The hottest Pandemic response Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Health & Wellness Topics

Excess deaths in Australia cannot be explained by any other mechanism other than the COVID shots

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 4 implied HN points • 13 Mar 26
🏥 Health Politics Pandemic response
  1. A statistical analysis of several Australian regions found excess deaths began right after COVID vaccine rollouts, and the timing and age patterns are said to not match the official explanations.
  2. Analyses of other national records claim there was no clear mortality or hospitalization benefit from the vaccines, and frailty-matched comparisons reportedly show similar death rates for vaccinated and unvaccinated groups.
  3. Public health authorities and official reports largely avoided treating vaccines as a possible cause or quantifying lives saved or lost, while only a few officials publicly raised these concerns.

The Covid Screwtape Letters - Part 4 - The "New Normal"

COVID Reason • 475 implied HN points • 25 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Pandemic response
  1. Social distancing has made people feel more isolated and suspicious of each other. It's now hard for them to feel comfortable with close contact, like handshakes or hugs.
  2. Working from home sounds good, but it has turned into a way to control people's lives. They end up working more and feel stuck, as their home becomes like an office.
  3. People might miss in-person interactions, but they are being trained to prefer the convenience and safety of digital communication. This can make real connections feel uncomfortable.

Part 3: Who can suffer the most “for the greater good.”

COVID Reason • 614 implied HN points • 21 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Pandemic response
  1. People have started to believe that their safety relies on how strictly they isolate themselves, sometimes even turning against one another for not following the rules.
  2. Many individuals are competing to show how much they can sacrifice for others, feeling proud of their suffering for the supposed 'greater good.'
  3. There are some who are questioning the restrictions and looking for balance in life, but they are often faced with pressure to conform and are labeled as selfish.

The Great John Ioannidis on the Terrible Science During Covid

COVID Reason • 753 implied HN points • 15 Oct 24
🔬 Science Pandemic response
  1. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a flood of poor-quality scientific studies. Many rushed papers were published that had unreliable findings, highlighting a major issue in research standards.
  2. To improve science in the future, researchers need to focus on real problems and provide real-world data instead of relying heavily on models. Transparency is also crucial so everyone can trust the research and its sources.
  3. Healthcare workers faced immense challenges during the pandemic and deserve more support. The lessons learned from this crisis should help us prioritize quality scientific work and the human aspect of healthcare.

The Covid Screwtape Letters - Part 1

COVID Reason • 1050 implied HN points • 08 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Pandemic response
  1. Chaos and confusion can be more powerful than a virus. When people are confused, they struggle to find the truth.
  2. Control is the real goal, not just dealing with the virus itself. Keeping people afraid and divided helps maintain that control.
  3. History shows us that fear can tear communities apart. Encouraging suspicion between neighbors can lead to a lot of conflict and chaos.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

The test of open dialogue

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1393 implied HN points • 25 Feb 26
🏥 Health Politics Pandemic response
  1. Jay Bhattacharya now leads both CDC and NIH, and his tenure will be judged on whether he protects the open scientific debate he once called for.
  2. Respectful, in-person conversations can humanize opponents and help reconcile hard public health trade-offs, even when people still disagree.
  3. Recent moves like limiting public comment, reshaping advisory boards, removing materials, and firings have raised worries about reduced transparency and politicization, and the agencies’ direction will be closely watched.

Dr. Atlas and the Crucible of Open Dialogue

COVID Reason • 495 implied HN points • 15 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Pandemic response
  1. Government lockdowns during the pandemic didn't work as intended and caused more harm than good, affecting people's mental health and education.
  2. Censorship stifled important discussions and alternative viewpoints, which are essential for scientific progress.
  3. Academic institutions didn't uphold free expression and debate, which is key for critical thinking and finding the truth.

The Evidence That A Million Americans Died Of COVID

Astral Codex Ten • 32210 implied HN points • 22 May 25
🏥 Health Politics Pandemic response
  1. Many people are unsure if the 1.2 million COVID deaths are accurate, with some believing these deaths are linked to other causes rather than COVID itself.
  2. The data shows that total deaths during the pandemic were higher than usual, which supports the idea that many deaths were directly caused by COVID.
  3. Some argue that they don’t personally know anyone who died from COVID, but with a large population, it makes sense that not everyone would know someone affected.

Six Years After '15 Days To Slow The Spread,' Data Continues To Prove COVID Policies Were A Historic Failure

Unmasked • 62 implied HN points • 14 Mar 26
🏥 Health Politics Pandemic response
  1. Research shows lockdowns, mask mandates, and similar policies had little to no effect on COVID deaths, so those measures failed to change the main outcome they targeted.
  2. Early fatality estimates were vastly overstated and highly age-dependent, with true infection fatality rates nearer 0.25–0.35% rather than the initial 3.4% figure, which helped trigger panic responses.
  3. A brief “15 days” plan morphed into years of rolling restrictions and intrusive mandates, producing widespread social and economic fallout while officials saw little accountability for those choices.

VSRF LIVE TONIGHT: Episode 218: Dr. Mary Talley Bowden, M.D.

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 2 implied HN points • 12 Mar 26
🏥 Health Politics Pandemic response
  1. She treated thousands of COVID patients with early outpatient protocols and publicly challenged hospital vaccine mandates, which led to suspension of her privileges and legal action that influenced FDA messaging on ivermectin.
  2. She now treats people who report injuries after COVID-19 mRNA shots and is publicly calling for those vaccines to be taken off the market pending a full safety investigation.
  3. She wrote a book about misinformation in medicine during the pandemic and is actively pursuing legal battles with medical boards while participating in health freedom advocacy.

Covid Having Failed to do the Job, Bill Gates Is Making a Second Run at culling the population

2nd Smartest Guy in the World • 4913 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
🏥 Health Politics Pandemic response
  1. Bill Gates is being accused of attempting to reduce the world population through a 'peaceful culling'.
  2. WHO and Big Pharma are being criticized for promoting a potential 'Disease X' that could be 20 times deadlier than COVID-19.
  3. There are concerns about a lack of transparency and a hidden agenda behind global health decisions and pandemic predictions.

The UK Covid Inquiry First Report on Resilience and Preparedness

Independent SAGE continues • 479 implied HN points • 18 Jul 24
🏥 Health Politics Pandemic response
  1. The UK Covid Inquiry found serious issues from the Covid-19 pandemic that show we aren't ready for the next outbreak. This means improvements are really needed.
  2. The report suggests 10 key changes to build a better response system for future pandemics. It's important these changes are made in a complete way, not just in bits and pieces.
  3. There is a looming threat of new diseases, like avian flu, crossing into humans. We need to prepare now because we don't know when the next pandemic will hit.

Fauci Did It!

Disaffected Newsletter • 919 implied HN points • 09 Jun 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Pandemic response
  1. People are quick to blame others for problems, like Fauci being blamed for the pandemic. But regular folks also played a part by not standing up for what’s right.
  2. There's a concern that cultural relativism is messing up society. For example, a court case showed how cultural excuses can sway justice, which isn't fair.
  3. The conversation touches on various social issues, like reactions to Pride Month and how some people are mocked for their choices. It's about how different views clash in today's world.

Yes, mRNA Vaccines Work—&, It Appears, Work Much Better than I Thought

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 315 implied HN points • 10 Jan 26
🏥 Health Politics Pandemic response
  1. mRNA COVID-19 vaccines greatly lower the risk of dying from COVID and are associated with about a 25% reduction in all-cause mortality.
  2. The reduction in non‑COVID deaths is unlikely to be just selection bias; by preventing infections and long‑COVID harms across cardiovascular, thrombotic, metabolic, and neurological systems, vaccination likely reduces the lingering metabolic and inflammatory burden that raises other causes of death.
  3. Vaccine hesitancy has real costs: with about one‑fifth of people unvaccinated, adults aged 19–64 who skip mRNA vaccines face a substantially higher annual death risk (roughly 0.12% higher), implying many preventable deaths.

Independent SAGE has joined substack!

Independent SAGE continues • 1418 implied HN points • 20 Mar 24
🏥 Health Politics Pandemic response
  1. Independent SAGE has launched a Substack to share insights about Covid research and data. They aim to provide valuable information directly from experts to the public.
  2. They plan to post updates roughly every two weeks, including responses to important new research and news. This helps keep everyone informed about the ongoing situation.
  3. The Substack will remain free for subscribers, encouraging more people to stay updated on Covid developments and public health measures.

Virologist Simon Wain-Hobson Calls Out Corrupt Journals: Nature, Science, and Lancet

The DisInformation Chronicle • 1970 implied HN points • 26 Jun 25
🏥 Health Politics Pandemic response
  1. Many science journals, like Nature and Science, are accused of corruption and only support certain narratives about the origins of COVID.
  2. Virologist Simon Wain-Hobson believes that dangerous research on viruses puts the world at risk, and no strong evidence shows that it has helped prevent pandemics.
  3. There is a call for more honesty and openness in both science and journalism to rebuild public trust and properly address mistakes made during the pandemic.

When will the COVID race be run?

Independent SAGE continues • 1218 implied HN points • 21 Mar 24
🏥 Health Politics Pandemic response
  1. The COVID-19 pandemic isn't a race that simply ends; it changes over time and is influenced by how well we can respond to the virus.
  2. Vaccines have helped reduce severe cases of COVID-19, but many vulnerable people still face risks, and measures need to be put in place to protect them.
  3. Improving ventilation and using masks can help slow down the virus's spread, and next-generation vaccines may offer better long-term protection.

The failures of 2020: why didn’t the UK ‘Act Fast and Isolate’?

Independent SAGE continues • 979 implied HN points • 04 Apr 24
🏥 Health Politics Pandemic response
  1. The UK did not act quickly enough during the early stages of the pandemic, leading to a high number of avoidable deaths. Other countries, especially in East Asia, took swift actions that resulted in much lower death rates.
  2. Public health measures, like efficient testing and isolation support, were not properly implemented in the UK. This failure caused prolonged lockdowns and significant economic damage.
  3. Learning from the successes of East Asian countries is crucial for future pandemic responses. The UK needs to adapt its public health strategies to be more proactive and supportive.

"Learning to live with COVID" means upgrading air quality, now

The Gauntlet • 1631 implied HN points • 14 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Pandemic response
  1. Learning to live with COVID requires upgrading air quality to reduce viral spread.
  2. Implementing measures like improving indoor air quality and proper ventilation can help mitigate the spread of not only COVID but other airborne viruses as well.
  3. Promoting clean air in public spaces through increased ventilation, filtration, and CO2 monitoring can significantly lower the risk of infections and contribute to a successful public health response.

Sedated granny with deadly toxic drugs like propofol, midazolam, lorazepam, fentanyl, diamorphine etc.), knowing breathing was already suppressed & the toxic drugs suppressed her breathing even more,

Alexander News Network -Dr. Paul Elias Alexander's substack • 1395 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Pandemic response
  1. Sedation of elderly patients with toxic drugs can worsen their breathing and health.
  2. Some medical professionals neglected and mistreated elderly patients during the COVID-19 crisis.
  3. It's important to have an emergency preparedness kit with essential medications.

World Health Organization Now Disingenuously Walking Back Their Support For Masks, Lockdowns

Unmasked • 67 implied HN points • 06 Feb 26
🏥 Health Politics Pandemic response
  1. The WHO backed China’s strict COVID measures early on, appearing to put funding and relationships ahead of independent assessment.
  2. Despite pre-pandemic WHO documents that warned against or questioned harsh mandates, the organization abandoned that guidance and supported panic-driven policies like lockdowns and widespread masking.
  3. As funding wanes and scrutiny grows, the WHO is now distancing itself and denying responsibility for those earlier recommendations.

Covid Situation Report: Jun 27, 2024

Independent SAGE continues • 239 implied HN points • 28 Jun 24
🏥 Health Politics Pandemic response
  1. Covid cases in England are rising again, especially in the North East and North West, but they are still at relatively low levels overall.
  2. Deaths from Covid have slightly increased recently, but they remain lower compared to last year, with only 101 deaths recorded for a recent week.
  3. The Spring 2024 booster campaign is ending soon, and while 55% of those eligible have received it, many immunocompromised individuals still need to get vaccinated.

Poetic Justice for Jay Bhattacharya

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 3389 implied HN points • 02 Dec 24
🏥 Health Politics Pandemic response
  1. Jay Bhattacharya was a respected Stanford professor until the pandemic changed everything. He proposed focusing on protecting vulnerable people instead of broad lockdowns.
  2. With support from other scientists, he created the Great Barrington Declaration, advocating for 'focused protection' during Covid-19. This approach aimed to keep society more open while safeguarding those at risk.
  3. Despite facing harsh criticism and attacks on his character for his views, Bhattacharya's ideas are gaining more attention, especially as he may soon lead the NIH.

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla Claims They ‘Saved The World’ From COVID Despite Past Blatant Inaccuracies

Unmasked • 31 implied HN points • 17 Feb 26
🏥 Health Politics Pandemic response
  1. Pfizer's CEO has publicly claimed the company "saved the world" from COVID while the company made billions in profit, a statement many see as an attempt to rewrite the pandemic’s history.
  2. Pandemic-era policies — lockdowns, school closures, mask mandates, vaccine passports, and aggressive economic measures — caused widespread and long-lasting social and economic harm.
  3. By the mid-2020s most places had largely returned to normal, but some political leaders still threatened to reinstate mandates, showing the debate over pandemic responses continues.

Counseling a Gaslit Nation

COVID Reason • 1725 implied HN points • 27 Nov 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Pandemic response
  1. Gaslighting is a form of psychological abuse where a person causes someone to question their sanity, memories, or perception of reality.
  2. Being subtle in manipulation can be just as harmful as blatant abuse.
  3. In situations of societal-level abuse, it may be necessary to break off contact to protect oneself.

Book Review- 3/11: Viral Takeover

Who is Robert Malone • 12 implied HN points • 28 Feb 26
🏥 Health Politics Pandemic response
  1. A tight network of scientists, funders, regulators, and media shaped and enforced a single pandemic narrative, steering policy toward biosecurity measures that weakened democratic oversight. Science was often used to justify control rather than to guide open inquiry.
  2. Key scientific and regulatory processes were rushed or compromised — flawed PCR protocols, suppression of dissent, and accelerated mRNA approvals with questionable data and quality control. These shortcuts led to contamination concerns, inconsistent batches, and missed safety signals.
  3. Lockdowns, censorship, and pandemic profiteering produced widespread human and social harms like mental-health crises, untreated illnesses, wasted public funds, and silenced critics. The episode eroded public trust and risked normalizing permanent surveillance and emergency powers unless transparency is demanded.

The Pandemic That Broke Our Faith in Modeling

The DisInformation Chronicle • 220 implied HN points • 11 Nov 25
🏥 Health Politics Pandemic response
  1. The pandemic caused many people to lose trust in models and predictions about health. People started to question the accuracy and reliability of these forecasts.
  2. David Zweig's book shares stories and experiences that highlight the confusion and misinformation that emerged during the pandemic. These stories help readers understand the challenges faced during that time.
  3. The review emphasizes that the pandemic brought about significant changes in how we view information and rely on expert advice. Many now seek more transparency and honesty from sources we once trusted.

Are We Facing Lockdowns 2.0?

COVID Reason • 2101 implied HN points • 29 Aug 23
🏥 Health Politics Pandemic response
  1. Major media outlets are echoing the need to stop the spread of Covid to reduce strain on hospitals.
  2. There are concerns about the possibility of another lockdown due to rising Covid cases and the emergence of new variants.
  3. Lockdowns had significant negative impacts on liberty and prosperity, with no apologies or accountability from those in charge.

Covid Situation Report: May 9, 2024

Independent SAGE continues • 319 implied HN points • 09 May 24
🏥 Health Politics Pandemic response
  1. Covid cases are going up, especially for older people. It's important for them to stay safe and monitor their health.
  2. A new variant called KP.2 is spreading but doesn't seem to be much stronger than previous strains. We should keep an eye on it.
  3. The Spring 2024 booster shots are being given out quickly, which is good for protecting vulnerable groups as Covid levels rise.

German Public Television Reports on the Wuhan Cover Up

The DisInformation Chronicle • 705 implied HN points • 07 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Pandemic response
  1. German scientists suggest that the COVID-19 virus may have been engineered in a lab, challenging the idea it came from nature.
  2. Some scientists faced backlash for trying to raise concerns about the virus's origins, leading to fears that scientific integrity is at risk.
  3. Documents reveal past proposals to create similar viruses, raising questions about the responsibility of researchers in handling dangerous pathogens.

New Emails From Anthony Fauci And Francis Collins Show More Purposeful Dishonesty On COVID Vaccines

Unmasked • 56 implied HN points • 22 Jan 26
🏥 Health Politics Pandemic response
  1. Fauci shifted key public health stances over time, including on masks, school closures, and lockdowns, creating conflicting guidance.
  2. Newly released emails are presented as evidence that Fauci and Francis Collins knowingly misled the public to push vaccine messaging and mandates.
  3. The piece argues that media and officials largely failed to hold them accountable, and that critics of strict COVID policies were vindicated.

The Damage Caused From COVID Policies Is Utterly Jaw Dropping

Unmasked • 62 implied HN points • 13 Jan 26
🏥 Health Politics Pandemic response
  1. Lockdowns and many other COVID policies were implemented without solid evidence they would reduce transmission, yet they were used widely.
  2. Officials largely ignored or failed to study the likely harms, causing major social, economic, and mental-health damage that still lingers.
  3. Many interventions, such as school closures and business restrictions, lacked rigorous trials so their benefits are unclear. This shows we need evidence-driven policies that consider harms as well as benefits.

The Forced Medication of All Citizens

Break Free with Karen Hunt • 1139 implied HN points • 28 Feb 23
🏥 Health Politics Pandemic response
  1. Historically, the acceptance of medication started with voluntary use, then shifted to recommendations, and eventually became mandatory for safety.
  2. The current trend suggests a future where medication may be mandated by law, conditioning people to comply without question.
  3. Global emergencies are being used to justify stockpiling medication and giving organizations like the WHO significant control over policies and responses.