The major issue of note that I have to report, is that phase I trials of a universal Sars mRNA vaccine have begun in Manchester UK today.
This is a universal SARS vaccine against both the spike antigens and the nucleus. It is designed to avoid vaccine escape from variants and protect against evolving novel SARS viruses. Apparently it is tailored to induce a robust T-cell response.
The vaccine is being developed by
Gritstone in California. This appears to be a start up specializing in immuno therapy for cancer and infectious disease.
Andrew Clarke 63 and his wife Helen 64, received the mRNA vaccine today. They are a couple from Bolton.
In the US, we now have more deaths from Covid-19 than from the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic. This despite modern medical care and ICU support. So we can now be certain the Covid-19 virus is nothing like flu, but an illness far worse. Anybody who says this is just like flu can now be proved wrong easily.
In parts of the country care is falling apart, especially Montana, Idaho and Washington. Bozeman hospital is 100% full and going to crisis care. It has been on surge for about a week. That have asked for assistance from the National Guard. Billings is not taking referrals and so small hospitals are caring for cases beyond their expertise. In the capital Helena they are sending patients that need hospital admission home, and telling family they have to provide the care. As far as I can tell the situation is similar throughout the state. When we took our granddaughter out to Montana State university a month ago, 35% of the eligible population of Montana had, had one dose of vaccine, that is now 51%. The way people were acting you would never have known there was a pandemic.
The governor has reacted by cancelling the 15 month state of emergency. At the same time he has asked retired nurses and doctors with expired licenses to return to work!
The situation is similar in Idaho, and getting dire in Washington state.
Major referral centers in Kansas I understand are no longer accepting referrals.
I guess the answer to antivaxxers now, is get immunized with a safe and effective vaccine, or get immunized the hard way! Everyone will now get exposed to Covid-19 now. It is not if, but when.
For the record my wife and I had two doses of Moderna vaccine, the last injection March 17. So we are at the six month post vaccination point.
Mayo Clinic sent me a note via the patient portal that they consider me vulnerable, which I know, and to get a booster as soon as I can.
I'm feeling quite vulnerable at the moment as I had a deep vein thrombosis in my right popliteal vein extending into the right femoral vein five weeks ago, So I am anticoagulated.
Unfortunately I developed a severe case of post radiation prostocytatitis a week later, and bled from the bladder three weeks ago, fortunately it stopped after a brief interruption of the anticoagulants. I regret to report that the prostocytatitis has had a very high misery index. I'm glad to report that it has been on improving slowly over the last 72 hours.
