Felipe writes:
Hello Twiv,
I have been following your post for the past couple of years. I find the work that you all do breaking all the misinformation is essential for building a stronger future.
In regions where uncertainty and misinformation are rising, public trust in vaccines is being undermined—often perceived as a lack of transparency from manufacturers and regulatory agencies.
While I understand the interest in using placebo-controlled trials to demonstrate efficacy, this approach may not effectively address the root concerns of vaccine-hesitant individuals. Their hesitation often stems not from doubts about effectiveness, but from fears of vaccine-induced adverse effects—particularly long-term or rare conditions that they feel lack adequate acknowledgment or redress.
The core of the issue is the perceived lack of accountability. Because pharmaceutical companies and government agencies are protected from liability in most cases, people feel they have no recourse if they suffer side effects. This distrust is amplified by the emergence of long COVID and other post-viral syndromes that some believe are underreported or misunderstood.
To rebuild trust, transparency around side effect data and open acknowledgment of rare but possible outcomes are essential. A placebo study may demonstrate efficacy, but it won’t address deeper concerns about safety and accountability. A more meaningful approach might include improved communication of risk data, greater public access to adverse event tracking, and policies that show commitment to patient safety and support.
I think you’ll find the following context relevant: Medical knowledge is now doubling every 18 years, while fields like nanotech double every 2. Meanwhile, drug R&D efficiency in the U.S. halves every 9 years—a trend known as Eroom’s Law (the reverse of Moore’s Law). If unchanged, by 2043, developing a single drug could cost $16 billion. This economic pressure risks narrowing innovation to only the most profitable drugs, not the most needed ones.
Regards
Felipe
Jason writes:
Hi Vincent, et al.,
I cannot tell you how grateful I am for your podcast. I am just a simple layperson living out here in our crazy society. You guided me through the pandemic and allowed me to see truth from fiction. You continue to do so.
Once during the podcast one of your scientist guests mentioned they listened to The Atlantic. I’m always trying to find the most trustworthy sources of information. I figure if it’s good enough for the scientists then it’s good enough for me. So I bought a membership to The Atlantic. I’ve been very pleased. Obviously no source will be 100% truthful even if they give a good faith effort. But there is a continuum of sources of truth as measured by their good faith, rigorous process, self checking, looking at various sides, etc. I am so happy your guest mentioned The Atlantic.
In this age of disinformation I would love it if you and your guests could much more frequently mention the sources of truth you go to- in nonvirology domains. I feel like this would be better than knowing the weather and definitely more practical and impactful. Of course all expertise is domain specific so your sources in non-virology arenas could be utterly off base but I’m willing to bet that my life and the lives of your listeners would be better off if we heard which news sources and non-virology podcasts you all listen to.
I am a CPA and I am well aware of the plethora of bad advice and self-serving advice out there in regards to financial services. I’m just so tired of all the lies and falsehoods and advice that isn’t fully in the interests of the listeners. Look at what it’s doing to our society!!
Ok, well thank you again for all that you do. Obviously feel free to ignore my request and do as you see fit.
Warm regards,
Jason
Patrick writes:
Dear TWIV,
You indicated the Integrated Research Facility (IRF) located at Fort Detrick is shut down over security concerns. It is important to point out that this is not the same facility as USAMRIID, where you conducted interviews with virologists (John Dye) recently. The IRF is run by the NIH while USAMRIID is run by the Army. The shutdown will not likely pose any serious threat to our biosecurity or threat agent repositories as you lamented. The NIH also has the Hamilton facility in Montana as well as the Needle in Boston. In addition, facilities at UTMB and San Antonio are still up and running. We are not left without capability as a nation. While Jens Kuhn worked at IRF, he will always find a place to be productive as his skill transcends the boundaries of the IRF.
Sincerely,
Patrick Iiversen, Ph.D.
previously civilian Division Chief at USAMRIID
Isla writes:
Hi,
I am a Molecular Biology undergraduate student at the university of Sheffield in the UK and I try to listen to TWIV (and TWIM!) as much as I can. I found Sunday’s episode incredibly eye opening and I just wanted to say – please do not stop talking politics. As someone not in the US, we hear headlines, but not how they are affecting science and scientists as individuals. I think the UK and many european countries are heading in similar political directions as the US and so it is always good to be informed.
In any case, I think it is great to have recordings of what is happening and at what time as you never know what will be erased or hidden.
So, please don’t apologise for bringing politics up, I really enjoyed hearing it in context, and the rest of the world is on your side!
Thank you,
Isla
Edward writes:
Dear TWIV team,
May I offer my heartfelt condolences to all colleagues and associates on the departure of your friend Dickson.
Were the wider world as erudite as he, what a wonderful planet this could be.
Warmest regards,
Edward
Somerset, UK.
Bob writes:
Dear TWiV
Early in this episode you mentioned that one could be tested for the entire range of infectious agents causing respiratory infections by using Biofire Film Array Respiratory Panel. This is true. NAAT are wonderful things.
However, one cannot go into their Primary Care and get them to order this testing on you on demand. Your insurance will not pay for it in the outpatient setting. That test runs probably about $700-800 a pop.
I’m a retired (05/22) Medical Technologist w/ a Specialist Registration in Microbiology (through ASCP). We ran that platform at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan, a ~425-bed metropolitan facility with a Level I Trauma Center. We used it on the critically ill that were going to be admitted to help determine treatment/isolation.
Thanks,
Love both TwiV and TWiM.
Robert J. English MT (ASCP), SM
Kalamazoo, MI
David writes:
Hi,
We now have an array of specific anti viral drugs. They all work best went given early, during the phase of active viral replication. Multi pathogen diagnostic panels make sense and would allow us to give the correct drug as early as problem. The big impediment to making multi pathogen panels widely and rapidly available are antiquated reimbursement policies. Insurance companies won’t approve reimbursement for a multi viral panel unless a single pathogen test has already been run and was negative. By the time you go to clinic, run a flu or COVID test, get the result back, schedule a second visit, and return to the clinic for the multi pathogen panel, wait for the multi pathogen panel to read out, have the appropriate prescription sent to a pharmacy, and go to the pharmacy to pick up the drug, the efficacy of the drug will be greatly reduced by the long delay.
Multi pathogen diagnostic panels were once regarded as “fishing trips” and in the era of “incidentalomas” and “less is more” medicine, their use was discouraged. Time to update guidelines to recognize that speed to delivering appropriate therapy is critical, and patients can be infected with multiple pathogens (Hickam’s Dictum).
Best,
David
P.S. On the Gates Foundation, there is a tax rule that nonprofits must payout at least 5% of the net worth each year. This is to prevent an organization from forever accepting gifts and never spending the money. If Gates, or another foundation, makes more than 5% return on investment it could be perpetual, but they do need to keep spending. https://www.ncfp.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/The-Five-Percent-Minimum-Payout-Requirement-COF-2000-the-five-percent-minimum-payout-requirement.pdf
David J States, MD PhD FACMI
Chief Medical and Science Officer
Angstrom Bio, Inc.
Austin TX 78759
Anthony writes:
It was the first Trump administration that lifted the Obama pause on gain of function research funding, not Biden.
The Science center of gravity was Germany. The Nazis changed that.
Karen writes:
Hi- I’ve been listening to TWIV, and especially to the Clinical Updates, since early 2020. I have learned so much that I regularly share with others. Thanks so much for continuing to provide these podcasts.
I want to share a couple of items related to science misinformation and to the NSF funding cuts.
Our daughter, Molly Edwards, PhD (plant biologist, science communicator and educational media producer— https://mollyedwards.me/ and https://www.youtube.com/scienceIRL) has been creating social media posts on the NSF funding cuts. Here are two examples
instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJKCfPexBKY/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Bluesky
Also, I don’t know if you have heard about the Cornell University advocacy project developed by undergrads in the Cornell Science and Policy Club: The McClintock Letters ( ttps://blogs.cornell.edu/asap/events-initiatives/the-mcclintock-letters/ ) . This project is supporting and training scientists to write letters to the editor in local papers, featuring the importance of federal funding for scientific research, etc— the letters are to be published on Barbara McClintock’s birthday, June 16. As you know, she won the Nobel prize for genetics research . Leave it to the undergrads to come up with something this creative and innovative. Kudos to them.
Thank you for all you do and thanks for your emphasis on science misinformation and science communication. As a retired pediatrician/public health professional I am incredulous about the misinformation that the administration is sharing concerning vaccines and health and I’m so angry about the funding cuts that will affect the health and well-being of children and their families. It’s shameful. The damage will take so long to repair, if it is repariable.
Thank you again
Karen E, MD, MPH
John writes:
Vincent, Daniel,
Asking for full testing of the new NovaVax formulation is like asking for complete crash-testing of a new car model that differs from last year’s by a different set of hubcaps.
Also, re. fluoridation & close to home for you both + Brianne, I saw a few months ago that only something like 16% of counties in Jersey fluoridate their water. Astonishing! https://www.americashealthrankings.org/explore/measures/water_fluoridation
Overall, PA is doesn’t score that well, but checking elsewhere, I see that here in Allegheny Co PA, 93% of water is fluoridated. Also noted, MN is among the highest, compatible with how I generally viewed the state before you brought the mRNA bill to my attention. And ermagerd! KY is even higher! Does that mean that Kentucky Whiskey is most likely fluoridated??
Otherwise, Greater Braddock is experiencing lovely spring weather. Full sun and hitting 74. Hope your results are the same.
Best wishes,
John
Rona writes:
Dear Vincent, during the latest QandA, I enjoyed your lapsing into French. When you were talking about Italian being the most beautiful language, I remembered that I wanted to share with you a film. I saw in connection with holocaust remembrance Day in April.
My friend, Vincent Marmorale, president of Italy and The Holocaust Foundation , made this film called My Italian secret: the forgotten heroes.
Did you know that many Italians helped save approximately 80 % of the Jews in Italy during the holocaust?
In the film, we are introduced to Dr. Giovanni Borromeo, the director of a hospital in Rome at the time of the holocaust. He invented a disease called “K” to deceive the Germans and save Jews. He hid the Jews in this “hospital” and told the Germans that entering could lead to contagion to this deadly incurable disease. Thus the Germans decided not to enter the hospital.
This is why I am picking Vincent Marmorale’s film, My Italian secret: the forgotten heroes and his charity, “Italy and the holocaust foundation, Inc”. as my picks of the week.
Thanks
Rona
