Boosting confusion? And the push to open schools without mask mandates leads to major outbreaks, teacher deaths, and new closures
Depressing headlines reflect the pain that COVID-19 has inflicted on so many communities, yet the political vitriol makes public health measures seemingly impossible. Who knows how to fix this?
There’s no way to look at what is happening in schools across the country and think things are going well. Headlines like these are seemingly everywhere:
The trend is unlikely to change. And it gets worse when people fixate on getting “booster shots” that may not be needed (or not needed yet) instead of following the standard precautions - wear a mask, avoid crowds, and wash your hands.
New cases, hospitalizations and deaths are mounting, especially in places where COVID-19 precautions are either blocked by political leaders or ignored. There is a high level of community transmission almost everywhere, which adds to the likelihood that new, potentially more dangerous variants could emerge. It’s also why the USA now is back on the travel warning list in other countries.
Nonetheless, the damage — and the constraints on any solution — are global, as this opinion article discusses at length.
Controlling COVID-19 is going to require every one of us individually to do whatever we can.
One unmasked teacher spread COVID-19 to dozens of students, as this case report from Marin County, Calif., found. Here is a video of Marin County Health Director Dr. Matt Willis explaining the case and what we can learn from it:
Kaiser Health News explores the wrenching dilemma facing many parents.
To help people figure out what actions work best to keep kids, teachers and others safe, the CDC published a new guide for parents on what questions to ask educators about COVID-19 safety.
For about $50, you can put together a really good air filter that can work to protect against COVID-19 in schools and other places. The “Corsi/Rosenthal Box” has a lot of science behind it.
The latest CDC forecast estimates the USA will approach 700,000 COVID-19 deaths around the end of September or early October. The USA has recorded 638,689 already.
Two long-time FDA staff scientists are leaving the agency, with multiple media outlets reporting that their exit was driven at least in part by concerns over the White House announcement that booster shots would start to be available later in September. Although the acting FDA commissioner concurred with that announcement, it was unusual for the White House to cite a specific date before the FDA had a chance to thoroughly weigh-in.
Meanwhile, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which develops the specific guidance for clinicians to follow, appeared to support boosters but deferred voting on guidelines until after the FDA authorizes booster shots. id not vote on guidelines. It did fully endorse continued use of the Pfizer vaccine, after a detailed review of additional safety and efficacy data.
I know a lot of people are scrambling thinking they need to rush and get a booster shot “right now.” Check with your own healthcare professionals, but I haven’t seen any data that suggests urgency here.
If you have or had cancer or other immune weakness, you may need a third shot as part of the initial vaccination. Others likely have good protection at least six months out, and likely longer.
There is data that suggests immunity from the vaccines does sustain over time. Measurements on antibody tests do not reflect the entire immune system response.
Most of us can wait at least a few more weeks so that we see what the official guidelines advise.
For more, refer back to the video clip in my August 5 newsletter.
The delta variant appears to have deterred travelers: Air travel appears to be slumping again, with passenger traffic appearing to be down more than normally occurs as the summer vacation season ends.
The CDC director said that unvaccinated people should stay home.
New Zealand’s bout with the delta variant has now led to 700 cases after months of zero infections and despite a strict lockdown. However, some restrictions are easing outside of Auckland.
But the anti-vax movement is ramping up. Veteran science writer Tara Haelle documents how COVID-19 was the moment that anti-vaxxers had been waiting for. Check out her analysis of the language and tactics of the anti-vaccine campaign.
A study from Israel suggests that “natural immunity” from COVID-19 infection may be much stronger than prior studies had indicated, but vaccines still provide more protection. Epidemiological data from around the world suggests that those with only natural immunity may be more likely to get sick from a COVID variant than those with vaccine protection, but this is not definitive.
But you can’t rely on antibody tests as a measure of whether you are protected. NPR did a good job explaining.
This Wired article is from a few months ago but tells an interesting story about science — including how mistakes perpetuate, and in this case, hinder public health. It’s also a fascinating account of the important role that Virginia Tech aerosol scientist Lindsay Marr has played at helping us understand how COVID-19 spreads. Apparently, too few read the profile of Dr. Marr in the New York Times early in the pandemic.
That’s where we are now. Please keep safe, and keep the comments coming.