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https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/mild-covid-19-infections-can-lead-to-long-term-neurological-damage-study/2733734/

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Neurological symptoms have been commonly reported in those suffering from post-COVID conditions - lingering symptoms experienced four or more weeks after an initial infection.

But a new study by researchers at Yale University found even those who contract mild infections can sustain neurological damage.

In an interview with NBC Connecticut, Dr. Akiko Iwasaki, who conducted the study, explained researchers intentionally gave mice a mild respiratory infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

Over the course of seven days, they examined the infection's impact on the brain.

"And what we found is that even with a very mild infection, which we really cannot measure any disease phenotype in these mice, we still saw some significant damage in the cells of the brain," said Iwasaki, an immunologist with the Yale University School of Medicine. "This means that even a mild respiratory infection could lead to neurological symptoms; that's based on the damage that we see."

However, the doctor emphasized that those with severe illness are at higher risk for cognitive impairment.

Yale researchers cited a study that examined COVID patients in a New York City hospital system and determined the incidence of cognitive impairment was increased in hospitalized patients compared to those with mild COVID.

Persistent cognitive impairment is said to impact approximately one in four COVID survivors, according to a study about the frequency and variety of symptoms associated with the disease.

In regard to newer variants such as omicron, the incidence and severity of impairment remain unknown, researchers noted.

Post-COVID conditions overall are thought to affect a "high fraction" of people who have recovered from COVID-19, but what causes the lingering symptoms still remains unknown.

"Whether it be affecting, you know, the nervous system or the GI tract or the respiratory tract, the long COVID can affect so many multiple organ systems," Iwasaki said. "And currently, we don't understand how long COVID happens. And if we don't understand that, we won't know how to treat these diseases better. So ultimately, we want to understand the underlying mechanism of disease, so we can come up with a therapy to treat these patients."

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Mild COVID-19 Infections Can Lead to Long-Term Neurological Damage: Study

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Neurological symptoms have been commonly reported in those suffering from post-COVID conditions - lingering symptoms experienced four or more weeks after an initial infection. But a new study by researchers at Yale University found even those who contract mild infections can sustain neurological damage.

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https://www.independent.co.uk/news/covid-symptoms-omicron-ba2-latest-b2006542.html

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550,000 people in UK still have Covid symptoms after a year - follow live

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https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-02-04/california-covid-19-death-toll-tops-80-000

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California's COVID-19 death toll has surpassed 80,000, a sobering number that undoubtedly will continue to climb in the days and weeks ahead even as the state emerges from the worst of this winter's Omicron surge.

The milestone came on the same day the U.S. COVID-19 death toll surpassed 900,000, according to Johns Hopkins University. Experts now expect that the U.S. death toll will eventually exceed 1 million.

While much has been made about this latest variant's generally milder nature compared with strains that came before, officials have long cautioned that the sheer avalanche of infections would almost assuredly lead to more illness and death.

"Omicron is milder than Delta and than some of the ancestral strains. But let's not fool ourselves that this is inconsequential illness because, for many people, it's not," said Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer.

Over the last week, California has reported an average of 176 COVID-19 deaths per day. The cumulative reported death toll, 80,022, is now roughly equivalent to the population of Lakewood or Tustin.

It's difficult to determine how many of the recent fatalities are the work of Omicron and how many can be attributed to the lingering effects of its Delta cousin.

"Some of the mortality we may still be seeing could be from Delta, though. Don't rule that out," Dr. George Rutherford, a UC San Francisco epidemiologist and infectious disease expert, said during a panel discussion Thursday.

However, nearly 4,000 deaths have been reported just since Jan. 4 - roughly two weeks after Omicron became the dominant strain circulating statewide.

Regardless of the variant, COVID-19 has proved to be the leading cause of death in L.A. County since the pandemic began.

Based on death certificate data, 24,947 Angelenos died from COVID-19 between March 1, 2020, and Dec. 31, 2021, according to Ferrer. That outpaced the 21,513 deaths during the same time period from coronary heart disease, which is normally the county's leading cause of death.

During that same time, 3,422 Angelenos died from pneumonia or flu.

"While vaccines and therapeutics offer powerful protection against death, even our recent numbers continue to highlight how, in comparison to other respiratory illnesses, COVID remains more deadly," Ferrer told reporters Thursday.

As a lagging indicator of coronavirus spread, the number of reported deaths is influenced by changes in coronavirus transmission that occurred weeks earlier.

That's why the trendline of fatalities has continued upward even as other pandemic metrics have fallen sharply.

Over the weeklong period that ended Wednesday, California reported an average of about 51,200 new coronavirus cases per day - down significantly from the height of Omicron, when the daily case rate topped out between 120,000 and 122,000, according to data compiled by The Times.

However, even this much-subsided rate remains higher than during any prior surge.

"I think we've really turned the corner pretty much nationwide, but make no mistake, there's a ton of infection out there," Rutherford said. "There are a ton of infectious people, and there's a ton of disease that we're still continuing to see."

Hospitalizations have seen a similarly sharp decline. Statewide, 12,134 coronavirus-positive people were hospitalized Thursday - down 21% from the Omicron-era peak of 15,435, which was recorded Jan. 21.

However, it remains to be seen how long it will take before the sharp decline in infections triggers a similar downturn in deaths.

Health officials continue to emphasize that even though Omicron has shown the ability to evade some of the protection afforded by vaccines or previous coronavirus infections, those who are unvaccinated remain most at risk of serious infection and death.

According to the latest available state data, unvaccinated Californians were about three times more likely to get COVID-19 than those who had been fully vaccinated, and 7.5 times more likely to be infected than those who had also received a booster dose.

Unvaccinated individuals were also nearly 15 times more likely to be hospitalized than vaccinated-and-boosted people, and 30 times more likely to die from COVID-19.

"COVID has led to inconceivable illness and death," Ferrer said. "And increasing vaccination and booster rates offers the best hope for reducing the most tragic outcome from COVID infection."

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California COVID-19 death toll tops 80,000 in two years

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California's COVID-19 death toll has surpassed 80,000, a sobering number that undoubtedly will continue to climb in the days and weeks ahead even as the state emerges from the worst of this winter's Omicron surge. The milestone came on the same day the U.S. COVID-19 death toll surpassed 900,000, according to Johns Hopkins University.

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https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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CDC provides credible COVID-19 health information to the U.S.

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https://www.theonion.com/fact-sheet-curing-your-covid-19-with-urine-1848340835

the purpose of this article is to entertain. The onion is a notorious satirical news site that presents itself as fact when really all of the articles are meant to be taken lightly

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Christopher Key, the leader of the "Vaccine Police" organization that opposes Covid-19 vaccinations, recently shared that drinking urine could cure coronavirus. As the world's leading nonpartisan news source, The Onion strives to give our readers the facts and let them decide what is true. Here's a fact sheet answering common questions about curing your Covid-19 with urine therapy.

Q: How much urine should I drink?
A: Covid-19 is a respiratory disease, so you'll need to drink enough to fill both lungs.

Q: Can I use someone else's urine?
A: Only if they're the same urine type as you.

Q: Isn't urine supposed to go into the toilet?
A: No. Toilets were invented by greedy pharmaceutical executives to keep drug prices up.

Q: Is this treatment approved by doctors?
A: Most doctors agree that urine can exist safely inside the human body with little to no negative side effects.

Q: What happens if I don't drink my urine?
A: Is that really a risk you're willing to take?

Q: Does urine need to be purified before using it?
A: Couldn't hurt to run it through the Brita first.

Q: What if I can't go?
A: Sorry, we'll turn around so you can have some privacy.

Q: Does urine contain microchips?
A: Yes, but only in trace amounts of the microchips that are already in your body.

Q: Are there any concerning side effects I should know about?
A: Only if you consider "feeling amazing" and "great umami taste" concerning.

Q: Does the third world have urine yet?
A: Not until the cowardly Biden administration releases the patent for piss.

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Fact Sheet: Curing Your Covid-19 With Urine

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Christopher Key, the leader of the "Vaccine Police" organization that opposes Covid-19 vaccinations, recently shared that drinking urine could cure coronavirus. As the world's leading nonpartisan news source, The Onion strives to give our readers the facts and let them decide what is true. Here's a fact sheet...

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https://health.ucdavis.edu/newsroom/news/headlines/omicron-10-things-to-know-about-the-very-contagious-covid-19-variant/2022/01#:~:text=5.,get%20infected%2C%E2%80%9D%20Pollock%20explained.
"If I'm vaccinated and have no symptoms, but believe I was exposed to someone with COVID-19, should I get tested? Most likely. 'Unfortunately, Omicron is so transmissible that even fully vaccinated and boosted individuals may get infected,'.

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In a very short time, the highly infectious Omicron COVID-19 variant has upended many aspects of our lives. Both California and Sacramento County are seeing record numbers of infections and testing is in great demand. Statewide, the positivity rate is over 21%. Luckily, Omicron appears to cause milder illness in many people. At UC Davis Medical Center, COVID-related hospitalizations have ticked up, but remain below previous surge peaks.

UC Davis Health infectious diseases experts, epidemiologists and public health experts answer common questions about Omicron and explain what you can do to reduce your risk.

1. What are the symptoms of Omicron? Are they different?

All of the variants, including Delta and Omicron, cause similar symptoms. "These may include cough, fever and fatigue," explained Dean Blumberg, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at UC Davis Children's Hospital. "Omicron is less likely to cause severe disease such as pneumonia that may require hospital admission."

Lorena Garcia, epidemiologist and professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences noted that Omicron symptoms are about the same, but a person's experience may vary greatly depending on whether they're vaccinated. "In those that are fully vaccinated and boosted, symptoms tend to be mild. In contrast, if an individual is unvaccinated, symptoms can be quite severe, resulting in hospitalization or even death," Garcia said. She added that there is some evidence that fewer people infected with Omicron are experiencing a loss of taste and smell, a common symptom for previous variants.

The viral load is much higher in Omicron, which means that someone infected with the Omicron variant is more infectious than someone infected with the Delta variant."

2. What should I do if I can't get a COVID test?

The rapid increase in demand has made testing more challenging. "If possible, check different testing sites and try to be flexible in terms of when and where you are willing to go," Blumberg recommended.

If you're seeking a test, please seek options other than the Emergency Department (ED). UC Davis Medical Center's ED has seen a record number of patients recently, and providers need to care for those who are seriously ill. The ED is not the best fit for someone with no symptoms or mild symptoms.

"If you have COVID-19 symptoms, it is better to err on the side of caution and quarantine until you can get tested," advised Brad Pollock, professor and chair of the Department of Public Health Sciences. "If you have symptoms, the rapid antigen at-home tests are also useful to determine whether you're infectious. Even better, use rapid tests on two consecutive days to reduce the chance of transmitting the infection to others."

Learn more about the different types of COVID-19 tests available.

3. Should I get a rapid antigen test if I have symptoms since they seem like they're not as accurate, or should I look first to get a PCR test?

"If a rapid test is more available or convenient, it's a good idea to use it," Blumberg said. "If it's positive, you can rely on the result." However, he notes that if the rapid test is negative, particularly if you suspect infection, it's best to get a PCR test to double-check since the PCR test is more sensitive.

4. Do I really need to know if I had COVID if it's not causing serious illness?

Yes. UC Davis Health experts say it's important to know for several reasons:

If your illness progresses, you'll want to know so you can take advantage of treatments.

You need to know whether to isolate so you can reduce your chances of infecting others, especially those who are more vulnerable to severe COVID-19.

You will want to notify your loved ones and contacts so they can monitor themselves for symptoms.

"We all have a personal responsibility to reduce the risk to others, especially the more vulnerable among us," Pollock said.

Omicron is less likely to cause severe disease such as pneumonia that may require hospital admission."

5. If I'm vaccinated and have no symptoms, but believe I was exposed to someone with COVID-19, should I get tested?

Most likely. "Unfortunately, Omicron is so transmissible that even fully vaccinated and boosted individuals may get infected," Pollock explained. "If you know you had contact with an infected individual, particularly in a higher-risk situation (such as an enclosed indoor space for a longer period with others who weren't masked), testing is advised."

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that you get tested 5-7 days after "close contact with a person with suspected or confirmed COVID-19." The CDC defines close contact as being less than 6 feet away from an infected person for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period.

Garcia said that in addition to getting tested, you should also quarantine. "Watch for symptoms, distance yourself socially from others in your home and wear a mask. If you test positive, then you should isolate."

Learn more about the difference between quarantine and isolation and read Sacramento County's quarantine and isolation guidelines.

Blumberg noted that if you were in a situation where individuals were outside, masked and distanced, the risk of infection is much lower. "In that case, you could monitor for symptoms and test if any develop."

6. Can I get reinfected if I've already had COVID-19? What if I'm also vaccinated?

Yes. "You can get reinfected after having COVID-19, although it is less common in the first 90 days after infection," explained Blumberg. He noted that the vaccines are not 100% effective and breakthrough infections may occur. "However, if you've had COVID-19 and are then vaccinated, this decreases your chance of reinfection by about half."

Vaccine protection wanes over time, Garcia added. "This is something we expected to occur with vaccinated individuals, hence boosters are important, particularly for front line workers and those at higher risk of complications, such as those with diabetes and respiratory illnesses."

7. How is Omicron presenting in vulnerable populations such as senior citizens and those with multiple underlying conditions?

Most Omicron infections have occurred in relatively young, healthy people. "We still don't know how dangerous it is in people over 65 or those who are immunocompromised, but there is a concern that they may be at higher risk for severe disease," Blumberg said. "We urge them to take all available precautions, including vaccination with boosters and masking."

Omicron is highly transmissible compared to Delta, Garcia noted. "The viral load is much higher in Omicron, which means that someone infected with the Omicron variant is more infectious than someone infected with the Delta variant. Older adults and those with compromised immune systems should take special care," she said.

We all have a personal responsibility to reduce the risk to others, especially the more vulnerable among us."

8. Why should I continue to wear a mask?

Omicron is incredibly infectious. "Everyone should be masking when indoors around anyone not in their household, as well as in crowded areas outdoors where it is impossible to socially distance, like sporting events," Blumberg said. Several studies have indicated how effective masks can be in protecting yourself and others. "But remember it's important to cover both the mouth and nose, as COVID-19 can be found in the nose, mouth and throat," reminded Garcia.

9. How effective are cloth face masks vs. surgical face masks vs. N95 face masks?

"It's difficult to estimate the protection from cloth masks since they aren't standardized," noted Blumberg, "But some studies suggest they are about 50% effective, compared to 60-70% for surgical masks and 95% for N95s."

Pollock noted that there's strong evidence that properly worn N95 masks are the most protective in terms of blocking transmission. "Cloth masks alone are not very effective against the most transmissible variants like Delta and Omicron. If an N95 mask is not available, a surgical mask covered with a cloth mask can be very effective because the cloth mask acts as a holder to ensure that the surgical mask underneath fits tight," he advised.

10. Where can I find a testing site?

Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado, Yuba, Sutter, Yolo and other counties offer no-cost COVID-19 testing at many locations. Some clinics are walk-in, and others require an appointment. Most testing is free, but some rapid tests require a fee. This map of test sites and this list from the Sacramento County COVID-19 Collaborative are also helpful. The State of California also has a website with information about COVID-19 testing and a searchable map listing different testing sites.

Learn more about scheduling a COVID-19 vaccine at UC Davis Health or through the state of California's vaccine site.

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Omicron: 10 things to know about the very contagious COVID-19 variant

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In a very short time, the highly infectious Omicron COVID-19 variant has upended many aspects of our lives. Both California and Sacramento County are seeing record numbers of infections and testing is in great demand. Statewide, the positivity rate is over 21%. Luckily, Omicron appears to cause milder illness in many people.

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https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/10/us/omicron-impact-on-economy-workers-shortage/index.html

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travel as workers are sick or in quarantine - cnn

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Omicron devastates services, schools, travel as workers are sick or in quarantine

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As the Omicron variant sweeps the nation, it's disrupting everything from garbage collection and emergency services, schools and travel as employees are out sick or in quarantine.

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https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/us/covid-cases.html

This Link is about how there is a very big increase of covid in this month -1/24/22

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Coronavirus in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count

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About this data Sources: State and local health agencies (cases, deaths); U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (test positivity, hospitalizations, I.C.U. patients). Test positivity, hospitalizations, I.C.U.s and deaths show seven-day averages. Hospitalization data may not yet be available for yesterday. Test positivity is based only on P.C.R.

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https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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Symptoms, testing, what to do if sick, daily activities, and more.

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Doctors debunk myths and false information about the COVID-19 vaccine

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Debunking the COVID-19 internment camp conspiracy theory

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Debunking the COVID-19 internment camp conspiracy theory - Bing video

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How does someone catch COVID-19?

COVID-19 can be transmitted by little droplets from coughs or sneezes, which is why doctors say unvaccinated people should wear masks when they’re indoors or close to others.

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Coronavirus (or, as doctors and scientists call it, COVID-19) has been part of everyone's life since mid-March 2020, when most schools, businesses, and communities quickly changed how they operated to prevent the spread of the virus. Because the disease infected a large number of people all over the world, experts call this a pandemic.

For over a year, many kids attended school at least partly from their houses; their parents might've worked from home, too. This was all to avoid catching the virus from other people outside the home.

Lots of people helped their neighbors throughout the pandemic. First responders, like healthcare workers, police officers, and firefighters, kept people healthy and safe; essential workers such as grocery store employees, delivery drivers, and postal workers worked in-person to make sure other folks had what they needed to live.

Nearly 190 million people in the world have been infected by COVID-19, and more than four million people have died. But the good news is that the number of people getting the virus in the United States is going way down, thanks to testing, vaccines, and other preventative measures, like wearing masks and social distancing.

Here are answers to some questions you might still have about coronavirus.

So ... what is COVID-19? And what's a "coronavirus?"

The term "coronavirus" actually refers to a family of viruses that causes many different types of diseases, including the common cold. COVID-19 is a "novel coronavirus," which means it's a new disease unfamiliar to scientists and doctors. Its name is actually a mash-up of three words: CO stands for "corona," which means "crown" in Latin, and the viruses are named for the crown-like spikes on their surface; VI stands for "virus"; and D is for "disease." The "19" comes from the year 2019, when the disease was first detected.

How did COVID-19 start?

Scientists don't know the exact origin of COVID -19, and they might never have all the answers. But they do know that some diseases start in animals before spreading to humans. These types of diseases are called zoonotic (pronounced zoh-uh-NAH-tik). Cows, bats, and camels are among the animals that have spread diseases to humans in the past. The COVID-19 disease is also zoonotic, with the first cases popping up in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. The affected humans were all connected to a nearby market that sold live animals.

How does someone catch COVID-19?

COVID-19 can be transmitted by little droplets from coughs or sneezes, which is why doctors say unvaccinated people should wear masks when they're indoors or close to others. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there's no evidence that a dog, cat, or any other pet can transmit COVID-19. But more studies are needed to understand how COVID-19 could affect different types of animals.

How can I protect myself?

Kids older than 12 can now get the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. For older kids who aren't vaccinated, as well as kids 11 and younger, research shows that taking small steps-like staying six feet (about two arm lengths) from others, wearing face masks that cover the mouth and nose, washing hands often, and seeing friends outside-can make a big difference in stopping the spread of the virus. (Vaccines for kids under 12 are expected to be available later in 2021.)

Learn how vaccines work and why they're so effective.

OK, but what happens if I do get it?

Most people-including kids- who catch COVID-19 get better, and their illness is usually mild. But if you do catch COVID-19, you might have a dry cough, a fever, and shortness of breath. But just like when you've had a cold, the best treatment is to stay in bed-and away from anyone who might catch it from you. (Like your grandparents! Older people are more at risk for catching and getting sick from COVID-19.) You might also not even know you have it, so keep washing your hands and wearing a mask, just in case. Masks work best when everyone wears one.

Researchers expect that as more people are vaccinated and become immune to COVID-19, the number of cases will continue to go down. Immunity to the virus means the body can fight it off and won't spread it to another person. When enough people are immune to COVID-19 so that the illness is no longer a serious threat, that's called herd immunity. Experts say that for herd immunity to work in a community, between 75 and 85 percent of people need to be vaccinated. Almost 60 percent of Americans are fully vaccinated, depending on where you live: Some places are higher, and others are lower.

The majority of new cases in the United States are in unvaccinated people. They can also transmit the coronavirus to others, which is why the CDC recommends they still wear masks indoors and at crowded outdoor events.

What about school?

The latest guidelines from the CDC say that students and teachers who are fully vaccinated-meaning it's been two weeks since their second COVID-19 shot-can be in class without masks. For students too young to get the vaccine, the recommendation is to keep doing what you've been doing in school: wear masks and social distance. Scientists say that keeping just three feet indoors in school is enough to keep kids safe.

This story has been updated with new information about vaccines for children.

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Microchips, nanopartículas peligrosas, esterilidad... estos son algunos de los elementos que han servido para alimentar la desinformación y desconfianza hacia las vacunas contra la COVID-19. A lo largo de los últimos seis meses, desde ISGlobal hemos contribuido con nuestro granito de arena a la lucha contra los bulos que han circulado a lo largo y ancho del mundo a través de las redes sociales.
Desde ISGlobal hemos contribuido con nuestro granito de arena a la lucha contra los bulos que han circulado a lo largo y ancho del mundo a través de las redes sociales
Un proyecto singular

Esta contribución la hemos hecho gracias a un proyecto bastante singular para ISGlobal -singular no tanto por la actividad realizada, sino por la audiencia diana: la comunidad católica. El proyecto, fruto de una colaboración entre Aleteia (la red católica mundial de información), I.media (agencia de información del Vaticano) y Verificat (agencia catalana dedicada a la verificación de información), fue uno de los 11 proyectos seleccionados (entre 309 propuestas) para recibir financiación de la Google News Initiative, con el objetivo de combatir la desinformación en torno a las vacunas de la Covid, y con un foco especial en audiencias subrepresentadas. Desde ISGlobal, trabajamos de la mano con el equipo de Verificat para responder, con la mejor evidencia científica disponible, a las dudas, mitos o bulos que circulaban por las redes católicas (listadas en catholic-factchecking.com). Esta iniciativa obviamente se ve impulsada por el fuerte apoyo del Papa Francisco y la Santa Sede a la vacunación como "deber moral para respetar no solo la propia vida, sino también la de los demás".
El proyecto, fruto de una colaboración entre Aleteia, I.media y Verificat, fue seleccionado por la Google News Initiative para combatir la desinformación en torno a las vacunas de la Covid
Desinformaciones nuevas y algunos bulos reciclados

Cuando empezamos el proyecto, me preparé mentalmente para hacer frente a un alud de informaciones falsas (generadas y propagadas con fines maliciosos) o erróneas sobre las vacunas, algunas de ellas exacerbadas por un catolicismo llevado al extremo. Al final de los seis meses que duró el proyecto, creo poder afirmar que no fue así. Gran parte del trabajo consistió, en realidad, a responder dudas -muchas de ellas perfectamente válidas- sobre el funcionamiento, la seguridad o la eficacia de las vacunas.
Espacio de verificat.cat, en el que colabora ISGlobal, dedicado a combatir la desinformación en torno a las vacunas de la Covid y otros aspectos relacionados con la salud.
No faltó la tesis conspiracionista, afirmando que la pandemia estaba planeada y que el hecho de que la PCR ya estuviera patentada, de que ya hubiera estudios sobre la proteína Spike, o de que todas las vacunas se hubieran aprobado al mismo tiempo (cosa que no es cierta) eran, supuestamente, pruebas de ello. Y ciertamente, tuvimos que desmontar un número no desdeñable de informaciones falsas en torno a las vacunas. Algunos de estos bulos eran viejos argumentos antivacunas reciclados, o eventualmente adaptados a las nuevas tecnologías. Por ejemplo, se volvió a hacer referencia a supuestos " metales peligrosos" como las sales de aluminio (que algunas vacunas clásicas usan como adyuvante para aumentar la respuesta inmune) o el etilmercurio (que se usa en muy pocas vacunas como conservante), pero llegaron con fuerza los microchips, los cristales líquidos y las nanopartículas como supuestos ingredientes secretos o tóxicos de la vacuna (sin fundamento alguno), y falsas demostraciones de " magnetismo " como prueba de ello.
Me preparé mentalmente para hacer frente a un alud de informaciones falsas o erróneas sobre las vacunas. Creo poder afirmar que al final no fue así. Gran parte del trabajo consistió, en realidad, a responder dudas sobre el funcionamiento, la seguridad o la eficacia de las vacunas
Bulos basados en la falta de conocimiento

Los bulos suelen alimentarse de una falta de conocimiento científico por parte de la sociedad. Por ejemplo, hubo que responder varias veces a la desinformación en torno a la proteína Spike del coronavirus (cuya producción es inducida por las vacunas de ARNm o vector viral), y su -según algunas desinformaciones- supuesta capacidad de causar la COVID-19, llegar al cerebro para causar trombos o enfermedades neurodegenerativas, o transmitirse de una persona vacunada a otra. O bien, explicar varias veces por qué el ARN mensajero de la vacuna no se puede integrar en nuestro ADN, ni modificarlo. O por qué el té de agujas de pino no es un remedio contra los trombos. Otros bulos se generan a partir de la interpretación errónea de resultados científicos, y a veces incluso son propagadas por personas que proclaman venir del mundo académico. Por ejemplo, la afirmación de que las vacunas COVID pueden causar infertilidad porque la proteína Spike y la sincitina-1 (una proteína de la placenta) comparten una secuencia de aminoácidos (no hay ninguna base científica para esta afirmación).
Los bulos suelen alimentarse de una falta de conocimiento científico por parte de la sociedad
Dudas legítimas

Sin embargo, muchos de los temas que llegaban desde Verificat cada semana provenían de dudas -a menudo válidas- sobre la seguridad, eficacia e impacto de unas vacunas que causaban desconfianza por la velocidad sin precedentes a la que se habían desarrollado.

Por ejemplo, ¿cuál es el riesgo, a corto o largo plazo, de padecer efectos secundarios adversos tras la vacunación, como trombosis, síndrome de Guillain Barré, sangrados vaginales, o miocarditis? En cuanto a la eficacia, ¿por qué una persona que ya pasó la covid necesita una sola dosis a menos que sea mayor de 65 años? ¿Es comparable la inmunidad tras la infección a la inmunidad generada por la vacuna? ¿Las vacunas pueden ayudar a reducir la transmisión de virus respiratorios? Hubo también que explicar que, cuando la cobertura de vacunación en un país es muy elevada (y sobre todo en la población mayor, más vulnerable), es normal que el porcentaje de personas vacunadas que fallecen por covid aumente (por simple probabilidad, porque ya casi no quedan personas sin vacunar), pero que había que fijarse en el número total de muertes (mucho menor). Otra inquietud era la eficacia de las vacunas frente a las variantes (afortunadamente, sigue siendo elevada) y si las vacunas podían promover la aparición de nuevas variantes (de hecho, sucede lo contrario).
Muchos de los temas que llegaban desde Verificat cada semana provenían de dudas -a menudo válidas- sobre la seguridad, eficacia e impacto de unas vacunas que causaban desconfianza por la velocidad sin precedentes a la que se habían desarrollado
Como era de prever, algunas dudas o desinformaciones más específicas de la comunidad católica también salieron a flote. Por ejemplo, si la producción de las vacunas requería el uso de células provenientes de fetos abortados (no es el caso). Pero, ahora que nuestra participación en el proyecto llega a su fin, me parece que podemos afirmar que la desinformación no tiene religión -es un problema universal que debe combatirse con buena comunicación y mejor educación.

Más información
Verificat.cat. Las mentiras amenazan la salud

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Los bulos no tienen religión: las fake news más comunes sobre las vacunas de la COVID-19 - Blog

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Microchips, nanopartículas peligrosas, esterilidad... estos son algunos de los elementos que han servido para alimentar la desinformación y desconfianza hacia las vacunas contra la COVID-19. A lo largo de los últimos seis meses, desde ISGlobal hemos contribuido con nuestro granito de arena a la lucha contra los bulos que han circulado a lo largo y ancho del mundo a través de las redes sociales.

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Most People Who Trust Network and Local Television, CNN, MSNBC and NPR on COVID-19 Believe Little or No Misinformation; Larger Shares Who Trust Newsmax, One American News, and Fox News Hold Many Misconceptions

More than three quarters (78%) of U.S. adults either believe or aren't sure about at least one of eight false statements about the COVID-19 pandemic or COVID-19 vaccines, with unvaccinated adults and Republicans among those most likely to hold misconceptions, a new KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor report shows.

Nearly two-thirds (64%) of unvaccinated adults believe or are unsure about at least half of the eight false statements - more than three times the share of vaccinated adults (19%). Nearly half (46%) of Republicans believe or are unsure about at least half the statements, three times the share of Democrats (14%).

The findings highlight a major challenge for efforts to accurately communicate the rapidly evolving science about the pandemic when false and ambiguous information can spread quickly, whether inadvertently or deliberately, through social media, polarized news sources and other outlets.

The new report assesses the public's awareness of, and belief in, a range of "myths" about the disease and the vaccines to prevent it. The most common misconceptions include:

* Most (60%) adults say they've heard that the government is exaggerating the number of COVID-19 deaths by counting deaths due to other factors and either believe it to be true (38%) or aren't sure if it is true or false (22%).

* Four in 10 (39%) say they've heard pregnant women should not get the COVID-19 vaccine and believe it to be true (17%) or aren't sure (22%).

* Three in 10 (31%) say they've heard that the vaccine has been shown to cause infertility and either believe it (8%) or aren't sure if it's true (23%).

Many people believe or are unsure about several of the eight false statements, including about a third (32%) who believe or are unsure about at least half of them.
How Does Trust in News Sources Line Up with Misconceptions?
People's trusted news sources are correlated with their belief in COVID-19 misinformation. At least a third of those who trust information from CNN, MSNBC, network news, NPR, and local television news do not believe any of the eight false statements, while small shares (between 11% and 16%) believe or are unsure about at least four of the eight false statements.

Larger shares of those who trust COVID-19 information from leading conservative news sources believe misinformation, with nearly 4 in 10 of those who trust Fox News (36%) and One America News (37%), and nearly half (46%) of those who trust Newsmax, saying they believe or are unsure about at least half of the eight false statements.

Whether this is because people are exposed to misinformation from those news sources, or whether the types of people who choose those news sources are the same ones who are pre-disposed to believe certain types of misinformation for other reasons, is beyond the scope of the analysis.

Underscoring the self-selection that now occurs in the news sources people trust, Democrats trust COVID-19 information from network (72%) and local (66%) television, CNN (65%), MSNBC (56%) and NPR (51%). Republicans' most trusted news sources for COVID-19 information are Fox News (49%), local (34%) and network (25%) news, and Newsmax (22%).

Few adults say they trust social-media sources for information about COVID-19 such as YouTube (13%), Facebook (9%), Twitter (6%), and Instagram (5%). The group that is influenced by information they see on these platforms may be larger than the share that says they trust information they see there, as KFF surveys have previously found the share of adults who get information about COVID-19 vaccines from social media is nearly as large as the share who get information from cable, network, and local TV news.

Designed and analyzed by public opinion researchers at KFF, the KFF Vaccine Monitor survey was conducted from October 14-24 among a nationally representative random digit dial telephone sample of 1,519 adults. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish by landline (168) and cell phone (1,351). The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points for the full sample. For results based on subgroups, the margin of sampling error may be higher.
The KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor is an ongoing research project tracking the public's attitudes and experiences with COVID-19 vaccinations. Using a combination of surveys and qualitative research, this project tracks the dynamic nature of public opinion as vaccine development and distribution unfold, including vaccine confidence and acceptance, information needs, trusted messengers and messages, as well as the public's experiences with vaccination.

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COVID-19 Misinformation is Ubiquitous: 78% of the Public Believes or is Unsure About At Least One False Statement, and Nearly a Third Believe At Least Four of Eight False Statements Tested

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Most People Who Trust Network and Local Television, CNN, MSNBC and NPR on COVID-19 Believe Little or No Misinformation; Larger Shares Who Trust Newsmax, One American News, and Fox News Hold Many Misconceptions More than three quarters (78%) of U.S. adults either believe or aren't sure about at least one of eight false statements about ...

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https://www.muhealth.org/our-stories/scary-reports-deaths-following-covid-19-vaccination-arent-what-they-seem

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You might have seen the headlines on social media.
"COVID-19 Vaccine-Related Fatalities Exceed 6,000." "6,000% Increase in Reported Vaccine Deaths 1st Quarter 2021 Compared to 1st Quarter 2020."
No matter your vaccination status or your feelings about getting the shot, those headlines likely give you pause. Can those numbers be right?

These and similar shocking claims are the latest examples of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation. And as with most misinformation, these statements get traction because they start with a kernel of truth - in this case raw data from a reputable source.

The data and source

The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) was established in 1990 as a national early warning system to detect potential safety problems with vaccines. It is managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The system allows anyone who has received a vaccine (not just a COVID-19 vaccine) to report "adverse events" (think side effects) that they experience following vaccination. Health care providers are required to submit reports of events that come to their attention even if the events clearly have no relationship to vaccination.

The system serves to alert federal health authorities to potential safety concerns, but it is not designed to determine if a vaccine caused a particular problem. All reports to the system are unverified.

Since December 2020, more than 469 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in the U.S., and VAERS has received 10,483 reports of death (0.0022%), according to the CDC. (Numbers as of Dec. 29, 2021.)

However, that statistic offers no insight into the cause of death for those people. If a 90-year-old nursing home resident got the vaccine and then died days, weeks or even months later of another ailment, the resident's death would be reported to VAERS.

The misinformation strategy

Opponents of vaccination use the VAERS numbers in statements that suggest cause-and-effect conclusions. This misinformation then influences some people not to be vaccinated.

In this case, the numbers are correct, but the presumed conclusions are not.

Stevan Whitt, MD, an infectious disease doctor and chief medical officer at MU Health Care, gets questions about these claims regularly, and he wants people to have the right information.

"This intentional misrepresentation is a powerful tactic to sow confusion among large groups of people," Whitt said.

To address the misinformation about VAERS, the CDC shares context around adverse events associated with the COVID-19 vaccines and emphasizes that reports of deaths (and other adverse events) do not necessarily mean the vaccines are to blame. "A review of available clinical information, including death certificates, autopsy, and medical records, has not established a causal link to COVID-19 vaccines," the CDC notes.

Meanwhile, what we do know for sure is that more than 58 million U.S. residents have been infected and more than 800,000 have died from COVID-19, and the vaccine is one of the best tools to slow the spread of the virus and save lives.

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Scary Reports of Deaths Following COVID-19 Vaccination Aren't What They Seem

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You might have seen the headlines on social media. "COVID-19 Vaccine-Related Fatalities Exceed 6,000." "6,000% Increase in Reported Vaccine Deaths 1st Quarter 2021 Compared to 1st Quarter 2020." No matter your vaccination status or your feelings about getting the shot, those headlines likely give you pause. Can those numbers be right?

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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Symptoms, testing, what to do if sick, daily activities, and more.

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https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/10/us/omicron-impact-on-economy-workers-shortage/index.html

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travel as workers are sick or in quarantine - cnn

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Omicron devastates services, schools, travel as workers are sick or in quarantine

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As the Omicron variant sweeps the nation, it's disrupting everything from garbage collection and emergency services, schools and travel as employees are out sick or in quarantine.

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it spread mainly from person to person, mainly through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

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https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/variants/omicron-variant.html

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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CDC provides credible COVID-19 health information to the U.S.