and new columnist at the times, and for the first half of our programme, professor peter hotez is with us, expert in molecular virology and microbiology at the baylor college of medicine. what we ve known for some time about the uk s response to the covid pandemic is that the protective ring the government claimed to have thrown around care homes wasn t very protective at all. between march 2020 and april 2021, some 39,000 people died in care homes from covid. the public inquiry, which is still to begin, will examine whether more could have been done. in the interim, some of the evidence the panel will consider is now being tested in the court of public opinion. the reporter isabelle 0akshott, who co authored a book with matt hancock, has now shared with the telegraph 100,000 whatsapp messages which the former health secretary had shared with government officials. the goal of 100,000 tests per day by the end of this month. in one message, from april 14th 2020, mr hancock te
reporter: jardiance on the list for price cut negotiations along with januvia, feeias:00 and novo log. xarelto, blood thinner, enbrel, imbruvica, farxiga for diabetes and kidney dis. entresto for heart failure. today big pharma doesn t just get a big check. in 2003, the republican congress banned medicare from negotiating lower drug prices. the new law empowers medicare to do just that, negotiate. if drug companies don t participate, they face tax penalties. the pharma industry is suing to block the law, claiming it will mean less money for new drugs, and politics should not dictate which treatments and cures are worth developing and who should get access to them. but after capping insulin at $35, polls show broad support for more price caps. this is fundamentally about putting prescriptions
have been off patent for years and years have been off patent for years and years and have been off patent for years and years and years and years and to be made generically, there is no reason to be made generically, there is no reason to be gouging it at this point. but we are to be gouging it at this point. but we are still having the struggle. we ve we are still having the struggle. we ve had this issue now with modernity and pfizer, which want to id modernity and pfizer, which want to go up modernity and pfizer, which want to go up to modernity and pfizer, which want to go up to $130 a dose for their mrna covid go up to $130 a dose for their mrna covid vaccines mud dharna. after getting covid vaccines mud dharna. after getting $30 covid vaccines mud dharna. after getting $30 billion in taxpayer money getting $30 billion in taxpayer money for both for the veldman costs and for money for both for the veldman costs and for advanced market purchases, so t
population where it s already given, and some are not even giving a third dose to his 20-year-old son. john: some people are thinking were we sold a bill of goods here, get the vaccine, you ll be protected. and then well, the effects of the vaccine wane after a number of months, get a booster and good for life. and now we are hearing the booster is beginning to wane as well, and starting with people over 50 and who are immunocompromised, and maybe a month or two, opening it up. are we going to be here every six months? the general narrative from the pharma industry, and a ceo said everyone will need a fourth dose, and wait a minute, where is the data to support this. some are eager to adopt it, and some say i want to see more
vaccines have immunity for a long period of time. the science has been changing on this. it looks like it is a lot longer than that. this conversation has been driven by the pharma industry, and many have suggested that vaccinated immunity and natural immunity is lifelong. and we will see. so far, we were told it is short-lived and we are going to need boosters or natural immunity. right now, the test of time is proving your hypothesis correct. john: all right, dr. makary, we always appreciate your perspective on these things. very much grounded in science and reality, which is refreshing. we appreciate it. shannon: if there is a negative news, he gives you the good context to understand. we feel like okay, we can continue moving forward. these might you take the information, see how it works for you and your family. john: there is so much hyperbole and fearmongering. in marty makary is a real straight shooter.