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When Politics and Healthcare Meet No One Wins
When politics and healthcare meet, no one wins. Certainly not me, anyway.
As a practicing nurse in California, I am mandated by law to comply with a two-dose mRNA vaccine with booster. Regardless of masking and a downward trend, the California Department of Public Health has instituted guidelines that pressure all medical staff (and medically adjacent) to get a booster if they’ve already been vaccinated. Religious exemptions will only be tolerated if they were previously known, documented, and thoroughly supported. No “new” exemptions will be allowed.
This means that a convert to fundamental Christianity who discovers that the mRNA vaccines were created with descendent lines of cells taken from aborted fetal tissue will not be allowed an exemption for their newfound religiosity.
For those of us who love freedom, this alone is concerning.
But for me, personally, what is more concerning is the following CDPH guidance about medical exemptions:
To determine qualifying medical reasons, the physician, nurse practitioner, or other licensed medical professional practicing under the license of a physician should refer to Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines from the CDC, specifically, clinical considerations, as well as contraindications and precautions. The identified contraindications include:
- Documented history of severe allergic reaction to one or more components of all the COVID-19 vaccines available in the U.S.
- Documented history of severe or immediate-type hypersensitivity allergic reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine, along with a reason why you cannot be vaccinated with one of the other available formulations.
It is not enough that my doctor indicates that I had a severe reaction to my Covid vaccine; I have to convince my doctor to justify why I cannot take another vaccine that is available. Additionally, guidance states that only severe anaphylaxis is a reason to exempt employees. When referred to the CDC website, it makes it very clear what it considers to be a severe enough reaction:
For the purposes of this guidance, regarding severity of allergic reactions:
Severe allergic reactions include:
- Possible anaphylaxis, a progressive life-threatening reaction that typically includes urticaria but also with other symptoms such as wheezing, difficulty breathing, or low blood pressure (see Appendix D)
- Any angioedema affecting the airway (i.e., tongue, uvula, or larynx)
- Diffuse rash which also involves mucosal surfaces (e.g., Stevens-Johnson Syndrome)
Non-severe allergic reactions may include:
- Urticaria (hives) beyond the injection site
- Angioedema (visible swelling) involving lips, facial skin, or skin in other locations. NOTE: Any angioedema affecting the airway (i.e., tongue, uvula, or larynx) is considered a severe allergic reaction (see above).
Additionally, people who have had myocarditis following their Covid vaccination with a mRNA vaccine are still somehow recommended to get a booster once they have recovered.
Ultimately, the CDC decides to cover itself by indicating that if these guidelines aren’t specific enough (vaccinate everyone, all the time!), you can have one of their special scientists look at your patient’s case to determine if they should or should not get a vaccine or booster. I’m sure, given the above guidance, that they will be completely circumspect and immune to any sort of government pressure to impose vaccinations for all but the most immediate life-threatening of reactions.
At the end of the day, for me, it has emerged like most bureaucratic decrees; though everyone agrees that I should not get another vaccine because of the severity of the reaction, no one wants to be the one to sign the letter. Filing this letter with my institution leaves it open to CDPH, which leaves it open to the CDC. Both of these entities could have a negative impact on my physicians (yes, plural) who do not want to be the one to formally make the call; one could lose a practice, one could lose a research grant, one could lose a prestigious place on a medical board. If it came out that they helped someone avoid guidelines, it could be perceived as anti-vax behaviors and a lack of confidence in science. It could be perceived as defiance of common-sense medical guidelines put in place by the CDC. It could also impact their licensing from the state board (rumor has it).
It could be very, very negative for them.
Additionally, and perhaps more pedestrian, no one wants to sit down and take the time to write a letter that justifies to CDPH exactly how it is that I should be exempt from both types of vaccines (because guidance is that if you’re allergic to one type, you get the other). Time is, after all, money. Particularly in healthcare, the time taken to write a letter of this magnitude requires research, finesse, and an iron-clad line of argument. This is time that would or could be better spent in rooms with patients, teaching medical students, writing research papers, or cutting down the mountain of digital charting that depresses every practitioner in every state.
At the end of the day, these policies are not good for anyone individually and probably not even good for society as a whole, as Covid peters out into a milder, friendlier version of SARS.
But most importantly to me, this policy endangers not only my livelihood, but realistically, also my life as getting another vaccine could potentially be deadly. It is one thing to insist that we are vaccinated for patient care. It is another to disregard thrombocytopenia, coagulopathies, allergies, and even myocarditis in a push for political correctness.
At the end of the day, my job is not worth my death, even if it means leaving patient care.
Published in General
Or am I supposed to say “dang if anyone wants,” or maybe “dang if no one doesn’t want”?
(Meh. Back to work, Mark. Back to work.)
c) It is unusual and it isn’t my employer, who is simply attempting compliance with CDPH guidelines. It is the State of California and the CDC who are the source of the issue. This is one reason why we provide for exemptions; because there are always people who have unique reactions to drugs, treatments, and vaccines. We have provided exemptions for the flu vaccine for years based upon egg allergy or previous reaction. There is no reason not to provide similar medical exemptions now. My situation is exactly the best basis for recommendations for the public at large. We are not all the same. Doctors should be allowed to practice without being threatened by the medical board for doing what is best for their patients.
d) Myocarditis: it seems you didn’t read any of the links I provided. If you did, you did not read them carefully. “Teen males” is most appropriately called “teenage and adolescent” and includes young men up through 29 years old (which is usually considered “adults”). The CDC does not recommend any further vaccines in this population except under “certain circumstances”.
The CDC itself admits that there is no safety data regarding myocarditis from the booster and states:
The info sheets that the CDC has elected to justify their position are almost three months old (and from a powerpoint); that’s pretty old in Covid-time.
Additionally, there have been Covid-vaccine related myocarditis deaths and it only takes a quick google to find the data. Again, not difficult, but does require some curiosity and ability to use google.
While I do not doubt your ability to repeat the things you have read about the incident rate versus reporting rate, I do have a lot of concern regarding your ability to synthesize information. I also have a significant concern regarding your attention to detail as well as your judgement about what is considered reliable sources.
Just for funsies, though, this is what actual scientists and healthcare practitioners find when looking for medical data:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8524235/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8666479/
https://www.hilarispublisher.com/open-access/lateral-medullary-infarction-after-administration-of-mrna-covid19-vaccine.pdf
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2021.729251/full
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8014568/
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/circ.144.suppl_1.10712
While these studies do not indicate that the vaccine is grossly dangerous or that it has been unhelpful, they do indicate that the vaccines themselves may be duplicating some of the most deadly effects of Covid-19 itself for significant populations. These studies indicate that it is not as simple as originally thought and that, though a brilliant move by former President Trump, Warp Speed combined studies that may not have allowed for more longitudinal effects to reveal themselves. It may be that in the future vaccines can be developed safely with concurrent studies. There is a decent argument that it did not happen this time.
Just have the president mandate that the “vaccine” manufacturers put their copious money where their mouths are. All vaccinated people who nevertheless contract the WuFlu get $1M from the respective company.
I scoff at people who tell lies, over and over again, without shame.
Thanks for the links.🙂
You have lost your edge.
Well Duh, there will always be plenty of other patients.
It is the old scientific response: Maddie had a pre-existing condition that refused to show up at all until a short time after getting the COV jab. Anti-vaxxers can speculate that there was clearly a cause and effect. The American government agencies can stick to science and tell her, and her parents and the public that clearly it is a coincidence.
Are her and her parents gonna go along with anti-vaxxer nutcases, or with science?
It is that simple.
Also, there were no clinical trials for the COVID vaccines that included pregnant women, or people with severe brain traumas, which could indicate the blood brain protective barrier does not operate in the protective manner it should.
Jonas Salk was quite clear about some things: All vaccines carry risks.
If the ailment that is of concern happens to have a remedy that’s effective, available & can be approved for a new use, then going to a vax program is not necessary and is against the risk to benefit principle.
Salk also was adamant that no sick person, no pregnant women and no one in a health crisis should ever be vaccinated.
World wide, COVID has a 99.85% survival rate. In the USA it has a 99.74% survival rate.
Every day more info comes about regarding how many of the COV deaths since Mar 13th 2020 and that occurred in hospitals were due to use of fentanyl, to get the patient loopy so they would sign off on a DNR, then rocephin, which is ill advised for any respiratory infection, remdesivir, plus the practice of intubation.
Remdesivir shuts down the kidneys, causing edema which seems to often have been mis-diagnosed as pneumonia in some patients. Patients’ organs filled up w/ fluids & they died.
Yes, but at least your family can console one another that you did not die from COVID.
You have been snarky to me at times but also sometimes respectful. You also are a very real person, and not someone who only posts on ricochet on health matters only when Establishment Medicine is being bashed.
As far as the health problems involving gall bladder and other problems, many of the independent evaluators of the COV vaxxes have been stating since Spring 2020 that the spike proteins will envelope the epithelial cells that line the surfaces of organs in the body and that are supposed to function as a protective barrier. Then those organs will begin to malfunction.
Their predictions sadly have come true. These experts include Dr Yeadon, Malone, Dr McCullough, Dr Dave Martin, and Dr VandenBossche.
Wherever these spike proteins end up is where the person will have problems. It is obvious that heart attacks have been above the norm, and that is of course one organ that the spike proteins were discovered when Dr Bhakdi’s friend in Germany, who is the leading pathologist in the EU, did his examination of over a dozen corpses who died after getting their COV vaxxes. (I am forgetting the pathologist’s name.) https://www.bitchute.com/video/fHIT55iM4Zv9/
Since the introduction of the COV vaccines, there has also been an explosion in gall bladder problems, which then as gallbladder problems often later end up, increases in cases of pancreatitis.
None can give you any idea of the incidence of the problem. But with almost 10 BILLION doses administered -you can do the math….9.75 BILLION doses given out-keep that in mind-with that large a number there will always be a large number of coincidental problems- that is the rub- it will be hard to know if it is a coincidence or a rare problem. But we are certain that worldwide millions have died from COVID.
BTW-the last link is garbage-get rid of it to enhance your argument. It isn’t an article it is a poster and laughable.
This is the argument for persuasion, not mandate. So make it, CDC, and don’t demand it.
As I read all the comments here, I find they largely demonstrate the correctness of the thesis of the original post:
Politics necessarily involves “one size fits all” answers. In “one size fits all” answers people are nothing more than statistics, entries on a spreadsheet.
Most of the arguments here have been about statistics. And many have argued that because a particular treatment has a very high success rate, all people should take that particular treatment. But @therightnurse is an individual human who has concluded she (I think this person is a she) may not have the same success that the statistics show most people have. Yet decision by politics demands that her uniqueness be ignored, and that she be treated as the statistical majority. This is one of the reasons politics driving healthcare decisions is a bad idea. Treatment that is statistically beneficial may not be beneficial to specific individuals.
I agree
Your original link was a talking points handout.
Just like all the professional athletes whose preexisting heart conditions suddenly cause them to collapse post vax.
Let’s simplify. We have central governments because we decided to form a big country instead of 13 smaller ones. We were able to become the richest most successful country in history, create the modern economy and defeat fascism in Germany and Russia because we kept power locally and business, even giant ones, had to compete with each other. However, those wars gave rise to a huge central government and subsequent challenges from the Chinese mean we have to maintain a powerful military. Unfortunately, we need that Defense apparatus, but if it is allowed to continue to become even more political and expand its role it will serve different interests. Then we have the civilian bureaucracy which is far worse and most of it doesn’t have a reason to exist in the first place, neither that in Washington or the states. We were successful because we were decentralized and power was dispersed across 50 states overwhelmingly in private competitive hands. Now we’re headed toward the same state of centralization every country that ever existed went toward. Of those, all of them, which one didn’t collapse and rot other than even weaker ones who were first taken over.
the current misinformation meme (substack, RealTimeNews):
“FIFA is not aware of a rise in episodes of cardiac arrests as indicated in your email and no cases have been flagged in relation to individuals receiving a COVID vaccine.” [NB-FIFA is the world soccer body]
“the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the British regulator for drugs and vaccines, which said there is currently no supporting evidence to back up such claims.”
Sudden cardiac death unfortunately occurs throat the world & existed well before the vaxxes:
“data published in 2008, which showed 12 ‘apparently fit and healthy’ young people (aged 35 and under) die in the United Kingdom every week from previously undiagnosed heart conditions”
https://www.reuters.com/article/factcheck-coronavirus-sport-idUSL1N2T81NY
The incidence of Sudden Cardiac Death in young athletes is 0.5 to 3 per 100,000 per year and this rises from the age 35 onwards.
https://www.uni-saarland.de/en/faculty-hw/fifa/en/sudden-death-and-cardiac-arrest.html
many of the athletes on these”lists” of sudden death were not vaxxed or had pre-existing heart problems:
Christian Eriksen- was not vaxxed https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/football/inter-director-says-christian-eriksen-did-not-have-covid-19-and-not-vaccinated-1.1240267
Charlie Wyke- survived the collapse and publicly stated he was NOT vaxxed
Martin Terrier- is on many of the lists-but he collapsed Jan 2020 before he could have been vaxxed
Franck Berrier- died while playing tennis AFTER retiring from soccer b/c of HEART problems
https://johnjalsevac.substack.com/p/are-young-vaccinated-athletes-dropping
https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2021/nov/19/blog-posting/dozens-prominent-athletes-did-not-die-heart-attack/
an article about the problem in general:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC7237076/
at present the idea that there has been a surge in sudden cardiac death is not upheld by the data
You know, Derrick Thomas was once hospitalized after a playoff game after having an accelerated heartbeat. It’s rare but it happens. You know what makes this new phenomenon noteworthy? It’s happening at a statistically significant rate. These professional athletes – and the young people you callously write off as no big deal – all have a common variable…they got a Covid injection just prior to it.
Kjeld Nuis: 31-Year-Old Two-Time Olympic Gold Medalist And World Record Holder Speed Skater Developed Pericarditis After Pfizer Vaccine
Pedro Obiang: 29-Year-Old Professional Footballer Suffered Myocarditis After COVID-19 Vaccine
Brandon Goodwin: 26-Year-Old NBA Player Suffered Blood Clots Shortly After His COVID-19 Vaccination
Greg Van Avermaet: Former Olympic Road Cycling Champion Quits Cycling World Cup Due To Vaccine Side-Effects
Francesca Marcon: 38-Year-Old Volleyball Player Developed Pericarditis After Her Second Pfizer Vaccine
Antoine Méchin: 32-Year-Old Triathlete Suffered Blood Clots After Moderna Vaccine, Possible End Of Career
Jeremy Chardy: 34-Year Old Former World No. 25 Tennis Player Ends Season After ‘Violent, Near Paralyzing Pain’ From Vaccine Injury
Florian Dagoury: World Record Holder In Static Breath-Hold Freediving Developed Myocarditis and Pericarditis After Pfizer Vaccine, Possible End Of Career
I can keep going.
And you can’t complain about Carol’s links after offering all of those ones. Politifact? Reuters? Really?
the difference is politifact & Reuters LINK to good sources unlike Carol’s links…..certainly FIFA is in better shape to know what is happening to their athletes as compared to a blogger-not to mention FIFA has an ongoing monitoring program for sudden cardiac deaths & has for years.
Only one of those athletes I mentioned was soccer player, but I could care less what the FIFA, NBA, IOC or any of the league lawyers put out and feed to leftist fact-checkers about their programs – ask the players associations what they think about how the leagues look after their well being, there’s a reason why the worlds most prominent athletes (NFL players) negotiated an opt-out option- what matters are the facts of each case.
It’s amazing how the internet sources we laugh away when they’re fact-checking climate change or police brutality are suddenly authoritative when they spout something that fits our prejudice.
Reuters “fact checks”? Politifact “fact checks”? Please. How dumb do you think we are?
Gell-Mann Amnesia effect.
Or simply confirmation bias.
read further- it is the links they provide
Gosh, I so don’t care. I know people who have been harmed by these vaccines and no amount of you shouting “SAFE AND EFFECTIVE” will convince me that they are. If not for these damned vaccines prolonging the pandemic, it would have been over months ago. And if not for the U.S. healthcare systems deliberately refusing to use effective treatments that the rest of the world has ready access to, we’d have a lot more people still alive.
I seriously doubt the vaccine is prolonging the pandemic. That’s not backed by evidence. That is not the Great Barrington Declaration position. Even if the vaccine did absolutely nothing, it would not prolong the pandemic to give it out .
Safe and effective does not mean that no peoplc suffer side effects. Safety is a judgement call based on risk vs benefit. I know two people who nearly died during routine low risk surgical procedures. HCQ and Ivermectin have risks of severe side effects as well.
Your doubts will be overcome.