... and a future like it used to be.

you mean... uncertain? ...

 

why are we entrusting gain-of-function research to the Chinese in the first place (on our dime no less).

Because that research was banned in the US for being too risky...

 

https://www.factcheck.org/2021/05/the-wuhan-lab-and-the-gain-of-function-disagreement/

On Dec. 19, 2017, the U.S. government’s pause, or moratorium, was lifted. The Department of Health and Human Services announced a framework for evaluating whether funding should be granted for research involving “enhanced potential pandemic pathogens,” or PPPs. It said research on PPPs was “essential to protecting global health and security,” but the risks needed to be considered and mitigated.

In the May 11 hearing, Paul also pointed to the work of Ralph S. Baric, a professor of epidemiology and a microbiologist who studies coronaviruses at the University of North Carolina. Paul described Baric’s research as “gain of function” in collaboration with the Wuhan lab. A 2015 paper by Baric, Shi and others, published with NIH funding in the journal Nature Medicine, examined the potential of SARS-like bat coronaviruses to lead to human disease. Researchers created a “chimeric virus” with the spike protein of the bat coronavirus and a mouse-adapted SARS backbone and found viruses could replicate in human airway cells. The study said “the creation of chimeric viruses … was not expected to increase pathogenicity.”

Fauci told Paul at the hearing: “Dr. Baric does not do gain-of-function research, and if it is, it’s according to the guidelines and it is being conducted in North Carolina, not in China.”

In a statement to us, Baric said: “Our work was approved by the NIH, was peer reviewed, and P3CO reviewed,” meaning reviewed under the HHS 2017 framework. “We followed all safety protocols, and our work was considered low risk because of the strain of coronaviruses being studied. It is because of our early work that the United States was in a position to quickly find the first successful treatment for SARS-CoV-2 and an effective COVID-19 vaccine.”

https://www.wral.com/coronavirus/co...een-both-as-groundbreaking-reckless/19098107/

Following a series of lab mishaps in other parts of the country that fortunately didn’t spread disease, combined with lingering fear the lab-altered viruses could end up in the wrong hands, the federal government suspended funding for gain of function research in 2014. The pause impacted studies on other coronaviruses, such as SARS and MERS, as well as the H1N1 flu strain. Many of those studies were considered high-risk.

"There are also experiments that I think would raise concerns like if you were making the virus more virulent," Heise said.

One such experiment involved the H5N1 bird flu. Two researchers figured out a way to manipulate the virus to make it spreadable among people. As one scientists noted, if that flu strain ever escaped the lab, it would make the novel coronavirus look like "a kitten."

Fourteen research institutions received warnings funding would stop on dozens of projects, including some of Baric’s projects. Inviting more oversight, Baric appealed and won.

Despite a pause that lasted a couple of weeks, UNC’s continued research helped identify Remdesivir as a promising treatment for COVID-19, the illness associated with the novel coronavirus.

Heise said the stoppage did impact other research. "I know a lot of labs were significantly impacted by the pause, especially within the influenza research community," he said.

Baric’s gain of function research not only predicted another pandemic, but in 2018, he also discussed how the world would react.

"There will be misleading stories on social media, miracle cures that will be touted, conspiracy theories," he said.

 

Umm, some scream about money for homeless people living on the street and eating out of garbage cans and their kids don't have a laptop to join online classes

And those are mostly the same people that have no problem spending money for weapons, outrageous amounts for each one of them. https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zo...air-launched-missiles-and-bombs-actually-cost

 

And those are mostly the same people that have no problem spending money for weapons, outrageous amounts for each one of them. https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zo...air-launched-missiles-and-bombs-actually-cost

Worth every penny (having both paid for and used them long ago) when you compare that cost with the cost of human life lost using dumb bombs and ground troops.

 

Worth every penny (having both paid for and used them long ago) when you compare that cost with the cost of human life lost using dumb bombs and ground troops.

That implies not all lives are worth $10M, just the lives of people on your team. Correct? You've made a sudden u-turn on altruism.

 

That implies not all lives are worth $10M, just the lives of people on your team. Correct? You've made a sudden u-turn on altruism.

Hell no, all lives are not worth $10M to me or the government. In terms of the dead lost during the pandemic, if you're just an ordinary guy your value is $10M for an estimation of the national cost for 600,000 dead. If vaccines incentives can prevent
more unnecessary death now, that IMO a good investment at 350+ daily national deaths from COVID-19.

If you're trying to harm me or mine your value is doodly-squat.

 

Hey, anyone around here know what a coronavirus is?

 

Hey, anyone around here know what a coronavirus is?

Something that was important last year?

 

 

I don't understand the thrills people get from that guy? While he uses the term DR. and people see that as a medical doctor, he is just a PHD. What gives him the expertise to give advice on the corona virus? He is a teacher after all, not a scientist or virologist.

 

I don't understand the thrills people get from that guy? While he uses the term DR. and people see that as a medical doctor, he is just a PHD. What gives him the expertise to give advice on the corona virus? He is a teacher after all, not a scientist or virologist.

That's what I'm talking about. It's hearing people moan about the guy that makes it worth the posting. Cheap thrills indeed.

https://www.insider.com/youtube-nurse-dr-john-campbell-goes-viral-for-coronavirus-videos-2020-3

Campbell, who began uploading videos to his channel twelve years ago, wanted to harness the power of YouTube to make quality nursing education accessible. After teaching abroad in India and Cambodia, he discovered a demand for anatomy and physiology instruction in English. He went on to upload lectures to the platform — usually several per week.

"The idea sort of makes education more accessible — more egalitarian, really," Campbell told Insider.
...
"I think it's important at this time to have a calm and measured approach that is as informed as possible," Campbell told Insider. "Given that no one can be fully informed because it's such a massive subject now, it's good to have someone that tries to examine this objectively."

While Campbell admits he doesn't always succeed in this — he says his opinions formed from decades of experience in the medical field can creep in – the channel is his "genuine attempt" to make information accessible in an objective way.

 

CDC says only 54% of adults fully vaxed! Only 64% have had first dose! No mention of children %.

US Coronavirus: Less than half the adults in five states have received their first vaccine dose (msn.com)

 

CDC says only 54% of adults fully vaxed! Only 64% have had first dose! No mention of children %.

US Coronavirus: Less than half the adults in five states have received their first vaccine dose (msn.com)

Look at the source data:
https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations

When combined with the adults with natural infection immunity our total immunity rates are pretty high, that should keep the Re reproduction rate below 1 in the general population. The problem now is the Delta variant can cause (usually mild) reinfection to those who are not fully vaccinated or those with just post COVID-19 immunity.

https://www.statnews.com/2021/06/10...iant-covid-19-vaccinations-even-more-crucial/

It’s getting even riskier to remain unvaccinated.

The United States, as a whole, is still in good shape for the summer of reunions and revived activities. But for those who haven’t been immunized against Covid-19, there is a new concern: the emergence of yet another coronavirus variant, one with a nasty combination of features that makes it even more dangerous than the other strains that have caused global alarms.

The variant, known as Delta, was first spotted in India and helped power that country’s recent explosive outbreaks. Also called B.1.617.2, it seems to be the most transmissible version of the coronavirus seen thus far, but also carries some ability to get around the body’s immune protection generated after vaccination or an initial infection. (There’s also some evidence that it is more likely to cause severe disease, though researchers are still trying to confirm that.)

 

So many claims on Facebook that dispute research, who has so much time to address all the peer-reviewed research and dispute it? Oh, yeah, bots. Apparently, bots are better and faster at analyzing the quality of research, and good thing, otherwise we'd have been happily wearing mask into stores just like we wear shoes and shirts.

From JAMA Network
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2780748

P.S. Why don't people get all bent out of shape about having to wear a shirt into a store? I couldn't find any research that says shirts prevent disease.

 

So many claims on Facebook that dispute research, who has so much time to address all the peer-reviewed research and dispute it? Oh, yeah, bots. Apparently, bots are better and faster at analyzing the quality of research, and good thing, otherwise we'd have been happily wearing mask into stores just like we wear shoes and shirts.

From JAMA Network
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2780748

P.S. Why don't people get all bent out of shape about having to wear a shirt into a store? I couldn't find any research that says shirts prevent disease.

"We limited our study period to the 5 days following the publication of DANMASK-19 (November 18, 2020, through November 22, 2020)"

Worrying about mask wearing now means you're stuck in the past re-fighting the last war if you don't have a preexisting medical condition. We are post passive prevention measures now that vaccines are starting to expire because some percentage of people won't get shots. I'm a hell of lot more worried about anti-vaxx disinformation today than outdated studies of last years botnets

 

As a person with a compromised immune system due to medications for a serious life-threatening disease it is unsettling to encounter those who have no care about anyone other than themselves and go unmasked in crowded areas. Creates bad unnerving situations that tend to be avoided by not leaving the house. Which is not good for the soul instills hope that those who are so uncaring about others reap the returns of their bad Karma... Would like to make it another decade or two and watch my grandkids grow up. YMMV

 

 

As a person with a compromised immune system due to medications for a serious life-threatening disease it is unsettling to encounter those who have no care about anyone other than themselves and go unmasked in crowded areas. Creates bad unnerving situations that tend to be avoided by not leaving the house. Which is not good for the soul instills hope that those who are so uncaring about others reap the returns of their bad Karma... Would like to make it another decade or two and watch my grandkids grow up. YMMV

You need to talk to the uncaring non-vaccinated about that. We, the fully vaccinated (who took the time to care and get the shot) are not the problem when we go maskless even in crowded areas. Just about every state will drop mask and distance restrictions at the end of this month. Those with compromised immune systems need to protect themselves at least like they did hopefully before this pandemic.

 

2 cruise passengers test positive for COVID-19 despite vaccine requirement for adult guests (yahoo.com)

Until this stops... Wait and see if it's the eye of the hurricane or is it really over.