Medicine: The Truth with Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr

A respected doctor recently published an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal predicting, “We’ll have herd immunity by April.” Many other respected doctors took to social media to contradict him, arguing it’s too early to claim victory over the disease.

For months now, co-hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr have been closely monitoring the debate and data surrounding our nation’s immunity status. If one thing’s clear, it’s that nothing is clear. The scientific community seems split right down the middle.

Pearl points out that there are two camps emerging in the debate over herd immunity: Those who are more cautious and those who are more optimistic. In this episode of Coronavirus: The Truth, Pearl explains how both sides might be right.

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

[00:58] Each week, the show begins with the most recent and relevant facts of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on American life. What’s happening and what does it mean?

[05:00] Listener question: “The number of cases, hospitalizations and deaths seem to move up and down so fast that my head is spinning! What’s going on?”

[08:02] What are the latest vaccine updates?

[13:25] Listener question: “Do scientists know anything more about vaccinations for pregnant women?”

[15:02] Should people who’ve had Covid-19 be vaccinated?

[19:24] Some people are forgoing the second shot for fear of an allergic reaction. Good idea?

[20:56] Any updates on the various mutant strains?

[23:50] J&J’s vaccine is approved: Yay! Any other good news this week?

[26:02] NYC drama: Early in the pandemic, Governor Cuomo was held up as a coronavirus hero. Now everyone seems to be against him. What’s the truth behind all this drama?

[29:25] What should we make of the mental health statistics emerging from the pandemic?

[32:08] Last year, Mardi Gras was a super spreader event. What happened this year in New Orleans?

[33:11] We’ve now passed a half million deaths in the United States, as Dr. Pearl reluctantly predicted in October 2020. If we had known at the start of the pandemic that a vaccine would be highly effective, safe and available in less than a year, what might we have done differently early on?

[34:29] What’s new from a global perspective?

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 #32: Is herd immunity almost here? appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

A listener of this show wrote in with a question about her ongoing coronavirus symptoms. A month after testing positive, she’s still not back to feeling like herself. According to the data, she’s not alone. All across the country, there are millions of these so-called “long-haulers,” and the actual number of people who fall into this category might be even larger than we initial thought.

Patients who continue to experience Covid-19 symptoms talk about “brain fog,” difficulty sleeping, ongoing exhaustion, inability to regain sense of taste or smell, and in some cases, damage to the heart, lung or kidney.

So, what’s “normal” in terms of recovery from the Covid-19 disease and what do scientists know about these long-haulers? In this episode of Coronavirus: The Truth, Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl dive into this issue and answer listener questions. Here’s what was discussed [and when] on this episode:

[00:53] Each week, the show begins with the most recent and relevant facts of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on American life. What’s happening and what does it mean?

[06:08] What’s the status of the mysterious Russian vaccine?

[08:00] Listener question: “I had the coronavirus a month ago and am still not back to feeling like myself. Is this common?”

[10:45] What does data tell us about this pandemic and mental health issues?

[12:16] What’s the controversy surrounding the Johnson & Johnson vaccine?

[17:05] Got any good news this week?

[19:16] What happens when you get the first vaccine dose from one manufacturer and the second from a different one?

[21:45] One year into the pandemic and we have three vaccines but no effective treatments outside of a steroid to reduce inflammation. Why?

[25:47] Better equipped to manage vaccine distribution: businesses or the government?

[26:42] As a patient, does co-host Jeremy Corr have any advice or request for the Biden administration?

[28:14] Listener question: “Can you talk about the success of the vaccination program in Israel? Anything Americans can take from it?”

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 #31: How long do Covid-19 symptoms persist? What’s a normal recovery? appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

Variants (or mutant strains) of the coronavirus have popped up in the U.K., South Africa and Brazil. These strains are highly transmissible, sparking concerns that the variants could be more lethal and that current vaccines may be less effective against them.

Perhaps most concerning is the question of if (or when) these variants will wreak havoc in the United States, where hospitals are still reeling from unsafe gatherings during the winter holidays.

In this episode of Coronavirus: The Truth, Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl dive into this issue and answer listener questions. Here’s what was discussed [and when] on this episode:

[00:49] Each week, the show begins with the most recent and relevant facts of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on American life. What’s happening and what does it mean?

[06:44] Covid-19 developments in Europe are gaining attention. Why?

[08:40] Dr. Fauci says herd immunity will require vaccination rates of 75% to 80%. Is that possible?

[11:48] Is “coronavirus fatigue” still a national problem according to the data?

[13:16] Are Black Americans receiving a smaller percent of available vaccines?

[15:19] Any positive Covid-19 news this week?

[17:23] Are nursing homes safer now than early in the pandemic?

[19:20] What do the hosts see as the most likely scenario for the pandemic six months down the road?

[20:48] President Biden is likely to push for a national mask policy. Will he be successful if it is voluntary and if not, what more should he do?

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 #30: Are the mutant strains of Covid deadlier? appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

In a Northern California hospital, a freezer containing over 800 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine suddenly broke down. Local leaders realized they had less than two hours to administer the shots before the entire batch went bad. Administrators and staff sprang into action and, according to CNN, didn’t waste a drop of the vaccine.

How then do we explain the excruciatingly slow rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine so far, with only 7 million of the 22 million available shots given out? Americans are understandably bewildered and upset by the handling of vaccinations so far. Now the question is: What if anything can be done to fix it?

In this episode of Coronavirus: The Truth, Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl dive into this issue and answer listener questions. Here’s what was discussed [and when] on this episode:

[00:49] Why is the vaccine administration going so poorly? Can we solve the problem sooner than later?

[05:26] Listener question: “I heard the government is considering giving people only one shot or maybe cutting the dose in half. So, does this mean there have been problems with the vaccine?”

[12:30] How are vaccinations going in other countries?

[14:52] Beyond Moderna and Pfizer, what’s the status with other vaccines?

[19:43] Any “upbeat” news about the pandemic this past week?

[22:01] Why are reports saying that more people are testing positive without symptoms?

[24:36] What to make of the new Kaiser Family Foundation survey on urban vs. rural attitudes about the pandemic and the Covid-19 vaccine?

[29:40] How does historian Jeremy Corr think his fellow historians will view this pandemic 50 or 100 years from now?

[32:42] What lessons have the pandemic taught us about American healthcare?

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 #29: What went wrong with the vaccine rollout? Is it fixable? appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

It has been a busy two weeks for news outlets covering the coronavirus pandemic. The holidays brought a surge in new cases and deaths. A coronavirus mutation was reported in England. Reports of allergic reactions to the vaccine have also surfaced. There’s news on at-home testing kits and there’s a new coronavirus relief package that has been signed by the president.

In this episode of Coronavirus: The Truth, Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl discuss these events and answer listener questions.

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

[00:49] What was the biggest coronavirus news from this past week?

[04:13] Listener questions: “What does it mean that the virus has mutated?” and “Will the current vaccines work on these new mutations?”

[09:11] How many Americans must be vaccinated to reach herd immunity?

[12:03] Any truth to the accusation that Dr. Fauci downplayed the threats of the coronavirus to avoid inciting panic?

[14:33] Why has the pandemic divided, rather than united, our country? And what, if anything, could be done to keep politics out of future pandemic responses?

[17:50] Listener question: “I’m 48 and my parents just had their 80th birthdays. When will we be able to get vaccinated?”

[20:54] Are young and healthy people right to worry about vaccine scarcity in the U.S.?

[23:26] Listener question: Should we worry about reports of severe allergic reactions to the vaccine?

[25:41] What exactly is in the vaccines? Do the ingredients differ between the Pfizer, Moderna, and others?

[27:38] Is it difficult to keep the vaccines at extreme low temperatures, especially in more rural areas?

[30:20] Listener question: “Can my employer force me to be vaccinated as a condition of employment?”

[33:37] After someone is vaccinated, can he/she return to their pre-pandemic lifestyle?

[36:48] What’s the status of at-home testing for Covid-19? Coming soon?

[40:00] Why do pro and NCAA sports continue to stumble (with game cancellations in all major sports)?

[42:15] With many similarities to the “Spanish flu” of 1918, why haven’t Americans learned lessons from history?

[44:55] What should Americans know about the coronavirus stimulus bill signed by the president?

[48:14] The relief package includes a law against “surprise medical billing.” What is surprise medical billing and how will this legislation change the current practice?

[50:53] U.S. life expectancy grew in 2019, but what will the 2020 data show?

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 #28: Are coronavirus mutations in the UK cause for concern in the US? appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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.