Topic: William Schaffner

2 chapters across the catalog

Comely
Episode 1587 9:37 - 15:26

1587: Comely

COVID-19 Variant BA.2.86 and Reinstated Mask Mandates

Health officials report an uptick in COVID-19 cases linked to the BA.2.86 variant, leading some hospitals to reinstate mask mandates. Dr. William Schaffner of Vanderbilt University recommends masking for high-risk individuals, while the CDC prepares for new booster shots. The discussion contrasts these reports with wastewater data showing declining trends in California and New York.

Variant Factories
Episode 1361 21:20 - 29:45

1361: Variant Factories

Delta Variant Mask Mandates and Variant Factory Rhetoric

The World Health Organization and the CDC have issued conflicting guidance regarding mask-wearing for vaccinated individuals in response to the Delta variant. Dr. William Schaffner of Vanderbilt University recently labeled unvaccinated individuals as "potential variant factories," a term criticized for inciting social division. Meanwhile, a court in Lisbon, Portugal, reportedly ruled that only a small fraction of reported COVID deaths were directly attributable to the virus, contradicting official government figures.