#SARS-CoV-2 resources

[rikaklassen]

Figured might as well post this here with mask bans becoming more common. The person who engineered the pandemic snorkel has ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome) and cannot afford to get sick.

[affixjoy]

I’m seeing a lot of folks reblogging my post about free covid tests talking about being low income, so I wanted to throw out another resource for yall!

Find your local mask bloc! They’ll have free high quality masks, and many also have free tests!

Maskbloc.org has a great list of them including some outside the US!

[covid-safer-hotties]

hey do you have a quick link to something talking about how keeping your heart rate down while recovering is helpful? friend just got covid for a 3rd time and i want to try and convince them this time that it’s something to take seriously

Here's a selection of materials that give generally good advice:

(A reason or two why you should take it easy)

[didanawisgi]

“I have tried to let Truth be my prejudice” W. Eugene Smith, photojournalist (1918-1978)

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By Robert Rennebohm

ABSTRACT: 

This article attempts to summarize Dr. Geert Vanden Bossche’s scientific analysis of the COVID-19 mass vaccination campaign.  Please bear in mind that Dr. Vanden Bossche’s understanding of the COVID-19 situation is still evolving, as he studies the ongoing dynamic and complex interplay between the virus and our individual and collective immune systems, and the effects of the COVID-19 mass vaccination campaign on that interplay.  He is still learning.

‍ While temporarily protecting vaccinated individuals (vaccinees) from severe COVID-19, the COVID-19 mass vaccination campaign has, unfortunately, been placing tremendous suboptimal population-level immune pressure on the virus. This will inevitably and ultimately result in the emergence and  propagation of  SARS-CoV-2 variants that will be highly virulent when contracted by vaccinated individuals from/in highly vaccinated populations (though not highly virulent when contracted by healthy unvaccinated individuals).  In the meantime (and beyond) the COVID-19 vaccines have been predisposing vaccinees to autoimmunity and malignancy, while also interfering with the ability of a vaccinee’s immune system to control infections (acute and chronic) caused by non-SARS-CoV-2 viruses and other pathogens.

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BRIEF SUMMARY:

To date, the immune systems of highly COVID-19 vaccinated individuals have been protecting vaccinees from severe disease via four main immune mechanisms: via steric immune refocusing (SIR), which generates broadly neutralizing antibodies against the virus; via slow maturation of SIR-created antibodies into isotype-switched IgG4 antibodies (Abs), which have an anti-inflammatory effect and thereby diminish disease severity; via mobilization of MHC-Class I unrestricted cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTLs), which kill the virus and diminish inter-host transmission (transmission from an infected person to a new susceptible person); and via production of high levels of virulence-inhibiting PNNAbs (polyreactive non-neutralizing antibodies), which protect against severe disease in the lower respiratory tract and other internal organs. 

However, these protective immune mechanisms are unstable, unsustainable, will ultimately fail, and are creating serious problems. As explained in the main text of this article: SIR-created Abs are increasingly failing to protect and have spawned a vast array of “immune escape” variants; high titers of IgG4 Abs are predisposing vaccinees to autoimmunity and malignancy; high titers of IgG4 Abs and previously neutralizing, vaccine-induced Abs combined with exposure to highly infectious variants is now disabling SIR and triggering strong activation of APCs (antigen presenting cells), respectively.  The resulting stimulation of MHC-unrestricted CTLs, while mitigating COVID-19 disease symptoms, is now causing generalized immune suppression. As titers of previously neutralizing, vaccine-induced Abs are now declining, the concentration of PNNAbs that effectively bind to the N-terminal domain of spike protein (Spike-NTD) is also declining; consequently, the virulence-inhibiting PNNAb levels are irreversibly dropping to levels that will not only fail to protect against severe disease but will also put suboptimal population-level immune pressure on viral virulence. 

Soon the collective suboptimal PNNAb levels will create fertile conditions for the natural selection of more virulent variants in highly vaccinated populations.  Under these circumstances, new variants that overcome the PNNAb-mediated inhibitory effect on viral virulence without compromising their intrinsic “fitness” (i.e., are just as infectious as other circulating variants) will become naturally selected and rapidly spread. This is because they will have a transmission advantage over current variants because they will cause severe systemic disease and, therefore, be massively shed in the environment instead of inducing CTL responses to virus-infected cells via enhanced viral uptake into APCs.  

A highly infectious and highly virulent variant will have the potential to cause enormous numbers of hospitalizations and deaths, particularly in highly (and rapidly) vaccinated  countries, particularly in vaccinated individuals whose innate immune training has been compromised, especially in frail and elderly individuals who have been vaccinated prior to viral exposure.   

So, the “calming” of the pandemic over the past year (or so) has been largely due to a set of compensatory immune mechanisms (in vaccinees) that have temporarily protected vaccinees from severe COVID-19 but are unsustainable and seriously problematic.  This “calm” has been falsely reassuring and will be followed by a “storm” caused by a new variant that is highly virulent when contracted by vaccinees whose cell-based innate immune system has been sidelined.   Vaccinated individuals with such poorly trained innate immunity will be largely defenseless against this variant and are at high risk of succumbing to it.  Healthy individuals who have not received the COVID-19 vaccine and live in a highly vaccinated population will be able to handle the variant well, because their innate immunity is robust, well-trained, and well-practiced.

This virulent variant will not survive long, however.  It will cause a severe “storm,” then die out relatively quickly, because it will quickly run out of accessible, susceptible hosts.

This sad outcome was predictable and preventable.  The cascade of immune events and the ultimate outcome described in this article (and in related contributions) would not have occurred if the population had not exerted large-scale immune selection pressure on viral infectiousness. Because of the large-scale administration of spike-based vaccines during this pandemic, the COVID-19 mass vaccination campaign has led to vaccinated populations exerting significant immune selection pressure on viral infectiousness and now on viral virulence. 

The scientific reality is that, because of laws of Nature, the mass vaccination campaign has transformed the initial COVID-19 pandemic into a far more serious, prolonged, and threatening pandemic, and, in addition, has created a tremendous amount of vaccine injury at the individual level—-such that far more cumulative deaths and morbidity will occur than would have occurred in the absence of the mass vaccination campaign.

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INTRODUCTION: 

Dr. Vanden Bossche’s important analysis of the COVID-19 mass vaccination campaign has been largely ignored:

For more than two years Dr. Geert Vanden Bossche has been repeatedly explaining (to scientists, physicians, and the general public) why the implementation of a mass vaccination campaign (like the COVID-19 mass vaccination campaign) in the midst of an active pandemic of an acute self-limited viral infection (like SARS-CoV-2) will inevitably lead to the natural selection and rapid propagation of viral variants that are both highly infectious and highly virulent and will have the potential to cause a catastrophic number of hospitalizations and deaths.  His analysis has been based on a deep understanding of the immunology, virology, vaccinology, and evolutionary biology involved; and on extensive, well-rounded, real world, interdisciplinary (non-“siloed”) experience in these fields.  His careful analysis has been scientifically sound, highly responsible, profoundly important, and has warranted the immediate attention of scientists, physicians, and public health officials---but has been largely ignored.

Dr. Vanden Bossche (GVB) has felt a professional and moral obligation to continue to share his honest, objective, deep, scientific analysis with the scientific/medical community and the public, so that all can be informed of and prepare for what is a very plausible and worrisome outcome (and in his view the inevitable outcome) of the COVID-19 mass vaccination campaign.  He also shares his analysis in the hope that scientific and health policy mistakes will not be repeated in the future.

If the scientists and physicians who have promoted the mass vaccination campaign and have disagreed with GVB’s analysis were as concerned as GVB is about understanding the complex COVID-19 situation as accurately as possible and were equally concerned about honestly educating and preparing the public, they would have provided, long ago, a point-by-point critique of GVB’s analysis and would have engaged in respectful dialogue with him---dialogue that would be archived and made available for physicians and the public to view and study. That would have been in keeping with one of the most important fundamental principles of science and medicine---which is to welcome, honor, and critically evaluate all plausible, important, high priority hypotheses (which GVB’s analysis certainly represents) and do so through respectful dialogue. Unfortunately, other scientists and physicians, particularly those who have most strongly promoted the prevailing COVID-19 narrative and its mass vaccination campaign, have remained silent about GVB’s analysis and have avoided any discussion of his concerns---other than to ignore, dismiss, belittle, or demonize his analysis. 

The only legitimate justification for scientists and physicians to not engage in constructive dialogue with GVB would be if his analysis were so irresponsible and so off the mark, scientifically, that it did not warrant comment.  But his analysis is not irresponsible or wildly off the mark. To the contrary, his analysis is far more scientifically sound, far more sophisticated, and far more responsible than the simplistic, egregiously unscientific prevailing COVID-19 narrative, which has been based on "data" of astonishingly low scientific quality and whose key promoters have been grossly violating fundamental principles of science, medicine, ethics, and democracy throughout the pandemic (as I have repeatedly explained and documented in many articles posted on my website).  It is scientifically and intellectually untenable for those scientists and physicians to claim that GVB’s analysis is so irresponsible and off that mark that it is unworthy of their comment. It is telling that the scientists and physicians who have strongly promoted the mass vaccination campaign have avoided any discussion of GVB’s excellent analysis. 

Misapplication of a “conventional view” regarding viral virulence:

I have tried to discuss GVB’s concerns with scientists and physicians who have strongly doubted the accuracy of his analysis. This includes scientists and physicians who have been strongly opposed to the prevailing COVID-19 narrative and its mass vaccination campaign but have, nevertheless, been highly skeptical of GVB’s prediction that a highly virulent variant will appear and cause devastating harm. The argument these scientists and physicians have typically put forth (an argument that I will call the "conventional view") is that "viruses normally do not evolve to become more virulent, because that would not be in the best interests of the virus---because if the virus kills its host, it will not be able to survive. Instead, it is in the best interest of the virus to, if anything, gradually become less virulent, not more virulent."  This conventional view is largely correct when/if we are talking about a normal, usual, "naturally evolving" epidemic/pandemic (i.e., an epidemic that is not treated with a mass vaccination campaign in the midst of the active epidemic, using a suboptimal vaccine)---though I would hasten to add that the main reason a "naturally evolving" epidemic/pandemic ends is not because the virus gradually becomes less virulent---the main reason is that herd immunity develops and this results in the virus no longer having ample susceptible hosts to easily infect.  I would also add that we should avoid the anthropomorphic notion that the virus has a conscious strategy.  Evolution of the virus, evolution of the immune response, and evolution of the pandemic are determined by natural laws of nature---e.g., competitive binding, steric hindrance, conformational changes, other laws of physical chemistry, and the Darwinian principles of natural selection and fitness advantage.

What I think the "conventional view" fails to take into account is that this COVID-19 pandemic has not been treated in a normal, usual, natural way. Instead, it has been treated in a highly abnormal way---namely, with implementation of a mass vaccination campaign, across all age groups, in the midst of the active pandemic, using a suboptimal vaccine (i.e., a vaccine that thwarts but does not prevent viral replication and transmission).  This highly abnormal intervention has profoundly changed the normal interplay between the immune system and the virus, at a population level---rendering that interplay to be highly abnormal.  The COVID-19 mass vaccination campaign has forced the immune system to do things it normally does not need to do and has made it more difficult for the immune system to do what it needs to do. The mass vaccination campaign has profoundly and adversely affected the immune ecosystem---at both individual and population levels.  Accordingly, the “conventional view” is not sufficient to explain what has been happening since implementation of the COVID-19 mass vaccination campaign, or to predict what will happen.

We have never before implemented a mass vaccination campaign (using a prophylactic non-live vaccine) in the midst of an active pandemic, for good scientifically-sound reasons. GVB feels very strongly (based on fundamental scientific principles---laws of nature) that this mass vaccination campaign will lead to the highly abnormal and highly unusual phenomenon of a variant emerging that is highly virulent when contracted by  COVID-19-vaccinated individuals who lack a sufficiently trained CBIIS (cell-based innate immune system), due to deficient or insufficient previous exposure to natural infection---a phenomenon that would not have happened in the absence of such a campaign.  One could argue that he cannot possibly know this "because we have never done this before."  But he could similarly argue that, “because we have never done this before,” the promoters of the mass vaccination campaign cannot possibly know that their campaign will not result in the natural selection and fulminant spread of highly virulent variants. 

So, because we have never before implemented a mass vaccination campaign in the midst of an active pandemic, using a  prophylactic, non-live vaccine---neither GVB, nor the promoters of the mass vaccination campaign, can provide definitive proof (at this point) that a highly virulent variant will or will not emerge and dominate. Instead, we are left to consider a spectrum of plausible hypotheses, including GVB’s highly plausible hypotheses.  

Frankly, in my opinion, GVB has more experience in and has taken a far deeper, more interdisciplinary, more well-rounded dive into the fields of immunology, virology, vaccinology, and evolutionary biology than have promoters of the mass vaccination campaign---and, more importantly, GVB, in my opinion, has been far more honest, objective, scientific, careful, ethical, and altruistic than have key promoters of the mass vaccination campaign, many of whom have obviously violated many fundamental principles of science, medicine, ethics, and democracy throughout the past three years, as I have explained in previously posted writings. Furthermore, GVB’s scientifically plausible and highly responsible hypotheses are profoundly important and, therefore, need to be taken very seriously by other scientists and physicians, even if they are skeptical of them.  Such is the tradition of science and medicine.

Below is a detailed REVIEW of my understanding of why GVB is so convinced that the COVID-19 mass vaccination campaign will, inevitably, result in the emergence, natural selection, and  propagation of highly infectious and highly virulent SARS-CoV-2 variants that will have the potential to cause huge numbers of hospitalizations and deaths, particularly in highly (and rapidly) vaccinated countries, especially in highly vaccinated individuals. 

For background information, consider viewing the video, Respecting the Immune Ecosystem---Concerns of an Immune System Ecologist, which is posted in the “Notes on COVID-19” section of my website (www.notesfromthesocialclinic.org) and provides numerous relevant and instructive medical illustrations.  

Better yet, read GVB’s recently published book, The Inescapable Immune Escape Pandemic, and access the many articles and videos on GVB’s website: www.voiceforscienceandsolidarity.org, particularly his recent article:  https://www.trialsitenews.com/a/immunological-correlates-of-vaccine-breakthrough-infections-caused-by-sars-cov-2-variants-in-highly-c-19-vaccinated-populations.-645407ab‍

NOTE TO READER: If the following detailed REVIEW seems too complex and confusing, the reader might want to skip to the section entitled A SUMMARIZING OUTLINE OF THIS ARTICLE (and maybe the SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION section), then return to the more detailed and nuanced  REVIEW.]  The FOOTNOTES at the end of the REVIEW might also be helpful, as might the BRIEF SUMMARY at the beginning of the article.

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REVIEW: WHY IS THE NATURAL SELECTION AND  PROPAGATION OF HIGHLY VIRULENT SARS-CoV-2 VARIANTS AN INEVITABLE OUTCOME OF THE  COVID-19 MASS VACCINATION CAMPAIGN?

The critically important difference between optimal and suboptimal immune pressure on the virus, at a population level:

In order to best appreciate the detrimental effects of the COVID-19 mass vaccination campaign on the immune ecosystem, it is important, first, to understand the critical difference between optimal and suboptimal immune pressure on viral infectiousness, at the population level.

Optimal immune pressure on viral infectiousness means that the immune response to the virus is so efficient and effective that the virus is quickly killed. The immune response puts so much immune pressure on the virus that the virus is unable to thrive.  Optimum (population-level) immune pressure on viral infectiousness is characteristic of the “herd immunity” (collective sterilizing immunity) that develops during a naturally evolving pandemic of an acute self-limiting infection (a pandemic that is not treated with implementation of a mass vaccination campaign in the midst of the pandemic)

Suboptimal immune pressure on viral infectiousness means that the immune response to the virus is only partially and inadequately effective---such that the virus is put under sub-lethal pressure, as opposed to lethal pressure.  The immune response thwarts viral replication and transmission but does not adequately prevent successful replication and transmission of the virus. This partial (suboptimal) immune pressure makes it difficult for the virus to survive and thrive but does not prevent survival.  Under this circumstance, if a new variant appears on the scene and has a fitness advantage (i.e., is better able to overcome the suboptimal immune pressure on viral infectiousness), it will be able to thrive more easily than existing variants and will, therefore, outcompete other variants, be naturally selected, and dominantly propagate.  In other words, suboptimal population-level immune pressure on viral infectiousness allows an incipient potentially threatening viral variant that has a fitness advantage (e.g., is more infectious) to survive, reach its potential, and supplant variants that lack that fitness advantage. In fact, if suboptimal immune pressure is exerted at the level of the population (i.e., suboptimal ‘population-level’ immune pressure), it promotes the successful natural selection and dominant propagation (or co-circulation) of variants that are able to overcome the suboptimal immune pressure. In other words, suboptimal population-level immune pressure on a phenotypic characteristic of the virus (e.g., its infectiousness) inevitably results in immune selection pressure on that very viral characteristic.

Suboptimal population-level immune pressure on viral infectiousness is characteristic of a pandemic that is treated with large-scale use of spike-based vaccines (i.e., mass vaccination) that is implemented in the midst of the active pandemic. Since the advent of Omicron, highly COVID-19-vaccinated populations have been exerting suboptimal population-level immune pressure on more and more conserved, functional epitopes of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, thereby promoting natural selection and co-circulation of a diversified array/spectrum of increasingly infectious “immune escape” variants. In highly COVID-19 vaccinated populations, highly infectious variants are now facilitating a shift from immune selection pressure on viral infectiousness to immune selection pressure on viral trans infection (i.e., viral infection of the lower respiratory tract and other internal organs by virtue of virus transfer from migratory sentinel cells to susceptible organ cells) and, therefore, on the capacity of SARS-CoV-2 to trigger severe disease (as will be explained later). 

Whereas optimal population-level immune pressure on viral infectiousness ends a pandemic relatively quickly, prolonged suboptimal immune pressure exerted on viral infectiousness by the population promotes natural selection of new, more infectious immune escape variants. This fuels enhanced immune escape and therefore prolongs a pandemic while driving it in a more dangerous direction.

For further discussion of optimal versus suboptimal population-level immune pressure, please see SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION at the end of this article.

Why are highly vaccinated individuals, in particular, experiencing frequent breakthrough infections (BTIs)?

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, all of us, vaccinated and unvaccinated, have been frequently exposed (and are still being exposed) to more infectious SARS-CoV-2 variants---most recently, many Omicron variants and subvariants, all of which are highly infectious, all of which represent “immune escape” variants.  As a result, both previously infection-primed individuals (individuals whose immune response to SARS-CoV-2 was triggered by natural SARS-CoV-2 infection) and previously vaccine-primed individuals (individuals whose first immune response was artificially triggered by COVID-19 vaccination) have been experiencing breakthrough infections (BTIs).  Vaccinated individuals, in particular, have been frequently experiencing breakthrough infections (which we will call “vaccine-BTIs”), for the following three main reasons:  

Their vaccine-induced potentially neutralizing antibodies (pNAbs), which are directed against epitopes in the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein, have been unable to neutralize the many “immune escape” variants that have successively appeared---because these variants have mutated in a way that enables them to “escape” from (be resistant to) these vaccinal pNAbs.  (These immune escape variants appeared on the scene because their resistance to pNAbs gave them a competitive “fitness advantage” which, in turn, led to the natural selection and dominant propagation of these variants.) 

Their polyreactive non-neutralizing antibodies (PNNAbs), which were stimulated into binding to the N-terminal domain of the spike protein (Spike-NTD) because of the substantially diminished neutralizing capacity of vaccine-induced anti-spike Abs, have been facilitating viral entry into susceptible epithelial host cells (i.e., these PNNAbs are infection-enhancing) and have thereby accelerated production of viral progeny.  This infection-enhancing effect of the PNNAbs is due to the fact that binding of PNNAbs to a highly conserved antigenic region within the N-terminal domain of the spike protein (Spike-NTD) causes a conformational change in the spike protein that flips the receptor binding domain into the ”open position” thereby making it easier for the virus to enter susceptible host epithelial cells.)

Their innate immune system has been sidelined because non-replicating vaccines do not train the cell-based innate immune system and many vaccinees received their vaccination prior to exposure to natural infection (especially in countries that implemented a fast-track mass vaccination program).  

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Why have BTIs (in both unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals) been relatively mild (at least since the initial appearance of Omicron variants)? What protective immune mechanisms have been at play? 

‍ During the Omicron era, BTIs (in both unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals) have, so far, either been asymptomatic or have usually caused only mild or moderate symptoms.  To date, BTIs have not usually caused severe COVID-19 disease, for the reasons mentioned below:

In the case of heathy unvaccinated individuals: Healthy unvaccinated individuals have been able to handle re-exposure increasingly well, primarily because of their robust, fully participating, and increasingly trained innate immunity.  Their innate immune system is able to quickly lower viral loads and kill virus-infected cells (via trained, i.e., epigenetically re-programmed, natural killer cells) without needing to prime the adaptive immune system for help (although MHC class I-unrestricted CTLs may be triggered in the case of symptomatic infection). 

In the case of vaccinated individuals: Vaccinated individuals, on the other hand, have been heavily relying on four major protective immune mechanisms to deal with their frequent vaccine-BTIs.  As will be explained, these protective immune mechanisms, though temporarily helpful, are unstable, unsustainable, will ultimately fail, and are problematic. 

The SIR phenomenon (Steric Immune Refocusing):1-3 First, vaccinated individuals, via the SIR phenomenon, developed broadly neutralizing antibodies to immunosubdominant spike-associated domains.  ‍ In the context of SARS-CoV-2, SIR refers to the redirection of the immune system to produce neutralizing antibodies against conserved immune-subdominant epitopes2 of the spike protein when pre-existing poorly neutralizing Abs sterically hinder (physically block) immune recognition of the variable immune-dominant epitopes of the spike protein. These SIR-created high avidity antibodies have temporarily provided efficient cross-neutralizing activity.  However, there have been downsides associated with the beneficial protective effects of these SIR-created antibodies. Titers of these SIR-created neutralizing antibodies, which were initially already at relatively low levels, declined and rapidly reached a point where they fell below the optimal threshold for providing protection from infection (i.e., fell into the suboptimal range).  Because of the suboptimal neutralizing titers of these antibodies and their delayed maturation (in germinal centers) into affinity-matured, isotype-switched  IgG4 antibodies, prolonged large-scale (population-level) immune pressure has been exerted by these antibodies in highly COVID-19 vaccinated populations. In these populations, suboptimal SIR-created population-level immune pressure on viral infectiousness led to the natural selection and co-circulation of a vast array of more infectious Omicron descendants.  In short, while providing some protection to vaccinees, the SIR phenomenon spawned a succession of increasingly infectious “immune escape” variants and ultimately led to co-emergence of highly infectious Omicron descendants. (Note: Because of the diminished production of viral progeny, re-exposure of unvaccinated, infection-experienced individuals to Omicron-derived descendants did not  trigger SIR and, therefore, did not promote viral immune escape!)  A second downside of the SIR phenomenon is that it increasingly refocuses the immune system on more immunorecessive epitopes, ones that have greater similarity to “self” and “altered self.”  This predisposes to autoimmunity and malignancy, respectively.2, 3 ‍

The anti-inflammatory effect of isotype-switched IgG4 antibodies: SIR-created neutralizing antibodies eventually underwent isotype-switching---i.e., matured (in delayed fashion) into IgG4 antibodies.  IgG4 antibodies have an anti-inflammatory effect. Accordingly, when vaccinated individuals with high titers of SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG4 antibodies (i.e., those who experienced a SIR-enabling vaccine-BTI) are exposed to newly emerging immune escape variants, their symptoms have been reduced by the anti-inflammatory effects of these IgG4 antibodies. As not only vaccine-BTI but also mRNA vaccination facilitates SIR, it stands to reason that IgG4 antibodies can also be induced after mRNA -vaccination. Indeed, Irrang et al documented that “several months after the second vaccination [with mRNA COVID-19 vaccine], SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies were increasingly composed of non-inflammatory IgG4, which was further boosted by a third mRNA vaccination and/or SARS-CoV-2 variant BTI.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9847566/. (These unusual levels of SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG4 antibodies have not been documented in unvaccinated individuals.)  However, there is an unfortunate trade-off for the protective anti-inflammatory effect of vaccinee’s high levels of IgG4 antibodies---namely, they predispose those individuals to autoimmunity and malignancy, as explained in the FOOTNOTES of this article2,3 and in GVB’s recent article: https://www.trialsitenews.com/a/immunological-correlates-of-vaccine-breakthrough-infections-caused-by-sars-cov-2-variants-in-highly-c-19-vaccinated-populations.-645407ab  ‍

Activation of CTLs (Cytolytic T Lymphocytes): Despite the functional monovalency of isotype-switched IgG4 antibodies, elevated titers of these Abs result in strong cytolytic activation of MHC Class I unrestricted T lymphocytes but no longer promote SIR upon vaccine-BTIs with highly infectious Omicron descendants. This is because  high concentrations of IgG4 Abs bound to progeny virions of these variants will expedite viral uptake by APCs (antigen presenting cells). SIR-disabling vaccine-BTIs therefore not only enhance CTL-mediated elimination of virus-infected cells, thereby rapidly abrogating viral shedding and  safeguarding vaccinated individuals from COVID-19 disease altogether, but also prevent de novo priming of new, broadly cross-neutralizing Abs and thus, promote propagation of viruses with higher intrinsic infectiousness. High viral infectiousness can ultimately cause activated CTLs to kill the APCs that activated them in the first place.  Strong activation of APCs and insufficient or deficient presentation of non-SARS-CoV-2-related Ags may  lead to generalized immune suppression and increased prevalence of other, non-Covid-19-related diseases.  ‍

The virulence-inhibiting effect of PNNAbs (polyreactive non-neutralizing antibodies): PNNAbs bind to Spike-NTD exposed on free infecting virions as a result of diminished neutralizing capacity of potentially neutralizing vaccine-induced antibodies (pNAbs) and thereby enhance viral infectiousness. These Abs have also a virulence-inhibiting activity in that they attach to virus that is tethered to migrating dendritic cells (DC) and thereby prevent transfer of virus from dendritic cells to cells in the lower respiratory tract (LRT) and other internal organs---i.e., high levels of PNNAbs adsorbed on DC-tethered virions inhibit trans infection in the LRT and other internal organs and, thereby, protect vaccinated individuals from severe COVID-19 disease (fig. 1). However, as the infectiousness of the circulating variants increases, hyperactivation of CTLs not only leads to generalized immune suppression but also causes highly vaccinated populations to  exert immune selection pressure on viral trans infectiousness and, therefore, promote natural selection of new variants that are likely to exhibit enhanced virulence (as explained below).    

In these ways, SIR-created neutralizing antibodies, anti-inflammatory IgG4 Abs, and CTLs have been enhancing recovery from disease, in vaccinees, (after providing some short-lived protection from infection) or have been mitigating or even preventing disease symptoms, while PNNAbs have been protecting vaccinated individuals from severe COVID-19 disease, when these individuals have experienced vaccine-BTIs with more infectious variants. However, while this “immunologic rescue operation” (GVB’s phrase) has been protecting vaccinated individuals from severe disease, it has meanwhile been facilitating asymptomatic transmission (to both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals) of a diversified array of highly infectious SARS-CoV-2 immune escape variants; it is, therefore, now causing highly COVID-19 vaccinated populations to exert large-scale immune selection pressure on viral virulence (as will be further explained later); it has predisposed vaccinees to autoimmunity and malignancy; and it has adversely affected the ability of vaccinees to normally handle other pathogens.

The false impression that the pandemic is currently subsiding, heading into endemicity, and becoming less worrisome:  

The above four protective mechanisms, upon which vaccinated individuals have been relying to diminish viral pathogenicity, have given the impression that the pandemic is subsiding, becoming milder, and heading into a relatively benign endemic phase.  But, as explained below, this is a false impression.  These protective mechanisms will ultimately fail and result in the natural selection and  propagation of new emerging variants that have the capacity to become highly virulent in COVID-19 vaccinees.  These mechanisms have been providing false reassurance.  The current “calm” will, unfortunately, be followed by a severe “storm.” The latter will primarily affect those who were vaccinated prior to experiencing natural infection (e.g., the elderly and those considered vulnerable because of underlying disease or immune suppressive conditions).

Why will the protective immune mechanisms upon which highly vaccinated individuals have been relying inevitably fail and promote the “successful” emergence of a highly virulent variant?

As long as the concentration of PNNAbs bound to DC-tethered progeny virions remains high enough (i.e., are at optimal levels, or close to being optimal, and are putting optimal immune pressure on viral trans infection), the virulence-inhibiting effect of the PNNAbs and the APC-mediated activation of CTLs will adequately protect the vaccinated individual from severe disease (or even from COVID-19 altogether) and will diminish viral shedding.  Although high levels of PNNAbs bound to DC-tethered progeny virions (via Spike-NTD) are able to prevent or mitigate viral trans infectiousness at the level of the LRT and internal organs, the infectiousness of the virus at the URT (upper respiratory tract) remains unaffected and promotes asymptomatic transmission. Thus far, high levels of PNNAbs bound to DC-tethered virions have been preventing natural immune selection of new variants capable of escaping from the virulence-inhibiting effect exerted by these antibodies (fig. 1). 

However, since the circulating variants have increased infectiousness, their progeny virus is released in high density from the cells they infect and thereby cause substantial inflammation. The latter promotes enhanced adsorption of progeny virions onto patrolling, migratory dendritic cells and thereby fosters opsonization of free progeny virus by vaccine-induced anti-Spike Abs.  Enhanced uptake of these virus-Ab complexes into APCs have been strongly activating cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTLs), which in turn eventually kill the APCs that activated them in the first place.  This killing of APCs hinders the recall of previously vaccine-primed T helper cells, thereby preventing further SIR, or the production of new antibodies targeting new, more conserved spike-derived antigen, despite the presence of elevated titers of functionally monovalent Ig-G4 Abs.  Failure of vaccine-BTIs to prime new, broadly neutralizing anti-Spike Abs leads to failure to reduce viral infectiousness. Consequently, elevated IgG4 -Ab titers in highly vaccinated populations link enhanced protection of vaccinees from Covid-19 disease and diminished viral shedding to enhanced infectiousness of the circulating immune escape variants and their asymptomatic transmission.  Enhanced viral infectiousness lowers the concentration of PNNAbs that bind to Spike-NTD on DC-tethered virions in vaccinees as shown in fig. 2. This inevitably leads to suboptimal PNNAb-mediated immune pressure on viral trans infectiousness in Covid-19 vaccinees. 

When levels of immune pressure on viral trans infectiousness collectively decline into the suboptimal range, Spike-NTD-binding PNNAbs will place large-scale immune selection pressure on the trans infectiousness of DC-tethered progeny virions produced by  the currently circulating, highly infectious Omicron descendants.  In other words, diminished viral shedding, which is now threatening viral transmission in highly COVID-19 vaccinated populations, is indirectly causing suboptimal immune pressure on viral virulence while enabling asymptomatic transmission of highly infectious variants.  Collectively exerted, suboptimal population-level immune pressure drives natural selection.  That is, any emerging variants that are able to overcome the virulence-inhibiting effect of the PNNAbs while maintaining a high level of viral infectiousness will have a transmission advantage, will be naturally selected, and propagate (as enhanced severe disease will not enable timely isolation of the affected individuals).  In short, diminished viral inter-host transmission (transmission from an infected person to a new susceptible person) is promoting natural selection of highly infectious immune escape variants that have capacity to enhance systemic intra-host viral replication and dissemination to distal organs such as to enable enhanced, but lethal viral transmission.  When this happens, a major wave of exacerbated severe COVID-19 disease cases is likely to occur among the highly vaccinated.  In the absence of herd immunity, it is reasonable to assume that this will ultimately allow Nature to control viral transmission. Elimination of those unable to mount a sterilizing immune response to the virus (i.e., primarily vaccinated individuals) would allow those who do mount a sterilizing immune response to contribute to establishing herd immunity and thereby durably protect the human species from new SARS-CoV-2 pandemics.     

In the past, booster doses of vaccine and/or reinfection (BTIs) were resulting in periodic boosting of previously vaccine-primed NAbs or de novoproduction of new, cross-functional neutralizing antibodies (via SIR)---up to optimal levels.  However, booster doses of vaccine, or vaccine-BTIs with highly infectious Omicron descendants, are now failing to boost or prime  neutralizing antibodies (again, because APCs are so preoccupied with removing highly infectious virus from vaccine-BTIs that they succumb to the killing by the CTLs they activate or cause other antigens to be outcompeted for uptake into their antigen processing and presentation machinery). At the same time, these SIR-disabling vaccine-BTIs fail to stimulate new, broadly neutralizing anti-Spike Abs. Consequently, both (updated) booster doses and ongoing (asymptomatic) vaccine-BTIs fail to reduce viral infectiousness. It follows that the PNNAb-mediated immune pressure on viral trans infection will drop into a suboptimal range.

A large-scale decrease in PNNAb titers in the context of circulating highly infectious variants is now increasing immune selection pressure on viral trans infection. Upon mounting beyond a certain threshold, the immune selection pressure will likely trigger natural selection of a new SARS-CoV-2 variant(s) displaying mutational changes (presumably in the glycosylation profile of spike protein) that enable the variant to collectively lift the blockade on viral virulence. However, mutational changes in the Spike-associated glycosylation profile may bear a substantial fitness cost. In order for these newly emerging variants to not be outcompeted by other currently circulating, highly infectious variants (which cannot lift this blockade), it is critical that they maintain a high level of infectiousness by enabling PNNAbs to bind to the conserved antigenic site comprised within Spike-NTD. This implies that mutations targeted at evading the PNNAb-mediated inhibitory effect on intrinsic viral virulence cannot occur within this antigenic site and that manifestation of a high level of virulence by these newly emerging variants will likely depend on the presence of suboptimal concentrations of PNNAbs bound onto DC-tethered virions. In other words, the newly emerging immune escape variants are likely to provoke PNNAb-dependent enhancement of severe disease.

In short, because of the laws of nature, newly emerging immune escape variants exhibiting highly infectious, highly virulent properties (in COVID-19 vaccinees) will be selected and rapidly transmitted, and thereby cause PNNAb-dependent enhancement/exacerbation of systemic  disease (most likely not only affecting the lower respiratory tract but a multitude of different  internal organs), particularly in highly vaccinated countries, particularly in vaccinated individuals who have weak and/or untrained innate immunity (e.g., those who were vaccinated prior to experiencing natural infection, i.e., the elderly and frail).  This would not have happened in the absence of the COVID-19 mass vaccination campaign.

Of course, this virulent variant will not be able to survive for long.  Healthy unvaccinated individuals (with robust, uninhibited innate immunity that has become increasingly trained to deal with more and more infectious SARS-CoV-2 variants) will be able to eliminate this variant by virtue of sterilizing immunity, despite its virulence in COVID-19 vaccinees. (Group 1).  Our hope is that many vaccinated individuals will have been sufficiently exposed to natural infection prior to vaccination to allow for enough training of their innate immune system to weather the storm, especially if they also receive excellent medical management (Group 2).  Individuals who received at least two or three vaccine doses (i.e., in the case of mRNA-based or non-mRNA-based vaccine, respectively) prior to natural infection and subsequently experienced a vaccine-BTI (i.e., primarily those who were vaccinated first, i.e., the elderly and vulnerable individuals) are at greatest risk of succumbing to the new emerging variant(s) that can overcome the PNNAb-mediated virulence-inhibiting effect (Group 3).  Groups 1 and 3 will prevent the highly virulent variant from circulating  for long, because they will either fail to shed the variant (in the case of group 1) or soon run out of accessible susceptible hosts (in the case of group 3), and the pandemic will finally end, not thanks to herd immunity but thanks to eradication of the virus.

Note: Healthy vaccinees who only received a single injection of an mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine or no more than 2 injections with a non-mRNA-based vaccine prior to developing a symptomatic vaccine-BTI are thought to have preserved their capacity to train their cell-based innate immune system.

Why is it important to take Dr. Vanden Bossche’s excellent analysis very seriously?

For the above reasons, Dr. Vanden Bossche has been extremely worried about the COVID-19 mass vaccination campaign.  This is why he has felt obligated to warn scientists, physicians, and the general public about this highly likely outcome---so that all can prepare for such an outcome.  Even if his prediction turns out to be wrong (which he greatly doubts, based on his understanding of the science involved), he wants people to have a chance to prepare in case he is correct (which he thinks is highly likely).  Even if other scientists and physicians doubt that GVB’s analysis is correct, they must acknowledge that his analysis represents a responsible and scientifically sound analysis about which physicians and citizens deserve to know and for which physicians and citizens deserve opportunity to prepare. 

In my opinion, GVB’s concerns and the conclusion of his analysis are correct. The most likely reason for the unwillingness of the promoters of the mass vaccination campaign to engage in dialogue about GVB’s concerns and conclusion is that they know (or at least worry) that their understanding of the virology, immunology, vaccinology, and evolutionary biology of the COVID situation is not nearly as deep and wise as GVB’s understanding. Compared to GVB’s understanding, their understanding, in my opinion, has been simplistic, far less scientific, and less accurate.  They should learn from GVB, not ignore or belittle his excellent analysis.

In my opinion, their unwillingness to engage in dialogue is not only scientifically, medically, and intellectually irresponsible, but also cruel.  It is cruel to leave the public dangling, confused, miseducated, and misled about the realities of the COVID-19 situation.  It is cruel to leave the public unprepared to deal with the profoundly worrisome situation the mass vaccination campaign has created.  It is cruel and dishonest to not inform the public of the mistakes the promoters of the mass vaccination campaign have made and what can be done at this point to proactively and optimally address the threatening situation that has resulted.

The reality is, the mass vaccination campaign has transformed the initial COVID-19 pandemic into a far more serious, prolonged, and life-threatening pandemic, and, in addition, has created a tremendous amount of vaccine injury at the individual level—-such that far more cumulative deaths and morbidity will occur than would have occurred in the absence of the mass vaccination campaign.  Enormous mistakes have been made and have resulted in enormous threats to huge numbers of people.

Good physicians admit their mistakes, take responsibility for them, work to ensure that damage done is optimally addressed, and take steps to ensure that mistakes are not repeated. The promoters of the mass vaccination campaign have not performed these tasks.

What, specifically, can be done, if GVB is correct and a highly virulent, highly threatening variant appears? 

Many important proactive steps can be taken.  For details, please see the following article (and an ADDENDUM to it), which is posted on my website: In Anticipation of a Highly Virulent SARS-CoV-2 Variant

FOOTNOTES:

1Steric Immune Refocusing (SIR): For a detailed explanation of the SIR phenomenon (and the IgG4 situation), please see GVB’s book and his most recent article: https://www.trialsitenews.com/a/immunological-correlates-of-vaccine-breakthrough-infections-caused-by-sars-cov-2-variants-in-highly-c-19-vaccinated-populations.-645407ab. 

In the context of SARS-CoV-2, SIR refers to the redirection of the immune system to produce neutralizing antibodies against conserved immune-subdominant epitopes2 of the spike protein when pre-existing poorly neutralizing Abs sterically hinder (physically block) immune recognition of the variable immune-dominant epitopes of the spike protein.

The SIR phenomenon, which became evident during the Omicron era, has contributed greatly to delaying natural selection of immune escape variants while expanding the scale thereof.  This explains why loss of protection from moderate disease (Omicron) has not abruptly shifted to enhanced virulence (as GVB initially predicted) but first transitioned to mitigation and subsequently even to prevention of Covid-19 disease altogether. It seems as though the immune system, at a population level, first needs to mount a high level of immune selection pressure on viral pathogenicity in order for the virus to unleash a highly virulent variant. As  currently circulating, highly infectious variants have induced a nearly unparalleled level of immune protection in vaccinees, second only to protection induced in unvaccinated individuals by natural infection (!), it is reasonable to assume that the virus has now entered the final stage of evolving toward variants combining high intrinsic infectiousness with highly virulent properties in vaccinees.  

SIR is a hallmark of PNNAb-dependent vaccine-BTIs and results from binding of non-neutralizing antibodies to the immunodominant epitopes of a monovalent antigen, thereby facilitating immune recognition of immunosubdominant or immunorecessive domains and priming broadly neutralizing antibodies with high avidity but low affinity (note: induction of such antibodies have also been reported upon mRNA vaccination: https://www.ncbi.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9886553/) 

SIR appears to be a tool nature uses to shape the evolutionary dynamics of the interaction between the virus and the host immune system such as to leave the host’s adaptive immune system a chance to adapt to vaccine-BTIs and gradually optimizing protection from disease in exchange for granting the virus a license to prolong its propagation and spread (at the benefit of improving sterilizing immune capacity in the unvaccinated before eliminating those devoid of this capacity).  GVB had not anticipated (and could not have anticipated) this phenomenon when he initially predicted that a highly virulent variant would likely appear by the early fall of 2022.  By now, the new SIR-induced Abs are ceasing to be involved in shaping the evolution of highly infectious variants into highly infectious variants with highly virulent properties in COVID-19 vaccinees. At this stage, Ab-independent vaccine-BTI caused by highly infectious variants in the context of (declining titers of) pre-existing vaccine-induced Abs are educating the immune system to re-orient its target from an immunorecessive S-associated domain to an immunosilent antigenic site within Spike-NTD.  

2What is an epitope? An epitope is a part of an antigen (a part of the spike protein, in the context of SARS-CoV-2) that the immune system recognizes and reacts to.  It is an immunogenic part of the antigen---a part that triggers an immune response.  On the spike protein, for example, there are dominant, highly immunogenic epitopes and there are many subdominant, much less immunogenic epitopes.

3How do SIR and high levels of IgG4 predispose to autoimmunity and malignancy?  As the SIR phenomenon continues, antibodies are produced against epitopes that are increasingly more conserved and less immunogenic  and more closely resemble “self” epitopes and “altered self” epitopes. These SIR-created antibodies slowly and ultimately mature into SARS-CoV-2-specific isotype-switched IgG4 antibodies.

High titers of these IgG4 antibodies tend to cross-react with “self” epitopes (on our healthy cells) and “altered self” epitopes on cells that are becoming malignant. 

When IgG4 antibodies attach to “self” epitopes on healthy cells, this results in failure of self-epitopes to normally activate self-epitope-specific regulatory T cells (T regs) that, in turn, normally and protectively down-regulate the activation and proliferation of self-reactive T cells. That is, normally, these T regs protect healthy cells from autoimmune destruction by self-reactive T cells---but the IgG4 antibodies interfere with that protective process, and autoimmunity results.

When previously healthy cells become malignant, the normal “self” epitopes that are expressed on their surface become altered and become “altered self” epitopes.  When IgG4 antibodies attach to “altered self” epitopes on the surface of malignantly transformed cells, this prevents ADCC (antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity)-mediated immune recognition of these malignant cells by NK cells.  This results in failure of NK cells to kill malignantly transformed cells.

So, the high levels of IgG4 antibodies that follow the SIR phenomenon predispose highly vaccinated individuals to autoimmunity and malignancy.  This may be one mechanism by which highly vaccinated individuals are developing new cancers (i.e., early onset cancers) and new autoimmune diseases. On the other hand, “turbo cancers” (or rampant relapse of previously controlled cancer) or relapse of previously controlled autoimmune disease are thought to be triggered by hyperactivation of APCs and downstream suppression of CD8+ T cells following vaccine-BTI with highly infectious variants (that are asymptomatic in terms of Covid-19).

[pandemichub]

Mega post

Please share

World Health Network global

Protect Their Future (Grassroots org of parents & pediatricians advocating for protection for ALL children)

linktr.ee/laughterinlight_sciencelibrary

PeoplesCDC.org

longcovidlearning.org

covidresearch.net

#ME Action Network

Long COVID with ME

Long Covid Advocacy Ireland

Dysautonomia International

DecodeME the ME/CFS Study (The world's largest study ever into #MEcfs.Take part today (UK, 16+) #pwME info@decodeME.org.uk - 0800 196 8664 #DecodeMEStudy #pwME #MillionsMissing)

Dysautonomia Society (💜We aim to increase global awareness of Dysautonomia. Join us!)

Mast Cell Disease Society (Transforming lives of patients and families while finding a cure for #mastcelldisease since 1995. #Mastocytosis #MCAS #HereditaryAlphaTryptasemia #raredisease)

Mast Cell Action (We exist to promote progress in the awareness, diagnosis and treatment of Mast Cell Activation Syndrome and to provide support to people affected by MCAS)

Awareness for POTsies (POTS, Chronic Illness, & Mental Health Support. Compassion, Awareness, Education, Empowerment)

linktr.ee/longcovidlife

linktr.ee/longcovidfam (Long Covid Families)

Long Covid Kids (UK, Ireland)

Clinically Vulnerable Families

Abrome (Self-Directed Education community)

Long COVID Physio

NotRecovered.org (Support for chronically ill)

Covid Persistente México Comunidad Solidaria

Long Covid Latin America (Twitter & Instagram) & André Saravia (Twitter & Instagram)

Long Covid Chile (Instagram, Twitter & YouTube)

Linktr.ee/wearebodypolitic (Support for chronically ill)

Linktr.ee/patientled (Patient led research)

Long Covid Advocacy

RTHM.com (RTHM Health, biotechnology research. Transforming care for complex illnesses starting with long covid).

Linktr.ee/covidisntover (Virtual hangout)

CovidSafeDentists.ca

CovidConsciousTherapists.com

Covid Safe Cuties (dating) Twitter & Instagram

CovidMeetUps.com (Covid safe networking & listings)

Linktr.ee/PenGwenWithLC (Project in progress for long haulers)

Bheecollective.org (Send letters to White House)

International Long Covid Awareness

MandateMasksUS.org

PandemicAidNetworks.org (Organizing and info hub)

High Impact Strategies (S4HI builds the power of chronically-ill & disabled people, our groups & networks. #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs #PandemicsAreChronic)

Birch Health (Twitter & Instagram (Infographs and amplifying stories of black, indigenous and racialized peoples)

The Chronic Collaboration

Linktr.ee/equiinstitute

CoalitionForCovidJustice.com

Long Covid Justice

Linktr.ee/Project_N95 (PPE)

Linktr.ee/DonateAMask (PPE)

Clean Air Crew (Airborne pandemic tips and tools)

Clean Air Stars (Helping businesses protect their customers from viruses like SARS-CoV-2)

Aaron Collins (@/masknerd) Twitter & YouTube "Goal is to test and evaluate the best masks out there."

Breathe Safe Air (Everything that you need to know about air pollution. Respirators, masks, air purifiers, monitors and more)

Clean Air Club (Ensuring accessible and cleaner air for Chicago artists and venues. ☁️ a new project by @/nora_barnacles)

*List updated periodically*

You are not alone

Your life has inherent worth

Sars CoV-2 and long covid are real

The pandemic is not over

[umbralwaves]

🧪FREE TEST ORDER FORMS OPEN—At last the U.S. government again is offering free rapid COVID tests for all U.S. Households—place an order through the USPS form below. Expiration dates extended by FDA. Orders will ship, starting September 30, 2024

— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) September 26, 2024

[aberration13]

Some good but little known resources for tracking the pandemic since nobody talks about it any more:

This one tracks covid specifically and provides a more technical/academic overview:

https://www.pmc19.com/data/index.php

This one tracks multiple diseases covid included by their markers in waste water:

This one gives updates on the pandemic and each report has a ton of links to further detailed information, news about efforts to fight covid, and resources that are available.

[gumjrop]

The Weather

In the US, 41 out of 54 states and territories are at high or very high COVID wastewater levels as of 1/18/2024. Ten states and territories have no data available. It’s important to note that levels of “moderate,” “low,” or “minimal” do not necessarily indicate a low risk of COVID exposure in our daily lives. Viral spread is still ongoing even if at lower levels, and precautions are warranted to protect ourselves and others.

Looking at the CDC’s national and regional wastewater data over time, we continue to see “Very High” levels nationally. It’s important to note that the last two weeks are provisional data, indicated by a gray shaded area on the graph, meaning that those values can change as additional wastewater sites report data. 

Although wastewater data does not provide the same level of detail as previous PCR-based testing data, wastewater monitoring is an important ongoing resource to inform us about the current COVID situation. While the provisional data tentatively shows a downward trend this week, time will tell whether this is a true decrease in the final data. A downward trend does not mean continued decreases are guaranteed or that protections should be relaxed. Multilayered protections help drive COVID spread lower, and relaxing protections can lead to a resurgence of viral spread.

Visit the CDC’s State and Territory Trends page to see available wastewater testing near you, including the number of wastewater sites reporting. Write your elected officials to let them know you want to keep and expand wastewater testing in your area and nationally.

Wins

In November 2023, the CDC’s Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) passed a series of draft proposals that will further weaken already insufficient protocols employed within healthcare settings. HICPAC refuses to reckon with the airborne nature of infectious diseases such as SARS-CoV-2, and does not propose crucial measures such as universal masking with well-fitted respirators, isolation periods, and ventilation. The People’s CDC has penned a letter to the ACLU alerting them of HICPAC’s irresponsible decisions, and the ramifications associated with them. We hope that by working together with the ACLU, we can implement public advocacy and legal actions in order to tackle this critical issue.

You can read the full letter here.

Johns Hopkins reinstated healthcare masking on 1/12/2024, in response to high respiratory virus levels. As with many other healthcare systems and public health departments that have restored healthcare masking when facing public pressure, we hope that universal masking can become a standard of care rather than a short term response to a surge. See “Take Action” below for more information.

Variants

JN.1, now the most prominent variant in the United States, is estimated to account for 85.7% of circulating variants by 1/20/2024. HV.1 is expected to drop to 5.3%, and all other variants are estimated to make up less than 2% each. Although ongoing viral spread allows opportunities for new variants to emerge, the latest 2023-2024 COVID vaccine boosters, COVID tests, and COVID treatments are still expected to be effective for JN.1.

Current updated booster uptake is low (as of January 19, 2024, the CDC reports that only 21.5% of adults and 11% of children have received it). It is not too late to get the updated booster, and to protect yourself against the latest variant! 

Hospitalizations

In the most recent week (ending January 13, 2024), we see a slight downward trend in new hospital admissions, currently at 32,861. We see a similar slight downtick in currently hospitalized patients with COVID , at 27,879. This most recent week shows a slight decrease in hospitalizations, although it is too soon to say whether hospitalizations for the current surge have passed their peak. Hospitals continue to be overwhelmed. The data also lacks information on hospital-acquired infections. We urge you to continue taking stringent precautions, such as donning a well-fitting respirator (e.g., N95, KN95) in all indoor spaces–and especially in healthcare settings.

Long COVID

Amid ongoing advocacy by Long COVID groups, the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) held a committee hearing on “Addressing Long COVID: Advancing Research and Improving Patient Care.” The hearing included testimony from three Long COVID patients and four Long COVID physicians and researchers, bringing much-needed attention to the urgent need for funding for Long COVID research and treatments, and to the need for improved access to care for Long COVID patients. We recognize the community care modeled by some of the panelists and attendees who wore masks for the hearing, and we wish the senators on the committee would mask up as well. 

Take Action

Write your elected officials to let them know that Long COVID impacts all of us, and that we need ongoing support for Long COVID research and clinical care. Ask Senators to support bill S.2560, the Long COVID Support Act. Ask Representatives to support bills HR.1114 (Long COVID RECOVERY NOW Act) and HR.3258 (TREAT Long COVID Act).

Although some healthcare settings have reinstated masking in response to high COVID levels along with high respiratory virus activity, ongoing pressure is needed to restore, keep, and expand masking broadly. Use our letter template and toolkit to call or write your elected officials in support of healthcare masking.

Want to do more to support healthcare masking? Consider starting, sharing, or joining a local campaign. Check out work in Illinois, Maryland, and Wisconsin, just to name a few. Also, sign and share our letter to the ACLU asking them to join us in supporting safe and equitable access to healthcare. Sign on is open until 2/1/2024. 

[laurellynnleake]

🚨 June 6th 2024: USA COVID Alert 🚨

SARS-CoV-2 rates are rising across the USA, especially in the West - mask up to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Remember, the US government is now actively hiding COVID data across Turtle Island, hospitals are rarely testing or masking, and death certificates do NOT list COVID-related complications like heart attacks and strokes. That means we have to rely on public wastewater data (measuring viruses in sewer water), and even that's being suppressed, and everything's on a 2 week delay. So when the numbers we CAN see go up (like the current official 430,000 infections per day), that's just the tip of the iceberg...Right now wastewater numbers are about TWICE AS HIGH AS THEY WERE LAST JUNE, before the US declared the pandemic over.

These graphs are from wastewaterscan.org and Iowacovid19tracker.org. They collect a lot of local and national data too - look up your own area!

SARS-COV-2 aerosols hang in the air like smoke, and can infect you hours after the contagious person's gone. Keep yourself safe by wearing a well-fitting respirator mask (like N95s or KN95s) whenever you're in CROWDED and COVERED areas, and when CLOSE to people (that includes outside pride events, protest rallies, backyard cookouts, etc). Whenever possible, keep indoors air moving by opening windows, and improve air quality with HEPA air filters (ex. DIY Corsi-Rosenthal box fans).

If you're sick: https://tinyurl.com/currentlysick

Mask database: https://tinyurl.com/maskdb

Air filtration resources: https://cleanaircrew.org/

How To Talk To Your Loved Ones About COVID: COVID.tips

You do NOT want to get COVID-19 if you can avoid it - the initial infection can be nasty, and the long-term effects brutally disabling. Wearing a mask is the quickest and easiest way to break the chain of transmission, and to stand in solidarity with marginalized people fighting to survive across the globe.

Spread the word and take care of each other out there!

[ID 1: Screenshot of IowaCovid19Tracker on June 7th, showing a map of SARS-CoV-2 viral activity in the USA for the last week of May 2024. Hawai'i is blue with the highest "Excessive cases", followed by Wyoming and Utah (red, "Substantial"). New Mexico, Nevada, Florida, Arkansas, Montana, Missouri, Maryland, California, Washington, and Texas are all orange, meaning "Moderate" cases. Most of the Northeast and Alaska are yellow, or "Low", with the remaining states green, or "Minimal." ID 2: Screenshot of WasteWaterScan.org tracker showing data for all sites averaged together as a single line graph. The line starts at late March 2024 to early June, at around 275 parts per million (SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acids found in wastewater samples). It slowly decreases to about 125 per mill by April 21st, then slopes upward jaggedly until it spikes to around 375 at the end of May. ID 3: A screenshot of the WasteWaterScan.org tracker showing data for all sites stacked on top of each other in a line graph, with the lower end of the spectrum having so many blue lines so as to appear almost as a solid color. The graph shows late April to early June, and has the most lines around 200 parts per million, but a good handful of lines extend up to 2400 parts per million. Below the line chart, a historical chart shows a longer view, with peaks in the winter of 2023 and 2024. Looking at the last month or two on that scale, there appears to be an uptick starting in mid May that is about twice as high as the same time in 2023.

[macgyvermedical]

What is phage therapy? I heard the word somewhere and now it’s stuck in my head but I don’t know what it is. Thanks 🙌

Phage therapy is the therapeutic use of viruses to kill bacteria.

Viruses are semi-living things that use other cells to reproduce. They do this by injecting DNA or RNA into the cell, letting the cell make copies of the genetic material, manufacture proteins, assemble new viruses, and then those new viruses burst out of the cell. In the process of reproducing, the cell is killed.

We typically think of viruses that replicate in human tissue, like influenza or SARS-CoV-2. But as it turns out, where there is a cell, including a plant cell or a bacterial cell, there is a virus that wants to kill it to make baby viruses.

Theoretically, then, if someone has a bacterial infection, we can find the extremely specific virus that kills only the bacteria that are causing the infection, infect the person with that virus, let that virus replicate and kill a bunch of the bacterial cells without harming the human cells, and voila, no more infection. Once the virus runs out of bacterial cells it can't replicate any more and it dies off.

And when I say "theoretically" I mean we have absolutely, definitely done this. Like a lot. And while phage therapy is extremely difficult to do good clinical trials with, as far as we can tell it's been pretty effective, and has few side effects that we know about.

So why don't we use phage therapy all the time?

Well, probably because of how specific the phages are. The phage that kills one kind of staph probably won't work on another kind of staph. So you need giant libraries of phages in order for them to really be useful to a large number of people.

Also, there's politics:

See, depending on what you consider the start of the antibiotic age, phage therapy and antibiotic therapy kind of came into being around the same time. By the start of WWII we had a couple of each worldwide.

Then the war happened and the Iron Curtain came into being. On the Western side resources were funneled into the mass production of a new antibiotic called penicillin, and on the Eastern side, resources were funneled into further developing phage therapy.

Throughout the Cold War this pattern would continue, with the Soviet Union eventually using both antibiotics and phages, and the West using only antibiotics (honestly, it's probably capitalism's fault- making money from phages is extremely difficult because they can't be mass produced like antibiotics can). When the Soviet Union fell apart, the research on phage therapy largely disappeared with it.

The West, now saddled with the burden of antibiotic resistance after decades of overprescription and use in agriculture, is trying to rebuild some of the knowledge that was lost with the fall of the Soviet Union.

Unfortunately, there have only been a handful of people who have been treated with phage therapy in the West. This is because the way phages work makes them extremely difficult to do high quality studies on, which makes them impossible to get FDA approval for in the US. Another factor standing in the way of approval is that they tend to change over time as the bacteria they replicate in evolve. So there are potential approval problems if we approve one type of phage but not the type it becomes in a few years.

So if something needs to change itself to work, how do you monitor to make sure that the changes aren't something dangerous? Do you have to repeatedly apply for approval? It just has all kinds of legal and policy issues.

If you want more info, there is a book called The Perfect Predator by Steffanie Strathdee. The author ended up saving her husband's life using phage therapy after he ended up with a life-threatening multidrug resistant infection.

If you want something shorter than a book, I highly recommend this video by Patrick Kelly.

[rikaklassen]

PDX Respirator Repository

Amanda Abbott created a spreadsheet with a lot of data on 60+ different elastomerics. There is no standardization as each manufacturer has their own sizing charts. So if you are looking for a new mask or looking to upgrade your PPE, there's now information on measurements.

There are even information on whether or you can create 3D-printed covers for the filters and paint the mask(s) to remain stylish during the creeping apocalypse.

If you live in or near Portland, Oregon, you can also contact Amanda for test-fits since she has most of the models. The only way to know if something is COVID-safe is to try the masks on, but they are non-returnable.

PDX Respirator Repository

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[covid-safer-hotties]

[willowreader]

This was posted by thetranscendedman on X (Twitter)

Study from China reviews autoimmune diseases after COVID-19.

In a retrospective study of over 80M people (~273k survivors), 57% reported long COVID symptoms.

Key finding: Long COVID linked to new autoimmune disorders like lupus, myasthenia gravis.

I have ANA antibodies in my blood. This is a precursor to an autoimmune disease. I have always been worried what Covid could do to me.

[pandemichub]

This is a worldwide renowned organization that has and continues to provide critical COVID including long covid support. By early next year without meeting funding goals, the org cannot continue to operate. Which would be a devastating loss.

Please share this information fare and wide, and visit https://www.wearebodypolitic.com.

Donate here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5LLEUHU9U7U3W

[didanawisgi]

"Anyone familiar with biology will recognize that biological systems and phenomena are often very complex. The more one studies biology in detail, the more one becomes aware of its intrinsic complexity. Molecular biologists will certainly agree with this. The level of sophistication increases even more as biological systems become more vulnerable, especially when interactions with other biological systems create dynamics that are vital for their maintenance. This is why the level of biological complexity within entire ecosystems culminates at a point that is difficult for humans to fully comprehend.

But what is the biological significance of this complexity? The complexity of biological phenomena often resembles a real spiderweb, where, much like a busy traffic intersection, many paths cross and change direction. By alternating steps in one direction with steps in another, often even opposite direction, it becomes possible to continuously adjust, modulate, and refine biological processes and reactions. This not only leads to a high degree of sophistication, and therefore vulnerability, in vital biological phenomena but also to a high degree of versatility and diversity. It is precisely this variation that is crucial for ensuring that complex, and hence more fragile, biological systems can thrive, even in the face of environmental threats. This is especially true when these threats come from biological agents that have evolved to sustain themselves with a much lower degree of biological complexity and vulnerability. It is precisely the spectrum of variations generated by the complexity of biological processes themselves and the myriads of mutual interactions with other systems that creates a wide range of possibilities for these vulnerable systems to adapt purposefully to threatening environmental factors. This adaptation occurs through the natural selection of the random’ variant(s)’ whose phenotypic complexity confers a competitive fitness advantage in hostile circumstances.

If the responsiveness of autonomously living biological organisms consisted only of a simple black-and-white reaction, then the confrontation with an unfavorable environmental factor would either result in a large-scale extinction of the species or in its widespread survival, ultimately leading to other factors that could also threaten the species' survival (e.g., depletion of food resources or other detrimental consequences of overpopulation). However, when the adaptability of an entire ecosystem—such as an animal population interacting with a pathogenic germ—is undermined by an unnatural, ill-adapted large-scale intervention, the population's capacity to effectively control the pathogen is at risk of gradually declining. It is not difficult to understand that this is particularly true when the 'hostile' environmental threat comes from a viable biological agent that, due to its primitive reproduction strategy, is much less vulnerable because it only needs to survive and reproduce within the safe environment of a host cell, such as a virus. In this way, the roles are reversed, and the more evolved and vulnerable organism gradually loses its ability to adapt, giving the more primitive adversary a strategic advantage.

For those who have followed my insights and predictions regarding the endpoint of the ongoing immune escape pandemic, this precisely explains how mass vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 during the pandemic has actually benefited the virus's adaptation, rather than that of the Covid 19 (C19)-vaccinated population. The systematic breakthrough infections in C19-vaccinated individuals have led to a collective reduction in the immune system’s adaptability (i.e., adaptive immunity) of highly C-19 vaccinated populations, thereby improving the survival chances of the less vulnerable virus. The adaptive capacity of highly C-19 vaccinated populations has eventually been limited to protection against virulence through polyreactive non-neutralizing antibodies (PNNAbs), a protection that we know does not evolve further and cannot prevent the virus from spreading (and thus adapting). Because the evolutionary dynamics of the virus, fueled by nonpharmaceutical infection-prevention measures and mass vaccination, have caused the antigenic stimulus that maintained the concentration of these antibodies to disappear, it seems more than plausible that this human-induced viral dynamics will ultimately pull the emergency brake to prevent the extinction of highly C-19 vaccinated populations. Indeed, if the collective immunological adaptability is restricted to the extent that it prevents the development of herd immunity, then only a higher degree of adaptability of the virus can offer a solution. The evidence of the virus's increasing adaptability has become clearly visible for quite some time, especially since the emergence of Omicron. At the current stage of this immune escape pandemic, the virus's adaptability is only further stimulated by the increasingly reduced capacity of highly C-19 vaccinated populations to control viral spread and replication.

There is no doubt that under the significant but 'misplaced' immune pressure exerted by highly C-19 vaccinated populations, the virus’s unchecked adaptability can only escalate. This escalation could ultimately give the unvaccinated part of these populations the opportunity to establish herd immunity through epigenetic reprogramming (‘adaptation’) of their innate immune cells, thereby breaking the cycle of ongoing immune escape by the virus.

It is also logical that when the robust adaptability of vulnerable biological entities is disrupted, it may take some time before their stability is collectively undermined and the system collapses under hostile pressure. Nevertheless, it’s clear that when small cracks in a dam’s wall begin to expand into larger fissures, the system’s stability deteriorates very rapidly, and thus the metastable system can suddenly collapse, much like a thunderbolt striking out of a clear sky. Such entities will therefore likely be caught off guard…

Together with those who criticize the timeline I predicted for the termination of the C-19 immune escape pandemic, I am amazed by the remarkable resilience of the complex biological system involved. This can only mean that the ability of our mammalian immune system to collectively adapt to far less biologically complex pathogens is truly spectacular and shows a resilience of unprecedented magnitude. Such remarkable resilience can only be destroyed by large-scale, unnatural and thoughtless immune interventions, but not in a way that nature has not provided a contingency plan to ensure the survival of our species..."