Resources and Further Reading
Who decides when a pandemic begins and ends?
Robertson, David, and Peter Doshi. “The End of the Pandemic Will Not Be Televised.” BMJ 375 (December 14, 2021): e068094. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2021-068094.
Cunningham, Alan S. “Rapid Response: Ending the Pandemic: Will It Require a Subversive Act?,” January 7, 2022. https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj-2021-068094/rr-6.
Singer, Benjamin J., Robin N. Thompson, and Michael B. Bonsall. “The Effect of the Definition of ‘Pandemic’ on Quantitative Assessments of Infectious Disease Outbreak Risk.” Scientific Reports 11, no. 1 (January 28, 2021): 2547. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-81814-3.
Law, Ron. “Rapid Response: WHO Changed Definition of Influenza Pandemic,” January 7, 2022. https://www.bmj.com/rapid-response/2011/11/02/who-changed-definition-influenza-pandemic.
Doshi, Peter. “The Elusive Definition of Pandemic Influenza.” Bulletin of the World Health Organization 89, no. 7 (July 1, 2011): 532–38. https://doi.org/10.2471/BLT.11.086173.
Who are the Unvaccinated?
CDC. “COVID-19 and Your Health.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, February 11, 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html.
Weixel, Nathaniel. “Fauci: It’s ‘when, Not If’ Definition of Fully Vaccinated Will Change.” Text. TheHill, December 8, 2021. https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/584943-fauci-when-not-if-definition-of-fully-vaccinated-will-change.
Is this really a “pandemic of the unvaccinated?”
Spotify. “The Joe Rogan Experience: Episode #1747 Dr. Peter McCullough.” at 61:00. December 2021. https://open.spotify.com/show/4rOoJ6Egrf8K2IrywzwOMk.
Forbes Breaking News. CDC Director Rochelle Walensky: COVID-19 Now “Pandemic Of The Unvaccinated,” 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xa777PtD8Cc.
“COVID-19 Updates: 345 Children Currently Hospitalized with Coronavirus in Texas.” ABC News. August 30, 2021. https://abcnews.go.com/Health/live-updates/coronavirus-delta-variant-latest-news/?id=79720727.
The CDC has previously estimated that 97% of people in the hospital being treated for COVID-19 are unvaccinated, but that data was collected before the spread of delta, a hyper-transmissible variant that many doctors have warned appears to be making people sicker.
Does the vaccine stop the spread of COVID?
Singanayagam, Anika, Seran Hakki, Jake Dunning, Kieran J Madon, Michael A Crone, Aleksandra Koycheva, Nieves Derqui-Fernandez, et al. “Community Transmission and Viral Load Kinetics of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta (B.1.617.2) Variant in Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Individuals in the UK: A Prospective, Longitudinal, Cohort Study.” The Lancet Infectious Diseases, October 2021, S1473309921006484. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(21)00648-4.
Vaccine Failure
Here’s why there must be a choice.
Moore, Art. “Fauci Stumped When Asked Why COVID-Infected Americans Need Vaccine.” WND, September 10, 2021. https://www.wnd.com/2021/09/4944784/.
Gupta, pointing to a recent study in Israel showing natural immunity to be 27 times more effective than the Pfizer vaccine, said he gets calls all the time from people who say they already have had COVID and, therefore, are protected. “Should they also get the vaccine?” he asked Fauci. “How do you make the case to them?”
“You know, that’s a really good point, Sanjay. I don’t have a really firm answer to you on that,” Fauci replied. “That’s something that we’re going to have to discuss, regarding the durability of the response,” he added.
Gazit, Sivan, Roei Shlezinger, Galit Perez, Roni Lotan, Asaf Peretz, Amir Ben-Tov, Dani Cohen, Khitam Muhsen, Gabriel Chodick, and Tal Patalon. “Comparing SARS-CoV-2 Natural Immunity to Vaccine-Induced Immunity: Reinfections versus Breakthrough Infections.” Preprint. Infectious Diseases (except HIV/AIDS), August 25, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.08.24.21262415.
This study demonstrated that natural immunity confers longer lasting and stronger protection against infection, symptomatic disease and hospitalization caused by the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2, compared to the BNT162b2 two-dose vaccine-induced immunity.
Chau, Nguyen Van Vinh, Nghiem My Ngoc, Lam Anh Nguyet, Vo Minh Quang, Nguyen Thi Han Ny, Dao Bach Khoa, Nguyen Thanh Phong, et al. “An Observational Study of Breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant Infections among Vaccinated Healthcare Workers in Vietnam.” EClinicalMedicine 41 (November 2021): 101143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2021.101143.
Cho, Alice, Frauke Muecksch, Dennis Schaefer-Babajew, Zijun Wang, Shlomo Finkin, Christian Gaebler, Victor Ramos, et al. “Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Receptor-Binding Domain Antibody Evolution after MRNA Vaccination.” Nature 600, no. 7889 (December 2021): 517–22. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-04060-7.
September 10, Tim Hains On Date and 2021. “Fauci: Natural Immunity vs. Vaccine For COVID-19 Needs To Be Discussed Seriously.” Accessed January 21, 2022. https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2021/09/10/fauci_natural_immunity_vs_vaccine_for_covid-19_needs_to_be_discussed_seriously.html.
Le Bert, Nina, Hannah E. Clapham, Anthony T. Tan, Wan Ni Chia, Christine Y. L. Tham, Jane M. Lim, Kamini Kunasegaran, et al. “Highly Functional Virus-Specific Cellular Immune Response in Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infection.” The Journal of Experimental Medicine 218, no. 5 (May 3, 2021): e20202617. https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.20202617.
Waning Immunity
Lee, Wen Shi, Adam K. Wheatley, Stephen J. Kent, and Brandon J. DeKosky. “Antibody-Dependent Enhancement and SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines and Therapies.” Nature Microbiology 5, no. 10 (October 2020): 1185–91. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-020-00789-5.
León, Tomás M. “COVID-19 Cases and Hospitalizations by COVID-19 Vaccination Status and Previous COVID-19 Diagnosis — California and New York, May–November 2021.” MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 71 (2022). https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7104e1.
Outbreaks Among the Vaccinated
Redden, Elizabeth. “Hundreds of Positive COVID Tests at Mostly Vaccinated Duke.” Inside Higher Ed, August 31, 2021. https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2021/08/31/hundreds-positive-covid-tests-mostly-vaccinated-duke.
“HMS Queen Elizabeth: Covid Outbreak on Navy Flagship.” BBC News, July 14, 2021, sec. UK. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-57830617.
USNI News. “Timeline: Theodore Roosevelt COVID-19 Outbreak Investigation,” June 23, 2020. https://news.usni.org/2020/06/23/timeline-theodore-roosevelt-covid-19-outbreak-investigation.
Barry, Ellen, and Beth Treffeisen. “‘It’s Nowhere Near Over’: A Beach Town’s Gust of Freedom, Then a U-Turn.” The New York Times, July 31, 2021, sec. U.S. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/31/us/covid-outbreak-provincetown-cape-cod.html.
Brown, Catherine M. “Outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 Infections, Including COVID-19 Vaccine Breakthrough Infections, Associated with Large Public Gatherings — Barnstable County, Massachusetts, July 2021.” MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 70 (2021). https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7031e2.
“17 Covid-19 Cases Identified on New Orleans-Bound Cruise Ship – CNN.” Accessed January 21, 2022. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/12/05/us/cruise-ship-norwegian-breakaway-covid-cases/index.html.
Garger, Kenneth. “Nearly 50 People Catch COVID-19 Aboard Royal Caribbean Cruise.” New York Post (blog), December 20, 2021. https://nypost.com/2021/12/19/48-people-catch-covid-19-aboard-royal-caribbean-cruise/.
Do the jabs always reduce severity of the disease?
Lee, Wen Shi, Adam K. Wheatley, Stephen J. Kent, and Brandon J. DeKosky. “Antibody-Dependent Enhancement and SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines and Therapies.” Nature Microbiology 5, no. 10 (October 2020): 1185–91. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-020-00789-5.
To Boost or Not to Boost?
STAT. “U.S. Officials’ Decision on Covid-19 Booster Shots Baffles — and Upsets — Some Scientists,” August 18, 2021. https://www.statnews.com/2021/08/18/u-s-decision-on-covid-19-booster-shots-baffles-and-upsets-some-scientists/.
Many flat-out challenged the need for booster doses at this time. Others questioned the morality of administering third shots to Americans when most people on the planet haven’t received one. And some worried that a decision had been made before the Food and Drug Administration had ruled on the need for a booster or a key vaccine advisory committee had evaluated the data — typically the way vaccine policy is set.
The White House. “Press Briefing by White House COVID-19 Response Team and Public Health Officials,” August 24, 2021. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2021/08/24/press-briefing-by-white-house-covid-19-response-team-and-public-health-officials-51/.
“We are acting aggressively to stay ahead of the virus and are planning for booster shots starting the week of September 20th, pending FDA and ACIP approval. We expect the rule will be simple: Get your booster shot eight months after you’ve got your second shot.”
The White House. “Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, August 27, 2021,” August 27, 2021. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2021/08/27/press-briefing-by-press-secretary-jen-psaki-august-27-2021/.
Q One more. President Biden told reporters in the Oval Office during his meeting with the Prime Minister that he talked to Dr. Fauci today about the prospect of giving booster shots after five months instead of eight. Can you explain why he’s looking at that and what information he has now that justifies the possibility of going that direction?
MS. PSAKI: Well, let me be very clear: The President would rely on any guidance by the CDC and the FDA and his health and medical experts. That guidance continues to be eight months. That has not changed. So I want to be very clear on that.
If they were to change their guidance, based on data, for any particular group, he would, of course, abide by that. But for people watching at home, for you all who are reporting out this, nothing has changed about the eight-month timeline as it relates to the boosters.
Q But why did they go — why is this conversation even happening? What sort of triggered going from eight to five?
MS. PSAKI: Well, I would say I can’t — I obviously wasn’t in — sitting in the meeting having the discussion with them on this. But Israel has taken the step of doing six-month boosters, and it’s — the President referenced advice he’d been given from the Prime Minister. Obviously, we make our own assessments based on our health and medical experts here in the United States, and nothing has changed on that front.
So I think it was more likely a reference to that. And obviously, we have ongoing discussions with our health and medical experts about what they look at.
The White House. “Remarks by President Biden on Fighting the COVID-19 Pandemic,” September 10, 2021. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2021/09/09/remarks-by-president-biden-on-fighting-the-covid-19-pandemic-3/.
Of course, the decision of which booster shots to give, when to start them, and who will give them, will be left completely to the scientists at the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control.
But while we wait, we’ve done our part. We’ve bought enough boosters — enough booster shots — and the distribution system is ready to administer them.
As soon as they are authorized, those eligible will be able to get a booster right away in tens of thousands of site across the — sites across the country for most Americans, at your nearby drug store, and for free.
The White House. “Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, September 15, 2021,” September 15, 2021. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2021/09/15/press-briefing-by-press-secretary-jen-psaki-september-15-2021/.
Q Okay. And then on a different subject — on booster shots: There was FDA staff that said today that it’s not clear at this point whether booster shots are useful for the general public. You have a plan to start giving those out on September 20th. Is that date still on? And do you need to wait more in order to get more of a scientific consensus behind that policy?
PSAKI… Right now, what we’re looking at is that today the FDA provided more data that will be analyzed through independent and rigorous scientific process. A formal meeting is also happening of the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee. That will take place on Friday. And next week, the ACIP is planning to meet. And, based on their recommendation, we’re prepared to operationalize. So those are the steps that will be occurring. Nothing has changed, as it relates to the eight top doctors who put out that statement almost a month ago. There was always going to be a process; that process is proceeding.
The White House. “Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, September 16, 2021,” September 16, 2021. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2021/09/16/press-briefing-by-press-secretary-jen-psaki-september-16-2021/. (If you read no other briefing, read this one!)
Q And then one other on booster shots. Obviously, next week is the timeline that the administration laid out. There seems — you’ve addressed there seems to be some considerable disagreement within the public health agencies about how to move forward. Former scientists from the FDA who left signed on to a study about this, saying that the boosters are not needed. Do you still plan to have the boosters rolled out next week? And what do you tell the American people about some of this disagreement inside the public health agencies?…
Q Jen, thank you. A follow-up on the FDA: You say that there was a large consensus of doctors and advisors who feel like boosters are warranted and safe and effective, but then, during all this, you had two top senior officials at the FDA resign during the booster conversation — that being the Director of Office of Vaccines Research, and Dr. Philip Krause, Deputy Director of the Office — concerned about the vaccine. So what’s your reaction to that in light of boosters next week? And what does that say to the American people to have those two high-level people step down over this conversation? …
Q Thank you so much, Jen. One question — one follow-up question on booster shots. I’m wondering if you could just say whether or not the President is at all even concerned about whether the administration endorsing booster shots before the FDA fully approved them just looks like they’re trying to influence the FDA and mix science with politics. I understand your —
MS. PSAKI: But, Yamiche, it was —
Q — point. I’m just wondering —
MS. PSAKI: — the FDA acting head who endorsed boosters.
Q The point is, though, that the FDA itself and scientists are still weighing whether or not they want to make the recommendation fully. So the question is, does this administration even have any concerns that coming out and recommending booster shots before they’re fully approved and fully recommended by the FDA, that that might be seen as unduly influencing?
MS. PSAKI: No.
Schwartz, Jared S. Hopkins and Felicia. “FDA Advisory Panel Votes Against Endorsing Covid-19 Booster Shots Widely.” Wall Street Journal, September 18, 2021, sec. Business. https://www.wsj.com/articles/fda-panel-to-weigh-covid-19-booster-shots-as-health-officials-debate-need-11631871003.
“FDA’s Unsung Heroes: Marion Gruber and Phil Krause.” September 18, 2021. https://starkmanapproved.com/fdas-unsung-heroes-marion-gruber-and-phil-krause/.
The White House. “Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, September 20, 2021,” September 21, 2021. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2021/09/20/press-briefing-by-press-secretary-jen-psaki-september-20-2021/.
Q Sixteen out of eighteen FDA advisors say there is not the science. The President talks about “following the science.” Is this a case of him getting ahead on the science?
Ciolino, Nick. Epoch Times. “White House, HHS Defend Announcing Booster Shot Plan Ahead of Approval,” September 17, 2021. https://www.theepochtimes.com/white-house-hhs-defend-announcing-booster-shot-plan-ahead-of-approval_4002633.html.
The FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) met Friday morning to discuss whether booster doses will be recommended. It voted 16–3 against providing the booster for most people, but recommended it for those over 65 years old and those at high risk….The decision to make the announcement in August has raised questions of whether the White House and the Department of Health and Human Services put undue pressure on the regulatory agencies to approve boosters by making the potential need for a third dose public.
Krause, Philip R, Thomas R Fleming, Richard Peto, Ira M Longini, J Peter Figueroa, Jonathan A C Sterne, Alejandro Cravioto, Gruber, Marion, et al. “Considerations in Boosting COVID-19 Vaccine Immune Responses.” The Lancet 398, no. 10308 (October 2021): 1377–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)02046-8. (emphasis added to point out FDA officials)