Cyclosporin A is an immunosuppressant given to prevent organ rejection after transplant surgery. The drug works by lowering the immune response in the patient. Without the drug, or incorrect dosing, a transplant patient will likely die in the days and weeks following surgery.
University of Colorado Health announced on Tuesday, October 5 they will not perform any organ transplants on unvaccinated individuals, no matter how the dire the situation may be. Translated: an unvaccinated patient can be near death, and an organ transplant being the only means to save that person, will be denied the operation. The governor, who is an idiot also, is backing the decision, saying “it is following the science and best medical advice.”
Since science was brought up, let’s talk science. The kind reported in scientific journals, and reported again in open source media.
A May 5 study published in JAMA found that 46% of 658 transplant patients did not mount an antibody response after two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines.
‘Although this study demonstrates an improvement in . . . antibody responses in transplant recipients after dose two . . . these data suggest that a substantial proportion of transplant recipients likely remain at risk for covid-19 after 2 doses of mRNA vaccine,’ the researchers wrote. They think this lack of reaction is probably a result of the immunosuppressive drugs they take.
May 2021
Emerging research shows that 15 to 80% of those with certain conditions, such as specific blood cancers or who have had organ transplants, are generating few antibodies.
May 2021
Patients with a condition known as chronic lymphocytic leukemia had a very weak response even if they were not undergoing treatment. The condition, which affects the blood and bone marrow, can sometimes be asymptomatic.
May 2021
The COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer Inc and German partner BioNTech SE induces weaker immune responses in elderly people compared to younger and middle-aged adults, new data suggest. Researchers studied 91 vaccine recipients under the age of 60 and 85 recipients over age 80. Seventeen days after the second of two doses, nearly one-third (31%) of the elderly recipients did not have any antibodies capable of neutralizing the virus. This was true for only 2% of the younger group, the researchers reported on Friday on medRxiv ahead of peer review. Even among those under age 60, only 16% had neutralizing antibodies after the first dose, the researchers found.
March 2021
Those patients who have received stem cell replacement also generate fewer antibodies. The same applies to those being treated for rheumatoid arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic psoriasis, chronic eczema, and other diseases treated by use of a biologic. (A biologic is a class of drugs which modifies the immune response, often reducing the response. The COVID vaccines fall into this category, by placing the immune response in a “standby” mode. When the immune system detects the presence of COVID, it responds accordingly.)
Further, the numbers cited by public health officials and infectious disease specialists, often repeated in media interviews, lack statistical value. Both the CDC and NIH chose not to collect categories of data. When they did, the sampling size was insignificant. For example …
According to the analysis, unvaccinated individuals were 44 times more likely to develop symptomatic COVID-19 and 29 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than those who had received the vaccine.
March 2021
The comparative data to support these conclusions were not collected from both unvaccinated and vaccinated groups who presented with COVID symptoms. How many were hospitalized, how many had died, what was the course of treatment. These conclusions are often cited to encourage vaccination as the highly virulent delta variant became more prevalent. The other problem with these conclusions, they were asserted before the delta variant emerged.
However, let’s get more personal. More than a year later, it has not been determined why Tasha passed away from COVID when her symptoms were slight. More than two months later, it has not been determined why Tess passed away from COVID despite begin fully vaccinated and tested regularly, every 2-3 days. It is nearly six months since I experienced a severe adverse reaction, and it has not been determined why. Tasha and Tess deserve better. Saying “it’s too bad” is not an answer.
Denying an individual an organ transplant based on vaccination status is not science. It is a breach of ethics and morality. The decision made by UCHealth management is contrary to what is taught on Day One of medical ethics, to first year medical students, the god complex. Make an exception here, it makes it easier to allow an exception elsewhere.
More to the point, Andrea in her remarks, when a new group of students were formally accepted into the School of Medicine, three years ago, said it is important to remember why they have chosen the medical profession. “It is to heal. First, last, always. Don’t have the solution, find it. Have the solution, share it. It defines who we are in the profession.”
What was true in March is still true today. To refresh your memories, please read here.
