Lincoln would mandate covid-19 vaccine for all adults

Europe is having the surge of its 4^th wave of the covid-19 pandemic, and US is bracing to follow suit as it did on several occasions. The longer this thing drags on, the more difficult for us to get out of it. Each surge can potentially breed more deadly new variants. And pandemic fatigue is the human nature.

protest against vaccine mandate in Austria

Austrian Chancellor

Look at what is happening in Germany, the exemplary country serving as the model of the world in handling the pandemic. There are evidences in Germany and Austria that the unvaccinated are driving the current surge. Austria Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg mandated covid-19 vaccine for entire adult population, and this was met with large scale protests by anti-vaxxers.

Protest against vaccine mandate in Vienna

Mandate covid-19 vaccine is the surest way to success                                             The best way, and may be the only way to get out of this pandemic is through herd immunity by vaccination. Vaccine is backed by solid science. Vaccine works, but not 100% effective, nor is it long lasting. This is the very reason why nearly everyone needs to be vaccianted to ensure success. Though not 100% effective, most of the vaccines are highly effective, and herd immunity can be obtained by vaccinating all. It may be a cliché to say that we can do it if we do it together.

Lincoln rose to the occasion to save the Union. Were he around he would mandate covid-vaccine for the entire adult population. There is no doubt about it, why?

Lincoln loved and believed in science                                                       Lincoln loved science and always applied it to improve society and life of people. He once said, “I hold the value of life is to improve one’s condition.”

Lincoln studied the Six Books of Euclid, learning geometry and trigonometry, the basic rules of logic and reason. He read Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species when it came out in 1859. His law partner, William Herndon, reported that Lincoln “was deeply impressed with the notion of evolution and seemed to grow into a warm advocate of the new doctrine.” It was during his administration that the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) was established in1863.

Lincoln was fascinated with engineering and new technology. Upon taking the office at White House he installed telegraph service at War Department. He gave a series of lectures titling “Discoveries and Inventions” in 1858-1859. He is the only president that ever held a patent (No. 6469).

So Lincoln would embrace and advocate vaccine in a heartbeat. Knowing it is the best way to get us out of this pandemic, he would mandate covid-19 vaccine for the entire adult population even though it may curtail individual freedom and liberty.

Lincoln suspended habeas corpus and denied individual right to save the Union 

Lincoln is the only President ever suspended the writ of habeas corpus (for one to be arrested and confined has to be brought to the court to ensure the arrest is legal). On April 27, 1861 he sent a dispatch to General Winfield Scott, “. . . you find resistance which renders it necessary to suspend the writ of Habeas Corpus for the public safety, you . . . are authorized to suspend that writ. ABRAHAM LINCOLN”

Lincoln defended his action by pointing out Article I, Section 9, of the U.S. Constitution: “the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion and invasion the public safety may require it.”

Lincoln would deny individual liberty and freedom for the greater collective good of the country                                                                                                    Lincoln strategically deny individual rights in order to preserve the Union. He would also deny individual liberty and freedom in order to fight the pandemic to protect the collect good and benefits of the society and of the country.  Lincoln suspended the writ of habeas corpus for what he called "public safety", he would curtail individual liberty for public health safety.

Many world leaders would like to emulate Lincoln, but few, if any, would have courage or political capital to mandate covid-19 vaccine to all adults and carry it out. Let us hope my assessment is wrong and that this scourge can end one way or another without the vaccine mandate. God helps us.

Do not be critical unless one finishes reading an article or a book

One needs to grasp the concept of particle-wave duality of light to have a basic understanding of quantum physics.  Wave function is calculated with Schrodinger wave equation, it deals with possibilities.  Square the amplitude of the wave we got probability function, it deals with probabilities.

When I read the above scanned paragraph (page 81 of The Dancing Wu Li Masters—by Gary Zukav) I thought I spotted an inexcusable neglect or oversight.  It explains things very well, but it may lead readers to believe that the probability function (squaring of amplitude) is part of Schrodinger wave equation that comes from Schrodinger himself.

In fact, probability function came from German physicist Max Born.  He is one of the quantum mechanic pioneers working in 1920s.  His Nobel Glory came very late (in 1954, 28 years after his work.  Schrodinger got his in 1933), it was cited “for his fundamental research in quantum mechanics, especially for his statistical interpretation of the wave function.” So Born’s contribution is worthy of a Nobel prize on his own merit.

Being Jewish, Max Born fled to Cambridge, England in 1933.  Olivia Newton-John (of Greese fame) is his granddaughter. She was born in Cambridge.

When I reached page 117 and 118, I realized I was wrong, the author not only does he give proper credit to Max Born, but also talks about statistical analysis and “probability” as well as particle-wave duality of light, the themes he revisits again and again throughout the book.

Einstein said, “Every element of the physical reality must have a counterpart in the physical theory.”  This is not the case in quantum theory, in which one cannot find the one-to-one correspondence.  Thus it cannot predict individual event, only the probability.

This is why Einstein never fully embraced quantum theories, even though he helped creating it with his photoelectric effect in 1915.   In his letter to Max Born, Einstein wrote, “quantum mechanics is very impressive, but I am very convinced that God [in NY Times Max Born obituary, it says ‘good lord’] does not play dice.”

In his 1954 Nobel Lecture, Max Born said Planck, Einstein, De Broglie and Schrodinger “have unceasingly stressed the unsatisfactory features of quantum mechanics and called for a return to the concepts of classical, Newtonian physics,” he also said, “Planck belonged to the sceptics until he died.” and Planck is the one started it all in1900.  In fact, he was the one coined the term "quanta".

COVID-19 related science, immigration laws, border crisis and Biden’s failure

大家都知道 mRNA vaccine 是利用 modified messenger RNA to use DNA → RNA → protein (protein-making machinery) to make SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (which is an antigen) to which our body will produce specific antibody against it.

我們身體製造的所有蛋白質都是 DNA 設計的, DNA (any given gene) serves as a template, mRNA copies it complementarily, then go to ribosome (an amazing complex protein-making factory in cytoplasm) to make protein. (for mRNA vaccine, the first step of "DNA → RNA → protein" was done by the vaccine designer), 然後利用 transfer RNA (tRNA), 根據 codon (a sequence of 3 nucleic acids), 一個一個去抓 amino acid 來 match it. 結果是 specific nucleic acid sequence of a gene (DNA) is translated into specific amino acid sequence of a protein. The job is done.

這是我們說 one gene, one protein 的原因.  任何一個蛋白質都有一個基因 （gene) 在控制。只有 3% 的 DNA 是 protein-coding genes (就我所知, 我們約有 50,000 genes). 問題出在我們一生都經歷過無數的外來的 invaders (bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc.) 我們的身體要產生抗體 （antibody) 才能打敗外來的 invader. 抗體也是蛋白質, 一定要有一個基因在控制。我們雖有 50,000 基因, 也沒有辦法去預料有朝一日我們需要製造那一種抗體。

那些得了 COVID-19 而恢復的人身體會產生抗體（沒有注射疫苗）難道那些人的 DNA 有製造這種 Covid-19 抗體的基因嗎？當然沒有！我說過 one gene, one protein, 那麼既然沒有 gene, 怎麼能製造 protein 呢？

Susumu Tonegawa 找到了這個 謎題 （puzzle) 的答案. 1987 年他獨自一人得諾貝爾醫學獎 （諾貝爾科學獎很少只有一個得主的）2007 年我寫了一篇 “How does our body manage to make a vast array of diverse antibodies?” 有興趣的人可讀。

https://doctorjytsai.blogspot.com/search?q=How+does+our+body+manage+to+make+a+vast+array+of+diverse+anitibodies%3F

在 Tonegawa 的 Nobel Lecture 裡我們讀到 “Thanks partly to this remarkably prophetic letter and partly to the immunization law that prevented me from remaining in the U.S.” 1972 年他在加州 La Jolla Salk Institute, 美國移民局不讓他留下來繼續研究. 幸好他的 mentor (Dulbecco) 替他找到了瑞士 Basal Institute of Immunology.  He was trained as a molecular biologist, never had training in immunology.

以上說了一大堆主要是要罵 Joe Biden (借題發揮, so to speak) 罵 Biden 是愛之深越要駡他.  至今每一想起Trump 可能連任就毛骨悚然, 不寒而慄。不但擔心疫情何時了, 又要多少寃魂。而且他開口 China virus, 閉口 Kung Fu virus (至今亦然）, 再過四年, 我們及我們的子弟將無立身之地, 不只沒有好日子過. “Words have consequence” （the leaders of Asian community in Atlanta asked Biden to publicly condemn Trump’s anti-China rhetoric, this is his response).  Anti Asian hate is real and systemic. 如果說跟 Trump 無關, 誰會相信.

我不是説當年 （1972）US immigration laws 特別歧視 Tonegawa, 而是説每個外國人要長期留在美國都要遵守移民法。如果任何十八歲以下的小孩一走到邊境美國就以人道立場無條件收留, 這將是無底深淵, 不是解決辦法, 也不是絕大部分的美國人 （Republicans and Democrats) 所會贊同的。很多美國人（尤其是Republicans, I am a registered Republican) 一想到目前的 border crisis, 就會説我們選出了一個比 socialist 更糟糕的總統. Biden 會因此丟了江山, 給 Trump 東山再起的良機. Trump 陰魂不散, 而且跟他一模一樣的politicians 多如牛毛。

Biden administration 至今還不准新聞記者去參觀採訪邊境那些小孩的收留所。前幾天 Biden 的第一次記者會, 有記者問他什麼時候可以參觀, 他回答不出來, 這一點, Biden is worse than Trump (Trump 從來沒有禁止記者參觀那些facilities).  This editorial cartoon says it all.

對發展 mRNA 疫苗成功有貢獻的人很多, 其中一個最出色的是來自匃牙利的Katalin Kariko. mRNA vaccine 是製造的 (synthetic?) modified messenger RNA, 對我們身體而言是外來的異物, 所以一注射到體內馬上會被消滅。Kariko (along with Drew Weissman) 找到了一個方法, 所以 mRNA 能安全的進入我們的細胞 to do its job.  有朝一日如果 mRNA technology 是 Laskar award (甚或 Nobel Prize) 的對象, Kariko will be on top of the list.

Katalin Kariko

我説這些也是要罵 Biden. Kariko 在 University of Pennsylvania 期間有一陣子因為拿不到 grants to fund her research on mRNA (shame on NIH) 被 demoted.  這期間她的丈夫又因為拿不到來美國的 visa, 被困在匈牙利。如果她當時心灰意懶, 打包回家. No one can predict what will happen. Kariko 目前是 BioNTech 的 Vice President (in Boston Office).

一想到既然美國的移民法既然這麼嚴格, what Biden is doing is tantamount to open border, 你說 Biden 該罵不該罵？

Vaccine 'error' report was misleading: My letter-to-the-editor

There were many reports over 2 or 3 days last week in the Observer-Reporter (a newspaper in Washington, PA) about the misuse of Moderna vaccine, namely using the vaccine intended as second dose for the first dose.  We read the headlines of  “Error costs 200K doses” and “DOH talks vaccine error”.  It also said the second doses were “accidentally” or “inadvertently” used as the first doses, even blaming “First, second Modern doses in identical packaging”, as seen in the headline.  It led Washington Health System CEO to announce in the newspaper, saying they were not impacted as they use Pfizer vaccine.  The PA health officials even said they knew which vaccine centers “made a mistake”, but preferred not to make public.

I am befuddled. The first dose and the second dose are identical for either Moderna or Pfizer vaccine.  How can it be a mistake or cost anything using the same vaccine as the first or second dose.  This is what prompted me to write the letter-to-the-editor, in which I state the pro and con of the two different strategies: One is to give out vaccines received as soon as possible, the other is to reserve for the scheduled second doses before taking appointments for the first doses.  This is not a right or wrong approach.  Which option to pursue depends on the vaccine supply status.

We are racing for the vaccinations of the whole population against the emergence and spread of new variants.  Having a sense of urgency we need to stride for the most efficient vaccine use.

Cavalier: Connecting Capitol insurrection to British Civil War and to pandemic

Being a history buff, I tend to look things in historical perspective.  While the Capitol was being seized by the White House-incited mobs, Oliver Cromwell and Charles I came to my mind.

While visiting London 5-6 years ago, I noticed there were only two statues in the yard of the Parliament; one is Henry II, the other is Oliver Cromwell (see photo right).  The fact/design that he still needs a lion to protect him tells a lot.

I know it is inappropriate to liken Trump’s White  House to Charles I royalist and Nancy Pelosi’s Congress/Capitol to Oliver Cromwell’s Parliament.  But . . .

I hold the view that the Capitol insurrection and America being the worst in the whole world when it comes to pandemic control are related, the two manifestations of the same thing（一體兩面）.

The word “cavalier” (lack of proper concern, disregard of others’ interest, high-handed, arrogant, supercilious) connects these two things and events.

Cromwell’s Roundheads (Parliamentarians) first used “Cavaliers” to describe the wealthier supporters (knights) of Charles I, with a negative tone of contempt.  The term was later adopted by Royalists themselves.

Chris Christie

After spending seven days in an intensive unit before recovering from COVID-19, the former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie implored Americans to wear masks and take the pandemic very seriously.  "The ramifications are wildly random and potentially deadly.  No one should be happy to get the virus and no one should be cavalier about being infected or infecting others."  He said.

Christie used “cavalier” to describe those so-called pandemic deniers, treating it with indifference or even with contempt.  The cult is led by Trump, and unfortunately many Republicans “follow the leader” blindly or as Chinese say 被牽著鼻子走。

So everything comes into place. The mobs that seized the Capitol are Trump’s people who, like their leader, take cavalier attitude toward the pandemic, so they are the Royalists, the Cavaliers. The price we pay is America being the worst when it comes to the pandemic control. Trump indeed achieved the “America First” which is not only a slogan but a reality.  America, the “shining City upon the Hill”, its storied democracy was once marveled, envied and emulated by the world, now scorned, mocked and mourned.

I firmly believe that most of the more than 74 millions that voted Trump did it for various reasons, political or otherwise, some of them I personally embrace, thus I treat them with respect and understanding.

My argument against Trump is entirely not political.  To paraphrase Fou Lei (傅雷）from the letter to his son, Fou Ts’ong (傅聰）:

First you must be a person, then a public servant, and then a politician, and only then can you be a President.

Fou Ts’ong said in one interview, “Even now, I believe in this order — that it should be this way and that I am this way.”

Not a thread of moral fiber can be found in Trump’s very being.  He failed the first step as a decent person.  His character fault lies in his narcissistic personality and lack of empathy and compassion. A powerful politician without morality is a dangerous thing.

Washington, DC, a besieged city: “Why don’t they come! Why don’t they come!” Lincoln exclaimed

I thought Washington DC is preparing for a presidential inauguration, but it looks more like preparing for a major attack.  Vice President Pence just came to inspect the troops just like a general did before the imminent battle.  If Lincoln could see the 21,000 (expects to be 26,000) troops (National Guard) amassed in Washington on April 23, 1861, he would be very pleased and relieved.

At the outset of the Civil War, Lincoln first called for troops to defend the Capital on April 15, 1861.  The following excerpts are from Carl Sandburg’s monumental work, Abraham Lincoln, from which one can see how anxious Lincolns were in those days.

On the afternoon of April 23 [1861] Lincoln was alone in his office in the White House—or believed he was alone, though John Hay, [Lincoln’s secretary] quiet and unobtrusive, was there.  And Hay saw Lincoln “after walking the floor alone in silent thought for nearly half an hour,” stop at a window and gaze long and wistfully down the Potomac in the direction of the expected ships.  And as he gazed he broke out with irrepressible anguish in the repeated exclamation “Why don’t they come!  Why don’t they come!”

The day of the President’s call for 75,000 troops had passed, and not a troop arrived in Washington.  And the next day and the next passed, and not a regiment nor a company came—not a corporal’s squad.

Mrs. Lincoln, a few nights since, heard whispering in the hall in front of her room; she rose from bed, dressed, and sat up the remainder of the night, watching for the Southern army to blow up the White House, as they are confidently expecting it.”

Our daughter bought me this four-volume set of Carl Sandburg's Abraham Lincoln: War Years some years ago.