Email of the day on COVID-19 as an endemic nuisance
Some interesting points made such as the unlikelihood of attaining herd immunity; the virus becoming endemic in society; no phase 3 China vaccine data published as of yet; and the acknowledgement that if we do have to live with this virus, then the treatments for Covid, once you have the pneumonia, are still not very good.
Thank for this educative podcast transcript which I’m sure will be of interest to the Collective. The simple fact is that 78% of people admitted to hospital for COVID were obese. That suggests the best advice for people is to live an active healthy lifestyle and to minimise sugar consumption. That’s a sound regimen regardless of what else is happening.
Additionally, vaccines are reasonably effective against variants for the most at-risk category of people. There are going to be arguments about the merits of vaccinations forever. There is always going to be a substantial minority that will rebel against any kind of vaccine. However, the reality is at-risk groups get an annual flu vaccine and they may now also be provided with an additional shot every year. The rest of the world will likely just get back to normal. Many people underestimate just how adaptable humans are to environmental challenges.
This article by Bill Gates may also be of interest.
The iShares Biotechnology ETF has been underperforming of late but continues to hold the region of the trend mean.