Abrysvo is Pfizer’s vaccine for the prevention of respiratory syncytial virus (“RSV”) in infants through active immunisation of pregnant women at 32-36 weeks of gestational age.
Approval was granted despite the results of the clinical trial of 7126 participants, which found the rate of preterm births among the experimental group was 17% higher than the placebo group. Preterm birth is the leading cause of death in children under 5 years. RSV is a common respiratory illness that usually causes mild cold-like symptoms.
This appears to be an indication that drug safety standards have been significantly relaxed in the wake of the pandemic. High rates of adverse effects no longer appear to be a barrier to approval.
Here in New Zealand, there is a pervading sense of unreality as we drag ourselves towards an election where almost none of the candidates are prepared to discuss our unprecedented rate of excess death except to deny it is happening.
Last night I thought: “A society that normalises death has lost its way” and then I started to laugh because of course death is entirely normal, in the end everyone will experience it. Perhaps a better way to express this disturbing thought is to realise that our society seems to have lost its capacity to value life.
It is profoundly worrying to reflect on the state of society
Our medical system is overwhelmed and in any case seems determined to support pharmaceutical interventions that not only don’t work but also harm the recipients. Our economic circumstances appear unfair and unbalanced and set to become more challenging.
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