19. COVID-19 Children Facts and Jam Packed Catch-Up!

Returning to the podcast is Dr. Preeyam Patel (@ThePreesKnees) to mark one year since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic! Tune in for the latest scientific facts that have been heavily checked, being explained in ways that make sense. We also praise the amazing speed by which the US President was able to secure vaccines and have the US administer over 100M at the date of airing, pledging even more. And, a first for this show, we discuss CHILDREN getting COVID and what the statistics and reasons behind them are for the spread and condition of public health. - We reflect on one year since the start of the pandemic, and one year since Dr. Patel had COVID herself. - Eric has received dose 1 of Pfizer! - US distributes 100 M vaccines, 25% of all vaccines that have gone out worldwide. Joseph R. Biden and this presidential administration's reliance on Science is to thank. - What's up with the recent CDC recommendation for DOUBLE MASKING? (Fit and filter) - Vaccine hesitancy, are we seeing as much as we expected? - (33:15) non-political discussion begins - What is COVAX? - How effective are other countries' vaccines, Sputnik, Sinovac, etc? - (38:15) How Eric got the vaccine - (47:40) A Re-rundown of Covid Vaccines available in US and how they work. - JNJ vaccine efficacy. Is it right to want a more efficacious vaccine??? - Check out this new graph about JNJ's efficacy over time - What's cool about the new Novovax vaccine? - See this NY Times interactive vaccine diagram! - The Novovax vaccine uses something called an adjuvant, and a nanoparticle? Dr. Patel explains - AstraZeneca controversy, what happened with testing, what's going on with blood clots? - Dr. Patel discusses the heavy reality of burnout among healthcare workers and makes a grim prediction - People who've had COVID may only need one dose of vaccine - If your arm doesn't hurt after your shot, did the vaccine work and do you still have immunity? - Is the second dosage more painful? Why might that be? - Should you get it vaccinated in the same arm both times? - Why do some people develop rashes after their vaccinations, and is it cause for concern? - Don't freak out if you get an antibody test post vaccine and it says you don't have COVID antibodies - (1:47:09) COVID-19 in Children discussion begins - How does a child's immune system work? - How does a child's immune system compare to adults? - Debunked: False info stated that children simply can't get COVID-19. We discuss why children can spread the virus as much if not more than adults, but why their susceptibility to the virus seems lower, and what severe COVID looks like in kids. - Returning to former show topics with current updates, we talk about COVID Long-haulers and how vaccines have been helping them with their symptoms. - View this impressive graph of the Spike Protein arrow - Reinfection statistics, what we know now above those with natural and vaccine immunities. Our previous episodes with Dr. Patel were: 15. COVID-19, New Year, New Science Facts! 12. Election Takeaways and FUN with COVID Vaccine News! 8. Fun with COVID-19 Antibodies! As always, we have a Sources Cited Google Doc kept up to date.