Archive for August, 2021

Holes in Reporting of Breakthrough COVID Cases Hamper CDC Response

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/08/25/cdc-pandemic-limited-data-breakthroughs

Holes in reporting of breakthrough Covid cases hamper CDC response

The agency originally tried to track all infections in vaccinated people, from mild to severe. But in May it decided to focus on the most severe cases.
A patient, who is on oxygen as she recovers from Covid, talks to her husband, who also contracted Covid and is being kept alive with the help of an oxygenation machine.
In Louisiana, where cases are still surging, health officials had counted 14,650 breakthrough infections as of last week. | Gerald Herbert/AP Photo

By ERIN BANCO

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is using outdated and unreliable data on coronavirus breakthrough infections to help make major decisions, such as who gets booster shots, according to three officials with direct knowledge of the situation.

The agency originally tried to track all infections in vaccinated people, from mild to severe. But in May it decided to focus on the most severe cases, saying that would allow it to better monitor overall conditions and make more informed, targeted policy decisions.

Forty-nine states are now regularly sending CDC information on hospitalized breakthrough patients. But more than a dozen told POLITICO that they do not have the capacity to match patients’ hospital admission data with their immunization records.Instead, those states rely on hospital administrators to report breakthrough infections. The resulting data is often aggregated, inaccurate and omits critical details for teasing out trends, such as which vaccine a person received and whether they have been fully vaccinated, a dozen state officials said.  (See link for article)

___________________

**Comment**

The concern with the article is that the underlying reason for it has to do with the desire to centralize ALL health data into one source, giving way too much power to a singular agency that can then be used against citizens.

  • President Biden is calling for a “new biomedical research agency modeled after the U.S. military’s “high-risk, high-reward” Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, that would operate under the guise of treatments for chronic diseases, but which, if implemented, would merge national security with health security
  • The plan would suck up masses of private data from “Apple Watches, Fitbits, Amazon Echo and Google Home” and other consumer electronic devices, as well as information from health care providers to determine if an individual might be likely to commit a crime.  (“Minority Report”, anyone?)
  • The plan also would work toward merging “biology, engineering and computer science to harness the power of natural systems for national security” along with “advancements in biotechnology, supercomputing, big data and artificial intelligence” to accomplish its goals.
  • In the interests of national safety, the Department of Defense wants everyone to have biometric wearables that could monitor 165 different biomarkers using an algorithm that could “recognize an infection or virus around 48 hours before the onset of symptoms.”
  • Ultimately, promoters of the technology want to “develop tools to record, mark and manipulate precisely defined neurons in the living brain” that are determined to be linked to an “abnormal” function or a neurological disease.  Source
  • And as of Aug. 14, 2021 the Department of Homeland Security considers anyone who opposes the government’s COVID measures is considered a “Terror Threat.” The bulletin states:

“These actors are increasingly exploiting online forums to influence and spread violent extremist narratives and promote violent activity. Such threats are also exacerbated by impacts of the ongoing global pandemic, including grievances over public health safety measures and perceived government restrictions.”

Summary of COVID reporting article:

  • Gaps in data prohibit the ability to interpret data properly
  • There are some jurisdictions that don’t have access to “vaccination” data – which means breakthrough infections are likely much higher than is being reported
  • The patchwork of public health agency data systems often can’t communicate with each other and is currently overloaded
  • Federal & state officials state it will take years for the U.S. to rebuild its public-health infrastructure
  • There are concerns of the effectiveness of the injections on variants and whether it actually causes more severe disease
  • The majority of breakthrough infection data is coming through state health departments via hospitals
  • There are often errors in these data, including missing info. on vaccination status, what injection they received, and if they are fully “vaccinated”
  • There is significant lag-time (sometimes more than 2 weeks) in reporting from states to the CDC as physicians must do it manually
  • Data from hospitals is incomplete and spotty
  • State health officials state breakthrough infections is greater than what hospitalization count show and new infections continue to rise
  • As of last week, the CDC said it had received reports of 9,716 patients with breakthrough infections who were hospitalized or had died
  • In Louisiana, health officials counted 14,650 breakthrough infections as of last week. That’s up 4,700 from the week before — the biggest one week jump since Louisiana began tracking breakthrough infections
  • A Louisiana authority states she doesn’t have reliable data to estimate what percentage of all of the breakthrough infections have led to hospitalization
  • An adviser to Alabama’s health dept. states they are attempting to track ALL breakthrough infections regardless of hospitalization status but that the task is too overwhelming some weeks
  • Local health officials in Wyoming state it’s unclear whether they have enough staff to track breakthrough infections beyond the updates sent by hospitals
  • Critics of Biden’s push for boosters state CDC breakthrough infection data shows waning immunity to the shots – nullifying justification for boosters
  • CDC fires back it has “undisclosed” data on breakthrough infections that supports boosters.  This data supposedly shows strong protection against hospitalization and death but that effectiveness in preventing infection is waning.
  • Best quote:
“We don’t have a clear understanding of what the data actually says about the Delta variant, transmission and boosters,” one of those officials said.
Bingo.

Unfortunately, these corrupt public health ‘authorities’ have vested interests in all of this and don’t do anything without reasons that benefit them but that have nothing to do with public health.

Category:

Activism, vaccines, Viruses

Support Dr. Oosterhuis

https://doctors4covidethics.org/supporting-dr-oosterhuis/  Sign Petition Here

Supporting Dr Paul Oosterhuis

Dr. Paul Oosterhuis is an Australian anaesthetist with over thirty years experience, including in critical care and resuscitation, who urgently needs your support. He is facing a hearing by the Medical Board of NSW for posting information on social media regarding COVID-19.

His posts relate to early treatment and prophylaxis, PCR tests, and risk-benefit calculations regarding COVID-19 vaccination and lockdowns (scroll down for details). His hearing is on September 3rd. Please help him by signing and sharing this petition.

We are practicing doctors and allied health professionals and/or scientists and academics and/or members of the public and/or represent professional organisations. We support the right of Dr Oosterhuis, and that of all doctors, to offer informed medical opinions on COVID-19 and to discuss the available evidence on COVID-19 interventions.

As doctors we too have advised and continue to advise  patients and the general public about the medical management of COVID-19 disease and vaccination on the basis of good science. As members of the public we reserve the right to receive honest information, opinion and advice from our doctors, free from government interference.

* All names of Australian health professionals will be verified but will not be provided to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority (AHPRA) in view of AHPRA’s current role in persecuting Australian doctors. Australian signatories will be represented only by their Initial and state, e.g Dr A QLD.

In Wisconsin:

Category:

Activism, vaccines, Viruses

The Added Battle For Lyme Patients: Coinfections

https://holtorfmed.com/articles/lyme-disease/the-added-battle-for-lyme-patients-co-infections?

The Added Battle for Lyme Patients: Co-infections

Holtorf Medical Group

Lyme disease is slowly gaining the recognition it deserves as a complex and serious illness that can cause severe health problems if not treated early and properly.

Learn more about Lyme disease and its symptoms here

However, it is important to note that oftentimes Lyme disease patients are not just fighting the Lyme bacteria, but also other co-infections. More specifically, part of the complication with Lyme disease is that, when bitten by a tick, people can be exposed to other pathogens that also carry illnesses. These are called co-infections. A survey of chronic Lyme-infected individuals found:

  • 50% had at least one co-infection
  • while almost 30% had at least two

So, if you have Lyme disease, there is a chance some of your symptoms may be due to a co-infection.

Below we outline two of the most common Lyme co-infections, their respective symptoms, and how to receive a proper diagnosis:

Bartonella

First reported in 1990, bartonellosis is caused by an infection of Bartonella bacteria. These harmful bacteria are capable of infecting a wide array of organisms.

Bartonella bacteria are most commonly spread by fleas, ticks, and lice. There are several different types of this bacteria. For instance, sand flies in South America carry one strain of Bartonella while human body lice, globally, carry another. Today, scientists have detected 29 different strains of this bacteria with approximately 15 that are capable of causing bartonellosis in humans.

Once Bartonella has infected the body, they primarily occupy the inside lining of blood vessels, specifically, red blood cells, macrophages, and endothelial cells. Until recently, it was believed that cases of bartonellosis tended to be mild, acute, and had little risk of contributing to further disruption. However, doctors have started finding that Bartonella may result in chronic infection.

Depending on the strain of Bartonella, symptoms may vary slightly. Bartonella henselae causes “cat scratch disease” and is associated with a bump or blister at the point of infection, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, headaches, fever, and body aches.

Carrion’s disease (Bartonella bacilliformis) is linked to miliary lesions that ulcerate or bleed, fever, joint pain, and liver and spleen enlargement.

Bartonella quintana’s trench fever causes a fever, rash, bone pain (predominantly in the shins, neck, and back), enlarged lymph nodes, encephalitis, and eye infections.

As Bartonellosis commonly affects the skin, a streak-like rash is perhaps the most indicator of this infection. Other indicators of the condition include: tremors, neurological issues, blurred vision, numbness in the extremities, and psychiatric manifestations.

When Bartonella is attacking an immune system weakened by Lyme, it is possible to develop a more severe manifestation of bartonellosis. Bartonellosis can lead to endocarditis (heart infection) and bacillary angiomatosis (tumor-like masses caused by an infection in blood vessels).

Because bartonellosis can affect multiple bodily systems, it is often misdiagnosed or dismissed by standard practitioners. Proper diagnosis of Bartonella can be conducted through a variety of testing measures including Western Blot, IFAs (Indirect Immunofluorescent Assay), and others.

Babesia

Babesia is a parasite similar to malaria. Both fall into the category of piroplasm, which are organisms that infect red blood cells. Infection of babesia is called babesiosis and is the most common Lyme co-infection as well as the most common piroplasm infection among humans.

The first Babesia species was discovered in 1888 by Hungarian pathologist, Victor Babes. Since then, over 100 distinct strains of Babesia have been identified, but only a few are considered human pathogens. In fact, babesiosis has long been recognized as a disease of cattle and other animals but the first human case was not documented until 1957. A young Croatian farmer was infected with Babesia and died shortly after of kidney failure. By the 1960s, babesiosis cases were documented in North America, and the bacteria is recognized as a serious and potentially harmful human pathogen.

The strain of Babesia that most often affects humans is Babesia microti. Like Lyme, babesia may be transferred via tick. However, it can also be transmitted from mother to unborn child through the transfusion of contaminated blood. This quality makes babesia an exceptionally sinister threat.

Symptoms of babesiosis share several similarities with Lyme. However, it may be distinguished with an initial high fever and chills. Progression of the infection brings with it symptoms including fatigue, headache, sweating, muscle aches, chest and hip pain, and shortness of breath, or air hunger. Fortunately, symptoms of babesiosis tend to be mild and non-life-threatening. However, the mildness of the symptoms also means that the condition is often overlooked until symptoms become more severe.

Because Babesia targets red blood cells, babesiosis is often linked to a condition called hemolytic anemia. Hemolytic anemia is characterized by red blood cells dying at a faster rate than the body can produce new ones. Symptoms include: confusion, dark-colored urine, rapid heart rate, heart murmur, dizziness, fatigue, pale skin, jaundice, and swelling of the spleen and liver.

Unfortunately, when babesia goes untreated, it can lead to more severe complications, especially for immunocompromised individuals.

Because symptoms of babesiosis are largely non-specific, especially early on, it is easily missed by standard practitioners. A blood test is required to check for signs of a Babesia infection. It is also important to check if there are other conditions present with babesiosis such as Lyme disease for optimal treatment.

Final Thought

Patients treated at Holtorf Medical Group have seen an average of 7.2 different physicians prior to their visit to our center, without experiencing significant improvement.

At Holtorf Medical Group, our physicians are trained to utilize cutting-edge testing and innovative treatments to uncover the root cause of your symptoms and treat the source. If you are experiencing symptoms of Lyme disease, a co-infection, or if you have been previously diagnosed, but aren’t getting the treatment you need, call us at 877-508-1177 to see how we can help you!

____________________

For more:

Category:

Babesia, Bartonella, Lyme

The Thorny Question of (No) Insurance Coverage For Lyme

https://www.lymedisease.org/touched-by-lyme-the-thorny-question-of-no-insurance-coverage-for-lyme/

TOUCHED BY LYME: The thorny question of (no) insurance coverage for Lyme

By Dorothy Kupcha Leland

Aug. 13, 2021

People suffering from persistent Lyme disease typically make a lot of unpleasant discoveries early on. For instance, how many different places your body can hurt. And how exhausting even simple exercise can be.

But the pain and exhaustion isn’t just physical. It’s also financial. Turns out, your regular doctor probably can’t help you—and your health insurance likely won’t pay for anybody who can.

The topic is frequently discussed in Lyme patient support groups, whether online or (back in the day) in-person.

But the issue of lack of insurance coverage for Lyme disease treatment is rarely mentioned in the mainstream news media.

Therefore, I was pleasantly surprised to see the following headline and article in Business Insider, an online news publication with a worldwide readership.

Reporter Heather Schlitz presents a pretty accurate picture of how Lyme patients get little to no support from their health insurance companies.

Profiling a patient from Northern California, she notes: “Over three years, she estimates she paid around $100,000 for antibiotics and other medications, an amount that drained her and her husband’s savings account and retirement funds, but that managed to rein in the avalanche of symptoms.”

Schlitz explains that insurance companies often refuse to cover the costs of treatment because of the Infectious Diseases Society of America’s stance on the subject. She writes:

“Anthem, one of the largest insurers in the country, considers long-term antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease ‘medically unnecessary,’ which means that if an Anthem member’s Lyme disease symptoms aren’t cured with a few weeks of antibiotic pills, their health plan would likely not pay for additional treatment.”

Schlitz continues:

“It can be difficult to pin down what kind of treatment insurance companies will cover, because much depends on the state the patient lives in and how much work a doctor puts in to get insurance to approve a drug, Lorraine Johnson, the head of LymeDisease.org, a Lyme disease advocacy group, said. But because the best method for treating the disease’s long-term effects remains elusive, insurers should rely on clinical judgement of doctors rather than opting not to cover treatment at all, Johnson said.”

Not covered in this article is Torrey v. IDSA, a lawsuit originally brought by patients against the IDSA, its Lyme guideline authors and eight insurance companies.

As it now stands, the insurance companies have all settled and the individual authors have been dropped from the suit. According to journalist Mary Beth Pfeiffer, who has been following the case, “Pending approval by the court, TORREY v. IDSA is now an anti-trust lawsuit against a single defendant: The Infectious Diseases Society of America.”    See her website for more information about Torrey v. IDSA.

Click here to read the article in Business Insider.

TOUCHED BY LYME is written by Dorothy Kupcha Leland, LymeDisease.org’s Vice-president and Director of Communications. She is co-author of When Your Child Has Lyme Disease: A Parent’s Survival Guide. Contact her at dleland@lymedisease.org.

____________________

For more:

For insurance coverage bills to be effective, it is imperative that doctors are allowed freedom to treat patients as they seem fit – without medical governing boards and state medical boards continually threatening them and without insurance companies hiding behind the faulty parameters being set by public health authorities.  We are seeing the exact same problem with the treatment of COVID.

Category:

Activism, Lyme

COVID Vaccine Mandates: If I Don’t Want the Jab, What Are My Options?

**UPDATE**

Watch Sharyl Attkison on Full Measure for an excellent 9 minute report on the “vaccine” mandate.

HFDF has successfully won a lawsuit prompting an Executive Order barring COVID shot Mandates in Arizona.

Also, OCLA researcher and fellow Canadian academics penned an open letter: 2021-08-02-A-Letter-to-the-Unvaccinated (1) in support of those forgoing the COVID shot. The group emphasizes the need for informed consent and individual risk-benefit assessment.  They reject pressure being exerted by public health officials, the news, social media, and fellow citizens.

For an informative video, Robert Owens, J.D., talks about what individuals can do when required to get the jab. He discusses the unconstitutionality of the mandates and recommends nullification by state legislatures as a proper remedy. Owens wrote the cover story “Vaccine Mandates: What Are My Options?” presented below, and two other related articles on the subject in the October 4, 2021 issue of The New American, which you can order for a small fee.

https://thenewamerican.com/covid-vaccine-mandates-if-i-dont-want-the-jab-what-are-my-options/

COVID Vaccine Mandates: If I Don’t Want the Jab, What Are My Options?

 by Robert M. Owens, J.D. 
COVID Vaccine Mandates: If I Don’t Want the Jab, What Are My Options?
kbeis/DigitalVision Vectors/Getty Images

Katie Kern, R.N., was a front-line nurse during the COVID crisis in 2020. She did not ask to be called a hero, but her personal sacrifice and dedication to her patients earned her that consideration. In 2021 Katie went from hero to zero in the eyes of her employer, Henry Ford Health System. Choking back tears and trembling as she recalled the incident, Katie reports, “In June 2021, I received an email from Henry Ford threatening termination of employment … for non-compliance with their Covid vaccine mandate.” This ultimatum was delivered after months of oppressive bullying, threats, and suspensions. 

American workers, or at least those who continued working through the pandemic, are by the thousands and perhaps millions now being faced with the same dramatic quandary: Do I take the COVID vaccination or lose my job? This situation is made even more unfair as your employer would incur no liability in the event of vaccine injury, nor do they even have to report the injury. As stated on the OSHA website:

“OSHA will not enforce 29 CFR 1904’s recording requirements to require any employers to record worker side effects from COVID-19 vaccination through May 2022.”

Federal law, and in most jurisdictions, state law, has an effective mechanism to allow you to both refuse the COVID vaccine and keep your job. But there are critical steps that you must follow, and time is of the essence in following them. Moreover, strict adherence to appropriate process and procedure of documentation is essential.

Steps to Follow

  1. First, don’t quit or abandon your post.
  2. Second, put your refusal to get the jab in writing and submit it to your employer. Include the reason for your refusal. Be precise.
  3. Third, keep a copy of your documentation, including the method and date of your submittal.
  4. Fourth, understand the deadlines associated the process, from submitting your refusal to responding to a denial.

In every instance seeking local legal counsel for specific advice on the application of the law to your facts is recommended, especially if the consequences of these matters impact your ability to provide for your family.

Federal law applies in all 50 states and every American territory and possession.  Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for 1) sincerely held religious beliefs and 2) medical exemptions. This legal process applies without regard to whether the Covid vaccination is subject to an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) or full approval by the Food and Drug Administration.  (See link for article)

____________________

**Comment**

**UPDATE, Sept. 3, 2021**

In this informative video put out by Stand for Health Freedom, exemptions are discussed with civil rights attorney Brian Festa. He states medical exemptions are very difficult to obtain and very limited.  Cases are reviewed every 90 days which means if and when health status improves, you will be forced to get the “vaccine” or quit your job. He lists cases where a person was in obvious bad health but was still forced to get the jab to keep their job or stay in college.  He states religious exemptions are much easier to obtain and uphold.  He recommends keeping your letter short and sweet, remembering that anything you say can and will be used against you. 

Summary of top article:

  • Sincerely held religious belief need only be yours alone. There is no requirement that the belief be generally accepted theological dogma.  The author recommends staying on point and focus on personal beliefs, not vaccine safety.
  • Written documentation specifically using the key words, “sincerely held religious belief” is crucial.  Keep copies or take photos if you can not get a written copy.  Secure these documents in a safe, readily accessible place, but not at your workplace.  
  • Make sure to fill out any employer requested documents with precision. Attach an addendum if you need more space. Don’t let a technicality invalidate your efforts.  Be early regarding deadlines.
  • Liberty Counsel has many template letter options for different faiths: Christian, Jewish, Greek Orthodox, and Russian Orthodox. There is also a letter specifically for students that is geared to educational institutions. You can also write your own.  It need not be lengthy as long as you include the key words, “sincerely held religious belief.
  • It is not lawful for your employer to demand a letter from a religious leader or any other documentation proving your place of worship has a long-standing history of teaching against vaccines; however if you can readily obtain a simple letter – the path of least resistance and over documentation will not hurt you.
  • The military may also utilize religious belief exemptions. Again, pay close attention to detail and fill out all required required documents. Noncompliance may adversely impact deployment, assignment, international travel, and the exemption may be revoked under imminent risk conditions.
  • Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 does not apply to colleges and universities as to their student bodies. Therefore, private (as opposed to public) colleges and universities need not, as a matter of federal law, grant religious exemptions. However, each state has different requirements. 
  • Regarding medical exemptions, you will need documentation signed by a medical professional. The most robust and defensible documentation will indicate that you have a medical condition that is listed as a known potential hazard related to the Covid vaccine. Some common conditions listed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).  Some examples:
    • weakened immune systems
    • autoimmune conditions
    • cancer
    • chronic lung diseases, including COPD, asthma, interstitial lung disease, cystic fibrosis, and pulmonary hypertension
    • dementia
    • other neurological conditions
    • diabetes (type 1 or type 2)
    • heart conditions
    • liver disease
    • overweight or obesity
    • pregnancy
    • history of smoking either in the past or currently, to name just a few
    • this article delves into the fact the contraindication list is very short for most vaccines – in other words you can be very sick and still be considered a vaccine candidate.  This is reiterated with civil rights attorney Brian Festa.
  • Both public and private colleges and universities are subject to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and/or its sister statute the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
  • Shop around for a medical professional if your current doctor will not supply documentation.  Doctors have differences of opinions. You need not disclose that a different doctor declined to write a letter for you.
  • Members of the Armed Forces may also consider a medical exemption. Personnel separating or retiring from the Army within 180 days are exempt from mandatory vaccines if they contact their commanders, produce an approved separation or retirement order, and request exemption; however, again, exceptions may exist to this policy.
  • You may file both a religious exemption and a medical exemption.  Again, over-documentation can not hurt you.
  • If your request is denied you have options but you must act quickly as you generally only have between 45-180 days to file a complaint.  If you don’t you may be barred from filing any legal action to enforce your rights. You must file a Complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) at https://EEOC.gov.
  • Complaints may also be filed if the accommodation to your exemption is improper or not reasonable.  This analysis may be very fact intensive and if you feel that you are being treated unfairly you should seek legal counsel immediately.
  • “John Galt” Option: convincing others to threaten to quit may get an employer to relent but it’s a high-risk proposition so carefully consider the consequences.
  • The author doesn’t recommend public demonstrations, as peaceful protests can be made to look violent. TV crews and reporters hope to find strife and faction. Anarchy or any form of public disorder creates an excuse for government to exercise force, make more laws, and create more government. All it takes is one or two people planted in the crowd to provide violence or ill manners that can be used against the group.
  • The author states that the same effort to do a demonstration should be redirected on the statehouse to advocate for legislation like Michigan HB 4667 to prohibit government and businesses from mandating COVID vaccines.
Resources:

 

https://americasfrontlinedoctors.org/legal/vaccines-the-law/

The law is clear. An experimental vaccine cannot be mandated. We want you to be armed with resources to advocate for yourself and your loved ones. Here is a letter template to utilize related to your employer or school attempting to mandate the Covid-19 experimental vaccine candidates. Please edit the portion in red, specific to you, and distribute. Send to principals, superintendents, department of education officials, managers, corporate officers, etc. Put everyone on notice! Send on your own or unite with others’ signatures in support of your movement. Informed and united people are truly the greatest threat to tyranny!  (Videos within link.  A Yale student took on the administration and won)

Employees for Informed Consent: Based out of Washington State.

Pacific Justice Institute: Free resources for registering with an email address.

Liberty Counsel: LEGAL HELP FOR RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS FROM VACCINATIONS

National Vaccine Information Center: FAQ on religious exemptions – FAQ Employee Vaccine Exemptions

Professionals for Medical Informed Consent and Non-Discrimination (UK-based): Free exemption forms.

 

Category:

Activism, vaccines, Viruses