Gretchen Peterson

OMICRON AND PFIZER/BIONTECH

COVID Variants Vaccines

The trickle of Omicron data is quickly becoming a fountain ⛲. On the heels of yesterday’s Omicron studies, (see summary here) Pfizer today released data showing strong neutralization of Omicron after 3 doses of its vaccine, but a significant reduction for 2 doses. Highlights: ➡️ 2 doses showed significantly reduced neutralization titers against Omicron. ➡️ A Read more…

Hope for the Holidays

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A friend recently asked me (Nerdy Girl Lindsey): How will you cultivate hope through the long winter months ahead? * My answer: My hope lies in the unsung grassroots heroes. The security guard pictured below, Cordarlye Frost, helping children feel happy and at ease at a vaccination clinic. The nurses in the ED, the librarians Read more…

THIS JUST IN: Preliminary Omicron neutralizing antibody study

COVID Variants Vaccines

⬇️ TL;DR: IN A LAB DISH (so NOT in real life), antibodies from vaccinated individuals (two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech), were significantly less effective at neutralizing Omicron compared to the original variant—about a 20-40-fold reduction in neutralization. While this is substantially more loss of neutralization than previous variants…this does NOT tell us how well the vaccines Read more…

Advertencia: este post habla sobre la caza de ciervos y el virus Covid-19.

Posts en Español Uncategorized

Científicos han descubierto recientemente que muchos ciervos de cola blanca de E.E.U.U. tienen el virus que causa el COVID-19. Esta es una noticia importante y muy mala. Si vas a cazar ciervos, definitivamente debes vacunarte y usar una mascarilla N95 en todo momento mientras manipules o estés cerca de alguien que manipule cuerpos de ciervos. Read more…

Do COVID-19 vaccines promote the emergence of new variants?

COVID Variants Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines

A: No. Vaccines REDUCE opportunities for viral replication needed for variants to emerge. Since the recent Omicron news, we are hearing this myth make the rounds again. ➡️ TL;DR: The virus has more opportunity to replicate in unvaccinated populations, creating a FAR bigger risk for the development of SARS-CoV-2 mutations. Even so, the good news Read more…

Update on Novavax

Vaccines

One of the more recent additions to the global COVID-19 vaccine roster comes from Novavax, whose vaccine is poised to hit worldwide markets and hopefully make a big difference in the big problem of global vaccine equity. 🌏 Novavax’s shot uses a tried-and-true technology: it’s called a protein subunit or acellular vaccine. It’s the same Read more…

CDC Updates Guidance for Boosters

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💥UPDATE💥: The U.S. CDC has updated its guidance to say that all adults over >18 SHOULD rather than MAY get a booster. As we wrote last week, we think the case for boosters is strong. Boosters provide increased neutralization of previously identified variants, which bodes well for Omicron. #BoostUp #VaxUp #WeCanDoThis Link to Original FB Read more…

Healthy Diet & Exercise vs. COVID Vaccination? Try both!

General Health Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines

We’re hearing so many people repeat this line: “just eat well and exercise, that’s the best prevention for COVID-19!” Is this true? Healthy diet and exercise *are* good for your health! Unfortunately, they do not really prevent COVID. The best prevention for COVID-19 is to be vaccinated. If you do get COVID, being vaccinated is Read more…

How do COVID-19 Viral Vector Vaccines Work?

Vaccines

Weakened adenoviruses can be used to deliver instructions to make the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, educating the immune system and preparing it for future encounters with SARS-CoV-2. The Johnson & Johnson, Astrazeneca, and the Sputnik V vaccines all use adenovirus vector technology. Watch another incredible video from The Vaccine Makers Project (VMP) for this beautiful visualization Read more…