27 thoughts on “C-19 Chat Post – November 13 2021”

  1. Thanks TK.

    If I heard correctly over the radio this morning, Boston and Brookline parents of special needs kids are taking their case to court saying that having only remote learning available last year violated federal law.

  2. I hope you’ll all indulge me for a minute. It is clear I am upset with decisions made with regard to our schools. But I want to be really clear that doesn’t reflect on our teachers. I have five grandkids homeschooling for very legitimate reasons. One is remarkably independent. One is pre K. Three have IEPs. Some IEPs are for medical reasons and they qualify for zoom through the school even when home schooled. All reasons for IEPs qualify home school children to go in-school for extra help.

    The heartwarming part and my point is that all three of my grands who need extra support have teachers and administrators from past years in school who continue to check in to offer advice and support. Two have teachers who, on their own, bring to the house grade level reading material they know interests the child specifically. One teacher has set up approved zooms with known friends who are in-school so they don’t lose touch.

    Our teachers are beyond amazing. Our students are amazing. We could have done better to honor them, but out teachers shine always.

  3. See tweet (graph) below. This is NOT good, and I didn’t know this. I assumed – wrongly – that the U.S. had an advantage in boosting those already vaccinated. It clearly doesn’t. https://twitter.com/EricTopol/status/1459319950011629570/photo/1

    Think of it this way, these are the folks who are at risk. They really need shots to prevent severe illness. Also explains the reluctance by many European countries to emphasize vaccinating the 5-11 year old group at this stage. They want to focus on the vulnerable first.

    1. I had no idea. And you have mentioned multiple times that we need to reach those at risk who need the vaccine before 5-11.

      1. I’m beginning to think of this as our 40 days and 40 nights…..times a whole lot. I would like to say I’m kidding, but good grief. How many times are we hit on the head with a brick before we smarten up

  4. With regard to the deer, perhaps we can extract whatever antibodies that prevent deer from getting sick from SARS-Cov-2 and develop a totally new vaccine that will allow humans to live with the disease without ever fear of illness. A roundabout herd immunity?

    In other words, all humans would “technically” have the disease but never feel the effects.

    Joshua?

    1. In theory, yes. It’s what Jenner did with cow pox serum. But, I don’t know if it would work with SARS-CoV-2 in deer.

  5. The U.S. approach to vaccinations has been kind of like having a painter come do your house and never finish the essential part of the job. Starts out in the most important space – living room – but before finishing decides to haphazardly move on to the dining room, kitchen, and then even areas which may not even need paint, like your basement.

    Here, I’m exaggerating here for effect, as it may indeed be true that the 5-11 age group need vaccines, in particular, to stop the spread. However, we’re now hyperfocused on this, and we lose sight of the importance of having a systematic strategy that prioritizes, according to risk. I’ve felt all along that the U.S. isn’t capable of proper follow-through. This is not to say that our peers are all great at it. They’re not. But most are better than us.

        1. Didn’t take it that way. My understanding is cats and dogs and contract Covid and can then spread it to their owners.
          I wonder how much pets are contributing to this new wave?

    1. Mac believed the same about the US as I’ve said here before.

      I know I have said this before. I appreciate your input here. But it is your world view that I find absolutely lacking in this country. I learned so much from Mac and his family. Thank you, Joshua.

  6. Medicare and Medicaid have ways of testing innovative models for care, including the Oncology Care Model. In light of the disparities exhibited in Covid-19 health outcomes they’re focusing more on Medicaid. In my view, these models sometimes set the bar too high as they demand cost savings, when cost-effectiveness (getting better value for additional money spent) may be more realistic. https://www.forbes.com/sites/joshuacohen/2021/11/06/cmss-innovation-center-to-increasingly-focus-on-medicaid-as-expansion-of-the-program-accelerates/?sh=213528522c8b

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