I am not an MD, so I’ll offer just this: it’s very encouraging to see federal regulators take swift action on the J&J vaccine. This is the process working as it should. If there is a true link between the vaccine and these rare clots, they will work to identify it. 1/
They may instate an age restriction, as some countries have done for the similar AstraZeneca vaccine—perhaps younger people, especially younger people who are biologically female, may end up needing to seek an alternative. But for now: these cases appear VERY RARE. 2/
So far less than 1 in 1 million. And this DOES NOT detract from the effectiveness of the vaccine, which is excellent.
If you have gotten this vaccine, keep those numbers in mind. All clots also appeared within 2 weeks of injection. 3/
I hope we come out of this more knowledgeable. But this is a setback. A vaccine this convenient was a boon for incarcerated communities and low resource settings. What’s next? 4/4
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It's still early, but so far, the shots appear to be safe for long-haulers as well—that's great news. And they're expected to protect people with long COVID from another encounter with the virus. 2/
There could be another perk as well: symptom resolution for long-haulers who get their shots. It's by no means universal—but several people told me that, post-vaccine, they're feeling better than they have in a year. 3/
I wrote about post-vaccination infections, also known as breakthrough cases. These infections are now being reported across the country; the CDC has told me that a national database is also in the works. 1/
These cases are rare, but important, and essential to track in detail. They are also entirely expected.
We know that vaccines are not 100% perfect at *anything*; while they prevent symptoms, hospitalizations, and death and extraordinary and commendable rates... 2/
Some of those cases will still occur, and that's okay. The point is, far *fewer* of them will happen in the wake of vaccination. That's incredible and worth being celebrated.
That does not mean we should ignore the outliers. 3/
Racism in all forms is shitty, damaging, and, importantly, conducive to *more racism*. Do not subcategorize racism by the groups it targets so you can count some offenses as lesser or more acceptable. There is no racism-lite. There is no blonde roast racism. 1/
The morning after the 2016 election, I was biking to work when I suddenly saw an oblong cylinder whiz by, and a splatter of some liquid touch my face. A white man in a white truck had hurled his cup of coffee at my head. He screamed "America!" and drove away. 2/
Confused and numb, I passed this story on to a college friend I was already texting at the time about something science-y. Meaning well, she jokingly wrote back, "but... at least most people would say you're a model minority!"
Discussion's great; it's a natural part of science. But we need to send the right messages now, to ensure that if a change IS needed further down the road, people won't hear it as another false cry of wolf. 2/
This issue is complicated. I don't think there's one answer. I'm not even sure there is one dosing regimen that will somehow turn out to be the "best." But it's always worth considering just how high the stakes are, as the public debate continues. 3/
The variants are concerning, to be sure. But let's not forget that immune responses aren't all or nothing. I wrote about how it takes a lot more than a couple mutations to stump B cells and T cells.
In our attempt to contain one virus, we silenced several others. I wrote about this year's bizarre flu season—our quietest in years—and what it could mean for our future. 1/4
One big takeaway from this? Masking and distancing work. Neither is a silver bullet, but viruses that have been with us for a while, like flu viruses, are easier targets than something new and unwieldy, like the coronavirus. 2/4
What happened this year with the flu is perhaps a harbinger of what we could accomplish next: with other viruses, new or old, if we decide to commit. 3/4