While the J&J and Novavax vaccine trials show solid protection against the original strain, both struggled to contain the SA variant, suggesting the clock is ticking on their usefulness.
Early estimates suggested COVID vaccines need to be about 75% effective against infection to establish herd immunity, but Dr. Fauci recently said the mark could be closer to 90%.
If these two vaxs block viral spread at a similar rate as disease, then they may be too weak.
We've posed these questions to @JNJNews and @Novavax and are awaiting their responses.
This week, both @NYCMayor and @NYGovCuomo voiced enthusiasm about the J&J vaccines, given its single-shot means fewer doses can cover more people.
Today, @BrianLehrer asked Mayor de Blasio about the J&J data. @NYCMayor replied that he wants his health team to conduct a full evaluation before commenting, but he remains hopeful given the single-shot nature of J&J's vaccine. wnyc.org/story/ask-mayo…
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Wednesday’s insurrection at the U.S. Capitol demonstrates the consequences of letting misinformation and conspiracy theories go unchecked...
Despite this tragedy, the conspiracists behind @NYMag’s cover story on SARS-CoV-2’s origins kept pushing and propping up their misinformation all week—even while the nation was reeling on Wednesday.
That’s because conspiracy theorists are relentless, but also because science media needs more accountability.
For those unacquainted with my backstory, I spent more than a decade in NYS/NYC for undergrad and graduate school.
So, it pained me last year to watch from afar as COVID-19 ripped through New York...
...I feel honored for the opportunity to cover the region as it moves forward into 2021 and beyond.
Moreover, the tri-state area is ground zero for some of the best research in the country. I'm excited to uncover those science stories and share 'em with everyone.
.@nymag and @nicholsonbaker8: This article is filled with wild speculation about SARS-CoV-2's origins and signifies a lack of understanding around basic genetics and viral evolution. nymag.com/intelligencer/…
The story cherry-picks from research and statements prior to 2020 to make the same misconceived arguments about SARS-CoV-2 bioengineering that have been debunked repeatedly for nearly a year. nymag.com/intelligencer/…
Ex. The story pulls this quote from Feb 2020, saying a coronavirus is “unlikely to have four amino acids added all at once"
Just last month, we learned of two variants w/ 17 and 10 similar changes arising naturally in the UK and South Africa, respectively nymag.com/intelligencer/…
Chief among them is that a single-dose showed 73% efficacy against COVID-19 after nearly a month...
...hence why the Joint Committee on Vaccination and
Immunisation says "the second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine may be given between 4 to 12 weeks following the first dose."
That's fine and dandy. The weird part centers around the UK's decision with the Pfizer vaccine...
I fault the last 20+ years of intense political partisanship. It has bred a habit of boiling down everything into this versus that.
A citizen is either a liberal or a conservative. An attacker is either a lone wolf or a terrorist. Apple or PC. Team Jacob or Team Edward.
Science, especially health, operates with few true dichotomies. Coronavirus risk is relative, and good hygiene has been a pillar of public health since the bubonic plague.