General Wellness

There is an internet-fueled theory, unfortunately adamantly believed by many people, floating around that the Covid 19 vaccines cause infertility, thin the uterus and can impact on pregnancy.

All this stems from a uterine and placental protein called syncytin-1. It shares a few similar amino acid sequences with the coronavirus spike protein, against which vaccines create an immune response. In theory, the spike protein antibodies generated by the vaccine could mis-recognize the syncytin-1 protein leading to fertility and pregnancy issues. This mis-recognition is basically how all autoimmune diseases occur. Autoimmune hepatitis after having the flu is a classic example. There are studies linking antibodies formed against cow’s milk proteins to juvenile diabetes because of amino acid similarities between proteins in the human beta cells, which make insulin, and cow’s milk proteins. 

Although it is true that a few amino acid sequences are shared by these two proteins, there is absolutely no evidence of vaccination causing any such problems. If this were the case, you would also expect to see an increase in miscarriages in pregnant women who contract Covid itself. Although getting a significant case of Covid while pregnant can endanger the mothers health and potentially the baby, since pregnancy is in and of itself an immunocompromised and stressed state, there is no proof that it impacts the pregnancy or the baby as it pertains to this synectin-1 protein. 

The same goes for vaccination. There is no evidence of any effects at all on pregnancy or fertility. 

In fact, the opposite is the case. It protects mom, who then passes along passive immunity to the baby for protection after birth. Not only does vaccination of pregnant women protect the mother, it also protects the baby and gives it a head start after birth! The CDC just came out once again, reinforcing the recommendations for all pregnant women to get vaccinated, at any stage of pregnancy.

STOP THE INSANITY ALREADY!

Stop committing child endangerment and get vaccinated! I know that sounds a bit extreme, but that is essentially what unvaccinated parents are doing. They are NOT protecting their kids by not getting vaccinated. That is the same as endangering them. 

Get vaccinated and protect your kids as well as all the other kids in your community who can’t get a vaccine yet. The pediatric case rate is skyrocketing. More kids are really getting sick and some are dying.

In a detailed review of people who have had Covid, including those with none to minimal symptoms while ill, 70% are identified as having some kind of “long-haul” symptom. Some are bothersome but not so severe, like loss of smell or hair loss, but some are very serious like brain fog, heart failure, lung disease and diabetes. 

In Philadelphia, there is a chronic Covid symptom clinic. One of the practitioners there has expressed concern that the SARS-Cov-2 virus could impair pediatric brain development and way down the line, result in premature dementia in adulthood. The brain continues to develop into our 20s, especially the frontal lobe where, amongst other things, behavior and executive function are processed. Do you want to risk your child struggling through life only to develop dementia prematurely as an adult? We already poison their brains with all the screentime, sports-related head injuries, processed foods and artificial colorings.

Please get vaccinated and continue to do all those things we know help to slow down the spread of this disease.

MASK UP, vaccinated or not. You can still catch it and/or pass it along to someone else.

DISTANCE. Don’t go to that crazy “Homecoming Concert” in NYC. Too many people, too close together.

VENTILATE. Stay outdoors and use fans and filters indoors.

WASH YOUR HANDS. Although this was less of a concern with the original virus, Delta is much more transmissible. You don’t have to sanitize your bananas, but just keep your hands clean.

GET HEALTHY! Only you can help yourself.

I’m taking a break for a bit. Burning out.

Stay safe and be well.

AC

Variant viruses are essentially mutated versions of the original form of a virus, in this case the SARS-Cov-2 coronavirus which causes Covid-19. This virus mutates all the time, as do all viruses. Most mutations are harmless and do not change the behavior of a virus to any significant degree. Some mutations may even cause it to die off but some cause it to become more aggressive and resistant to treatment, as has occurred with the Delta variant of SARS-Cov-2. 

Variants are categorized as “variants of concern (VOC)” and “variants of interest (VOI)”.

Variants of concern have the following characteristics:

• Increased receptor binding affinity because of spike protein mutation. 
• They are not as well neutralized by the circulating antibodies from previous infection and/or one of the available vaccines.
• Available treatments are not as effective.
• They may elude diagnostic tests.
• They result in increased severity of disease.
• Are more infectious.

Variants of interest are similar to variants of concern but have:

• No evidence for reduced treatment efficacy.
• No evidence of increased ability to avoid antibody detection.
• Limited prevalence.
• Limited or no change in infectiousness.

The present Delta variant ravaging the country, and most of the rest of the world, is a VOC, however, it is still identifiable readily with testing. Delta “Plus” is very similar to Delta with one additional mutation but its behavior is essentially the same.

The newest player is Lambda. Although it is technically categorized as a VOI, that will likely change.

It first showed up in Peru last August (2020) but very quickly spread all over S. America. And then it spread around the world and is now in over 30 countries with nearly 1000 cases identified in the US as of June, 2021. Were it not for the more well established Delta variant, it would undoubtedly be the predominant strain around the world. The WHO has classified it as a VOI however.

In Peru, it has led to a fairly high mortality at 9% but that number has not panned out yet in the US and areas outside of S. America.

Lambda’s spike protein mutation is different from Delta’s mutation. It involves an area of the spike protein known as a “super site” since it occurs in an area targeted by newer monoclonal antibody treatments, potentially making them less effective in treating severe infections. In addition, antibodies from patients who have received the Sinovac (Chinese) vaccine, the predominant one in S. America, have been less effective against the Lambda variant.

Both of these issues make this variant potentially significantly more infectious and less treatable.

Is it more lethal or cause more disease? Whether it is truly worse or simply a matter of an overwhelmed and less efficient medical system in countries like Peru, is unclear yet. Also, most people in Peru lack healthcare so they may simply be presenting much later in their disease.

At least in the lab, it appears that Lambda has more infectivity. In addition, it seems that Lambda also binds with greater affinity to the ACE-2 receptor. As far as antibody neutralization of the Lambda, also in the lab, it seems to still be pretty good.

Lab testing of the Regeneron antibody cocktail is still very effective at neutralizing the Lambda variant as well.

In a nutshell, Lambda seems to be very similar to the Delta variant in terms of it’s increased adherence to the ACE-2 receptors and may cause more infections; however, we have not seen that YET in the US. Stay tuned

The bottom line is that VACCINATION provides protection to all forms of this disease and it is imperative that everyone get vaccinated.

Also, following all those other protective measures is imperative.

MASK UP

DISTANCE

WASH YOUR HANDS

VENTILATE

GET HEALTHY!

Stay safe and be well.

AC