No, it does not make sense. CDC and FDA committed the US government to infinity boosting for covid before any evidence for the strategy was available and they seem determined to continue. No one has any idea what perpetual repetitive injections of the mRNA shots will do to the immune system or to the immune response to covid. Antigenic imprinting and development of immune tolerance are real phenomena that have to be considered as well. The vast majority of Americans are ignoring these CDC and FDA recommendations and they risk generating more vaccine skepticism and contempt for the poor judgment of these agencies.
Dr. Offit, the real necessity is a commercially available test of memory T-cells so that those with any protection can make a more informed decision of risks and benefits from vaccination.
One of the better books to emerge from the pandemic, an excellent companion to Dr. Offit's "Tell Me When It's Over" and David Quammen's "Breathless," is Michael Lewis' "Premonition." It presents a "first responder" perspective on the emergency through the eyes of people who, like the main characters in his book "The Big Short," saw catastrophe coming and tried, with mixed results, to get people to act. Although it is written for a popular audience, it should be required reading for everyone in health care.
It is undeniable that we need more data about SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, and both natural and vaccine-induced immunity. It is debatable whether we need those data before taking or recommending action. Sensible car owners change the oil regularly based on their vehicle's age and model, regardless of whether it "needs" it and without requiring scientific data about their specific vehicle and driver cohorts. We don't expect scientists and engineers to stop lubrication research; we just don't need to wait for them to publish new results. Sensible body owners get their shots.
Political disinformation (or disorganization, take your pick) led to hundreds of thousands of unnecessary deaths in the United States, no question, but scientific hesitancy--at a time when immediate and decisive action was needed--put a heavy finger on the scales. "We need more data" had a high cost in human lives.
By all means, let's have longitudinal studies in those four populations. By all means, let's shame the CDC into action. But in the meantime, lack of data seems a weak argument against erring on the side of safety.
You are right that we await better data. Had you all not been so keen to embrace the jabs, and waited for better data and independent analyses, you might have decided that the jabs should not have even been approved: https://okaythennews.substack.com/p/science-summary-covid-19-vaccines
In summary, the “science” always knew that boostering every 3 months is required to maintain antibody levels, and once you’ve had the disease, unless you’re immune compromised there is no need for the vaccine. Remember, at the time these tyrants were saying “screw your freedom”. Some of the Socialist trolls here still adhere to the Covid orthodoxy.
By now we see that being up to date with vaccination is better than not being vaccinated or being under vaccinated. The real issue, which the CDC does not seem concerned about, is the many millions of people disabled by symptoms and or damage even 12 months or more after infection, and even when that infection was mild, including children. It’s difficult to understand reducing precautions in this environment.
It doesn’t make sense immunologically. Antibodies always decline with a half life of 21 days once the pathogen has been cleared. The immune system depends almost entirely on memory B cells and T cells that will be reactivated when the pathogen is encountered again rather than antibodies. If antibodies didn’t reduce then our blood would be like sludge following a lifetime of infections.
Therefore the lack of antibodies is not a valid measure of the effectiveness of the immune system to a specific antigen. If there are antibodies for any length of time then surely that suggests a massive pathogen load or reinfection.
Someone commented about Covid deaths being exaggerated. The first "authority" listed at their cited website was a man who denied that the AIDS virus causes AIDS and denied that global climate change is real. However, published studies have shown that Covid deaths have been UNDER reported. Here's a recent one:
"Official COVID-19 mortality statistics have not fully captured deaths attributable to SARS- CoV-2 infection in the United States." "This suggests that many excess deaths reported to non-COVID-19 natural causes during the first 30 mo of the pandemic in the United States were unrecognized COVID-19 deaths." source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Science December 6, 2023.
I find actual data from high-ranking scientific journals a bit more trust-worthy than AIDS deniers, even if they won a Nobel (for something entirely different).
Something often missing from these articles and discussions is long Covid. Because of Long Covid, the usefulness of the vaccines goes beyond merely preventing hospitalization and death. After reading several of Dr Offit's articles, hearing his interviews and lectures on the Web, and reading (and recommending) his books, I find it strange that long Covid has been largely a neglected topic.
For me (a retired biochemist in my 70s with multiple mRNA vaccinations and no known Covid infections), a pertinent comparison is this: What are the relative risks of long Covid between taking updated boosters every six months indefinitely versus no more shots. I assume that if something reduces my chances of Covid infection by even 40%, that will reduce my chances of long Covid by some appreciable amount. Unless I see contrary data disproving the effectiveness of boosters, I will probably take my eighth shot in a few months.
Why? Data matters. The data I've seen shows a modest reduction in Covid cases via boosters. And no Covid means no long Covid for me. Although no longer having 95% efficacy, they still help some. For some actual data on this, I suggest reading articles by epidemiologist Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, easily found by a Websearch for "Your Local Epidemiologist boosters."
Anecdotes are also useful (in context). After two bouts of Covid a family friend who was in great shape and an avid bicyclist now has trouble walking, had to give up driving, and has mental fog. A young science educator called "Physics Girl" developed long Covid and has been bedfast for a year. My wife's last Ph.D. student had heart problems lasting almost a year after a case of Covid. Long Covid is real and I see much less risk in avoiding it than avoiding boosters.
I ceased listening to the CDC/FDA/NIH/NIADS and assorted idiotic paid for pay "experts" 10 years ago with the birth of my first child. And haven't regretted it
No, it does not make sense. CDC and FDA committed the US government to infinity boosting for covid before any evidence for the strategy was available and they seem determined to continue. No one has any idea what perpetual repetitive injections of the mRNA shots will do to the immune system or to the immune response to covid. Antigenic imprinting and development of immune tolerance are real phenomena that have to be considered as well. The vast majority of Americans are ignoring these CDC and FDA recommendations and they risk generating more vaccine skepticism and contempt for the poor judgment of these agencies.
Dr. Offit, the real necessity is a commercially available test of memory T-cells so that those with any protection can make a more informed decision of risks and benefits from vaccination.
Walter Morris MD
One of the better books to emerge from the pandemic, an excellent companion to Dr. Offit's "Tell Me When It's Over" and David Quammen's "Breathless," is Michael Lewis' "Premonition." It presents a "first responder" perspective on the emergency through the eyes of people who, like the main characters in his book "The Big Short," saw catastrophe coming and tried, with mixed results, to get people to act. Although it is written for a popular audience, it should be required reading for everyone in health care.
It is undeniable that we need more data about SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, and both natural and vaccine-induced immunity. It is debatable whether we need those data before taking or recommending action. Sensible car owners change the oil regularly based on their vehicle's age and model, regardless of whether it "needs" it and without requiring scientific data about their specific vehicle and driver cohorts. We don't expect scientists and engineers to stop lubrication research; we just don't need to wait for them to publish new results. Sensible body owners get their shots.
Political disinformation (or disorganization, take your pick) led to hundreds of thousands of unnecessary deaths in the United States, no question, but scientific hesitancy--at a time when immediate and decisive action was needed--put a heavy finger on the scales. "We need more data" had a high cost in human lives.
By all means, let's have longitudinal studies in those four populations. By all means, let's shame the CDC into action. But in the meantime, lack of data seems a weak argument against erring on the side of safety.
You are right that we await better data. Had you all not been so keen to embrace the jabs, and waited for better data and independent analyses, you might have decided that the jabs should not have even been approved: https://okaythennews.substack.com/p/science-summary-covid-19-vaccines
In summary, the “science” always knew that boostering every 3 months is required to maintain antibody levels, and once you’ve had the disease, unless you’re immune compromised there is no need for the vaccine. Remember, at the time these tyrants were saying “screw your freedom”. Some of the Socialist trolls here still adhere to the Covid orthodoxy.
By now we see that being up to date with vaccination is better than not being vaccinated or being under vaccinated. The real issue, which the CDC does not seem concerned about, is the many millions of people disabled by symptoms and or damage even 12 months or more after infection, and even when that infection was mild, including children. It’s difficult to understand reducing precautions in this environment.
Excellent post. We continue to wonder about the lack of Focused Curiosity at the CDC.
We weren't losing 1000s of people, what was happening was a massive reclassification of death causes.
Suicides, Drownings, Motorcycle accidents, Cardiac arrest, Homicides were being reclassified as death from/with Convid
# Nolte: NY Times Reports Coronavirus Deaths Overcounted by 30% … on Paragraph 17
www.lewrockwell.com/political-theatre/nolte-ny-times-reports-coronavirus-deaths-overcounted-by-30-on-paragraph-17/
# Johns Hopkins Study Explodes COVID Death Hoax; It’s Re-Labeling on a Grand Scale
https://www.lewrockwell.com/2020/12/jon-rappoport/johns-hopkins-study-explodes-covid-death-hoax-its-re-labeling-on-a-grand-scale/
# In Colorado, They're Counting Gun Shot Fatalities as COVID Deaths
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2020/12/17/in-colorado-theyre-counting-gun-shot-fatalities-as-covid-deaths-n2581730
# Ontario (Canada) Admits Labelling Deaths As COVID When They’re Not A Result of COVID
www.lewrockwell.com/2020/12/no_author/ontario-canada-admits-labelling-deaths-as-covid-when-theyre-not-a-result-of-covid/
# In March, US Deaths from COVID-19 Totaled Less Than 2 Percent of All Deaths
www.lewrockwell.com/2020/04/ryan-mcmaken/in-march-us-deaths-from-covid-19-totaled-less-than-2-percent-of-all-deaths/
# Minnesota lawmakers say coronavirus deaths could be inflated by 40% after reviewing death certificates
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/coronavirus-death-certificates-minnesota-inflated
# Grand County Coroner Raises Concern On Deaths Among COVID Cases
https://denver.cbslocal.com/2020/12/15/grand-county-covid-deaths/
# 'The numbers are skewed': Colorado officials warn of inflated COVID death statistics
https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/coronavirus/numbers-are-skewed-colorado-officials-warn-inflated-covid-deaths
# Massive Pandemic Data Fraud Exposed: 40% of ‘Covid Deaths’ Were Fabricated
https://slaynews.com/news/global-pandemic-data-fraud-exposed-covid-deaths-fabricated/
# There Is No Pandemic
www.lewrockwell.com/2021/02/no_author/there-is-no-pandemic
It doesn’t make sense immunologically. Antibodies always decline with a half life of 21 days once the pathogen has been cleared. The immune system depends almost entirely on memory B cells and T cells that will be reactivated when the pathogen is encountered again rather than antibodies. If antibodies didn’t reduce then our blood would be like sludge following a lifetime of infections.
Therefore the lack of antibodies is not a valid measure of the effectiveness of the immune system to a specific antigen. If there are antibodies for any length of time then surely that suggests a massive pathogen load or reinfection.
Gotta kill em off faster, I guess. They need their SS money for all the illegals they are running in?
Someone commented about Covid deaths being exaggerated. The first "authority" listed at their cited website was a man who denied that the AIDS virus causes AIDS and denied that global climate change is real. However, published studies have shown that Covid deaths have been UNDER reported. Here's a recent one:
"Official COVID-19 mortality statistics have not fully captured deaths attributable to SARS- CoV-2 infection in the United States." "This suggests that many excess deaths reported to non-COVID-19 natural causes during the first 30 mo of the pandemic in the United States were unrecognized COVID-19 deaths." source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Science December 6, 2023.
I find actual data from high-ranking scientific journals a bit more trust-worthy than AIDS deniers, even if they won a Nobel (for something entirely different).
Any science, or can you only find social media and internet propaganda drool?
Something often missing from these articles and discussions is long Covid. Because of Long Covid, the usefulness of the vaccines goes beyond merely preventing hospitalization and death. After reading several of Dr Offit's articles, hearing his interviews and lectures on the Web, and reading (and recommending) his books, I find it strange that long Covid has been largely a neglected topic.
For me (a retired biochemist in my 70s with multiple mRNA vaccinations and no known Covid infections), a pertinent comparison is this: What are the relative risks of long Covid between taking updated boosters every six months indefinitely versus no more shots. I assume that if something reduces my chances of Covid infection by even 40%, that will reduce my chances of long Covid by some appreciable amount. Unless I see contrary data disproving the effectiveness of boosters, I will probably take my eighth shot in a few months.
Why? Data matters. The data I've seen shows a modest reduction in Covid cases via boosters. And no Covid means no long Covid for me. Although no longer having 95% efficacy, they still help some. For some actual data on this, I suggest reading articles by epidemiologist Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, easily found by a Websearch for "Your Local Epidemiologist boosters."
Anecdotes are also useful (in context). After two bouts of Covid a family friend who was in great shape and an avid bicyclist now has trouble walking, had to give up driving, and has mental fog. A young science educator called "Physics Girl" developed long Covid and has been bedfast for a year. My wife's last Ph.D. student had heart problems lasting almost a year after a case of Covid. Long Covid is real and I see much less risk in avoiding it than avoiding boosters.
https://www.lewrockwell.com/2024/03/no_author/fear-campaign-resulting-from-totally-invalid-covid-19-confirmed-cases/
People Wake Up!!!
Being up to date with vaccination for a flu derivative with a 99.7% survival rate means
Myocarditis/Pericarditis/Facial Paralysis/Sudden death/etc
I ceased listening to the CDC/FDA/NIH/NIADS and assorted idiotic paid for pay "experts" 10 years ago with the birth of my first child. And haven't regretted it