We’ve been hearing a lot about the holy grail of herd immunity lately, especially with the introduction of vaccines to counter COVID-19 and a general sense of seeing the light at the end of this yearlong tunnel. As soon as we’ve achieved herd immunity, goes the meme, we’re out of the woods (to mix my […]
Viruses
Posted inLife + Outdoors
Vaccine Mirage?
In theory, a vaccine is simple: It induces the body to create antibodies to a particular virus. When that virus enters the body, the immune system will recognize it and block it from harming the host. Of course, the vaccine itself must be harmless, hence the twin goals of vaccine development: effectiveness and safety. Traditionally, […]
Posted inLife + Outdoors
Nine COVID-19 Myths
I know, I know. Articles on myths about coronavirus have been done to death. Yet every day the Whack-a-Mole claims pop up again — conspiracy stories, China, Big Pharma, what to eat to prevent infection, the vaccine just around the corner … Here, I’ll try to shine a light on some of the more prevalent […]
Posted inLife + Outdoors
Blame Evolution
Many conspiracy theorists, who seem to make up about half the posters I’m seeing on Facebook these days, have glommed onto the idea that SARS-CoV-2 (the coronavirus causing the COVID-19 epidemic) was engineered in a lab. Where? Wuhan, China. Why? To cull China’s aging population and to sow chaos around the world. You’ll be relieved […]