The Optional Second Booster
The Scoop on Boosters
Thursday, October 21, 2021
Now again, with a flurry of recent news about vaccination options, I present answers to questions I’m frequently asked, or wish I was.
Public health officials are talking about “boosters” and “third doses” as if they’re different things. Are they?
Those are two bits of jargon that are worth explaining. Then you too can talk like the cool kids at the Department of Health. Additional doses (or third doses in...
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Mandate Vaccines, Not Masks
Sunday, August 1, 2021
A couple of months ago I was desperately hoping that my next post about COVID-19 would be a retrospective, summarizing what we had learned and looking forward to a post-pandemic world. I am extremely ready to be done with this microscopic monster, but it is clearly not done with us.
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A couple of months ago I was desperately hoping that my next post about COVID-19 would be a retrospective, summarizing what we had learned and looking forward to a post-pandemic world. I am extremely ready to be done with this microscopic monster, but it is clearly not done with us.
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The Light at the End of the Tunnel
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
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It's been a long dark night And I've been a waitin' for the morning It's been a long hard fight But I see a brand new day a dawning
-- Dolly Parton, Light of a Clear Blue Morning
In medicine, the light at the end of the tunnel is usually the colonoscope, but this time, of course, I’m speaking metaphorically. After a year of death, sickness, loss of work, overflowing hospitals and a complete di...Where Can I Get the COVID-19 Vaccine?
or This Pandemic Will End in Tiers
Sunday, January 17, 2021 The Short Version for Readers Who Want Clear Instructions and Little Else [This section was updated on Friday, January 22, and will be updated periodically.]- Keep an eye on the LA County Dept of Public Health COVID-19 Vaccine D...
A New Hope
How’s it going in Los Angeles with the pandemic?
The numbers in LA are absolutely dreadful. Daily new cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are at all-time highs.
The current case numbers make the mountain of cases this summer look like a molehill. In July I worried that a COVID death rate in the 40s per day would make COVID a contender for the leading killer in LA...
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The Beginning of the Middle
Wednesday, November 11, 2020
After staying quite low through much of September and October, COVID-19 case numbers are rising again in LA County, as are hospitalizations for COVID. The LA County Department of Public Health warned last weekend that “transmission of COVID-19 is widespread and increasing in L.A County”. And if you think that’s bad, what...
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Contagion and Contrition
What’s happening now?
In LA County, COVID-19 cases, deaths, and hospitalizations have been steadily declining for the last two months. Hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19 in LA are at lows not seen since the early months of the pandemic. This contrasts with a recent increase in cases nationally, including in cities like New York. Whether this new...
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Influenza Vaccination Frequently Unasked Questions
Tuesday, September 8, 2020
With fall almost upon us, patients are abuzz with questions about this season’s flu shot. Below I try to answer the questions they should be asking.
I hear the flu shot is especially important this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
That’s not a question. I thought I was going to be answering questions. Is this a rambling stream of consciousness post, or a question and answer post?
Wow. You really need more coffee. OK. Ho...
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