ThePODdoctors Dr. Damien Dauphinee and Dr. Raafae Hussain discuss information presented by Epidemiologist and Harvard physician and researcher Dr. Michael Mina regarding COVID rapid antigen testing and the bottlenecks standing in the way of getting these inexpensive tests in the hands of every American, from his Time Magazine article and podcast with Lex Fridman. Dr. Dauphinee and Dr. Hussain also discuss their frustration in scope of practice bottlenecks that currently prevent qualified medical personnel from delivering the currently available COVID vaccines to high risk patient populations like diabetics whom they see in their offices every day.

QUOTES:

“We’re all in this together. This is a global pandemic. This is a global problem and without data, we don’t see the trends and these trends are God awful.” -Dr. Damien Dauphinee [05:24]

“COVID is the third leading cause of death in the US right now. Compared to heart disease and cancer, it’s number three. We’re not fighting something that’s a minute, little problem right now. This is something that’s taken out hundreds of thousands of people without a flinch.” -Dr. Raafae Hussain [25:06]

Top Takeaways:

• Why there’s a push for more rapid testing
• The number of COVID-19 deaths in the US
• The increase in amputations and other unintended consequences of the pandemic
• The difference between the PCR testing and the rapid testing
• The importance of face masks and what fabric is most helpful
• What people can do to help stop the pandemic

What You Will Learn:

• [00:44] Intro
• [02:44] Michael Mina’s push for more rapid testing
• [04:24] General numbers of COVID-19 deaths in the US
• [06:31] The Pod Doctors’ request to distribute vaccines
• [09:08] Why widespread and frequent rapid testing is the best tool to suppress outbreaks
• [15:12] Debunking a myth about rapid tests
• [16:56] What can help stop the pandemic
• [20:36] What would make Dr. Damien Dauphinee more confident about the situation
• [27:38] A reminder of the simple things to do during the pandemic
• [28:17] The difference between the PCR testing and the rapid testing
• [29:13] Why the type of fabric matters for face masks
• [32:49] The unintended consequences of COVID-19
• [39:38] Two things you can get out of this episode

Resources:

Visit our website: https://thepoddoctors.com/

Book Mentioned: Saving Limbs, Saving Lives: Advanced Treatments for Preventing Amputations in Diabetic Populations by Dr. Damien Dauphinee

Article Mentioned: How We Can Stop the Spread of COVID-19 By Christmas by Michael Mina