Gregg GonsalvesDec 18, 2022

Just a winter warning. We're getting better at preventing #COVID hospitalizations and deaths when people are optimally boosted, have access to treatment and care, but the #Omicron variants are especially efficient spreaders, which means absolute numbers this winter could be bleak. This tweet from @ariskatzourakis is evergreen in a pandemic. 1/

https://twitter.com/ariskatzourakis/status/1488283668632252418

Aris Katzourakis on Twitter

“If you are comparing IFRs and forgetting R0s, well...”

Twitter
Show threadGregg GonsalvesDec 18, 2022

#Vaccines are awesome. But how many Americans have had the new boosters? Answer: about 13.5%. 2/

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/16/health/covid-boosters.html

New Covid Booster Shots Cut Risk of Hospitalization by Half, CDC Reports

The research was conducted in part when older variants of the coronavirus were spreading. Other factors may have influenced the conclusions.

Show threadGregg GonsalvesDec 18, 2022

And #Paxlovid? Well, again, many who might benefit from it, don't get it and this is most acute among African-Americans. 3/.

https://khn.org/news/article/paxlovid-covid-sticker-shock-insurance/amp/

Paxlovid Has Been Free So Far. Next Year, Sticker Shock Awaits.

The government soon will stop paying for the covid drug that has proved to be the most effective at keeping patients alive and out of the hospital.

Kaiser Health News
Show threadazteclady has movedDec 18, 2022
@gregggonsalves Sick people are not getting Paxlovid not only because they may not know about it, but when they do, pharmacists may decide they 'don't qualify' for whatever reason and not dispense it, even when it's safe for the patient to take it. I believe you've helped someone in at least one such case.
Show threadGregg Gonsalves
@herhandsmyhands I had another case of this this weekend. Elderly friend, clearly qualified, but it took a lot of work to get it over the weekend. Jeez.
Dec 18, 2022 at 3:58pmWeb
Show threadazteclady has movedDec 18, 2022
@gregggonsalves I am sorry. Everything about this is beyond the pale. Better communication from CDC and WH would help immensely, spreading awareness to both public and pharmacists, but that's of course a pipe dream, and more so now.