CorvusBlackthorne · 100+, M
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Convivial · 26-30, F
@KunsanVeteran I agree with everything you say, but I fear, by the evidence, that we are rapidly sliding back into darkness, where people find it easier to be told what to think rather than how to think, where facts are "too hard" and sound bites hold more comfort
KunsanVeteran · M
@Convivial We shine what light we can, we labor hard, and we pray and press on.
twiigss · M
His messaging against vaccines is wrong, "to not get a vaccine" I will agree with that, but if infected people who know they are infected and know they can infect others go out into public, that is solely on them. Yes, I can see if someone says, don't get the vaccine!! How that could encourage someone to just go out into public. However, you can't tell me that they don't know they can't get other people sick too???
Just like people who know they have covid decide to go out into public and get everyone else sick.
I'm only sharing my opinion, and am not looking for a back and forth argument or whatever.
Just like people who know they have covid decide to go out into public and get everyone else sick.
I'm only sharing my opinion, and am not looking for a back and forth argument or whatever.
KunsanVeteran · M
@twiigss There’s a flaw in this, however, and—like you, I am not looking for an argument.
Here is how outbreaks start.
A population has unvaccinated or under vaccinated people within it. That would be people who only got a single dose of MMR or have incomplete immunity (won’t go into the weeds on this, but one dose confers 93% immunity, two doses properly given confers 97% immunity).
Measles is very contagious—90% of susceptible people will contract measles when exposed. Most will not know when they are exposed.
For “herd immunity” in measles CDC recommends 95-97% minimum of vaccinated population. But herd immunity only means that enough people are immune to break the chain of transmission (I.e. those susceptible never come in contact with the virus because most people are already immune).
Now—here’s the problem. During the early days of incubation, the exposed patients are contagious (very contagious)—but asymptomatic. Often school age children in a population of low vaccination (e.g. Mennonites). Those children become infectious and spread the virus to other susceptible children before they know that they are now sources of infection.
The MMR vaccine has been in use since 1963, is very effective, and very safe.
Approximately 1% of children who contract measles will die from it even with modern care. Some will suffer permanent disability. These are preventable with the vaccine.
It should be noted that as of 2000, measles was eradicated in the USA but has resurged now due to parents not vaccinating their children.
So far, there have been two children die from measles in this outbreak and scores of hospitalizations. An adult died with measles (not known if this death was due to measles or due to other causes with coincidental measles) in another state.
Here is how outbreaks start.
A population has unvaccinated or under vaccinated people within it. That would be people who only got a single dose of MMR or have incomplete immunity (won’t go into the weeds on this, but one dose confers 93% immunity, two doses properly given confers 97% immunity).
Measles is very contagious—90% of susceptible people will contract measles when exposed. Most will not know when they are exposed.
For “herd immunity” in measles CDC recommends 95-97% minimum of vaccinated population. But herd immunity only means that enough people are immune to break the chain of transmission (I.e. those susceptible never come in contact with the virus because most people are already immune).
Now—here’s the problem. During the early days of incubation, the exposed patients are contagious (very contagious)—but asymptomatic. Often school age children in a population of low vaccination (e.g. Mennonites). Those children become infectious and spread the virus to other susceptible children before they know that they are now sources of infection.
The MMR vaccine has been in use since 1963, is very effective, and very safe.
Approximately 1% of children who contract measles will die from it even with modern care. Some will suffer permanent disability. These are preventable with the vaccine.
It should be noted that as of 2000, measles was eradicated in the USA but has resurged now due to parents not vaccinating their children.
So far, there have been two children die from measles in this outbreak and scores of hospitalizations. An adult died with measles (not known if this death was due to measles or due to other causes with coincidental measles) in another state.
KunsanVeteran · M
@newjaninev2 Well said!
KunsanVeteran · M
But there is much, much more to this whole debacle of appointing Kennedy to lead HHS.
He has delayed and cancelled early planning meetings for the 2025 flu shot. These meetings were scheduled for March and AFAIK have not yet taken place. These meetings call together all the virologists, immunologists, infectious disease experts, leading clinicians around the entire world to evaluate the surveillance data of emerging strains. This must be coordinated to determine which strains are likely to dominate to formulate the annual vaccine as effectively and timely as needed. It takes big Pharma months to perfect and distribute the vaccine.
He has cut research funding for vaccines, chemotherapy, cancer research, all types of medical research, and staffing of health care professionals. He has helped cut aid programs. He pedals false information and lacks the knowledge and skill sets for this critical position.
I personally hold Senator Cassidy (Rep.—LA), who is himself a knowledgeable physician whom many of us were looking to to dissuade the Republicans from voting to confirm Kennedy; subsequently all the Republican Senators affirmed his confirmation.
That’s absolutely shameful of Cassidy and was a disservice to his constituents and all Americans!
He has delayed and cancelled early planning meetings for the 2025 flu shot. These meetings were scheduled for March and AFAIK have not yet taken place. These meetings call together all the virologists, immunologists, infectious disease experts, leading clinicians around the entire world to evaluate the surveillance data of emerging strains. This must be coordinated to determine which strains are likely to dominate to formulate the annual vaccine as effectively and timely as needed. It takes big Pharma months to perfect and distribute the vaccine.
He has cut research funding for vaccines, chemotherapy, cancer research, all types of medical research, and staffing of health care professionals. He has helped cut aid programs. He pedals false information and lacks the knowledge and skill sets for this critical position.
I personally hold Senator Cassidy (Rep.—LA), who is himself a knowledgeable physician whom many of us were looking to to dissuade the Republicans from voting to confirm Kennedy; subsequently all the Republican Senators affirmed his confirmation.
That’s absolutely shameful of Cassidy and was a disservice to his constituents and all Americans!
ElwoodBlues · M
Meanwhile, there's liver damage as well as measles among the children in Texas due to misinformation.
West Texas children treated for vitamin A toxicity as medical disinformation spreads alongside measles outbreak — March 27, 2025
... During a March 4 interview on Fox News, Kennedy suggested that therapies such as the use of cod liver oil — which contains vitamins A and D — were "working" in treating measles patients.
There are reports from the West Texas area that cod liver oil is in high demand and a big seller at area pharmacies.
But the hospital is informing the public to reduce consumption of vitamin A and has warned that excessive amounts of it may result in significant adverse effects.
There is no evidence that taking vitamin A will prevent measles.
https://www.tpr.org/public-health/2025-03-27/west-texas-children-treated-for-vitamin-a-toxicity-as-medical-disinformation-spreads-alongside-measles-outbreak... During a March 4 interview on Fox News, Kennedy suggested that therapies such as the use of cod liver oil — which contains vitamins A and D — were "working" in treating measles patients.
There are reports from the West Texas area that cod liver oil is in high demand and a big seller at area pharmacies.
But the hospital is informing the public to reduce consumption of vitamin A and has warned that excessive amounts of it may result in significant adverse effects.
There is no evidence that taking vitamin A will prevent measles.
newjaninev2 · 56-60, F
@KunsanVeteran this is satire from the comedian Andy Horowitz:
Offering a remedy to last week’s devastating crash on global stock markets, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said on Monday that the plummeting trend could be reversed if investors would drink high doses of cod liver oil.
“Stocks are crashing because investors are in a bad mood, and the reason they are in a bad mood is because they are not getting enough Omega-3 fatty acids,” he said. “This is what caused the Great Depression.”
Bolstering the credibility of his suggestion, he added, “Dr. Oz is with me on this.”
Kennedy’s prescription, however, was met with skepticism from financial experts, who noted that tariffs on cod liver oil had made the liquid virtually unaffordable.
Offering a remedy to last week’s devastating crash on global stock markets, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said on Monday that the plummeting trend could be reversed if investors would drink high doses of cod liver oil.
“Stocks are crashing because investors are in a bad mood, and the reason they are in a bad mood is because they are not getting enough Omega-3 fatty acids,” he said. “This is what caused the Great Depression.”
Bolstering the credibility of his suggestion, he added, “Dr. Oz is with me on this.”
Kennedy’s prescription, however, was met with skepticism from financial experts, who noted that tariffs on cod liver oil had made the liquid virtually unaffordable.
KunsanVeteran · M
@newjaninev2 Given Kennedy’s personal history, I am surprised he’s not recommending hunting huskies and bear’s livers…
KunsanVeteran · M
@KunsanVeteran @newjaninev2 @ElwoodBlues
For those interested (if any) here is the expanded story of Mawson, vitamin A, and measles in Texas
https://similarworlds.com/city-state/texas/5271644-Vitamin-A-Measles-and-Antarctic-Exploration
For those interested (if any) here is the expanded story of Mawson, vitamin A, and measles in Texas
https://similarworlds.com/city-state/texas/5271644-Vitamin-A-Measles-and-Antarctic-Exploration
KunsanVeteran · M
@Kwek00 I think that you are referring to tRUMP there. AFAIK, RFK, Jr never recommended the COVID vaccine and he did condemn the technology involved in manufacturing the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.
tRUMP and his family did get vaccinated as soon as the vaccine became available (as did Joe Biden), and tRUMP wanted credit for the vaccine’s development with “Warp Speed” but immediately backed off when his cult booed him.
What’s more, tRUMP was a superspreader of COVID and his rallies didn’t follow the recommendations of the CDC at the time.
tRUMP and his family did get vaccinated as soon as the vaccine became available (as did Joe Biden), and tRUMP wanted credit for the vaccine’s development with “Warp Speed” but immediately backed off when his cult booed him.
What’s more, tRUMP was a superspreader of COVID and his rallies didn’t follow the recommendations of the CDC at the time.
Kwek00 · 41-45, M
@KunsanVeteran Yeah, I was... My apologie, I read it the wrong way.
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KunsanVeteran · M
BLUF: I am once again calling on Bobbie Kennedy to resign immediately. If he chooses not to, then he should immediately be fired.
Kennedy has posted that the epicurve of the measles outbreak has been slowing down since early March.
This is FALSE! Data from the Texas Department of State Health Services showed that cases are increasing, with more counties in western Texas reporting infections. Cases in other states also continue to increase.
Katherine Wells, director of public health for Lubbock, Texas, said last week that legitimate public health officials are projecting the outbreak to last for a year.
It is far more likely that the known case numbers are under counting the actual incidence. What’s more, there is a lag period between patients contracting measles and those new cases showing up in the official case count. And, of course, those who do not seek medical care will not be counted. Measles is a reportable contagious disease.
Parents who don’t vaccinate their children for measles are like people who don’t strap their children in the car when they take a drive—most of the time there will not be an accident, and if there is, it’s not likely to be fatal.
But would a good parent take that risk?
Kennedy has posted that the epicurve of the measles outbreak has been slowing down since early March.
This is FALSE! Data from the Texas Department of State Health Services showed that cases are increasing, with more counties in western Texas reporting infections. Cases in other states also continue to increase.
Katherine Wells, director of public health for Lubbock, Texas, said last week that legitimate public health officials are projecting the outbreak to last for a year.
It is far more likely that the known case numbers are under counting the actual incidence. What’s more, there is a lag period between patients contracting measles and those new cases showing up in the official case count. And, of course, those who do not seek medical care will not be counted. Measles is a reportable contagious disease.
Parents who don’t vaccinate their children for measles are like people who don’t strap their children in the car when they take a drive—most of the time there will not be an accident, and if there is, it’s not likely to be fatal.
But would a good parent take that risk?
ThomReidTheBlack · 41-45, M
LordShadowfire · 46-50, M
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