Here is Dr. Klotman’s Week 284 video address from Baylor College of Medicine. My synopsis is:
COVID
- COVID test positivity and ER visits throughout the country are up – as expected from the wastewater monitoring data
- This late summer bump is evident throughout the country, but the west and south are particularly active at this time
- The wastewater data shows that Measles, H5N1 bird flu, and the rest of the respiratory viruses are waning
- The proposed COVID vaccine target is LP.8.1, but it is the XFG strain from China and Europe that is probably the most appropriate target. Merde!
- It appears likely that either target will provide acceptable protection for most of us
- The CDC recommends COVID vaccine for folks 18+ years old
- The CDC recommendation for young people 6mos-17yo is to consult with the child’s PCP
- CDC has dropped the recommendation for COVID vaccine for healthy pregnant people
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued its own guidance regarding COVID vaccine for children. The recommendation includes vaccination for all children 6-23 months of age, and older children whose parents want to have their child vaccinated.
Influenza
The AAP recommends Flu vaccine for everyone 6mos+ of age, and RSV vaccine for all children 8-19mos of age at high risk for severe RSV disease
Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria
The WHO has established a center for genomics of drug-resistant bacterial pathogens (aka “superbugs”).
Random Factoid – Mississippi (a red state) now has the highest infant mortality rate in the country.
My commentary: Having an anti-science Secretary of HHS over CDC and FDA is a disastrous situation for our country and its citizens. The current COVID vaccine guidance for children and pregnant people is not based on science but rather RFK’s ideology. I do not think that we can rely on CDC and FDA recommendations to be fact-based. So, that means that we need to look elsewhere for reliable guidance regarding our health. I suggest the following sources – organizations that are not part of the government and thus less susceptible to political corruption:
- The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Academy of Family Practice (AAFP) and World Health Organization (WHO) regarding immunization practices
- American Cancer Society regarding cancer screening
- Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) regarding emerging pathogens
As the cancer of politics begins to corrupt other federal agencies, I will add other resources from which you can draw recommendations less likely to be tainted by political ideology.