Category: Public Health
Is COVID-19 “the forever plague”?
A recent article claims that Omicron reinfections confer "no immunity" such that it's possible to be reinfected with Omicron variants every two to three weeks and calls COVID-19 the "forever plague". Although it makes a reasonable point that "natural" postinfection immunity doesn't last long because of variants, the article is undermines its reasonable criticisms of COVID policy with maximal fear mongering.
Melatonin poisonings in children are increasing
Melatonin use is increasing, and accelerated during the pandemic. Overdoses are also increasing in children, and in rare cases are linked to serious harms.
Possible Universal Coronavirus Vaccine
New research potentially points the way to a universal coronavirus vaccine and other applications.
Moral outrage is not a good guide to pandemic policy reform. Vinay Prasad, please take note.
Vinay Prasad identifies some dubious problems in the government's efforts to protect public health, and offers some questionable solutions.
COVID Associated With Neurodegenerative Disorders
COVID infection has been associated with an increased risk of neurodegenerative and neurovascular disease - another reason to keep our eye on this serious illness.
US Preventive Services Task Force Recommends Against Multivitamins
An updated review of the evidence reinforces that routine vitamin use is mostly worthless.
Medical debt vs. universal health insurance: The interface between SBM and policy
This blog has long argued that the best medicine is science-based medicine (SBM). The problem is that in the US SBM is often not accessible, except at ruinous cost, which is why I argue that we have to broaden our definition of SBM to include the systems that deliver it and pay for it.
Justin Bieber, Ramsay Hunt syndrome, SADS, and how to antivaxxers everything is always about vaccines
I never thought I'd be writing about Justin Bieber, but such are the strange times we live in, given how after Bieber announced that he had developed facial paralysis as a result of Ramsay Hunt syndrome antivaxxers swooped in to blame it on COVID-19 vaccines. Elsewhere, they blame every unexplained death of a young person on vaccines to the point of claiming...
Do Covid-19 Vaccines Affect Fertility?
Fears of future infertility are keeping some parents from vaccinating their children for COVID-19. These fears are not supported by any evidence.
Should We Fear the Monkeypox?
A recent outbreak of monkeypox is likely containable, but people are understandably concerned.