Based Underground is now a conservative news aggregator AND curated newsletter.
Federal legal challenges have temporarily enjoined the Biden Administration’s sweeping large business, health care worker, and federal contractor covid-19 vaccine mandates. Notwithstanding these injunctions staying primary covid-19 vaccine mandates, “amendments” mandating booster covid-19 vaccinations have already been issued, as examples, for New Mexico healthcare workers, and University of Massachusetts-Amherst students.
Dr. Allon Friedman’s recent Brownstone essay, citing randomized, controlled trial data on primary covid-19 vaccination, demonstrated, “The Pfizer and Moderna trials show that in lower risk populations (which account for most of society) COVID-19 vaccines do not reduce mortality.” Friedman concluded, “Therefore, [covid-19] vaccine mandates, which are enormously costly and terribly divisive, are a cure worse than the disease.”
Why did Dr. Friedman rely exclusively—and appositely—upon randomized, controlled trial data to justify his conclusion? Almost sixty years ago (in 1963) Campbell and Stanley published their seminal monograph on research methodology entitled “Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Designs for Research.” This work, which shaped research designs ever since highlighted the major threats to validity that are avoided, uniquely, by the randomized controlled trial—a true experimental design.
Observational studies and all other non-randomized designs lacking parallel control groups, which they referred to as “quasi-experimental,” are fraught with known biases investigators attempt to control for, after the fact, with limited success. Worse still are intractable, unknown biases which the randomization process, alone, accounts for. Guyatt and colleagues, in their 2008 British Medical Journal paper “GRADE: an emerging consensus on rating quality of evidence and strength of recommendations”, updated and reinforced these ideas, appropriately assigning highest priority to randomized, controlled trial evidence.
On Friday, November 19, 2021, CDC Director Dr. Walensky endorsed the expanded recommendations of the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) that booster (third dose) shots be provided to all adults 18 years of age, and older, who received their second Pfizer or Moderna mRNA vaccine second doses, at least 6-months earlier.
What randomized, controlled trial evidence were the basis for this “unanimous decision,” touted by Dr. Walensky?
Although two small, published, randomized, placebo-controlled trials—one in kidney transplant recipients, and another in a general population—revealed enhanced immune responses to boosters, CDC’s recommendation clearly hinged upon a large, unpublished Pfizer randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
A month before the CDC expanded booster recommendation was announced, Pfizer’s “randomized trial results by press release” were issued (10/21/21). The ~10,000 person, placebo-controlled randomized covid-19 vaccine booster trial, yielded a 95.6% reduction in symptomatic covid-19 infections (i.e., 109 in the placebo group; 9 in the boosted group), after a median 2.5 months of follow-up. The press release also included this important caveat:
“The observed relative vaccine efficacy of 95.6% (95% CI: 89.3, 98.6) reflects the reduction in disease occurrence in the boosted group versus the non-boosted group in those without evidence of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection.”
The November 19, 2021, ACIP presentation of Pfizer’s Dr. John Perez included enough data about prior infection to conclude boosters did not reduce covid-19 infections relative to placebo in this clinically relevant, ever burgeoning subgroup. Simple calculations (based upon the slides from pages 16 and 17) indicate there were only 2 symptomatic covid-19 infections among the 524 trial participants with a history of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, 1/275 who received boosters, and 1/249 given placebo injections (p=0.944 for incidence rate difference of 0.038%).
- Concerned about your life’s savings as the multiple challenges decimate retirement accounts? You’re not alone. Find out how Genesis Precious Metals can help you secure your wealth with a proper self-directed IRA backed by physical precious metals.
Moreover, CDC’s Dr. Oliver, in her ACIP review (p. 25) of Pfizer’s booster trial data, acknowledged that within the full cohort of ~10,000 there were no covid-19 hospitalizations or deaths, and no data to assess any impact on SARS-CoV-2 transmission.
These findings comprise a striking paucity of randomized trial evidence on the “efficacy” of boosters—literally none on the most clinically relevant outcomes of serious covid-19 morbidity and mortality. Even the potential effect of boosters on SARS-CoV-2 transmission remains unaddressed.
Rapidly accumulating data strongly suggest prior covid-19 infection, “natural immunity,” is more robust, flexible, and enduring than exclusive covid-19 vaccine-acquired immunity. Pfizer’s covid-19 booster trial data confirm boosters afford no benefit in preventing covid-19 infections among those with natural immunity.
Given these overall randomized trial findings regarding covid-19 vaccine boosters—absence of even a short- term reduction in mild covid-19 infections in those with natural immunity, and no data establishing that boosters prevent covid-19 hospitalizations, deaths, or SARS-CoV-2 transmission—there is no rational, evidence-based justification for covid-19 vaccine “booster mandates.”
Author:
Andrew Bostom, M.D. MS, is an academic clinical trialist and epidemiologist, who is currently a Research Physician at the Brown University Center For Primary Care and Prevention of Kent-Memorial Hospital in Rhode Island.
Image via CalMatters. Article cross-posted from Brownstone Institute.
Confirmed: The Haitian Invaders Are Eating Geese in Ohio
by Townhall
Springfield, Ohio, is now on the frontlines of the immigration wars. The city, awash with tens of thousands of Haitian migrants, has become the center of national attention after stories of pets, geese, and ducks. It’s triggered liberals to no end, with CNN hosts and Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) blowing…
“I Was Duped by the Media”: Bishop Apologizes for Closing Churches During Covid
by Caldron Pool
“I was duped by the media hype and should have been stronger.” A US Catholic Bishop has apologized for closing churches during COVID, admitting he was “duped by the media.” Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas, made the admission on X (formerly Twitter) earlier this week, in response to a…
Another Top NYC Official With Ties to NYPD, Eric Adams Accused of Chinese Spying
by Headline USA
A little over a week after a former top aide to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul was arrested for spying on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party, another New York government employee was found to have close ties to the CCP. Lin Gui’an, the assistant director of the New York…
Late-Term Abortion: 5 Facts Harris, Liberal Media Want to Conceal
by Melanie Israel, DeVos Center
(Daily Signal)—Predictably, the issue of abortion was one of the first to come up during Tuesday night’s presidential debate on ABC. And predictably, both the moderators and Vice President Kamala Harris wouldn’t let pesky facts get in the way of their shared agenda. Harris refused to identify a single limit on abortion…
Faith-Driven Gold IRA Company Reveals Three Secrets About Americans’ Retirement
by Sponsored Post
The precious metals industry has developed a rough reputation over the last couple of years, especially as it pertains to retirement accounts. With all of the angst many Americans are feeling about the economy, gold companies have pounced on the opportunity to take advantage of people’s fears. One company stands…
Father of Boy Killed by Haitian in Springfield Says He Wishes Son ‘Was Killed by 60-Year-Old White Man’
by Daily Wire
The father of an 11-year-old boy who was killed by a Haitian immigrant in Springfield, Ohio, said during a city commission meeting on Tuesday that he wishes his son was instead killed by an “old white man.” Aiden Clark was killed in August 2023, when a Haitian immigrant, Hermanio Joseph,…
LA Times Reporter Reveals ‘Climate Anxiety’ and Calls to ‘Fix Individualism’ to Save the Planet
by Free Beacon
The Los Angeles Times published a sprawling essay Wednesday written by environmental reporter Rosanna Xia, who expressed overwhelming grief about the prospect of climate change and called to “fix individualism” and “reimagine” society’s “systems” to address climate change. “How do you cope? I feel the sorrow, the quiet plea for…
DOJ Immigration Attorney: Biden Has Authority to End Illegal Immigration, but Democrat Megadonors Control Border Agenda
by The Gateway Pundit
Christian Cooper, a Special Assistant on Immigration Litigation U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Department of Justice said on undercover video: Joe Biden has the authority to end illegal immigration but Democrat megadonors control the immigration agenda. “We’re Completely Controlled by Special Interests Above,” Christian Cooper said. Per Project Veritas: President…
Iran Wants China-Led BRICS to Create a New World ‘Security Structure’
by Breitbart
Ali Akbar Ahmadian, secretary-general of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) of Iran, on Wednesday called for the China-dominated BRICS economic group to create “a new security structure in the international arena to help the order and security of the future world.” Speaking at a BRICS forum in St. Petersburg,…
Chemtrails Are No Longer a “Conspiracy Theory” as Globalists Openly Call It an Essential Part of Their Battle Against “Climate Change”
by S.D. Wells, Natural News
(Natural News)—The Communist-Democrat politicians in Washington DC and their globalist cohorts are engaged in a multi-faceted agenda rooted in profound deceit. Using extreme censorship of anyone who questions their agenda, they’ve (literally) gotten away with murder using schemes, plots and propaganda to further their goals of obtaining complete control of…
Crowd Backs Trump as He Comes Face-to-Face with Kamala Harris at 9/11 Memorial
by Western Journal
As dignitaries gathered for this year’s Ground Zero memorial service to honor those killed in the 9/11 attacks and remind American of the cost of terrorism, one man stood out for the New York City crowd. “Donald!” voices in the crowd began calling as former President Donald Trump was spotted…
Judge Dismisses Georgia Election Official’s Plea for Protection to Do Her Job After Dem Lawfare Threats
by The Federalist
A Georgia judge dismissed a plea from a Fulton County election official who asked the court to confirm she is not obligated to rubber-stamp election results after Democrats threatened her with criminal charges. Fulton County Board of Registration and Elections (FCBRE) member Julie Adams filed a suit in May seeking…
“Our Town Is a Time Bomb” – Springfield Locals on the Haitian Crisis Destroying Their City
by Infowars
Turning Point USA’s “Frontlines” journalists hit the streets of Springfield, Ohio, to learn more about the story taking the nation by storm and causing Americans to debate the illegal immigration emergency. 20,000 Haitian “migrants” have flooded the small town of around 58,000 people since the Biden-Harris administration started flying them…
Russia Says It Could “Combine” With China if They Faced a Threat
by End Times Headlines
Russia said on Wednesday that its partnership with China was not aimed against third countries but the two powers could “combine potential” if faced with a threat from the United States. “I would like to remind you that Moscow and Beijing will respond to ‘double containment’ by the United States…
Comrade Kamala Embraced Fossil Fuels on the Debate Stage, but What Does Her Record Say?
by NIck Pope, Daily Caller News Foundation
(DCNF)—Vice President Kamala Harris purported to be in favor of fossil fuels on the debate stage on Tuesday night, but several of her talking points lacked key context or were contradicted by her record in the Biden administration. The vice president reiterated on the debate stage that she no longer…
Time Magazine Forced to Make Huge Retraction After Spewing Debate Lie
by Trending Politics
Time Magazine has been forced to issue a public retraction following the publication of a highly contentious statement mischaracterizing a claim made by former President Donald Trump during Tuesday night’s debate with Vice President Kamala Harris. The statement, which accused Trump of fabricating an assertion about Harris supporting taxpayer-funded transgender…
I want to see the evidence that Fauci has been vaccinated amd boostered, on-time and in real time.