Facts Over Fear COVID-19 Vaccines: Separating Facts Over Fear with Dr. Angelique Corthals
Dr. Angelique Corthals, associate professor of biomedicine and pathology at the City University of New York, joined me to discuss the COVID-19 vaccines, what we know so far and why the CDC has lost the trust of health professionals and the public.
The Food and Drug Administration approved the next round of COVID-19 vaccines Wednesday, but imposed new restrictions on who's eligible to get them.
The agency is limiting the updated shots to people who are at risk for serious complications because they are 65 or older or have other health problems. Until now, COVID vaccines had been available to anyone 6 months and older regardless of their health.
The decision is expected to make it harder for many people, such as healthy children and healthy younger adults, to get a shot ahead of the expected winter COVID surge. That's already generating confusion and apprehension that harkens back to the early days of the pandemic, when people often had to frantically search for a shot. (NPR)
We discussed:
Can we talk a bit about why this decision was made? Some professionals are saying this was a decision not backed by science.
Let’s talk about the vaccine, itself. There is so much misinformation around it. What do you want people to understand about how COVID operates and why updated vaccines are necessary.
Can we discuss the impact of studying mRNA vaccines? What do you want people to understand about this research?
Why is scientific research so important and why is it dangerous to cherry-pick certain studies over others? How should you come to a consensus on safety and efficacy?
Are you concerned about the trajectory at the CDC? Three senior leaders walked out of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday in Atlanta after resigning over their opposition to the Trump administration’s political interference in the agency’s science-backed work according to multiple sources.
Are you worried about the new director of the CDC has no experience? The White House confirmed that the deputy health secretary, Jim O’Neill, who was a Bush-era speechwriter, a biotech investor who worked for Peter Thiel, a GOP megadonor. will serve as acting CDC director until a Senate-confirmed replacement for the ousted Susan Monarez is in place.
What we CAN do to protect ourselves and our communities including wearing a well-fitted KN95 or N95 mask in indoor public spaces and outdoor crowded spaces, get the flu vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine (if and when you can!), ventilate the air or utilize an air filtration system, connect with your local and state leaders to demand COVID-19 vaccines for all as well as robust funding for scientific research!
Until next time, take care of yourselves and each other.
In solidarity,
Natalie