Boosting What Exactly?

I check the New York Times Covid map and dashboard every morning to see the current trends.

The overall national trends have been promising since we reached the Omicron peak in cases in mid-January.

The 7-day average of new reported cases are down 96% from the peak.

Source: The New York Times

New cases nationally are 9 per 100,000.

However, what I found interesting in the data today was comparing the recent trend in cases in those states (and territories) which have higher than average vaccination rates compared to those states which were lower than average.

16 of the 20 states or territories with the highest average daily cases right now have higher than average vaccination rates (shown in green in the far right column). Only 4 states that have lower vaccination rates are on that list.

Source: The New York Times

The fully vaccinated states also undoubtedly have the highest percentage of their populations boosted.

Compare that with the states that have the lowest daily case rates right now.

Of the 15 lowest case rate states right now, only one (Utah) is vaccinated at a rate higher than the national average.

These states (and territories) all have daily case rates per 100,000 that are less than half the national rate.

Source: The New York Times

How can this be?

I don't know but it seems that more people in positions of power should be looking for answers.

Is it possible that the vaccines are actually making people more vulnerable to the virus?

Data from Ontario, Canada seems to suggest that may be the case.

Those boosted and fully vaccinated are seeing higher case rates right now than those unvaccinated.

The boosted also appear to be more vulnerable than those with two doses.

Credit: https://twitter.com/rubiconcapital_/status/1508491595292852224/photo/1

A similar situation is being seen in the UK.

For those 18 years of age and older, Covid cases per capita are higher in the boosted and fully vaccinated than the unvaccinated during weeks 8-11 according to the UKHSA weekly report.

Credit: https://twitter.com/Hold2LLC/status/1508823389628162056/photo/1

Of course, we are told that the vaccines are really meant to prevent serious illness and death so it is misleading to look at cases.

However, I continue to be amazed at the daily deaths in Israel compared to when each of the vaccination programs were introduced in that country.

Is it just a coincidence that cases and deaths surged in Israel right after Israel introduced the vaccine, the booster and the second booster to its population?

The timing is simply remarkable when you look at it.

Was it just bad timing? Was it bad luck?

I don't know but it seems that there ought to be more questions being asked.

Are those questions being asked in the United States by our public health experts?

It does not appear so.

In fact, the FDA and CDC recommended today that everyone age 50 and older should get a second booster shot.

https://www.statnews.com/2022/03/29/u-s-approves-second-covid-19-booster-for-people-50-and-older/

However, this is being done without going through the standard review process that includes an advisory panel of outside experts who typically make the final recommendation.

Health officials made the decision without calling meetings of either the FDA’s or CDC’s advisory panels of outside experts, which typically vote to recommend authorizing vaccines and for which groups they should be made available. The move will leave the administration open to criticism that it is skipping steps in the scientific and regulatory review process.

I thought everything was supposed to be about the science? 

I am not the only one confused.

So is this well-respected doctor.

Why would anyone question whether a vaccine that was formulated two years ago against a virus that has mutated into different variants be concerned that it might not be particularly effective against a current strain?

However, that is only the half of it.

What if that vaccine booster actually makes someone more vulnerable to the new strain?

The data suggests that might actually be the case.

Does anyone who is supposed to care...actually CARE?