Karen writes:

Dear Daniel,

Thanks so much for all you do for public health!

I listened to TWiV 1202 and saw the chart.  I was born in 1963.  I had two shots of the old, inactivated virus in the mid-1960s.  Then, in 1977 (because of a measles outbreak in Los Angeles, which caused California public schools to require vaccination, which was then offered by the public health department for free, a triumph of public health), I had a shot of the live virus.  

What do you make of this combination of inactivated and live virus vaccination?  Do I need another dose of the live virus vaccine?

Sincerely and thanks again,

Karen

Susan writes:

Dear Daniel,

Long time fan, thank you for all you and Vincent do!

In TWiV 1202 you mentioned that we have yet to see a transmission from a backyard flock to a human.

I believe that is incorrect.  The human H5N1 (D clade) case in Louisiana that died had a backyard flock.

See this release from the Louisiana Dept. of Health  from January this year.

https://ldh.la.gov/news/H5N1-death

“The patient contracted H5N1 after exposure to a combination of a non-commercial backyard flock and wild birds.”

Also from the CDC from December 2024

https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/m1218-h5n1-flu.html

“…it has been determined that the patient had exposure to sick and dead birds in backyard flocks. This is the first case of H5N1 bird flu in the U.S. that has been linked to exposure to a backyard flock.”

I think the letter writer has a good point.  If we don’t look for it we won’t find it.

Thanks!

Susan

Charmaine writes:

 Hi.  In the Fall of 2023, at the age of 70, I received an RSV vaccine at a local drug store no questions asked.  This past Fall I went to get another one (probably unnecessary) and was told that I was not eligible because I was not 75.  I recall your saying that the studies showed that the vaccine is probably good for 2 years, but the CDC recommends receiving only one for life.  This coming Fall I will be 72 and it will have been 2 years since my previous shot.  What do YOU currently recommend as to whether or not we should get one every 2 years (and, if so, should I say I have a pre-existing condition in order to get the damn thing)? 

Evan writes:

I wrote to you several years ago about cognitive decline after acute cases of Covid and asked whether that decline, now documented in long covid patients, is additive. I don’t believe you ever addressed this issue on TWIV (slightly reduced IQ, cognitive decline issues, etc.). I read about the quantitative measured of those declines but have not seen studies or data about whether those declines are additive with repeated bouts of Covid. Does that data exist or are there ongoing assessments of this? Thank you.

Evan

Michael writes:

Hi Daniel,

I was born in the early 80s. According to my records, I’ve had MMR vaccine as a child and then in my teens. 

I had serology done for Measels and Rubella a few years ago.  Rubella came back showing serology. Measels came back as equivocal.

Does this mean I should get another MMR?

Thanks

Michael