I am not a prognosticator, I can’t say how bad things will get. I can say that Covid didn’t just magically disappear, and Bird Flu won’t just go away. The reality is ignoring zoonotic pathogens is a surefire way to kill off a large portion of the population. RFK Jr is just another old fucking shit bag that wants to be right even if he is wrong and who doesn’t care if his ignorance or self-righteousness kills you or anyone else. Your health is not his priority. His wealth and power are where his priorities lie. Please take care of yourselves and don’t rely on a person with a letter by their name or fame and fortune to save you, they won’t. Check on your loved ones, volunteer to help those vulnerable, and be empathetic and kind and we will get through this. Good luck.
Edit: I wanted to expand on the bird flu comment, as a couple of DMs pointed out there have been no sustained human-to-human transmissions of H5N1 to date.
A Science study published in December 2024 identified a single amino acid mutation, Q226L, in the hemagglutinin (HA) protein of H5N1. This mutation increases the virus’s affinity for human-type receptors. While it does not enable human-to-human transmission, the virus’s capacity to mutate—especially with prolonged exposure—means it could potentially evolve in that direction.
This concern is underscored by the 2012 Erasmus Medical Center study, where gain-of-function experiments in ferrets demonstrated how easily H5N1 could acquire airborne transmissibility. Combine that with the risk of reassortment with H1N1 or H3N2, and the potential for an H5Nx strain to emerge becomes a legitimate concern.
That said, this is speculative, and I am neither a virologist nor a doctor. Please don’t take this as a prediction or diagnosis—just an example of a “what-if” scenario from an old South Texas peckerwood who reads too much.
I hear what you are saying - the reality-based community will do the right thing, most likely (if they are able to - Brainworms may make that difficult).
Unfortunately, herd immunity is a thing. That’s why we need a responsible government with sane stewards at the wheel. Having asshats like this in charge will KILL even those that do the right thing when it comes to vaccinations.
You posted two different responses to this so I will address them both.
This first one is a study on incarcerated inmate populations who are by definition kept in close, somewhat dirty quarters. A jail shower isn’t something you go into barefoot unless you want some funky fungus. This doesn’t really apply to everyday populations and even referenced that their lack of community data instead of just incarcerated people limits their findings and they can say about them.
Secondly, your other link implies the opposite about “leaky” vaccines than you are implying.
“We now are entering an era when we are starting to develop next-generation vaccines that are ‘leaky’ because they are for diseases that do not do a good job of producing strong natural immunity — diseases like HIV and malaria,” Read said.
What’s the answer?
Rigorous testing and vigilant monitoring of next-generation vaccines to prevent the evolution of more-virulent strains of viruses will help.
Read sees this as crucial to the current attempt to develop an Ebola vaccine. He notes that secondary techniques can help when using leaky vaccines, such as insecticide-treated bed nets for prevention of malaria.
So for one they are talking about diseases like HIV and malaria are more difficult to address because of their lack of immune response, and for two they point out that secondary techniques help. In reference to your first article, the inmates could have been helped by a secondary technique of separation to reduce transmission.
Thanks for the reply, but I think you misunderstood the particular point I was making about the difficulty of achieving herd immunity with existing (leaky) Covid vaccines.
One paper shows that leaky vaccines are good for the individual, but not necessarily good for herd immunity. The other shows that the current generation of covid vaccines are leaky.
For clarity, most vaccines that are administered are not leaky and herd immunity can be achieved. This is particularly important for viruses like measles, smallpox and polio.
RFK Jr is just another old fucking shit bag that wants to be right even if he is wrong and who doesn’t care if his ignorance or self-righteousness kills you or anyone else. Your health is not his priority.
His priority seems to be to attack big pharma. The arguments made in his petition are focused on the protection of public health. Although to do this he’s using evidence from quack doctors and faulty studies.
I am not a prognosticator, I can’t say how bad things will get. I can say that Covid didn’t just magically disappear, and Bird Flu won’t just go away. The reality is ignoring zoonotic pathogens is a surefire way to kill off a large portion of the population. RFK Jr is just another old fucking shit bag that wants to be right even if he is wrong and who doesn’t care if his ignorance or self-righteousness kills you or anyone else. Your health is not his priority. His wealth and power are where his priorities lie. Please take care of yourselves and don’t rely on a person with a letter by their name or fame and fortune to save you, they won’t. Check on your loved ones, volunteer to help those vulnerable, and be empathetic and kind and we will get through this. Good luck.
Edit: I wanted to expand on the bird flu comment, as a couple of DMs pointed out there have been no sustained human-to-human transmissions of H5N1 to date.
A Science study published in December 2024 identified a single amino acid mutation, Q226L, in the hemagglutinin (HA) protein of H5N1. This mutation increases the virus’s affinity for human-type receptors. While it does not enable human-to-human transmission, the virus’s capacity to mutate—especially with prolonged exposure—means it could potentially evolve in that direction.
This concern is underscored by the 2012 Erasmus Medical Center study, where gain-of-function experiments in ferrets demonstrated how easily H5N1 could acquire airborne transmissibility. Combine that with the risk of reassortment with H1N1 or H3N2, and the potential for an H5Nx strain to emerge becomes a legitimate concern.
That said, this is speculative, and I am neither a virologist nor a doctor. Please don’t take this as a prediction or diagnosis—just an example of a “what-if” scenario from an old South Texas peckerwood who reads too much.
He is also missing pieces of his brain … Just reminding people he claimed to have a brain eating worm.
I hear what you are saying - the reality-based community will do the right thing, most likely (if they are able to - Brainworms may make that difficult).
Unfortunately, herd immunity is a thing. That’s why we need a responsible government with sane stewards at the wheel. Having asshats like this in charge will KILL even those that do the right thing when it comes to vaccinations.
It is, but a leaky vaccine doesn’t give you it.
Oh?
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-40750-8
You posted two different responses to this so I will address them both.
This first one is a study on incarcerated inmate populations who are by definition kept in close, somewhat dirty quarters. A jail shower isn’t something you go into barefoot unless you want some funky fungus. This doesn’t really apply to everyday populations and even referenced that their lack of community data instead of just incarcerated people limits their findings and they can say about them.
Secondly, your other link implies the opposite about “leaky” vaccines than you are implying.
So for one they are talking about diseases like HIV and malaria are more difficult to address because of their lack of immune response, and for two they point out that secondary techniques help. In reference to your first article, the inmates could have been helped by a secondary technique of separation to reduce transmission.
Thanks for the reply, but I think you misunderstood the particular point I was making about the difficulty of achieving herd immunity with existing (leaky) Covid vaccines.
One paper shows that leaky vaccines are good for the individual, but not necessarily good for herd immunity. The other shows that the current generation of covid vaccines are leaky.
Here is a 2022 published paper with more details
For clarity, most vaccines that are administered are not leaky and herd immunity can be achieved. This is particularly important for viruses like measles, smallpox and polio.
deleted by creator
Leaky?
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/leaky-vaccines-can-produce-stronger-versions-of-viruses-072715
His priority seems to be to attack big pharma. The arguments made in his petition are focused on the protection of public health. Although to do this he’s using evidence from quack doctors and faulty studies.