CORONA Main Coronavirus thread

[Heliobas Disciple]

Growing Number of COVID-19 Deaths Among Vaccinated People: Reports

www.theepochtimes.com

(fair use applies)

HIGHLIGHTING MINE

Growing Number of COVID-19 Deaths Among Vaccinated People: Reports
By Katabella Roberts
May 13, 2022

An increasing number of COVID-19 deaths are occurring among individuals in the United States who have been vaccinated, according to federal data.

In August of 2021, roughly 18.9 percent of COVID-19 deaths happened among individuals who were vaccinated, an ABC News analysis of the data shows. Six months later in February 2022, that figure had risen to over 40 percent as the highly-transmissible Omicron variant made its way across the globe.

Similarly, in September 2021, just 1.1 percent of COVID-19 deaths occurred among Americans who had been fully vaccinated and boosted once. Five months later in February, that percentage had jumped to about 25 percent, according to ABC News.

A separate analysis of federal data by CNN shows that in the second half of September 2021—when the Delta variant was at its peak—less than a quarter of all COVID-19 deaths were among individuals who were vaccinated with at least two doses of the Moderna or Pfizer/BioNTech mRNA vaccines or a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. However, just months later in January and February as Omicron surged, that figure had jumped to 40 percent.

Some experts believe the increase in deaths among fully vaccinated people or “breakthrough infections” in those who have received all their shots is not overly concerning, saying it is because while more and more people become fully vaccinated, new variants emerge and vaccine protection begins to wane as fewer people continue to get booster shots.

“These data should not be interpreted as vaccines not working. In fact, these real-world analyses continue to reaffirm the incredible protection these vaccines afford especially when up to date with boosters,” said John Brownstein, an epidemiologist at Boston Children’s Hospital and an ABC News contributor.

Despite an increasing number of deaths among the vaccinated, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that vaccines are safe and effective. Data from the government agency says that overall, the risk of death from COVID-19 is roughly five times higher in unvaccinated individuals than in those who have had at least their initial dose of a vaccine.

However, in some cases, serious adverse events such as thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (blood clots), myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle), and pericarditis (inflammation of the outer lining of the heart) have been documented.

As of May 4, around 257.9 million people in the United States, or 77.7 percent of the total population in the nation have received at least one dose of vaccine, while roughly 219.9 million people, or 66.2 percent of the total U.S. population, have been fully vaccinated.

Around 100.9 million of those who are fully vaccinated have received a booster shot, while 49.4 percent of those eligible for booster shots have not yet had one.

As the Omicron variant swept through the nation, an increasing number of vulnerable, older populations were being hospitalized, and 73 percent of deaths have been among those 65 and older, despite the fact that 90 percent of seniors have had all of their vaccine shots.

However, a large percentage—a third of them—have not yet had their booster jab.

“This trend in increased risk among the elderly further supports the need for community-wide immunization,” Brownstein said. “Older populations, especially those with underlying conditions, continue to be at great risk of severe complications, especially as immunity wanes. The best way to protect them is to make sure everyone around them is fully immunized.”

The data comes a month after pharmaceutical and biotechnology company Moderna said that preliminary results from its study on a COVID-19 vaccine intended to protect against variants showed that it outperformed the company’s currently authorized booster shot, mRNA-1273.

Moderna said on April 19 that its mRNA-1273.211 shot, its first bivalent booster vaccine candidate, showed “superiority” against the Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants of the virus one month after being administered, compared to the booster shot of its original vaccine currently in use.

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

Air Travel Industry Urges US to End Pre-Departure COVID Tests

www.theepochtimes.com

(fair use applies)

Air Travel Industry Urges US to End Pre-Departure COVID Tests
By Caden Pearson
May 13, 2022

U.S. airlines are calling on the Biden administration to end pre-departure COVID-19 testing rules for international air passengers, as new figures reveal they significantly impact the likelihood of travelers from key European and Asian markets to visit the United States.

The 16-month-old rule—which has already been dumped by Britain, Germany, Canada, and many other countries for vaccinated travelers—requires nearly all international air passengers with some exceptions to test negative for COVID-19 before entering the country.

But this rule makes around 57 percent of international travelers surveyed less likely to travel to the United States due to the risks associated with pre-departure testing, according to a survey by Morning Consult for the U.S. Travel Association (pdf). This includes 16 percent who said it makes them much less likely to do so.

The data comes from an equal share of respondents from France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, and India.

Key findings of the survey indicated that more than half of international travelers (54 percent) cited the uncertainty of potentially having to cancel a trip due to the U.S. pre-departure testing rules as having a big impact on their likelihood to visit the United States. This included one in five who indicated the risk of having to cancel would have a major impact.

On the other hand, if pre-departure testing requirements for vaccinated adults were lifted, around 46 percent of those surveyed indicated they would be more likely to visit the United States—nearly four times the share that say they would be less likely if the requirement ended (12 percent).

U.S. airline executives have said Americans are not traveling abroad because of concerns they will be stranded in a foreign country if they test positive for COVID-19 following pre-departure testing.

Industry group Airlines for American said Friday that a survey of its carriers estimated that dropping the rules would increase international passengers by 4.3 million and add $1.7 billion in incremental revenue, Reuters reported.

This could result in an incremental 1.075 million foreign visitors and $2.1 billion in visitor spending.

Long haul international air travel has not yet recovered to pre-pandemic levels, according to updated data on the impact from COVID-19 released May 12 by Airlines for America (pdf).


The pre-departure testing rule won’t “be there forever,” according to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

To remove it will “require a level of confidence” from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that “relaxing it would not harm the progress that we’ve made against the virus,” Buttigieg told an audience in Chicago, Crain’s Chicago Business reported May 12.

The Epoch Times reached out to the CDC for comment.

Britain’s Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told reporters in Washington on May 12 that lifting the requirement has delivered a boost to the British economy without impacting COVID-19 case numbers.

“It works to get rid of it. It’s been a massive boost for our tourism, travel industry,” Shapps said, Reuters reported.

Shapps said he thinks U.S. officials “realize that it needs to go,” adding that believes the rules will be lifted “by the summer.”

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

Zerohedge

ZeroHedge - On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero

www.zerohedge.com

(fair use applies)

China Tightens Restrictions On Overseas Travel While Shanghai Aims For 'Zero COVID' By Mid-May
by Tyler Durden
Friday, May 13, 2022 - 11:15 AM

In what was interpreted as good news by traders, Shanghai is finally looking to unwind certain lockdown measures, while simultaneously tightening the city's restrictions on "non-essential" overseas travel for its citizens to help contain the worst coronavirus outbreak the country has seen in the past two years.

China has said it will impose tight restrictions on "non-essential" overseas travel for its citizens to help contain the worst coronavirus outbreak the country has seen.

Shanghai Vice Mayor said the city is aiming to stamp out all community spread of the virus by mid-May and is considering expanding the scale of production resumption, while they will aim to open up, ease traffic restrictions and open shops in an orderly manner, according to the SCMP.

A statement on the agency's website said the meeting had been called to relay the decisions taken at a meeting of the Politburo Standing Committee chaired by President Xi Jinping on May 5, where the leadership doubled down on China's zero-COVID policy saying it "will stand the test of time".

The city, meanwhile, is expected to prioritize resuming classes for grades 9, 11 and 12, while supermarkets, convenience and department stores will resume offline operations in an orderly manner and other services such as hairdressing will open gradually.

Shanghai is to prioritize the resumption of classes for grades 9, 11 and 12, while supermarkets, convenience and department stores will resume operating offline.

The immigration authorities on Thursday said the curbs were designed to stop infections crossing the border and would include a more rigorous approval process for passports and other travel documents and a crackdown on illegal border crossings.

A meeting of the National Immigration Administration on Tuesday heard that China's COVID situation had reached a "significant and urgent point" and that the city of Beijing was the "most important of the important" places.

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

Pfizer Booster Protection Against Omicron Wanes in Just Weeks, Study Finds

Second and third doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine provide protection against the Omicron variant for only a few weeks, according to peer-reviewed research published today in JAMA Network Open.

childrenshealthdefense.org

(fair use applies)

Pfizer Booster Protection Against Omicron Wanes in Just Weeks, Study Finds
Second and third doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine provide protection against the Omicron variant for only a few weeks, according to peer-reviewed research published today in JAMA Network Open.
By Susan C. Olmstead
05/13/22

Second and third doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine provide protection against the Omicron variant for only a few weeks, according to peer-reviewed research published today in JAMA Network Open.

“Our study found a rapid decline in Omicron-specific serum neutralizing antibody titers only a few weeks after the second and third doses of [the Pfizer-BioNTech] BNT162b2,” the authors of the research letter wrote.

The authors said their findings “could support rolling out additional booster shots to vulnerable people as the variant drives an uptick in new cases across the country,” Forbes reported.

Danish researchers studied adults who received two or three doses of BNT162b2 between January 2021 and October 2021, or were previously infected prior to February 2021 and then vaccinated.

They found that after an initial increase in Omicron-specific antibodies after the second Pfizer shot, levels dropped rapidly, from 76.2% at week 4, to 53.3% at weeks 8 to 10, and 18.9% at weeks 12 to 14.

After the third shot, neutralizing antibodies against Omicron fell 5.4-fold between week 3 and week 8.

A preprint study released in February showed Pfizer’s two-dose regimen of its COVID-19 vaccine for children was only 12% effective against Omicron in children ages 9 to 11, and the effectiveness of the vaccine “declined rapidly” for children 5-11.

Researchers at the New York State Department of Health and the University at Albany School of Public Health examined the effectiveness of the vaccine in children 5 to 11 and adolescents 12 to 17 from Dec. 13, 2021 to Jan. 30, 2022.
The authors of the New York study wrote:

“In the Omicron era, the effectiveness against cases of BNT162b2 declined rapidly for children, particularly those 5-11 years. However, vaccination of children 5-11 years was protective against severe disease and is recommended.”

FDA admits boosters ineffective at preventing infection, but continues to support strategy

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) vaccine advisory panel met April 6 — a week after authorizing a second booster dose for people over age 50 and the immunocompromised — to discuss the FDA’s booster strategy amid reports of waning effectiveness.

After nine-and-a-half hours, the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) failed to reach a consensus.

Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s vaccine division, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, admitted during the meeting that the fourth booster dose approved March 29 was a “stopgap measure” — in other words, a temporary measure to be implemented until a proper solution may be found in the future.

The FDA’s lead scientist for the strategy session, Doran Fink, admitted COVID-19 vaccine efficacy is waning for severe outcomes.

A Jan. 19 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed natural immunity against COVID-19 was at least three times as effective as vaccination alone at preventing people from becoming infected with the Delta variant.

Overall, the CDC study showed natural immunity outperformed vaccine immunity when it came to preventing infection and hospitalization from Delta. The agency late last month said almost 60% of Americans have had COVID-19.

A batch of Pfizer documents released April 1 confirmed Pfizer knew natural immunity was as effective as the company’s COVID-19 vaccine at preventing severe illness, The Defender reported last month.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials earlier this month suggested annual vaccines against COVID-19 may be necessary in the future.

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7R6tmqPAiU
Good news, BA 2 milder than BA 1
21 min 33 sec
May 13, 2022
Dr. John Campbell

Symptoms, Runny nose, 83% Fatigue, 72% Sore throat, 68% Sneezing, 69% Headache, 68% Persistent cough, 57% Hoarse, 49% Chills or shivers, 37% Joint pains, 35% Dizzy, 32% Fever, 32% Brain fog, 29% Sore eyes, 27% Altered smell, 26% Muscle pains 23% Lower back pain, 24% Swollen glands, 21% Skipped meals, 19% Ear ringing, (Tinnitus) 19% Diarrhoea UK symptom study https://covid.joinzoe.com https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvcvN... Rates of decline slowing, down 8% on past week Signs of leveling off BA.1 and BA.2 symptoms UK, 94% BA.2 Comparing last 3 months with previous 3 months BA.2 less severe disease than BA.1 BA.2 lower rates of hospitalisation, about half as many BA.2 more symptoms, but milder More people with more than 5 symptoms, about 50% more More common with BA.2 than BA.1 Runny nose Delirium Loss of smell Rash Sneezing Hoarse voice Swollen glands Red welts on face or lips Dizzy, light headed Persistent cough Brain fog Skipped meals Fever Ear ringing Altered smell Sore throat Chills or shivers Diarrhoea More common with BA.1 than BA.2 Abdominal pain Hair loss Headache China https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia... Shanghai Further restrict access to food and hospitals in some parts of the city Access to hospitals must first be approved Only permitting government food deliveries Neighbours of Covid-19 cases, forced into government quarantine facilities, even if testing negative Seventh week of city-wide restrictions Have not reached "societal zero" Extreme disinfection, inside homes "closed loop management" employees have to live at work President Xi Jinping re-iterated his commitment to "zero-Covid" Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus When we talk about zero-Covid, we don't think that it's sustainable, considering the behaviour of the virus now and what we anticipate in the future (now blocked) South Africa Signs BA.4 and BA.5 may be reinfecting those recovered from BA.1 North Korea Population 25 million All unvaccinated

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Acosxniy78E
TWiV 899: COVID-19 clinical update #114 with Dr. Daniel Griffin
57 min 02 sec
May 14, 2022
Vincent Racaniello

In COVID-19 clinical update #114, Dr. Griffin discusses early treatment with ivermectin, procalcitonin not a reliable biomarker, vaccine in 6-11 year olds, FDA limits use of Janssen vaccine, does site of vaccine booster matter, sniffer dogs, monoclonals for hospitalized patients, risk assessment for public events, Paxlovid eligibility, and persistence of pediatric anosmia. Show notes at https://www.microbe.tv/twiv/twiv-899/

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

I wonder if Geert would say that this mutation is a result of immune pressure or whether he'd say the reason the JO8 binding can't happen is because the non-neutralizing antibodies of the vaccinated have attached to the area that the JO8 would otherwise attach to? If he has an available to the public email, I may email him this article with that question.

Scientists explain what makes COVID-19 antibody 'J08' so potent

Last year, scientists at Scripps Research and Toscana Life Sciences studied the blood of 14 COVID-19 survivors to find the most potent antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. One of the leading molecules that emerged—now in stage II/III trials in Italy—was an antibody dubbed J08, which seemed...

medicalxpress.com

(fair use applies)

HIGHLIGHTING MINE

Scientists explain what makes COVID-19 antibody 'J08' so potent
by The Scripps Research Institute
May 13, 2022


Even as the structure of SARS-CoV-2 changes with different variants of the virus (gray), the J08 antibody (blue) can still bind it, Scripps researchers showed. Credit: Scripps Research

Last year, scientists at Scripps Research and Toscana Life Sciences studied the blood of 14 COVID-19 survivors to find the most potent antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. One of the leading molecules that emerged—now in stage II/III trials in Italy—was an antibody dubbed J08, which seemed to be capable of both preventing and treating COVID-19.

Now, the same group—a collaboration between scientists at Scripps Research and in Italy and France—has visualized exactly how J08 binds to different SARS-CoV-2 variants in different conformations, explaining what makes the monoclonal antibody so potent. The research, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggests that the J08 antibody, because of its flexibility, will likely remain effective against future variants of COVID-19.

"Even though we can't predict what variants of COVID-19 will emerge next, understanding the details of J08 reveals what works against the virus, and perhaps how we can engineer antibodies to be even more potent," says senior author Andrew Ward, Ph.D., professor of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology at Scripps Research.

When a person is exposed to a virus like SARS-CoV-2, their body generates a variety of antibodies that bind to different sections of the virus to clear it from the body. Scientists designing vaccines and treatments against COVID-19 are interested in what makes some of these naturally produced antibodies—like J08—more effective than others. In the months after Ward and his collaborators first identified J08, it became clear that the antibody, unlike many others, was potent against a variety of COVID-19 variants.

In the new work, the researchers determined the three-dimensional structure of J08 as it bound to the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. They confirmed that J08 successfully attached to the Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta variants and neutralized the viruses—preventing them from replicating. However, J08 attached to the Omicron variant about 7 times more slowly, and then rapidly came off. About 4,000 times more J08 was needed to fully neutralize Omicron SARS-CoV-2 compared to the other variants.

"With variants other than Omicron, this antibody binds quickly and doesn't come off for hours and hours," says co-first author Gabriel Ozorowski, a senior staff scientist in the Ward lab at Scripps Research. "With Omicron, we were initially happy to find that it still binds, but it falls off very quickly. We identified the two structural changes that cause this."

The team showed that, for all the variants, J08 binds to a very small section of the virus—a section that generally stays the same even as the virus mutates. Moreover, J08 could attach in two completely different orientations, like a key that manages to unlock a door whether it is right side up or upside down.

"This small, flexible footprint is part of why J08 is able to withstand so many mutations—they don't impact the antibody binding unless they happen to be in this one very small part of the virus," says co-first author Jonathan Torres, lab manager of the Ward lab at Scripps Research.

The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, however, had two mutations (known as E484A and Q493H) that changed the small area of the virus that directly interfaces with J08, anchoring it in place. Ward and his collaborators found that if just one of these mutations is present, J08 still manages to bind and neutralize the virus strongly, but mutations in both are what make it less effective against the Omicron variant.

The researchers say the new results support the continued clinical trials of the monoclonal antibody based on J08.

"I think we're pretty confident that future variants won't necessarily have both of these two critical mutations at the same time like Omicron," says Ozorowski, "so that makes us hopeful that J08 will continue being very effective."

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

Persistent viral shedding common in hospitalized COVID-19 patients

For patients hospitalized with COVID-19, persistent viral shedding occurs frequently and is associated with in-hospital delirium and increased six-month mortality, according to a study published online May 11 in GeroScience.

medicalxpress.com

(fair use applies)

Persistent viral shedding common in hospitalized COVID-19 patients
May 13, 2022

For patients hospitalized with COVID-19, persistent viral shedding occurs frequently and is associated with in-hospital delirium and increased six-month mortality, according to a study published online May 11 in GeroScience.

Ayush Batra, M.D., from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, and colleagues conducted a retrospective analysis of persistent viral shedding among Northwestern Medicine Healthcare patients between March and August 2020. Predictors of persistent viral shedding, in-hospital delirium, and six-month mortality were examined.

The researchers found that 959 of the 2,518 hospitalized patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 underwent repeat severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay testing at least 14 days from initial positive testing. Of these, 42.2 percent had persistent viral shedding. There were associations seen for persistent viral shedding with male sex, increased body mass index, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, and exposure to corticosteroids during initial COVID-19 hospitalization. After adjustment for factors, including severity of respiratory dysfunction, persistent viral shedding was independently associated with the incidence of in-hospital delirium (odds ratio, 2.45). The association between persistent viral shedding and increased six-month mortality remained significant even after adjustment for age, severity of respiratory dysfunction, and occurrence of in-hospital delirium (odds ratio, 2.43).

"We were intrigued to see the strong and large association between persistent viral shedding and long-term posthospital mortality, even after adjusting for age, severity of respiratory dysfunction, and presence of delirium," Batra said in a statement. "This suggests that the presence of persistently positive RT-PCR tests has important clinical implications for patients."

 

[psychgirl]

I agree. Back in March 2020 I posted that I felt like I was standing on the shore watching the water recede before a tsunami wave came onshore trying to warn everyone to get out of the water and seek higher ground. I haven't felt that way since then about Covid because very quickly everyone saw the wave roll in for themselves. Until now. I feel like it's been two years and everyone has comfortably has gone back into the water. And now the water is receding again, as the next tsunami is about to come in - only this time it will be worse. This is going to make the wuhan, Delta, omicron variants pale in comparison. And because everyone has covid fatigue, no one is interested in warnings. They're 'done' with covid. But if Geert is right, and I believe he is, covid isn't done with us. And it's coming back with a vengeance.

HD

Good Lord.
This is really bad.

 

[Zoner]

I agree. Back in March 2020 I posted that I felt like I was standing on the shore watching the water recede before a tsunami wave came onshore trying to warn everyone to get out of the water and seek higher ground. I haven't felt that way since then about Covid because very quickly everyone saw the wave roll in for themselves. Until now. I feel like it's been two years and everyone has comfortably has gone back into the water. And now the water is receding again, as the next tsunami is about to come in - only this time it will be worse. This is going to make the wuhan, Delta, omicron variants pale in comparison. And because everyone has covid fatigue, no one is interested in warnings. They're 'done' with covid. But if Geert is right, and I believe he is, covid isn't done with us. And it's coming back with a vengeance.

HD

Excellent analogy HD

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

CDC: No Documents Supporting Claim Vaccines Don't Cause Variants

www.theepochtimes.com

(fair use applies)

HIGHLIGHTING MINE

CDC: No Documents Supporting Claim Vaccines Don’t Cause Variants
By Zachary Stieber
May 13, 2022

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says it does not have documents backing its claim that COVID-19 vaccines do not cause variants of the virus that causes COVID-19.

The CDC’s website calls it a myth that the vaccines cause variants.

“FACT: COVID-19 vaccines do not create or cause variants of the virus that causes COVID-19. Instead, COVID-19 vaccines can help prevent new variants from emerging,” the website states.

“New variants of a virus happen because the virus that causes COVID-19 constantly changes through a natural ongoing process of mutation (change). As the virus spreads, it has more opportunities to change. High vaccination coverage in a population reduces the spread of the virus and helps prevent new variants from emerging,” it also says.

The Informed Consent Action Network (ICAN), a nonprofit, asked the CDC in Freedom of Information Act requests for documentation supporting the claim.

In one request, the group asked for “All documents sufficient to support that COVID-19 vaccines do not create or cause variants of the virus that causes COVID-19.”

Another requested “All documents sufficient to support that the immunity conferred by COVID-19 vaccines does not contribute to virus evolution and the emergence of variants.”

The CDC has now responded to both requests, saying a search “found no records responsive” to them.

The first response came in January (pdf); the second came on May 4 (pdf).

If the CDC is making declaratory statements, the agency should have documents supporting them, Aaron Siri, an attorney representing ICAN, told The Epoch Times.

The responses are “very troubling,” Siri said. “I thought the CDC was a data-driven organization, that they made their decisions based on the studies and the science and the data.”

The CDC did not respond to a request for comment.

ICAN has been one of the more prolific requesters of information from the CDC during the pandemic. Many requests have yielded information. Others have not.

In this case, the CDC should act to ensure continued public trust, Siri says.

“Remove the language or provide the evidence,” he said. “There obviously are going to be instances where recommendations from the CDC might prove helpful or useful. And I think they do a disservice to everybody by hurting their own credibility by making statements that they either don’t have support or won’t produce the support for.”

Scientists outside the CDC have also said that vaccines can help prevent new variants.

“As more people get vaccinated, we expect virus circulation to decrease, which will then lead to fewer mutations,” the World Health Organization says on its site.

But many of the claims relied on the vaccines being able to stop infection from the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes COVID-19. The vaccines are increasingly unable to do so, particularly against the newest dominant strain, Omicron.

Dr. Geert Vanden Bossche, a virologist, is among those who say that the vaccines themselves are behind new variants.

“All COVID-19 vaccines fail in blocking viral transmission, especially transmission of more infectious variants. This is a huge problem as viral transmission is now increasingly taking place among healthy people in general and vaccinees in particular (as their S-specific Abs do not sufficiently neutralize S variants),” Vanden Bossche says on his website. “The resulting suboptimal S-directed immune pressure serves as a breeding ground for even more infectious variants.”

The law firm that sent the FOIA to the CDC works for Del Bigtree of the Highwire. He posted a video about this story:

CDC FAILS TO PROVE COVID SHOT VARIANT CLAIM

The CDC continues to claim that it is a “myth” that “COVID-19 vaccines cause variants.” ICAN filed a Freedom of Information Act request asking for its evidence that vaccines do not cause variants. You

rumble.com

CDC FAILS TO PROVE COVID SHOT VARIANT CLAIM
The HighWire with Del Bigtree
7 min 46 sec

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

This story was updated but apparently I've reached my limit of pages I can see on the site. I'll post what I can, if anyone can bring the entire article over that would be great.

https://www.nknews.org/2022/05/kim-jong-un-says-north-korea-faces-turmoil-after-fever-claims-21-more-lives/ (fair use applies)

North Korea reports 21 more deaths due to ‘fever’ amid nationwide COVID outbreak
State media says over half a million people affected by fever symptoms since April as DPRK battles COVID-19 outbreak
Ifang Bremer May 14, 2022

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said the country faces “great upheaval” as state media reported another 21 deaths and some 174,000 new cases of “fever” on Saturday.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Kim led an emergency meeting on Saturday, where it was revealed that over half a million North Koreans have suffered “fever symptoms” since an “explosive” spread began in Pyongyang in late April.

[that's all I can see on the page]

I was able to view the page today so will cut and paste the article in full now.

North Korea reports 21 more deaths due to 'fever' amid nationwide COVID outbreak | NK News

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said the country faces “great upheaval” as state media reported another 21 deaths and some 174,000 new cases of “fever” on Saturday. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Kim led an emergency meeting on Saturday, where it was revealed that over half a...

www.nknews.org

(fair use applies)

North Korea reports 21 more deaths due to ‘fever’ amid nationwide COVID outbreak
State media says over half a million people affected by fever symptoms since April as DPRK battles COVID-19 outbreak
Ifang Bremer May 14, 2022

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said the country faces “great upheaval” as state media reported another 21 deaths and some 174,000 new cases of “fever” on Saturday.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Kim led an emergency meeting on Saturday, where it was revealed that over half a million North Koreans have suffered “fever symptoms” since an “explosive” spread began in Pyongyang in late April.

“The spread of the coronavirus is very serious in the world, and means great upheaval for our country,” the North Korean leader said. Although the KCNA report mentioned fever symptoms are spreading nationwide, Kim assessed fevers are “not yet spreading uncontrollably between regions” and called for rigorous enforcement of regional lockdowns and quarantine.

State media did not detail to what parts of the country the coronavirus has spread or where fever symptoms have been detected. It also claimed that, of the 28 deaths reported since Pyongyang disclosed the outbreak on May 12, only one person tested positive for COVID-19.

KCNA attributed the other deaths to “to incompetence and irresponsibility of the party organizations in the epidemic prevention work,” but did not provide further details.

No North Koreans in the country are known to be vaccinated, and state media has suggested at various times since the pandemic began that vaccines are ineffective. Kim Jong Un apparently said that top party officials would get “medicine” to distribute to those most in need, but no further details were provided.

The Rodong Sinmun suggested treating COVID-19 symptoms by “rinsing your mouth with salt water,” “eating and drinking dairy products,” taking antibiotics and “interferon α-2b” anti-viral treatment.

For mild cases, the newspaper also advised ingesting “3-5 grams of honeysuckle flowers and willow tree leaves after soaking them in water,” and “angunguhwanghwan,” a North Korean traditional medicine that has been taken off the market by Vietnamese authorities for containing dangerous levels of mercury and lead.

“We can overcome the crisis if we maintain strong organization power and control” based on the unity of the ruling party and the people,” the North Korean leader said. He reportedly advised officials to study “quarantine policies, successes and experiences” of other countries, especially China, and “actively follow” their experiences, in a rare public order to learn from foreign countries.

Kim’s reference to China’s COVID-19 policy suggests that the DPRK may take similar measures as Beijing, with strictly enforced large-scale lockdowns that keep people from leaving their homes.

Since late April, 524,440 people have been inflicted with fever symptoms, state media added, with 288,810 patients still receiving “treatment.” 234,630 patients are said to have been fully recovered, KCNA added.

Experts have told NK PRO that North Korea’s malnourished, unvaccinated population makes it extremely vulnerable to the virus as very few, if any, in North Korea have ever been exposed to the virus before, and not one of the DPRK’s 25 million people is known to be vaccinated.

Edited by Arius Derr

 

[naegling62]

In the region:

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

In the region:

View attachment 339566

View attachment 339568

View attachment 339569

Very interesting. Thanks. The thing is NK has pretty much closed borders so it's curious how it got into the country in the first place. I can see how it's spreading raidly, the variant they have must be very contagious, and it sounds like it's pretty serious for some of the NK people.

HD

 

[Ractivist]

I've not read Geerts work. But I do know the mortality rate is way up for those who took the shot. It almost appears as if this concern of a new wave of covid deaths, is being blamed for the reality, the shot is killing people...and will be killing people in the months and years to come.

My question, is the new wave of omicron real, or is it being manifest so as to hide the fact all the deaths are actually from the shots? We've been hearing the next three years will be the die off period from the shot. Is this OMG omicron real, or a diversion?

Cant trust anyone, geertz?

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

I've not read Geerts work. But I do know the mortality rate is way up for those who took the shot. It almost appears as if this concern of a new wave of covid deaths, is being blamed for the reality, the shot is killing people...and will be killing people in the months and years to come.

My question, is the new wave of omicron real, or is it being manifest so as to hide the fact all the deaths are actually from the shots? We've been hearing the next three years will be the die off period from the shot. Is this OMG omicron real, or a diversion?

Cant trust anyone, geertz?

In my own humble opinion, I trust Geert. It's up to you if you want to trust him or not. No one can tell you who to trust, as you well know. It sounds like you think Omicron is fake and all the deaths attributed to it are from the vaccine, not Omicron. You're probably not alone in that theory but I think the deaths from Omicron are from Omicron, the death's from the vacccine are from the vaccine. Btw, Geert's theory also blames the vaccines for all the deaths, but through Omicron, not because Omicron is fake.

If you watch any of the 3 videos I posted in the last few days you will see what he says and it will answer your questions. According to my understanding of what he is saying (and it's pretty scientific so I could have gotten it wrong) Omicron is a mutation that propagated (became the dominant strain) because the virus was overcoming immune pressure put on it by vaccinating into a pandemic, which caused covid to find a strain that would give it what it needed to become more contagious. The next step in it's overcoming immune pressure will be to find the strain that will make it more virulent.

Watch any one of the videos. It's just one man's opinion. An expert's opinion, but just one man's opinion for you to believe or not believe as you decide to prep or not prep for it.

Speaking of which, Del Bigtree did a round table with 3 prominent anti-vax doctors and he brought up Geert's theory to see what they thought. All 3 said they hoped it wasn't true, but that it was possible and a risk that remains out there.

The discussion about Geert starts at around 43 minutes in and goes about 17 minutes to the 1 hour mark.

MALONE, COLE, URSO: A DOCTORS ROUNDTABLE

Three of the most prolific doctors in the Global Covid Summit, Dr. Robert Malone, Dr. Ryan Cole, and Dr. Richard Urso joined Del for an in-depth discussion on why they aligned to form the G.C.S. and t

rumble.com

MALONE, COLE, URSO: A DOCTORS ROUNDTABLE
The HighWire with Del Bigtree
1 hr 15 min 21 sec
Published May 13, 2022


HD

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

Fauci-Funded Lab Director Alerted Wuhan Officials Ahead Of Potential COVID-19 Origins Investigation. » The National Pulse+

James LeDuc – a lab director funded by Anthony Fauci – provided an early warning to Wuhan Institute of Virology researchers ahead of a potential U.S. investigation into the lab for its role in the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Pulse previously unearthed the Texas-based lab’s multi-year...

thenationalpulse.com

(fair use applies)

Fauci-Funded Lab Director Alerted Wuhan Officials Ahead Of Potential COVID-19 Origins Investigation.
…and the Chinese lab’s “bat woman” told him it wasn’t the right time to talk.
by Natalie Winters
May 14, 2022

James LeDuc – a lab director funded by Anthony Fauci – provided an early warning to Wuhan Institute of Virology researchers ahead of a potential U.S. investigation into the lab for its role in the COVID-19 pandemic.

The National Pulse previously unearthed the Texas-based lab’s multi-year collaborative relationship with the Wuhan Institute of Virology, including hosting exchange programs and training researchers at the lab’s Biosafety Level 4 (BSL) facility. Directors from the Wuhan lab and the Galveston National Laboratory, which describes itself as “constructed under grants awarded by [Fauci’s] National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID),” admitted to working with the “world’s most dangerous pathogens” in 2018.

The Wuhan Institute of Virology also had the right to make its American counterpart “destroy and/or return the secret files, materials and equipment without any backups.”

New emails obtained via a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request filed by Judicial Watch reveal a deep relationship between the Texas lab’s director James LeDuc and top Wuhan Institute of Virology personnel.

LeDuc, whose earliest grant can be traced to 2006, has received 32 grants from Anthony Fauci’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

On April 16th, 2020, former Commander of the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases David Franz emailed LeDuc that he “heard from someone in government this evening that Senator Rubio is starting to push for AN investigation regarding Wuhan lab” regarding the origins of COVID-19.

LeDuc quickly forwarded the email to the Wuhan Institute of Virology’s top bat coronavirus researcher – dubbed the lab’s “bat woman” – to alert her of the possible investigation and additionally requested a phone call with her.

LeDuc’s emails.

The following day, Shi responded, insisting it wasn’t the “right time to communicate by the call” before defending her lab against accusations COVID-19 escaped from it.

“What I can tell you is that this virus is not a leaky [sic] from our lab or any other labs. It’s a shame to make this scientific question so complicated,” she asserted.

LeDuc’s emails.

LeDuc responded promptly, referencing his “long history of collaboration” with the Wuhan lab, adding a “draft summary” of a report sent to “the leadership of our University of Texas system and likely to Congressional committees.”

“Please review carefully and make any changes that you would like. I want this to be as accurate as possible and I certainly do not want to misrepresent any of your valuable contributions,” LeDuc offered to Shi.

Separate emails from April 20th, 2020 show Le Duc informing Shi and the Director of the Wuhan National Biosafety Laboratory at the Chinese Academy of Sciences Dr. Yuan Zhiming that he was “afraid” the Wuhan lab would be highly scrutinized for its potential role in creating COVID-19:

I’m afraid that this discussion will continue for some time regarding where early coronavirus work was being done, the role, if any, of the Wuhan CDC in research on bat-associated coronaviruses, and exactly when scientists at WIV [Wuhan Institute of Virology] first became aware of the new coronavirus and had possession of specimens in the WIV and where was that work done (level of biocontainment).

LeDuc even prepped Wuhan Institute of Virology officials with dozens of questions that could potentially arise in an investigation of the origins of the COVID-19. Questions were categorized under the headings “physical security,”
“personnel,” “geography,” and “where is coronavirus research conducted,” including “is anyone on your team conducting gain of function studies, recombination studies or any other studies that may have resulted in the creation of the nCoV?”

The revelation adds to mounting evidence that the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) had a deep relationship with the Wuhan Institute of Virology, despite Fauci’s insistence otherwise.
.

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

Zerohedge

ZeroHedge - On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero

www.zerohedge.com

(fair use applies)

US Hits Grim Milestone Of 1 Million COVID Deaths
by Tyler Durden
Saturday, May 14, 2022 - 09:00 PM

More than two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States has hit another grim milestone.

805 days after the CDC recorded the first official Covid-19 death in the U.S. on February 27, 2020, President Biden mourned the death of one million Americans, speaking of "irreplaceable losses, each leaving behind a family, a community forever changed because of this pandemic."

"As a nation, we must not grow numb to such sorrow. To heal, we must remember," Biden said in an official statement.​

Of course, Biden could not help but politicize the event and spin a victory lap...

When President Biden took office, millions were unemployed and there was no vaccine available.​

​

In the last 15 months, the economy has created 8.3M jobs and the unemployment rate stands at 3.6% — the fastest decline in unemployment to start a President's term ever recorded.​

​

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 12, 2022​

Except not even the mainstream media could let that lie slide...

“It’s just not true that ‘there was no vaccine available,’ at the time Biden took office,” CNN wrote.​

“About 3.5 million people were fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and about 19 million people had received at least one vaccine dose as of Biden’s inauguration day on January 20, 2021, according to statistics published by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”​

And Biden's Chief Medial Adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci could not help himself, lamenting that many of those deaths could have been avoidable if only people had listened to him...

"The idea of one million deaths in an outbreak is historic in nature, Dr. Fauci said in an interview with PBS, adding that "It's estimated that, if people had been vaccinated to a much greater extent right now, that vaccines would have avoided at least a quarter of those deaths, namely about 250,000,"​

As Statista's Felix Richter details below, after a brief respite in the spring/summer of 2021, when vaccinations and warmer weather combined to slow down the spread of the virus and consequently the number of deaths, the Delta wave that hit in late summer/early fall made things worse again. As the following chart shows, the rate of Covid deaths re-accelerated in late 2021 and early 2022, before thankfully slowing down in the last three months.


You will find more infographics at Statista

While it took just 50 days to go from 800,000 deaths in December 2021 to 900,000 on February 3. It has taken twice as long to go from 900,000 to one million Covid casualties.

Ans finally, we note that more Americans have died from COVID during President Biden's term than died during President Trump's.

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

Young Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Recipients More Likely to Get Infected After 5 Months

www.theepochtimes.com

(fair use applies)

Young Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Recipients More Likely to Get Infected After 5 Months
By Zachary Stieber
May 14, 2022

The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine turned negatively effective after five months, according to a new study.

Researchers with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) analyzed test results from sites across the United States and determined that the vaccine was 60 percent effective two to four weeks after 12- to 15-year-olds got the second of the two-dose primary regimen.

But the effectiveness, measured against symptomatic illness, quickly plummeted, hitting 20 percent around month two and zero around month five.

After that, recipients in the age group were more likely to be infected by the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, also known as SARS-CoV-2, the virus causes COVID-19.

Vaccine effectiveness “was no longer significantly different from 0 during month 3 after the second dose,” the researchers wrote in the study, which was published by the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Pfizer, its partner BioNTech, and the CDC didn’t respond to requests for comment.

The analyzed tests were performed between Dec. 26, 2021, and Feb. 21, 2022. Some 47,700 tests among 12- to 15-year-olds were included, with about half being unvaccinated. The testing data was on the Increasing Community Access to Testing, a program funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that contracts with pharmacy chains to perform drive-through testing. The testing data was supplemented by information in questionnaires filled out by adults with the adolescents.

Limitations of the study included vaccination being self-reported.

The study was funded by the U.S. government.

The study also found that vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic infection plunged quickly for those 5 to 11 years old, starting at 60 percent but hitting 23 percent just one month later.

One way to combat the negative effectiveness, researchers said, was to get a booster dose.

Of the 906 12- to 15-year-olds who got a third, or booster, dose, the effectiveness was measured at 71 percent two to six weeks after receipt.

Other studies, though, show that the protection from a booster, like that from the primary regimen, quickly wanes.

“Given the well-established pattern of waning mRNA VE after 2 doses and early evidence of waning of booster dose protection in adults, monitoring the duration of protection from booster doses in adolescents will be important,” researchers said.

Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are built on messenger RNA (mRNA) technology. VE refers to vaccine effectiveness.

In another study published by the same journal on May 13, New York researchers reported the gap of infection and hospitalization risk between unvaccinated and vaccinated youth narrowing over time, with vaccinated 5- to 11-year-olds being infected at a rate of 62 per 100,000 and unvaccinated being infected at a rate of 70 per 100,000.

That was an incidence rate ratio of 1.1; the rate ratio for 12- to 17-year-olds was 2.

The protection also waned considerably against hospitalization over time, researchers found.

They said that the findings support “efforts to increase vaccination coverage in children and adolescents.”

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

North Korea confirms 21 new deaths as it battles COVID-19

North Korea on Saturday reported 21 new deaths and 174,440 more people with fever symptoms as the country scrambles to slow the spread of COVID-19 across its unvaccinated population.

medicalxpress.com

(fair use applies)

North Korea confirms 21 new deaths as it battles COVID-19
by Kim Tong-Hyung
May 1

North Korea on Saturday reported 21 new deaths and 174,440 more people with fever symptoms as the country scrambles to slow the spread of COVID-19 across its unvaccinated population.

The new deaths and cases, which were from Friday, increased total numbers to 27 deaths and 524,440 illnesses amid a rapid spread of fever since late April. North Korea said 243,630 people had recovered and 280,810 remained in quarantine. State media didn't specify how many of the fever cases and deaths were confirmed as COVID-19 infections.

The country imposed what it described as maximum preventive measures on Thursday after confirming its first COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic. It had previously held for more than two years to a widely doubted claim of a perfect record keeping out the virus that has spread to nearly every place in the world.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a ruling party Politburo meeting on Saturday described the outbreak as a historically "great upheaval" and called for unity between the government and people to stabilize the outbreak as quickly as possible.

Officials during the meeting mainly discussed ways to swiftly distribute medical supplies the country has released from its emergency reserves, Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency said. In a report presented to the Politburo, the North's emergency epidemic office blamed most of the deaths on "mistakes like overmuch taking of drugs, bereft of scientific medical treatment."

Kim, who said he was donating some of his private medicine supplies to help the anti-virus campaign, expressed optimism that the country could bring the outbreak under control, saying most transmissions are occurring within communities that are isolated from one another and not spreading from region to region.

He called for officials to take lessons from the successful pandemic responses of other nations and picked an example in China, the North's major ally.

China, however, has been facing pressure to change its so-called "zero-COVID" strategy that has brought major cities to a standstill as it struggles to slow the fast-moving omicron variant.

North Korea since Thursday has imposed steps aimed at restricting the movement of people and supplies between cities and counties, but state media's descriptions of the measures indicate people aren't being confined to their homes.

Experts say a failure to control the spread of COVID-19 could have devastating consequences in North Korea, considering the country's poor health care system and that its 26 million people are largely unvaccinated.

Tests of virus samples collected Sunday from an unspecified number of people with fevers in the country's capital, Pyongyang, confirmed they were infected with the omicron variant, state media said. The country has so far officially confirmed one death as linked to an omicron infection.

Lacking vaccines, antiviral pills, intensive care units and other major health tools to fight the virus, North Korea's pandemic response will be mostly about isolating people with symptoms at designated shelters, experts say.

North Korea doesn't have technological and other resources to impose extreme lockdowns like China, which has shut down entire cities and confined residents to their homes, nor it could afford to do so at the risk of unleashing further shock on a fragile economy, said Hong Min, an analyst at Seoul's Korea Institute for National Unification.

Even as he called for stronger preventive measures to slow the spread of COVID-19, Kim has also stressed that the country's economic goals should be met, which likely means huge groups will continue to gather at agricultural, industrial and construction sites.

North Korea's claim of a perfect record in keeping out the virus for 2 1/2 years was widely doubted. But its extremely strict border closure, large-scale quarantines and propaganda that stressed anti-virus controls as a matter of "national existence" may have staved off a huge outbreak until now.

Experts are mixed on whether the North's announcement of the outbreak communicates a willingness to receive outside help.

The country had shunned millions of doses offered by the U.N.-backed COVAX distribution program, possibly because of concerns over international monitoring requirements attached to those shots.

North Korea has a higher tolerance for civilian suffering than most other nations and some experts say the country could be willing to accept a certain level of fatalities to gain immunity through infection, rather than receiving vaccines and other outside help.

South Korea's new conservative government led by President Yoon Suk Yeol, who took office on Tuesday, has offered to send vaccines and other medical supplies to North Korea, but Seoul officials say the North has so far made no request for help. Relations between the rival Koreas have worsened since 2019 following a derailment in nuclear negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang.

However, Kim's call for his officials to learn from China's experience indicates that the North could soon request COVID-19-related medicine and testing equipment from China, said analyst Cheong Seong-Chang at South Korea's Sejong Institute.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said Friday that Beijing was ready to offer North Korea help but said he had no information about any such request being made.

North Korea's viral spread could have been accelerated after an estimated tens of thousands of civilians and troops gathered for a massive military parade in Pyongyang on April 25, where Kim took center stage and showcased the most powerful missiles of his military nuclear program.

After maintaining one of the world's strictest border closures for two years to shield its poor health care system, North Korea had reopened railroad freight traffic with China in January apparently to ease the strain on its economy. China confirmed the closure of the route last month as it battled COVID-19 outbreaks in the border areas.

Hours after the North acknowledged its first COVID-19 infections on Thursday, South Korea's military detected the North test-firing three ballistic missiles in what appeared to be a defiant show of strength.

Kim has been accelerating his weapons demonstrations in 2022, including the country's first intercontinental ballistic missile in nearly five years. Experts say Kim's brinkmanship is aimed at forcing Washington to accept the idea of the North as a nuclear power and negotiating a removal of crippling U.S.-led sanctions and other concessions from a stronger position.

South Korean and U.S. officials also say the North is possibly preparing to conduct its first nuclear test since 2017, which they say could happen as early as this month.

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

Over 1 million North Koreans mobilized to fight COVID-19 as outbreak continues | NK News

Fifteen more North Koreans have died after suffering from “fever,” state media reported on Sunday, while another 260,000 are afflicted by fever symptoms as the country battles a nationwide COVID-19 outbreak. North Korea does not likely have the testing capacity to confirm positive COVID cases at...

www.nknews.org

(fair use applies)

Over 1 million North Koreans mobilized to fight COVID-19 as outbreak continues
'Fever' cases in the hundreds of thousands as Kim Jong Un attends funeral for Pyongyang elite Yang Hyong Sop
Ifang Bremer
May 15, 2022

Fifteen more North Koreans have died after suffering from “fever,” state media reported on Sunday, while another 260,000 are afflicted by fever symptoms as the country battles a nationwide COVID-19 outbreak.

North Korea does not likely have the testing capacity to confirm positive COVID cases at a nationwide level, and appears to be using “fever” as a euphemism.

Over three dozen deaths and hundreds of thousands of cases have been attributed to fever since state media said last week that the omicron strain of COVID-19 spread from Pyongyang in late April.

The Rodong Sinmun reported on Sunday that some 1.3 million North Koreans have been mobilized to fight the spread of the virus, while the Korean Central News Agency said that “epidemic prevention posts” have been erected to “totally check the inroads and spread of the malignant virus.”

State media also continued to suggest that most deaths since the omicron outbreak began were not due to the virus but “careless” drug use due to “lack of knowledge and understanding of stealth omicron variant virus infection disease and its correct treatment method.”

The DPRK’s healthy ministry has started to compile “treatment guidelines, methods and tactics,” according to the state newspaper, while emergency meetings were held in Okryu Children’s Hospital and the Pyongyang Maternity Hospital.

Party officials have reportedly started donating “spare medicine” amid efforts to supply all parts of the country with sufficient medication. North Korea likely lacks the medical supplies to treat its population for COVID-19 symptoms, particularly after two and a half years of austere trade restrictions.

The Rodong Sinmun did not make any mention of a vaccine drive in the country, however, even though no North Koreans in the country are known to be vaccinated. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has offered to help the North procure vaccines and other medical supplies.

North Korea first reported the outbreak of COVID-19 on May 12, after the highly contagious omicron variant had been detected a few days before.

Meanwhile, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited the bier of Yang Hyong Sop, one of the oldest members of the North Korean elite who died at the age of 96. State media did not mention COVID-19 in his obituary, but claimed the former vice president of the presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly died of a stroke on May 13.

In a single photo carried by the Rodong Sinmun, Kim can be seen wearing what appears to be a black, 3D style mask of a seemingly higher grade than the mask he wore during a politburo meeting earlier this week.

Edited by Arius Derr

 

[inskanoot]

You can also buy colloidal copper, same way as colloidal silver!
Hmmmm… should we add that to our arsenal??

I’d be interested in knowing Summerthyme’s opinion.


Is Colloidal Copper Good for Your Skin?

What is colloidal copper?

Colloidal copper is a popular health supplement. It’s similar to colloidal silver, which is also widely used for wellness and medical purposes.

To make colloidal copper supplements, microscopic molecules of copper are suspended in purified water. When purchased, it comes in a liquid, extract-like form that can be taken orally. It may also be used in other products.

According to the companies that sell colloidal copper, it’s more digestible than other forms of copper. Supposedly, this makes the health benefits from copper much more effective.

Is there any science behind the health claims?

There are many health claims for what colloidal copper can do.

Claimed benefits of colloidal copper include:

• treats wounds, infections, and burns
• supports cardiovascular health
• prevents osteoporosis
• helps the nervous system function
• acts as an antioxidant that supports human immunity
• stimulates collagen and elastin
• reduces wrinkles, discoloration, and age-related skin conditions

Some studies do show that copper is good for skin as a basic nutrient:

• A 2014 review referenced many studies connecting copper to great skin health. This includes wrinkle reduction, better elasticity, and healing wounds and skin issues, like athlete’s foot.
• 
  
• The review also referenced a 2009 study as still being valid for copper and skin. In this study, copper reduced the risks of bacterial and fungal infections in diabetics. It also helped chronic ulcers.
• 
  
• A 2015 study further found that copper dressings could increase collagen levels in skin. However, this study was performed on animals. This study may support using copper for youthful skin appearance and proper wound-healing ability.

However, there aren’t any studies showing that colloidal copper is any better than other copper products.
Still, colloidal copper contains ample copper amounts and can certainly be used for skin care.

How do you use colloidal copper for skin care?

How you use colloidal copper for skin depends on the type of product you purchase. It may come in a liquid form or in a spray or mixed in with another product.

Colloidal copper is usually applied topically but may be taken internally. Some people who use it may even do both for optimum benefit.

Instructions for using colloidal copper vary from product to product. Make sure to read the label for directions and safest use. Also make sure to get your product from companies with good reputations.

Below are typical products you may encounter:

• colloidal copper liquid extract
• colloidal copper toner spray
• colloidal copper cream
• colloidal copper lotion
• colloidal copper soaps

Does colloidal copper have side effects?

Copper is typically a safe mineral supplement. This applies to its use in colloidal copper liquid extract form, too.
If used topically, you have very little to worry about. A 2009 study on copper states that skin reactions and toxicity risk is extremely low.

Nevertheless, be sparing and cautious with topical use. Currently, there are no studies evaluating how much colloidal copper is topically safe for skin. Many drugs are absorbed well through the skin.

There are also no studies on how safe topical copper is combined with internal copper.

Internally, however, there may be some risks:

• Make sure not to exceed 10 milligrams (mg) of copper ingestion per day.
• If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, don’t take copper supplements and don’t apply topically unless your doctor is treating a copper deficiency.
• Children shouldn’t take copper internally.

Stop taking copper supplements immediately if you experience:

• nausea
• vomiting
• abdominal pain
• fever
• heart issues
• low blood pressure
• bloody diarrhea

See a doctor immediately if you have any of these symptoms. These may be signs of taking too much copper, which damages the liver and kidneys.

People who have liver or kidney issues should never take copper or other supplements without discussing them first with their doctor. It’s always best to take lower doses.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t consider supplements to be drugs, and they aren’t monitored as closely as medications or food. Do your research on brands of supplements for reputation, quality, and purity. Choose products manufactured in the United States.

Read labels on your colloidal copper supplements closely. Most minerals you need are already in a multivitamin. Make sure there’s a way to know how much you’re taking when using extracts internally.

The bottom line

Colloidal copper is a great copper supplement option, especially if it comes from a quality company with a good reputation.
For skin care and beauty, colloidal copper may be helpful. There are many product options to choose from and buy, like liquids, sprays, and creams.

Copper may help get rid of wrinkles and restore more youthful skin, studies suggest. External use may be best, though internal use could help, too.

If used carefully and in the right amounts, colloidal copper is a perfectly safe, potentially effective, and mostly natural way to improve skin appearance.

However, there are no studies showing colloidal copper is superior to other copper-containing products. More studies are needed. Nevertheless, it’s a useful option to explore.

Colloidal Copper: Benefits, Uses, and Side Effects

Colloidal copper is a popular health supplement. It’s similar to colloidal silver, which is also widely used for wellness and medical purposes.

www.healthline.com

 

[Zoner]

Bill Gates is not a doctor or expert to comment unless he’s got an agenda.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1525787634714525697

View: https://twitter.com/backtolife_2022/status/1525787634714525697?s=21&t=Fiyv6z0ypybLMCPpAna3_Q

 

[Zoner]

In my own humble opinion, I trust Geert. It's up to you if you want to trust him or not. No one can tell you who to trust, as you well know. It sounds like you think Omicron is fake and all the deaths attributed to it are from the vaccine, not Omicron. You're probably not alone in that theory but I think the deaths from Omicron are from Omicron, the death's from the vacccine are from the vaccine. Btw, Geert's theory also blames the vaccines for all the deaths, but through Omicron, not because Omicron is fake.

If you watch any of the 3 videos I posted in the last few days you will see what he says and it will answer your questions. According to my understanding of what he is saying (and it's pretty scientific so I could have gotten it wrong) Omicron is a mutation that propagated (became the dominant strain) because the virus was overcoming immune pressure put on it by vaccinating into a pandemic, which caused covid to find a strain that would give it what it needed to become more contagious. The next step in it's overcoming immune pressure will be to find the strain that will make it more virulent.

Watch any one of the videos. It's just one man's opinion. An expert's opinion, but just one man's opinion for you to believe or not believe as you decide to prep or not prep for it.

Speaking of which, Del Bigtree did a round table with 3 prominent anti-vax doctors and he brought up Geert's theory to see what they thought. All 3 said they hoped it wasn't true, but that it was possible and a risk that remains out there.

The discussion about Geert starts at around 43 minutes in and goes about 17 minutes to the 1 hour mark.

MALONE, COLE, URSO: A DOCTORS ROUNDTABLE

Three of the most prolific doctors in the Global Covid Summit, Dr. Robert Malone, Dr. Ryan Cole, and Dr. Richard Urso joined Del for an in-depth discussion on why they aligned to form the G.C.S. and t

rumble.com

MALONE, COLE, URSO: A DOCTORS ROUNDTABLE
The HighWire with Del Bigtree
1 hr 15 min 21 sec
Published May 13, 2022


HD

Like Dr. Malone said were in a whole different brand new intellectual playing field which requires the best experts coming together and analyzing the data. Thanks for the post

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

Like Dr. Malone said were in a whole different brand new intellectual playing field which requires the best experts coming together and analyzing the data. Thanks for the post

What Geert says is scary, even those 3 expert doctors agreed with Del that it was a frightening possibility. Most people don't want to consider scary, especially if it's a fringe theory and one that no one else is spouting. Geert really is alone out there with this warning. I tend to believe him. Not because I'm an expert or a scientist, obviously !, but because he's been right since day one and because he seems to be the one with the most expertise out of all of them when it comes to virology and immunology and vaccines. I of course hope he's wrong too, as it's possible all his theories up til now can be correct and this one can be the wrong one. But in my gut I think we're in for a world of trouble coming up really soon when it comes to covid. Something we haven't come close to seeing yet unfortunately. This just doesn't seem over for me, it seems like the eye of the hurricane, the calm before the worst part of the storm. And I know I'm in a very rare minority with that opinion, even here on TB. I'm sure if I posted the Geert videos on the main board instead of this thread (where everyone still reading here is still interested in covid and not dismissive of it) all the replies would be knocking the video and the prediction and saying to get over it, covid is over, stop holding on. I get it. I know that's the reaction, but what happens is group think forms opinions for those who didn't have one, so someone who may have been responsive sees all the poo-poo'ing, breathes a sigh of relief that they don't need to pay attention and moves on. So it takes someone who may have been receptive and makes them dismissive of it because of the comments they read. That's the opposite effect of what I would think Geert and Del and those 3 doctors would want - group think dismissing the warning. Which is why for now I keep these posts here where they will be appreciated and do the most good.

Bill Gates is not a doctor or expert to comment unless he’s got an agenda.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1525787634714525697

View: https://twitter.com/backtolife_2022/status/1525787634714525697?s=21&t=Fiyv6z0ypybLMCPpAna3_Q

That interview was mindblowing, I found the longer interview on youtube, the vaccine discussion above is in the first part so I didn't watch the whole thing yet, I was looking to find it on youtube so it could embed here. Bill Gates had FOUR vaccines, one booster a week or two before he caught covid. Anderson Cooper had THREE vaccines and caught covid at around the same time as Bill. And they sit there talking about when to take the next booster. AS IF the booster did them any good. !!! It's mind blowing the hypnosis these people are under about the vaccine. It didn't help them and they can't wait to get another one and to tell everyone else to get another one. Amazing to watch. I feel like I'm living in Bizarro land....

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFZnuJC20S4
8 min 57sec
a longer version of the interview in the tweet above between Bill Gates and Anderson Cooper

 

[psychgirl]

I agree 1000% with you about what could be coming at us is like a terrible freight train.

 

[Zoner]

What Geert says is scary, even those 3 expert doctors agreed with Del that it was a frightening possibility. Most people don't want to consider scary, especially if it's a fringe theory and one that no one else is spouting. Geert really is alone out there with this warning. I tend to believe him. Not because I'm an expert or a scientist, obviously !, but because he's been right since day one and because he seems to be the one with the most expertise out of all of them when it comes to virology and immunology and vaccines. I of course hope he's wrong too, as it's possible all his theories up til now can be correct and this one can be the wrong one. But in my gut I think we're in for a world of trouble coming up really soon when it comes to covid. Something we haven't come close to seeing yet unfortunately. This just doesn't seem over for me, it seems like the eye of the hurricane, the calm before the worst part of the storm. And I know I'm in a very rare minority with that opinion, even here on TB. I'm sure if I posted the Geert videos on the main board instead of this thread (where everyone still reading here is still interested in covid and not dismissive of it) all the replies would be knocking the video and the prediction and saying to get over it, covid is over, stop holding on. I get it. I know that's the reaction, but what happens is group think forms opinions for those who didn't have one, so someone who may have been responsive sees all the poo-poo'ing, breathes a sigh of relief that they don't need to pay attention and moves on. So it takes someone who may have been receptive and makes them dismissive of it because of the comments they read. That's the opposite effect of what I would think Geert and Del and those 3 doctors would want - group think dismissing the warning. Which is why for now I keep these posts here where they will be appreciated and do the most good.




That interview was mindblowing, I found the longer interview on youtube, the vaccine discussion above is in the first part so I didn't watch the whole thing yet, I was looking to find it on youtube so it could embed here. Bill Gates had FOUR vaccines, one booster a week or two before he caught covid. Anderson Cooper had THREE vaccines and caught covid at around the same time as Bill. And they sit there talking about when to take the next booster. AS IF the booster did them any good. !!! It's mind blowing the hypnosis these people are under about the vaccine. It didn't help them and they can't wait to get another one and to tell everyone else to get another one. Amazing to watch. I feel like I'm living in Bizarro land....

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFZnuJC20S4
8 min 57sec
a longer version of the interview in the tweet above between Bill Gates and Anderson Cooper

CNN isn’t watched so how many really heard the interview? But honestly how many really listen to Bill Gates anyway?
We don’t have long to find out and there’s not much any of us can do but take our antivirals pray and hope like the three experts for the best.

 

[Zoner]

My question is what they will call this virus once it mutates into a more lethal form. I heard omega

 

[psychgirl]

My question is what they will call this virus once it mutates into a more lethal form. I heard omega

I don’t like how that sounds

 

[northern watch]

From my email inbox

 

[northern watch]

From my email inbox




Was Chris Van Hollen vaxxed?

 

[lili]

I was also thinking that we have been in the calm before the storm.

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

My question is what they will call this virus once it mutates into a more lethal form. I heard omega

Is this a joke you heard or are you being serious? They're really going to call it omega, as in Alpha (first variant) - Omega (last variant)? Someone is making fun of us (the regular folk in the world (vs the deep state)) if this is true...

HD

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

There is another Geert interview, a lot of the same ground covered, some different ground covered because of the questions asked. It sounds like this was recorded around the same time but before his interview with Del Bigtree was posted based on some of the discussion toward the end.

Geert Vanden Bossche

Geert Vanden Bossche discusses natural immunity and why vaccine immunity will be very problematic for so many. Wayne Rohde, host of Right on Point is joined with Ben Smith

rumble.com

RightonPoint
58 min 54 sec
May 13 2022
Geert Vanden Bossche discusses natural immunity and why vaccine immunity will be very problematic for so many. Wayne Rohde, host of Right on Point is joined with Ben Smith

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

Updates on the dire situation going on right now in NK.

In case the graphic doesn't show up this is what it says:

For Monday May 16, 2022
Suspected cases
New
392,930
7 Day Average
125,936 (+56,133)
Deaths
New
8
7 Day Average
7 (+1)
Totals
Cases
1,213,550
Deaths
50

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1525976124613971973

View: https://mobile.twitter.com/medriva/status/1525976124613971973

BNO|Medriva Newsroom @medriva


North Korea reports nearly 400,000 new suspected coronavirus cases, the biggest one-day increase on record

7:07 PM · May 15, 2022

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

Kim Jong Un Orders Military to Stabilize Medical Supplies Amid North Korea's COVID-19 Outbreak

www.theepochtimes.com

(fair use applies)

Kim Jong Un Orders Military to Stabilize Medical Supplies Amid North Korea’s COVID-19 Outbreak
By Aldgra Fredly
May 16, 2022

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered the military to help stabilizing the supply of the medicines in Pyongyang, blaming officials for their “irresponsible work attitude” that he claims has caused the country’s outbreak.

North Korea reported eight fever-related deaths on Monday and detected 392,920 more people with fever-like symptoms, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The country’s official fever death toll has now reached 50, although authorities face challenges in confirming COVID-19-related deaths due to a limited testing ability.

The overall number of fever cases in North Korea reached 1.2 million as of May 15, of which more than 648,630 have recovered, and 564,860 were receiving medical treatment.

At a May 15 emergency politburo meeting, Kim said that medicines procured by the state had not been supplied to people in a timely and accurate manner through pharmacies.

He laid blame for the poor response on the cabinet and public health sector, criticizing “their irresponsible work attitude and execution ability,” KCNA reported, quoting the leader as saying that they “have not rolled up their sleeves” and were “not properly recognizing the present crisis.”

He then ordered the “powerful forces” of the military to be used in stabilizing the medication supply, urging officials to “not allow any slightest imperfection and vulnerable points” in the epidemic prevention system.

KCNA also reported that Kim visited pharmacies in the capital after the meeting, where he criticized the pharmacies for lacking the required equipment to safely dispense medicines.

“He referred to the situation in which salesperson offer service without proper sanitary clothing and a hygienic environment that does not reach the standard,” the state news agency said.

KCNA said that fever has spread “explosively” across the country since late April, with some having since been confirmed as Omicron cases.

Vaccinations

It remains unclear how many of North Korea’s 26 million population have been immunized for COVID-19, given that the nation has repeatedly rejected offers of vaccine supplies from the U.N.’s COVAX initiative, designed to help poorer countries with vaccine access.

Last year, the nuclear-armed nation turned down a COVAX offer of 3 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine and rejected planned shipments of AstraZeneca’s vaccine. In February, COVAX reduced its initial allocation of 8.11 million doses of vaccines to North Korea to 1.54 million doses.

Gavi, a global vaccine alliance that co-leads the COVAX program, stated that the initial number of doses allocated to North Korea was irrelevant due to COVAX focusing more on “needs-based” vaccine distributions.

Meanwhile, South Korea’s new President Yoon Suk-yeol has offered to send COVID-19 vaccines and other medical supplies to North Korea, Yonhap News Agency reported on May 10, although whether Kim accepts the offer remains to be seen. The regime is more likely to accept assistance from allies in China or Russia.

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

North Korea Reports 15 Suspected COVID-19 Deaths as Outbreak Spreads

www.theepochtimes.com

(fair use applies)

North Korea Reports 15 Suspected COVID-19 Deaths as Outbreak Spreads
By Lisa Bian
May 15, 2022

North Korea reported 15 new suspected COVID-19 deaths and 296,180 more people with “fever” symptoms nationwide, state media said on May 14, raising the nation’s death toll to 42 since it entered a state of emergency late last week, according to South Korea’s Yonhap News.

On May 12, North Korea declared a “severe emergency” after acknowledging its first official cases of COVID-19, with leader Kim Jong Un ordering a nationwide lockdown.

Since the start of the pandemic, North Korea has claimed to have kept the illness at bay even as the virus swept across the globe. The country’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) confirmed that several people in Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, had contracted the Omicron variant of the CCP virus, also known as BA.2.

KCNA reported 18,000 new cases with fever symptoms and six deaths, confirming one among them was infected with the Omicron variant of the CCP virus. Of the 350,000 people who developed fevers since late April, 162,200 have reportedly recovered, while the rest are in isolation and being treated.

Although North Korea’s state media calls them “fevered persons,” it’s widely speculated that the symptoms are caused by the CCP virus.

The nation was one of the first countries to close its borders in January 2020 in an effort to prevent the virus from spreading via foreign countries. However, experts have widely disputed North Korea’s claims regarding having zero COVID-19 cases for the past two years.

On May 14, KCNA reported 174,400 new cases and 21 deaths for the day before. The cases soared tenfold compared to the previous day, according to official data.

During an emergency meeting on May 14, Kim described the outbreak as “[the greatest] turmoil in our country since its foundation.” He told his officials to “actively follow [the CCP’s] advanced and rich anti-epidemic successes and experiences,” according to KCNA.

The virus outbreak in North Korea is “quite serious,” said Thae Yong-ho, a North Korean defector and South Korean National Assembly member. He indicated that North Korea’s use of “emergency medical supplies” was, in fact, “wartime medical supplies,” which indicated that the “medical supplies stored in its general medical facilities had run out.”

Thae also expressed concern about the potential for food shortage problems. He said that every year from mid-May to the end of June, all residents of North Korea, including soldiers, civil servants, and students over the age of 14, participate in rice planting work.

“[The virus outbreak] will likely destroy North Korea’s agricultural work for a year,” he said.

Lee Jae-gap, a South Korean infectious disease expert, told CBS that he predicts a high possibility of “more than 100,000 deaths” in North Korea amid its worst outbreak, and that the number of infected individuals “may surpass 1 million, or even millions.”

Lee explained that North Korea’s zero vaccination rate and poor medical systems would likely contribute to a “2 to 3 percent mortality rate for the nation and up to 10 percent [in the worst case].” Meanwhile, South Korea’s current COVID-19 death rate is about 0.1 percent.

Even though North Korea raised the level of provocation before the inauguration of South Korea’s new President Yoon Suk-yeol with its recent missile tests, Yoon has offered to send COVID-19 vaccines and other medical supplies to North Korea, Yonhap News reported.

South Korea’s new unification minister, Kwon Young-se, said during a national assembly hearing on May 12 that South Korea was willing to provide vaccines, painkillers, antipyretics, syringes, disinfectants, and other anti-epidemic medical supplies to North Korea, according to Yonhap.

A U.S. State Department spokesperson said it had no plans to send vaccines to North Korea, but supported international efforts to provide aid to vulnerable people there, urging Pyongyang to facilitate that work, Reuters reported.

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

North Korea reports 15 more suspected COVID-19 deaths

North Korea has confirmed 15 more deaths and hundreds of thousands of additional patients with fevers as it mobilizes more than a million health and other workers to try to suppress the country's first COVID-19 outbreak, state media reported Sunday.

medicalxpress.com

(fair use applies)

North Korea reports 15 more suspected COVID-19 deaths
by Hyung-Jin Kim
May 15, 2022

North Korea has confirmed 15 more deaths and hundreds of thousands of additional patients with fevers as it mobilizes more than a million health and other workers to try to suppress the country's first COVID-19 outbreak, state media reported Sunday.

After maintaining a widely disputed claim that it's been coronavirus-free for more than two years, North Korea announced Thursday that it had found its first COVID-19 patients since the pandemic began.

It said a fever has spread across the country "explosively" since late April but hasn't disclosed exactly how many COVID-19 cases were found. Some experts say North Korea lacks the diagnostic kits needed to test a large number of suspected COVID-19 patients.

The additional deaths reported Sunday took the country's reported fever-related fatalities to 42. The official Korean Central News Agency also reported that another 296,180 people with fevers had been tallied, taking the reported total to 820,620.

The outbreak has triggered concern about a humanitarian crisis in North Korea because most of the country's 26 million people are believed to be unvaccinated against the coronavirus and its public health care system has been in shambles for decades. Some experts say North Korea might suffer huge fatalities if it doesn't immediately receive outside shipments of vaccines, medicines and other medical supplies.

"Without COVID-19 test kits, North Korea is resorting to body temperature checks to guess at infections. But with such a very inferior and inaccurate method of examination, it's impossible to find asymptomatic virus carriers and control viral surges," said analyst Cheong Seong-Chang at South Korea's Sejong Institute.

"As North Korea's (suspected) COVID-19 infections are explosively increasing, its death toll is expected to continue to rise," Cheong added.

Since Thursday, North Korea has imposed a nationwide lockdown to fight the virus. That could further strain the country's fragile economy, which has suffered in recent years due to sharply reduced external trade caused by pandemic-related border shutdowns, punishing U.N. economic sanctions over its nuclear program and its own mismanagement, observers say.

During a meeting on the outbreak Saturday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un described the outbreak as a historically "great upheaval" and called for unity between the government and people to stabilize the outbreak as quickly as possible.

KCNA said Sunday that more than 1.3 million people have been engaged in works to examine and treat sick people and raise public awareness of hygiene. It said everyone with fevers and others with abnormal symptoms was being put in quarantine and treated. KCNA said the elevated pandemic response includes the establishment of more quarantine facilities, the urgent transportation of medical supplies to hospitals and increased disinfection efforts.

"All provinces, cities and counties of the country have been totally locked down and working units, production units and residential units closed from each other since the morning of May 12," KCNA said, "and strict and intensive examination of all the people is being conducted."

Of those with symptoms, 496,030 have recovered, while as of Saturday 324,550 were still receiving treatment, KCNA reported, citing the country's emergency epidemic prevention center.

State media reports said Kim and other senior North Korean officials are donating their private reserve medicines to support the country's anti-pandemic fight. During Saturday's meeting, Kim expressed optimism that the country could bring the outbreak under control, saying most transmissions are occurring within communities that are isolated from one another and not spreading from region to region.

Despite the outbreak, Kim has ordered officials to go ahead with planned economic, construction and other state projects, a suggestion that authorities aren't requiring people to confine themselves at home.

Hours after it admitted its virus outbreak Thursday, North Korea fired ballistic missiles toward the sea in a continuation of its recent streak of weapons tests.

KCNA said that Kim, accompanied by top deputies, visited a mourning station Saturday set up for senior official Yang Hyong Sop, who died a day earlier, to express his condolences and meet bereaved relatives. A separate KCNA dispatch said Sunday that officials and laborers in the northeast were launching initiatives to prevent an expected spring drought from damaging crop yields and quality.

South Korea and China have offered to send vaccines, medical supplies and other aid shipments to North Korea, but Pyongyang hasn't publicly responded to the overtures. North Korea previously rebuffed millions of doses of vaccines offered by the U.N.-backed COVAX distribution program amid speculation that it worried about possible side effects of vaccines or international monitoring requirements attached to those shots.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Thursday the United States supported international aid efforts but doesn't plan to share its vaccine supplies with the North. The North Korean virus outbreak could still be a major topic of discussion when President Joe Biden visits Seoul later this week for a summit with newly inaugurated South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.

South Korea's former spy chief Park Jie-won wrote Friday on Facebook that he had proposed in May 2021 as the then-director of the National Intelligence Service that Washington send 60 million doses of vaccines to North Korea as humanitarian aid via COVAX. He said there were later talks in the U.N. and the Vatican about shipping 60 million doses to North Korea as well, but such aid was never realized as no formal offers were made to North Korea.

Park said he hopes North Korea would accept Yoon's aid offers quickly, though he doubts whether the North would do so.

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

South Africa in new surge of COVID from versions of omicron

South Africa is experiencing a surge of new COVID-19 cases driven by two omicron sub-variants, according to health experts.

medicalxpress.com

(fair use applies)

Highlighting mine

South Africa in new surge of COVID from versions of omicron
by Andrew Meldrum
May 15, 2022

South Africa is experiencing a surge of new COVID-19 cases driven by two omicron sub-variants, according to health experts.

For about three weeks the country has seen increasing numbers of new cases and somewhat higher hospitalizations, but not increases in severe cases and deaths, said Professor Marta Nunes, a researcher at Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Analytics at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto.

"We're still very early in this increase period, so I don't want to really call it a wave," Nunes said. "We are seeing a slight, a small increase in hospitalizations and really very few deaths."

South Africa's new cases have gone from an average of 300 per day in early April to about 8,000 per day this week. Nunes says the actual number of new cases is probably much higher because the symptoms are mild and many who get sick are not getting tested.

South Africa's new surge is from two variations of omicron, BA.4 and BA.5, which appear to be very much like the original strain of omicron that was first identified in South Africa and Botswana late last year and swept around the globe.

"The majority of new cases are from these two strains. They are still omicron ... but just genomically somewhat different," said Nunes. The new versions appear to be able to infect people who have immunity from earlier COVID infections and vaccinations but they cause generally mild disease, she said. In South Africa, 45% of adults are fully vaccinated, although about 85% of the population is thought to have some immunity based on past exposure to the virus.

"It looks like the vaccines still protect against severe disease," Nunes said.

Nunes said that the BA.4 and BA.5 strains of omicron have spread to other countries in southern Africa and a few European countries, but it is too early to tell if they will spread across the globe, as omicron did.

The increase in COVID cases is coming as South Africa is entering the Southern Hemisphere's colder winter months and the country is seeing a rise in cases of flu.

At a COVID testing center in the Chiawelo area of Soweto, many people come in to be tested for COVID, but find out they have flu.

"Now we're in flu season ... so it's flu versus COVID-19," said Magdeline Matsoso, site manager at the Chiawelo vaccination center. She said people come for testing because they have COVID symptoms.

"When we do the tests, you find that the majority of them, they are negative when it comes to COVID, but they do have flu symptoms," said Matsoso. "So they get flu treatment and then they go home because the majority is related to flu and not COVID."

Vuyo Lumkwani was one of those who came to get tested.

"I wasn't feeling well when I woke up this morning. I woke up with body pains, a headache, blocked (nose), feeling dizzy, so I decided to come here," she said.

"I was terrified about my symptoms because I thought it might be COVID-19, but I told myself that I'd be OK because I have been vaccinated," said Lumkwani. She said she was relieved to be diagnosed with flu and advised to go home with some medications and rest.

 

[Heliobas Disciple]

Online sentiment about vaccines previews later vaccination rates, new Twitter study finds

Sentiments toward COVID-19 vaccines, whether positive or negative, previews subsequent vaccination rates, finds a study of related Twitter posts. The results offer new insights into the influence of social media on public health measures.

medicalxpress.com

(fair use applies)

Online sentiment about vaccines previews later vaccination rates, new Twitter study finds
by New York University
May 15, 2022

Sentiments toward COVID-19 vaccines, whether positive or negative, previews subsequent vaccination rates, finds a study of related Twitter posts. The results offer new insights into the influence of social media on public health measures.

The study, conducted by researchers at New York University's Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences and NYU Grossman School of Medicine, showed that positive sentiment, expressed on Twitter, toward vaccinations was followed, a week later, by increases in vaccination rates in the same geographic area while negative sentiment was followed, in the same region, by decreases in vaccination rates the following week.

The study deployed a real-time big data analytics framework using sentiment analysis and natural language processing (NLP) algorithms. The system takes real-time tweets and identifies tweets related to vaccines and classifies these by certain themes and provides sentiment analysis, cataloging tweets as positive, negative, or neutral.

"We need to understand vaccine hesitancy and social media's impact on creating and spreading it," says Megan Coffee, MD, Ph.D. and a clinical assistant professor in the Division of Infectious Disease and Immunology within the Department of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, one of the authors of the paper, which appears in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases. "This is a first step toward creating a barometer to track sentiment and themes related to vaccine hesitancy."

"As the COVID epidemic has placed more of us in front of computers and vaccine hesitancy has shaped the epidemic, we need tools like this one to track and understand social media's impact on vaccine hesitancy for this epidemic and for future epidemics," adds Anasse Bari, a clinical associate professor in computer science at NYU's Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences and an author of the paper.

Vaccination can help end the continuing surges and new variants of the COVID pandemic, the researchers note. But vaccine hesitancy, they observe, undermines the impact of vaccination individually and collectively. Compounding this is the role of social media, which increasingly amplifies both information and misinformation regarding vaccination, raising questions about how, specifically, these platforms affect vaccination rates.

To address this, the paper's authors developed a big data analytics application based on Natural Language Processing (NLP), Sentiment Analysis (SA), and Amazon Web Services (AWS).

This tool allowed the researchers to track several vaccine-related topics as they appeared in dozens of phrases. Topics included: conspiracy, fear, heath freedom, natural alternatives, side effects, safety, trust/distrust, vaccines companies, established sources, and hesitancy, among others. These topics and related phrases allowed them to attach "sentiment scores" to vaccination—positive, negative, or neutral.

They also used a commonly deployed dataset, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Dataport dataset, which tagged tweets' sentiment scores pertaining to the coronavirus by U.S. geographic location. The analyzed dataset included over 23,000 vaccine-related tweets from March 20, 2021 to July 20, 2021. The researchers also examined state-by-state daily U.S. COVID vaccination data.

Overall, the data showed that once vaccines were available for all adults—around mid-April 2021—an increase in positive sentiment in certain regions of the U.S. was followed by an increase in vaccination rate a week later. By contrast, in regions where there was a downturn in sentiment, a downturn in vaccination rates followed a week later.

Notably, the big data analytics framework showed that in the first several months of the pandemic, and before the vaccine rollout commenced at the end of 2020, positive and negative sentiment toward vaccines was similar, with slightly a higher positive sentiment. By contrast, after the vaccine rollout commenced, negative sentiment tweets exceeded positive ones.

"Because vaccination rates were found to track regionally with Twitter vaccine sentiment, a more advanced analytics tool could potentially predict changes in vaccine uptake or guide the development of targeted social media campaigns and vaccination strategies," says Bari, who leads the Courant Institute's Predictive Analytics and AI Research Lab.

"This method allows us to begin to identify patterns in vaccine hesitancy over time and place," adds Coffee. "But, it can only monitor, and not influence, vaccine hesitancy, which is constantly changing. More work is needed to build trust in life-saving vaccines and undo the influence of vaccine negativity."

The paper's other authors were Madeline DiLorenzo from NYU Grossman School of Medicine, as well as Matthias Heymann, Ryan Cohen, Robin Zhao, Levente Szabo, Shailesh Apas Vasandani, Aashish Khubchandani, and Alankrith Krishnan—researchers at the Courant Institute's Predictive Analytics and AI Research Lab.