Long Covid And Coeliac Disease
I recently heard an interview with Adrian Chiles on Radio 5 about the so-called long covid
I am 73 and the more I read about Long Covid, the more I think I had something similar around 1958, when I had just started Minchenden Grammar School, where I missed most of the Spring Term. This was at the time of the 1957-8 flu pandemic., which killed between one and four million people worldwide.
This article on New Decoder is a personal memory of that pandemic, from an experienced journalist called Harvey Morris.
Last night, I was listening to another program about kids with long covid and they seemed to be describing how I felt all those years ago.
One of those two programs, also said that one doctor tested patients for coeliac disease.
In 1997, at the age of fifty, I was diagnosed as a coeliac and have been gluten-free ever since. From friends and acquaintances, who are also coeliac on a long-term gluten-free diet, it appears that none of us have had a serious dose of the covids, including one who works in an office with several cases of Covid-19.
This observation has been backed-up by peer-reviewed research at the University of Padua, who followed a group of coeliacs on a long-term gluten-free diet through the first wave of the pandemic. None caught the virus.
It should also be noted that Joe West at the University of Nottingham, has shown that coeliacs on a long-term gluten-free diet are 25 % less likely to get cancer, so do we have a strong immune system, that gives us this protection against against both cancer and the covids.
Coeliac disease has been called the many-headed hydra by some doctors, so could it be an alligator in the swamp of Covid-19?
Research needs to be done!
But could it be that in 1958, my less than perfect immune system, because I was not diagnosed as a coeliac and was not on a gluten-free diet, had difficulty overcoming the flu at the time?
Oxford Vaccine Team Use Same Tech To Revolutionise Cancer Treatment
The title of this post, is the same as that as an article on The Times.
I’m no medic, but I know enough about cancer, vaccines and the human immune system, to know that the team that developed the Oxford vaccine, could be on to something here. Especially, as they have got backing from Google’s venture capital arm.
Europe Blocks 250,000 AstraZeneca Vaccine Doses Bound For Australia
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Australian newspaper The Age.
This is the introductory paragraph.
Officials in Europe have blocked the shipment of 250,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Australia in a ploy set to trigger a major diplomatic dispute.
It is a surprisingly calm article.
Although it does say this.
More than 150 international deliveries were authorised without a hitch over recent weeks, but Italy has now opposed the delivery to Australia. Rome’s objection was endorsed by the European Commission.
It looks to me that Australia has been singled out. Could it be because to EU officials, it is seen as a British colony?
Or is it because the EU believes that the French-born CEO of AstraZeneca; Pascal Soriot, is a traitor for taking up Australian citizenship?
Aussie comedians will have a field day.
I also suspect, that when Australia starts delivering its own locally-made AstraZeneca vaccine towards the end of the month, some will be exported to the EU to solve their self-inflicted vaccine shortage.
Some Bad Vaccine News From Italy
This reassuring article in The Times with a reassuring title of Single Covid Vaccine Reduces Risk Of Going To Hospital By 90%.
But it does contain one piece of bad news.
An Italian study has suggested that the Pfizer vaccine is less effective in overweight people.
A Thought On Low Vaccination Rates In London
Could London’s bad performance be down to difficult parking provision at vaccination centres?
There was no parking, where I went to the Francis Crick institute for my vaccination.
But I went by bus and train using my Freedom Pass. So it cost me nothing!
According to my contacts at Transport for London, there are still a lot of elderly and eligible Londoners, who don’t have Freedom Passes.
I’d love to see a graphic showing Freedom Passes against vaccination in the over 65’s in London!
There are probably other related questions to answer.
- How many no-shows at vaccination centres are down to parking problems?
- How many of the non-vaccinated couldn’t find a centre close by, that they could drive to?
- How many of the non-vaccinated object to spending money to get to the vaccination centre?
And many more! I hope a university is doing the research!
A Slight Problem With Covid-19 Vaccination
I had my first AZ vaccine five weeks ago. I have had a slight allergic reaction around the injection spot, as I did with a pneumococcal injection a few months ago.
I am coeliac on a long term gluten-free diet, which means my immune system is probably very strong. Peer-reviewed research at Nottingham University has shown that coeliacs on this diet, do have a 25 % less chance of getting cancer.
I’m no medic, but do sponsor cancer research, and like many I suspect, I am very familiar with how the AZ vaccine uses viral-vector techniques. I suspect my immune system could be reacting to the carrier.
I suspect, we’ll see a few problems like this and some other more serious problems, but I’m fairly sure they can be solved. I might be better with an mRNA vaccine.
Luton DART Fly Through
This video does what it says in the title.
It certainly looks like the DART will greatly improve the experience of getting to Luton Airport.
Covid-19: World’s First Human Trials Given Green Light In UK
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This is the first two paragraphs.
Healthy, young volunteers will be infected with coronavirus to test vaccines and treatments in the world’s first Covid-19 “human challenge” study, which will take place in the UK.
The study, which has received ethics approval, will start in the next few weeks and recruit 90 people aged 18-30.
I am 73, but I wish I was in the age range.
I am coeliac and on a long-term gluten-free diet.
For purely selfish reasons, I have been investigating how people like me are faring in the pandemic.
Circumstantial evidence from WHO and government data, personal experiences and a peer-reviewed paper from the University of Padua in Italy certainly indicate, that we don’t suffer worse than the average. But we might be doing much better!
I would certainly like to find out the truth. So if I were younger, I would certainly sign up.
But it would surely be interesting if a handful of the volunteers were coeliacs on a long-term gluten-free diet.
Could We Set Up Covid-19 Vaccine Tourism?
Consider.
- We are a country, which lots of people want to visit for business and/or tourism.
- We have got lots of Covid-19 vaccine.
- It appears that the one-shot Janssen vaccine will come on stream soon from the factory on Teesside.
- We have accurate methods of detecting, if people have the virus.
I also think that in a few weeks time, it might be possible to check, that an incoming tourist from many countries, is totally free of the virus.
So could we operate a system, where incoming passengers from safe countries, go through a procedure similar to this?
- They are tested for Covid-19 before departure and aren’t allowed to fly after a positive test. This is the current procedure.
- On arrival in the UK, they go to a hotel for a night.
- On arrival at the hotel, they are tested for Covid-19.
- If the test is positive, they go straight back in the morning.
- They are then vaccinated with the Janssen vaccine.
After appropriate checks, they are allowed to leave in the morning.
- Those just coming for the vaccination could go straight back from where they came from.
- Those coming for business or tourism, would follow the normal procedure.
I’m certain, that a procedure could be developed, that would be approved by the UK Government.
It would be ideal for a low-cost airline, who could set it up with a local hotel.
Travelling From Countries On The Banned List
Those entering from countries On The banned list would out of courtesy be offered a free vaccine.
Will We Be Able To Open Up In The UK At The End Of April?
This page on Statista is entitled Population Of The United Kingdom In 2019, By Age Group.
Adding their numbers into groups gives.
- Over 70 – 9 million
- 50-69 – 16.2 million
- 30-49 – 17.3 million
- 20-29 – 8.7 million
- Under 20 – 15.6 million
This adds up to a total of 66.8 million.
Consider.
- Over the last three days, over half a million first doses of the vaccines have been given.
- In the first thirteen days of February an average of 443,525 jabs per day were administered.
- In the first thirteen days of February, half a million first doses was exceeded four times.
- Around 80-90 per cent of the four most at risk groups have had their first dose.
- There are at least 70 days to go before the end of April.
I feel it is not unreasonable to expect that we can vaccinate half a million first doses per day, so by the end of April we should administer another 35 million first doses.
If the rate is only 400,000 first doses per day, that is still 28 million first doses.
Conclusion
It looks to me, that everybody over the age of twenty could be offered a first dose of vaccine, with some to spare for those under twenty. in higher risk situations.
So will we be able to open up the UK at the end of April?
It is my view, that the computer could say Yes! It certainly doesn’t say No!
In memory of Dame Barbara and Sir Henry, we should Carry On Jabbing!
The Anonymous Widower 