Tag: herd immunity

confirmation hearing

Suggested questions for Donald Trump’s health nominees during confirmation hearings

It won't be long before we're treated to the spectacle of Senators grilling antivax nominees like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (HHS) and Dr. Dave Weldon (CDC). We exist to serve, which is why I'm suggesting some questions for Senators to ask all of Trump's health picks.

/ December 2, 2024

When Did “Herd Immunity” Become a Taboo Phrase?

Doctors who repeatedly predicted herd immunity in 2020 and 2021, mocking and berating those who disagreed, now treat herd immunity as a taboo phrase.

/ September 12, 2023

Sensible Medicine: Medical Misinformation and Medical Groupthink From the Medical Establishment

We all have biases, including in-group loyalty. It's often easy to see such bias in others, though nearly impossible to see in oneself.  As such, it's both normal and dangerous to imagine that only those who disagree with you are vulnerable to groupthink, while you are perfect beacon of independent, rational thought- along with everyone who agrees with you.

/ August 11, 2023
Plague doctor

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.

/ July 11, 2022
Recycling old antivax arguments as "bioethics"

Recycling old antivax tropes as “bioethics”-based arguments against COVID-19 vaccination for children

A recently published article in Bioethics makes ethical arguments against vaccinating children against COVID-19. If you change the word "COVID-19" to measles, chickenpox, or rotavirus (or others), this article could have been published on one of the higher-brow antivax websites in 2010. Antivax arguments never change; they're just continually recycled.

/ March 28, 2022

“We’ll Have Herd Immunity by April”: Reflections on a Failed Prediction

Surgical oncologist Dr. Marty Makary predicted in February that we would have herd immunity to COVID-19 in April. In late July now, it is clear that we do not, but Dr. Makary continues to make dubious and outright incorrect statements about COVID-19 on national platforms to which he has access. Why can't he just admit that his prediction had been in error?

/ July 25, 2021

COVID Vaccines Probably Prevent Spread

The evidence is preliminary, but it looks like the COVID vaccines do reduce the risk of spread of SARS-CoV-2.

/ March 10, 2021

Will Natural Herd Immunity End the Pandemic?

Is natural herd immunity a viable path to controlling the pandemic? Here is why that is a terrible idea.

/ October 14, 2020

The Pertussis Resurgence

A new analysis shows that the resurgence of pertussis is largely due historical patterns of vaccination. This and other data show the importance of full vaccine compliance in preventing returning epidemics of this deadly disease.

/ April 4, 2018

Measles gets a helping hand

In a recent post I shared a bit of my personal, near-death experience with measles during the US epidemic of 1989-1991. As I describe in that post, I contracted a very serious measles infection at the end of medical school, and was highly infectious when I interviewed for a residency position at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Like others my age who received an...

/ February 28, 2014