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UK Study Seems to Suggest AstraZeneca Vaccine Prevents Serious Illness 94% of The Time

Could be relief for developing countries not concerned about the 2-shot regime of the vaccine.

If ever a vaccine was “rising from a torturous slumber”, AstraZeneca is it!

The scientists at Edinburgh University found that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine achieved a 94% efficacy, at preventing serious illness up to 4 weeks after the first dose. The British scientists, appear (even) to find that, the newly resurrected vaccine has a greater than 80% efficacy in people over 80. Pouring scorn on the finding by German scientists that the vaccine data demonstrated no studied effect in people over 65.

I should caution that:

a) The real-world study was based in Scotland, where about 91% of the population is white.

b) In the Caribbean, close to 90% of most populations are black.

c) Further, the UK and Caribbean health systems are different. Time will tell how the Oxford-AstraZeneca will do in paradise.

d) The Scottish study is a pre-print, meaning that it has not been peer-reviewed or published in a respectable scientific journal such as the
lancet.

e) The finding is based on a 1-month period of application.

Is it in the British interests, to find in favor of the Oxford-AstraZeneca, which “took fire” for alleged sloppy science? under-dosing at trial stages etc? The 438 year old Edinburgh University is a high-pedigree academic institution. I do not for one moment, believe that they would compromise their credibility, to “save” the Oxford-AstraZeneca scientists from them self.

Assuming the AstraZeneca vaccine to be as good as the Scottish university is reporting (94% effective at preventing serious illness in the first month
of application) I encourage everyone to take it.

Ultimately, the most efficient vaccine coming to market is the J&J option. A 1-shot vaccine with an 85% efficacy at preventing illness and death; Kept stable at normal refrigerator temperature; and at around 25% the cost of the Pfizer and Moderna 2-shot options. Until the Johnson & Johnson vaccine arrives at a clinic near you, I strongly recommend that you “grab” an AstraZeneca vaccine and prepare to get-on with your life. Unless, of course, you know how to get the most effective vaccine in the World today, the Sputnik (V).

Reference: “AstraZeneca vaccine reduced Covid-19 hospitalisation risk by 94%, Scotland study shows” https://www.deccanherald.com/science-and-environment/astrazeneca-vaccine-reduced-covid-19-hospitalisation-risk-by-94-scotland-study-shows-954141.html

Arvel Grant
Public Health and International Development Specialist.

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Belize Supreme Court Says Yes to Police Personnel Wearing Dreadlocks. And Female Police at That!

Finally?! Elements in the Caribbean judicial setup, have found the courage and human rights character, to admit as it were? “in open court” that black people have the right to wear dreadlocks and that that right is a legitimate form of self-expression.

Here in the Caribbean, we are coming from a place, where at least one country, was sufficiently backward and brutish in their perception of black people, to pass and enforce something called The Dread Act. A piece of legislation which gave the police the signal to hunt down and brutalize dreadlocks wearing humans, as though they were wild aliens from yonder planet.

And a lot of big strong black policemen would have joined the hunt; sometimes cutting off the dreadlocks of, their victims, with big scissors, blunt knives and old machetes.

Not unlike the choice of the: biggest and strongest black slaves, being selected to flog and brutalize other slaves into submission.
Not to belabor, the point, but we should recall that, it was the brutalization and ruthless persecution of black citizens of the Caribbean, who chose to wear a dreadlocks hairstyle, that led to the establishment of countless Rastafarian, jungle communes, in a desperate bid to assure their survival and defiant resistance.

It is a tribute to the independence and self-sustainability commitment of the Rastafari movement, that many of those settlements, are now respectable shrines and testimonials, to Rastafari resistance and self reliance.

Having said all of that, it warms my heart to see so many of our Caribbean brothers and sisters, embracing the dreadlocks hairstyle, and making it clear to an otherwise skeptical judiciary, that our culture is ours to behold and not theirs to humiliate and vilify.

Some wise old jurist, is reported to have observed, that the law is, at one and the same time, a plow and a peg. It is certainly time for more Caribbean jurists, to take their signals from more advanced centers of jurist prudence, and systematically plow up and dismantle the brutish judicial mindset which some may still maintain, against the dreadlocks hairstyle. Bless up to the members of the Belize Supreme Court. They are obviously “drinking” something good in their judicial juices.

Reference: “Supreme Court rules cops can wear dreadlocks as freedom of expression” https://guardian.bz/?p=27256

Walk good until next time.

Arvel Grant,
Political and Current Affairs Analyst.

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Johnson & Johnson’s One Shot Vaccine Now Headed for Emergency Use Authorization.

If this “baby” can fly, it’s mine!!!

If the developers claims, that the vaccine, prevents 85% of hospitalizations and death, is validated by independent scientific review panels, everybody, including all developing countries, should sit up and take note. After all, (the big dread by governments and National Health systems, is the worry, that Health Services could be overrun by high numbers of hospitalizations and death, caused by complications, triggered by the COVID-19 virus.

Acceptable levels of efficacy assumed, the Johnson & Johnson one shot vaccine offers an amazing series of advantages compared to its earlier competitors.

At a base price of US$10 per dose, this could retail at about the cost of the annual flu shot.

That means that the average person may very well be able to secure an annual vaccination against the classical covid-19 virus or it’s variants, if that becomes necessary.

The strong likelihood being, that each annual vaccination, would boost protection against the virus and it’s mutations. Protecting more and more members of beneficiary populations, while moving ever closer to the coveted state of heard immunity.

The vaccine can be safely stored at 36°F to 46°F for up to three (3) months.

Therefore, the average government health center, almost anywhere in the Caribbean, will be able to hold their weekly or monthly supply of the vaccines depending on demand and supply considerations.

Interestingly, it does not appear that the Johnson and Johnson study, reported any significant side effects among its study participants.

If, this claim is validated, it will be a big selling point to an already skeptical population set.

Perhaps, the single greatest advantage is the fact that, a country which has on order, 20,000 doses, can vaccinate 20,000 of its citizens and residents, instead of 10,000, as would be the case with earlier releases of covid vaccine.

I guess the big question is, will black and brown populations around the world, get anywhere near this vaccine within the foreseeable future.

Reference: “Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine is 66% effective in global trial, but 85% effective against severe disease, company says”
https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/29/health/johnson-coronavirus-vaccine-results/index.html

Arvel Grant
Public Health and International Development Specialist

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The Honorable Kamala Harris Madame Vice President of The United States

The ascendance of the Honorable Kamala Harris, to the Vice Presidency of the United States, represents a major advancement, in the direction of gender equity. The symbolism and the substance of her election to this high office, is perhaps, the single greatest achievement, in the march of our human civilization, to solidify claims and expectations, that women and men have equal potentials at the levels of: sociology, politics, governance, economics and wider societal norms and practices.

United States Vice President Kamala Harris

As Presidents, Barack Obama and his predecessors, could not cause “Manna” to fall on Caribbean economies. Neither can: President Joe Biden and Vice President Harris. However, I believe she represents a hell of a lot, to the potentials of women and girls, in respect of their ultimate aspirations, in politics and governance around the world.

Indeed, today the Honorable Kamala Harris is the second most powerful human alive, on planet Earth. It may very well be, that the election of the gentle lady, to the Vice Presidency of the United States, is signaling a very strong likelihood, that she will be elected the first female president of those United States of America, within the next 10 years.

I hope governments and opposition parties in the Caribbean civilization, are looking and learning.

Walk good until next time.

Arvel Grant,
Political and Current Affairs Analyst.

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Is This A Naked Case of Vaccine Racism?

If the Germans are correct that, the AstraZeneca vaccine, developed in the United kingdom, is not efficacious for people 65 years or older, PAHO and the Caribbean Public Health Agency, have urgent issues to be discussed with the World Health Organization.

Certainly, the section of the population most at risk (from the COVID-19 virus and it’s various mutations) are persons 65 years and older including people with comorbidities. If this vaccine is suspect for that age cohort, Caribbean governments should be extremely cautious about embracing its use. Death and morbidity have their highest prevalence among people in those age groups.

It is interesting, if not unseemly, to watch a community of mostly white people, engage in a food fight, about which of their countries should get the vaccines first and in what quantities. While billions of black and brown people around the world, are powerless to determine if and when their populations will be vaccinated.

Is this a naked case of vaccine racism? or just another attempt by the fittest of the fittest to survive at the expense of everyone else?

Reference: “AstraZeneca vaccine should not be given to people over 65, German health officials say” https:/www.cnn.com/2021/01/28/europe/germany-astrazeneca-vaccine-coronavirus-grm-intl/index.html

Arvel Grant
Public Health and International Development Specialist

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A SALUTE TO THE LATE GORDON “BUTCH” STEWART

The passing of the honorable Gordon Butch Stewart, Chairman of Sandals Resorts International, comes at a crucial time in the evolution of our Caribbean civilization.

Mr. Gordon “Butch” Stewart and his son, Adam Stewart

The honorable Mr. Stewart used his obvious entrepreneurial genius to create, a Jamaican hospitality brand (the Sandals chain) which became a caribbean-wide success, with almost unparalleled global recognition.

His passing comes at the time when the regions hospitality sector is taking a major beating on account of the ravages of the covid-19 virus.
The culture of entrepreneurial vision and corporate success, which Mr. Stewart leaves behind, will serve as a useful compass, for the resuscitation of the region’s hotel and related sectors, as the Caribbean civilization, learn to overcome the dominance of the current global pandemic.

We wish Adam Stewart, his management team and the wider Sandals family, continued success and much goodwill.

Arvel Grant,
Political and Current Affairs Analyst

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Second UK lockdown is very scary for small independent developing states!

As Britain and South Africa, struggle with the implications of an aggressively mutating covid-19 virus, UK lockdown for at least 6 weeks, to the middle of February, could spell even bigger trouble, for Caribbean tourism sectors; Some of which were starting to show signs of early recovery.

Economic pragmatism dictates that, Caribbean governments have really no choice, but to reopen their economies, while working with their populations to observe the strictest levels, of compliance with COVID safety protocols.

This “the second coming of the covid virus” demands competent calibration of the balance between: economic conservatism and fiscal liberalism. To that end, every effort must be made to halt the sustained decline of reserves at the level of the: individual, family, business and government. Unless sustained loss of reserve is achieved, the journey back from the proverbial bottom, will be: long, painful and frustrating; booby trapped with dangerous political minefields.

In the meantime, Caribbean governments must hope that the Johnson and Johnson vaccine (currently in stage 3 trials) has excellent efficacy. Clearly, a single dose option, for around US$10.00 (ten United States dollars) per dose, Johnson & Johnson, may hold the key to the region’s liberation from this marauding virus. From the look of things, mutations and all, it may be necessary to take an annual vaccination in order to sustain good levels of protection from the covid-19 virus and it’s various strains. In such a scenario, an affordable, single dose covid-19 vaccine is the best and most efficient option, assuming such a vaccine is: effective and safe.

Reference: Covid: New lockdowns for England and Scotland ahead of ‘hardest weeks’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55538937

Walk good until next time
Arvel Grant
Political and Current Affairs Analyst.

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Jamaica and the Caribbean for Kamala Harris

This is kind of cool.

Not only are top line artists from Jamaica contributing to this very special event, but artists from Barbados, Guyana, St Vincent and the rest of the region are part of the line-up, scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on January 17th.

Interestingly, Trina Parks (of James Bond fame) and Antigua-Barbuda and Barbados heritage, will be co-presenting the event.
Bless-up you self, One Caribbean TV and it’s partners.

Details of the story at the link provided here – Article: “Fab 5, Flourgon for Kamala concert” http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/fab-5-flourgon-for-kamala-concert_210803?profile=1606

Arvel Grant,
Political and Current Affairs analyst

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Should Any of This Money Be Coming to Antiguans and Barbudans?

Should this matter be of interest to the court appointed receiver?
Offered without comment.

WORLD: Swiss hand over remaining $150 million to U.S. from massive Allen Stanford Ponzi scheme: https://barbadostoday.bb/2020/12/28/world-swiss-hand-over-remaining-150-million-to-u-s-from-massive-allen-stanford-ponzi-scheme/

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If They Can Poison Russian Opposition Leader, Navalny, Through His Underwear…

If they can poison Russian Opposition Leader, Navalny, through his underwear, what about those of you much lower down the food chain?

Interestingly and correctly, we educate our populations that the best way to dry one’s underwear, is in the bright lights of the tropical sunshine, mindful of spring pollens and their possible deleterious effects.

From a public health standpoint, (in that environment) UV and UVB rays are our bestfriends. Just think of all those whites fluttering in our sometimes boundless tropical midday sun.?

Sunshine or not, the next time you find your: automobile, home or office burglarized, and ransacked think long and hard about why that may have happened.

Thinking of poisoning through the underwear; back then, some may have believed that the hapless Hugo Chavez, was taken out with military-grade poisons placed in his chair. Resulting, in possible development of a terminal, (golf ball sized) cancerous tumor in his lower extremities.

Some who serve in sensitive positions, enjoyed the habit of traveling around with their official speaking lectern; while arriving just in time to speak and leaving just after doing their part.

For those battling organized crime and corrupt politicians, it gets even more interesting when one contemplates possible relationships between: organized crime; rogue intelligence agents and or rogue states.

Article: Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny was poisoned through his underpants

Walk good until next time.
Arvel Grant
Public Health and International Development Specialist