On Friday, the FDA authorized Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine. The announcement marked a major milestone in the fight against the coronavirus. Still, there’s a lot left to be sorted out in the months ahead.

In this episode of Coronavirus: The Truth, Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl answer listener questions about the vaccine and the decisions that will define the pandemic in 2021.

Here’s what was discussed [and when] on this episode:

[00:48] What was the biggest news concerning the coronavirus this week and what does it mean?

[02:36] What does the FDA’s emergency-use authorization of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine mean and how quickly will vaccinations begin?

[07:09] Listener question: “I’m four-months pregnant and have a three-year old son. Can either of us get vaccinated?”

[10:10] Listener question: “What happens I take only one dose of the vaccine instead of two?”

[11:00] Listener question: “Which of the two vaccines (Pfizer or Moderna) do you recommend? And when will certain people qualify for them?”

[14:32] Listener question: “Does the equivalency of the two vaccines mean you can take one the first time and the other the second (e.g., Pfizer first and then Moderna second)?”

[15:21] Listener question: “I had Covid this spring and it was no fun. Should I get vaccinated when my turn comes?”

[17:40] What do we know about vaccines developed in other countries?

[18:26] Listeners loved our recent episodes on conspiracy theories. But there’s been some pushback concerning Dr. Pearl’s take on Sweden. What gives here?

[20:40] The CDC recently changed its guidelines on the required length of quarantine. Why?

[22:09] Dr. Pearl to Jeremy: How anxious are you to be vaccinated and how long will you wait?

[23:40] Has Covid-19 been in the U.S. longer than we previously thought?

[24:53] How will President-elect Biden’s Covid-19 approach differ from Trump’s?

[26:41] U.S. healthcare spending actually has gone down this year. Why?

This episode is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify and other podcast platforms.

If you have coronavirus questions for the hosts, please visit the contact page or send us a message on Twitter or LinkedIn.

*To ensure the credibility of this program, Coronavirus: The Truth refuses to accept sponsorship, outside funding sources or guests with any financial or personal conflicts of interest.

The post CTT #27: Now that a Covid-19 vaccine is approved, what’s next? appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

Just before the Thanksgiving holiday, co-hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr dedicated Episode #25 to addressing the most prevalent conspiracy theories about Covid-19. The show dove deep into the most frequently cited rumors and false assertions from all across the internet. Lots of listeners wrote in with comments and questions of their own.

Today, in response to one of the most popular episodes of Coronavirus: The Truth ever, Jeremy and Robert dedicated most of this episode to addressing to the wave of listener feedback and questions.

Here’s what was discussed [and when] on this episode:

[00:49] What was the biggest news concerning the coronavirus this week and what does it mean?

[03:06] The data on Covid-19 deaths is distressing. Is there any sign of hope in sight?

[08:38] Some in the scientific community say the latest vaccine news raises red flags. What’s causing them concern?

[19:25] Many people wrote in about episode #25 on Covid-19 conspiracy theories. One listener asked: “How do you explain the situation in Sweden? They took a relatively minimalist approach to intervention in relation to COVID-19 and they seem to be having better outcomes than almost any other European countries. Why?”

[23:38] Listener question: “Elon Musk received four tests for Covid-19 on the same day, with the same procedure, same nurse, same equipment, same lab. Two came back positive, two came back negative. How are we supposed to trust testing?”

[28:37] One healthcare professional pushed back on Dr. Robert Pearl’s comment that healthcare organizations were not coding extra COVID-19 cases for financial reasons. Said the listener: “People in the medical field everywhere roll their eyes at the claim that hospitals aren’t falsely claiming Covid for the money. This happens all the time in healthcare, not just for Covid-19, but for everything.” What does Dr. Pearl have to say?

[33:04] Another listener question focused on the relatively high survivability rate of Covid-19. In short, has the nation overreacted to a disease that’s not nearly as lethal as some other viruses?

[40:00] Final listener question: If Dr. Pearl were the chair of the Coronavirus Taskforce, what would he want the government response to be?

This episode is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify and other podcast platforms.

If you have coronavirus questions for the hosts, please visit the contact page or send us a message on Twitter or LinkedIn.

*To ensure the credibility of this program, Coronavirus: The Truth refuses to accept sponsorship, outside funding sources or guests with any financial or personal conflicts of interest.

The post #26: Listeners had lots of questions about the ‘conspiracy theory’ episode appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

Welcome to episode 25 of “Coronavirus: The Truth,” a podcast that focuses on the facts surrounding COVID-19.

Today’s show breaks from our traditional format. It is dedicated to addressing the most prevalent rumors, claims and conspiracy theories about Covid-19: from miracle cures to media hoaxes. We’ll look at frequently cited examples of disinformation, pseudoscience and false assertions from across the internet.

Our intent isn’t to discredit these claims, but to examine them today from all sides. We’ll look at both the scientific facts as well as the fears that stoke people’s suspicions. We’ll address all of these Covid-19 topics honestly and sympathetically. As always, the goal of this podcast is to provide listeners with the information they need to keep them and their loved ones safe.

Here are the questions/conspiracies/claims covered in today’s episode:

[05:30] Where did the virus come from? Was Covid-19 created in a Chinese lab?

[12:35] One of President Trump’s top medical advisers urged a controversial “herd immunity” strategy to combat the pandemic. What does the science say?

[19:08] Trump claimed that doctors and hospitals have inflating their COVID-19 patient counts in order to, quote, “get more money.” Is it true? And are we over-counting our nation’s Covid-19 cases?

[22:05] In July, the Trump administration announced shifted control of coronavirus hospital data from the CDC over to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Has there been any evidence of foul play with Covid-19 reporting?

[25:37] A lot of claims on social media suggest that masks don’t work or can actually prove harmful. What are the facts?

[29:14] Do other countries test their populations significantly less than the United States? Is there truth to the claim that other nations are fudging the numbers on cases and deaths?

[32:45] Is it possible that the efficacy of drugs like Regeneron, Hydroxychloroquine and Remdisivir has been underplayed by people who just didn’t want to give the Trump administration a win?

[35:43] Is there any truth to the rumor that Pfizer may have delayed the good news about its Covid-19 vaccine tests until after the election?

[36:33] The coronavirus pandemic has been politicized since day one. What are the most incendiary claims from both sides?

This episode is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify and other podcast platforms. To get in touch, please visit the contact page or send us a message on Twitter or LinkedIn.

*To ensure the credibility of this program, Coronavirus: The Truth refuses to accept sponsorship, outside funding sources or guests with any financial or personal conflicts of interest.

The post #25: Is there any truth to these Covid-19 conspiracy theories? appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

Podcast cohost Jeremy Corr is the father of a four-year-old son. Like many parents, Jeremy is inundated with information (much of it conflicting) about the coronavirus, its spread among children and the threat of transmission between kids and adults.

In this episode of Coronavirus: The Truth, Jeremy and his cohost Dr. Robert Pearl discuss the latest scientific findings, including an interesting Yale study, which concluded that childcare is not associated with spread of COVID-19.

Tune in for more on this and the following topics and questions:

[00:50] What was the biggest news concerning the coronavirus this past week and what does it mean?

[06:26] What have scientists learned about Covid-19 infections among young children?

[07:47] What to make about the promising study in Science concerning antibodies?

[09:47] College campuses are accounting for high rates of infection. What’s going on here?

[11:28] Why did the CDC change its definition of “close contact” (close proximity)?

[15:52] What’s the latest news on vaccine development?

[19:04] Listener question: Is it safe to fly home for the holidays?

[21:15] Listener question: Is it unsafe for parents to send their kids to school?

[25:03] Has mask-wearing increased in rural America with the latest surge in cases?

Next week’s show will focus on conspiracy theories about Covid-19. Tune in then and let us know if you have any questions ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. To get in touch, please visit the contact page or send us a message on Twitter or LinkedIn.

This episode is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify and other podcast platforms.

*To ensure the credibility of this program, Coronavirus: The Truth refuses to accept sponsorship, outside funding sources or guests with any financial or personal conflicts of interest.

The post #24: Are the kids alright? What about their parents? appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

Last Thursday, Dr. Anthony Fauci warned Americans to rethink their Thanksgiving plans. Reactions have been mixed. Some people agree with public health officials. Others are outraged. Regardless of the reaction, one thing’s for sure: People are already feeling down about the holidays.

According to one recent poll, less than a quarter of Americans are equally or more excited about the upcoming holidays as they were in 2019. Three in four people say they are less (or much less) excited to celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

The question is: should we gather? For Dr. Robert Pearl, this question is “Déjà vu all over again. The same lessons are having to be learned again, and again, and again. We tend to leap to the conclusion rather than starting where I believe we should, with the facts.”

This episode of Coronavirus: The Truth addresses the all-important holiday question, along with the following questions about the coronavirus pandemic:

[00:47] What was the biggest news concerning the coronavirus this past week and what does it mean?

[03:22] Why are some drug makers halting treatment and vaccine trials?

[05:30] Why have premature births dropped significantly during the pandemic?

[07:08] Cases on college campuses are still surging. What, specifically, isn’t working?

[08:55] Should we cancel/scale-back our Thanksgiving plans per Dr. Fauci?

[13:26] Two Harvard economists claim Covid-19 will cost the country $16 trillion: Accurate or alarmist?

[16:41] Why are Black Americans more skeptical of a coronavirus vaccine?

[18:53] Which two groups of Americans are struggling most to maintain social relationships?  

[21:11] How has the culture of medicine helped (and harmed) patients during the pandemic? (For more on this subject, check out the new episode of Fixing Healthcare, featuring Dr. Zubin Damania, aka ZDoggMD) 

[25:14] Are patients too optimistic, too pessimistic or reasonably objective when it comes to the vaccine timeline?

[28:26] Why does Dr. Pearl believe 500,000 people will die from Covid-19. Listeners wanted to know more about this number and how you derived it. Can you tell them?

This episode is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify and other podcast platforms.

If you have coronavirus questions for the hosts, please visit the contact page or send us a message on Twitter or LinkedIn.

*To ensure the credibility of this program, Coronavirus: The Truth refuses to accept sponsorship, outside funding sources or guests with any financial or personal conflicts of interest.

The post #23: Should I cancel my Thanksgiving plans? appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

President Donald Trump tweeted today that he will soon leave Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where he has been receiving treatment for Covid-19.

Trump’s physician said the president is not “entirely out of the woods yet” but that the patient could continue his ongoing treatment regimen from the White House.

In this episode Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr examine the available facts about the U.S. president’s illness, current condition and ongoing medical care. In addition, our co-hosts have answers to the following Covid-19 questions:

[00:51] What’s the latest on President Trump’s health status following his diagnosis of COVID-19 late last week? What treatment(s) has he received? Why was he given them under a “compassionate use” request? And what’s next?

[04:17] Does Trump have a legal right to patient privacy or do Americans deserve to know the president’s health status?

[07:18] What are the latest virus developments *outside* of the White House?

[10:42] The U.S. mortality rate: what is it for Covid-19 and why is it important?

[14:46] What’s happening economically in the county right now?

[17:23] Where do drug makers stand with vaccine development?

[22:11] People remain skeptical about the safety of the vaccine. Are they wise to be concerned at this stage?

[25:07] Trump continues to tout new treatments. Do any of them look scientifically promising yet?

[28:50] News outlets are reporting about a new strain of the virus. What are the medical implications? Is it more lethal?

[30:41] Which healthcare topics did the presidential candidates fail to touch on in last week’s debate?

[32:07] Will the healthcare specifics (or lack of) in last week’s debate sway votes?

[34:14] Listener question: If the Supreme Court strikes down the Affordable Care Act in the near future, how would that impact coronavirus treatments?

This episode is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify and other podcast platforms.

If you have coronavirus questions for the hosts, please visit the contact page or send us a message on Twitter or LinkedIn.

*To ensure the credibility of this program, Coronavirus: The Truth refuses to accept sponsorship, outside funding sources or guests with any financial or personal conflicts of interest.

The post #22: What do (and don’t) we know about Trump’s illness and treatments? appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

There has been no shortage of surprising statistics to emerge from this pandemic.

Dr. Robert Pearl’s upcoming Forbes article, “Three Misleading, Dangerous Coronavirus Statistics” (available here on Tuesday, Sept. 21), examines a trio of figures that are based on actual data but have proven to be misleading and hazardous to the nation’s health.

This episode of Coronavirus: The Truth features several statistics that might surprise you. Take the recent CBS opinion poll, which found that just 21% of voters would take a free vaccine if one became available in the near future (more on that at the 18:32 mark of this podcast). Or what about the new Axios poll, which found that 51% of college students who say it was not the right choice for their schools to allow students on campus (see 21:56 below).

Tune in for more surprising stats, along with answers to the following Covid-19 questions:

[00:51] What did health experts learn this past week about the coronavirus?

[06:28] How are other nations dealing with resurgences of the diseases?

[07:47] What are the latest “miscommunications” to come out of the CDC?

[09:41] Where are we on the passage of a new stimulus bill in Congress?

[12:02] What’s the status of Covid-19 vaccine development?

[16:28] How will we know if a vaccine is truly safe and effective?

[18:32] Will Americans trust and be willing to take an FDA approved vaccine?

[19:49] What’s known about the potential long-term health effects of the virus?

[21:56] What’s the deal with college campuses and spikes in cases?

[24:54] Why do people in different parts of the country interpret the threat of this virus so differently?

[26:36] Elected officials in New York are under fire from critics and local business owners. What’s the latest?

[29:28] Listener question: “Is there any chance this virus will be here forever?”

[34:42] What hobbies/activities keep our co-hosts happy and mentally healthy?

This episode is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify and other podcast platforms.

If you have coronavirus questions for the hosts, please visit the contact page or send us a message on Twitter or LinkedIn.

*To ensure the credibility of this program, Coronavirus: The Truth refuses to accept sponsorship, outside funding sources or guests with any financial or personal conflicts of interest.

The post #21: Do these coronavirus statistics surprise you? appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

In this, the 20th episode of Coronavirus: The Truth, hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr address the most pressing questions concerning the COVID-19 pandemic.

What are “super spreaders”? Will the FDA approve a COVID-19 vaccine before phase-three testing wraps up? What do we know about latest testing controversy enshrouding the CDC? And how did Iowa, of all places, become the latest coronavirus hotspot?

Since March 2020, this podcast has delivered science-based updates on the coronavirus, insights from public health officials and clinicians, along with an unbiased look at how the COVID-19 news and information impact American life. With informed commentary, helpful context and reporting from only the most credible sources, Coronavirus: The Truth cuts through the politics and misinformation to bring listeners the truth.

Questions answered in this episode include:

[00:50] What did we learn last week about the coronavirus pandemic? 

[03:22] The CDC is at the center of another COVID-19 testing controversy. What are the details?  

[05:48] Research on the much-ballyhooed saliva test was just published in NEJM. Are these less-painful tests accurate or not?

[07:51] The FDA said it might approve vaccines before phase-three testing results are in. Will that spook the public and would Dr. Pearl take it, himself?

[10:51] Why are men faring worse in this pandemic than women?

[12:27] Listener question: What is a super spreader?

[14:17] What’s with this 6% statistic that pandemic deniers are touting?   

[19:15] Do scientists know anything about the psychological consequences of the pandemic so far?

[21:43] Jeremy Corr’s home state of Iowa now has highest incidence of coronavirus infection. What’s going on there?

[23:40] Why are meat packing facilities continuing to see such high rates of coronavirus infections? Is further disruption to the food chain possible?

[25:41] Is “planned herd immunity” (allowing ~150 million relatively healthy people to get infected) a feasible strategy for ending the pandemic in this country?

[33:06] Listener question: Should the United States join the global search for a vaccine or continue to go it alone?

This episode is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify and other podcast platforms.

If you have coronavirus questions for the hosts, please visit the contact page or send us a message on Twitter or LinkedIn.

*To ensure the credibility of this program, Coronavirus: The Truth refuses to accept sponsorship, outside funding sources or guests with any financial or personal conflicts of interest.

The post #20: What’s the truth about super spreaders, saliva tests and vaccine safety? appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, Americans have time and again seen highly touted solutions fall short of their hype.

Remdisivir, once thought to be a miracle treatment, was recently determined to be statistically no better than standard care. Meanwhile, Russia’s Vladimir Putin announced with great fanfare the production of a Covid-19 vaccine. Yet Western critics point out that the drug “Sputnik V” hasn’t undergone late-stage, large, randomized control trials.

The world seems to be starving for good news concerning Covid-19 that isn’t fake news. On this episode of Coronavirus: The Truth, hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr separate the superlative claims from the true scientific advances while also offering answers to the following coronavirus questions:

[00:52] Update: What should listeners know about the week that was? 

[06:56] Per reports, has the coronavirus mutated? Is this good news or bad?

[08:21] What is convalescent plasma andhow does it work?

[12:19] Yale’s saliva test received FDA approval. What’s the benefit of this Covid-19 test over the alternatives?

[14:37] What are the biggest Covid-19 threats facing sports?

[17:24] What should we make of Russia’s vaccine, now in production?

[18:56] New Zealand had great success containing the virus early on. Last week, the country reported over a dozen new cases. What happened?

[21:27] What’s the latest on schools reopening?

[24:20] How will voters think about healthcare overall, and the coronavirus in particular, this November?

[26:37] What’s the mood on in Iowa, where co-host Jeremy Corr lives?

[28:16] Assuming March was the real onset of this pandemic in the United States, we’re nearing the half-year mark. Where are we now?

This episode is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify and other podcast platforms.

If you have coronavirus questions for the hosts, please visit the contact page or send us a message on Twitter or LinkedIn.

*To ensure the credibility of this program, Coronavirus: The Truth refuses to accept sponsorship, outside funding sources or guests with any financial or personal conflicts of interest.

The post #19: What’s the most promising scientific development so far? appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

Fans of Coronavirus: The Truth have lauded the show’s unbiased, fact-based approach to delivering COVID-19 news and information.

But finding unbiased, fact-based info isn’t easy amid today’s politically charged news environment. Says co-host Jeremy Corr, “I keep getting more and more disheartened about how politicized the pandemic has been.” In this episode, Corr and co-host Dr. Robert Pearl offer their thoughts on where to find facts that aren’t skewed by partisan media or pundits looking to score political points.

In addition, Pearl and Corr provide answers and analysis for the following questions:

[00:50] Update: What should listeners know about the week that was?

[04:22] Where are we with the next Congressional economic package?

[07:04] Presumed democratic nominee Joe Biden released his healthcare proposal: What was in it and how might it impact the post-coronavirus era?

[10:50] What is happening with the economy? Is there a day of reckoning on its way?

[12:04] Many people are disheartened by how politicized the pandemic has become. Where can people go for advice and facts that aren’t skewed by politics?

[14:50] What’s going on with Major League Baseball and other sports leagues? 

[16:41] What can go wrong with a COVID-19 vaccine fail?

[21:20] Local school districts are scrambling. What’s going on with schools now? What’s the right strategy for those moving forward with in-class instruction?

[25:39] Campus safety policies vs. college-student behaviors: Which will win out this fall as students return to campuses?

[28:58] Hypothetical: If all of the restrictions were suddenly lifted and you could return to all of the activities of the past knowing that the virus was still circulating, what would do and what would you continue to avoid?

[30:09] Anne Wojcicki, CEO of 23andMe, joined the Fixing Healthcare podcast this week. What did she have to say about genetics and COVID-19?

[31:18] The airline and travel industry continue to be hit hard. What is the latest thinking on their future?

This episode is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify and other podcast platforms.

If you have coronavirus questions for the hosts, please visit the contact page or send us a message on Twitter or LinkedIn.

*To ensure the credibility of this program, Coronavirus: The Truth refuses to accept sponsorship, outside funding sources or guests with any financial or personal conflicts of interest.

The post #18: Where to go for nonpartisan COVID-19 info? appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.