COVID nonsense

Ok, time for a brief fact-check on some of the nonsense circulating out there.

Some sources are claiming the CDC “changed testing thresholds to “virtually eliminate” COVID-19 cases among vaccinated individuals.”

That’s flat-out wrong. The reality is the CDC changed its guidance to local health departments about testing samples from COVID patients that had been vaccinated before they tested positive for COVID. The CDC will sequence the COVID virus’ genes to gain information on the spread and characteristics of variants.

The change is necessary because using a testing protocol with >28 cycles provides samples that can’t be used to sequence COVID genes. This has NOTHING to do with counting the number of cases or the criteria used to define if a patient has been infected with COVID.

I won’t bore you with the details behind these idiotic claims, except to note the reporters obviously don’t understand science, or math, or English.

Then there’s this.

The meme creator is either a) an idiot or b) a liar, or, c) most generously incredibly lazy.

In fact, the vaccines used here in the US – Moderna, J&J, Pfizer –  have been subjected to rigorous peer-revised studies that have proven safety and efficacy.  A simple Google search yields hundreds of articles about the peer review process, results, methodology in many prestigious journals including the BMJ, New England Journal of Medicine, the Lancet and hundreds of others.

Liability protection is “being offered” as well – and is part and parcel of Federal Law. There’s also a specific mechanism set up to protect those harmed by vaccines.

From FactCheck:

CICP gives benefits to individuals, or to estates of individuals, “who sustain a covered serious physical injury as the direct result of the administration or use of covered countermeasures,” including COVID-19 vaccines, according to the program’s website.

What does this mean for you?

Beware of people peddling nonsense. Check their facts, ask for sources, and trust credible research.