Until now, the CDC has relied on Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report—an internal scientific publication journal—to communicate COVID-19 science throughout the pandemic. But this pipeline is too slow for crisis communication. We need rapid analyses to guide evidence-based decision-making.
Congrats 👏 on the CDC appointment! Well deserved and definitely needed! Loved your appearance earlier in the year on WNYC with Brian Lehrer and I hope this new gig leads to more opportunities for you to do that kind of communication.
One suggestion for you - I spent close to 40 years in the biopharmaceutical industry. I had to prepare, present and interpret data for myself, my colleagues and management on a daily basis. I personally find many of the graphics used in the CDC summary you just reviewed baffling, especially the stacked line chart graphs. Please convince the powers that be that simpler, more straightforward presentations of critical data will go a long way to better communication and engagement by a wider public audience.
I am beyond thrilled to have you consulting for the CDC on science COMMUNICATION! You have been my go-to for clear and accurate communication from the start. It is my profound hope that you will lead the charge back to a CDC we can trust.
Please have them emphasize air quality and ways to mitigate that work: high-quality masks, well maintained HEPA filters, and fresh air.
Thank you for joining up with CDC. As a retired fed, these agencies try their best, and the people on the ground a dedicated to public health. I hope you can break through the bubbles of those that are anti-science or indifferent.
Congratulations to you, Dr. Jetelina for the recognition of your unique contributions to public health and medical reporting! It's well-deserved. Just make sure you don't become a pawn of the CDC, which has thoroughly disgraced itself since the start of the pandemic.
I hear you. And this was a very calculated decision of mine. My rule with my girls is that “you can’t complain without a solution”. So I want to live up to my mantra and be part of the solution. We should all be rooting for CDC, as this won’t be the last public health emergency.
I would love to see the position of CDC director become a professional rather than political appointment, as well as seeing a minimum guaranteed (and sufficient) annual funding from Congress.
I admire your mantra. Similar to what I’ve been trying to do for a lifetime.
CDC was politicized some 20 years ago. Before that, it was usually a promote-from-within position based on proven scientific prowess and to a lesser degree, management ability. Making it a presidential appointment supported neither science, nor management.
My son’s (MDPH) favorite saying is, “If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the precipitate!” With 4 children he likes to sneak a little science education into the conversation!
Your graphics continue to be Excellent - making the point without being overcomplicated.
Your comment about people who should be getting Paxlovid struck home. My 64 year old brother, who is in fairly good shape but is a type 2 diabetic, and his wife, who is also a type 2 diabetic both got Covid. They had both been recently boosted for the 2nd time. What happened after that was a complete FAILURE of the healthcare system. He calls his phyician and receives his Paxlovid and though he was, as he stated, sicker than he ever has been, he recovered at home. His wife, unknown to the rest of the family, NEVER hears back from her physician and passes her window. She has a less severe but much longer course. MY Point = the health care system is broken. Physicians and nurses are barely recovering from this epidemic and I doubt the private, group practitioner or city or University associated hosptials can survive another. We need an overhaul of our Health "Business" system.
We now hava a Health Business and doctors are leaving this broken system at an accelerated rate. As a physician who is now retired, it is tragic to see Health as a Business model,as it is soul less and though the young think their good health will protect them - it will not. A business run Health system is lethal.
Congrats. They NEED you. Don't let anyone say you have gone over to the other side. Thank God you are there. Also never let them muzzle you by innuendo, order, or implication.
Please note: Tell the CDC their "technical reports" must be available in PDF format and not just for "print" to facilitate further distribution. Also it is weird - their Figure 1 "Weekly Deaths...by predominant variant" uniquely runs the calendar axis backwards. ??????
Congratulations on your new post with the CDC. They are lucky to have you.
Please know that for people under 65, it is extremely difficult to get Paxlovid. Many doctors steer their patients away - rebound, metal mouth. The pharmacies displayed on the healthdata.gov “test to treat” map erroneously list locations where pharmacists aren’t authorized to prescribe Paxlovid. I’ve seen Kaiser refuse Paxlovid to someone in her early 40s with oxygen in low 90s. I’ve seen doctors push antibody infusions (and refuse Paxlovid), possibly because they are trying to maximize profits for the health system in which they work. People with Covid have little energy, and when they hear “no” from their doctor, they often give up trying to get Paxlovid. One friend in her mid 50s had to try three times before finally getting a prescription from a telehealth 800-number doctor found on Google who charged her $165 for a 10 minute phone consult (after both her doctor’s office and CVS said no). Access to Paxlovid for the 50-64 age group needs to be fixed.
BayDog, you speak the truth, your comments are not innuendo. That's been the experience in our hospital system as well. The official line is get Paxlovid if you are at risk. The reality is the multiple barriers for accessing the drug and then there is the rebound issue that is likely far greater than the Pharma published stats in our opinion. Paxlovid, like remdesivir, is subsidized. The incentives to prescribe these EUA's may be perverted simply because millions of doses were purchased by the Federal Gov't and they will go unused without a heavy hand to prescribe in the inpatient setting nor efficient logistics for distribution in the case of the outpatient treatment. In our region paxlovid, like approved mRNA COVID19 boosters are apparently prioritized and distributed to large pharmacy chains to the detriment of the smaller pharmacies, esp in rural areas. Rural areas in NC have huge numbers of people from large families who have been infected and many died for lack of any suitable or timely treatments (or vaccinations). Repurposed drugs are available but one in particular is not being addressed despite repeated benefits and lack of ADRs. Repurposing off-label drugs have taken on an aura of illegality or experimentation without the support of large RCT trials to establish validity/efficacy. Not all repurposed drugs used for COVID-19 have provided durability or convincing efficacy even it they were the beneficiaries of RCT, repeatedly. Hydroxychloroquine and Ivermectin are 2 such drugs that has had much notoriety yet repeated studies have failed to demonstrate efficacy for either. The CDC as well as the FDA, NIH, NCATS, and the public-private C-path have established a role for repurposing drugs for many diseases/disorders and COVID-19 treatment is included. Ref: <https://cure.ncats.io> . One such repurposed drug has been declared safe and utilized literally for decades by multi-thousands of recipients (Ex: Sickle Cell Disease victims prescribed hydroxycarbamide/hydroxyurea {HU} continuously or intermittently for over a decade of use with no unmanageable adverse effects). HU reduces hospitalizations for painful crises, reduces exchange transfusions, reduces thromboembolism, diminishes tissue hypoxia and dilates blood vessels thereby enhancing blood flow to organs/tissues. All of these pathologies are seen as well with COVID19. HU having been used off-label for COVID19 is inexpensive - a major barrier, ironically; has shown no rebound effects and no one has been hospitalized more than a 24 hr observation period after initiating a mere 5 day course and even with the newest variants of COVID19 there have been no reports of rebound. Clinical trials need to be established to further validate these ~2,000 positive responses currently based on clinical observations and responses. Basic science/biochemical research to elucidate the mechanisms for its apparent antiviral and immundomodulatory functions are underway internationally, but not in the U.S.A. of which I am aware. Such in vitro and in vivo studies are needed urgently given the apparent immune escape by the latest variants. Only private funding or a Federally sponsored trial could possibly devise such a trial given the lack of commercial interest for such an inexpensive, generic drug that is readily available and safe. MD. NC
@KB: while hypoxia is certainly an ominous sign and can be really severe without awareness (I’m aware of cases with O2sats in the 40’s-70’s and the victim expressed no awareness of air hunger/dyspnea). Such cases must seek help and get on O2 to avoid further complications - arrhythmias, coronary ischemia, sudden LOC,etc. Anecdotally, several of these folks initiated an off-label protocol with repurposed drugs and within 48 hrs they were discharged from observation status to home with O2 up in the low 90’s and dramatic turnaround in cognition and other signs and symptoms. Yes, this approach needs validation. My colleague has used his repurposed drug protocol for over 2 yrs and there has been a consistent response of this type and magnitude. Victims and/or care-givers had reached the point of declaring the scenario hopeless and death was imminent. The greatest barrier is the use of an inexpensive non-traditional drug associated with other disorders that can not be commercialized, we fear. Drugs like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine have been highly touted and politicized, yet, repeatedly, clinical trials have shown no efficacy. This has poisoned the field so other viable, credible, safe drugs used off-label are given a serious negative bias from the outset. Review the CDC, FDA, NIH, NCATS website <https://cure.NCATS.io> to learn about the repurposed drug initiative established after the Affordable HealthCare Act was passed in 2012. Therein are numerous disorders and diseases including COVID-19 added early in 2020 that include our case reports. The #2 on the list of reports describes vividly the successful responses by >400 of recipients of the protocol I mentioned. (#1 has had its day and has failed every trial). RS
Thanks - you know a lot more about all this than I do. For the three anecdotes I provided, all of them eventually got Paxlovid, all prescribed by a doctor, and none had rebounds. Without outside help and encouragement from friends, all would have given up at the first “no.”
The doctor recommending monoclonal antibody infusion to my sister had blanket policy of not prescribing Paxlovid to anyone. My sister didn’t even meet criteria for monoclonal antibodies.
Why does one doctor say “no” but then - two days later - another doctor says yes”?
I think most states have something like this, plus there are national maps. Try calling some of the “test to treat” places, especially outside Portland, and ask if they have a pharmacist working today who is available and authorized to prescribe Paxlovid? I just went through a similar exercise as I tried to find Paxlovid for my sister. Only one of the eight pharmacies was a true “test to treat” site but the only pharmacist authorized to prescribe Paxlovid was off work till Monday, which would caused my sister to exceed the “must start Paxlovid in first 5 days” clock.
Test to treat is a GREAT idea. But the maps aren’t accurate, and it’s extremely hard to find pharmacists authorized to prescribe Paxlovid.
Congratulations on officialdom! One "ask" from the cheap seats: Could you convince the CDC to include the info for various categories of high-risk folks, elders, and children at the bottom of all the same new-info pages, or at least explicit links to our version of the update? I've been having a lot of frustration over only the center of the bell curve being discussed and then only-sometimes a blanket statement that "other demographics may need to consider this differently" with no linkage to the new risk information or guidance for us. I'm the biologist of the family and unofficially in charge of COVID news and jargon translation. The dead end on the CDC's update pages makes it hard to keep my older parents updated appropriately, to keep my diabetic friends up-to-date, and to find out what I need to consider as an asthmatic and/or as a moderately immunocompromised person. From the disability community, that non-inclusion keeps feeding the deep abandonment-anger towards the CDC. Fingers crossed, thanks for trying.
My cousin’s son died suddenly, two days ago, from apparent heart failure. He was 48 years old, an attorney, married with one-year old twins. He had a serious heart condition that precluded him from being vaccinated. He was receiving excellent medical care, but had been told that, with 60% cardiac function, he was not yet eligible for the heart transplant that he would eventually need. Two months ago, despite taking all precautions, he contracted what seemed at the time to be a mild case of COVID. He received all available therapeutics. Some of us in the family suspect that COVID played a role in his sudden heart failure. We need more data on long-term effects of COVID, particularly in vulnerable populations.
Rita, I'm so sorry for your family's loss. I've also lost a family member (1 1/2 years) post "mild" covid, of worsening complex vascular/cardiac issues.
Thank you. I wish people were more aware of the potential impact of even a seemingly mild case COVID on vulnerable people - including relatively young people. Also, as was true of my cousin’s son, many people with serious medical conditions cannot be vaccinated. His heart ailment was hereditary.
It's hard to know what to say in the face of such a loss. Your family, especially the twins, are in my family's prayers. Someone very dear to me died days before Christmas nearly a decade ago. I thought the holidays would never be joyful again, but at some point, it becomes possible.
Excellent article although highly technical with lots of basic and advanced scientific principles described. If that’s your forté then you will enjoy reading it and learning a lot. The disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-Cov2 May enter primarily thru the airway but it rapidly multiplied and is transported by the blood stream, lymphatics and possibly by neuronal mechanisms. In addition to the virus’ main goal of replicating and transmitting to another host to remain viable, the ultimate targets appear to be the ubiquitous mitochondria and the a7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Dysfunction as a result of an antibody to the antigenic component of the virus (likely the spike protein) results in many of the organ dysfunctions in late and long Covid based upon clinical observations of the infection and subsequent events. (Personal communications and decades of research by Lykmhus, Skok et al Palladin Institute of Biochemistry Kyiv Ukraine.)
Graphics are excellent and really help to understand death due to COVID. It's great that later Omicron variants are less deadly.
What I would like to know is if there is a change in Long Covid with later Omicron variants. Is it still around 20% that are impacted? I still know so many people with new diagnoses following their Covid infections. And those with lasting symptoms.
So far I am Covid free - although I dine outdoors, mask indoors, and test when I can't mask, so I don't have many exposures.
I apologize, and I also congratulate your position. The information you provide is so helpful, especially for we who are immunocompromised. The reason I apologize is that I just returned to November 16 report from you, and I saw that you answered my question there. Please ignore my messages today. I am going to have my EVUSHELD today, but then the future looks bleaker for me going forward. I will continue to mask, and I know my family will be careful. Thank you for caring.
Communications regarding Novavax and continuing the pursuit of truly sterilizing vaccines rather than being complacent with the endless variant-chasing MRNA approach would be amazing.
I and many others feel like every decision the CDC and FDA make are “what’s best for Pfizer” rather than “what’s best for the people”.
When you see ads on TV for Paxlovid and the suggestion that unending mRNA boosters are the finish line it’s hard to think otherwise (not to mention everything Wolensky has said/done throughout the pandemic and Gottlieb’s role as a Pfizer board member and FDA Commissioner).
p..s. I am 86 years old who is healthy. I still mask indoors, do not attend church but attend via internet, have not dined inside a restaurant since March 2020, and my family is very careful. Living in the Midwest, my window of outdoor activities, especially dining, has closed.
Ditto for us. Wise choice. No pandemic fatigue is worth a potential for an illness you might not survive. Just because "everyone" doesn't mask is no validation that the pandemic is over as was declared by a certain WH official......May you make it 4-score and 20! Bless you and your caring family. Some families are not so caring and bristle with the idea they will have to mask in the presence of a vulnerable member. We will mask for our Thanksgiving gathering and we will miss the one who "doesn't get it." MD. NC
Thank you. I now have ventured to a book club with 6 ladies. I moved a chair out of the way and wore my mask. This was yesterday. How wonderful to be in a discussion group and met new people.
Wonderful that you are willing to be flexible and not be intimidated into de-masking. Hopefully, your club members are like-wise caring people and mask themselves to continue the effort to protect the group since they have no knowledge of individual health risks or the exposures before and after the meeting.
So glad that the CDC hired you to help with getting the word out. I stumbled upon your substack through another connection in June. I run a small nonprofit, and was fortunate to be aware of the coming of Covid-19 in Feb 2020. We have to be available to the public 24x7, so being forewarned allowed us to set up remotely before the pandemic hit. Having this information readily available is so important. As a non medical layperson working in social services, I thank you for your practical guidance.
Congrats 👏 on the CDC appointment! Well deserved and definitely needed! Loved your appearance earlier in the year on WNYC with Brian Lehrer and I hope this new gig leads to more opportunities for you to do that kind of communication.
One suggestion for you - I spent close to 40 years in the biopharmaceutical industry. I had to prepare, present and interpret data for myself, my colleagues and management on a daily basis. I personally find many of the graphics used in the CDC summary you just reviewed baffling, especially the stacked line chart graphs. Please convince the powers that be that simpler, more straightforward presentations of critical data will go a long way to better communication and engagement by a wider public audience.
I can think of no one more qualified to share important information from the CDC.
You have been an invaluable resource for those of us who have been following you.
I am beyond thrilled to have you consulting for the CDC on science COMMUNICATION! You have been my go-to for clear and accurate communication from the start. It is my profound hope that you will lead the charge back to a CDC we can trust.
Please have them emphasize air quality and ways to mitigate that work: high-quality masks, well maintained HEPA filters, and fresh air.
Thank you for joining up with CDC. As a retired fed, these agencies try their best, and the people on the ground a dedicated to public health. I hope you can break through the bubbles of those that are anti-science or indifferent.
Congratulations to you, Dr. Jetelina for the recognition of your unique contributions to public health and medical reporting! It's well-deserved. Just make sure you don't become a pawn of the CDC, which has thoroughly disgraced itself since the start of the pandemic.
Cheers
I hear you. And this was a very calculated decision of mine. My rule with my girls is that “you can’t complain without a solution”. So I want to live up to my mantra and be part of the solution. We should all be rooting for CDC, as this won’t be the last public health emergency.
I would love to see the position of CDC director become a professional rather than political appointment, as well as seeing a minimum guaranteed (and sufficient) annual funding from Congress.
I admire your mantra. Similar to what I’ve been trying to do for a lifetime.
I agree, Gerry. It is interesting that the Director of NIH is always a truly scientific appointment.
CDC was politicized some 20 years ago. Before that, it was usually a promote-from-within position based on proven scientific prowess and to a lesser degree, management ability. Making it a presidential appointment supported neither science, nor management.
Freiden, as usual, is pretty spot-on. Amazing what you can say when you're no longer in Federal Service.
My son’s (MDPH) favorite saying is, “If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the precipitate!” With 4 children he likes to sneak a little science education into the conversation!
I agree completely!
Your graphics continue to be Excellent - making the point without being overcomplicated.
Your comment about people who should be getting Paxlovid struck home. My 64 year old brother, who is in fairly good shape but is a type 2 diabetic, and his wife, who is also a type 2 diabetic both got Covid. They had both been recently boosted for the 2nd time. What happened after that was a complete FAILURE of the healthcare system. He calls his phyician and receives his Paxlovid and though he was, as he stated, sicker than he ever has been, he recovered at home. His wife, unknown to the rest of the family, NEVER hears back from her physician and passes her window. She has a less severe but much longer course. MY Point = the health care system is broken. Physicians and nurses are barely recovering from this epidemic and I doubt the private, group practitioner or city or University associated hosptials can survive another. We need an overhaul of our Health "Business" system.
We now hava a Health Business and doctors are leaving this broken system at an accelerated rate. As a physician who is now retired, it is tragic to see Health as a Business model,as it is soul less and though the young think their good health will protect them - it will not. A business run Health system is lethal.
MDMMD
Congrats. They NEED you. Don't let anyone say you have gone over to the other side. Thank God you are there. Also never let them muzzle you by innuendo, order, or implication.
Please note: Tell the CDC their "technical reports" must be available in PDF format and not just for "print" to facilitate further distribution. Also it is weird - their Figure 1 "Weekly Deaths...by predominant variant" uniquely runs the calendar axis backwards. ??????
thanks so much for your feedback!! i’m bringing it back to them
Congratulations on your new post with the CDC. They are lucky to have you.
Please know that for people under 65, it is extremely difficult to get Paxlovid. Many doctors steer their patients away - rebound, metal mouth. The pharmacies displayed on the healthdata.gov “test to treat” map erroneously list locations where pharmacists aren’t authorized to prescribe Paxlovid. I’ve seen Kaiser refuse Paxlovid to someone in her early 40s with oxygen in low 90s. I’ve seen doctors push antibody infusions (and refuse Paxlovid), possibly because they are trying to maximize profits for the health system in which they work. People with Covid have little energy, and when they hear “no” from their doctor, they often give up trying to get Paxlovid. One friend in her mid 50s had to try three times before finally getting a prescription from a telehealth 800-number doctor found on Google who charged her $165 for a 10 minute phone consult (after both her doctor’s office and CVS said no). Access to Paxlovid for the 50-64 age group needs to be fixed.
BayDog, you speak the truth, your comments are not innuendo. That's been the experience in our hospital system as well. The official line is get Paxlovid if you are at risk. The reality is the multiple barriers for accessing the drug and then there is the rebound issue that is likely far greater than the Pharma published stats in our opinion. Paxlovid, like remdesivir, is subsidized. The incentives to prescribe these EUA's may be perverted simply because millions of doses were purchased by the Federal Gov't and they will go unused without a heavy hand to prescribe in the inpatient setting nor efficient logistics for distribution in the case of the outpatient treatment. In our region paxlovid, like approved mRNA COVID19 boosters are apparently prioritized and distributed to large pharmacy chains to the detriment of the smaller pharmacies, esp in rural areas. Rural areas in NC have huge numbers of people from large families who have been infected and many died for lack of any suitable or timely treatments (or vaccinations). Repurposed drugs are available but one in particular is not being addressed despite repeated benefits and lack of ADRs. Repurposing off-label drugs have taken on an aura of illegality or experimentation without the support of large RCT trials to establish validity/efficacy. Not all repurposed drugs used for COVID-19 have provided durability or convincing efficacy even it they were the beneficiaries of RCT, repeatedly. Hydroxychloroquine and Ivermectin are 2 such drugs that has had much notoriety yet repeated studies have failed to demonstrate efficacy for either. The CDC as well as the FDA, NIH, NCATS, and the public-private C-path have established a role for repurposing drugs for many diseases/disorders and COVID-19 treatment is included. Ref: <https://cure.ncats.io> . One such repurposed drug has been declared safe and utilized literally for decades by multi-thousands of recipients (Ex: Sickle Cell Disease victims prescribed hydroxycarbamide/hydroxyurea {HU} continuously or intermittently for over a decade of use with no unmanageable adverse effects). HU reduces hospitalizations for painful crises, reduces exchange transfusions, reduces thromboembolism, diminishes tissue hypoxia and dilates blood vessels thereby enhancing blood flow to organs/tissues. All of these pathologies are seen as well with COVID19. HU having been used off-label for COVID19 is inexpensive - a major barrier, ironically; has shown no rebound effects and no one has been hospitalized more than a 24 hr observation period after initiating a mere 5 day course and even with the newest variants of COVID19 there have been no reports of rebound. Clinical trials need to be established to further validate these ~2,000 positive responses currently based on clinical observations and responses. Basic science/biochemical research to elucidate the mechanisms for its apparent antiviral and immundomodulatory functions are underway internationally, but not in the U.S.A. of which I am aware. Such in vitro and in vivo studies are needed urgently given the apparent immune escape by the latest variants. Only private funding or a Federally sponsored trial could possibly devise such a trial given the lack of commercial interest for such an inexpensive, generic drug that is readily available and safe. MD. NC
@KB: while hypoxia is certainly an ominous sign and can be really severe without awareness (I’m aware of cases with O2sats in the 40’s-70’s and the victim expressed no awareness of air hunger/dyspnea). Such cases must seek help and get on O2 to avoid further complications - arrhythmias, coronary ischemia, sudden LOC,etc. Anecdotally, several of these folks initiated an off-label protocol with repurposed drugs and within 48 hrs they were discharged from observation status to home with O2 up in the low 90’s and dramatic turnaround in cognition and other signs and symptoms. Yes, this approach needs validation. My colleague has used his repurposed drug protocol for over 2 yrs and there has been a consistent response of this type and magnitude. Victims and/or care-givers had reached the point of declaring the scenario hopeless and death was imminent. The greatest barrier is the use of an inexpensive non-traditional drug associated with other disorders that can not be commercialized, we fear. Drugs like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine have been highly touted and politicized, yet, repeatedly, clinical trials have shown no efficacy. This has poisoned the field so other viable, credible, safe drugs used off-label are given a serious negative bias from the outset. Review the CDC, FDA, NIH, NCATS website <https://cure.NCATS.io> to learn about the repurposed drug initiative established after the Affordable HealthCare Act was passed in 2012. Therein are numerous disorders and diseases including COVID-19 added early in 2020 that include our case reports. The #2 on the list of reports describes vividly the successful responses by >400 of recipients of the protocol I mentioned. (#1 has had its day and has failed every trial). RS
Thanks - you know a lot more about all this than I do. For the three anecdotes I provided, all of them eventually got Paxlovid, all prescribed by a doctor, and none had rebounds. Without outside help and encouragement from friends, all would have given up at the first “no.”
The doctor recommending monoclonal antibody infusion to my sister had blanket policy of not prescribing Paxlovid to anyone. My sister didn’t even meet criteria for monoclonal antibodies.
Why does one doctor say “no” but then - two days later - another doctor says yes”?
I think most states have something like this, plus there are national maps. Try calling some of the “test to treat” places, especially outside Portland, and ask if they have a pharmacist working today who is available and authorized to prescribe Paxlovid? I just went through a similar exercise as I tried to find Paxlovid for my sister. Only one of the eight pharmacies was a true “test to treat” site but the only pharmacist authorized to prescribe Paxlovid was off work till Monday, which would caused my sister to exceed the “must start Paxlovid in first 5 days” clock.
Test to treat is a GREAT idea. But the maps aren’t accurate, and it’s extremely hard to find pharmacists authorized to prescribe Paxlovid.
Great service! Should be replicated everywhere!
Congratulations on officialdom! One "ask" from the cheap seats: Could you convince the CDC to include the info for various categories of high-risk folks, elders, and children at the bottom of all the same new-info pages, or at least explicit links to our version of the update? I've been having a lot of frustration over only the center of the bell curve being discussed and then only-sometimes a blanket statement that "other demographics may need to consider this differently" with no linkage to the new risk information or guidance for us. I'm the biologist of the family and unofficially in charge of COVID news and jargon translation. The dead end on the CDC's update pages makes it hard to keep my older parents updated appropriately, to keep my diabetic friends up-to-date, and to find out what I need to consider as an asthmatic and/or as a moderately immunocompromised person. From the disability community, that non-inclusion keeps feeding the deep abandonment-anger towards the CDC. Fingers crossed, thanks for trying.
My cousin’s son died suddenly, two days ago, from apparent heart failure. He was 48 years old, an attorney, married with one-year old twins. He had a serious heart condition that precluded him from being vaccinated. He was receiving excellent medical care, but had been told that, with 60% cardiac function, he was not yet eligible for the heart transplant that he would eventually need. Two months ago, despite taking all precautions, he contracted what seemed at the time to be a mild case of COVID. He received all available therapeutics. Some of us in the family suspect that COVID played a role in his sudden heart failure. We need more data on long-term effects of COVID, particularly in vulnerable populations.
Rita, I'm so sorry for your family's loss. I've also lost a family member (1 1/2 years) post "mild" covid, of worsening complex vascular/cardiac issues.
Thank you. I wish people were more aware of the potential impact of even a seemingly mild case COVID on vulnerable people - including relatively young people. Also, as was true of my cousin’s son, many people with serious medical conditions cannot be vaccinated. His heart ailment was hereditary.
It's hard to know what to say in the face of such a loss. Your family, especially the twins, are in my family's prayers. Someone very dear to me died days before Christmas nearly a decade ago. I thought the holidays would never be joyful again, but at some point, it becomes possible.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-020-0968-3
Excellent article although highly technical with lots of basic and advanced scientific principles described. If that’s your forté then you will enjoy reading it and learning a lot. The disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-Cov2 May enter primarily thru the airway but it rapidly multiplied and is transported by the blood stream, lymphatics and possibly by neuronal mechanisms. In addition to the virus’ main goal of replicating and transmitting to another host to remain viable, the ultimate targets appear to be the ubiquitous mitochondria and the a7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Dysfunction as a result of an antibody to the antigenic component of the virus (likely the spike protein) results in many of the organ dysfunctions in late and long Covid based upon clinical observations of the infection and subsequent events. (Personal communications and decades of research by Lykmhus, Skok et al Palladin Institute of Biochemistry Kyiv Ukraine.)
Congrats! So thrilled on your role with the CDC!
Graphics are excellent and really help to understand death due to COVID. It's great that later Omicron variants are less deadly.
What I would like to know is if there is a change in Long Covid with later Omicron variants. Is it still around 20% that are impacted? I still know so many people with new diagnoses following their Covid infections. And those with lasting symptoms.
So far I am Covid free - although I dine outdoors, mask indoors, and test when I can't mask, so I don't have many exposures.
i’m putting together a post on long covid! lots of people are asking
It gives me a lot of joy and hope that the CDC is consulting with you on communication!
I apologize, and I also congratulate your position. The information you provide is so helpful, especially for we who are immunocompromised. The reason I apologize is that I just returned to November 16 report from you, and I saw that you answered my question there. Please ignore my messages today. I am going to have my EVUSHELD today, but then the future looks bleaker for me going forward. I will continue to mask, and I know my family will be careful. Thank you for caring.
Communications regarding Novavax and continuing the pursuit of truly sterilizing vaccines rather than being complacent with the endless variant-chasing MRNA approach would be amazing.
I and many others feel like every decision the CDC and FDA make are “what’s best for Pfizer” rather than “what’s best for the people”.
When you see ads on TV for Paxlovid and the suggestion that unending mRNA boosters are the finish line it’s hard to think otherwise (not to mention everything Wolensky has said/done throughout the pandemic and Gottlieb’s role as a Pfizer board member and FDA Commissioner).
p..s. I am 86 years old who is healthy. I still mask indoors, do not attend church but attend via internet, have not dined inside a restaurant since March 2020, and my family is very careful. Living in the Midwest, my window of outdoor activities, especially dining, has closed.
Ditto for us. Wise choice. No pandemic fatigue is worth a potential for an illness you might not survive. Just because "everyone" doesn't mask is no validation that the pandemic is over as was declared by a certain WH official......May you make it 4-score and 20! Bless you and your caring family. Some families are not so caring and bristle with the idea they will have to mask in the presence of a vulnerable member. We will mask for our Thanksgiving gathering and we will miss the one who "doesn't get it." MD. NC
Thank you. I now have ventured to a book club with 6 ladies. I moved a chair out of the way and wore my mask. This was yesterday. How wonderful to be in a discussion group and met new people.
Wonderful that you are willing to be flexible and not be intimidated into de-masking. Hopefully, your club members are like-wise caring people and mask themselves to continue the effort to protect the group since they have no knowledge of individual health risks or the exposures before and after the meeting.
So glad that the CDC hired you to help with getting the word out. I stumbled upon your substack through another connection in June. I run a small nonprofit, and was fortunate to be aware of the coming of Covid-19 in Feb 2020. We have to be available to the public 24x7, so being forewarned allowed us to set up remotely before the pandemic hit. Having this information readily available is so important. As a non medical layperson working in social services, I thank you for your practical guidance.