Mandating covid19 vaccines? Nonsense proposals

1 Feb

Mandatory vaccination against covid19 of health care workers is proposed because there are vaccines that might reduce the transmission of the virus, SARS-CoV-2, and might  protect both the health workforce and patients.
The question that arises is scientific and ethical because of the fact that we do not yet know whether the vaccine will prevent transmission (and thus produce herd immunity).
Will the vaccine protect only those who get vaccinated?
The unknowns of how the vaccine covid19 affects transmission makes the possibility of achieving herd immunity through vaccination uncertain.
It lacks logic and scientific and ethical foundation to demand compulsory covid19 vaccination in general and in specific cases as health care workers in health centres/hospitals, nursing homes and other health/social care centres. The proposals for mandating covid19 vaccines are unethical.
  • Mandating covid19 vaccines? Nonsense proposals. Gérvas J. Madrid (Spain) February 2021. Download article here.

Influenza-flu vaccine and covid19. Fifteen questions

12 Oct

The flu vaccine is a failed vaccine, useless at best, that discredits vaccines in general. The situation created by the #COVID19 pandemic does not change the recommendation not to use it. 15 questions with answers and references.

  • Influenza-flu vaccine and covid19. Fifteen questions. Gérvas J. Madrid, October, 2020. Dowload article here.

Covid-19, structure and conjuncture, ideology and politics

8 Aug

No one knows very well how to save the capitalist economy from its own general and pandemic debacles. There are only conjectures. They seem to express an ideological and desiderative a priori rather than a realistic and rigorous analysis of the present state of affairs: neoliberals stubbornly demanding for more market and lesser state (as if there had not been enough thanatic doses of laissez faire), and neo Keynesians candidly demanding less market and more state (as if today’s late capitalism, hyper-globalized and hyper-concentrated, allowed just returning to the good old days of the welfare post-war Nation-State). The fact is that neither party escapes the framework that encloses them.
Humanity seems to have entered blind folded into the eye of the storm, in a crisis of civilization. Its only difference with the Greek goddess Themis is its unbalanced scales and its blunt sword.
  • Covid-19, structure and conjuncture, ideology and politics. Petruccelli A, F Mare. Neuquén, Argentina. Mayo 2020. Download article here.

COVID-19 meets slums: drug cartels respond to the pandemic

8 Aug

From an epidemiological perspective favelas need to be protected not only due to population density, but also given the high social vulnerability; in view of equity, a key principle of the SUS. However, when protective measures are guided by crime organizations instead of by the government itself, we question whether the former have greater humanitarian concern than the latter.

  • COVID-19 meets slums: drug cartels respond to the pandemic. LS Ribeiro, DM Gonzaga, M P den Burg, J Gérvas. Río de Janeiro, Brazil. June 2020. Download article here.
This paper was published in the Rev Bras Med Fam Comunidade. Rio de Janeiro, 2021 Jan-Dez; 16(43):2675 “Drug cartels respond to the pandemic”

Applying the precautionary principle to breast cancer screening: implications to public health

23 Mar

This article discusses the Precautionary Principle to strengthen Quaternary Prevention when dealing with additive preventive measures such as breast cancer screening. According to Geoffrey Rose additive preventive measures are generally professional-led interventions that are alien to human ecology, economy, and physiology. These include drugs, vaccines and other biological, physical, and chemical products. Additive preventive measures can produce harm without potential benefit since most individuals are asymptomatic (healthy) and not destined to become sick in the future. Consequently, additive preventive measures cannot be considered safe and policymakers are accountable for providing evidence of their net benefit.

  • Applying the precautionary principle to breast cancer screening: implications to public health. Tesser CD, Norman AH, Gérvas J. Cad Saude Publica. 2019 Jul 22;35(7):e00048319. doi: 10.1590/0102-311X00048319. Download article here.

Coronavirus from Wuhan (China). 2019-nCoV. What you need to know to avoid a panic epidemic

23 Mar

Coronaviruses have been with us for thousands of years, and we are prepared to overcome their infections.  If you have traveled to Wuhan (China) or have had close contact with those who have traveled there and have severe catarrhal symptoms with respiratory distress, consult your doctor especially if you have any underlying disease.  In all other cases avoid a panic epidemic, be prudent.

  • Coronavirus from Wuhan (China). 2019-nCoV.  What you need to know to avoid a panic epidemic. Gérvas J. Madrid. February 2020. Download article here.

What has evidence based medicine (EBM) done for our patients? We do not know. We must abandon it

18 Sep

We must admit that: a / “if the final objective of EBM (Evidence Based Medicine) is to improve patients-populations’ health, do we have evidence of succeed in this objective?” No, b / is EBM harming patients-populations’ health? We do not know. Evidence-Based Medicine (#EBM) has not demonstrated any impact on patients’ health. It is honest to think that the EBM has become harmful and it is urgent to abandon it and replace it with a Medicine Based on Living.  See also: https://www.actasanitaria.com/what-has-evidence-based-medicine-ebm-done-for-our-patients/

  • What has evidence based medicine (EBM) done for our patients? We do not know. We must abandon it. Gérvas J. Madrid. September 2019. Download article here.
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