A rough winter awaits. Did we relax our vigilance too soon?
Eric Topol started off his latest article, “The new COVID wave“, stating “Things are once again going in the wrong direction in the United States.” (What else is new?)
Did we stop masking too early? (from Anytime-V (Drug Addiction Clinic Vita https://www.vperemen.com/ – Wikimedia Commons)
Walk into a store and you would think – except for a few oddballs (like me) – that the pandemic was over. Masking is at an all-time low. Young people, middle-aged people – even seniors with frail immune systems – pour into crowded stores, unmasked.
Yet, while the pandemic has loosened its grip, it’s still around. Two hundred and fifty people a day in the U.S. are dying of it. That’s down 12% from two weeks ago, but with hospitalizations and infections jumping 25%, increased death rates are sure to follow.
Trevor Bedford from the Hutchinson Foundation reported that modeling efforts suggest cases could peak at around 150,000 new cases a day during the holidays.
Nobody, though, thinks the surge is going to be anywhere near as bad as the big surges in the past. Eric Topol believes that the vaccinations, boosters, and past infections have built a “fairly formidable immunity wall” in the U.S. and a more formidable one in Europe. Death rates are much, much lower now – about 1 in 2,000 compared to 1 in 200 early in the pandemic.
The Immune Evasion Chronicles: A Monoclonal Antibody Fades but Paxlovid Hangs in There
As expected, the virus is continuing to find more and more ways to evade the immune system. The BQ.1.1 variant – which is fast becoming the dominant variant in the U.S. – has a mutation in the spike protein that gives it “a big edge”, Topol reported, “in immune evasion”. The new variant is more resistant to Evusheld – which was protective against COVID-19 in immunocompromised individuals – and has left the monoclonal antibody Bebtelovimab in the dust. Citing its inability to protect against the latest strain of the virus, the FDA recently pulled Bebtelovimab from the market in the U.S. At one point six monoclonal antibodies were being used to fight the virus – now there are none.
Thankfully, whether you’ve been vaccinated or not, Paxlovid still appears to be effective, and as a bonus, also as Health Rising recently reported, reduces the incidence of long COVID by about 25%. The RECOVER Initiative is beginning a Paxlovid long-COVID treatment trial early next year. (Topol also recently reported that the “rebound” effect is no more likely in Paxlovid users than non-Paxlovid users).
The Gist
- Masking is at an all-time low for the coronavirus pandemic era yet the most immune-evasive coronavirus variant is sweeping the West, the flu season has started early and is the worst in decades, and the RSV virus is hammering children in particular.
- Two-hundred and fifty people are dying every day from the coronavirus and hospitalizations and infections are increasing rapidly. While the new variant may be milder – and no one expects a huge wave like before – it has also knocked out two medications that were in use. (Thankfully, Paxlovid is still effective and can reduce the risk of long COVID to boot.)
- The bi-valent coronavirus vaccines can help – if you can tolerate them. They are more effective against infection and studies make it clear they can also reduce the risk of getting long COVID.
- The more times you get infected with the coronavirus, though, the greater risk you have of coming down with any number of health problems as well as long COVID.
- The poll asks how you are about masking, handwashing, social isolation as well as how you’ve done with a flu or bivalent vaccine. Please check it out! (Responses are anonymous.)
The Reinfection Ripple
Then there’s the danger of the coronavirus triggering long COVID (and we should start thinking about “long flu” and long RSV infection…). The coronavirus appears to have turned out to be a pretty spectacular initiator of long COVID. With the virus hanging in year after year, researchers have been studying the ramifications of getting hit with the virus more than once.
It turns out they are not good. It appears that the more times you get hit with the coronavirus, the greater risk you are at of coming down with long COVID.
A recent huge Veterans Administration study (@ 6 million!) found that getting reinfected with the virus carried a doubled risk of death, and a tripled risk for lung, heart, blood, kidney, diabetes, mental health, bones, and muscle, neurological disorders, and long COVID. Each additional infection further increased a person’s risk of coming down with long COVID.
Even being fully vaccinated and having a prior infection wasn’t enough to stop this pattern. It also didn’t matter which variant a person had been exposed to. Because the VA’s population tends to be older and less healthy overall, the situation may not be quite as bad as the study makes it out to be. On the other hand, the VA’s male population may understate the risk that females – who make up the majority of long-COVID patients – face of coming down with long COVID.
If you already have long COVID (or presumably ME/CFS), another coronavirus infection can make things worse. A recent UK online survey found that 80% of long-COVID patients reported that a new infection worsened things. Dr. Luis Ostrosky-Zeichner, chief of infectious diseases at UTHealth Houston and Memorial Hermann Hospital, said a new infection could be “devastating” for some patients. Ostrosky told Yahoo! News:
“It’s pretty devastating. They may have been making a lot of headway with this four- to five to six-month recovery process, and then it’s a huge setback for them. Very demoralizing, very disheartening for them when this happens.”
Ostrosky also said that, in his experience, relying on past experiences doesn’t work.
“You might have had a really mild case before, but you don’t have anything assured whether the next case is going to be as mild or if it’s going to be more severe… There’s also so much we don’t know about what kind of damage accumulates with repeat infections. So don’t let your guard down.”
The Vaccines Hold Up
Vaccines – if you can tolerate them – are helping. With Health Rising’s polls suggesting that vaccinations may result in severe symptoms lasting a month or longer in 20-30% of ME/CFS/FM deciding whether to risk that or an infection that may be equally debilitating is no laughing matter.
Studies indicate, though, that the Pfizer and Moderna bivalent boosters produce significantly higher immune responses and are 30-50% more effective than the original vaccines. Topol pointed out that while seniors, in particular, are helped by boosters, fewer than 1 in 3 in the U.S. have had the bivalent booster.
Vaccinations and Long COVID
Other studies are pretty clear that the vaccines may provide some protection against long COVID. While we don’t have studies that assess the vaccine’s ability to protect against a relapse in ME/CFS, if they are protective against long COVID in the general population, they might provide protection for people with ME/CFS or long COVID.
A systematic review of 18 studies reported people who had been vaccinated with at least the two original shots had a 29% lower risk of developing long-COVID symptoms (cognitive dysfunction/symptoms, kidney diseases/problems, pain, and sleeping disorders/problems sleeping. (The authors believed more symptoms would have shown up had the studies been more complete and a common definition of long COVID used.)
People, on the other hand, who only had one vaccine shot did not show any protection against long COVID. People who had been vaccinated after a COVID-19 infection also showed a reduction in long-COVID symptoms. The authors proposed that by increasing antibody titers, the vaccinations may have helped to eliminate viral reservoirs that play a role in long COVID.
“Tripledemic” Produces Noteworthy Winter Bug Season
At least three bugs (coronavirus, flu, RSV virus) are widely circulating this winter.
This year the situation is being complicated by a truly noteworthy winter bug season. Our lucky streak of relatively mild flu and bug seasons has ended. Flu season has begun much earlier and with much more force than usual in the U.S. and Canada. The winter flu season usually doesn’t get going until December, January or later, but this year it showed up in November in spades.
Plus, it’s being exacerbated by the emergence of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) – a common respiratory virus – which has shown up with a vengeance. Like other respiratory viruses, RSV typically produces mild colds, but in small children and seniors it can be deadly. It can also exacerbate symptoms in people with respiratory illnesses like asthma.
Dr. Rose Zacharias, president of the Ontario Medical Association, warned that “In the coming months, Ontario will likely face the triple threat (coronavirus, flu, RSV) of respiratory illnesses.” Canada’s chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, reported that one way or the other Canadians are probably going to encounter one or more of these viruses “as long as influenza, RSV, SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses continue to co-circulate at a high level”. Alberta, Canada just reported that it’s already having its worst flu season in decades.
Children and teens are getting hit hardest. Dr. Rod Lim, emergency medical director of the ER at the Children’s Hospital in London, Ontario, called the situation – multiple viruses, staffing shortages, and early entry into the flu season – “a little bit of a perfect storm”. With record volumes of children being seen he warned of an “incredibly challenging winter”.
A similar pattern appears to be playing out in the U.S. Last month, federal health officials stated that the U.S. had already passed “the epidemic threshold” for flu and outlined plans to deploy troops, FEMA personnel, and supplies like ventilators from the Strategic National Stockpile if necessary.
Last Friday, the CDC reported that 44 states are seeing high or very high flu activity and that hospitalizations doubled over the last week. Plus, the dominant flu strain so far is a nasty one that’s typically associated with higher rates of hospitalizations and deaths, particularly in seniors.
As in Canada, RSV infections are putting a strain on the number of intensive care unit beds available for children. In November, Orange County in California declared a health emergency in its pediatric hospitals. Similarly, almost every major hospital on the East Coast was reportedly nearly full. The Feds have even said they’re prepared to go nuclear if things turn really bad, providing National Guard troops, FEMA personnel, and ventilators.
Lapsed Vigilance?
That brings us full circle. We’re way past the question of whether we’ve let our guard down – as a society we have. Masking, hand-washing, isolation – they’ve all pretty much gone by the wayside.
The multiple infectious threats (coronavirus, flu, RSV) present this winter, however, suggest we should remain vigilant. Being vigilant and masking up in this era of low mask-wearing means standing out in a crowd – not a pleasant thing for anybody.
For me, I think the mask debate has largely burnt itself out and most people really don’t care anymore. Still, it’s strange to walk into a store and be the one or five, or ten percent of people wearing a mask.
So, the question of this blog is where do you find yourself on the issue of pathogen protection this winter? Are you or have you been wearing a mask, washing your hands, and avoiding crowds? For myself, I’ve been wearing a mask, but I can’t remember the last time I remembered to wash my hands after being around people. That’s changed.
Please take our pathogen protection poll. It includes questions about masking, handwashing, etc., and your experiences with flu vaccines as well as the bivalent boosters if you’ve had them. (There’s some potentially good news for flu vaccines, by the way. A new kind of mRNA superflu vaccine being tested appears to be effective against 20 different flu strains.
Please take the Poll!
Note that all responses are anonymous.
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People don’t want to think about the virus, and it doesn’t think at all (no little brains in viruses), so only a small cohort of us is double vaccinated, triple boosted, and has had the annual flu shot, wears masks consistently, avoids crowds – and wonders about the rest of humanity.
And the others all rushed ‘home’ for Thanksgiving – with all the old folks in their families who will now start having the consequences. I’m watching the graphs, knowing what’s coming.
And the long covid cohort gets bigger every day, bewildered by the consequences of their own behavior – as if they’d never heard how to behave and what to avoid – and has the nerve to require sympathy!
The only thing that will stop the madness now, for those who are still alive, is a cure or a highly effective treatment; I pray scientists have one up their sleeve, because it is going to be bad, and we could have stopped a lot of it. With simple paper masks, hand washing, and social distancing. Masking works – a LOT better than nothing.
I’m really tired of staying isolated in our apartment to be safer. But ME/CFS friends who have gotten Covid write that it is like getting a flare that makes their symptoms another level of worse, and I’m barely managing to function as it is.
Dr. Ehrhradt, I am agree with you! In David’s remarks below, he questions wether ME/CFS patients are immunocomprimised. I keep going back to Dr. Chia’s paper in 2007 where his lab found that 82% of stomach biopsy samples from ME/CFS patients contained the VP1 enterovirus protein. Only 3% of controls contained a recordable amount of the VP1 protein. Close to 80% of ME/CFS patients have irritable bowel syndrome. Dr.s Lerner (RIP) and Pridgen believed the disease is 100% viral mediated. Hopefully, Dr. Pridgen completes his drug trial In Alabama soon!!!
Cort,
Any news on Dr.s Pridgen and Duffy’s drug trial? They should be finishing about now.
(…)”And the long covid cohort gets bigger every day, bewildered by the consequences of their own behavior – as if they’d never heard how to behave and what to avoid – and has the nerve to require sympathy!”(…)
Wow, i wonder what you will say to all those (ME) people who have been vaccinated and still have medical problems (or died from myocarditis) by these jabs.
A conseguence of their own behaviour too?
thank you
I think there was not enough public messaging on LongCovid where I live.
Definitely not – it was basically ignored by Fauci and the CDC. Some warnings could have reached the young people in particular.
Dr. Ehrhardt, I got my long COVID in March, 2020. What do you suggest I should have been doing to avoid it? We were being told to sanitize surfaces and that there was no respiratory spread. I’ve been getting progressively worse and had a setback after the booster last year that lasted about 8 months. I too am “really tired of staying isolated in [my] apartment to be safer.”
As for requiring sympathy, I always appreciate those people who do have a bit of sympathy, though you and many others are not among them.
Dr. Ehrhardt, I’m another person with ME/CFS who got covid last April. It took 12 days to get over the main symptoms (starting an antiviral on day 5). I now have shortness of breath (that I didn’t have before), and I’m definitely another level of worse – I’d say 10% less function than before I had covid. Please keep being careful!
Hi Cort and thanks for this. One note about your new poll. First Q assumes that the respondent does venture out into crowds. I do not. Ever. I answered “yes” as that was closest to the truth. But maybe you want to add another possible answer (“never venture out into crowds” or something like that)
I just added it 🙂
I just took the survey.
Adding that to the first Q made it confusing to answer.
I don’t venture into crowds but i sometimes have to shop in store – the question ask those situations as separate things.
Also although I don’t venture into crowds, sometimes they overtake me such as when in the halls at the VA medical center where I have appointments.
Thank you, Cirt.
The answers to the flueva cine is missing one chouce:
I have never had the flue or covid while very close family members were in very close contact with me just before their diagnosis of covid (2x between 2020 and 2021) and the flue.
I have CFS and only had 1 flu in my 62 years of life. Somehow I just dont get those infections despite exposure.
So it is not a question of believing in the vaccine or not byt believing that somegow my body just won’t catch those viruses.
I was told in a peivate swiss clinic for chronic illnesses that it appears that certain blood rypes seem to get less covud or flus.
Any comment on that?
Thankbyou for yoyr great work, Cirt!
I just donated to OMF.yeyyy!!
Sorry I sent my comment before checking for typoes. So sorry!!
I am using my cell phone because laptop is too heavy.
Hi again, Cort. Wondering if you might be planning to re-open your vaccine side effects poll. I had minimal trouble with the first Pfizer, more with the second, and a LOT with the first booster (Feb 2022). Then I stopped. Two types of reactions: flu-like and dermatitis flare. With the first booster, the flu like symptoms lasted several days and the derm flare lasted 6 weeks. Wondering about the experiences of other ME/CFS folks with a history of atopic and/or contact dermatitis. Would Like to get the new booster, but….scared. Dermatitis flares can get life-threatening bad for me. History of erythroderma (generalized exfoliative dermatitis) with 6 days in the hospital and massive IV and oral steroids. This was NOT related to vaccine (years ago). But may have been triggered in whole or in part by an adverse drug reaction .
I think your dermatitis is on a whole different level than mine. I did get a little redness/rash after my fifth COVID vaccine (bivalent). It lasted about two weeks but I didn’t need to do any more than keep it moisturized with a regular unscented lotion made from natural ingredients. I think it should be noted that this was the first skin reaction I’d gotten with a COVID vaccine, and that I had my first shingles vaccine two weeks prior which did have an even bigger dermatitis but resolved within days. I don’t remember ever having a skin reaction with any vaccine before these two vaccines.
I’ve never had a skin reaction to a vaccine. I have had really severe itching that lasted 6 months for an allergic reaction to a bath liquid that was supposedly for “sensitive skin”. Large doses of antihistamine knocked it out in the end.
Have you ever been tested for coeliac disease and helicobacter pylori? When I had ongoing dermatitis I insisted on both. I’m very careful what I wash clothes and bedding with and even more careful about what I put on my skin.
Wouldn’t that be from mastcell activation? Then it would be easily resolved with antihistamines. Am folliwing a lot of research.
I have Psoriatic Arthritis as well as CFS and fibromyalgia. My skin flared terribly after first vaccine. And I got severe psoriasis after each vaccine/booster. I also have asthma/Copd so I really needed to stay current with vaccines and boosters. I also received the flu shot.
I am so sick of staying home. My husband and I went to his sister’s home for thanksgiving and he tested positive 7 days later. I am still testing negative. Ughhh
My ME/CFS and POTS was triggered by the second moderna vaccine. Had I been an anti-vaxxer, there is a good chance I would not have ME/CFS/POTS as I write this today. I am obviously not getting anymore covid vaccines and am afraid to have the flu shot. I also read Eric Topol’s substack, and although there is an immunity wall, I find it frightening that we no longer have a monoclonal antibody option or evushield, and that people who could be taking the booster are not. Where does this leave us immunocompromised folks? The US just does NOT care. I have not had covid yet, but feel it will be unavoidable, with kids who go to school (they are the only ones in their classes masking) and a husband who goes to work.
We had 6 monoclonal antibodies against the coronavirus – they are all gone (!). I didn’t know that until today…
Topol is very frustrated at the lack of funding from Congress for research into better vaccines and treatments.
I am allergic to the ingredients in the mRNA vaccine. Also had a severe reaction to one dose of J&J. I received 2 doses of Novovax. No reaction to first dose. Mild reaction to second dose. Novovax trials included earlier versions of the Omicron variant. For anyone with a sensitivity to polyethylene glycol or similar petroleum derivatives Novovax may be a reasonable choice.
Thanks, Pamela 🙂
Do you have any information on how the Novavax vaccine is doing? (Pamela’s response is encouraging.) I have hopes that I will be able to tolerate it better than I have tolerated the mRNA vaccines (Moderna first dose – many side effects for a month; Pfizer second – fewer side effects for 2 weeks; Pfizer booster – minor side effects but the sore arm lasted 6 months. All three doses were followed by herpes and shingles reactivation.) I have had no problems with any of the regular flu doses, but had a very nasty reaction to last year’s senior dose – not gonna get THAT one again! I did get covid in early November – started Paxlovid right away! 14 days of moderate upper respiratory symptoms, and then recovery. After my infection-based immunity starts to dissipate, I am hoping to get the Novavax. I really don’t want to do the mRNA stuff again!
I don’t believe that people with ME/CFS or POTS are considered immunocompromised. There is thought to be a hyperactive immune response to certain triggers, including, for some, vaccines, but that is a different universe than folks on certain cancer chemotherapy drugs or immunosuppressants like high dose steroids or biologics. I’m not suggesting that ME/CFS doesn’t affect the immune system, directly or indirectly. Perhaps a physician on this thread can clarify.
Long Covid and ME: patient experiences at specialist clinics
https://www.popsci.com/health/long-covid-care-chronic-illness/
Totally agree.
In my opinion our immunsystem is compromised only in that it is mis-wired, ” confused” – in fact overreacting if anything.
I do not think we are immuno supressed, at least in my case.
Same here. Except Pfizer instead of Moderna. . And also I was spared the POTS. I just got all of the other symptoms on Dysautonomia. Along with paresthesias. And borderline small fiber neuropathy. And gut dysbiosis. And probably preload failure (TBD).
It’s really hard to read that some of our community members are not masking, avoiding crowds, or washing their hands. I’m glad I don’t know who they are.
Rachel I’m one of them … I believe masking and vaccines are a matter of personal choice. I have been diagnosed with Lyme Disease, Fibromyalgia and have compromised lungs. I live in Ontario and our craziest Omicron peaks came when we had mask mandates. Since the mandates were dropped in the spring the waves have not been as big. I do wear one at the hospital, doctors office etc. If I go into a small business where all staff are wearing them I ask if they would prefer I wore one. I also offer to do Covid tests and mask when I get together with any compromised friends. I stay home when I am sick. Personally I don’t feel we should live indefinitely with masks covering our faces. That is of course just my opinion. I also respect all who choose to wear masks.
Sheila, beware of confounding correlation with causality. The fact that Omicron was significantly more contagious than prior strains of Covid and led to a spike in overall incidence may explain the increased rates and not be related at all to the rate of mask wearing and/or mask mandates. In fact, incidence and mortality rates would have been even higher, in all likelihood, without masking. Generally speaking, I feel an obligation as a member of society to do whatever I can to protect my fellow citizens, especially those at risk like yourself. But yes, we have seen that mandates (outside of healthcare settings) ultimately backfired in the US (but not everywhere in the world) so I am against mandates at this time as well. But I keep my mask on for you and for me in poorly ventilated. indoor settings (like the pharmacy). I find it to be a minor inconvenience that I’m tired of, but that’s life (for now).
I would be wary of associating correlation (Low coronavirus infection with no mandates) with causation. The mandates were put in place when the coronavirus was everywhere. At least here in the States their effectiveness was blunted by the significant number of people who chose not to wear masks, or who wore them improperly, or used more ineffective masks such as surgical masks.
I, too, look forward to the day when masks are an afterthought. I think it’s coming!
i am masking when i’m around chemicals and perfume like i used to do. i am tired of feeling like i’m going to pass out in the store due to wearing a mask for too long.
I wish it were only some where I am. I attended a ME/CFS support group meeting earlier this year and only 2 of 20+ were masking. Bewildering! Some may have circumstances that make it hard or impossible, but the amount or ignorance and recklessness was just disturbing.
We’ve already lucked out in an incredibly debilitating and disabling way, why would someone knowingly risk further decline?
I absolutely concur. Although I have not been vaccinated, as someone with Fibro, CFS/ME and other autoimmune illnesses, I have chosen to mask whenever indoors or in a large crowd. I have friends who have been traveling since restrictions have been lifted in Canada and they travel maskless. On the other hand, I also have friends who are now contracting covid despite having four doses of the CV vax. Masking is THE only protection/option I have.
‘…we should start thinking about “long flu” and long RSV infection…’
Perhaps we should be thinking (and talking) about ‘long-ME’?
I did the survey. Had original Moderna injections. No issues. Did contact Covid in the spring, took antivirals, with no issues.
Have my phone waiting to possibly get Flu, pneumonia & booster, not all at once. Not sure which order??
My issue is my family are employed & have worked through this entire time. Two international Airline Pilots. One Law informer & other essential workers. I never had the luxury of complete isolation. As a retired nurse that was diagnosed 1991 with CFS, I understand the need to isolate, but not always possible. Maybe if I move to my Maui house, but then again not always alone. Another bit of info. We lost over 35 friends/family in the past 2 years, only one to Covid.🌺
In the uk we are advised we can have flu and covid booster at the same time, as long as they are in different arms. I preferred to leave a week between mine in case of side effects.
I’m not eligible for pneumonia vaccine yet.
I have been diagnosed with what the MD called a “bizarre immunity deficiency disease”. I do not make antibodies when given shots and was warned by MDs to never ever get another vaccine again. (I do have to take antiviral twice daily throughout entire flu season). I can’t be the only person with this issue. Yet there is never any acknowledgment in any media discussion or survey that people like me, who cannot take vaccines exist, even by doctors when presented with blood test documentations.
I checked category side effects lasted more that 3 months because option unable to ever get vaccines was not available.
It sounds like you might have Hypogammaglobulinemia.
There are types of Primary Immunodeficiency where one of the diagnostic factors is the inability to produce a response to vaccines, in particular prevnar and pneumnovax, but other vaccines as well. I would suggest seeing an immunologist to get screened for CVID. (Common variable immunodeficiency)
I have been lucky as to not have contracted Covid for 3 years. I’ve always worn a mask in public and have been very cautious. I also live with 2 other people that stopped mask wearing and decided it wouldn’t be a bad idea to go shopping the weekend of black friday. Well, sure enough, we all have Covid now. It seems pretty clear; if you don’t want to get yourself or others sick, wear a mask.
Both me and my partner are still COVID-free as well. Every other member of my family on the other hand – who were not nearly as cautious as us – came down with the virus when Omicron started up. One young family member has gotten it three times I think. Thankfully, they all weathered it well.
I routinely wear a mask (FFP2), wash my hands & use sanitizer (I keep some on the passenger seat of my car). I’m often the only one masking in shops but I’ve seen a few more people wearing masks, in the last few days. (Ireland)
People do look at me (wearing my mask) and I think some people may think I’m being over cautious and feel a bit sorry for me, or something. Anyway, I really don’t care what they think and I forget I’m wearing it. However, I have felt that it is becoming more of an issue to wear a mask and that maybe some people may find that more difficult to endure.
I had the two AstraZeneca vaccinations and the Pfizer booster and then specifically wanted to get the bivalent booster. So I kept asking the pharmacy and checking the health service information. I then had the Pfizer bivalent booster in October.
I think the general population think that Covid is over. However, masking is still required in healthcare settings. I’m a part time homecare worker and managed to get a few boxes of FFP2’s. I wear them when calling to all my clients, who appreciate that I do.
Interestingly the older clients that I have, are very wary of getting Covid. They still remember TB, polio etc.
While vaccines might be protecting some, vaccines cause many of the cases of Long Covid. Moreover, the vaccine induced cases of Long Covid show almost identical rates of Small Fiber Neuropathy as that seen in ME/CFS and Fibromylagia:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9128783/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyQpilazB_E
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3845002/
While this is still sadly taboo broadly, it is not even controversial among those seriously studying Long Covid at academic research centers and the like:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jt8K1Q7V7YA&t=2237s
Thanks for the link – I didn’t know that Nath had looked at this.
Because that study was made up of patients who were self-referred because their health problems popped up after a vaccination it doesn’t say anything about incidence. It does, however, provide a nice look at what’s going on. The FM study, on the other hand, simply enrolled FM patients and then looked for signs of peripheral neuropathy, etc. – it could claim that a percentage of people with FM have this.
Still, it was good to see someone delving into this problem which affects a good number of people with ME/CFS.
Joe:
Your main citation for the claim that “vaccines cause many of the cases of Long Covid”
(which can’t be accurate, since vaccines don’t cause Covid. Did you mean trigger long term vaccine side effects?or trigger ME?) is a preprint. PLOS, a highly regarded peer reviewed scientific journal, says preprints are unreliable and shouldn’t be cited in scientific journals since, among other reasons, the final versions contradict the data in the preprints more than 25% of the time.
Thanks for these comments. I’ve learned so much from this site and the people here. I’d just say to refer to SFN and likely permanent dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system as a “side effect” is a horrible euphemism at best and just plain false at worst. Side effects are something like a sore arm for a couple days and maybe the sniffles. The pre-print point is well-taken. It’s just with this study the primary author is the Director or the Neurological Division at the NIH. And secondary authors include Oaklander who is possibly the most prominent figure in the US in terms of SFN. Also concerning is they waited over a year to even publish this preprint which purportedly shows severe neurological symptoms among some of the first pro-vaxxers to volunteer for vaccination. And worse still, it seems that most/all of those involved in this study, in fact, did NOT recover from their injuries. They were given either IVIG or corticosteroids, or both, temporary suppressions of the immune system. They were then asked immediately after if they felt better and of course said yes. Then, after the effects of the treatments wore off they tried to email the authors of the study and were systematically ignored or told that the study was over.
The sample size is indeed small. 23 participants. And there are most certainly issues with self-reporting. But that you see almost the exact same ratios of of SFN and even low-normal neurite density on skin biopsy is hard to chalk up to coincidence. Along with the overwhelming female predilection you see with these/this disorder and related autoimmune conditions.
Covid causes most, if not all, of the cases of long covid. Self reported, observational study, no control group = cant draw any conclusions except possibly that you need to do a proper scientific study before publishing.
Control groups are helpful in experiments, not studies. These are studies. They are studies from the National Institute of Health, Harvard, and Yale.
I’d suggest at least the possibility that Long Covid may have nothing to do with Covid, per se. But rather is immune dysregulation or some other mechanism that can occur in the wake of recent infection or vaccination for some predisposed or possibly merely unlucky individuals.
I have been mostly bed ridden with ME for 11 years. I’ve had all my jabs and boosters and caught covid last month for the first time, testing positive for 13 days. My experience of it was the mildest cold I’ve ever had, and nothing like flu.
I realise I was lucky compared to the experiences of others.
This will be unpopular, but ME makes me sooo ill I would much rather not be here than hold people to ransom, always in a mask/ never going out or mixing socially. And the people dying from Covid were, and remain, mainly the vulnerable and elderly. How long do we want people to be in care? Until they are 80/90/100. It’s ludicrous. 250 deaths per day in the whole of the US is nothing.
I have always resented people with heavy colds coming into work, and the call “wash your hands please” was my mum every mealtime, and every single time we came in from playing out. That’s it. Being responsible and following basic hygiene.
I sometimes wonder what frightens people about the idea of ME/ LOCO. If you haven’t contracted it, you’ve no idea. And if you have, it is so frightening you wouldn’t have the bandwidth to worry about catching something else. I speak as a 25%’er.
I’m not in the 25%, feared I would be at one stage. One of my child’s friends died in the first covid wave, had just moved to London. They never got the chance to be vaccinated. Another friend has long covid, had just settled on a career after a few years messing around. She had to give up work. seems to be recovering slowly but another bout of covid and maybe she’ll be unable to recover. Two young people with lives ruined by covid.
I’m elderly and some days I dont want to get out of bed. But I make what I can of what’s left of my life and I know how much worse my ME could get again. I mask up to keep what is left of my life, because I dont wish to be the one who ruined a young life and I dont want to take up hospital resources badly needed for non covid health care.
I still eat out sometimes, I choose well ventilated places. I wear my mask in the toilet, covid spreads there. I still travel a little, wearing a mask through the airport and on the flight.
You can have ME/ long covid and still be capable of worrying about it getting worse.
Interesting survey. I am a hermit. Not only do I have Fibro, chronic Lyme, and reactivated EBV, I had a solid organ transplant and must take immune-suppressing drugs for life. On top of that, I am over 70 years old. I just read about a study that said that people with EBV are more likely to end up with Long COVID. And should I get COVID (I have not yet) there are no monoclonal antibodies that will work against the new variants, and Paxlovid is not an option because it would interfere with the anti-rejection drug that keeps me alive. It’s a good thing I like solitude, live in a place where the natural world is outside my door, and am never bored. I know there are millions of transplant patients dealing with the same issues. So I’ll try to avoid COVID; I have a new grandbaby on the way, and I want to be here to greet her. Thanks for listening. 🙂
Sending best wishes and gentle hugs! I am currently being treated for chronic Lyme and Fibro the doctor told me I have very suppressed immunity and do get bouts of pneumonia. I had one Covid vaccine and then decided against having more. Instead I take quite a few supplements from my Naturopath to boost me through the winter. I live with several grand babies and looked after my daughter when she had Covid. I have been in the same house with it three times now and have been spared. I am not however dealing with a transplant and do know through a family member with two double lung transplants that one must be ever so careful! Congratulations on that new grand baby coming! There are team of doctors in the US that give out lots of really good advise on early Covid treatment They are the FLCCC wondering if there are any recommendations they may have that you could take. There are even studies on Xlear nasal spray that is shown it to be very beneficial in protection and killing Covid
https://covid19criticalcare.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/FLCCC-Protocols-–-A-Guide-to-the-Management-of-COVID-19.pdf
Hi Cort,
I felt much better after 2 Moderna vaccines,the 2nd original and one of the boosters. Had energy and feeling of well being the day after. I chose no reaction but just a suggestion to add “felt better?” I was wishing I could get one a few times a week. 🙂
Again, I forgot about the feeling better option! We had a whole poll on that. 🙂
Respectfully, the bivalent question on the questionnaire is not worded clearly (“it” should be specified). Also, there should be an option of mild reaction to vaccinations, and a clear definition of mild, moderate and severe at the beginning of the questionnaire.
Finally, there is no option for someone (like me) who just started the flu shot this year after a bad reaction decades ago.
That being said, the questionnaire is a great idea and thank you Cort for taking the time to construct it and share the results.
Governments shouldn’t be invlved with healthcare.The whole thing has been well dodgy, was there ever a pandemic?, is the vaccine really a vaccine? https://www.bitchute.com/video/8ftbShzrkjl9/
@Cort,
for options for flu vac, i think they are useful and i get them regularly about every five years …..so i left answer blank
I had a nasty case of RSV last winter (Australia), it really knocked me about and took about a month to return to baseline. I haven’t had C, have had 2 P jabs, have masked, sanitised & distanced throughout. NK cell count too low & my holistic GP prefers no boosters. I maintain parts of the Klimas protocol, take a mushroom immune supplement & Quercetin, Zinc etc.
Watch out for RSV, it took me by surprise!
MASKS WILL NEVER, I REPEAT NEVER, BLOCK A VIRUS. EVER !!! Please stop sending out false information. I am a particle physicist, where you block small particles with larger particles. Even an N95 does almost NOTHING to protect you or anyone around you. If you could find a mask that would block a virus, you would NOT be able to breathe through it. And the Covid shots will only kill you. They will NOT protect you from anything. I am a vaccine-damaged military veteran, and I will NEVER get another shot. EVER.
Check out these studies
Comparative effectiveness of N95, surgical or medical, and non-medical facemasks in protection against respiratory virus infection: A systematic review and network meta-analysis
Our study confirmed that the use of facemasks provides protection against respiratory viral infections in general; however, the effectiveness may vary according to the type of facemask used.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35218279/
Effectiveness of Mask-Wearing on Respiratory Illness Transmission in Community Settings: A Rapid Review
Conclusions: Masking in community settings decreases transmission of influenza-like illness. Mask-wearing combined with enhanced hand hygiene reduces transmission of influenza-like illness and laboratory-confirmed respiratory infection.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35249589/
And this one:
Mask wearing in pre-symptomatic patients prevents SARS-CoV-2 transmission: An epidemiological analysis
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7311905/?report=reader
Our findings provided valuable details of pre-symptomatic patient mask-wearing and restriction of mass gathering in congested spaces particularly, are important interventions to mitigate the SARS-CoV-2 transmission.
Sorry, all this is 100% bull. Look at who paid for the studies. I can show you over 100 studies proving that those studies are fraudulent. Look up the testimony of the OSHA experts (who are the TRUE experts on whether a mask can block a virus), and certainly not doctors who have zero training in industrial personal protective equipment. Tammy Clark and Kristen Meghan Kelly are the ones to listen to. Here is just one interview where they spelled out the corruption behind requiring masks. https://thehighwire.com/videos/mask-whistleblowers-tell-all/
That’s a lot of disinformation. Masks of sufficient filtering capacity, e.g., N95 by definition block upwards of 95% of airborne particles. Not only do masks help prevent the wearer from acquiring viruses, they help prevent the spread of disease from people who might already be infected. If masks didn’t work to prevent the spread of contaminants, doctors wouldn’t use them in surgery. It’s totally logical and a matter of simple common sense that, even if a mask isn’t perfect, in most cases, if worn correctly, it’s going to be superior to not wearing one. What possible reason could there be to discourage someone from doing something that is of no harm to you? In fact, it could benefit you. Just please stop all the extremist disinformation and conspiracy-type hysteria. It’s getting so tedious.
Now I know the true nature of this website. DISINFORMATION ???? CONSPIRACY HYSTERIA ??? Seriously ?? Do you hear yourself? Since when does our Constitution and First Amendment allow you to use these terms ?? You have absolutely ZERO clue what you are talking about. N95 doesn’t block all sizes of particles to 95% efficiency. Look it up and educate yourself, if you are capable of this. MASKS WILL NEVER EVER BLOCK A VIRUS. EVER. Doctors are brainwashed to use them in surgery SOLELY to block a sneeze or cough. That’s just to REDUCE the contamination of the surgical field. How about blow-by? Is the mask duct-taped to your face? Is it possible for the air to go around the mask? Did you know that 80% of all air WILL bypass the mask completely and go out the sides? Do you know anything about aerodynamics? I seriously doubt it. If none of this makes sense to you, make sure you get all your Covid boosters every 2 months like a good little Nazi. Following illegal orders seems to be the thing that you are best at. I am done here.
I thought I had seen unhinged, but we are taking it to new levels here, hahah. The Constitution and First Amendment prohibit me from using terms you don’t like? Lol, that’s an interesting take.
Did you ever use an N95 mask? Properly worn, the mask forms a tight seal around the mouth and nose and next to no air escapes. A measure of how effectively it’s been fitted, in fact, is whether you feel some resistance and see the mask billowing in and out on respiration.
Cort might need to start considering employing a troll monitor on some of these comments – although to be fair, that might take away some of the entertainment value. They say laughing is great for the immune system, and my white count normally runs a little low, so… thanks for the boost! 😀 And for the record, I’m neither vaccinated nor a Nazi.
Cort, where are the clinical studies of the effectiveness of bivalent vaccinations?
For the first time, a majority of Americans dying from the coronavirus received at least the primary series of the vaccine.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/11/23/vaccinated-people-now-make-up-majority-covid-deaths/
(…)We describe the autopsy findings and common characteristics of myocarditis in untreated persons who received anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Standardized autopsies were performed on 25 persons who had died unexpectedly and within 20 days after anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination (…)
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00392-022-02129-5
Fortunately, people who have recently had corona are naturally protected.
Cross-reactive memory T cells associate with protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection in COVID-19 contacts
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-27674-x
immunity from natural infection
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.07.01.22277137v1
There is no conclusive evidence that masks stop the spread of omicron. Omicron is highly contagious. Everyone gets omicron sooner or later. At this point, almost everyone has already had it. Unless you are completely isolated, you can keep it out for the time being. Non-medical masks may contain particles that are harmful to humans.
https://www.sciensano.be/nl/projecten/evaluatie-van-de-types-doeltreffend-gebruik-en-gezondheidsrisicos-van-het-gebruik-van-biocides-op
In recent times you have seen a worldwide decrease in people who die or are hospitalized due to corona.
https://www.who.int/activities/tracking-SARS-CoV-2-variants
So what’s going on in the US. Are the people who end up in the hospital there because of corona or are they there with corona? How old are these people? What are the characteristics?
I think you’re confusing perfection with help. Yes, masks are not perfect – but neither are the water filters or air filters in your house or probably any filter. Does that mean I’m going to throw them out? No.
Yes, some virus particles can slip through but many others are caught in the fine filters in the mask. Of course, they are – that’s what these masks are specifically designed to do.
Bivalent mRNA booster doses provide additional protection against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 in immunocompetent persons who previously received monovalent vaccine only, with relative benefits increasing with time since receipt of the most recent monovalent vaccine dose. Staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccination, including getting a bivalent booster dose when eligible, is critical to maximizing protection against COVID-19
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36454688/
Immunization with the primary series does not set a ceiling to the neutralizing antibody response, and a booster dose of the bivalent vaccine elicits a robust response with titers that are likely to be protective against COVID-19. These results indicate that bivalent booster vaccines can induce potent, durable and broad antibody responses against multiple variants, providing a new tool in response to emerging variants.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36202997/
The bivalent vaccines have already been approved on the basis of research on mice and increased antibody production when it came on the market. No double-blind clinical study has been performed with a control group of, for example, unvaccinated people. Continuously boosting the immune system on this scale with 4 to 6 (?) injections in 1.5 years has never been done before. There is also not investigated previous corona infections within these groups. Why get a vaccine for an infection you’ve already had? when you’ve built up natural defenses against the whole virus instead of just the spikes that change. Vaccines also do not protect against transmission. If the vaccines were so effective (against what?) then there would never have been a problem and all measures could be released. I have always worn medical masks and use disinfectant to clean my hands. Live in isolation at home and hardly saw anyone. Still I got corona. I’m still alive and luckily I got through it well. It was a mild to moderate flu. Nothing more nothing less.
Sooner or later everyone is going to get corona whether you are vaccinated or wearing a mouth mask. This is a short term strategy. You will have to get protection once through an infection. And don’t forget 99.5 % survive corona. You’re going to get it too Cort, and I’m sure you’ll survive. In Europe, corona is not a problem, hardly any people die from corona. Hospital admissions due to corona are also extremely low. The difference with the US is that in Europe many more people have already had a corona infection. So may have built up more resistance?
https://covid19.who.int/
look at the characteristics of the people who are now dying from corona. How old are these people? Do they have other illnesses? Etc… I think now with omicron it’s time to let go of the mass hysteria and fear. Most people no longer need to be afraid. And let everyone act normal to each other. I still read messages with hate against people who no longer wear masks or get vaccinated. Some even claim that it is your own fault if you contract long covid. While as an ME patient you should know better. Stop that. I don’t mean you Cort.
New studies show that natural immunity acquired through infection with the Omicron variant of the coronavirus – Covid-19 provides much better protection against re-infection by the BA-4 and BA-5 variants than any of the vaccines or boosters used against the original mutations of the Covid-19 virus.
The researchers found that infection with a pre-Omicron variant prevented reinfection with BA.4 or BA.5 with an effectiveness of 28.3%, and symptomatic reinfection with both subvariants with an effectiveness of 15.1%. Previous infection with Omicron gave much stronger protection: it was 79.7% effective in preventing re-infection with BA.4 and BA.5 and 76.1% in preventing symptomatic re-infection.
https://kanker-actueel.nl/natuurlijke-immuniteit-door-besmetting-met-het-coronavirus-beschermt-veel-beter-79-vs-23-procent-tegen-omicron-varianten-ba4-en-ba5-dan-een-vaccinatie.html
This is reported by Nature on the basis of two studies.
References
Altarawneh, H. N. et al. Preprint at medRxiv https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.07.11.22277448 (2022).
Chemaitelly, H. et al. Preprint at medRxiv https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.07.06.22277306 (2022).
Just gonna put this out there because it seems everyone has a study to back up every opinion out there. I think that goes without saying then, that there are still things that can’t be 100% defined. But while we debate studies, reality is happening.
My 41 year-old cousin with no known health conditions passed from Covid just a few months ago. I personally have been masking up whenever in public and had not caught Covid. Until my 2 housemates went out maskless 3 days straight for black friday shopping. No surprise we all got it. The person with noticeably less symptoms? My 94 year-old grandmother, who had a booster (not bivalent) about 2 months ago.
These are anecdotes, but it is also my reality. Vaccines work. Masks help. I understand vaccines are tricky for those of us, and even masks for some people. But just because something isn’t 100% doesn’t mean it’s wrong.
Also, everyone I know who had Covid once has gotten it again, less than a year after their first infection. Immunity does not last that long from natural infections. Not sure about vaccination.
I am sorry for your loss. I have always worn a mask FFp2. When used properly, it reduces the risk of corona and other respiratory infections. I agree with that. Vaccinations against corona are effective for a few months and then no more or less. That’s why you always have to get a booster. There are pros and cons to vaccinating against corona as we know. Fortunately i don’t know anyone who died from covid. Almost all my friends and people i know who have had a booster had corona also 2 or 3 times. Because you have different types of corona and subtypes like omicron. Just like the flu you can get it more times. Corona is endemic so it will stay with us. My point is you need to build up antibodies against this virus sooner or later. So you will be less sick. Everyone has to make their own decision. Let’s respect each other. But it is a nasty virus also the flu is a nasty virus some people forget that. Take care!
Double-blind, placebo controlled studies have never been done for flu vaccines annually. And there has never been an expectation that any vaccine protects against illness 100% of the time. The original mRNA vaccines were proven to be highly effective vs. contracting Covid and protecting vs. severe illness. All subsequent boosters have been shown to be effective at preventing severe disease, especially for older adults. Let’s not make the perfect the enemy of the good.
Thank you
So many are suffering the consequences of covid and the damage it leaves behind. The medical system is not helping and most patients are being gaslighted and not treated. Most have to self treat and the cost of the supplements and treatments are NOT being covered by insurance. I was lucky a friend sent me a link to a buying club where people with chronic conditions can save and afford what they need . Please share to others who could use help buying treatments. www. Healthbuyerclub.com is trying make a difference with lower prices and savings.
Hadn’t realised about the monoclonal antibody drugs becoming useless, Cort you do a fantastic job of informing us of developments. Here is news from Cambridge university UK released yesterday. Hope we all see it as a bit of good news
https://www.cam.ac.uk/stories/UDCA-COVID19
“The off-patent drug that could protect us from future COVID-19 variants”
Nice! I love it when something like a liver drug might be helpful in an entirely different setting! Gives me hope for drugs for long COVID and ME/CFS – who knows what’s already out there that might help?
What about LDN (T cells)?
Yes, prevention at the ACE-2 receptor. Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) prevents covid-19 infection in the same way:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35632821/
Cheap and available at health food stores. I take two 400mg capsules with each meal.
@ Ann 1 I totally agree about PEA, I found out about it in the comments in another HR article mentioning how they used PEA for Fibro pain quoting pharmahorse.com as a source. I found an Italian study in which they used ultra micronized PEA for treating fibromyalgia type pain with & w/o concommitant analgesics. And investigated sources of PEA, (which has now opened up much more.) At the time there were 30 tablets from Italy for 30 euros 15 days at 2 x600 mg per day, or there was Pharmahorse , with PHARMADOG PEA pharmaceutical grade for 25 euros for 100 x400mg capsules which means that I can take 2x400mgPEA , 3 x per day for 16.7 days for less. I tried 2x400mg2xper day, but feel so much better on 2x400mg 3x per day. references to follow establishing the ubiquitous efficacy of PEA for pain, neurological symptoms, anti viral, anti LPS effects and much more.
https://covid19criticalcare.com/treatment-protocols/i-recover/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8157570/pdf/ijms-22-05305.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9146540/
https://cimasci.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Palmitoylethanolamide-in-the-Treatment-of-Chronic-Pain-Caused-by-Different-Etiopathogenesis.pdf
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19390211.2021.1966152?src=recsys
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19390211.2021.2005733
I have experienced ME/CFS/FM since early 1980s enough to prevent me from working safely.
I gradually found the vocabulary to define my symptoms mostly due to Health Rising when googling aphasia 2017, it took finding a live-in carer, companion to find the space to investigate and try to control my symptoms and find a more tolerable way of living & coping. I am grateful to my carer, Health Rising, SMEFG, Sarah Myhill, Dr Jacob Teitelbaum, Osteopathy:-Perrin Technique & MANY MORE; for a new way to live with ME/CFS/FM(dr dAVID bROWNSTEIN Nebulized 0.1% hydrogen peroxide with potassium iodide in Normal saline solution, ordinary soap & water for hand washing,FLCCC PROTOCOLS, occassional virustaticshield.com masks wearing[ with S prrotein capture treatment to lock onto virus, although I find the odour unpleasant.]
Ha! Nebulized hydrogen peroxide – glad to see that helps.
Great write up and survey. Thanks for all you do to keep up updated and informed. I am immunocompromised and have worn a mask during flu season for years pre COVID and am still making around anyone else. (More for flu and RSV right now then COVID). For those arguing masks don’t work, myself and legions of other immunocompromised people can provide anecdotal data on the positive difference they make in keeping us from catching things. One suggestion on the survey, can you add a severe reaction that lasted less than a week for the bivalent booster? This booster absolutely knocked me flat but it only lasted 72 hours. But I’ll rejoice in every one of those 72 hours since it meant my body was mounting a response and creating antibodies!
I am sorry for your loss. I have always worn a mask FFp2. When used properly, it reduces the risk of corona and other respiratory infections. I agree with that. Vaccinations against corona are effective for a few months and then no more or less. That’s why you always have to get a booster. There are pros and cons to vaccinating against corona as we know. Fortunately i don’t know anyone who died from covid. Almost all my friends and people i know who have had a booster had corona also 2 or 3 times. Because you have different types of corona and subtypes like omicron. Just like the flu you can get it more times. Corona is endemic so it will stay with us. My point is you need to build up antibodies against this virus sooner or later. So you will be less sick. Everyone has to make their own decision. Let’s respect each other. But it is a nasty virus also the flu is a nasty virus some people forget that. Take care!
Something went wrong. This reacion is for Adelle, sorry
Anyone with side effects from MRNA vaccines should consider getting Novavax, an excellent traditional vaccine that is just as effective and likely longer lasting than the new boosters. It was tested in South Africa and is just as effective as the MRNA Omicron boosters. My son-in-law had a fever of 104 after getting the Pfizer bivalent booster.
Cort, I planted the end date of Dr Skip Pridgen’s drug trial in my clap top. He should be finishing shortly. Do you have any news on the results? We keep talking about viral infections. I routinely re-read Dr. Chia’s paper concerning the VP1 enterovirus proteins found in the stomach biopsy’s of ME/CFS patients. Dr. Pridgen entered the ME/CFS discussion, once virologist Dr. Duffy confirmed that most of his IBS patients had a significant viral infection. Pridgen could actually see the unusual “red streaks” in the colon’s of his IBS patients with his scope.
Cort, thanks for your tireless dedication. We all know you suffer too, but you have really become a talented “filter of the scientific noise” that surrounds ME/CFS. All those years of study at your California Universities did did not go for naught. We are all deeply indebted to you. Thank you!
Here in New Zealand the first year of Covid ,we really showed just how effective mask mandates are
Over the Winter period our reported cases (Doctors and hopitalizations) DROPPED 95-98 percent over previous years (i forget the exact number pretty sure it was 98 perc plus)
As every specialist on youtube ie MEDCRAM said in the first year plus ,99 percent of all ppl dying in their hospitals were unvaccinated
Having said that ,ive never got the Flu vaccinne for several reasons
All the research re CFS said NOT to get them (thats possiblly since so many of the early CFS FM suffers directly related their illness to a vaccinne shot….remember these were all before Pettersons came up with the PCR lab tests to show whether vaccinnes were contaminated in the production lines)
Secondly here in NZ anyways the Flu vaccinne is usually running at 10 -15 perc accurracy for the actual flu variantion doing the rounds
Lastly, mum who had FM emphasema etc died of Flu like symptoms within a week of her last flu shot ,2 yrs back
Sorry forgot to add 98 perc drop in Flue cases first yr of the covid mask mandates
And it was 99 perc of Covid patients dying cause unvaccinated
That was 2 years ago , now these days more vaccinated people die from covid then unvaccinated people. And who where those people who did died? Older than 70 years, mostely 80 years. I don’t know anyone who died from covid younger then 10, 20 or 30 years and was healthy. So, it is al nuanced. These people would also die from a heavy flu. By the way many young people who get the jabs have heart problems or even died.
For the first time, a majority of Americans dying from the coronavirus received at least the primary series of the vaccine.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/11/23/vaccinated-people-now-make-up-majority-covid-deaths/
Thanks for all the info. I’ve had FM and ME since 2006, but it took an attentive PA at the rheumatology office to refer me for immune testing in 2015 after difficult to clear sinus infections and bronchitis after any minor ailment. I have hypogammaglobunemia. Wish I’d known that before I was in my 50s. Being right at the cutoff point for gamma globulin treatment, my immunologist is pretty strict about being out in public since the pandemic. No bowling (too much touching of surfaces and close contact) but outdoor swimming is OK. She also recommends continued masking for any group or indoor activity. According to her “one way” masking is still about 40 percent effective so I will. Made a grocery trip just yesterday and overheard the ONE masked employee talking with another about how sick she and her entire family were after their Thanksgiving get together. My friend and I were about the only people in the store wearing masks. The story gave me a bit of a chuckle. Spouse and I are both vaxxed (Pfizer) and fully boosted, and no COVID so far. My daughter in law’s parents both died from it within days of each other just over a year ago–unvaccinated due to political leanings. It’s real and it is out there. I can only manage my risks and I don’t care if I get comments or funny looks.
Cort, just to clarify: In your poll question “Understanding that most people who did poorly on prior vaccinations probably did not get the bivalent booster – if you got it – how did you do?” – did you mean “if you got the booster” or “if you got vaccination”?
I did not get a booster because double Biontech (Pfizer) vaccination left me with at least 2 lasting new symptoms (shortness of breath, and a change of quality of monthly blood (clotty or containing scraps of skin since vacc.)) and may also have impacted on my ability to hold myself upright. So for now, I avoid further vaccination and mask up.
By the way, I got a tetanus vaccination lately and it was really unproblematic – just a day of usual vacc fatigue & a bit of pain in the arm around the injection. No comparison to the Covid vaccine with its 2 weeks of initial reaction and onset of new symptoms. That’s why I wonder whether not vaccination per se may be a problem for me, but maybe something related to the Covid protein. It would be interesting to test for persistence, but I don’t know if tests are available outside of a research setting and haven’t followed the clotting/endothelial research close enough to know what exactly to test for (suggestions welcome). I might look into Nattokinase though.
More explanation of how masks will help protect you from various infections, especially in winter https://edition.cnn.com/2022/12/06/health/why-winter-colds-flu-wellness/index.html
I don’t know how there could still be any question. OF COURSE EVERYONE SHOULD WEAR A MASK! There are lots of selfish people there who want other people to get vaccinated, wear masks, etc, so that they don’t have to go through the inconvenience.
Their understanding is as flawed as their character.
The science is clear but the politicians are muddying things up. We could have been over this epidemic by now if people had just acted in a more responsible way.
Me? I wear an N95 as soon as I put on my shoes to leave my apartment. I wouldn’t even go downstairs to put out the garbage without wearing a N95. I had three boosters before getting the bivalent in October. I got Covid in May — I think because I delayed over 7 months from booster shot #2 to booster shot #3. My doctor insisted I immediately go on Paxlovid when I tested positive, and I was lucky to evade Long Covid. Doesn’t mean I’m not still getting over the effects of being sick with Covid for almost a month.
I’ve had CFS since 1995.
Correction: I attribute my getting Covid to BOTH the fact that I delayed to long in getting the next booster AND to the fact that no one else around me was wearing a mask. A lot of people in NYC got Covid in early May, an unheralded surge since the Mayor didn’t want to discourage tourism.
20 years ago while watching NHK news (Japan) I noticed that nearly all Japanese were wearing a mask during winter. It made sense to me so I started wearing one in public from Oct. 15 to April 15. In 20 years I have not had a single cold or flu.