Podcast Summary
New Study Shows Vaccinated Individuals Carry Higher Viral Loads of Delta Variant: Vaccinated individuals can still carry and spread the Delta variant, even if they're asymptomatic or presymptomatic. Continued public health measures like masking and social distancing are necessary to prevent its spread.
A recent study published in The Lancet, known as the Chalice study, has shown that vaccinated individuals may carry higher viral loads of the Delta variant than unvaccinated individuals. This was discovered during a hospital outbreak in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, where workers were found to be passing the virus to one another despite being in a lockdown. The study also found that the Delta variant had mutations that made it more transmissible. Previously, experts had warned that vaccines might not completely eradicate the virus, leading to concerns about creating "super spreaders." The findings suggest that vaccinated individuals can still contract and spread the virus, even if they are asymptomatic or presymptomatic. This is particularly concerning as the Delta variant continues to spread globally, even in countries with high vaccination rates. The study underscores the importance of continued public health measures, such as masking and social distancing, to prevent the spread of COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status.
Efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines against variants falling below regulatory standard: The Pfizer vaccine's efficacy against Delta variant is below 50%, Israeli health minister reported. A Pfizer study showed no mortality benefit, potentially causing 3 deaths for every life saved. FDA approval lacked transparency, raising concerns about vaccine safety and effectiveness.
The efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, such as Pfizer and AstraZeneca, against variants like Delta is falling significantly below the regulatory standard of 50%. For instance, the Israeli health minister reported a 17% efficacy rate for the Pfizer vaccine. Furthermore, a recent 6-month Pfizer clinical trial study revealed no all-cause mortality benefit from the vaccine, suggesting that for every person saved from COVID-19, three extra people might die from other causes. The FDA's recent approval of the Pfizer vaccine without a public process, scientific oversight, or full labeling information raises concerns about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine during the current variant landscape. These findings call into question the justification for vaccine mandates and the need for continuous monitoring and adaptation of COVID-19 vaccine strategies.
COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness against delta variant questioned: Current COVID-19 vaccines have lower efficacy against the delta variant, natural immunity provides a more effective long-term solution, and ongoing booster program may temporarily increase antibody levels but does not address antigenic escape.
The effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against the delta variant is significantly lower than initially reported, with some estimates suggesting less than 50% efficacy. Additionally, the current vaccines do not address the mutated spike protein of the delta variant, making boosters obsolete as they cannot adequately target the variant. Natural immunity, on the other hand, provides a full library of antibodies and a robust, complete, and durable response against various antigens, making it a more effective long-term solution. The ongoing booster program may provide some benefit by increasing antibody levels, but it does not address the underlying issue of antigenic escape. It's important to note that these findings are based on current data and the situation may change as new variants emerge and research progresses.
Natural immunity exceeds vaccine immunity for 6 months: Natural immunity from COVID-19 infection is robust, complete, and durable, providing better protection than vaccines for at least 6 months. Prioritizing early treatment, international collaboration, and outpatient care could have reduced hospitalizations and deaths.
Natural immunity from COVID-19 infection exceeds vaccine immunity by six months, according to a recent study. Natural immunity is robust, complete, and durable, with no reported second infections leading to symptoms, signs, and proven PCR antigen and sequencing. If I had been in charge of the pandemic response, I would have prioritized treating sick individuals and reducing hospitalizations and deaths. Early treatment, international collaboration, and a focus on outpatient care could have kept hospitals from being overwhelmed. Investing in clinical trials for combination drug therapy could have arrived at effective treatments more quickly. Preventative measures like hand sanitizers and masks could have been secondary to handling the sick individuals effectively.
Caution needed in COVID-19 vaccine rollout: Despite promising progress, the COVID-19 vaccine rollout could have been executed more carefully using proven technologies. Transparency and access to monoclonal antibodies are crucial, and safety concerns persist due to the absence of critical oversight committees.
The rollout of COVID-19 vaccines could have been executed more carefully, using established and safe technologies instead of experimental mechanisms. The delta variant, while less fatal on average, can still lead to severe illness and even death, especially when patients don't receive adequate early treatment. The lack of transparency regarding monoclonal antibody distribution and access adds to the frustration. Moreover, the absence of a critical event committee, data safety monitoring board, and human ethics board in the US FDA and CDC's vaccine program raises concerns about safety standards. A mortality signal was detected at 27 million vaccinated Americans on January 22nd, and further oversight and review are necessary.
Unusually high number of deaths after COVID-19 vaccines: Despite the CDC and FDA's reliance on self-reported data, the number of deaths after COVID-19 vaccines is concerning, particularly among seniors. Transparency and thorough safety investigations are needed.
The number of deaths reported after COVID-19 vaccinations has exceeded the expected threshold for the entire class of injections, raising serious concerns about safety. If there had been a safety review in February, as planned, the Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) might have halted the vaccine program due to the high number of deaths. The majority of these deaths occurred within days of vaccination, primarily among seniors in their seventies and eighties. The CDC and FDA have yet to provide comprehensive safety reports or press briefings, relying instead on self-reported VAERS data which may underestimate the true number of deaths. A study by McLaughlin and colleagues found that approximately half of these deaths occur within 2 days, and 80% within a week. My own patient, a 64-year-old with mild emphysema, experienced a dangerous prothrombotic syndrome two weeks after vaccination, leading to her death. This tragic case, along with the concerning VAERS data, underscores the need for more transparency and thorough safety investigations from the CDC and FDA.
Reporting system for COVID-19 vaccine injuries and deaths is inadequate: The current system for reporting vaccine injuries and deaths related to COVID-19 vaccines is inadequate, lacking proper oversight, and needs improvement. Few incidents are reported to the CDC, and there's no mandatory pull-back of products or statistical analysis plan in place.
The reporting system for vaccine injuries and deaths related to COVID-19 vaccines in the United States is inadequate and lacks proper oversight. The speaker shared an example of a woman who experienced a vaccine injury and died, but her death was not reported to the CDC. The speaker had to take the initiative to report it herself, and it took her about a half hour to do so. She also noted that the number of entries certified by the CDC is astonishingly low compared to the number of times doctors have taken the effort to report such incidents. The speaker emphasized that a properly designed program would have had a data safety monitoring board and periodic reviews based on accrued data. She also pointed out that there is no mandatory level at which point the CDC pulls a product, and there seems to be no statistical analysis plan in place. The speaker, who has experience chairing data safety monitoring boards, expressed that if she was in charge, she would have called for emergency meetings and potentially shut down the program if the number of deaths exceeded a confidence limit. The speaker also criticized the CDC for not doing autopsies or investigations. Overall, the speaker's message is that the current system for reporting vaccine injuries and deaths related to COVID-19 vaccines is not sufficient and needs improvement.
Lowered regulatory standards during COVID-19 vaccine rollout: Concerns raised about lack of due diligence, oversight, and implementation of safety monitoring plans during COVID-19 vaccine rollout, potentially causing more harm than good.
During the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, the regulatory standards for safety were significantly lowered, resulting in a lack of due diligence and oversight. The speaker argues that the FDA and CDC could not have reviewed thousands of deaths related to the vaccine in a timely manner, as external experts and careful assessment were required. Furthermore, safety monitoring plans that were initially outlined were not implemented. The speaker also suggests that in some countries, more people may be dying from the vaccine than from COVID-19. Overall, the speaker expresses concern that the vaccine may be causing more harm than good. It's important to note that these claims are controversial and not universally accepted by the scientific community. The speaker's perspective underscores the importance of rigorous regulatory oversight and transparency during public health crises.
