What Adam is Reading 2-3-21

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February 3, 2021, Wednesday

 

A loyal reader and I have had a slow, multi-day conversation about COVID vaccines.  The discussion centered on why many in healthcare, including me, have not been more vociferously supportive of the COVID vaccines.  There is a mountain of positive data. All of the current vaccines are very, very safe by any standard.  All of the vaccine trials demonstrated 100% protection from death/hospitalization and severe illness.  (This is amazing).  There is evidence that the vaccines offer excellent protection from mild disease.  And yet, I (and others) are not screaming with rapturous agony and intellectual certitude that THESE VACCINES WORK!  GO!  It is a great call out and a sharp observation about my writing and point of view.  To be sure, I have had a few moments of reflection.

 

My current thoughts are that healthcare is nuanced, complicated, and often pivots on real-world variables out of our control.  I am amazed at the rapidity of vaccine development, thrilled with the demonstrated efficacy, and a massive fan of getting everyone vaccinated ASAP.  I am also cautious and concerned about the impact of unknowns (such as the new variants).  My primary bias (I think) is a tendency to under-sell and over-deliver.  More broadly stated, the science community's sensitivity to maintaining legitimacy by managing expectations and transparency may be hurting us.  There has been a spate of articles in recent days that point that there is more than enough data to be more publicly demonstrative and overtly forceful in our opinions.   Upon reflection, I think this is probably the right stance to take in the face of the fear, uncertainty, and doubt that science deniers and vaccine avoiders inject into the public discourse.  This topic is another example of how stronger and louder views (based on evidence and data) can save lives.

 

I have many other thoughts about this discussion, but let me simplify and clarify my thoughts:

  1. GET VACCINATED AS SOON AS YOU CAN.
  2. PUSH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO VACCINATE AS WELL.
  3. GO! GO! GO!  HELP END THE PANDEMIC.

Vaccine trials for teens and children are ongoing, and I will share data when I see it.

 

Thank you, loyal reader, for helping me sort out my thoughts on this topic.

 

Here is a roundup of Vaccine trial data from Dr. Gandhi, an infectious disease doc.

https://twitter.com/MonicaGandhi9/status/1356818441064206337/photo/1

Data on decreased transmission:

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/02/02/world/covid-19-coronavirus/astrazeneca-coronavirus-vaccine

 

NYT Vaccine guide:  https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/well/covid-vaccine-questions.html

 

 

-----Latest Data---

Global-View:

https://www.ft.com/content/a2901ce8-5eb7-4633-b89c-cbdf5b386938

 

Nationally:

https://ig.ft.com/coronavirus-chart/?areas=usa&areas=gbr&areasRegional=usny&areasRegional=usca&areasRegional=usfl&areasRegional=ustx&areasRegional=usco&cumulative=0&logScale=0&perMillion=1&values=casesf

Also, look at https://covidtracking.com/data

 

The U.S. Regionally - N.Y. Times:

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-us-cases.html

 

About the data:

https://covidtracking.com/about-data/visualization-guide is the best resource to understand data visualization and data integrity.

 

Vaccine Tracker

https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/covid-vaccine-tracker-global-distribution/

-----

I missed this Bloomberg article from Monday - "U.S. Hits Pandemic Milestone With More Vaccinated Than Cases."

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-01/u-s-hits-milestone-in-pandemic-with-more-vaccinated-than-cases

 

Dr. Fauci was commenting on the volumes of vaccinated Americans we will need to fully-reopen the country.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/03/health/us-coronavirus-wednesday/index.html

 

Clinical epidemiologist Hilda Bastian discusses how small test populations and the efforts at being intellectual honest come across as muted enthusiasm for the vaccines.  It is a longer and more detailed version of my opening.

https://absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2021/01/31/variants-3-new-covid-vaccines-and-contested-efficacy-claims-a-month-of-seismic-shifts-and-confusion/#AZ

 

Much like the vaccines, there are increasing amounts of useful data on the value of using convalescent plasma and monoclonal antibodies.  BUT they both must be used early in the illness - generally within ten days of a positive diagnosis, in symptomatic patients who have stable oxygen requirements and at high risk of having more severe disease. 

https://twitter.com/VincentRK/status/1356258907925209088?s=20

 

Infographic of the day:  Sushi and Sashimi Cuts -

https://twitter.com/TasteAtlas/status/1354231301822414849/photo/1

The ability of humans to qualitative differentiate things never ceases to amaze me.  I have so much to learn (and be a snob about).   I am going to become a Senaka only kind of guy.  Let THEM eat Harashimo!

 

------Bonus Round  - Making colors

 

Thoughts on finding the article below:

  1. I had no idea you could make new colors.
  2. Ok, this actually about manufacturing safe inorganic pigments, but it is still cool.
  3. YInMn Blue is neat, but Vantablack is cooler (and darker!).

 

https://hyperallergic.com/615971/meet-yinmn-the-first-new-shade-of-blue-in-two-centuries/

 

Vantablack 2.0 eats lasers!

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/new-photos-vantablack-906158

 

 

Clean hands, sharp minds, and sign up to get vaccinated ASAP,

 

Adam

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Adam Weinstein, MD

VP Medical Affairs Clinical IT Services DaVita Inc. • Cell 443-527-6333

Nephrologist - Kidney Health Center of Maryland • www.khcmd.com <http://www.khcmd.com/> • (P) 410-820-9823

 

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