Hello, TVD Friends,
Well, for as much as the sun is out and we feel lighter, finding a place to get your COVID vaccine, either Dose #1 or Dose #2, continues to be challenging. Patience, please! There should be a meaningful increase in vaccine supply over the next few weeks. Until then, we do try and keep our FAQ, “How Do I Get My COVID-19 Vaccine” current. Note that, as of today, you may need to drive further afield than you might like to find a vaccine appointment. Alternatively, be patient, and COVID-careful, for another week or two after which I anticipate vaccine will be more readily available.
Until then, read on for some reassuring news about your risk of catching COVID from surfaces (it is very unlikely), or developing a “blood clot” as a vaccine side effect (it is extremely unlikely), and some hopeful news about “travel” (wouldn’t it be nice to travel again?).
Please enjoy our newsletter, and share with your friends (they can sign up here!).
Eric Weiss, MD, April 16, 2021
NOTE: CV🦠News is a labor of love. If you enjoy reading this, please share widely! Was this forwarded to you by a friend? Please subscribe here.
This week we shed a spotlight on our fearless leader and one of our invaluable team members, Dr. Eric Weiss and Kimmie Butler! Follow the video link to watch a sneak peak of our interview with them, and learn more about how their medical careers came to be. Be on the lookout for more interview content regarding their superhero alter egos and more!
https://villagedoctor.com/coronavirus-faq/talking-with-tvd-interview/
The CDC updated it’s guidance around cleaning surfaces with regards to COVID transmission.
We know that the coronavirus spread and infection through “fomite” surface contact is very low compared to airborne and droplet transmission. The recent announcement offers new specifics, as there is “little scientific support” for routine disinfectant use to prevent surface contact infection.
Early in the pandemic this was not as clear and resulted in aggressive disinfection with bleach and sprays and wipes. Empty grocery store shelves in the home cleanup aisles became a common sight, with sales quickly spiking as people grabbed as much of the coveted disinfectants as they could. The president of Clorox reported that the company saw an incredible 500% spike in demand versus the year before… Read more
Prerana Sangani, MD, April 12, 2021
At this point in time, the data suggests that you are more likely to be struck by lightning than you are to get a blood clot from Johnson and Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine.
The CDC and FDA have recommended a pause in administering the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine out of an abundance of caution after reports of a rare form of blood clot in six people out of roughly seven million Americans who have received the vaccine… Read more
Jennifer Abrams, MD, April 13, 2021
Currently everyone that is vaccinated against COVID in the US receives a CDC-issued paper card to document which vaccine they received and the dates of the vaccination. While this card is useful to keep handy as proof of vaccination (see our FAQ on this), the idea of a “vaccine passport” is to create a standardized digital record that would make activities and particularly travel safer and more efficient. There are of course many questions about who would authorize and control the system, what the passports would be allowed to be used for and if the whole system would actually be inherently unfair because of inequitable access to the vaccine itself. Therefore, while there is no doubt that adding proof of vaccination would add another layer of protection for travelers, it remains to be determined what role vaccine passports will play in travel… Read more
Jackie Phillips, MD, April 13, 2021
HOPE AND GRACE
If you have made it this far, time for a reward, something to lighten your day, and acknowledge the human spirit. Find some escape, or perhaps even inspiration, in this ever-growing collection of works and perspectives gathered from around the world. Please contact me directly if you have come across something that has lifted your heart today. Dr. Eric Weiss
Oakland Native, and Top Chef Alum, shares Family Recipe
Cooking is the heart and soul of Oakland native, and Top Chef alum, Chef Tu David Phu. He believes cooking is the purest form of love. He is a California-born first-generation Vietnamese-American whose family comes from the island of Phu Quoc. He remembers the struggles and hardships his family has faced over the years, and the memory of his mother’s food has pulled him back to his roots, following the practices, ingredients, techniques, and flavors of Vietnamese cuisine. Chef Tu shares one of his favorite dishes, lobster fried rice. Follow this link below!
Chef Phu’s Lobster Fried Rice Recipe
8-year-old San Bernardino Girl Scout Sells Record Number of Boxes – Donates to Sick Kids
At 8, Lilly Bumpus has already achieved an incredible feat by beating a rare form of cancer called Ewing’s Sarcoma. This left her determined to fight for other kids facing cancer. Recently, she made her dream of selling the most boxes of Girl Scout Cookies in a single season come true by selling 32,484 boxes! She will be dividing the funds between the Children’s Hospital of LA, Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital, and the Children’s Hospital of Orange County – as well as other cancer facilities throughout the U.S.
Read more about her inspiring story here!
Caltech Uses Submerged Cables to Detect Earthquakes Ahead of Time
Seismologists at Caltech, in partnership with Google, have developed a method to use underwater telecommunication cables to detect earthquakes. This technique could lead to improved earthquake and tsunami warning systems around the world. If an earthquake strikes close to a particular area, a warning could be delivered to the potentially affected areas within a matter of seconds rather than minutes. This innovation could end up saving lives!
Read more about their research here
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Again, CV🦠News is a labor of love. If you enjoy reading this, please share widely! Was this forwarded to you by a friend? Please subscribe here.
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Yours, in health and resilience,
Eric and the TVD MD team…
