Public Health

In March 2021, Geert Vanden Bossche (Virologist and Vaccine Developer) warned of the dangers of mass vaccination during a pandemic to drive viral evolution.

Recent further unusual patterns in viral evolution have indicated to him that the virus is now making more changes which will allow it to evade all vaccines.

Three clinicians will reflect on his assumptions and analyse disease presentation in the general public.

• Dr Shankara Chetty (South Africa)
• Dr Robert Rennebohm (USA)
• Dr Philip McMillan (UK)

Channel url: https://odysee.com/@GeertVandenBosscheVideos:9

Hospitals will often give patients an IV as an automatic procedure and then use it for just one blood draw or injection, or even not use it at all. Then charge ≥$~~60~~ 600¹ for it (in the US)!

I went to the ER in Europe and got an automatic IV. They only used it to take blood and nothing else. So I took notes and prepared for a dispute. When the invoice finally came, I found no charge for the IV. But had to probe because I’m the type that will fight over a nickel on principle. I asked for details on some of the doctor’s fees, since it was not itemized separately. After my investigation, it turns out the IV was bundled in but only €6. LOL. So insignificant indeed.

Not sure if it’s fair to call it a swindle in the US. Is it typically a deliberate money-grab when the IV is not really needed? Staff are (generally rightfully) unaware of pricing and just focused on giving the best care for the patient independent of cost. And for insured people that’s ideal. But I often steer the staff, saying I’m an uninsured cash payer and need price quotes and to asses the degree of need on various things. It’s a burden on them but it’s important to me. I have gotten discharged a day early on a couple occasions (which generally saves me ~$/€ 1k each day I avoid).

Funny side story: a doc who I steered well toward budget treatment pulls out his smartphone with a gadget that does an echo. He said this is free but unofficial… maybe we can get out of the pricey proper echo imaging. And indeed the pics were good enough.

Anyway - to the question:

Whether to give an IV involves guesswork on whether more things will need to be injected. Do docs have any criteria to follow when ordering an IV, or is it their full discretion and they just order it for convenience without much thought?

1. ~~$60~~ was the price ~15-20 years ago.. probably even more today. CORRECTION: the ER nurse in my family apparently tells patients who possibly don’t need an IV that the cost on the bill will be $600 (as a good samaritan warning). I don’t have direct contact with this family member.. heard it through someone else. Can any other ER nurses in the US confirm whether that’s accurate? I am really struggling to believe this price and wonder if someone’s memory failed. I think if I were quoted that price I would surely say for that price I do not need it.. feel free to stick me 10-20 times if needed. (update 2: seems realistic)

cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/6374430

Couple people in my family have become diligent about taking vitamin supplements daily for eye health. They’ve been taking “Vision Defender” by “Intelligent Formula”, which apparently just contains 3 ingredients:

• Meso-Zeaxanthin
• Lutein
• Zeaxanthin

One of them went to the driver license authority and took the eye test without his glasses, passed, and was able to have the corrective lenses restriction removed from his license. It’s pure anecdote.. I wouldn’t put too much stock into vitamins having that effect. But noteworthy nonetheless. They pay $30 for 90 capsules (Amazon, sadly).

On the other side of the pond, there are a couple vitamin cocktails, one called “Nutrof Omega by Théa” and the other “PreserVision 3” by “Bausch+Lomb”. They both lack the Meso-Zeaxanthin (which is supposedly important yet rarely mentioned) but have more stuff than “Vision Defender”. All the following ingredients are in Nutrof Omega, and “PV3”-tagged things are also in “PreserVision 3”:

• (PV3) lutein and zeaxanthin (for the protection of the macula region of the retina from oxidative stress and signs of aging and can increase visual ability)
• (PV3) omega-3 fatty acids (support retinal health)
• (PV3) vitamins C, D and E, zinc and copper (help protect cell constituents from oxidative damage)
• (PV3) zinc (contributes to the maintenance of normal vision) -- but counteracts copper to some extent
• selenium (key antioxidant and also supports the action of vitamin E and zinc)
• resveratrol (anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects, and protects retinal cells from oxidative stress)
• manganese
• B complex

They both have a €33 price tag for 60 tablets. Over 50¢/day is a bit much but at least it’s from a pharmacist and does not feed Amazon.

Apparently vitamin A is missing from both of those supplements, which Harvard claims is relevant. But there are many other supplements.. if someone finds something more complete plz mention it.

So then I looked for relevant foods:

1. Dark Leafy Greens (Spinach)
2. Green Peas
3. Summer Squash
4. Pumpkin
5. Brussels Sprouts
6. Broccoli
7. Asparagus
8. Romaine Lettuce
9. Carrots
10. Pistachios