Jan. 28, 2022
Dear Members of the Baylor College of Medicine Community,
There is lots of interesting science in this week’s video, but first, I go over the numbers. The problem continues to be the need to get more people vaccinated. It is interesting how two countries are approaching this issue: Austria has made vaccines mandatory for everyone 18 and over and Israel is adding more boosters for the same vaccinated people.
In the United States, case numbers are coming down, it is clear that vaccines are preventing serious illness and death, but we still struggle to get more people vaccinated.
A Kaiser Family Foundation study asked “Have you heard anyone say or have you read anywhere that …?” Thirty-eight percent of those surveyed believe the government is exaggerating the number of deaths. It is a battle to get correct information to people but I am confident science will win in the end.
The focus of journal articles this week includes antibody response, effectiveness of boosters, multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, and the possibility of other variants.
In other news, the report that a new variant had been discovered that combines elements of Delta and Omicron – Deltacron – was found to be an error in sequencing, and the FDA rescinded its authorization of some monoclonal antibody treatments because they are ineffective against Omicron.
Lot of news this week and a quick look at Lily’s life at the end of the video.
Have a great weekend. Stay safe.
Paul Klotman, M.D.
President & CEO
Executive Dean
