Category: science

  • Raccoon in the Mulberry Tree

    Raccoon in the Mulberry Tree

    I was not sure what exactly I saw this between 6:30 and 7:00 this morning shaking the mulberry tree branches in our backyard. It seemed too big to be a squirrel and I dismissed the thought, telling myself that it was most likely the usual squirrel getting its mulberry breakfast. Just prior to this incident,…

  • Selected Highlights of CDC ACIP Meeting on Covid-19 Vaccines

    Selected Highlights of CDC ACIP Meeting on Covid-19 Vaccines

    Today I’m highlighting a few items of interest to older adults from the summary slide set on Covid-19 vaccines presented on June 23, 2023 at the CDC ACIP meeting last week. Information for other age groups are included in the slide set. Covid-19 continues to be a major health threat for the population, especially older…

  • Covid-19 Variants in the News

    Covid-19 Variants in the News

    Sena alerted me to a CBS news item with the headline “CDC tracking new Covid variant EU.1.1.” The story seemed a bit misleading because the FDA just announced approval of vaccines for XBB.1.5. beginning in the fall. I checked the CDC Data Tracker for variants and noticed XBB.1.5 is still the most common Covid-19 subvariant…

  • Thoughts on the Passing of Dr. Russell Noyes Jr.

    Thoughts on the Passing of Dr. Russell Noyes Jr.

    I recently found the obituary of my mentor, Dr. Russell Noyes, Jr. MD. He died on June 21, 2023. This is the first time I’ve ever said that he was my mentor. I probably just didn’t realize it until I found out he passed. Dr. Noyes was my teacher during the time I was learning…

  • Brief Remarks on CDC ACIP Vaccines Meeting This Week

    Brief Remarks on CDC ACIP Vaccines Meeting This Week

    My impressions of the first couple of days of the CDC ACIP meeting on vaccines will be brief. My wife and I were interested in learning more about the new Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine. It sounds like the vaccine was upvoted with only a few no votes. Most committee members thought the vaccine was…

  • CDC ACIP Meeting Today on Vaccines

    CDC ACIP Meeting Today on Vaccines

    The ACIP meeting on several vaccines begins today and runs through Friday, 8:00 a.m-5:30 p.m. on the 21st-22nd and 8:00 a.m.-12:40 p.m. on the 23rd, ET. The committee will discuss vaccines for Respiratory Syncytial Virus in adults, Polio, and Influenza vaccines on the 21st. There will be a vote for each. They will discuss vaccines…

  • Four Seasonal Vaccines for Older Adults?

    Four Seasonal Vaccines for Older Adults?

    There are a number of seasonal vaccines recommended for older adults in the U.S. They include vaccines for influenza, pneumonia, and the newest one is Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). I noticed that during the recent FDA meeting to decide on approval of another vaccine for the XBB variant of Covid-19, many experts objected to the…

  • CDC ACIP Meeting June 21-23 to Discuss Covid-19 & RSV Vaccines

    CDC ACIP Meeting June 21-23 to Discuss Covid-19 & RSV Vaccines

    On June 21-23, the CDC ACIP will meet to discuss the new Covid-19 and RSV vaccines (and others).

  • The Skinwalker Ranch Connection to Nikola Tesla

    The Skinwalker Ranch Connection to Nikola Tesla

    I watched one of the new episodes of The Secret of skinwalker Ranch the other night. The use of special imaging techniques led to finding what looked like little tunnels running underground in one area of the property. That led to trotting out the little excavator and digging up the ground. They found some light-colored…

  • FDA Meeting Today on Strain Selection for Periodic Covid-19 Vaccine

    FDA Meeting Today on Strain Selection for Periodic Covid-19 Vaccine

    The FDA Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee will meet today from 8:30 am-5:00 pm ET to discuss and make recommendations on strain selection for the periodic updated Covid-19 vaccines for the 2023-2024 vaccine campaign. The discussion topic will be: “Based on the evidence and other considerations presented, pleasediscuss selection of a specific XBB…