Category: vaccination

Facts Matter (March 11): The Pfizer Documents: 158K Adverse Events, 42K Case reports, 1.2K Fatalities in First 3 Months

Just a few days ago, the FDA finally released its first batch of 10,000 documents related to its authorization of the Pfizer vaccine. And within these documents, there is a breakdown of not only the number of fatalities but also the number of adverse reactions that people experience during the first three months of the…


Skepticism as a New Way of Life

Commentary The 2020–2022 pandemic split parties and ideologues, separated friend from friend and family members from family members. Neighbors were dangerous, and strangers even more so: the invisible enemy stalking our lands overturned every other concern in life: The conflicts it spurred replaced bonds of affection with fear and hatred. More than ever, we need calm and level-headed…


Unsettling Science: The German Virologist Who Chose the Path Less Trodden

Commentary Professor Dr. Sucharit Bhakdi was once a universally respected scientist who retired from the University of Mainz in 2012. There, he ran the Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene. He also set up the first specialized virology department in Germany. Most of his career was spent researching the human immune system and, in 1978,…


Working From Home and Mask Restrictions Ease in Victoria

The Victorian state government of Australia has announced an ease to mask restrictions and work from home recommendations from Feb. 25, citing declining COVID-19 hospitalisation rates and increasing third-dose vaccination rates. Masks will still be required at indoor setting for students in Year 3 and above and for early learning workers, staff in transport, medical environments,…


With Anti-Mandate Protesters More Determined Than Ever, This Isn’t Over by a Long Shot

Commentary While all eyes were on Ottawa this past weekend as police forces removed the Freedom Convoy protesters, other protests across the country went unnoticed for the most part. The Canada/U.S. border in Surrey, B.C., was closed for most of Saturday, Feb. 19, with a blockade set up by convoy supporters. Protesters in Winnipeg have…


CDC Updates Guidance for Cruise Lines, Asks Ships to Participate in Color-Coded Vaccination Program

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its guidance on Feb. 9, encouraging cruise ships operating in U.S. waters to choose to participate in a COVID-19 color-coding program to help passengers make an “informed decision” before traveling. The program would give each ship a color status indicating the percentage of those on board who are vaccinated….


The Power of Protest

Commentary All in less than one week, Israel has repealed restrictions and is backing off vaccine mandates, even as cases and deaths are hitting new highs, and implausibly so in the most vaccinated and boosted country in the world. The UK has backed off too. Same in Denmark, Ireland, Finland, and Norway. Switzerland has joined in,…


German Vaccine Panel Backs 2nd Booster for High-Risk Groups

BERLIN—Germany’s independent vaccination advisory panel said Thursday it is recommending a second vaccine booster shot for people aged 70 and above, among others particularly at risk from COVID-19. In a draft recommendation, the panel also advocated the extra shot for residents of nursing homes, people with immunodeficiency aged 5 and above, and staff at medical,…


Published COVID-19 Case Numbers ‘Don’t Reflect Reality’: QLD Chief Health Officer

The true numbers of COVID-19 cases in one popular Australian tourism destination might be five to 10 times higher than publicly reported, experts and officials in the state of Queensland have concluded, after the results of a randomised survey released on Feb. 3. The Gold Coast Public Health Unit went door-to-door on the Gold Coast…


Denmark Scraps Most COVID-19 Restrictions

COPENHAGEN, Denmark—Denmark on Tuesday became one of the first European Union countries to scrap most pandemic restrictions as the Scandinavian country no longer considers the COVID-19 outbreak “a socially critical disease.” The reason for that is that while the omicron variant is surging in Denmark, it’s not placing a heavy burden on the health system…