Dr. Paul Offit

Well, it's sort of arbitrary. I mean, at the time when we met in December of 2020, hundreds and to some extent thousands of people were dying every day. So the benefit was clear if this vaccine worked. And so the question, did we know about, was essentially the first trial was 40,000, that's 20,000 that got the vaccine. The second trial was 30,000, that's 15,000 that got the vaccine.

Well, it's sort of arbitrary. I mean, at the time when we met in December of 2020, hundreds and to some extent thousands of people were dying every day. So the benefit was clear if this vaccine worked. And so the question, did we know about, was essentially the first trial was 40,000, that's 20,000 that got the vaccine. The second trial was 30,000, that's 15,000 that got the vaccine.

Well, it's sort of arbitrary. I mean, at the time when we met in December of 2020, hundreds and to some extent thousands of people were dying every day. So the benefit was clear if this vaccine worked. And so the question, did we know about, was essentially the first trial was 40,000, that's 20,000 that got the vaccine. The second trial was 30,000, that's 15,000 that got the vaccine.

You had 35,000 people. Was that enough? I think it was enough to tell you that you didn't have an uncommon side effect, but it wasn't enough to tell you you didn't have a rare side effect.

You had 35,000 people. Was that enough? I think it was enough to tell you that you didn't have an uncommon side effect, but it wasn't enough to tell you you didn't have a rare side effect.

You had 35,000 people. Was that enough? I think it was enough to tell you that you didn't have an uncommon side effect, but it wasn't enough to tell you you didn't have a rare side effect.

But you did have processes like the vaccine safety data link, this linked computerized medical record system, which involves about 9% of the country, where you can, once the vaccine rolls out, you can very quickly tell who got it and who didn't. And if there was a problem that came up, you would see it.

But you did have processes like the vaccine safety data link, this linked computerized medical record system, which involves about 9% of the country, where you can, once the vaccine rolls out, you can very quickly tell who got it and who didn't. And if there was a problem that came up, you would see it.

But you did have processes like the vaccine safety data link, this linked computerized medical record system, which involves about 9% of the country, where you can, once the vaccine rolls out, you can very quickly tell who got it and who didn't. And if there was a problem that came up, you would see it.

And we were looking, and then myocarditis popped up, which occurred in roughly one per 50,000 people, but in children, or in people 16 to 29, it was one in 6,600. Not that small. But, you know, you were protecting against a disease that was potentially fatal. Now, you could argue for that age group, the 16 to 29-year-old, it's unlikely to be fatal in them.

And we were looking, and then myocarditis popped up, which occurred in roughly one per 50,000 people, but in children, or in people 16 to 29, it was one in 6,600. Not that small. But, you know, you were protecting against a disease that was potentially fatal. Now, you could argue for that age group, the 16 to 29-year-old, it's unlikely to be fatal in them.

And we were looking, and then myocarditis popped up, which occurred in roughly one per 50,000 people, but in children, or in people 16 to 29, it was one in 6,600. Not that small. But, you know, you were protecting against a disease that was potentially fatal. Now, you could argue for that age group, the 16 to 29-year-old, it's unlikely to be fatal in them.

But, you know, there's about 1,800 children less than 18 who have died of COVID. It's not like you can't die of COVID as a child. And the good news about the myocarditis, if there was any good news to be had, was that it really was self-limiting and transient. Initially, we admitted those kids to the hospital, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. it.

But, you know, there's about 1,800 children less than 18 who have died of COVID. It's not like you can't die of COVID as a child. And the good news about the myocarditis, if there was any good news to be had, was that it really was self-limiting and transient. Initially, we admitted those kids to the hospital, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. it.

But, you know, there's about 1,800 children less than 18 who have died of COVID. It's not like you can't die of COVID as a child. And the good news about the myocarditis, if there was any good news to be had, was that it really was self-limiting and transient. Initially, we admitted those kids to the hospital, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. it.

A lot as a teenager, 16, 17, 18. I played poker all the time.

A lot as a teenager, 16, 17, 18. I played poker all the time.

A lot as a teenager, 16, 17, 18. I played poker all the time.

Also, I grew up in Baltimore. I spent my life at the track, just so we're clear. Even early college, life at the track. So Bowie, Laurel, Pimlico, I spent my life at the track. But make your bet. Make your bet. Be willing to make your bet, realizing you may have to tear up your ticket at the end of the race. And there's something to be said for that.

Also, I grew up in Baltimore. I spent my life at the track, just so we're clear. Even early college, life at the track. So Bowie, Laurel, Pimlico, I spent my life at the track. But make your bet. Make your bet. Be willing to make your bet, realizing you may have to tear up your ticket at the end of the race. And there's something to be said for that.