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COVID 19 Versus The Caribbean

The following analysis prepared by Amit @caribbeansignal.com

The last time I researched and wrote anything COVID-19 related was back in June, 2020. Back then, I wrote a series of weekly “Covid-19 vs. The Caribbean” articles. Every Friday night, I’d scour several data sources for reports of confirmed new cases across the Caribbean, compile the data into spreadsheets, and publish some basic analysis on this site. All in all, I analyzed 13 weeks of data.

Much has changed since then. People across the globe are still suffering, as are our economies. Our lives have changed, no matter who you are or what you have (or don’t). Life events are either pre-Covid or post-Covid. Such is the scale and scope of this deadly virus. Despite that, Science has offered solutions. Vaccines were quickly developed (some would argue to quickly?) and are now being deployed globally and across the Region. We Humans have also learned to adapt, as Humans often do. Of-course, the Virus has adapted (as they often do), and the impact of vaccines on mutations is neither clear, nor certain. Ironically, neither is Life in general, except for death and taxes, or so they say.

Read full article: COVID-19 vs The Caribbean: Deaths Per Capita

625 responses to “COVID 19 Versus The Caribbean”

  1. Crusoe Avatar
    Crusoe

    Hants March 16, 2021 3:14 PM

    It is fast becoming apparent that without vaccination, the social and economic impacts of Covid19 will be catastrophic, far beyond anything seen so far. This will drive vaccine supply grabbing further.

  2. John Avatar
    John

    A vaccine that gives no immunity, what will they think of next!!

  3. John Avatar
    John

    Heard of a few more cases in the hotspot I expected to be a hotspot!!

  4. Crusoe Avatar
    Crusoe

    @John,

    In order to assist the gene pool with your brilliance, please to focus on the G spot.

  5. John Avatar
    John

    Robby

    Have you figured yet out that a vaccine can’t be a vaccine if it can’t give immunity!!

  6. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    🙂 🙂

  7. John Avatar
    John

    I’ve been there ages ago waiting to see how long it takes people to figure it out.

  8. John Avatar
    John

    Even the resident life expectancy expert with all her connections in the Public Health Service and medical profession can’t seem to get that understood!!

  9. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    🙂 🙂
    @John,

    In order to assist the gene pool with your brilliance, please to focus on the G spot.

  10. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    According to CNN, a US study has shown OxfordAstraZeneca has no effect on the South African variant.The vaccine is not yet authorised for use in the US.

  11. Miller Avatar
    Miller

    @ Crusoe March 16, 2021 4:25 PM
    “@John,
    In order to assist the gene pool with your brilliance, please to focus on the G spot.”
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Lol!! How do you expect your man the Friday only ‘puny john’ to know what the G-spot is all about, far less feel its deep-rooted clitoral presence in order to use his dickhead’s key to access the gateway to the well-oiled treasure in heaven?

    He was born an intellectual eunuch without the requisite drilling tool to hit the gong ball which caps the oil well to an abundance of constant ecstasy.

    Why do you think he is so obviously envious of heavily-hung real black men?

  12. Cuhdear Bajan Avatar
    Cuhdear Bajan

    @Crusoe March 16, 2021 4:25 PM “@John, In order to assist the gene pool with your brilliance, please to focus on the G spot.”

    I beg ya please. Don’t encourage John down that road.

    “…according to a mounting body of scientific research that suggests sperm too has a best-before date. Increasingly we’re learning that the older the father, the higher the rate of infertility. And his children seem to have lower birth weights, some cancers, autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, Down syndrome and bipolar disease.”
    Source: MacCleans, February 15, 2013

    The Risks to Babies of Older Fathers
    “Most women know that reproductive risks to themselves and their babies rise as they get older, but few men realize that their advancing years may also confer a risk”
    New York Times, March 25, 2019

    “Guys, that ticking you hear might be your biological clock. As women age, fertility wanes, and the risk of genetic problems in their babies increases. Now, a growing body of research suggests that middle-aged men might be more likely to father children with mental health problems, as well as rare genetic disorders, such as the most common type of dwarfism.”
    Source: WebMd, December 2, 2014

    “A mother’s age is often considered a genetic risk factor for offspring, but research is now pointing the finger at fathers, too—particularly when it comes to the mental health of their progeny. Males may have the advantage of lifelong fertility, but as they grow older, the rate of genetic mutations passed on via their sperm cells increases significantly—putting their children at increased risk for psychiatric disorders, especially autism and schizophrenia. ”
    Scientific American, August 29, 2011

  13. John Avatar
    John

  14. John Avatar
    John

    The logic of the resident life expectancy expert does not apply where geniuses are concerned!!

  15. John Avatar
    John

    It is all to do with mental capability, scholars get better with age.!!

  16. John Avatar
    John

    I considered being a sperm donor so that there could be more of me in this world but after considerable thought decided against it.

    Besides, I’ve got plenty nephews and nieces already so the genes within me are already available multiple times for the world to access.

  17. John Avatar
    John

    Let’s see, Barron is 14, The Donald is 74.

    It’s the genius gene that counts.

  18. Miller Avatar
    Miller

    @ Cuhdear Bajan March 16, 2021 6:59 PM

    What you have just posted is nothing more than a bunch of ‘scientific’ lies in total contradiction to your Judeo-Christian biblical truths which you go every Sunday to regurgitate.

    How then can you explain a 100 year old Abraham impregnating a 90 year old primigravida Sarah?

    No wonder the 70 year old Joseph had to wear a ready-made test tube jacket called the sweet miracle baby Jesus born of a virgin after being artificially inseminated with the sperm of a god millions of years of Ages.

    Not even Methuselah could out-breed that god of all time!

  19. John Avatar
    John

  20. Cuhdear Bajan Avatar
    Cuhdear Bajan

    This is especially for the BU geniuses John, GP, Critical Analyzer et. al. from their fellow genius Donald Trump

    Trump: People should get the ‘great,’ ‘safe’ coronavirus vaccine
    By Colby Itkowitz

    Former president Donald Trump said Tuesday he does “recommend” that Americans get vaccinated, touting the “great vaccine” as “something that works.”

    Trump made the comment during a wide-ranging interview with Maria Bartiromo on Fox News when she noted that he had been vaccinated and asked whether he would recommend others do the same.

    “I would recommend it to a lot of people that don’t want to get it — and a lot of those people voted for me, frankly,” Trump said. “It’s a great vaccine, it’s a safe vaccine, and it’s something that works.”

    Source: The Washington Post, 16 March 2021 at 7:43 p.m.

  21. John Avatar
    John

    Conclusion.

    Trumps genius while considerable has not quite got to the level of master.

  22. John Avatar
    John

    If Trump can produce a child the size of Barron, imagine what a master could do!!

  23. GP Avatar
    GP

    RE This is especially for the BU geniuses John, GP, Critical Analyzer et. al. from their fellow genius Donald Trump

    I DONT FOLLOW ORDERS FROM TRUMP OR FALSY WHO HAS BEEN BEGGING TRUMP TO USE HIS INFLUENCE TO TELL THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO TAKE THE VACCINE – ESPECIALLY REPUBLICANS

    I HAVE NEVER SEEN TRUMP OR FALSY IN ANY OF MY CLASSES AT MEDICAL SCHOOL, NOR HAVE EITHER OF THEM WRITTEN ANY OF THE MEDICAL TEXTS I STUDIED, OR TAUGHT FROM

    HOW COME WE ARE TO LISTEN TO TRUMP NOW WHEN ALL LAST YEAR EVERYTHING HE SAID WAS MOCKED BY THE BU KNOW IT ALLS?

  24. GP Avatar
    GP

    BY THE WAY IF TRUMP WAS A GENIUS HE WOULD HAVE INVITED ME TO FIX THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN THE USA, STATE BY STATE, STARTING GRADUALLY WITH THOSE WITH THE SMALLEST POPULATIONS
    HE WOULD NOT HAVE HAD THE PROBLEMS GENERATED BY THE OVER PAID FALSY & BURP

  25. GP Avatar
    GP

    I WOULD ALSO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SHOW HIM THAT GLOBAL WARMING IS NOT CAUSED BY CARBON DIOXIDE EMMISSIONS AND WHY HYDROXY CHLOROQUINONE SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO ALL AMERICANS WHILE THEY AWAITED A VACCINE,

  26. GP Avatar
    GP

    SOME ONE SENT ME THIS TONIGHT
    IT MIGHT SOUND LIKE MADNESS TO YOU
    BUT TAKE THE TIME TO JUST WATCH IT TO THE END AND SEE IF IT MAKES ANY SENSE. I HAVE NO OPINION TO MAKE.

    ASK YOURSELF THOUGH IF THIS ATTITUDE IS NOT REPRESENTED EVEN HERE ON BU
    https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2Fka8yuDf6n0A&data=04%7C01%7C%7Cd0bbcaf1d11542a40b3108d8e8eacfc9%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637515442484095666%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=tpvq%2FT%2BQ9SQ02uqlYv4fG%2BaLU4MLqGfyCrLR9lfhzE0%3D&reserved=0

  27. Crusoe Avatar
    Crusoe

    Hal AustinMarch 16, 2021 5:32 PM According to CNN, a US study has shown OxfordAstraZeneca has no effect on the South African variant.The vaccine is not yet authorised for use in the US.

    Hal, we need to be cautious is using simple statements like that. The study was very limited and only referred to mild cases. It could not give a conclusion on preventing severe cases or hospitalisation, which is the real public health concern.

    We can hope, as the SA strain is similar to the UK strain, which the AZ vaccine apparently does prevent severe cases, that it will do the same.

    Hope, yes. What else can we do. And yes, in response to those being pedantic about terminology, inoculation or vaccination. A vaccination is not always 100% protective. No one is claiming immunity at this time.

    All that matters for public health purposes and economic stabilisation is that it significantly reduces hospitalisation. A bonus will be if it significantly reduces transmission.

    It is unlikely that it is going away. But that is something to be dealt with over time.

  28. John Avatar
    John

    Barbados slipped one place.

    We are now at #110 out of 221 countries where COVID deaths per million are concerned.

    Singapore and New Zealand have 5 deaths per million.

    We’ve got 136 deaths per million, 4 more than 2 days ago.

    Australia is at 35 and Haiti at 22.

  29. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    @ Crusoe

    I am not a scientist and do not intend adjudicating about which scientists are right and which are wrong. I am just passing on information which is in the public space. I leave the science to the BU experts.
    The facts are that CNN reported that OxfordAstraZeneca has no effect on the South African variant, and that it is not approved for use in the US.
    By the way, I have said before and say again: journalism has no truth-testing mechanism, and so journalists, or those who aspire to be journalists, are not trained to or cannot test the veracity of scientific claims.
    Journalists just report the contending claims and let the experts decide for themselves. I leave the idiots at Facebook to decide what is scientific fake news.

  30. Crusoe Avatar
    Crusoe

    Hal AustinMarch 17, 2021 4:50 AM @ Crusoe

    ”OxfordAstraZeneca has no effect on the South African variant” But that is not what CNN reported. What you state is far different from the report. It is right there, in the reporting.

    Nothing to do with a scientist to interpret.

  31. angela cox Avatar
    angela cox

    At this point and time millions have already taken the vaccine
    Whatever data or results done now cannot change that fact
    People lives have been change and drastically affected in more ways than one by the virus and gladiator scientist fastracking a vaccine that in reality is not a cure for the virus
    The long and short lies with finding a cure for confidence one that will restore honesty and goodwill towards those put in charge of managing global affairs
    And in my mind that is a long shot
    Peace and out

  32. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    @ Crusoe

    I am not sure which part of what I said you object to. I have just heard again CNN saying that AstraZeneca is not yet approved in the US.
    I obviously did not r record the original report, but here is one from the BBC website saying the same thing. You may challenge the ‘minimal protection’ and ‘mild diseases’, but that is for the scientists. That BBC report was Feb 7.

    Oxford-AstraZeneca’s vaccine offers “minimal protection” against mild disease from the South Africa variant, scientists say early trials suggest.
    A new study, not yet peer reviewed, involved about 2,000 people who were on average 31 years old.
    But Prof Sarah Gilbert, Oxford lead vaccine developer, said vaccines should still protect against severe disease.
    She said developers were likely to have a modified Oxford jab by the autumn to combat the South Africa variant.
    South Africa has said it is putting its rollout of the Oxford vaccine on temporary hold, while scientists advise on the best way to proceed following the results of the study.
    The variant, also known as 501.V2 or B.1.351, is already the dominant virus variant in large parts of South Africa…..(Quote)

  33. John Avatar
    John

    JohnMarch 17, 2021 1:57 AM

    Barbados slipped one place.

    We are now at #110 out of 221 countries where COVID deaths per million are concerned.

    Singapore and New Zealand have 5 deaths per million.

    We’ve got 136 deaths per million, 4 more than 2 days ago.

    Australia is at 35 and Haiti at 22.

    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Israel is not doing well.

    It is #167 in 221 countries with 658 deaths per million.

    Close to 100% vaccinated.

    Two days ago it was at 168 so some improvement.

    Needs to look at its water!

  34. John Avatar
    John

    Water is pretty important.

    It is a wonderful gift from God.

    https://sites.duke.edu/theconnection/2014/06/05/remembering-gods-gift-of-water/#:~:text=Water%20is%20mentioned%20a%20total,for%20water%20to%20be%20mentioned.&text=In%20Revelations%20water%20is%20mentioned,the%20bride%20say%2C%20%27Come.

  35. TheOGazerts Avatar
    TheOGazerts

    “The Moderna covid-19 vaccine is an unapproved vaccine that may prevent covid-19. There is no FDA-approved vaccine to prevent covid-19.

    The FDA has authorized the emergency use of Moderna covid-19 vaccine to prevent covid-19 in individuals 18 years of age and older under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA).”

  36. John Avatar
    John

    There are 17 out of 221 countries where no COVID deaths have occurred.

  37. Crusoe Avatar
    Crusoe

    Hal,

    Your comment re ‘no effect on..” compared to what was actually said, by the scientists, per your post of Hal AustinMarch 17, 2021 5:46 AM, so there is no need to further guess on it, is the issue.

    It does have an effect, just not much on mild disease. This is very different than a blanket statement that there is no benefit.

  38. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    @ Crusoe

    I said CNN reported that, not that I thought it or said it. If it is wrong then blame CNN. Or, if they have changed what they said, then good on them.
    As I have said, I am not a scientist, and have no interest in science. I wasted my time in Mr Earlam’s class. I am only the messenger.
    This is what I said: “According to CNN, a US study has shown OxfordAstraZeneca has no effect on the South African variant.The vaccine is not yet authorised for use in the US.”
    As to no effect and minimal effect, you are right; they are two different things. I made that clear. But they come from different sources.

  39. GP Avatar
    GP

    RE TheOGazertsMarch 16, 2021 3:20 PM
    Was reading the pamphlet I received today…
    “The Moderna covid-19 vaccine is an unapproved vaccine that may prevent covid-19. There is no FDA-approved vaccine to prevent covid-19.
    The FDA has authorized the emergency use of Moderna covid-19 vaccine to prevent covid-19 in individuals 18 years of age and older under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA).”

    WUNNAH JOKERS AMAZE ME
    WHEREAS The FDA has authorized the emergency use of Moderna covid-19 vaccine to prevent covid-19 in individuals 18 years of age and older under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA).” DESPITE NO EXPERIENCE WITH THE USE OF THE DRUG OR REAL KNOWLEDGE OF ITS THERAPEUTIC INDEX, ALL BU MOCKED TRUMP AND ME , AND AGREED WHEN DR FALSY DEMANDED CLINICAL TRIALS FOR THE USE OF HYDROXYCHLOROQUINONE.
    THIS IS DESPITE THE FACT THAT HYDROXYCHLOROQUINONE.
    1- HAS BEEN AROUND FOR 70 YEARS
    2- HAS A WELL KNOW HIGH THERAPEUTIC INDEX
    3- WAS SHOWN AS DOCUMENTED IN HARRISON’S TEXT BOOK OF MEDICINE TO HAVE A MECHANISM OF ACTION THAT EFFECTIVELY BLOCKS CORONAVIRUSES

    THE JOKE IS THAT A VACCINE IS NOW BEING ADMINISTERED WORLDWIDE IN WHAT IS ESSENTIALLY A CLINICAL TRIAL

    AND YOU HAD THE DEVIL HIMSELF ON ANOTHER BU BLOG THIS MORNING TALKING BULLSHIT ABOUT THOSE WHO QUESTION SCIENCE WHEN HE IS HIMSELF A SCIENTIFIC ILLITERATE

    WUNNAH CANT LIKE ME CAUSE I KNOW WHAT I TALKING BOUT, AND WUNNAH OBVIOUSLY DONT

    WE CERTAINLY MISS THE MICROBIOLOGY INPUT OF DR LUCAS HERE ON THESE MATTERS, BUT WE INSULTED THE MAN AND RUN HIM OFF

  40. John Avatar
    John

    Isn’t it interesting in this perhaps first skirmish that Israel is being attacked by a virus created by the “King of the East”.

    Israel’s response is to put its faith in a man made “vaccine”.

    We’ll see how it turns out.

  41. John Avatar
    John

    ….a “King of the East”

  42. GP Avatar
    GP

    JOHN

    RE Israel’s response is to put its faith in a man made “vaccine”.

    EXACTLY. INSTEAD OF PUTTING THIER FAITH IN GOD

    ISRAEL IS NOW DOING TO THEIR NATION JUST AS HITLER DID TO THEM I.E THE JEWS IN GERMANY

    ISRAEL HAS A LOT MORE SUFFERING TO EXPERIENCE BEFORE THEY TRUST IN THE MESSIAH AFTER THE SECOND COMING PROPER (THE EPIPHANEA) AS PRECICTED IN ZECHARIAH.

    SERIOUS ESCHATOLOISTS ARE WATCHING ISRAEL, AND HAVE BEEN DOING SO FOR SOME TIME

    NOTE THAT NO ONE EXPECTED THE USA TO IMPLDE AS THEY ARE DOING TODAY, AND MOST DONT THINK, OR CAN SEE HOW THE EUROPEANS WILL BECOME THE REVISED ROMAN EMPIRE AS PREDICTED IN DANIEL CHAPTER NINE,
    NOTE THAT JESUS CORROBORATED DANIEL CHAPTER NINE IN THE OLIVET DISCOURSE, AND COMPLETED THE TIME LINE THAT DANIEL GAVE IN DANIEL
    2, 7, & 9

  43. Cuhdear Bajan Avatar
    Cuhdear Bajan

    @March 17, 2021 12:55 PM “NOTE THAT NO ONE EXPECTED THE USA TO IMPLDE AS THEY ARE DOING TODAY.”

    Not true.

    My own sister [may she rest in peace] who became a registered nurse in 1957 while you were yet a li’l boy just graduated from diapers to short pants, and who in her time had to correct plenty of know it all doctors told me right here in my own house, sometime after the early 21st century SARS events, and to quote her exactly

    “I am surprised that SARS did not explode in the US, one of these days there is going to be another virus and it will be really bad in the US because they do things so badly there”

    A colleague of mine, married to a world renowned geneticist said to me in the latter quarter of the 20th century when HIV was running rampant and there was as yet no AZT treatment “my husband says that there will come a virus as deadly as HIV but which is casually transmitted.” Although perhaps Covid19 is not it, as covid19 still does not have a high mortality rate.

    Also Laurie Garrett, see below:
    The Coming Plague: Newly Emerging Diseases in a World Out of Balance / by Laurie Garrett. Published 1995

    So plenty of people EXPECTED THE USA TO IMPLDE AS THEY ARE DOING TODAY.

    It was well known in the scientific community and in the community of well read people that the USA and the world had it coming.

    So “no” I was not at all surprised by Covid19. I was expecting it.

  44. Cuhdear Bajan Avatar
    Cuhdear Bajan

    And that was without any Bible reading at all.

    And “no” the devil ain’t my daddy.

  45. GP Avatar
    GP

    THOU WHO AND YOUR FAMMILY KNOW IT ALL AND THOU WHO HAS TRIED TO DEVALUE ANY CONTRIBUTION I SEEK TO MAKE HERE PLEASE KINDLY NOTE THAT THE IMPLOSION OF WHAT I SPEAK IS A SPIRITUAL IMPLOSION AND NOT MERELY ABOUT A POORLY HANDLED VIRUS AND ALL THAT IS JUST FACADE IN THE MAINLY MATERIAL USA

    I AM SPEAKING OF SPIRITUAL MATTERS AND ISSUES WHICH ARE PRESENTED IN THE PROPHETIC SCRIPTURES……..SO BNIBLE READING IS VERY IMPORTANT.

  46. GP Avatar
    GP

    RE “NOTE THAT NO ONE EXPECTED THE USA TO IMPLDE AS THEY ARE DOING TODAY.”

    THIS IS VERY TRUE

    MOST AMERICANS DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ARE SPIRITUALLY IMPLODING BECAUSE EVEN SOME OF THE EVANGELICAL CHURCHES ARE MOST LAODICEAN AND ARE NOT TEACHING THE WORD OF GOD

    EVEN THE ESCHATOLOGISTS COULD NOT SEE A CHANGE IN REGIME FROM CAPITALISTIC TO COMMUNISTIC AS IS OCCURING

    ONCE SOLID BIBLE TEACHING CHURCHES IN THE USA ARE IMPLODING BEFORE ONES EYES AS PURE PABLUM IS PRSENTED FROM PULPITS

  47. Crusoe Avatar
    Crusoe

    FROM CAPITALISTIC TO COMMUNISTIC AS IS OCCURING

    Oh please, what nonsense.

    But many did hope for the change from the fascist direction that it was headed, back to a centrist one.

    Americans in droves came out to vote for democracy and liberty.

    Driven by what is right as opposed to madness.

  48. Miller Avatar
    Miller

    @ GP March 17, 2021 12:55 PM
    “JOHN
    RE Israel’s response is to put its faith in a man made “vaccine”.
    EXACTLY. INSTEAD OF PUTTING THIER FAITH IN GOD”
    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    So why did you, Rev. Doc. GP, allow your wife to force you into taking the man-made vaccine for Covid while wearing a mask which turned you into Zorro the mad man running barefooted down the streets in your birthday suit shouting ‘El Diablo, El Diablo get behind me, Satan’!

    You therefore put your faith in your second Eve instead of Yahweh (as you did with Lilith).

    What a disobediently submissive boy you have turned out to be despite your two bites at the fruit which grows on the cursed cherry tree in the middle of the garden.

    When are you going to earn enough to pay to learn the lesson that the root of all evil lies not in the love of money but the depositing of all your money in the hairy purse which hides in the middle of the garden.

  49. GP Avatar
    GP

    THE ELECTION WAS CLEARLY STOLEN

    ALL AMERICANS KNOW THIS

    AND TWO OF THE THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT FACILITATED THE THIEVERY

    THE CHECKS AND BALANCES ENSHRINED IN THE CONSTITUTION IS NOW OF LITTLE OR NO EFFECT.

    THE ELITE ARE IN CONTROL.

    REGIME CHANGE IS OCCURING SEEMLESSLY TO A TOTALITARIAN REGIME ORCHESTRATED BY THE CONDUCTORS FOR A ONE WORLD GIVERNMENT THAT WILL MERGE INTO THE ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT OF ANTICHRIST

    THE MASSES OF THE PEOPLE INCLUDING THE EVANGELICAL CHURCH IS SLEEPING AS THE REBELLION OR APOSTASY OF 2 THGESSALONIANS 2 OCCURS

    LAST YEAR IT WAS WEAR THE MASS

    THIS YEAR IT IS GET THE JAB

    SOON IT WILL BE THE MARK OF THE BEAST

    THE USA IS DONE

    ITS NOW OVER TO THE REVISED ROMAN EMPIRE AND THEN ONTO THE RISE OF ANTICHRIST

  50. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    Pharmaceutical companies have never had it so good. The rapid rollout of Covid-19 vaccines has made household names of Pfizer and AstraZeneca and the whole industry is winning praise for co-operation.
    But the decision this week by some governments to suspend use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine over fears of possible blood clots shows just how fragile public trust can be. What has been a public relations triumph could, if handled badly, turn out to be a trap.
    Big Pharma’s reputation has been down in the dumps for years, after a series of scandals involving Medicare fraud, improper payments to doctors and poorly tested drugs that damaged health. Recently, the opioid epidemic and high charges for both new and old medicines have further alienated the public. Political pressure was mounting in the US, the most profitable market.
    Covid-19 changed all that. Since January 2020, the share of the US public that has a positive view of the sector has nearly doubled from 32 to 62 per cent, the highest since the survey began in 2003, says Rob Jekielek, managing director at The Harris Poll. And 56 per cent in the UK told The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry in January that their view of pharma had improved during coronavirus.
    Drug companies, previously seen as avaricious, anonymous corporations, were revealed to be full of responsible, hardworking scientists. Russia distributed jabs that weren’t fully tested, and western regulators allowed drugmakers to use shorter “emergency” approval procedures.
    Yet the big companies opted not to take all the shortcuts. Last autumn, the nine biggest makers agreed not to release jabs without large clinical trials.
    Eli Lilly chief executive David Ricks says the sector has a “once in a generation opportunity to reset” its reputation. Some of the worst problems have already been addressed: since 2013, companies have had to disclose payments to US doctors and more clinical trial data is being released, although databases remain incomplete.
    Some companies are even applying public relations muscle to increase wider understanding. Pfizer paid National Geographic to come into its labs and follow the vaccine development process, resulting in online content and a video that aired last week in the US. Johnson & Johnson’s social media video series about its search for a jab has drawn 90m views in 100 countries, with more episodes planned.
    But there are significant risks for the sector if it appears to be trying to cash in on the goodwill. “We know the world is closely watching how . . . we move forward as an industry after the pandemic is over,” says Stephen Ubl, president of the US industry group PhRMA.
    AstraZeneca insists there is no evidence that its jab increases the risk of blood clots, and the EU drugs regulator says the benefits outweigh the risks. Still, the furore is a harbinger of problems. Any side-effects are frightening because they involve healthy people becoming sick. Yet, because these are unavoidable, many countries have compensation programmes for those who are harmed.
    The rapid development and rollout of the Covid-19 jabs means there has been less chance to find and prepare the public for side-effects, and the AstraZeneca suspensions show just how quickly opinion can shift. Though drugmakers took only partial advantage of the looser Covid rules, if vaccine side-effects prove severe, the end result could be even tougher scrutiny of new products and higher costs.
    Nor can the industry wave off complaints about pricing and access. If anything they could become worse if vaccine makers appear to profit from the pandemic after receiving government support.
    AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson have promised not to profit from their jabs “during the pandemic”. Yet Pfizer said last month that it expected to sell $15bn of its Covid vaccine this year, with profit margins in the “high 20s” as a percentage of revenues. The company notes that under its tiered pricing strategy, low-income countries pay a non-profit price. But the rollout to poorer countries has been slow.
    If the pharma companies are seen to favour those who can pay higher prices, that would reinvigorate the debate over the pricing of other medicines. Already, US campaigners are demanding an antitrust investigation of rising prices in the insulin market. “We should now be holding pharma companies to a higher bar because they’ve shown us what they can do,” says Olivia Webb, a health policy analyst at the American Economic Liberties Project…..(Quote)

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