DYK @DennysDiner is based in South Carolina? Maybe SC Governor @henrymcmaster and his wife grabbed a Grand Slam (or a Moons over My Hammy) after getting their #COVID19 vaccinations! #republicansvax
We’re heading into another seasonal/post-holiday COVID surge - something that now happens EVERY winter. So it’s worth revisiting a fair question:
Why were (and are) COVID vaccines recommended by doctors, even for ‘healthy,’ lower-risk people, including kids?
🧵 1/
You may hear: “The Pfizer trial didn’t show fewer deaths in healthy people.”
That’s true - but here’s the key reason why:
Deaths were rare overall in the trial because participants were mostly healthy and followed for only a few months.
2/
With few overall deaths (29/44,000), random chance dominates.
The numbers don’t show the vaccine “kills people” - or that it “doesn’t work”(Claims made by our current HHS Secretary).
This oft cited study is simply not powered or informative for mortality in low-risk groups.
3/
Many European countries skip universal hepatitis B birth doses, giving only to high-risk infants & starting routine vax at 6-8 weeks. Why do U.S. Hep B birth dose recs differ from Europe? 🤔
I’m glad you asked! 🧵👇🏽
1/4
Big factor: U.S. healthcare access. No universal coverage means prenatal screening & follow-ups can slip - late care or barriers leave some maternal status unknown, risking exposure. Birth dose provides immediate protection & boosts completion rates. Europe’s universal systems enable near-100% screening & lower transmission. 2/4
Paid parental leave matters too. Europe’s generous policies (often 20+ weeks) make follow-up vax visits easier & keep babies home longer, cutting early exposure risks. Studies link paid leave to better timely vaccination. The US lacks federal paid leave, so shorter maternity time hinders follow-ups. These differences drive the policy gap. 3/4
Why do vaccine makers have some immunity from lawsuits in U.S.?🤔
It started in the 1980s when lawsuits over the DTP (whooping cough) vaccine drove nearly every manufacturer out of the market. By 1986 only ONE company was making several childhood vaccines → shortages.
🧵 1/5
So Congress passed the 1986 Vaccine Act. Core idea is vaccines are different from other drugs. They’re given to most people, profit margins are tiny, and a 1-in-a-million side effect can trigger thousands of lawsuits. Unfettered liability = companies exit the business. 2/5
So Congress created a trade-off:
- Manufacturers got protection for FDA-approved vaccines
- A no-fault compensation fund (VICP) funded by a small tax on each dose pays injury claims quickly, w/o proving negligence
Goal: keep vaccines available while compensating injuries.
3/5
I’m deeply concerned about the new FDA move limiting COVID vaccines only to “high-risk groups.” CDC data shows those 50+ face rising risks, with 65+ at up to 340x higher death risk. Add in those with chronic disease and 71% of U.S. adults are at elevated risk!
Underlying conditions like diabetes or heart disease, plus long-term career residents (35% of deaths, <1% pop), and minorities with access barriers heighten risk. Even with this change, vaccination remains critical for all adults. Talk to your health provider and stay protected! cdc.gov/covid/risk-fac…
Here’s a short list of the conditions which put you at higher risk for severe COVID outcomes. Please share! 👇🏽
- Cancer
- Cerebrovascular disease
- Chronic kidney disease
- Chronic liver disease
- Chronic lung disease
- Cystic fibrosis
- Dementia or other neurological conditions
- Diabetes (type 1 or type 2)
- Disabilities
- Heart conditions
- Hemoglobin blood disorders
- HIV infection
- Immunocompromised condition or weakened immune system
- Mental health conditions
- Overweight and obesity
- Physical inactivity
- Pregnancy
- Smoking (current or former)
mRNA research helped develop COVID vaccines in record time - saving millions of lives.
Cutting half a billion in mRNA funding, as HHS Sec. Kennedy proposes, isn’t just bad policy - it’s dangerous. As a physician & recipient of mRNA vaccines, here’s what people need to know 🧵
mRNA vaccines weren’t “rushed.”
They were built on decades of research funded by NIH, DARPA, and global scientists.
This investment let us go from COVID’s genetic code to safe, effective vaccines in under a year - and out of lockdowns FAR faster than predicted.
Attacking mRNA research means turning our backs on more than just COVID vaccines.
This platform is being used to develop vaccines and therapies for:
Flu
RSV
HIV
Zika
Cancer (yes, cancer)
Autoimmune diseases
And more...
Ending and/or politicizing support risks ALL of that.
1/ 🚨 Over 28 falsehoods and common anti-vaccine talking points were shared during yesterday’s ACIP meeting. The zone is being flooded with misinformation, and it’s impossible to debunk it all in real time. But here are some key ones you should know. 🧵
2/ The new ACIP Chair, Martin Kulldorff, falsely claimed kids may be getting “too many vaccines” and suggested re-evaluating long-used ones.
📌 Reality: Kids today actually get exposed to fewer antigens via vaccines than in past decades.
📖: cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/a…
3/ Kulldorff pushed misleading claims about the hepatitis B birth dose—saying it’s only needed for “high-risk” groups.
📌 Reality: Vertical transmission from mother to baby is common and dangerous. Birth dose prevents chronic liver disease and cancer.
📖: aap.org/en/news-room/f…