From Pine View Farm

Health and Sanity category archive

Vaccine Nation 0

Rebecca Watson discusses how the anti-VAXX movement is endangering everyone. An excerpt from her discussion of a study reported in The Lancet:

But now back to the bad news: that “trend” I said they noticed? They found that the number of people who contracted measles during that time period were MORE likely to be vaccinated, compared to previous decades. The number of vaccinated people getting measles TRIPLED, but why?

The models showed that the protection offered by the vaccine was superb, so how is this happening? Because of herd immunity. If 95% of people were immunized, we wouldn’t see these breakout infections, but in England during that time period only 85% of kids got both doses. That drop of just ten percentage points tripled the number of cases showing up in vaccinated people, even for a vaccine with an incredibly high level of effectiveness, which should give you some insight into why we’re still dealing with COVID-19, considering that only about 80% of Americans ever got even a single vaccination for it.

Or you can read the transcript.

Share

Medicare Disadvantage 0

Thom reports that hospitals are increasingly frustrated at dealing with Medicare “Advantage” plans, because those “insurers” just don’t want to, well, pay for medical care, because actually paying for stuff cuts into their profits.

As far as I am concerned, Medicare “Advantage” was a con and scam from the git-go. It was created solely to allow private companies to get their paws on public money. When I qualified for Medicare (yeah, I’m old), I made sure to avoid Medicare “Advantage” for the same reason I don’t answer phone calls when the caller ID reads “Scam Likely.”

But that’s just me.

Share

Facebook Frolics 0

Farron dissects the doubletalk.

Share

The Climates They Are a-Changing 0

It appears that climate change may be going viral.

Share

Vaccine Nation 0

At Psychology Today Blogs, Dr. L. Kenneth Zweig points out that, despite the scare-mongering from anti-VAXXers, side effects from vaccinations are almost always good things. A snippet:

A vaccine should trigger an immune reaction, so feeling ill after vaccination is a positive sign. It indicates that the body is building immunity. Experiencing mild symptoms means the immune system responds as expected, reducing the likelihood of severe illness later. Those who do not experience symptoms after a vaccine will still likely develop immunity without noticeable side effects.

Follow the link for the full picture.

Share

Vaccine Nation 0

At The Seattle Times, physicians and medical school professsors Christopher A. Sanford and Paul Pottinger debunk de anti-vaxxer bunk.

I find the article commendable not because it breaks new ground. It does not. But it thoroughly demolishes the four primary anti-vaxx lies in one succinct piece.

Share

News You Can Lose 0

There’s an old saying that “no news is good news.”

At Psychology Today Blogs, Arthur Dobrin argues that too much news is bad news. A snippit:

Research regarding media consumption after a public trauma found that the greater the time spent with the news, the greater the negative effects on mental health. In today’s fraught political climate and increasing threats from the climate, it is fair to assume the same relationship between the consumption of news and mental health.

Follow the link for his suggestions as to how to keep up to date without being driven up a wall.

Share

Crossing the Jordan 0

Share

Lab Leak Lunacy 0

Rebecca Watson explores the susceptibility of some to the COVID “lab leak” theory, which is supported by zero evidence whatsoever, and what that theory’s persistence portends for the polity. Her analysis motivates one to be less than sanguine about the sagacity of the susceptible. (Warning: Mild language.)

If you prefer, you can read the transcript.

Afterthought:

We are becoming a nation unmoored from factual reality.

Share

Vaccine Nation 0

Court to Anti-VAXXer: Case dismissed.

The stupid. It burns.

Share

The Privatization Scam 0

Thom dissects the con behind Medicare (Dis)Advantage and the con that is coming.

Share

The Privatization Scam 0

Thom talks with Dr. David Himmelstein about the deleterious effects of Medicare (Dis)Advantage.

Share

Witch Hunters 0

Republican Elephant, covered in growths that look like COVID viruses representing Trumpism, points at an innocent Dr. Fauci and says,

Click to view the original image.

Share

Vaccine Nation 0

David debunks yet another anti-Vaxxer lie. (Warning: Short promo at the end.)

There’s over two centuries of evidence that vaccines work.

Heck, I’m old enough to remember when vaccines made polio go away. When the polio vaccines became available, my parents had me at Doctor Henderson’s office quick like a bunny, because my parents were not stupid.

There’s no evidence that vaccines don’t work, and even less than no evidence that they are somehow inimical. (Yeah, I know that “less than no” seems to be irrational, but irrational numbers are a thing and we seem to have become an irrational society, so I’m going with it.)

Sadly, though, there is no vaccine against stupid, and we seeing an epidemic of stupid.

Share

Vaccine Nation 0

A prescription for peril:

The stupid. It burns.

Share

Vaccine Nation 0

Speaking of merchants of death . . . .

Share

“Are You Better Off Now Than You Were Four Years Ago?” 0

Republicans keep asking that question.

At the Bangor Daily News, Michael Avery Sr. responds:

My answer to that is definitely a big yes. I am no longer subjected to seeing trucks being used as temporary morgues because the death rate from COVID-19 was overwhelming hospitals and morgues.

Follow the link for the rest of his response.

(Broken link fixed.)

Share

Vaccine Nation 0

Writing at the Tampa Bay Times, pediatrician Shetal Shah find the recent uptick in the number of measles cases in the U. S. to be quite alarming. Here’s a bit of his piece:

Despite the availability of safe and effective vaccines, measles outbreaks have reemerged in various parts of the country, magnified by factors such as misinformation, complacency and pockets of under-vaccinated populations. Though public health and immunology are sciences rigorously taught in medical school, politicians have replaced professors, fueling public vaccine hesitancy for political gain. A study by the Kaiser Family Foundation found the percentage of Republicans who believe they should decide if their children are vaccinated — even if failing to do so harms other children — more than doubled to 44% in the last five years.

Share

Vaccine Nation 0

RFK Jr. and COVID virus raising hands in a victory sign.

Via Yellowdoggranny.

Share

“Better Things for Better Living Through Chemistry” 0

Title:  Better living through chemistry?  Image:  Picture of a man with arrows pointing to his body identifying PFAS, formaldehyde, microplastics, etc.

Click for the original image.

Share