I sat down with Dr. Fauci to talk Covid, retirement, and what he wants his legacy to be.
"If somebody says, ‘You’ll leave when we don’t have Covid anymore,’ then I will be 105. I think we’re going to be living with this.”https://t.co/TfRYSSrKGp
— Sarah Owermohle (@owermohle) July 18, 2022
… “I said a very innocent but true thing. I said whether it’s Donald Trump or it’s Joe Biden’s second term, I don’t intend to be in my current position in January of 2025,” Fauci said.
“What happens between now and then I have not decided, but the one thing I do know is that I have other things that I want to do in a professional way that I want to have the capability — while I still have the energy and the passion to do them.”
Fauci, who became the face of the federal government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, has served as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984.
He has previously spoken on his possible resignation in response to calls for him to step down from his critics, particularly Republican lawmakers critical of his handling of COVID-19. Fauci said his decision to leave his position would not be affected by the criticisms made of him.
COVID-19 Coronavirus Updates: Sunday / Monday, July 17-18
“The fact that we are not 90-plus percent vaccinated is very unfortunate.”
Chief Medical Adviser to President Joe Biden, Dr. Anthony Fauci discusses his concerns about Covid-19 sub-variants, unvaccinated Americans and more https://t.co/utOlWyUeyZ pic.twitter.com/mYmTaACb9d
— Bloomberg TV (@BloombergTV) July 15, 2022
COVID-19 Coronavirus Updates: Thursday / Friday, July 14-15
The new BA.5 coronavirus variant is fueling yet another wave of COVID-19 infections. The CDC said it's now the dominant strain in the U.S., accounting for over 60% of cases. @WmBrangham speaks with @EricTopol about the most transmissible variant to date. https://t.co/2GeSVAHO9i pic.twitter.com/NBdeceUV22
— PBS NewsHour (@NewsHour) July 13, 2022
COVID-19 Coronavirus Updates: Tuesday / Wednesday, July 12-13
“This article is free to access” —
… Virus levels have risen across the country, fueled by ever-more-contagious omicron subvariants such as BA. 5 that evade some immune protections and have increased the risk of reinfections. About 112,000 new cases have been reported per day, according to The Washington Post’s rolling seven-day average — with the actual number probably many times higher, experts say, as most Americans test at home. Hospitalization and death levels are mounting, although they remain significantly below January peaks, with about 38,000 people hospitalized with covid as of Sunday and an average daily death toll of 327 as of Monday.
Currently, a second booster shot is available only to those 50 and older, as well as to those 12 and older who are immunocompromised. But administration officials are concerned by data that suggests immunity wanes within several months of the first booster shot. Swiftly expanding access to booster shots also would enable people who are boosted now to receive reformulated shots that target newer virus variants, when those become available, probably later this year. In addition, officials want to use vaccine doses that are reaching their expiration dates and would otherwise be discarded.
While the booster plan still needs formal sign-off from regulators and public health officials, it has the backing of White House coronavirus coordinator Ashish Jha and Anthony S. Fauci, the government’s top infectious-disease expert, according to five officials who like others interviewed in this report spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the plan…
Go for your booster now — you’re not taking a shot away from anybody who might ‘need it more’, and it won’t stop you getting another dose when the projected ‘targeted’ vaxx comes out this fall / winter.
COVID-19 Coronavirus Updates: Sunday / Monday, July 10-11
… “The Leader is fully vaccinated and double boosted, and has very mild symptoms,” the statement said. “Consistent with the CDC guidance, Leader Schumer will quarantine this week and work remotely.”
The Senate, which is split evenly between the Democrats and Republicans with the Vice President casting a tie-breaking vote when needed, is due to return on Monday following a two-week recess.
“Even if he’s not physically in the Capitol, through virtual meetings and his trademark flip phone he will continue with his robust schedule and remain in near constant contact with his colleagues,” the statement said…
Spousal Unit & I got our second boosters (Moderna, after Pfizer) Sunday afternoon. So if this post seems unusually ragged, blame it on the vaxx!
As the BA.5 subvariant spreads, the risk of #coronavirus reinfection grows. Despite many Americans deciding the pandemic is over, the virus has other ideas. Latest #Omicron offshoot—BA.5—has become dominant & is a master in evading the human immune system https://t.co/LkBNqiztSu
— delthia ricks (@DelthiaRicks) July 10, 2022
COVID-19 Coronavirus Update: Thursday / Friday, July 7-8
… Administration officials have been working for months to increase access to Paxlovid, opening thousands of sites where patients who test positive can fill a prescription for Paxlovid. The FDA change will make thousands more pharmacies eligible to quickly prescribe and dispense the pill, which must be used early to be effective.
“Since Paxlovid must be taken within five days after symptoms begin, authorizing state-licensed pharmacists to prescribe Paxlovid could expand access to timely treatment,” FDA drug center director Patrizia Cavazzoni, said in a statment.
Still, use could be limited by paperwork requirements. Patients are expected to bring their recent health records— including blood tests — and a list of their current medications so pharmacists can check for health conditions and medications that can negatively interact with Paxlovid. As an alternative, pharmacists can consult with the patient’s doctor.
Paxlovid is intended for people with COVID-19 who are more likely to become seriously ill. That includes older people and those with other health issues like heart disease, obesity, cancer or diabetes that make them more vulnerable. It isn’t recommended for patients with severe kidney or liver problems. A course of treatment is three pills twice a day for five days…
This is good news, but: There’s a long list of medications, including OTC drugs and what some summaries delicately refer to as ‘herbals’, that can affect how Paxlovid works. If you’re on a regular prescription regimen, your pharmacy probably already has a list of your drugs, and at least for some chains an automated red-flag interaction notification. I’d certainly take Paxlovid if / when the ‘rona catches up with me — but I’ll be sure to read all the instructions, first!
COVID-19 Coronavirus Updates: Tuesday / Wednesday, July 5-6
For both 2020 and 2021, Covid was the 3rd leading cause for death in the United States, by @theNCI @JAMAInternalMed In 2021, it was the #1 cause of death in Americans age 45-54 https://t.co/hFcvKAomER pic.twitter.com/pH8sBTbLz5
— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) July 5, 2022
COVID-19 Coronavirus Updates: Tuesday / Wednesday, July 5-6Post + Comments (28)