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Pandemic Journal

Dr Robert Hess: Managing the Covid-19 aftermath

Dr Robert HEss

Dr Robert Hess – 03/07/2022

Dr Robert Hess: Managing the Covid-19 aftermath: Detox of the spike-protein.

Two full years after the pandemic began, it is now time to consider our next moves. In order to maintain a clear overview, I placed great emphasis on accurate documentation and ongoing information exchange right from the start. This meticulous approach, together with insights from science and research findings, enabled us to make precisely tailored recommendations for our clients. In the last few weeks and months, we have been gathering up loose ends and shifting our focus to appropriate preventive measures as well as preparations for the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition to shortening test intervals and adapting diagnostic methods, we will now also review the composition of our supplements to ensure that they are likewise optimally adjusted to the individual pandemic-related circumstances of our clients.

 

The focus of our prophylactic supplement program and of the measures we are taking for the COVID-19 aftermath is primarily on the spike protein. The spike protein, which is not only a component of the SARS-CoV-2 virus but also produced in our bodies as a result of vaccination, can circulate in our bodies and damage cells, tissues and organs. It is our view that “detoxing” the body of spike proteins as soon as possible after infection or vaccination can protect against damage from residual or circulating spike proteins. Various international committees have been drawing up guidelines and collating information on how to remove viral and vaccine-induced spike proteins from the body. The lists of herbal medicines and dietary supplements together with the information on them were compiled in collaboration with international physicians, scientists and health practitioners.

COVID-19 infection, COVID-19 vaccines and spike protein damage are all relatively new phenomena, so the guidelines have been based on established and recent medical research as well as the clinical experience of international physicians. The respective guidelines will be updated on an ongoing basis as new knowledge and findings emerge. We will review the guidelines, herbal medicines and dietary supplements, as well as other measures and, as appropriate, incorporate them into our program and adapt them individually for our clients.


What exactly is the spike protein?
The SARS-CoV-2 virus first identified in Wuhan has spike protein on its surface. The spike protein is also found in all SARS-CoV-2 variants. In a natural infection, the spike protein is the component of the virus that allows it to enter the cells of your body. One region of the protein, called S2, binds the viral envelope to the cell membrane. The S2 region also has the effect of making the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein easily recognizable to the immune system, which then produces antibodies that attack and bind to the virus.
Spike proteins are also produced by the human body following vaccination against COVID-19 and function in a similar way, in that they can fuse with cell membranes. It is not yet entirely clear to what extent spike proteins formed by vaccination interact with our immune system, as they are produced in our own cells, but this does not necessarily mean that an immune response cannot also be triggered. Misdirected immune responses (i.e. the inability of our immune system to distinguish between virus-related and vaccine-produced spike protein) could have devastating consequences and damage healthy cells in our body.


Why should I consider a spike protein detox?
Recent research has linked viral spike protein to negative effects and consequences, such as blood clots, brain fog, pneumonia, and heart muscle inflammation. A Japanese-led biodistribution study examining the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine also demonstrated that the vaccine particles had reached various tissues throughout the body within 48 hours of vaccination and did not remain at the injection site, with high concentrations found in the liver, bone marrow and ovaries. New evidence also shows that the spike protein may interfere with the ability of our cells to repair DNA. All of the above taken in the context of Long Covid prompted us to focus more on this issue. Taking preventive action in this area could be of tremendous benefit on multiple levels.

If you have had side-effects after being vaccinated or if you suffer from Long Covid or Long Covid-like symptoms, the “Spike Detox” is one of the best ways to tackle your symptoms. Even if you have not experienced any of the above phenomena and have ever been vaccinated or infected with COVID-19 (with or without symptoms), this is relevant to you. Spike protein induced by a natural infection or alternatively a COVID-19 vaccine has high potential to damage our cells, so it is important to take steps to detoxify the body as much as possible.


What is the purpose of the Spike Detox?
General measures such as heat therapies, sauna sessions and hot baths, are good ways to detoxify from spike protein. Intermittent fasting, a dietary measure that stimulates the body’s autophagy ability, can also be helpful in this context. This is essentially a recycling process that takes place in human cells, whereby cells break down and recycle components. By means of autophagy, the body eliminates damaged cell proteins and can destroy harmful viruses and bacteria resulting from an infection.

The right diet is, of course, also essential here, the consumption of pro-inflammatory foods should be avoided, and it also makes sense to aim for a low-histamine diet. The daily intake of important multivitamins and minerals is essential – we already cover this with our personalized supplements.

The targeted spike protein detox primarily refers to four different components, which we will discuss in more detail below:

– the spike protein
– ACE2 receptors
– interleukin 6 (IL-6)
– furin

“Protein-binding inhibitors” impede the binding of the spike protein to human cells, while others neutralize the spike protein, rendering it potentially incapable of causing damage to human cells.

Spike protein inhibitors: prunella vulgaris, pine needles, emodin, neem, dandelion leaf extract, ivermectin

Spike protein neutralizers: N-acetylcysteine (NAC), glutathione, fennel tea, star anise tea, pine needle tea, St. John’s wort, comfrey leaves, vitamin C

Ivermectin has been shown to bind to the spike protein, potentially preventing it from binding to the cell membrane. A number of naturally occurring plants – including pine needles, fennel, star anise, St. John’s wort, and comfrey leaves – contain a substance called shikimic acid that may help neutralize the spike protein. Shikimic acid is also believed to counteract the formation of blood clots. Pine needle tea has a strong antioxidant effect and contains high concentrations of vitamin C, which has a key role to play in neutralizing toxins.


What are ACE2 receptors?
ACE2 receptors are found in the cell wall, in the epithelial and endothelial lining of lungs and blood vessels, and in blood platelets (thrombocytes). Spike protein binds to ACE2 receptors, and it is thought that variable concentrations of spike protein can bind and adhere to our ACE2 receptors, blocking their regular function in various tissues. In addition, the “stickiness” of the spike protein at the ACE2 receptor could cause the immune system to attack healthy cells and possibly trigger autoimmune diseases.

Substances that can naturally protect ACE2 receptors: ivermectin, quercetin (with zinc), fisetin

There is evidence that, when ivermectin binds to an ACE2 receptor, this prevents the spike protein from binding to it.


Why attack IL-6?
Some natural substances support the detoxification process after infection by acting on interleukin- 6. It has been scientifically proven that cytokines such as IL-6 are present at much higher levels in individuals who have been infected with COVID-19 than in those who have not. IL-6 has also been used as a parameter for measuring the progression of COVID-19 cases. In 2021, a meta-analysis using worldwide datasets showed a correlation between IL-6 levels and the severity of COVID-19 disease and demonstrated that IL-6 levels were inversely related to the number of T cells in ICU patients.

IL-6 inhibitors (anti-inflammatories): Boswellia serrata (frankincense) and dandelion leaf extract

Other IL-6 inhibitors: black cumin (Nigella sativa), curcumin, fish oil and other fatty acids, cinnamon, fisetin (flavonoid), apigenin, quercetin (flavonoid), resveratrol, luteolin, vitamin D3 (with vitamin K), zinc, magnesium, jasmine tea, spices, bay leaves, black pepper, nutmeg, and sage

Several natural, plant substances are used in antiviral therapy. The plant pigment quercetin has been shown to have broad-spectrum anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects. Zinc acts as a powerful antioxidant that protects the body from oxidative stress, a process associated with DNA damage, excessive inflammation and other harmful effects.


What is furin?
Furin is an enzyme that cleaves proteins and makes them biologically active.
Furin has been shown to cleave the spike protein, allowing the virus to enter human cells. There is a furin cleavage site on the spike protein of COVID-19, which is thought to make the virus more infectious and transmissible. Furin inhibitors could therefore prevent cleavage and thus activation of the spike protein.

Furin inhibitors: rutin, limonene, baicalein, hesperidin

Many of these measures and detox options are already part of our program. All further suggestions and research results will be reviewed in the coming weeks for our clients and, if we consider them to be necessary, safe and prophylactic, they will be individually incorporated into the supplements. It is therefore of enormous benefit that we are up to date regarding the infection, recovery and vaccination situation of each client. If you have any further questions or if we do not have all the information about your individual situation, please do not hesitate to contact your consultant.

Pandemic Journal

Dr Robert Hess: FDA approves booster

Dr Robert HEss

Dr Robert Hess – 09/29/2021

Dr Robert Hess: FDA approves booster dose of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for the over-65s and for vulnerable categories but not yet for the wider population.

The issue of booster vaccination has risen high on the agenda, and every country is taking a different approach to it. Israel, Austria and Russia are already offering booster jabs to the general population, whereas Belgium, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Spain and Sweden are restricting them to the immunocompromised or elderly. Germany will reach its own national decision in early October, and in the United States, the FDA announced last week that it had approved boosters, albeit on a more restrictive basis than had been expected.

On 22nd September 2021, the FDA issued Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the booster dose of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine, but only for certain population groups. The FDA’s decision not to extend the scheme (at least for the moment) to the general population or to all persons aged 16 and older came as a direct rebuff to the announcement from the Biden administration in August that boosters would become available to all eligible Americans starting in late September. It remains to be seen whether this extension of coverage will now happen. At the beginning of last week, the Key Vaccine Advisory Committee voted by a majority of 16-2 against a third vaccination for younger groups of people because of uncertainty as to whether it could be justified in the absence of firm data.

The approval granted by the FDA to the booster vaccination is limited to the following groups of people:

– persons aged 65 years and older;
– persons aged 18 to 64 years for whom who a severe course of the COVID-19 disease poses a significant risk; and
– persons aged 18 to 64 years who are at high risk of severe COVID-19 complications due to occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2, such as health care workers, teachers etc.

The CDC made known its own booster vaccination recommendation on 23rd September, which is broadly consistent with the terms of approval granted by the FDA. The CDC further recommends that people aged 50-64 years with an underlying health condition should also receive a booster shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

They also advise that, depending on the balance of individual benefit and risk, people aged 18- 49 with an underlying health condition should also receive a booster shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The roll-out of Pfizer-BioNTech booster vaccinations will now begin quite soon in the United States. The single booster jab is to be administered no earlier than six months after completion of the Pfizer-BioNTech primary series (i.e. the first two doses of COVID-19 vaccine). Moreover, the approval of the booster vaccination only applies to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and does not cover the Moderna or J&J alternatives.

The FDA and CDC have thus laid down a guideline, which we will also follow as far as possible. While booster vaccination undoubtedly makes sense for individuals who have passed a certain age threshold or whose physical constitution warrants and/or allows it, different criteria apply to younger age groups. This is the precise reason why we operate on the individuality principle, answering this question on an individual basis for anyone who does not specifically find themselves in one of the above-mentioned groups. If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact one of our SARS-CoV-2 Task Force consultants.

Pandemic Journal

Dr Robert Hess: A first step in the right direction

Dr Robert HEss

Dr Robert Hess – 09/21/2021

Dr Robert Hess: A first step in the right direction: BioNTech introduces the “individualization” concept into vaccination strategy.

Where are we now, almost two years into the pandemic? Nine months after the first vaccines for the prevention of Covid-19 were approved, are there any conclusions that can be reliably drawn? Since December 2020, 2.39 billion people worldwide have been vaccinated against Covid-19, with a total of 5.82 billion doses having been administered. Just under 30% of the world’s population has thus been fully vaccinated, and in the United States that figure has now passed the 50% mark.

The raw data on how well the vaccines perform against infection with Covid-19 and on whether they provide sufficient protection are well known. Vaccinated individuals are less likely to become infected and, if they should nonetheless contract the virus, the course of the disease is generally much less severe. These statistics are enough to persuade most people, despite the acknowledged risk of vaccine side-effects. So, how are we to weigh up the advantages of vaccination in preventing a disease that can cause long-term harm and even death against the possible side-effects? This is the dilemma in which a large proportion of the population find themselves, depending on age, pre-existing conditions and personal conviction.

In the current circumstances, it is difficult to find the objective middle ground, as there are many different perspectives on the matter. On the one hand, we are currently witnessing a mass clinical trial, in which all those who line up for vaccination are effectively test subjects, and the scientific community is on standby to respond to any side-effects that manifest themselves. These side-effects range from minor local reactions and discomfort after injection to fever, pain, nausea, swelling of the lymph nodes, sensory disturbances, autoimmune disorders and blood clotting. One of the most recent findings was an increased incidence of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) or pericarditis (inflammation of the tissue that surrounds the heart) associated with a second dose of an mRNA vaccine, an occurrence more frequently observed in adolescent males. This again highlights the potential severity of such side-effects and also the importance of meticulously thorough monitoring.

On the other hand, we are approaching the point where the sheer number of vaccine doses and the thoroughness of monitoring make the detection of further rare diseases increasingly unlikely. Reliable data is available for the elderly who were vaccinated first in the USA, Europe and elsewhere. Nevertheless, there are always the “unknown unknowns”. In other words, vaccines against Covid-19 could theoretically set in motion internal processes that we could not have anticipated. For the moment, at least, the vaccines are safe and surprisingly effective, but what about three years further down the road? We cannot know today what the long-term results will be. The current crop of vaccines are based on an entirely new scientific principle which we are only just beginning to understand. So the question arises as to which groups of people should they be used on? It’s like this: if you are 60 years old, you won’t want to take the approximately one percent risk of dying from corona. In the case of children or unborn fetuses who still have their whole life ahead of them, however, the possibility of long-term complications is a major consideration.

Dr Robert Hess believes that this dilemma should be tackled by means of a specific strategy, with the key concept being “individualization”. The current aim of governments and of the World Health Organization is to vaccinate as many people as possible and thereby maximize protection against infection with SARS‑CoV‑2. Yet this is supposed to happen in a world where individuality counts for more than at any time in history. This issue, which is at the very least defined by differences in age, gender and ethnicity is largely ignored. A structured and finely-tuned individualization plan, such as the one Dr Robert Hess creates, would not only identify risk groups and thus avoid vaccination side-effects, but would also have a positive effect on vaccination success and help to reassure those elements of society who are vehemently opposed. Our individualization plan comprises analysis of age, sex, medical history, risk factors and exposure, vaccine dose and immune status, as well as T-cell immunity and antibody titers against SARS‑CoV‑2.

A strategy of individualization has not yet been introduced on a broad scale, as the focus of the vaccination campaign is currently on the total number of doses administered rather than on the welfare of the individual. Which is not surprising, as there are limitations on the extent to which a policy of individualization can be implemented.

We were therefore delighted to learn last week that the BioNTech team have taken the first step towards individualization in their vaccination concept, specifically in terms of dose adjustment. BioNTech plans to apply for approval of its corona vaccine for children between the ages of five and eleven in the coming weeks. The data for this should be available by the end of September. The dose for this age group will be ten micrograms, which is one third of that given to adults. The data for even younger children (aged 6 months to 4 years) should be available towards the end of the year. Here, too, they expect that the dose can be further lowered.

The study results are already available and must now be finalized for submission to the regulatory authorities. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has stated that it cannot yet give a timeframe for possible approval. However, BioNTech is already preparing the production of the vaccine doses, so that the vaccination of children between five and eleven years of age could start as early as mid-October. Clinical trials are underway in the USA for both the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines. Previously, there had been delays because the FDA had required a greater number of child participants in the clinical trials being conducted by both BioNTech and Moderna.

According to immunologist Anthony Fauci, the vaccination of children in the States could begin in late autumn or early winter. For younger children, it may take a little longer, as the age groups six months to two years and two to five years are being tested separately. In late July, Israel became the first and so far only country to give the green light for BioNTech/Pfizer to be administered to children in the five to 11 age range who are at risk of serious health complications such as brain, heart or lung problems.

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine has been licensed for administration to children aged 12 and upwards since the end of May 2021, and the Moderna vaccine for the same age group since July 2021, but to date there is no vaccine specifically for children, particularly those in the 0-12 age group, which is why the dose adjustment announced now and further clinical research in the field is so important. Possible late complications of vaccination and undesirable side-effects in children can thus be counteracted.

In summary, we can say that we are looking forward to this development and will continue to follow it with great interest. It makes us all the more convinced of the importance and benefits of the individualization program, and we will continue to use this as the basis for our analyses and recommendations of Dr Robert Hess. If you have any further questions about our strategy and our individualization program, please do not hesitate to contact one of Dr Robert Hess consultants.

Pandemic Journal

Dr Robert Hess: Update on new mutations

Dr Robert HEss

Dr Robert Hess – 09/14/2021

Dr Robert Hess: Update on new mutations and what you need to know about COVID-19 variants.

As experts in the field of human and molecular genetics and thus also on the topic of mutations, we provide regular updates and forecasts of where the pandemic might be heading. Recently, new discoveries have come into the frame, so we have summarized these findings for you and added our own assessment.

Several thousand COVID-19 variants exist around the world, but most of them do not change the way the virus acts. So far, only a few mutants have evolved from the original strain that have given the virus an advantage and accelerated the course of the pandemic. Experts are constantly working to figure out which variants we should focus on and how they change the way in which we combat COVID-19. At the moment, there are only a handful of COVID-19 variants that give us cause for concern. The current “variants of concern” (VOCs) all have mutations in the virus’s spike protein, which acts as a key to break into cells and infect them. This is a source of concern because the spike protein from the original version of the virus is what the scientists have used to design all three authorized vaccines. It is also what monoclonal antibody treatments latch on to so the virus is unable to get into your cells, effectively neutralizing the threat. So far, none of these mutations have changed the virus enough to undercut the vaccines. The current VOCs listed by the WHO are Alpha, Beta, Delta and Gamma SARS-Cov-2 variants.

The Delta variant is our biggest concern at the moment. Identified in India in October 2020, it gained dominance quickly after it was first reported in the U.S. in March 2021. In fact, Delta has now spread to such an extent that it has splintered into several subvariants, referred to as “Delta plus”. Delta plus variants have a mutation in the spike protein found in both the Beta and Gamma variants that may help to evade neutralizing antibodies. While around 13% of infections in the U.S. are from Delta plus variants (AY.1, AY.2, and AY.3), they still behave similarly to the Delta variant. The AY.3 subtype is one of the most recent descendants of Delta but among the most notable. Experts suspect that it is potentially better at escaping the immune system. The variant is most dominant in the US where it makes up roughly 9% of all cases. Along with AY.1 and AY.2, it is now also a variant of concern (VOC). Together, the Delta lineages make up 80-95% of sequenced infections in the U.S. Like other VOCs, Delta has multiple mutations in its spike protein. What makes Delta unique is that it is much more efficient at latching onto your cells and is much more contagious. As already stated, Delta is about twice as infectious as the original strain and estimated to be 60% more infectious than Alpha. People infected with the Delta variant have been reported to have viral loads 1,000 times higher than other variants. Besides the above, five variants of interest (VOI) are currently (as of 09/07/2021) listed and followed with special attention: Eta, Iota, Kappa, Lambda und Mu. While the first four have been under special observation for at least one and a half months, Mu was only classified as a variant of interest by the WHO towards the end of August 2021 due to outbreaks in Europe and increasing infections in Colombia and Ecuador, where the Mu variant is responsible for 39% and 13% of COVID-19 infections. Mu was first sequenced in Colombia in January 2021. So far, it has been documented in 39 countries, including the U.S. However, the percentage of COVID-19 cases triggered by the Mu variant in the U.S. has been falling since July, and the Mu variant caused only about 0.2% of COVID-19 infections in the country in the week of 20th ‑ 27th August. What worries scientists is that the Mu mutations could indicate possible resistance to vaccines. Early research from Italy shows Mu is susceptible to antibodies produced by the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, but they don’t work as well as they do against the original Wuhan strain or Alpha variant. In addition, the combinations these mutations indicate a risk of immune resistance. Early research from the U.K. found the specific mutations may help Mu escape the immune system. Further studies are needed for an accurate assessment.

While much of the world’s focus has been on the Delta variant of coronavirus, a new variant was identified in South Africa in May 2021. Currently referred to as the C.1.2 variant, it is yet to be called a VOI or VOC by the WHO, but is drawing the attention of scientists due to the number and types of mutations it contains and the speed at which the mutations have occurred. With 59 detected mutations, C.1.2 is reported to be the variant carrying the most mutations since the original “wild” variant emerged in China. The variant has emerged from the C.1 lineage which was one of the coronavirus lineages that dominated during the first wave of infections in South Africa in mid-May 2020. Although levels of the C.1.2 variant are still low among the South African population, it remains a concern to local public health experts and scientists across the world. Currently, Delta remains the dominant variant in Europe, the U.S. and much of the world. For a variant to become dominant it will have to outcompete Delta. That will mean increased transmissibility, being able to bind to human host cells and infect people quicker than Delta currently does. Time will tell whether any of the variants mentioned here will prevail against Delta and, if so, to what extent. The WHO, public health experts and scientists will continue to closely monitor the course of events. We will also continue to keep you informed about any news on this front.