Hi!
This month’s primary care update on all things Covid is too long to post here, but I know a lot of you appreciate me dropping by to share. I’m going to include the summary bullet points below, but direct you back to the original post if interested, as it is too deep and hyperlinked to copy and paste everything.
Here you have it, the bullet list for July’s developments:
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Current Covid scenario: The country is experiencing another summer wave with some estimates at ~1 in 95 Americans infected (Texas as high as 1 in 38), building momentum as air conditioning increases and back-to-school approaches.
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Wastewater surveillance: Despite funding uncertainties, monitoring remains effective at predicting Covid cases one week in advance, confirmed by studies of 215 samples and 6,800+ cases
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Variant tracking challenges: CDC surveillance lagging to June data, though XFG and NB.1.8.1 (Nimbus) variants appear most common, both remaining within JN.1 family without major evolutionary changes
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Fall vaccination plans: Updated shots are hopefully on the way, but lots of uncertainties remain. It’s sad when even primary care docs are not sure what’s coming this late in the summer. If I can I’m going to try out Novavax or mNexspike, as specialty boards provide guidance while FDA/CDC leadership remains degraded
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Ivermectin controversy: States like Tennessee and Arkansas made ivermectin available over-the-counter despite studies showing ineffectiveness against Covid, creating an “upside-down world” prioritizing unproven treatments over prevention
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Cancer risks from Covid: New research suggests Covid might awaken dormant breast cancer cells, with survivors facing double cancer death risk in one database studied, yet boosters reduce hospitalization risk by 29%. Don’t panic here, as other studies and surveillance have not shown ballooning recurrence rates
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Cardiovascular impacts: Studies of 9 million people show Covid can increase heart disease risk by 62% for 18+ months, though vaccination reduces risk by 30%. And the best part? At this point in the pandemic the absolute heart risks are small (2.12% vs 1.31%)
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Political interference: Our attorney general dismissed charges against a plastic surgeon who gave children saline instead of vaccines, a dangerous precedent undermining public health protections and medical ethics
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Vaccine safety data: Danish study of 1.5 million people found no increased serious adverse events from updated mRNA vaccines across 29 potential side effects
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FDA leadership turbulence: Dr. Vinay Prasad’s 84-day tenure ended amid political pressure, showing how contrarian positions create impossible political contradictions in practice
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Pandemic preparedness collapse: Key biosecurity offices now unstaffed after resignations, with WHO withdrawal and canceled contracts leaving US vulnerable to future threats
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Long Covid treatments: Rapamycin trials showing 72% improvement rates in ME/CFS patients, though responses vary and benefits may not be permanent
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Vaccine syndrome acknowledgment: Rare Post-Covid Vaccine Syndrome cases documented with Long Covid-like symptoms deserve study without policy-driven silence
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Immune system discovery: Virtual reality study found seeing sick people triggers real immune responses similar to flu shots, showing visual perception alone can activate infection-fighting systems
Take good care out there!
My medical advice? Don’t join ICE.
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