Categories Society
A thread in which I prove (using ONLY published Pfizer trial data) that the UK CMOs and JCVI have not so much ignored the science, as left it bleeding at the roadside.
Intrigued?
Read
The trial data said that after a single dose of the Pfizer vaccine coverage was 52%. Six days after the second dose that rose to nearly 91%. The new policy to delay 2nd dose is based on the idea that the 91% was in fact due to the first dose. We must hope that is true.
— Krishnan Guru-Murthy (@krishgm) December 30, 2020
From the moment, the decision was announced to delay 2nd vaccine doses, I've felt uneasy.
This is not my field of expertise, but I trained as a scientist (two chemistry degrees), worked professionally in IT, and understand the importance of testing.
My principal concern was about the Pfizer vaccine.
As vaccines go, it's "new tech", the first mRNA vaccine and the results are stunning.
Perhaps one should be cautious about deviating from a clinical trial procedure, at least until there is greater experience of mRNA vaccines?
I've been investigating this for over a week and haven't been able to sleep properly since I started.
At best, the 12 weeks strategy was based on one critical assumption, namely that the 2nd dose has NO effect on efficacy in the first 7 days after it is given.
And if it did?
My journey started with a friend pointing me towards an article in @bmj_latest which indicated that a single dose of @pfizer vaccine had an efficacy of
Atheism as we think of it in common popular culture in America is primarily based on a Christian worldview. Atheism in this form is in contrast to Christian views of belief, belief in Christ being the integral key point to Christianity. This is not parallel in Judaism. 1/
In order to be an atheist in Judaism, you have to actively believe something very specific: The materiality of the world as we see it is definitely all there is, without any meaning or purpose. Arch materialists like this certainly exist, but I find them exceedingly rare. 2/
Throughout Jewish history the theology has been incredibly diverse. The idea of a man in the sky pulling the strings has not been prominent for over a millennium. Even Biblically it wasn't the norm. For great Biblical theology, check out this book: https://t.co/tq6tk2OSUj 3/
Classical Rabbinic ideas varied widely. Merkabah Mystics did transcendental journeying for experience of the supernatural realm; Tzadokim denied the supernatural realm; the Mishnah (below) simply said don't go there. Jews always went There, but never settled on what "There" is.4/
Last night, I received disturbing news, confirmed to me directly by General Perna of Operation Warp Speed: States will not be receiving increased shipments of vaccines from the national stockpile next week, because there is no federal reserve of doses.
— Governor Kate Brown (@OregonGovBrown) January 15, 2021
Folks like @JamesSurowiecki spent time blaming states and municipal governments for not doling out the vaccines quickly enough. Yet forgot that the federal government is in charge of vaccine distribution - and didn't buy enough vaccines to start.
BREAKING: New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city will run out of Covid-19 vaccines by next week due to supply shortages https://t.co/ceeA584zA0 pic.twitter.com/FiNDxYT2qi
— Bloomberg (@business) January 15, 2021
By the way: We knew that the feds, under the Trump regime, would mess this up. It was reported back in December that the Trump regime didn't buy enough of the Pfizer vaccine, even after the pharma offered to supply more.
This is unsurprising, and yet, still tragedy.
So, they announced fake news then? "When HHS Sec. Alex Azar announced this week that the federal government would begin releasing coronavirus vaccine doses held in reserve for second shots, no such reserve existed..." https://t.co/wLZlSsBCPJ
— Garance Franke-Ruta (@thegarance) January 15, 2021
But none of the blame laid at the feet of states and municipalities is shocking, either. Folks have been blaming school systems for not having the resources to reopen school buildings - and for not being able to reopen in the midst of high community spread.
Violence frequently starts prior to entry into the sex trade. It is not a myth that women in #prostitution are disproportionately neglected and abused physically, sexually or emotionally in childhood. According to gov-funded study half faced regular abuse:
According to one study that asked 54 women in German prostitution, 41% entered were first exploited as minors. https://t.co/0IuOyrf1kt International pro-prostitution oriented researchers confirm a rate of 20-40% entry into sexual exploitation as minors:
Notice the language around children's commercial sexual exploitation? Many international organizations so preoccupied with destigmatizing adult #prostitution, that they will call children "sex workers". This is not a weird one-time thing, it's a pattern:
Back to Germany: Pro-prostitution organizations, as well as the government, readily admit: #Pimping is rife in the legal German sex trade. Two-thirds of women are having to pass on more than 50% of their earnings to third parties (add taxes to that...).
"We do want and will have an inclusive field of philosophy. That we will have, and, if it involves the destruction of your departments and institutions, we cannot help it."
— Dr. Johnathan Flowers says "Fuck your Democracy." (@shengokai) January 13, 2021
The above is from Gen. Sherman on what is necessary to restore the Union during the Civil War, the sentiment is apt for my position on philosophy: if we are to have an inclusive field and the structure of the field prevents that, then that structure must be destroyed. (2/n)
Now, I understand that this sounds harsh, but consider why it sounds harsh: so much of the pushback against transphobia in philosophy, and the recommendations made to address transphobia in philosophy sounds like "damage" to philosophy by established philosophers. (3/n)
And in response to that perception of damage or destruction, they push back hard to preserve the "integrity" of the field, regardless of the harm being done to the marginalized people who have to survive an inhospitable field that refuses to change. (4/n)
Now, this position was anticipated by Sara Ahmed in the following:
“Indeed so often just talking about sexism as well as racism is heard as damaging the institution. If talking about sexism and racism is heard as damaging institutions, we need to damage institutions.” (5/n)