Dear Friends,
IMCRA's nearly two year battle against COVID-related ignorance and disinformation was rewarded late in 2021 when our organization was approved as a consultative partner with the United Nations. Officially, this means we are now classed as having "Special Consultative Status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)". We are honored and humbled by this as we were one of only two NGOs selected for this partnership in a special session during the COVID year 2021.
On a practical level, what this means is that the International Medical Crisis Response Alliance will now be privileged to provide, on a global stage:
In addition, we now have the the opportunity to attend international conferences and events which provide a forum for critical written and oral statements.
As you can see in our editoria (attached below), citizens of the United States, in particular are drowning in a maelstrom of politically motivated anti-science propaganda which is unlike anything seen in the modern world since the days of Fascism. Now, more than ever, IMCRA must redouble its efforts to pierce the darkness with scientific truth. This is the only way to prevent the pandemic from raging even further out of control as new mutant viruses come into being and are spread by those deluded by anti-mask, anti-vax disinformation.
We humbly ask your generous financial help in this all-important educational work. Our mission continues to be to use all forms of mass media including our-direct-to-social-media video modules to provide accurate and easily understood guidance and recomendations. Our goal is contributing to nothing less than the preservation of global life, civilization and happiness.
With our sincere thanks,
Thomas G. Hedberg, MSc, PhD
Executive Director, International Medical Crisis Response Alliance
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IMCRA is faced with a difficult task, but executing this task it is literally a matter of life and death.
Across the United States we have been watching as the daily infection rate has steadily increased from a post vaccination low of 4000 nationwide on June 20th to a new high of 150,000 cases on August 4th; and this is the number of new cases reported each day.
This spring, we stopped production of a series of instructional modules on COVID because the end of the pandemic in the US seemed reasonably assured. People were getting vaccinated by the millions and most appeared to understand the need and importance of facial coverings and tactile precautions. Cases had dropped nationwide and the outlook was positive.
So what happened? Are the vaccines not working? Has something new been added to the pandemic pot?
The explanation is a bit more complicated. Thanks to President Biden’s aggressive policies, nearly half the country is now fully vaccinated. On the other hand, approximately 50% are NOT fully vaccinated and this poses a serious problem. In light of the rise of the delta variant and the reduced effectiveness of Sinovac and partial vaccinations it needs to be understood that even fully vaccinated people can still transmit the virus.
This is one of the most serious issues to grasp. Vaccinated people can contract and harbor the virus, but while any illness they experience is likely to be mild, they can still be highly effective agents of viral transmission via close personal contacts, handshaking and many of the other familiar behaviors vaccinated people have erroneously assumed can be resumed as in the pre COVID-19 world. Further, weariness with COVID-related restrictions as well as feelings of immunity and the too-quick reopening of many group venues has led to the disappearance of necessary cautionary measures and in fact, the resumption of deadly super-spreader events.
Since nearly all Covid-19 hospitalizations and deaths reported during July 2021 were of unvaccinated people the rise of the more easily-transmitted and potentially more deadly delta variant has increased the danger substantially. Further, there is the issue of travel by incompletely-vaccinated or Sinovac-inoculated people. Both groups have a notably higher risk of both contracting active disease and transmitting infectious virions to others. Most alarming is the thus increased risk of the evolution of vaccine-resistant COVID strains and the subsequent infection of other species beside ourselves
That brings in one of the most difficult and frustrating questions concerning the entire pandemic experience. Given everything that dedicated scientists, clinicians and medical researchers have learned about COVID-19 and its control during the past 20 months why is anyone with access to effective vaccination not fully vaccinated? Unfortunately, the answer to this question involves politics. In the current epidemic of internet-driven ignorance politics has overwhelmingly taken the driver’s seat.
And this is where we have directed our latest intense efforts. Though a series of popular print articles and online video modules IMCRA has been sending out the message that the pandemic is far from over, that effective vaccination is an absolute requirement, that there is no danger associatted with vaccination, and that the same precautions taken pre-vaccine should remain in place now.
We cannot afford a "fourth wave" of infections, already promising to be the 2nd highest in history. We need to increase our efforts to stem the tide of global imedical ignorance. Please help us in this quest. Every donation, regardless of how small, will contibute to another YouTube video, another newspaper article and another life saved.
Please help us in this absolutely essential quest.
Sincerely,
Ana
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Dear Friends,
Although providing medical information to an American public deluded by politics and political demagogues has been a difficult task, IMCRA has forged ahead with a program of 10 short instructional videos mounted on the Youube platform reviewing all known techniques and practices for avoiding infections with the SARS-COVID virus.
To date, over 3000 interactions with the site have been recorded with total views somewhat in excess of that. Although our outreach activities have been limited by enforced quarantine, we have gathered the best and latest information from CDC and Johns Hopkins into a series of condensed presentations which simply and persuasively inform viewers how simple it actually is to avoid infection.
Most recently we have conducted interviews with COVID victims and their caretakers (see example here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5wCWQtcVQk) which we hope will dramatize the potentially deadly affects of infection in even strong, young people.
In a media environment filled with untruths, misrepresentations and accusations orf "fake news" from the very entities responsible for these untruths, it is critical that a non-affiliated and widely-viewed platform like YouTube be used to squash rumors and disseminate medical realities.
COVID cases are expected to soar in December in the USA despite all infromational efforts. Hence we will redouble our efforts. In our next series of presentations we plan to discuss the realities of vaccine development and availabilities on the US and international markets.
Please help us by supporting these efforts which, even if only a few thousand are reached, can save those few thousand lives.
Thank you, best wishes, and stay healthy!
Dr. Thomas G. Hedberg
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Dear Concerned Partners in Global Health,
In an effort to rapidly mobilize our resources and impact toward containing the COVID-19 pandemic IMCRA has completed its first informational video. The text of the video is given below. We are currently aiming to get this first in a series post this week while simultaneously having it translated into multiple languages and delivered by medical professionals fluent in these languages. The spoken narration is backed up by charts animations and images as shown below. Please help us out with a donation to help advance this critically important work. Ultimately all our lives may depend on controlling global pandemics of this nature.
Hello. I am Dr. XXXXX with XXXXX and this video module has been developed and produced by the International Medical Crisis Response Alliance (or IMCRA) for your information and use during the Coronavirus pandemic. Its primary purpose is to provide you with basic but accurate medical information derived from the most recent U.S. Center for Disease Control analyses and the latest epidemiologic and virologic research. Its secondary purpose is to help you sift through the barrage of data already online and disregard bogus or inaccurate information. Please feel free to direct anyone toward this website and this video module at any time. In fact, we encourage you to do so.
The coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic is upon us worldwide and needs to be halted as rapidly and effectively as possible. An epidemic spreads easily when people are unaware of its symptoms, its mode of transmission and its symptoms. Worse, when ineffective measures are used to combat a disease its spread is assured. While at present this disease is fatal in only a small percentage of cases, COVID-19 presents a very definite danger because of two factors: a) The ease with which it can be spread, b) The danger that it will mutate into a form that is more virulent and deadly. Both of these dangers are tied to the infection of large numbers of people worldwide and can be diminished by limiting the number of total infections. Because the disease can be asymptomatic in some persons there is also the danger that it can be unknowingly spread by people who otherwise appear to be completely healthy. Accordingly, control may require the ending of certain practices (for example, shaking hands in greeting) which, while contrary to social norms, are important to disease containment.
First we start with some basic information about the virus itself. Coronavirus has been around for a long time. Both SARS, (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome - first reported in 2003), and MERS (Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome - first reported in 2012) were coronaviruses. The disease called COVID-19 is caused by the coronavirus properly called SARS-CoV-2. This is a novel form of beta-coronavirus which appeared in Wuhan city in early December 2019 and may have originated from an animal source, probably bats, in an exotic foods market. It has now been diagnosed in nearly 100 locations worldwide including the United States. The U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) notes that at present, COVID-19 is transmitted through skin contact and through airborne aerosol sources. Since there is NO cure for the disease nor any way to kill the virus once it has invaded the body, (other than the natural immune system) the best approach is prevention and containment. Since preventative measures involve relatively simple techniques we will delineate them here in detail, first for the cutaneous, or skin-related route of transmission and then for airborne transmission:
1) Wash hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 sec, or rub hands together using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (best is ~60% ETOH). Do this as frequently as possible and particularly after touching any surface that may have been touched by others within the last 48 hours. Examples are door handles, public touchscreens, stair railings, elevator buttons, common-use tables, coffee pots or other implements that may have been handled by an infected person. Use a tissue your sleeve or a glove to cover your hand or finger if you must touch something and avoid touching your face, nose, or eyes thereafter.
2) When at home, clean and disinfect frequently-touched surfaces such as tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, toilets, faucets, sinks & cell phones. Also be sure to have all medicines and medical supplies needed for fever and other symptoms. Have enough household items and groceries for an extended stay at home and a self-quarantine if this is needed.
3) In social or business interactions remember to avoid shaking hands with others and to keep approximately 5 feet away from anyone who may be ill. When in public, attempt to avoid crowds, especially in poorly-ventilated spaces. The risk of exposure to COVID-19 is increased in crowded settings with little air circulation if there are people in the crowd who are sick. Wearing a face-mask properly, and covering nose and mouth securely is recommended. If COVID-19 is identified in your community, take extra measures to put distance between yourself and other people.
4) Overall, stay home as much as possible and if appropriate, consider ways of getting food brought to your house through family, social, or commercial networks. When at home or work, be aware of potential COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath. If you feel you are developing symptoms, get medical attention immediately. Emergency warning signs include:
The incubation period for COVID-19 is estimated at 2-14 days. Frequently reported signs and symptoms in patients admitted to hospital include fever in 77 to 98%, cough (46%–82%), myalgia or fatigue (11–52%), and shortness of breath (3-31%) at illness onset. Less commonly reported respiratory symptoms include sore throat, headache, cough with sputum production and/or hemoptysis.
Finally, there are some physiologic preventative measures you can take to avoid getting very sick even if exposed to the virus. While these provide no guarantee since this current virus is novel, these measures may help you fend off serious illness.
1) If you are planning a vacation in a warm location because you’ve heard heat kills the virus, you may as well stay at home. While warmer temperatures, different humidity and fewer indoor crowds may limit transmission, there is currently no evidence that heat will prevent the illness and more chance that the travel itself will cause you to come into contact with the virus. If you can stay at home and still get the natural sunlight looked for on vacation, you will receive the same benefits, for example a vitamin D boost and an improved immune response.
2) Overall the best technique is to keep your immune system strong. Get plenty of sleep, get Vitamin C from citrus and other sources, drink plenty of water for hydration, continue to exercise and make sure you’re getting vitamins and minerals through a healthy diet.
3) It may also be wise to get a flu shot if you haven’t already, as it’ll prevent you from getting influenza and potential complications if exposed to COVID-19
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