt to dispel the notion that Israel had acted improperly in the tragic incident in Gaza in which dozens were trampled to death while seeking humanitarian aid from trucks, IDF Spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Daniel Hagari made a statement to the media in which he showed new footage to support the Israeli version, proving that the IDF forces did not fire on the crowds."

But Rashida Tlaib never lets the truth get in the way:

"A temporary ceasefire is not enough, Tlaib said. We are all here saying we need a permanent solution to this.

"'Netanyahu, as we all know, has a long history of turning to extremism and violence to boost his failing domestic political support,' Tlaib said. 'And there's a very real danger that he will expand this war regionally in an effort to stay in power.'"

Excuse me, but I think she meant to say "Biden" in that last paragraph.

Do us all a favor. Resign from Congress, and go to Gaza to help your real constituents.

Seniors, Get Your Spring COVID Vaccine Here!

Good news for a change from the CDC:  

CDC recommends seniors get another Covid-19 shot

"People age 65 and older should get an additional dose of the current Covid-19 vaccine, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends.

"The agency’s independent vaccine advisers voted Wednesday to recommend the additional shot, and CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen endorsed the recommendation.

"The vote of CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices was 11 yes and one no, with one person abstaining.

"Under the new recommendation, people 65 and older can receive an additional dose of any updated Covid-19 vaccine at least four months after the previous shot."

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I've had seven COVID shots since 2021, so this will be my 8th.  As usual, people are already refusing to get another shot. To me, they are just cutting off their nose to spite their face, and I have almost given up trying to convince people that another vaccine is a lot better than ending up in the hospital.

Last night, before the Washington Post article disappeared between a paywall, I was looking at the reader comments.

In response to a statement in the article that "recommendations for an additional dose may also increase vaccine fatigue, potentially reducing uptake of the vaccine in the fall.", one reader said, "what's up with all this 'fatigue' people supposedly get when faced with having to act like an adult and make sound, informed decisions for the good of humanity?"

In response to the statement that “more absolute statements around vaccines will create a chilling effect for folks who have not been vaccinated.”, a reader commented, "You know what is really chilling. Being dead. Quit the namby-pamby anti-vax pampering malarkey. People who value their own lives should get vaccinated. Whoever gets chills at the thought of a vaccine has a problem."

I couldn't agree more.

Two Typical Anti-Israel Headlines

1. Hamas chief calls for Arab riots on Temple Mount during Ramadan

"Hamas chairman and former Palestinian Authority premier Ismail Haniyeh called for mass riots on the Temple Mount during the upcoming Islamic holy month of Ramadan, in the hopes of escalating tensions at the holy site.

"During an interview with the Hezbollah-aligned Lebanese television network Al-Manar, Haniyeh called Wednesday on Palestinian Arabs to 'barricade themselves' inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque ahead of Ramadan, in order to break “the siege” on the Temple Mount."

2. Biden administration demands Israel not limit Ramadan access to Temple Mount

"The Biden administration is calling on Israel not to impose limits on Muslim access to the Temple Mount during the upcoming Islamic holy month of Ramadan, despite fears violence could break out at the contested holy site.

"With Ramadan set to begin on March 10th, running through April 9th, the Netanyahu government is reportedly weighing plans to cap the number of visitors to the Temple Mount."

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Demanding again, is he?  So, even though those peaceful Muslims led by Hamas, who Biden never criticizes or makes demands of -- even though they are threatening violence, Biden of course is demanding that Israel give these same Muslims unfettered access. (I demand that we exchange Biden for the hostages)

Either he is completely delusional; or else this is being deliberately done to foment more violence that Biden can seize as an excuse to make even more demands on Israel. He can claim the violence is Israel's fault, then demand a permanent ceasefire, etc.  I can just see it now, including more violence and rioting by so-called "students" in the US. 

This is not going to end well, and it's Biden who will have more blood on his hands.

Public Health: Regressing, Not Progressing

Time magazine has a  good article called From COVID-19 to Measles, Florida’s War on Public Health.

Here's an excerpt:

"Following a series of legislative policy changes in Florida affecting academic institutions, health care, and public health, we see a regression in the open dialog of medical and public health experts about infectious disease control practices related to COVID-19 and now measles.

"On January 3, 2024, in marked opposition to the CDC, FDA, and medical and public health experts, State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo recommended that everyone avoid COVID-19 mRNA vaccines over concerns that they contain DNA. This notion starkly contrasts ample scientific data showing that these vaccines do not alter a person’s genes, even if they contain minuscule amounts of DNA related to vaccine production. This announcement came on the heels of an earlier announcement on September 13, 2023, recommending that individuals younger than 65 not receive the updated COVID-19 vaccine, even though 25% of COVID-19 deaths have occurred in those younger than 65. Previously, he recommended that young adult men avoid the vaccine because of concerns about myocarditis. However, this risk of myocarditis is very rare, and the risk of myocarditis following COVID-19 is far greater than after vaccination.

"Following these announcements, there was broad national criticism of these Florida-only policies. In contrast, the response by the Florida medical and public health community to these controversial recommendations, either in support or opposition, was modest. This tepid response contrasts the first years of the pandemic, when Florida medical organizations, medical schools, and public health experts often commented publicly about the state's COVID-19 mitigation and vaccination policies. 

"Currently, there is a measles outbreak in a South Florida elementary school. Dr. Ladapo, not the county health officer, has stated that children at high risk for getting measles can attend school while potentially being contagious, leaving the decision to the parents. Although we are early in this outbreak, we are observing a similar situation where there is considerable national outcry against his recommendation, while the response from the Florida medical community is limited to a few practitioners. 

"Measles is a very contagious virus, 5 to 10 times more contagious than COVID-19, as it travels long distances and lingers in the air for hours. If an unvaccinated individual is exposed, there is a very high chance that the person will get the virus, which can result in encephalitis, pneumonia, and hearing loss.

"We need to ask what has happened over the past year to discourage the airing of views contrary to state policies. Is there self-censorship or external censorship? Was there opposition to these recent recommendations by Dr. Ladapo from inside the Florida Department of Health? The answer may lie in reviewing recent legislative and state actions that may give medical experts and those at academic institutions pause in speaking out."

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We have to hope that other states don't follow Florida's "lead", and that common sense also doesn't vanish completely.

Elderly Man With a Poor Memory" Thinks He's the President of Israel

Here's the infuriating Bidenism of the day:

‘Premature’: Biden optimism on Gaza truce breakthrough met with pushback, surprise; Israeli officials say they were caught off guard by comments from US president; report suggests high-value security inmates could be released for female soldiers

Biden thinks the headline should read "Michigan anti-Israel Muslims vote for Biden after he promises them a great deal on Gaza."

Both Biden and Blinken ought to keep their mouths shut and allow Israel to run their own country and destroy Hamas for good. 

If they can't or won't do that, and if they keep interfering and appeasing like this, they should be forced to resign for the good of both our countries.

Dr Caitlyn Rivers' Force of Infection for 2/26/24

Here are some excerpts from the helpful Outbreak Outlook for February 26, from epidemiologist Dr Caitlin Rivers:

"ILI:  Influenza-like illness (ILI) remained stable this week at 4.4% of doctor visits for symptoms of fever plus cough or sore throat, continuing to exceed the national baseline of 2.9%. This means flu season continues to chug along, with very high ILI activity reported in areas spanning from Wyoming to New Mexico to Ohio to D.C. to New York City.

"COVID-19: Good news on the Covid-19 front, at least. New weekly Covid-19 hospitalizations are consistently decreasing, reaching levels last seen in November. All age groups are now seeing a decline in hospitalizations. In addition, emergency department visits and test positivity have been improving.

"RSV: Most of the country is now out of RSV season, with PCR test positivity rates falling below 5%. The only region above this line is the Midwest, but it should see continued improvements in the coming weeks.

"Stomach Bugs: At the national level, we continue to advance through peak season. PCR test positivity is 12.3%, up about a point from last week. Test positivity usually peaks in the teens (e.g., 14-16%) around March. Norovirus causes vomiting and diarrhea. It’s sometimes called the stomach bug or the 24 hour flu, but that is a misnomer because it is not related to influenza.

"In Other News:  A sizeable cluster (seven cases) of measles at a Florida elementary school has drawn national attention. Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo issued a letter advising parents to make their own decisions regarding whether to keep their unvaccinated children home from school. This is a departure from the usual handling of measles outbreaks. The letter also did not explicitly recommend the MMR vaccine for people who are unvaccinated. Most children do not receive their first dose of the MMR vaccine until 12-15 months of age (though it can be administered earlier, if needed), and so I worry especially about the impact of these outbreak management decisions on infants."

This Headline is Not From The Babylon Bee

I honestly thought this headline was from the Babylon Bee satirical website until I saw that Daniel Greenfield was the author:

Biden Admin Warns Israel Not to Interfere With Hamas Members Stealing Aid - After promising that Hamas wouldn't get the aid and denying that Hamas was taking the aid.

As soon as I see the phrase "Biden Warns.." or "Biden Demands..", I know it's going to be bad.

Here's an excerpt from the Greenfield column:

"When the Biden administration pressured Israel to open up more aid to the Hamas territories, it swore that the aid would not fall into the hands of Hamas.

“If Hamas in any way blocks humanitarian assistance from reaching civilians, including by seizing the aid itself, we’ll be the first to condemn it. And we will work to prevent it from happening again,” Secretary of State Blinken pledged.

Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer assured CNN that “the president was quite clear that if this assistance goes in, it cannot be misappropriated, it cannot be taken by Hamas fighters and so we are going to be watching that very closely.”

On Halloween, John Kirby, Biden’s national security spokesman, denied anything was going on.

“We have seen no indication, none, that Hamas has gotten their hands on any of the humanitarian assistance that has gone in. None of it. It goes from these U.N. trucks to humanitarian organizations and the U.N. for delivery to the people of Gaza. That’s what we’ve seen with every single one of them,” he claimed.

In late December, an UNRWA official claimed that, “there’s no hijacking of our (UNRWA) supplies by Hamas.” The official then argued that accusations that Hamas was taking aid were a “disinformation campaign” which was “aimed at the very agency trying to help people.”

"These kinds of lies go through three stages.

1. It will never happen

2. It’s happening and it’s a good thing

3. How dare you prevent it from happening

"There are numberless examples in the political arena, but we’ve now reached stage 3 in the Hamas aid lie.

The Biden administration asked Israel to stop targeting members of the Hamas-run civilian police force who escort aid trucks in Gaza, warning that a “total breakdown of law and order” is significantly exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the enclave, three U.S. and Israeli officials told Axios.

U.S. officials say they are increasingly concerned “that Gaza is turning into Mogadishu” as a security vacuum and desperation have opened the door for armed gangs to attack and loot aid trucks, putting even more pressure on the Strip’s already strained humanitarian system.

"Armed gangs? A Total breakdown of law and order? Who exactly do U.S. officials think Hamas is?

"Months after the administration lied to our faces and told us over and over again that Hamas would never get the aid, that they won’t put up with it if they do, they redefine Hamas terrorists as members of the local police who are just providing an “escort” for aid trucks and killing them will lead to a “total breakdown of law and order”.

"The alternative to a “total breakdown of law and order” is Hamas."

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The thought of four more years of Biden's harmful interference in Israel is sickening.

Melanie Phillips' 2-25-24 Column

The other day, when I saw the photograph of Big Ben with the anti-Israel slogan "from the river to the sea" projected upon it, I thought I was having a bad dream. It barely made the news here. If anything, it should have read "We Support Israel." Where next, the Eiffel Tower? The Statue of Liberty?

It's been only 4 months since the massacre in Israel. Yet entire countries have already capitulated to Hamas and have tolerated and abetted the atrocities and the Jew-hatred with amazing speed. Biden, after a brief initial show of support for Israel, has since then made constant demands on Netanyahu to have "pauses" in the4 fighting;  to have ceasefires; to try not to kill "Palestinians"; and just reversed the Trump administration's Pompeo Doctrine, ”which stated that civilian Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria were not necessarily illegal according to international law."  He has also called Netanyahu unprintable names. Biden, however, has never made any demands of Hamas, because he doesn't want to alienate his Muslim voters in the United States. 

Meanwhile, the anti-Israel rallies go on. And so did the Big Ben slogan, as Melanie Phillips notes in her 2/25/24 column:

A watershed moment. In a supine Britain, Islamists are seizing their opportunity

"Last Wednesday evening saw a watershed moment in Britain.

"Parliamentary rules were torn up and democratic debate scrapped under the pressure of threats to murder British members of parliament in connection with a foreign war, as I commented here.

"While the mob in Parliament Square waved a phalanx of Palestinian flags and bayed abuse of Israel, the words “from river to sea” were projected onto parliament’s Elizabeth Tower, or “Big Ben”. 

"The symbolism was devastating and appalling. The slogan “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” is the infamous cry, by those waging Islamic holy war and their western supporters, for the destruction of Israel and the Jews within it. Yet it was being projected onto the structure that symbolises democracy and the nation. No less terrible than using parliament to stage a call for the genocide of the Jews, this was also a gloating statement that the Islamists were now in control of Britain. 

"It was subsequently reported that Ben Jamal, Director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign who organised Wednesday’s hate-fest outside the Commons, told demonstrators to “ramp up the pressure” on MPs and to demonstrate in such numbers “that they will have to lock the doors of parliament itself”.

"On  Saturday, the police closed Tower Bridge for an hour as the “ceasefire now” mob blocked traffic and let off flares.  

"And the police stood back and let this happen — even though they have legal powers to prevent such “disruption to the life of the community”, just as they have powers to prevent demonstrators from screaming “death to the Jews” or “globalise the intifada” as they have done every week since the October 7 Hamas pogrom in Israel. 

"Criticised for standing by while “from river to sea” was projected onto parliament, the police responded: 

     This is a chant that has been frequently heard at pro-Palestinian demonstrations or many years and we are aware of the strength of feeling in relation to it. While there are scenarios where chanting or using these words could be unlawful depending on the specific location for context, its use in a wider public protest setting such as [Wednesday] might is not a criminal offence.

"How exactly does a genocidal slogan become lawful just because it is used in a “wider public protest setting”? This response was as asinine as the previous statement by the Metropolitan Police that the call for “jihad” heard at these demonstrations could bear a number of different meanings — regardless of the fact that in this particular “scenario” it has only one meaning: holy war.  

"At best, these police responses are the product of their “diversity training” — as a result of which they “took the knee” to Black Lives Matter and danced with the nihilistic social disruptors of Extinction Rebellion. 

"At worst it may be because, as the Jewish Chronicle reported last week, they have been trained by Islamists in how to deal with “Islamophobia”, the pseudo-psychiatric neologism which has nothing to do with actual prejudice against Muslims — which should be condemned like any other prejudice — but was invented specifically to suppress legitimate discussion and criticism of the Islamic world. 

"An impulse that has been on display once again over the past few days. The former Conservative party chairman, Lee Anderson MP, had the Conservative whip withdrawn over his comment that Sadiq Khan, the Muslim Mayor of London, was under the control of Islamists and had “given our capital away to his mates”. 

"Anderson undoubtedly went too far in accusing Khan of being an Islamist stooge. Nevertheless, there are legitimate questions to be asked of Khan’s behaviour in his role overseeing the Metropolitan Police. The Mayor’s website says his responsibilities involve setting the Met’s priorities and “holding them to account for delivering a professional, efficient and effective service to Londoners”. Yet under Khan’s oversight, the Met have failed week after week to implement public order laws on the streets of London and have instead facilitated gross anti-Israel and anti-Jewish incitement.

"The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, and the Home Secretary, James Cleverly, are doing little more than flapping their hands and passing yet more public order laws for the police to ignore. Sunak said on Friday that some of the scenes witnessed in recent months, particularly the antisemitic behaviour, were “appalling and unacceptable”.

"Feeble or what? If he really wanted to counter the rampant antisemitism that is currently taking Britain into the sewer, he should be declaring that the campaign of demonisation against Israel is based on vicious lies and genocide denial; that the Palestinian cause is the principal conduit for Jew-hatred in Britain; and that he is taking immediate action against the Hamas operatives and other Islamists and fellow-travellers who are behind these “appalling and unacceptable” mob hate-fests.

"He won’t say any of that. By contrast, the former Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, does understand what’s at stake. In an article for the Telegraph at the weekend, Braverman wrote:   

They started with the Jews; there were stern words of disapproval from the top but things only got worse. The Islamist cranks and left-wing extremists then took control of the streets; the police looked meekly on…

The truth is that the Islamists, the extremists and the antisemites are in charge now. They have bullied the Labour Party, they have bullied our institutions, and now they have bullied our country into submission. 

But what is our response? Our leaders bury their heads in the sand, preferring the illusion of a “successful multicultural society”, terrified of being called “racist”. But the law has not changed, mass extremism parades itself proudly, campuses remain dangerous places for Jews, and Labour is still rotten to the core… 

We cannot allow teachers to be hounded out of schools because a picture of Muhammad was shown, or children to be censured because a Koran was scuffed accidentally. In this country, it is perfectly lawful to criticise any religion or God. One may disagree passionately, but it is not criminal. 

None of this is easy. I’ve written about how the protests could be policed better. Others have set out how we can clean up campuses, mosques and councils and, more fundamentally, how we can promote better integration. I may have been sacked because I spoke out against the appeasement of Islamists, but I would do it again because we need to wake up to what we are sleep-walking into: a ghettoised society where free expression and British values are diluted. Where sharia law, the Islamist mob and antisemites take over communities. We need to overcome the fear of being labelled Islamophobic and speak truthfully. Enough of the hand-wringing and apologies. Turning a blind eye to fanatics has got us into this terrible situation: it needs to stop.

This is a crisis. And the fightback must start now, with urgency, if we are to preserve the liberties we cherish and the privileges this country affords us all. If we are to have any chance of saving our country from the mob.

"In response to this, Braverman has been accused of being racist and Islamophobic. But of course. The frightening truth of her message was projected onto the cradle of democracy last Wednesday night."

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Suella Braverman has a perfectly-fitting last name. What she said could apply to the U.S. as well.  She has always spoken the truth, and so has Melanie Phillips, whose columns are an antidote to the antisemitic poison.

Rolling Stone Magazine is More Helpful Than The CDC

It was very refreshing to see this article in Rolling Stone:

N95 Masks vs. KN95 Masks: Which Face Coverings Should We Be Wearing Right Now?
Researchers say an N95 mask is still the most effective form of protection against Covid as new variants continue to linger

Maybe the anti-masking crowd will see this and suddenly realize that if Rolling Stone thinks that masks are a good idea, then they should wear them after all!

(Probably not -- but we can hope!)

I personally wear and recommend the Powecom KN95 masks at Bona Fide Masks.  My favorite N95 mask is the YQ Yichita NIOSH-approved N95 at Amazon.

Also, the Accumed BNX NIOSH-approved N95 fits well and is available in black. 

It's better to protect yourself and wear a mask than play Russian roulette with your health and expose yourself to COVID, measles, and everything else that's out there.

Dr Ruth's COVID news and more newsletter, 2/24/24

In her latest informative newsletter, Dr Ruth Ann Crystal writes:

"JN.1 continues to be the only variant causing COVID cases now. A new study confirmed that the XBB.1.5 vaccine is effective against JN.1. It turns out that responses to COVID vaccines are better than previously thought. Antibody formation after vaccination shows two phases: an initial rapid decrease (waning) in SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG antibodies, followed by stabilization of antibody levels for at least 7 to 9 months. This is consistent with typical B cell physiology.

"SARS-CoV-2 virus levels are still in the “HIGH” range in the United States, with an uptick of COVID infections in the southern states. Tennessee has exceptionally high levels of COVID circulating, followed by Texas, Oklahoma and Virginia. Per JP Weiland, wastewater levels of COVID are decreasing and hospitalizations for COVID are mirroring the decline of cases. There are still about 700,000 new COVID cases each day in the U.S. as seen by wastewater COVID levels and about 18,000 people hospitalized with COVID now. Emergency department visits for COVID are decreasing across all age groups, as are ED visits for influenza. A descendant variant of JN.1 called JN.1.23 has been found in a few countries including Brazil, but so far it is just being watched."

And look at this disturbing news:

"The Washington Post reported that four “nonprofits” that spread medical misinformation about vaccines and COVID treatments collectively received more than $118 million in contributions and grants between 2020 and 2022, 'enabling the organizations to deepen their influence in statehouses, courtrooms and communities across the country.'  Over half of donations were made via 'donor-advised funds' which allow individuals to obscure their identities."

Isn't that disgraceful?  

Here are some new revelations about Long COVID: 

"The blood brain barrier (BBB) usually protects the brain from toxins that could be circulating in the bloodstream. This week, a group from Trinity College in Ireland showed that a disruption of the BBB in Long COVID causes blood vessels in the brain to become leaky. Inflammatory substances from the body are then able to cross into the brain leading to Long COVID ‘brain fog’ and cognitive problems including memory loss and difficulty thinking. The researchers used dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) to show which areas of the brain had the “leaky” BBB. They also found that people with Long COVID brain fog had structural brain changes including a reduction in brain volume. In addition, they found dysregulation of the coagulation system pathways in people with Long COVID and brain fog."

Another reason why I work so hard to protect myself from COVID:

"Immunocompromised individuals can get persistent COVID infections that can allow the SARS-CoV-2 virus to continue to mutate in their bodies." 

I am very thankful for these COVID newsletters and the great information that Dr Ruth provides, especially since you can't trust the CDC for the facts.

Blaming All COVID Deaths on Trump

This is absolutely disgraceful, but not surprising, considering the source.  What is surprising is that this article comes from the Washington Post. Right now, it's behind a paywall, but I managed to copy some of it.

 Biden faults Trump’s vaccine rollout as he cites total covid death toll 

"After President Biden took office, he would often misleadingly claim that the Trump administration had vaccinated relatively few Americans during the coronavirus pandemic compared to the Biden administration. But this was inaccurate framing.

"When Biden became president, vaccinations had been available for a little over a month. Health-care workers, residents of long-term care facilities, front-line essential workers and people over the age of 75 were first in line. By the time Biden took office, on Jan. 20, 2021, with a stated goal of reaching 1 million vaccinations a day, shots had reached a seven-day average of more than 1 million a day — and 19 million people had been vaccinated, 10 times the number Biden used last month.

"In recent weeks, Biden has expanded this long-standing talking point to include the total number of dead from the pandemic. To some ears, he seems to be blaming Trump for the total covid death toll. The New York Post editorial page called it a “vile lie,” and some readers complained to The Fact Checker. But Biden’s phrasing is sufficiently subtle that a link is not so easily established. A White House official speaking on the condition of anonymity said Biden was not trying to blame Trump for the deaths and said that his comments reflected reporting that criticized Trump’s vaccine rollout effort and noted Biden’s pledge to ramp up shots.

"Trump can certainly be faulted for a chaotic, nonscientific approach to the pandemic. Two of our colleagues wrote an excellent best-selling book, “Nightmare Scenario: Inside the Trump Administration’s Response to the Pandemic That Changed History,” that detailed many missteps, including a failure to take the pandemic seriously from the start, inconsistent messaging on shutdowns and distancing, and a shunning of masks. But his administration’s successful push for a vaccine in less than a year, dubbed Operation Warp Speed, is considered a success story.

"In February 2020, as the pandemic appeared to be headed our way, Anthony S. Fauci, then director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told reporters that a vaccine 'would not be applicable to the epidemic unless we really wait about a year to a year and a half.' But in the end an effective vaccine was approved by November, just eight months later. By Dec. 8, the first vaccines outside a trial were given to people.

"At that point, 300,000 people in the United States had died of covid. The vaccines do not prevent people from getting covid but they significantly reduce the risk of hospitalization and death.

"Death toll:

• 2020: 385,666
• 2021: 463,262
• 2022: 246,161
• 2023: 72,827
• 2024: 10,611 (to date)

"By presidential term, that means:

• Trump: 465,043 (39 percent)
• Biden: 713,484 (61 percent)

"But notice how Biden frames this:

• “He [Trump] did not move on making sure that we dealt with vaccinating the American public. We ended up losing over a million people dead — a million people.”
• “We lost over 1,200,000 people because of the slow start in all this process.”
• “You had over a million people dying — a million people dying, and we had trouble at the front end of realizing there wasn’t much done to deal with it.”

"As we noted, the vaccine was created in record time — a fact that Biden at times has credited to Trump. “Thanks to the prior administration and our scientific community, America was one of the first countries to get the vaccine,” he said in 2021.

"But now when he mentions Trump and vaccines, he also references the total dead, even though Trump has been out of office for three years."

===========

I can still remember how overcome with emotion and relief I was when, in January 2021, I was able to secure an appointment for a COVID vaccine for my father, who was in the first group to be given the shot. After the fear and worry of 2020, we were grateful and thankful that a vaccine had been developed "at warp speed."

So to have Biden attempt to blame the entire COVID death toll on Trump is extremely disingenuous and desperate, and, for Biden, par for the course. The whole motto of this administration has always been "It's Trump's Fault."

Measles in Florida: Back to the Middle Ages

Here's an excerpt showing the latest advice from "Doctor" Joseph Ladapo regarding  the measles outbreak in Florida. This is dereliction of duty, and he ought to lose his license to practice quackery:

From NBC News:

Measles is a 'heat-seeking missile' experts warn as Florida outbreak grows
A seventh case, the first in a child under age 5, follows the state’s controversial surgeon general’s decision to let parents decide whether to quarantine children or keep them in school.

"The Florida measles outbreak is expanding. On Friday, health officials in Broward County confirmed a seventh case of the virus, a child under age 5.

"The patient is the youngest so far to be infected in the outbreak, and the first to be identified outside of Manatee Bay Elementary School in Weston, near Fort Lauderdale.

"It’s unknown what connection the youngest measles case has to the school, but the spread beyond school-age kids was expected."

Cases are 'not going to stay contained just to that one school, not when a virus is this infectious,' said Dr. David Kimberlin, co-director of the division of pediatric infectious diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that as of Friday there have been at least 35 measles cases in 15 states in 2024 — most related to international travel. In January, there were nine measles cases in Pennsylvania, eight of them in Philadelphia. (If there are no more cases reported there as of early next week, the Philadelphia outbreak will be declared over.) Late Friday, Michigan’s health department announced that it, too, had identified a measles case — its first since 2019.

"Florida’s outbreak is the largest in the U.S. right now. And what Florida’s health officials are doing — or not doing — is drawing fire from experts who study the way diseases spread.

"Measles is so contagious and has such a long incubation period that the decision of the state’s Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo to let parents decide whether to quarantine their children or let them keep going to school could allow cases to spread, experts warn."

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Do you believe this?  What Ladapo is recommending is reckless endangerment, but the parents who agree with him are just as bad.

What kind of "parents" would actually send their contagious children to school knowing they are unvaccinated and knowing they have measles? Unfortunately, there are plenty of ignorant parents in this country who neither care about the well-being of their own kids or that of the kids who will catch measles from them

I hate to think how this Florida outbreak is going to spread, and how many serious complications and even deaths occur as a result.

We need fewer Ladapos and anti-vaxxers in this country or else we will quickly return to the Middle Ages of disease and death.

Dr Katelyn Jetelina's State of Affairs for February 22

Your Local Epidemiologist Dr Jetelina is back with another informative issue of State of Affairs. Here are some excerpts.

"COVID-19: High: Covid-19 wastewater levels are high nationally. And, in fact, higher than they were this time last year. Although national rates are declining, the South has a very weird pattern. We don’t know why.  Covid-19 hospitalization admissions are stalling after a nice decline. We remain at fewer hospitalizations than last year. CDC and WHO are paying attention to another highly mutated variant in South Africa. However, there have only been 9 cases, with no impact on wastewater or hospitalization trends. This seems like a dud, which is great news. No other huge variants are on the horizon; JN continues to be king.

"Flu: Still high and stabilizing: The rate of hospitalizations due to flu remained stable compared to last week. Flu can stretch out, sometimes to even May, so this is unsurprising. It’s not too late to get your flu shot!

"Measles: More outbreaks: This may be a bad year for measles (see why in my previous post), so many epidemiologists are carefully watching the data.  So far, in 2024, we’ve had 20 cases across 11 states. This is about twice as many cases as this time last year."

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It's a disgrace that parents aren't vaccinating their kids and instead letting them suffer from these viruses unnecessarily!

I can remember when measles was declared eradicated from the USA about 20 years ago. What happened to people since then?

On Biden and Israel

Here are excerpts from just two of the many columns criticizing the Biden Administration for their desperate attempts to foist a "Palestinian state" on Israel, the victim of the October 7 pogrom. Biden is shameless in his zest to appease the Muslims and the American antisemites in order to get their vote in November (heaven help us).

U.S. Scheming for a Palestinian State Unwittingly Strengthens Netanyahu, by Gadi Taub

If the news that the U.S. is going to recognize a Palestinian state that doesn’t exist was intended to break up Prime Minister Netanyahu’s wartime coalition, it’s unlikely to work. Contrary to what the Biden administration assumes, the obstacle to the “two-state solution” is Israel’s electorate, not its prime minister. The more the administration tries to ram this misguided plan down the throat of traumatized Israelis who are in no mood to compromise their security, the more the country’s prime minister will recover political support.

 

Biden the political opportunist might sell out Israel to save his own hide, by Steven F. Hayward

"It appears President Biden is moving to sell out Israel, with a possible UN Security Council resolution calling for a 'temporary' cease-fire (which would surely become permanent) and opposition to an Israeli attack on Rafah, the last major Hamas stronghold.

"But then Tuesday the United States vetoed a Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire, which our garbage media are shamefully describing as 'widely supported' without reporting that within the UN 'diplomatic community,' antisemitism is 'widely supported.'

"What the hell is going on?

"A closer look at the Biden resolution draft reveals equivocations, calling for a cease-fire 'as soon as practicable' and linking it to hostage releases, which 'would help to create the conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities.'

"Clearly Biden wants to have it both ways, posturing as someone who supports Israel while working for a 'diplomatic' solution.

"Do Biden’s people, let alone the rest of the world, really think this mealymouthed resolution would be taken seriously?"

---

Yes, they do. If you're willing to be gaslighted, or if you're an antisemite, you'll believe whatever he says. If you're much smarter than that, and if you're Jewish, you will just ignore his flagrant attempts  to make Israel the bad guy.

Satire That Sounds Like Fact

From the wonderful Babylon Bee: 

New York Mayor Warns Migrants If They Keep Attacking NYPD Officers, They'll Be Downgraded To 4-Star Hotels

"NEW YORK, NY — During a recent press conference, Mayor Eric Adams announced that he will no longer tolerate migrant attacks against NYPD officers, warning that further incidents would result in a downgrade in migrant living accommodations from luxurious 5-star hotels to humble 4-star establishments.

"'We're sending a strong, clear message that we mean business,' said Mayor Eric Adams sternly. 'If you mess with New York's finest, you're going to have to have a slightly less luxurious stay.'

"'You can kiss those swan-shaped folded bath towels and mints on your pillow goodbye! That's how seriously we take protecting our boys in blue,' added Mayor Adams. 'No more Mr. Nice-Mayor! Gone are the days of hospitalizing local law enforcement by day and sleeping on 10,000 thread count Egyptian sheets by night!'

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(By the way, it's "illegal aliens" or "illegal immigrants", not the PC term "migrants")

Steve Kelley Cartoons

 

Another Reason to Get Vaccinated

This is from CIDRAP - Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy: Study shows 43% to 58% lower prevalence of long COVID among vaccinated people 

"A new study based on 4,605 participants in the Michigan COVID-19 Recovery Surveillance Study shows that the prevalence of long COVID symptoms at 30 and 90 days post-infection was 43% to 58% lower among adults who were fully vaccinated before infection.

"The study appeared yesterday in the Annals of Epidemiology.

"The 30- and 90-day timeframes were meant to compare two different definitions of long COVID. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines the condition as new or persistent symptoms 4 weeks after infection, while the World Health Organization definition defines it as 12 or more weeks after infection.

"'By assessing both 30-day and 90-day long COVID, we increased the number of studies with which our results can be compared, facilitating discussion regarding consistency of estimates. It also acknowledges the importance of both outcomes,' the authors wrote. 'Whether symptoms persist for at least 30 or at least 90 days, both have the potential to cause significant disruption to daily life.'"

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Why wouldn't you get vaccinated and avoid all this tsouris?  Or do you prefer being sick??

Bring Out The Pepto Bismol: Biden The Appeaser Undermines Israel Yet Again

This is from Virtual Jerusalem, and I couldn't have said it any better myself:

Biden’s UN Ceasefire Ploy Subverts Israel

The bumbling and forgetful Alzheimer-in-Chief is advocating a “temporary ceasefire” and threatening to ram hostage and diplomatic deals down Israel’s throat

"President Joe Biden’s latest demand for a 'temporary ceasefire' in Gaza, submitted now as a UN draft resolution, aims ostensibly at securing the release of hostages, has ignited a firestorm of criticism in Israel and among its supporters. 

"Make no mistake: Biden, who can’t even remember the name of Israel’s enemy, is revealing his intent to ram a ceasefire solution down Israel’s throat, leaving Hamas undefeated. It is a crass betrayal of the US-Israel alliance, revealing the moral and strategic weakness of an American Administration with a cognitively-challenged puppet President as its helm, evidently operated by remote control by Obama and his swamp agents.

This call and the draft resolution at the UN is transparently a cynical maneuver to override Israel’s military objectives and impose a resolution that might compromise its national security, preventing a planned offensive into the remaining Hamas stronghold of Rafah. It is an attempt by the Biden administration to sideline Israel in critical security decisions, potentially 'snatching defeat from the jaws of victory' in its fight against Hamas. Why? Because an Israeli victory will not allow the world to force Israel to accept a diktat of accepting a terror state on its doorstep, controlling its capital, holy places, and undoing its sovereignty.

The way Biden is operating is double-dealing, asserting that the US has the authority to operate unilaterally, against Israel’s will and counter to its war aims, because some of the Israeli hostages, including senior citizens and soldier, have US citizenship as well.

“There has to be a temporary ceasefire to get the prisoners out—to get the hostages out,” Biden declared, suddenly emphasizing the presence of American hostages as a key rationale. This emphasis on American lives has raised suspicions that it could be used as leverage to coerce Israel into compliance with U.S. dictates, potentially at the expense of its broader security goals.

"The insistence on prioritizing a diplomatic solution for the hostage situation, especially before allowing Israel to proceed with its planned military operation in Rafah, hints at an underlying agenda. Critics suggest that by foregrounding the American hostages, Biden is crafting a pretext to assert unilateral decision-making authority, effectively overruling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s strategic planning. This has been perceived as particularly galling given reports of Biden’s frequent and recent use of foul language (“the f-word”) in reference to Netanyahu, further straining the trust and cooperation essential for bilateral relations.

"The notion that the U.S. might negotiate independently with Hamas and other Arab actors, bypassing Israeli input, strikes many as a dangerous concession that could embolden terrorist groups and destabilize the region further."

--------

At the rate this appeaser is going, he ought to just resign as president and go work for Hamas!

Unlimited Adamscare for Illegals

Is he crazy? Or are the voters crazy for allowing this?

Inside Mayor Adams’ migrant debit card boondoggle — no-bid bank gets $50 million, border crossers up to $10,000 each 

"This debit card program — if you read the actual contract — has the potential to become an open-ended, multibillion-dollar Bermuda Triangle of disappearing, untraceable cash, used for any purpose.

"It will give migrants up to $10,000 each in taxpayer money with no ID check, no restrictions and no fraud control."

What could possibly go wrong?!

Isn't that wonderful? If you think the steady stream of unwanted illegal aliens is out of control now, just wait till they hear about this!  

Also, what a slap in the face to taxpayers; the elderly living on fixed incomes; retirees trying to live on Social Security; and homeless veterans!

As usual, it's America Last.

Dr Ruth's COVID news and more newsletter, 2/18/24

In her latest informative newsletter, Dr Ruth Ann Crystal writes:

"JN.1 represents more than 96% of COVID cases now. Emergency department visits and hospitalizations for COVID continue to decrease again this week. Emergency department visits for COVID are highest for babies under age 1 and for people 65 and older at this time. Flu is having a small resurgence due to Influenza B, especially in children. 

"Although wastewater SARS-CoV-2 virus levels are still in the “HIGH” level for the U.S, they are going down. We are at 740,000 new COVID infections daily in the US, which translates to every 1 in 45 Americans is currently infected. SARS-CoV-2 virus levels are highest in South Dakota, Virginia and Georgia.

"The CDC is following a new variant called BA.2.87.1 that has been seen in 3 provinces in South Africa. Some people are worried that BA.2.87 could have the potential to cause a new COVID wave if it picks up more mutations. JP Weiland feels that BA.2.87 will most likely not be a problem because it has not had exponential growth like BA.2.86 did. For now, COVID cases are expected to continue to decrease over the next months.

"An article in the Washington Post this week stated that the CDC was planning on dropping isolation recommendations for COVID infections, similar to new recommendations in California and Oregon. Epidemiologists and public health scientists immediately responded on Twitter that if the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention drops isolation for COVID positive individuals, this would not be in line with controlling or preventing disease.

"Like California, the CDC is expected to allow COVID positive people to return to work if they have no fever and their symptoms are improving like what is done with colds and flu. But, COVID is not a cold and it is not the flu. We know from that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can be readily spread even when infected people have no symptoms at all. COVID has long term consequences that colds and the flu do not have. Cognitive slowing and exhaustion from Long COVID is affecting many people around the world. Several large studies show that there is an increase in chronic diseases like heart disease (heart attacks, arrhythmias), stroke and diabetes in the year after a COVID infection. According to a video from Bernie Sanders this week, Long COVID is now the third most common neurological disorder in the U.S. That is huge."

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Make sure you read the whole newsletter.   If it weren't for these reliable epidemiologists keeping us informed, we'd be completely in the dark.

Dr Caitlin Rivers' Force of Infection for February 19

Here's some excerpts from Outbreak Outlook for February 19, from epidemiologist Dr Caitlin Rivers:

"Influenza-like Illness, By region: More than half of the country, 27 states, is seeing high or very high levels of ILI activity. The South is most heavily affected and activity is still rising, but parts of the Midwest are also now seeing increases after a relatively mild start to the season. New York City and Washington D.C. are also in the very high category. It’s a little uncommon for flu to make a second stand like this, so it’s worth keeping an eye on trends in the weeks to come (watch this space!).

"COVID: The national picture on Covid-19 hospitalizations is complex, with some regions seeing improvements while others are still elevated. Here’s the scoop:

"Positives: Most of the country is seeing declining Covid-19 hospitalizations. This includes most states in the Western region, including California, Washington, and New Mexico. The Northeast is looking better as well. Hospitalizations there are generally improving after winter spikes, with some states like Vermont achieving significant reductions. Moreover, wastewater concentrations remained relatively stable across the country, with the Northeast having the highest levels.

"Concerns: The South is seeing a resurge of Covid-19. Hospitalizations jumped in places like Arkansas, Washington D.C., Texas, and Louisiana, erasing previous declines. The South-Central states are most affected by this new increase; other parts of the Southern census region are doing okay, which is why the increase is not evident on the plot below. There has been a noticeable uptick in hospitalizations among people ages 70+ in these areas, so caution is warranted."

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Protect yourselves and stay safe, everybody!

Ugly Antisemitism: It's Everywhere, & It's Acceptable

Here's an excellent column from Spiked, which describes the rising tide of rabid antisemitism in the United Kingdom but could be describing the United States as well. Just replace the word "Britain" with "America" and "British" with "American".

The sickness of anti-Semitism.  If we do not confront this hatred, it will consume us.

"It’s often been said that a society that allows anti-Semitism to flourish is in a particularly deep kind of trouble. That a society that fails to keep anti-Semitism in its box not only fails to stand by its Jewish citizens, but also risks becoming consumed and deranged by it. That anti-Semitism’s toxic cocktail of hatred and conspiracism can all too easily lead a reasoned, tolerant society to sicken. If so, Britain looks very sick indeed.

"This week, a report by the Community Security Trust (CST) laid out in stark, blood-curdling detail the hatred we’ve seen exploding all around us since 7 October. Anti-Semitic incidents are at their highest for 40 years, the highest since the CST began logging them, surging by 150 per cent in 2023. This includes a 96 per cent rise in anti-Semitic assaults. The most ever recorded.

"British Jews have had bricks, eggs and bottles thrown at them. They’ve been punched, kicked and spat on. They’ve been threatened with metal bars, knives and fake firearms. In one incident, ‘pro-Palestine’ protesters kicked a Jewish man on his way home from a Sabbath service in London. They then threatened to beat him up and shouted: ‘We are going to rape your mother, you dirty Jew.’ I’m sure this was all just an unconventional icebreaker, before they made the case for a ceasefire and a two-state solution.

"We are seeing Jew hatred at its most visceral. According to the CST, the incidents were at their peak not when the IDF rolled into Gaza, or when this awful war – that Hamas started – began to claim civilian Palestinian life. No, they peaked just a few days after 7 October, just after Hamas had killed and raped its way through southern Israel, long before Israel’s full military campaign had begun. As the CST puts it, the initial surge in anti-Semitic abuse, graffiti and violence represented a grotesque carnival of ‘celebration’ – celebration, that is, of the murder and maiming and defilement of Jews.

"It would be sickening enough if Israel’s just war in Gaza was leading scumbags in Britain to menace Jews on protests, or to daub ‘SS IDF’ on the wall of a synagogue, as happened in Sussex. To hold British Jews responsible for the actions – real or imagined, justifiable or unjustifiable – of the Israeli state is the essence of the new anti-Semitism. But we can surely now drop the pretence that the undiluted anti-Jewish racism we’ve seen on our streets in recent months was just mindless, misplaced anger with Benjamin Netanyahu.

"As anti-Semitism continues to rage, Jews are swiftly learning that the supposed protections of the multicultural state simply do not apply to them."

Throwing Israel Under The Bus

Here are two headlines I saw yesterday that show Biden's antipathy towards Israel:

From Virtual Jerusalem:  Cabinet tells Biden to shove his diktat where the sun don’t shine

"Ministers slam idea of recognizing Palestinian statehood, say the risk to Israel’s existence is not worth normalization

"Israel’s cabinet has unanimously endorsed a resolution that would reject any 'international diktat' that would seek to impose a solution.

“Israel categorically rejects international diktats around a permanent settlement with the Palestinians,” reads the cabinet decision. 'A settlement, if it is achieved, will come about only through direct negotiations between the sides, with no preconditions.'"

I'm glad they are standing up to Biden, and for themselves!

From Michael Goodwin at the New York Post:  Spineless Joe Biden is inching toward a full betrayal of Israel 

"Is there a Margaret Thatcher in the house who can help stiffen Joe Biden’s spine?

"The late British prime minister, in a 1990 phone call during the early days of the first Gulf war, famously told a hesitant President George H. W. Bush that it 'was no time to go wobbly.'

"Faced with Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza and a shaky re-election campaign, the president isn’t just going wobbly in his support for our embattled ally — he’s inching toward a full betrayal of Israel to appease American radicals.

"His actions and statements are more troubling than those of the officials Thatcher ridiculed as 'faint hearts' or 'drifting with the tide.'

"It is dishonest to defend Biden’s undercutting of Israel as part of some strategic view of how to bring a just and lasting peace to the region.

"His words and actions increasingly have little to do with peace and everything to do with pandering to domestic political critics."

Exactly right. Biden is desperate to hold on to power, no matter how unfit for the job he obviously is, and no matter how much it hurts Israel and  helps Hamas. Hopefully the American voters aren't quite as stupid as I think they are, but Israel certainly cannot afford to wait till November to find out.

Time to Move On from COVID -- and From Caring

I read this column by the Washington Post's Fenit Nirappil and Lena H. Sun, and I thought, "Good! They didn't forget about the rest of us like the CDC has!"

High-risk patients alarmed by CDC’s plan to ease covid isolation guidance

"Concerns among medically vulnerable people are growing as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention prepares to drop its long-standing recommendation that those with covid isolate for five days.

"People with compromised immune systems worry that co-workers will return to the office while they’re still contagious. At the same time, the few remaining policies guaranteeing paid leave for employees with covid are largely coming to an end. New York, the only state that still requires paid leave for covid isolation, is considering ending that benefit this summer.

"Even as many cheer loosening isolation guidance, others are troubled by federal health officials’ latest move to stop treating covid as a unique respiratory viral threat.

"The forthcoming change, first reported by The Washington Post, says people could return to school and work if they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the aid of medication and they have mild and improving symptoms."

----------

It's not only about going to work and school.  What about retirees and elderly people with chronic health problems and autoimmune diseases, for whom a visit to the doctor's office is like playing Russian Roulette? I feel the same way this person in the article feels:

"'I feel like I’m on an island by myself,' said Lisa Savage, a 60-year-old retired nonprofit fundraiser in Charleston, S.C., who has several autoimmune diseases that keep her body in a constant state of inflammation.

"Savage said the CDC’s proposed changes scare her. When she hears people say it’s time for the country to move on, she thinks: 'Lucky for you. Those of us with compromised immune systems don’t have that luxury.'

Exactly.  For me, the emphasis on "moving on" is very irritating.  Did countries just simply shrug and "move on" from The Black Death, the 1918 flu epidemic, or polio because they were tired of taking precautions?

The notions of caring for others and the shared sacrifices are gone. Now it's just me, me, me.

No Friend to Israel

Every day there's more pressure on Israel from the Biden Administration, but today's headline looks like blackmail, pure and simple.

From World Israel News: US considers rolling back Trump-era Israel-friendly policies

"With the gap between the Biden Administration and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu widening in recent weeks, The Wall Street Journal reports a number of policy strategies the White House has considered to put pressure on Israel.

"With US President Joe Biden facing low approval ratings and an indication that he may be losing support from Progressive Democrats over his support for Israel, the White House has toughened its tone, especially regarding civilian casualties in Gaza and voicing its disapproval over IDF operations in Rafah

"The Wall Street Journal reported that last month the Biden Administration was mulling revoking policies and legislation enacted during the Trump Administration that favored Israel.

"Among these are continuing to label goods produced in Judea and Samaria as “Made in Israel” despite opposition from pro-Palestinian groups.

"The second is declaring that settlements in Judea and Samaria don’t violate international law.

"The third, which in some form was enacted through an executive order, was to impose financial and travel sanctions against Israelis the US believed encouraged violence against Palestinians."

------------

What an absolute disgrace!  Israel cannot cave in to this blatant blackmail and commit national suicide just because Biden wants to get re-elected! He has memory problems, and obviously he has forgotten the October 7 massacre and the reason Israel is fighting!

Too bad Biden isn't as tough on the enemies as he is on the allies!

COVID: Who Cares?

Here's a discouraging column from MEDPAGE Today: COVID's Latest Adaptation: It Has Lulled us to Sleep; — My doctor's refusal to prescribe "just-in-case" Paxlovid speaks volumes

Donald W. Simborg, MD 

"I'm an 83-year-old retired physician. I let my medical license expire over a decade ago and have put my medical care into the hands of very capable people paid for by Medicare -- just like most people my age. Generally, I have been happy with this arrangement and enjoy good health.

"From this perspective, I can observe our healthcare system just like any other U.S. citizen. I would like to share one important observation at this time: we are now sleep-walking our response to COVID. This is true both among the general citizenry, as well as among healthcare professionals, who seem hesitant to prescribe the most effective outpatient treatment for COVID -- nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) -- even for high-risk patients like myself.

"Perhaps after the several frenzied years during the worst of the pandemic this is understandable. We're all sick of it -- emotionally speaking. Certainly, it is no longer killing us in the massive numbers we saw previously. But it was the third leading cause of death after heart disease and cancer in people over the age of 65 during the earlier years of the pandemic, and remains a serious threat to people of my age.

"Unlike heart disease and cancer, we have a vaccine that can greatly reduce the likelihood of death from COVID. Yet, according to the CDC, far less than half of people over age 65 have gotten the latest vaccine. Last month, on a trip to Costa Rica for vacation, I saw only a single person on each of the four flights there and back wearing a mask. It was a flight attendant with the mask loosely slung over her mouth and chin, exposing one of only two important places for the mask: her nose. Very few people wore masks in the airports and there was certainly no social distancing on the shuttle busses (or masks). Yet, the highly infective JN.1 variant was peaking in the U.S. at the time. So much for awareness and concern among my fellow citizens.

"But what about the medical professionals, themselves? An incident related to that same Costa Rica trip has me concerned. Prior to the trip, I asked my primary care physician for two "just in case" medications to carry along with me: an antibiotic in case I contracted "tourista" and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir in case I contracted COVID. My biggest concern about the latter was the air travel going there. I was bringing along COVID testing kits, but knew that if I turned positive while in Costa Rica, it would be unlikely I could get nirmatrelvir/ritonavir prescribed there during the first 5 days of symptoms.

"I was aware that nirmatrelvir/ritonavir is not approved for "just in case" travel usage, even in high-risk travelers such as myself. But, as a former physician, I also know that physicians are free to prescribe medications "off-label," and I have friends who have been prescribed nirmatrelvir/ritonavir for "just in case" travel occasions. My primary care physician gave me the antibiotic but denied the nirmatrelvir/ritonavir. He said he had discussed it with his colleagues, and they all agree that if everyone prescribed nirmatrelvir/ritonavir "just in case" for travel purposes, we would develop a shortage of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir.

"I was astonished by that response. How many people still travel overseas at my age? And how many of them are requesting "just in case" nirmatrelvir/ritonavir? It seems highly unlikely that giving us those prescriptions would cause a supply chain problem at Pfizer. In fact, a study found that less than 15% of high-risk patients who actually contract COVID take the medication! The researchers determined that over 48,000 deaths could have been prevented if just half of the eligible patients in the U.S. had gotten nirmatrelvir/ritonavir during the time period of the research.

"There is hardly a run on nirmatrelvir/ritonavir in this country. Our problem is underutilization of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, not overutilization. Researchers are working to answer this question of why people at high risk for severe COVID-19 don't receive nirmatrelvir/ritonavir -- or any outpatient antiviral treatment -- when diagnosed with COVID.

"As for my primary care physician, why would he and his colleagues decide to raise a potential public health shortage concern as a reason not to prescribe it to me? I'm sure they had no real evidence that the numbers would overwhelm the system. That was pure speculation. He readily prescribed me a "just in case" antibiotic for a minor illness easily managed without a prescription. There is already well-known evidence that we overprescribe antibiotics leading to resistant organisms. Why create a public health concern for nirmatrelvir/ritonavir? I don't think it was a lack of concern for my well-being. Rather, I think it is a lack of concern about COVID.

"It reflects a general sense in the medical community -- and the public as a whole -- that COVID is no longer a major threat. The possibility of my contracting COVID, not taking nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, and dying was simply less compelling than the notion that the country might run out of the drug. Perhaps also unstated to me but in the back of his mind was the reluctance to prescribe the drug when it is not approved for this purpose. That would have been more reasonable to me, yet it still felt as though he failed to put my well-being at the top of the list.

"Finally, this raises the broader question of our national approach to COVID. Why doesn't the FDA approve nirmatrelvir/ritonavir for "just in case" usage in travel for high-risk individuals? Surely it would cut into those unnecessary death statistics. We could easily monitor its impact on the supply chain and alter the age threshold for such approval if it became a problem. Why isn't there a continued public call for vaccinations? Why has COVID fallen off the cliff of public awareness?

"The virus has won. We are now sleep-walking our defense."

Donald W. Simborg, MD, is a retired physician. He is also a founding member of the American College of Medical Informatics, Co-founder of HL7, former founder and CEO of two EHR companies, and former CIO of the University of California San Francisco, currently retired.

=================

This proves that common sense has all but disappeared when it comes to COVID, and we have only ourselves to rely on.

Julia Doubleday on the End of COVID Isolation

I thought the previous CDC Director was bad, but it seems that the current one is even worse.

This is a disaster.

From WEAR News: "After more than three years, the CDC is considering dropping their COVID isolation recommendations, according to a recent report from the Washington Post."

If you're elderly or immunocompromised, the sound you heard was our hearts dropping.

As the reliable Julia Doubleday headlines it at her latest column at The Gauntlet, "One little COVID infection is no reason to miss work, says Biden's very science-believing CDC. Continuing its anti-science, anti-worker guidelines, the CDC considers eliminating isolation recommendations for COVID+ people"

Here's more:

"Now, after years of minimizing propaganda, most of the public feels completely powerless to control the spread of COVID-19. At a time when technology has never been better equipped to take on the challenge of airborne infection control, the public has been pushed into a state of learned helplessness, repeatedly and incorrectly told that “there’s nothing anyone can do.” People with “believe science” signs in their yards admit that COVID is simply “here to stay” and sigh as their children contract their fourth, fifth or sixth infection. It is against this backdrop of total surrender that the CDC has continued to roll back what meager worker protections remained.

"Public consent for reducing and eliminating isolation periods has come at the tail end of a long series of misinformation, designed to push people to accept forever reinfections. If there’s nothing that can be done to control COVID, after all, why should anybody isolate? It’s simply another cup of water in the ocean of virus we all have to swim in now.

"Of course, one would think that the obvious violation of basic worker rights- the rights to safety and health- would motivate the unions and leftist organizers to take action. But they too, have been drowned in a sea of normalizing propaganda, the crux of which is the demonstrably false claim that nothing can be done to reduce or control the spread of COVID. Nothing except vaccinations- which most Americans have failed to keep up with.

"Biden’s CDC no more believes or promotes “the science” than Trump’s before him. COVID is a virus, not a supernatural phenomenon beyond all human understanding. Like all viruses, it can be controlled and reduced with proper infection control protocols. Like all viruses, it can be eliminated from indoor air rapidly with high quality ventilation and filtration. Like all viruses, it cannot infect more hosts when the sick isolate and are paid to stay home from work.

"The CDC’s desire to eliminate isolation is yet one more step toward disappearing the virus from public consciousness, because a government that isn’t fighting COVID-19, isn’t losing to COVID-19. If COVID is everywhere, COVID is nowhere. If the other kids at school all have a permanent cough, maybe my kid’s permanent cough is “normal”. So as hospitals remain overwhelmed, staffing shortages worsen, economies buckle, disability and long-term illness hits new records, kids miss school and workers lose their livelihoods, we’ll continue to do nothing more than turn to each other and wonder why."

A National Security Threat

Yesterday,  Congress warned about a mysterious national security threat, but they didn't go into any details.

Today's headline is White House dodges on 'serious national security threat' after House Intelligence Committee sounds alarm

But I already know what the national security threat is. 

His name is Joe Biden.

He's a threat to our borders.

He's a threat to our public health.

He's a threat to energy independence.

He's a threat to our safety from rampant crime.

He's a threat to our economy.

He's a threat to Israel.

And I can go on and on.

In addition, I read this charming news today: White House Protecting Thousands of Illegal PA Arabs from Deportation and, thankfully, Israelis Overwhelmingly Reject US, Arab Plan for Palestinian State

So, these are some of the things our incoherent "leader"has been doing since 2021. How much more of a threat must be tolerate before the country explodes?

Yiddish Vinkl - February 2, 2024

What a pleasure to see one of my family's favorite phrases used in Harold Ticktin's Yiddish Vinkl column!

The phrase is in mitn drinen, and the definition is "in the middle of it; suddenly". Or as my family understood it, "apropos of nothing". 

The example Mr Ticktin gives is perfect: “We were discussing the concert when, in mitn drinen, he starts talking about baseball.” (shorturl.at/jkFJ4)

There's no English equivalent.  Don't you just love Yiddish?

An Old Guy Talks About Protecting Old Guys

This sensible "old guy" is Gary J. Moore, and he writes a column The Old Guy: On protecting yourself from COVID reinfection, and wearing a mask (!!!)

"It’s not good news. People are experiencing more bouts with COVID and each one leaves your immune system weaker and susceptible to a whole range of illnesses.

"Last year in August, Dani Blum wrote in the “New York Times” that more than two COVID infections increase the risk for lung and heart issues by three times, and people are “1.5 times as likely to have a neurological disorder, including brain fog and strokes than those who were infected only once.”

"Dr. Rambod Rouhbakhsh wrote in another article “Each subsequent COVID infection will increase your risk of developing chronic health issues like diabetes, kidney disease, organ failure or even mental health problems.”

"In addition, long COVID often occurs after the third and fourth infections and reinfection can often worsen symptoms in people that are already experiencing them. Ten to 50% of people with repeated infections report long-term symptoms.

"The gift that keeps on giving.

"I have often stated that the after effects on the health of people who worked on rescue efforts after 9/11 were as deadly as the original attacks. In 2018, nearly 10,000 first responders were diagnosed with cancer, according to Mount Sinai Hospital. Of those people, 4,343 were reported to have died by 2022, according to an article published by asbestos.com.

"I feel the same about COVID. More than 1 million people have died since its inception in 2020 and while the rates of hospitalization and death have severely decreased, it is still a danger.

"Particularly at risk are older folks, folks with compromised immunes systems and those who have experienced COVID more than once, which puts both Joan and I (and I assume a lot of you) square in the crosshairs of this ongoing health crisis.

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"Some things are simple. Vaccines and Paxlovid reduce further injury to your immune system. Make sure you’re up on your shots. I know some folks still ask: “Well, if you took all the vaccines, why did you still get COVID?” Because the purpose of vaccines (like the flu and shingles and pneumonia vaccines) is not to keep you from getting the disease, but to make sure you don’t die from it. There is no getting away from COVID. Every time we think we have it cornered, it mutates into another strain of itself, like the monster in a Marvel movie. We’re never going to pin it down and rid ourselves of it. The best offense is a good defense.

"And, for G-d’s sake, WEAR A MASK!!!! If you’re at an indoor gathering with lots of people, if you’re going to be indoors for any length of time, if you’re around folks you don’t know or at a place you’ve never been to, in a hospital or medical center, taking public transportation…WEAR A MASK!!! People in China did that for years and we all made fun of them. Who’s laughing now?

"Nobody. This isn’t a laughing matter.

"Go for your checkups, all of them, not just your annual physical exam. Your teeth and your stress levels and your body aches all have an effect on your immune system. Get a clean bill of health. Don’t just let things go or ascribe an ache or pain to age. If you want to live longer, you have to live better.

"Just try to use common sense, live your life and take precautions. We may never get out of these woods, but we also don’t have to wander around blindly and in fear.

"I love you all. Stay safe. And hold those magnificent grey heads high!"

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I wish more old guys and old gals were as smart as he is! Whenever I'm in a doctor's waiting room, it's the very old people who are invariably unmasked, coughing, very frail, and very apathetic. 

Unfortunately, I doubt this will change any time soon as public health continues to take a big step backwards.