Nearly all COVID-19 deaths in the US now are in people who weren’t vaccinated, a staggering demonstration of how effective the shots have been and an indication that deaths per day — now down to under 300 — could be practically zero if everyone eligible got the vaccine. An Associated Press analysis of available government data from May shows that “breakthrough” infections in fully vaccinated … [Read more...]
Life expectancy: How can we address uneven declines?
Not long ago, during pre-pandemic 2019, the reported life expectancy at birth for non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic White, and Hispanic populations was approximately 75, 79, and 82 years, respectively. The higher life expectancy of Hispanic people compared to others in the United States may come as a surprise to some. This phenomenon, known as the “Hispanic paradox,” was first noted in the … [Read more...]
Welcoming science back at the White House
[Reprinted: The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 11-12-2020] The result of the eagerly awaited US presidential elections held on Nov 3, 2020, is finally known: the Democratic candidate Joe Biden defeated incumbent President Donald Trump. Biden will be inaugurated as the 46th US president on Jan 20, 2021. The months leading to Biden's final election were riddled with tension within the USA, and … [Read more...]
Counterfeit masks costing providers millions, putting lives at risk
[Reprinted: HealthCareBusiness News, 5-21-2020] A rise in counterfeit masks, gloves, gowns and other supplies throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has cost providers across the U.S. millions and is putting lives at risk. More than 500 seizures and 11 arrests have been made by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in what the Associated Press reports is being … [Read more...]
Jamaican Doctor Who Initiated Blood Plasma Treatment For COVID-19 Virus Hails Measures Taken By Her Homeland
[Reprinted: The Gleaner, 4-26-2020] Jamaica is taking the right steps to combat the killer coronavirus, believes the Jamaica-born US-based doctor who has pioneered the concept of using the blood plasma of recovered COVID-19 patients to treat the contagion. And Dr Khamille West was not alone in her praises. The Caribbean nation was also hailed by the World Health … [Read more...]