General Wellness

The variant SARS-Cov-2 viruses are here and they are a problem.

We know they are 70% more transmissible and cause 60% more severe disease than the “wild type” Covid virus.

As we improve and increase our genomic testing (identifying which type of virus it is), we are seeing a sharp rise in the number of variant covid cases. 27 states have significant numbers. In terms of new infections, some states are pretty bad.

• Florida – 46% of new cases are variants. 
• Georgia – 40%
• Texas – 35%
• California – 25%

In Europe, things are much worse. Numbers of cases are once again on the rise, the the proportion of variant infections is much higher:

• Germany – 75% of new cases are variants.
• France – 75%
• Poland – 80%

There are a few “California variants” (B1427), which are different from the British (B117), South African (B1135) or Brazilian (P1) variants, but they are not as serious as the other ones are.  They are worse than the wildtype, just not as bad. There is also now a New York variant (B1526) but not much is known about this yet.

Although The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have some coverage of these viruses, the J&J has the most, but we still need to develop a booster.

The approach however still needs to be to minimize the rate of wild-type infections since this will slow things down overall and will lessen the pressure for more variants to form. We MUST continue to be vigilant and to minimise exposure to all forms of Covid. Even mild cases have resulted in significant post-Covid symptoms which may be permanent. Lung, heart, brain and kidney problems are among them.

At this point, only 11% of the US population has been fully vaccinated and another 11% have received their first dose. We just don’t know how many people have actually had the disease but keep in mind that the illness itself provides much less protection than what the vaccines provide. 

I am concerned that there is still a lot of vaccine hesitancy and misunderstanding about the vaccine and the disease. There are apparently many, many wasted shots because people are just not making appointments, or just not showing up. Even in PA, where at least in Chester County, there is an apparent dearth of vaccines, there are still wasted shots out there. Call around. Check pharmacies. Some local medical practices offer them also. It takes some legwork but it is necessary.

We don’t have the AstraZeneca vaccine here in the US, but it’s in Canada and many other countries. It IS safe and very effective. Don’t believe the hype out there. The blood clot rate in the general population is far greater than what has been seen after the vaccination and even if their efficacy numbers are a little overestimated, they are still very, very good.

Get whichever shot you are offered. 

In the meantime, stay safe and continue to follow the basic recommendations. You do not want to be the person who get really sick, or even dies a few days before you get your vaccine!

NASAL SWAB vs SALIVA TESTING

I was asked about which test is more effective. In researching the issue, I learned a few things. Initially early on in the pandemic, there was no question that the best test was a deep nasal/nasopharyngeal test and the saliv tests were not as accurate but the quality of testing has improved significantly. 

Recent studies looking at molecular (genetic, not antigen) tests show equal efficacy of a “spit” test to the nasopharyngeal swab test. There is a “swish and spit” test, using a liquid, which is less effective so avoid that one. Also, if the test is looking at the presence of antigen (viral protein particles or proteins) and not genetic material, avoid that as well, unless it is a nasal swab which is more effective.

The antigen test is fine for the nasal swab. It is overall fairly accurate and fast. 

SEASONALITY. Initially, we thought that this would all blow over once it got warmer, like the flu. This is not the case. In fact, things got worse in the summer last year and look at what is happening in South America right now! This virus does NOT behave like the flu.

In summary, this disease is far from going away and opening up the way most states are, is absolutely the wrong thing to do. Why can’t we learn from previous mistakes? Magical, wishful thinking will not get us out of this. Responsible behavior and vaccination will.

Stay Safe and Be Well.

AC

How’s that for click bait!

No, I am not saying that vaccines are not important. They are crucial. But vaccines cannot be looked at as the “quick fix” for this pandemic. Vaccination, along with continued control measures proven to be effective, must be continued. Masking, distancing, personal hygiene…

What we also need to do is stop focusing on getting back to “normal”. Whatever “normal” was got us into this mess in the first place. Unhealthy people. Factory farming breeding these bugs (remember that almost every single infectious disease out there came from animals). Climate change. All of these issues, and more, must be changed if we are to not only get past Covid-19, but the next pandemic which is is probably even brewing. We already know about H7N9, the very deadly avian flu out there in the world. If you want nightmares, look it up. IN addition, we now know that those who survive Ebola can still spread it to others even 5 years after they were “cured”.

Rushing to open things up, and that unfortunately includes opening up schools, has and will continue to lead to spread of the various forms of this virus. Some schools have already closed, only days after reopening due to outbreaks. The numbers had been decreasing, but the trend, not only in other parts of the world, but in the US are rising again. Albeit slowly, but we have not yet seen the ramifications of spring break and all the accelerated “normalization” in the social world.

I am very happy to see that the AstraZeneca vaccine has been put back on the vaccine menu in many of the countries which put it on hold. 

Remember that most of the world has not been vaccinated. Although we are improving in the numbers, most Americans have not been vaccinated, but the way we are opening up, you’d think this is all over! It’s not and not by a long shot. 

Please continue to be careful.

Socialize, but do so carefully and as performers say, you have to know your audience, or in this case, the behaviors of those you socialize with.

Have a great weekend and please continue to do all the things we know help.

GET VACCINATED. Whichever one you can. In Canada, they are adopting the “get the most people at least one shot as fast as possible” approach. My father got his Pfizer shot 2 days ago and is not scheduled for the second shot for almost 4 months! This practice has actually been going on in Britain now for a while and it seems to be working. Although after the second shots of Pfizer and Moderna, there is about 95% protection, there is about 70% after only one shot. In addition, there may actually be a benefit and longer lasting protection by spreading it out more. We just don’t know, because we are still learning.

This whole thing has been a medical, social, economic… experiment and we won’t have the final answers for years.

MASK UP.

DISTANCE.

WASH and sanitize as needed. Don;t overdo it.

VENTILATE.

GET HEALTHY!!!!! 

Stay Safe and Be well.

AC