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CDC and FDA AGAIN

At the start of the pandemic the CDC and the FDA  were the envy of the world and the gold standard where other countries and even WHO would use for source information and science, no longer.  Since the politicization of the virus and all the delays in any response we have been shunned by scientific peers wondering how we fell so low.  We could not even provide an initial testing regimen that would track and trace. 

In other somewhat good vaccine news the FDA has rewritten the guidelines for emergency authorization for a Covid-19 vaccine.  The new guidelines push back the use of the authorization past the election by increasing the time the manufacturer has between the second dose from immediately after that dose is administrated qualifying for emergency use, to two weeks after the second dose is given to all the participants.  I’m not an epidemiologist, however 2 weeks being the time to determine long term effects sees to me to be a bit short to guarantee efficacy of the vaccine?   I guess if you don’t die in 2 weeks it’s OK?  Two weeks only gives enough time to find out if there is an allergic reactionnot any long term effects.  Trump has objected to the new guidelines.   Today he said that he has the power to override the new FDA’s new guidelines.  Calling the new guidance a “Political move”  (nothing like his projection).  Will he politicize the vaccine over safety concerns for a political win?  Having something for the October surprise?  The manufacturers have already committed to sometime close to year end or 1^st quarter.  Trump knows better than the career Dr.’s and scientists at the FDA?  It’s his fear of everyone is against him, and  that the new schedule does not comport to his timeline, and public health be damned.

To offset the good news it appears the virus is mutating and rapidly spreading again.  This comes from a massive genetic study showing the virus is evolving amid its rapid spread.  This news comes from a Washington Post article dated September 23^rd .  The article goes on to cite scientists from Houston that studied the genetic sequences of 5,000 of the Covid-19 virus, which revealed that the virus was continually accumulating mutations, one of which may have made the transmission easier.  The mutation is associated with higher viral loads making the strain more conductive.  During the second wave of the virus testing in July 1,000 samples were analyzed and it was found with the large spike 99% of samples contained the D614G mutation which carries with it the higher viral load.  This virus could act like the annual flu mutating and vaccines get tweaked every year hoping for good results.  The study has not been peer reviewed.

TRUMP and CHINA

In order to support Trump’s theories on the origins of the virus, and put the blame on China Trump has an old ally.  Tucker Carlson of Fox conspiracy theory and faux news channel hosted a Chinese doctor Dr. Li-Meng Yan that claimed he had “solid scientific evidence” that the Covid-19 virus was “not from nature.”  His claim was that it was created in a Lab under a Chinese military program, and it was spread intentionally outside China as part of a biowarfare program.  None of Dr. Yan’s claims are justified by the science. 

The vast majority of scientists that have studied the corona type viruses agree that the transmission was from animal species such as bat to human. The scientists cannot rule out that the virus may have originated in a lab that was studying animals such as bats could have started the transmission to humans, but it is unlikely that it was engineered.  The most likely explanation is a natural combination of corona virus strains mutating. 

Dr. Yan has posted his study on line and has not been peer reviewed.  The study lists two of the top anti-Chinese groups The Rule of Law Society, and The Rule of Law Foundation supporting the study, both of which are funded by Guo Wengui.  Goo is the same exiled Chinese billionaire that was arrested on fraud charges while Steve Bannon was relaxing on his Yacht.  Neither of these organizations are known for ever funding scientific research.

Steve Bannon and Guo Wengui for months have promoted various baseless theories on the origins of the virus.  I am curious are their motives scientific or political?  This false narrative spewed out by Fox news was hosted on You Tube on line with 2 million viewers.

This is dangerous, this same rhetoric is being cast into the ether by Mike Pompeo and Donald trump spewing unsubstantiated information unsupported by their own intelligence apparatus and casting unproven dispersions.  This, after praising China from January thru March for their openness on the virus.  The only explanation I can come up with is division, dividing the public thinking it’s us vs them, and if your not with us you, must be with them and therefore you are the enemy to spite.  Its what you get when you aren’t smart enough to follow the science.  Trump will use the talking points of a “man-made China virus,” intentionally inflicted on America causing all the carnage.

Public health organizations studying the virus, The CDC and the WHO have noted that the source of the virus is still unknown, the evidence, however, strongly suggests a natural origin.  Trump is attempting to distract and place the blame for his delay and leadership incompetence.