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Coronavirus Megathread 6: A Shot in the Dark

Get in line for your vaccine here!

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by Anonymousreply 600March 11, 2021 9:48 PM

WTF Muriel? I thought that image previews were fixed?

Previous thread

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by Anonymousreply 1January 26, 2021 4:50 PM

Good one Sylvia.

by Anonymousreply 2January 26, 2021 4:55 PM

Since I'm a Gen-Xer from a lower middle class background, what I REALLY automatically think of when I hear the phrase "shot in the dark" is this, but I knew that DL would not approve.

"Hiissssssssss! Sylvia Fowler types white-trashy! Hissssssssss!!"

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by Anonymousreply 3January 26, 2021 4:57 PM

At least they're wearing cock rings on their wrists.

by Anonymousreply 4January 26, 2021 5:02 PM

Israel has about 43% of its population vaccinated. So how is that 2-shot vaccine working out for them?

[quote] Out of 128,600 Israelis who have received both doses of the Pfizer vaccine, Israeli health authorities say that only 20 people have subsequently caught the bug — an extraordinary success rate that bodes well for the rest of the world, once the shots become widespread..

[quote] The news is actually even better than it sounds at first. Half of the 20 people who did catch COVID suffered from chronic illnesses, and not a single one experienced severe symptoms.

[quote] “All patients experienced a mild illness with symptoms including headaches, cough, weakness or fatigue,” a statement by Israeli health maintenance organization Maccabi reads. “No-one was hospitalized or suffered from a fever above 38.5 Celsius. Most patients tested for COVID-19 due to exposure to a verified patient.”

This seems to confirm the findings from the clinical trials.

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by Anonymousreply 5January 26, 2021 6:07 PM

A South Carolina mayor turned to Chick-fil-A to help with gridlocked traffic at a drive-thru COVID-19 vaccine site - reducing the wait time from an hour to just 15 minutes.​

Chick-Fil-A manager Jerry Walkowiak used the Chick-fil-A method to speed up the drive-thru, including walking up to drivers in advance to make sure they had their paperwork and immediately directing them to a spot to receive their vaccine.

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by Anonymousreply 6January 26, 2021 6:14 PM

If they used Chick fil As as a vaccination centers, ALL the motherfucking anti-vax Deplorables would be lining up for one.

by Anonymousreply 7January 26, 2021 6:16 PM

White House says Defense Production Act has been invoked to speed up vaccine production

From CNN's Jason Hoffman

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the Biden administration has already invoked the Defense Production Act to help boost vaccine supply and did so within 24 hours of an executive order Biden signed last week.

“It's already been invoked and underway, so those efforts to ramp up production are already underway. They started as of less than 24 hours after the president signed that executive order and made that announcement last week,” Psaki said at Tuesday’s White House press briefing. She did not say which specific companies are a part of the Administration’s efforts through the DPA.

The President on Thursday directed federal agencies to use "all available legal authorities, including the Defense Production Act" to boost vaccine supply.

by Anonymousreply 8January 26, 2021 6:25 PM

I got my first dose of the Moderna vaccine two weeks ago today. My second shot is scheduled for 2/14. The night after, my arm was sore, and 48 hours later I had a headache. When I woke up on Friday morning, the headache was gone and the soreness in my arm had disappeared.

I waited three and a half hours to get into the building for my appointment. Once I got in the whole thing moved quickly. I hope that D.C. has worked out all the problems with the distribution system. But just to make sure, I scheduled the second dose for 9:00 am when there should not be much of a backlog.

by Anonymousreply 9January 26, 2021 6:39 PM

"A new variant of coronavirus that worries health officials has been detected in the United States for the first time, officials in Minnesota said Monday. They said they had detected the P.1 variant of coronavirus in a traveler from Brazil."

Because, of course, we're still allowing travel to the US from that covid hotspot, just as we are from the UK. Michigan's first case of the UK variant was detected last week in a woman who traveled to the UK in early January.

by Anonymousreply 10January 26, 2021 6:53 PM

No matter where the next variant pops up it will be all over the world in a day thanks to all the traveling idiots.

by Anonymousreply 11January 26, 2021 9:36 PM

Well there's much reassuring news regarding the UK and SA variants at least now. I am linking Florian Krammer's most recent tweet thread where he discusses the state of the research on those two variants and also the advisability of imbibing blaufrankisch wine. (insert pleasant memories of dinner at Wallse)

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by Anonymousreply 12January 26, 2021 10:23 PM

Can someone boil down Florian's nerdspeak? I haven't the patience. Thanks.

by Anonymousreply 13January 26, 2021 10:31 PM

Cannot wait to get them here in HA, which is slow to act on public services. Right now, only those over 65 and/or healthcare workers can receive them.

That’s OK and totally understandable.

I will gladly wait my turn, like everyone else.

by Anonymousreply 14January 26, 2021 10:36 PM

I am getting my first shot of the Moderna vaccine this weekend. Does it make you sick? Had anybody here had it?

by Anonymousreply 15January 26, 2021 10:36 PM

*GA

Ooops! Sorry!

by Anonymousreply 16January 26, 2021 11:26 PM

Go, Joe!

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by Anonymousreply 17January 27, 2021 1:12 AM

Just got my first dose of Pfizer. Have to schedule #2 for 2/16. LA County ... outdoor drive-through site. Amazingly efficient. You don't even get out of your car.

by Anonymousreply 18January 27, 2021 1:16 AM

R15 I haven’t, but my brother-in-law and sister have, as have my elderly grandparents. No side effects for the young ones (in their thirties) at all. My grandparents said the next day they were just sore at the injection site at thei arm. They are about to get their second shot this week. Good luck to you!

by Anonymousreply 19January 27, 2021 10:12 AM

My doctor got it but still no vaccine for the rest of us yet.

by Anonymousreply 20January 27, 2021 10:14 AM

When will we return to ore COVID life? Summer? fall?

by Anonymousreply 21January 27, 2021 10:53 AM

I’m apprehensive about the second dose. But better than a ventilator. Had a headache for a day after dose number one but nurse said NO aspirin or ibuprofen, only Tylenol if it gets too bad.

by Anonymousreply 22January 27, 2021 11:29 AM

CDC says ibuprofen is fine. Why is your nurse saying no R22?

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by Anonymousreply 23January 27, 2021 12:13 PM

She was quite firm with that information. No reason given. Wasn’t bad enough to take a pain reliever so just went on with my day.

OT, so much misinformation out there. ie: My sister is horrified by the vax since “it contains a Bill Gates chip to track my every move”.

I’m the most boring guy in the world. Why BG would want to follow me around is truly the mystery of our time!!!!

by Anonymousreply 24January 27, 2021 12:20 PM

What percentage of anti vaxxers will die off due to COVID?

It sounds heartless, but anti vaxx folks are making a choice to risk a disease that attacks your blood clotting functions, and therefore, all of your organ systems, and for which they have no real cure. If they don’t die immediately, perfectly healthy folks are going to come out of it no longer perfectly healthy, likely with a shorter lifespan.

Is this what Darwin described?

by Anonymousreply 25January 27, 2021 12:22 PM

Can we pay some Covid deniers to cough on Mitch McConnell and Kevin McCarty?

by Anonymousreply 26January 27, 2021 12:50 PM

And Lindsey-Belle and Jim Jordan.

by Anonymousreply 27January 27, 2021 12:52 PM

And Matt(I'm getting pounded by my "son" on the regular)Gaetz.

by Anonymousreply 28January 27, 2021 12:55 PM

My 75yo father got Moderna about 2 wks ago in veterans home in dark red state. He said other than sore arm, there've been no side effects. Unfortunately, he said that almost half of staff and some residents were opting out. So he was asked to be included in video testimonial sponsored by Veterans Admin, attesting to vaccine safety. If there's alot of hesitancy among front line personnel, it's gonna be a long road ahead esp in flyover states

by Anonymousreply 29January 27, 2021 1:52 PM

China using anal swabs to detect COVID-19: report

And you thought the nasal test was uncomfortable …

China is using anal swabs to test its residents for COVID-19 amid a new wave of the outbreak — and local experts say the method is a more accurate way to detect the bug, according to a report.

The derriere detection method is being used more frequently in Beijing after a 9-year-old boy tested positive for the highly contagious UK variant of the virus last month, Newsweek reported.

But anal swabs have been used there since last year, reserved for individuals living in COVID-19 hot spots such as Shanghai. Nasal and throat swabs remain the most popular methods because of their convenience and speed, according to the outlet.

“Of course, anal swabs aren’t as convenient as throat swabs, so they’re only being used on individuals in key quarantine areas,” said Li Tongzeng of Beijing You’an Hospital, according to Newsweek. “This will reduce the return of false positives.”

The swabs are inserted 3 to 5 centimeters (1.2 to 2 inches) inside the rectum, according to the outlet.

Tongzeng said the method can increase the rate of detectability and lower the chances of missing a diagnosis.

“What we’ve found is that in some infected patients, the coronavirus survives for a longer period of time in their digestive tract or excrement than in their respiratory tract,” Tongzeng told the outlet.

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by Anonymousreply 30January 27, 2021 4:24 PM

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

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by Anonymousreply 31January 27, 2021 4:25 PM

One in eight COVID-19 patients diagnosed with mental illness within months: study

One in eight people who have recovered from COVID-19 are diagnosed with their first psychiatric or neurological illness within six months of testing positive for the bug, according to a new study.

Researchers who surveyed 236,379 coronavirus survivors found that the numbers rose to one in three when people with a previous history of psychiatric or neurological illnesses were included, the Guardian reported.

In addition, the study found that one in nine patients also were diagnosed with conditions such as depression or stroke despite not having gone to a hospital when they were infected, according to lead author Dr. Max Taquet of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Oxford.

The study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, used electronic health records to evaluate hospitalized and non-hospitalized US patients with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis who recovered.

The subjects were compared with a group diagnosed with influenza, and another diagnosed with respiratory tract infections between Jan. 20 and Dec. 13, 2020, according to the news outlet.

Their analysis accounted for factors such as age, race, gender, socio-economic status and any underlying physical and mental conditions.

According to the results, the likelihood of a COVID-19 survivor developing a psychiatric or neurological illness within six months was 33.6 percent; almost 13 percent of the survivors did, in fact, receive a diagnosis in that time frame, the study found.

The researchers also discovered that most diagnoses were more common after bouts with the coronavirus than after the flu or other respiratory infections — including stroke, intracranial bleeding, dementia and psychotic disorders.

Overall, COVID-19 was linked to increased risk of these diagnoses, but the incidence was greater among those who required hospital treatment, and significantly so among patients who developed brain disease, the Guardian reported.

When asked how long these conditions might last after diagnosis, Taquet told the outlet, “I don’t think we have an answer to that question yet.”

He added: “For diagnoses like a stroke or an intracranial bleed, the risk does tend to decrease quite dramatically within six months … but for a few neurological and psychiatric diagnoses, we don’t have the answer about when it’s going to stop.”

Although the study does not prove that COVID-19 is directly behind the psychiatric and neurological conditions, research suggests the bug can have an impact on the brain and the central nervous system.

Dr. Tim Nicholson, a psychiatrist and clinical lecturer at King’s College hospital who was not involved in the study, said the results would help researchers decide which neurological and psychiatric complications required further careful study.

“I think particularly this raises a few disorders up the list of interests, particularly dementia and psychosis … and pushes a few a bit further down the list of potential importance, including Guillain-Barré syndrome,” he told the Guardian.

Meanwhile, another study has found that the coronavirus may remain inside the brain of severely ill patients and trigger relapses among those who thought they had recovered.

Researchers at Georgia State University discovered that infecting the nasal passages of mice with the virus led to a rapid, escalating attack on the brain that triggered severe illness.

Assistant professor Mukesh Kumar, the lead researcher, said the findings have implications for understanding the wide range of symptoms and severity of illness among people who contract the illness.

“Our thinking that it’s more of a respiratory disease is not necessarily true,” Kumar said. “Once it infects the brain, it can affect anything because the brain is controlling your lungs, the heart, everything. The brain is a very sensitive organ. It’s the central processor for everything.”

That study has been published in the journal Viruses.

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by Anonymousreply 32January 27, 2021 4:27 PM

Nasal spray that blocks COVID-19 could be available by summer: report

A nasal spray that can prevent COVID-19 for up to two days has been developed by researchers in the UK – and it may be available over the counter by the summer, according to a report.

The spray — developed by scientists at the University of Birmingham — prevents infection by capturing the bug in the nose and covering it in a coating from which it cannot escape, The Telegraph reported.

As a result, it would be safe for someone to exhale near another person because the virus would be inactive and harmless, the outlet said.

Dr. Richard Moakes, the study’s lead researcher, said he was confident that the spray will be able to put an end to social distancing restrictions and “get schools going again.”

“We think it will help in schools, as one of the good things about the formulation of the nasal spray is that it would not need to be reformulated for children,” Moakes told The Telegraph.

“If it could facilitate getting students back to school, and education being re-established, then that would be great.”

The spray includes an antiviral agent called carrageenan — also used as a thickening agent in food — and a solution called gellan, a gelling agent that sticks to cells in the nose.

Gellan can be sprayed as fine droplets inside the nasal cavity, where it can cover the surface evenly and stay at the delivery site rather than sliding out of the nose.

These ingredients are already approved for medical use, meaning it does not require additional approval, The Telegraph noted.

“Based on the product, it will be much quicker to get to the user than a novel drug,” Moakes told the Telegraph.

“I am confident that the formulation can make an impact. Our goal is to make an impact as soon as possible. We would really like to see this happen by summer.”

The researchers — who have been developing the spray since April 2020 — are in discussions with shops and pharmaceutical giants on the next steps to mass-produce it, The Telegraph reported. It is unclear when if or when it could become available outside of the UK.

The researchers announced in November that lab experiments showed the spray prevented an infection from spreading for up to 48 hours.

The scientists believe using it four times a day would be enough for general protection, although it is safe enough to be used every 20 minutes in a high-risk environment such as crowded schools.

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by Anonymousreply 33January 27, 2021 4:37 PM

Re; R33's post- what about your eyes? One can catch colds and flus through the membranes on/in your eyes.

by Anonymousreply 34January 27, 2021 4:39 PM

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

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by Anonymousreply 35January 27, 2021 4:56 PM

They just found the British strain here in Kentucky...yay.

by Anonymousreply 36January 27, 2021 6:05 PM

New York governor says there are 42 known cases of the UK Covid-19 variant reported across the state

From CNN's Ganesh Setty

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker announced Wednesday there are currently 42 known cases of the highly-contagious UK variant statewide across nine counties and New York City.

“We don’t know what exactly what is going on with the new strains. And the concept of not knowing is very troubling for me,” Cuomo continued.

So far, the state has collected roughly 2,800 samples for genomic testing since early December, Zucker added.

Cuomo noted how the real “nightmare scenario” is not necessarily community spread of this new variant, but evidence of a vaccine-resistant viral mutation.

Nevertheless, the governor reiterated that the state will change its policies based on the present facts.

“If the facts change, I have no problem looking the people in the eye and saying ‘the facts changed, our plan has to change,’” he said.

by Anonymousreply 37January 27, 2021 9:15 PM

Have they discovered any new fun viral surprises?

by Anonymousreply 38January 27, 2021 10:15 PM

CNN: More preliminary results in the lab suggest the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine will be effective against new, more contagious coronavirus strains first identified in South Africa and the UK.

As in previous studies, antibodies were slightly less effective against the virus with three key mutations in the variant identified in South Africa. However, Pfizer and BioNTech said, “the small differences in viral neutralization observed in these studies are unlikely to lead to a significant reduction in the effectiveness of the vaccine.”

by Anonymousreply 39January 28, 2021 12:26 PM

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

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by Anonymousreply 40January 28, 2021 4:09 PM

New York undercounted Covid-19 deaths in nursing homes by about 50%, according to report

From CNN's Lauren del Valle

The New York State Department of Health undercounted Covid-19 deaths among nursing home residents by approximately 50%, a new report released by the state's Attorney General Letitia James says.

The report released Thursday morning preliminarily concluded the underreported deaths based on a survey of 62 nursing homes, a roughly 10% sample of total facilities across the state.

The report, without identifying nursing homes by name, details discrepancies of as many as 29 deaths in a single facility underreported to the public by the Department of Health.

"A facility reported five confirmed and six presumed COVID-19 deaths at the facility as of August 3 to DOH. However, the facility reported to OAG a total of 27 COVID-19 deaths at the facility and 13 hospital deaths – a discrepancy of 29 deaths," the report says.

James' office continues to investigate the discrepancies, according to the report.

"OAG is investigating those circumstances where the discrepancies cannot reasonably be accounted for by error or the difference in the question posed."

CNN reached out to the Department of Health and Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office for comment but has not immediately heard back.

by Anonymousreply 41January 28, 2021 4:19 PM

German vaccine commission recommends AstraZeneca's vaccine should not be given to people over 65

From CNN’s Claudia Otto

Germany's vaccine commission has recommended that the coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford should not be given to people over 65 years old, the German Interior Ministry said Thursday in a statement.

According to the statement, a study by the Standing Committee on Vaccination at Germany’s Robert Koch Institute has found there is insufficient data on the effectiveness of the vaccine for this age group. “It is not possible to make a statement for the effectiveness of the AstraZeneca vaccine in people over 65 years of age,” the statement said.

by Anonymousreply 42January 28, 2021 4:20 PM

I remember that someone from Moderna talked about targeting different vaccines to different age groups. Like Moderna and Pfizer for the over 60 age group, and something like AstraZeneca to the rest of the population that might have better immune system responses . AstraZeneca is valuable because it is much cheaper to produce and much easier to distribute around the world, so it has its place even if it isn't as effective for older populations. Also note that AstraZeneca still has clinical trials running in the US, so it's not yet entirely clear that it isn't effective in older populations.

by Anonymousreply 43January 28, 2021 6:29 PM

[bold]Government saves £600m on state pension payments as Covid deaths surge[/bold]

he Government will save over £600m in state pension payments this year following a steep rise in excess deaths among the elderly, according to the budget watchdog.

The expected number of excess pensioner deaths has shot up by more than 45pc, to 90,000 this year, because of the latest surge in the number of coronavirus cases.

Those over the age of 70 are most vulnerable to the disease and have been following strict social distancing measures since the start of the pandemic. However, the Covid-19 death toll has grown to 66,713 in Britain by mid-November, Government figures have reported.

more at link

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by Anonymousreply 44January 28, 2021 11:42 PM

First dose of Moderna vax this morning. Nurse advised me to take tylenol this evening and for a couple days. Feeling a bit tired this evening but otherwise good. Second dose scheduled for Feb. 25. I will continue to practice safe mitigation behaviors, (masking, social distance, avoid groups) but admit this will take some of the anxiety out of necessary things like shopping and doctor/dentist appointments. Once the ten day grace period ends after the second dose, will see a few friends and brother for first time since last spring.

by Anonymousreply 45January 28, 2021 11:49 PM

r45 Um . . . isn't there a risk of spreading Covid post-vaccination, to those who have not been vaccinated?

by Anonymousreply 46January 29, 2021 12:56 AM

Yes R46

My brother and the few friends will have been vaccinated. Only seeing them a deux, will wear masks and social distance. Just want to BE with someone. We will be careful.

by Anonymousreply 47January 29, 2021 2:03 AM

Think of all the fuck buddies who will be reunited soon.

by Anonymousreply 48January 29, 2021 12:37 PM

WaPo on Johnson & Johnson efficacy, 1/29/21

[quote]Single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine 66 percent effective against moderate and severe illness A coronavirus vaccine with less onerous storage and administration requirements could be a ‘game changer’

Targeting vaccines to different groups:

[quote] Jose Romero, health secretary of Arkansas and chairman of an advisory committee to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said vaccines of different efficacy might end up targeted to different populations. He laid out a hypothetical scenario in which one vaccine was 90 percent effective and another was 60 to 70 percent.

[quote] “I’d want to use the vaccine with higher efficacy in my most vulnerable population,” Romero said. “I’d think about 60 to 70 percent efficacy in a younger population where we know that the secondary morbidity and mortality is much lower.”

A single shot, easy to store, lower efficacy vaccine could be valuable for the the large population under age 60 and those without serious underlying conditions. For example, it might be easier to sell the idea of a vaccine to a college student who doesn't fear death from the virus by using an easily accessible single-shot vaccine.

The J&J data still has to be reviewed by the FDA.

by Anonymousreply 49January 29, 2021 2:25 PM

R9, where in DC did you get it? I keep getting shut out of appointments. And I am pretty quick getting through the questionnaire. Did you go through the normal online registration portal? TIA.

At what point did you learn which vaccine you got or would be getting?

by Anonymousreply 50January 29, 2021 4:26 PM

Coronavirus long-hauler: I was an active mom of four, but now I don't get out of bed most days

From CNN's Adrienne Vogt

Rebecca Meyer, a previously healthy 31-year-old mom, has been battling coronavirus since March.

“We're still very much in the symptom management phase of my sickness…10, 11 months in,” Meyer told CNN’s Alisyn Camerota.

“I was healthy prior to March. Now I don't get out of bed most days. I don't remember a day prior to March where I wasn't nauseous or throwing up at some point throughout the day. My kids don't have access to their mom like they used to, because I just, I'm just not up to it,” Meyer said.

She has been hospitalized about seven times, and usually stays two to three weeks, she said.

“During that course, they try to run every test they can and they hit a wall at some point. And they're like, ‘do you want to be miserable in the hospital or do you want to be miserable in your bed?’ And I’d much rather be in my bed,” she said.

Meyer said she and her family can only try to remain hopeful about the future.

“This is our life right now. It feels like forever, but hopefully that's not the case. And that's all we can do at this point,” she said.

Her message? Continue to take Covid-19 seriously.

“It's important to know that this is can happen to anyone. I’m 31, I was healthy, I was an active mom of four. And now I don't get out of bed. I don't eat, I don't spend time with my children like I need to. This can happen to you, this can happen to your loved ones. and don’t wait for it to hit close to home to take it seriously,” she said.

by Anonymousreply 51January 29, 2021 4:32 PM

[quote] J&J vaccine 66 percent effective

So that means 1 in 3 will still get covid? That's not comforting.

by Anonymousreply 52January 29, 2021 5:25 PM

The J&J efficacy has to be explained better. Some articles say it is 66% effective at preventing Covid, and 100% effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death. Other articles are backing away from stating it is 100% effective at preventing severe illness, especially in regards to the limited testing of its effectiveness against new variants. More info and discussion is needed.

by Anonymousreply 53January 29, 2021 5:53 PM

Whatever the J&J vaccine is, I'm not interested in it until it's as effective in every way as the others.

by Anonymousreply 54January 29, 2021 7:06 PM

My wife has an appointment for her first shot early February. A retired friend of hers spent all day refreshing websites until she found an opening.

In the meantime, the link is of a promising potential medication for treatment.

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by Anonymousreply 55January 29, 2021 7:31 PM

This is interesting. Something they're calling "COVID Arm" from the Moderna vaccine, but it seems to be temporary.

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by Anonymousreply 56January 29, 2021 8:02 PM

The J&J vaccine works more like a traditional vaccine, as I understand it. It is not an mRNA one like the others. I feel more comforted by that because it's more know than mRNA. DL scientists please correct any errors.

by Anonymousreply 57January 30, 2021 3:47 AM

Fauci held a White House press briefing yesterday. Information about the new variants is at twenty minutes.

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by Anonymousreply 58January 30, 2021 11:01 AM

From the Press Briefing transcript at 19:44.

"Well, Kaitlan, there a number of variants that we’re concerned about and one that is quite well-established already in the United States and that is the 117 that is in about 28 or 29 States and more than 315 cases that have all been reported. As you alluded to the fact is that when you have a virus that has ability to transmit more efficiently than the wild type in the community, sooner related by pure viral dynamics itself, it will become more dominant than the wild type.

We have that already there. We have a situation where there have now been reported in very specific places in South Carolina, for example, the isolate or the mutant that is the 351 from, dominant in South Africa. Again, that seems to have a very good fitness for spread. Whether or not that’s going to ultimately take over in the sense of being dominant is unclear by now. The projection that is made with regard to the UK is that probably by the end of March, the beginning of April, it actually will become more dominant in this country."

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by Anonymousreply 59January 30, 2021 11:03 AM

I really don't like the sound of the J&J vaccine compared to the others.

74% effective as opposed to 95% effective. One dose and doesn't need to be stored in extreme cold storage. The main selling point they're using is that in studies in the US, Brazil and South Africa it kept 100% of patients who contracted Covid out of hospital. So you will still get it but you won't be sick enough to be placed on a ventilator. They "think" it might be effective against variant strains but they don't know and found evidence in South Africa of previous Covid patients re-contracting the virus again. They don't know yet what lasting effects contracting Covid will have on future health and subsequent health conditions and we won't know for some years yet.

Won't that just keep the virus alive in the community?

They have done a fucking TERRIBLE job of marketing it so far.

by Anonymousreply 60January 30, 2021 11:08 AM

The J&J vaccine is on a different platform than the mRNA vaccines. But it is also a new, different technology compared to traditional vaccines. It uses an adenovirus (cold virus) to infect some cells that then display the spike protein to create an immune response by other cells. It is the technology they thought was going to carry gene therapy, but because people’s immune system responded it’s been studied as a vaccination platform instead for the past decade and a half. Anyway the immune response might be is good as the mRNA vaccine if you got two doses. (And I think a study is still ongoing about that) After all Pfizer’s vaccine is only at 50% after one dose.

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by Anonymousreply 61January 30, 2021 11:21 AM

Sorry about the weird link. It is a redirect that takes you to the Washington Post article about the J&J vaccine which I tried to summarize. I hope the HIV vaccine trial pans out also. It would be nice to see an alternative to PrEP.

I know it’s weird to talk about thankfulness at a time like this and I am acutely aware of all that has been lost; life, health, peace of mind, time, memories. But we are so lucky this happened now and not 20 years ago. None of these vaccines would have been possible then, and we wouldn’t have had the genome sequenced in days, and we wouldn’t have been able to cut human density by having a large portion of the workforce work from home. (And that cut helps everyone including the people who continue to have to be public facing) Over the summer the people I knew were saying that if the vaccines were 50% effective against symptoms this could become flu-like, it’d be a huge win and eventually we could return to normal. All three of these candidates are so much better than that. Now we have the luxury of sniffing at vaccines that don’t have measles level efficacy.

Meanwhile what a disaster with the websites for vaccine sign-up. I’d say bad things about the New York site, but I was trying to sign my mother up on the Massachusetts site (unsuccessfully) and that site takes the cake for dysfunction. At least with the New York State site if you have 40 hours to burn you can get an appointment. The Massachusetts site otoh was clearly designed by Kafka.

by Anonymousreply 62January 30, 2021 12:32 PM

Here is PA there is no central site still, and no plan in place to build one. Instead they provide a map of locations that MAY have the vaccine, and we have to spend hours visiting the websites of several random pharmacies trying to find a time slot. It's like trying to buy concert tickets back when all you could do was put Ticketmaster on redial until someone picked up.

FWIW I am fairly certain that my university will be providing vax to employees in a much more organized manner; I expect to get one over the summer. I'm doing the website-go-round for my mother.

by Anonymousreply 63January 30, 2021 12:36 PM

Sylvia the Massachusetts site is similar- a map with stars of places that theoretically have vaccines and all have long complicated sign-ups only to discover they don’t actually have any doses.

All on-site employees and wfh employees over 65 who want a vaccine have been vaccinated (at least first dose) by my employer at this point. But Cuomo is blocking under 65 wfh employees of medical facilities from being vaccinated so my 1a status is useless. I am hopeful that immunosuppression will get defined soon in NY and include people on immunosuppressant medications so I can get a shot under 1c.

by Anonymousreply 64January 30, 2021 12:45 PM

NJ is another mess. There is a state registry, which I registered with at beginning of January. Also county Board of Health registry. Have not heard a thing since, although I am 65+ and have two qualifying conditions (hypertension, asthma). I happened to be watching the Governor live the day he moved the age qualification from 75 to 65+. I went straight to my computer and was able to make an appointment directly at a county center for Jan. 28. An hour later all appointments closed.

Each county is now limiting vax to residents. That is the only "proof" required. When you sign up on the registry, there is a question with a long list of conditions, from hypertension to being a smoker (!) but you need not provide anything other than a yes or no. My neighbor who is 59, checked yes. Got an appointment same day I did. He doesn't have an underlying condition, but as he said, how can they prove anything?

Right now it is impossible to get an appointment, despite many vax centers in each county. There was a glitch in the registry of one large county, and appointments were double booked, so all those appointments were cancelled. The state sent out a message that "we will be working to reschedule". Good luck.

Well, I got my first dose of Moderna on Jan. 28th. Felt a bit tired, sore arm. Next appointment Feb. 25.

by Anonymousreply 65January 30, 2021 1:32 PM

Oxford professor disputes Macron comments on vaccine effectiveness in over-65s

From Schams Elwazer in London and Barbara Wojazer in Paris

An Oxford professor who was part of the team that developed the Covid-19 vaccine with AstraZeneca has disputed comments by French President Emmanuel Macron appearing to question the efficacy of the jab in over-65s.

Asked on BBC Radio about Macron’s comments that the vaccine is “quasi-ineffective” in people over 65, professor John Bell said Saturday, “I’m not sure where he got that from.”

Acknowledging that the number of elderly people participating in the original study was “small” at around 12%, Bell added that “in vaccinology the way you deal with that problem is you identify the level of immunity that a vaccine generates.”

“The elderly people responded just as well as people in other age groups and there’s really persuasive evidence that this is a protective vaccine in those populations,” Bell said.

On Friday, Macron told reporters, "what I can tell you officially is that the first results are not encouraging for those over 60-65 years old," adding that "very little information” is available on the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

“I suspect this is a bit of demand management from Mr. Macron,” Bell said.

Pushed on the point by the host, Bell added that “if he didn’t have any vaccine, the best thing you could do is reduce demand.”

Macron’s comments have been widely criticized in the UK press as the bitter row between the EU, drugmakers and the UK over vaccine supply continues to dominate headlines.

The EU’s medicines regulator approved the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine for all age groups on Friday. Earlier in the week, Germany’s vaccine commission said it would not recommend its use in the over-65s due to insufficient data on its effectiveness in that population.

by Anonymousreply 66January 30, 2021 3:28 PM

From late Monday, all Americans will have to wear masks on public transport

From CNN Health’s Jen Christensen

Americans will have to wear a mask while using any form of public transportation -- including buses, trains, taxis, planes, boats, subways or rideshare vehicles -- from late Monday to slow the spread of Covid-19, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced.

The order goes into effect at 11:59 p.m. ET Monday.

The order, signed by Dr. Martin Cetron, director of CDC's Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, says people must wear a mask that covers the nose and mouth while on public transportation and while waiting for their ride. The mask needs to feature at least two layers of breathable fabric and secured to the head with ties, ear loops or elastic bands.

Masks need to fit snugly and should not have exhalation valves or punctures. If someone chooses to wear a gaiter, it must be made with two layers of fabric or folded to have two layers. Face shields and goggles can supplement a mask, but cannot be worn in place of a mask. Scarves and bandanas do not fulfill the new requirement.

Children under the age of 2 or people with a disability who cannot wear a mask are exempt.

In the order, which was announced late Friday, CDC said it reserves the right to enforce it through criminal penalties, but it “strongly encourages and anticipates widespread voluntary compliance" and expects support from other federal agencies.

The order will stay in effect until further notice.

The move comes after US President Joe Biden signed an executive order on January 21 that mandated interstate travelers wear a mask. On his first day in office, Biden challenged Americans to wear a mask for 100 days to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

by Anonymousreply 67January 30, 2021 3:30 PM

New coronavirus variant has caused reinfection in South Africa, Fauci says

From CNN Health's Andrea Diaz

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top US infectious disease expert, says colleagues in South Africa have told him some patients there have been reinfected with the coronavirus due to the new, more contagious, variant.

"When we were communicating with our many scientific and public health colleagues in South Africa, they were telling us over the phone 'something strange is going on right now, we have people who were infected several months ago, who now with this new strain are getting reinfected,'" Fauci told NBC News' Lester Holt on Friday. "Which is telling you that the immune response induced to the first infection wasn't good enough to prevent the second infection."

However, Fauci said vaccination appears to be "good or better than natural infection in preventing further infection."

"The vaccine itself appears to be better at inducing that kind of protection because they had anywhere from 50 to 88% efficacy against severe disease," said Fauci, Director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

by Anonymousreply 68January 30, 2021 3:31 PM

Massachusetts Rep. Stephen Lynch gets COVID-19 after second vaccine shot

A Massachusetts congressman who received both doses of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine tested positive for the virus on Friday.

Democratic Rep. Stephen Lynch tested negative before attending President Joe Biden’s inauguration on Jan. 20. He was tested again after a staff member in his Boston office got the virus earlier this week.

Pfizer said it can take seven days for protection from the second dose to kick in, NBC 10 Boston reported. Lynch’s office said he got the second dose vaccine before the inauguration on Jan. 20, nine days before his positive test.

The Pfizer vaccine has been judged 95 percent effective against the virus, though it has not been tested against the mutations that came from the UK and South Africa.

In the statement, his office said Lynch doesn’t have any symptoms of COVID-19. He will self-quarantine and vote by proxy in Congress in the coming week.

Lynch was the second Congressional Democrat from Massachusetts to test positive in as many days. Rep. Lori Trahan said Thursday she had tested positive after repeatedly testing negative.

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by Anonymousreply 69January 30, 2021 5:17 PM

Wow, that is very worrisome, R69

by Anonymousreply 70January 30, 2021 6:20 PM

Why is it surprising? I thought the deal all along was that the vaccine doesn't *prevent* infection, but dramatically reduces severity due to invigorated immune response. This is why one can be vaccinated yet still be a carrier to others, no?

by Anonymousreply 71January 30, 2021 6:33 PM

I had it 2 days ago

by Anonymousreply 72January 30, 2021 6:57 PM

That's right r71, although with Pfizer in the rare event that you are infected after having received both infections you are very likely to be asymptomatic. That's why we will still need to follow basic social distancing rules and other protections until everyone (if possible) is vaccinated and everyone who has not been vaccinated will still need to take particular care even around vaccinated people.

That said, it's also very unlikely that an asymptomatic person will transmit the virus and, if they do, it will probably be an asymptomatic or very mild infection.

by Anonymousreply 73January 30, 2021 7:09 PM

Also, if Lynch had those rapid tests, then they're not very reliable.

by Anonymousreply 74January 30, 2021 7:11 PM

I apologize if this question has been asked and answered already, but one thing I am wondering vis-a-vis vaccination: Since testing has now shown that many people who have had very mild or even asymptomatic cases are nonetheless showing evidence of organ damage/scarring, etc., wouldn't that also be the case for vaccinated persons, as well, who may experience mild or asymptomatic infections?

by Anonymousreply 75January 30, 2021 7:14 PM

My mother and father (93 and 95 respectively) got the shot over a week ago. My mother has arthritis along with curvature of her spine and experienced a lot of pain where she usually feels pain from her conditions but this pain after the shot was excruciating. She told the main nurse at the facility where they live and the nurse told her to get ready because it's going to be worse with the second shot.

My doctor honestly told me that some patients do experience great difficulty after having the shot and as with Corona it attacks where ever you are vulnerable.

by Anonymousreply 76January 30, 2021 7:17 PM

At this point I know six people between ages 30 - 65 who have had the virus and none of them experienced anything more extreme than a bad headache. Three of them are family members.

A co worker told me his parents are in a retirement community and they have had 16 cases there, none of the elderly patients died. This is before vaccine was available.

FWIW

by Anonymousreply 77January 30, 2021 7:25 PM

r75 were these people showing symptoms of organ damage and scarring or did they get health check ups since getting sick and these conditions were revealed from their examinations?

by Anonymousreply 78January 30, 2021 7:27 PM

R78 Probably neither. There are a lot of research studies now following up with people who've had COIVD months after their initial diagnosis.

by Anonymousreply 79January 30, 2021 8:38 PM

R77 it’s not worth much.

by Anonymousreply 80January 30, 2021 9:03 PM

[bold]Anti-vaccination protesters briefly shut down entrance to Dodger Stadium vax site[/bold]

About 50 anti-vaccine protesters milling about the entrance to the Dodger Stadium coronavirus vaccination site on Saturday, Jan. 30, prompted officials to close the gate for almost an hour before the protesters dispersed.

Everyone in line eventually got vaccinated, said firefighter David Ortiz, a spokesman for the Los Angeles City Fire Department.

But traffic into the stadium was halted from 1:50 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. when people carrying signs and chanting slogans attempted to enter the grounds, and officials closed the gates to prevent that, Ortiz said.

more at link

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by Anonymousreply 81January 30, 2021 11:47 PM

This is really scary. This comes from a Canadian website. I checked if it was accurate and it is. Kind of grim news

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by Anonymousreply 82January 31, 2021 12:34 AM

R81 Cops needs to round them all up and cite them with Reckless Endangerment, as if they'd blocked the path of an ambulance.

by Anonymousreply 83January 31, 2021 12:45 AM

[quote] Since testing has now shown that many people who have had very mild or even asymptomatic cases are nonetheless showing evidence of organ damage/scarring, etc., wouldn't that also be the case for vaccinated persons

This is why high dose Vitamin D should be included in any comprehensive COVID recovery plan. I know people disbelieve because it's a natural substance therefore likely to be a load of bunk, yet studies show besides boosting the immune system, Vitamin D3 has the ability to heal lesions, soften scar tissues, in some controversial studies it has been shown regrow areas of damaged organs (google Dr. Coimbra vitamin D3 brain injury). I take at least one high potency 10,000 international unit capsule per day, sometimes much more if I am feeling I am taking on too much viral load.

by Anonymousreply 84January 31, 2021 1:00 AM

I hope people took pictures of the protestors (if they didn't post themselves on Instagram already). Fire them all, although that douche in the green shirt probably doesn't even have a job.

by Anonymousreply 85January 31, 2021 1:00 AM

R84 thanks for reminding me. I forget to take my vit d all the time. gonna take it religiously now!

by Anonymousreply 86January 31, 2021 1:31 AM

Too much Vit D is not good for you. It's not like Vit C where you just pee out the excess. Usually your MD will tell you what your D levels are and approx how much to supplement.

by Anonymousreply 87January 31, 2021 6:36 AM

Perth, Western Australia is back under lockdown after an almost 300 day run with zero community transmissions. It seems a hotel quarantine guard has tested positive for the UK variant. The last known community transmission in the state was on April 11th 2020.

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by Anonymousreply 88January 31, 2021 7:08 AM

R82 I'd read another story about that today. Grim indeed.

When this mess started over a year ago medical experts fairly concluded that the virus would mutate slowly based on other coronavirus strains. This one has proven different.

We are all fucked.

by Anonymousreply 89January 31, 2021 7:30 AM

Trump officials spent the fall actively lobbying Congress not to give states the money health officials insisted they need to vaccine some 300 million Americans.

The Trump administration wasn't just dismissing states' concerns, it was actively undermining their efforts to get more money from Congress

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by Anonymousreply 90January 31, 2021 6:04 PM

If you look at the US graphs on worldometers, it seems the US plateaued around 1/12 and on the decline. I hope so!

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by Anonymousreply 91January 31, 2021 6:08 PM

are those figures in the thumbnail from Jan 12, R91? If so, it's not much of a plateau

by Anonymousreply 92January 31, 2021 6:10 PM

R92: They are in the graphs on the bottom of the US worldometers page - 1/12 for new deaths, 1/8 for new cases. There is a bell curve on each graph that peaks on those dates and trending downward after.

by Anonymousreply 93January 31, 2021 6:14 PM

i see. then what number is showing in the thumb of your post?

by Anonymousreply 94January 31, 2021 6:16 PM

R90 I say again, the entire Trump administration needs to be Mussolini'ed, or at minimum to be sued on behalf of the people of the US for criminal negligence.

by Anonymousreply 95January 31, 2021 6:23 PM

I would absolutely be up for looking into filing a class action suit against Trump and his minions for the time I've lost thanks to their incompetence.

by Anonymousreply 96January 31, 2021 6:24 PM

Ten Senate Republicans propose compromise covid relief package, posing challenge for Biden

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by Anonymousreply 97January 31, 2021 6:29 PM

I'd be willing to bet the compromise is "$ for corporations and very wealthy people ONLY".

by Anonymousreply 98January 31, 2021 6:32 PM

Trump is gone, he's past tense, and now it's on Biden to lead the efforts. It seems like numbers have gone down pretty quickly since his administration took over the white house and the CNN Covid death/infection ticker has disappeared as well after he be became President. We saw this in Italy and elsewhere. The virus burns hot and heavy and then it seems to dwindle, Maybe the holidays were our Wuhan/Italy moment that we were preparing for and our on our way to a steady decline. I hope so!

by Anonymousreply 99January 31, 2021 6:34 PM

Won't Biden lose some Democrats with the new GOP COVID plan?

No fucking way is Sanders going along with that plan.

by Anonymousreply 100January 31, 2021 6:35 PM

I finally got a vax appointment for my mother!

by Anonymousreply 101January 31, 2021 6:51 PM

Wisconsin Vaccine Saboteur Steven Brandenburg Is a Flat-Earther, FBI Document Reveals

*

Valerie Jarrett decries Sen. Cornyn (R-TX) scoffing at Biden’s transgender rights… NFL World Reacts To The Matthew Stafford, Patriots News The Daily Beast logoWisconsin Vaccine Saboteur Steven Brandenburg Is a Flat-Earther, FBI Document Reveals

The Wisconsin pharmacist who intentionally sabotaged hundreds of doses of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine because he thought COVID-19 was a hoax, also believes the earth is flat and the sky is actually a “shield put up by the Government to prevent individuals from seeing God.”

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by Anonymousreply 102January 31, 2021 7:32 PM

Yay Sylvia!!!!

If Biden were able able to get a 60 vote compromise Coronavirus bill passed it means he doesn’t need to use reconciliation to get around the filibuster on that one and can use the two reconciliation opportunities he has this year for other priorities. He shouldn’t waste much time on it in case it is a ruse to delay, but if it’s in good faith it’d be a great thing.

I don’t understand why the anti-vaxxers aren’t scared of wrongful death lawsuits.

by Anonymousreply 103January 31, 2021 7:45 PM

Flat earther’s are fascinatingly stupid. Their entire theory seems to be based on pictures of earth from NASA being composites.

by Anonymousreply 104January 31, 2021 7:45 PM

Biden adviser says prioritize 1st doses 'right now'; protest disrupts vaccinations at Dodger stadium: Today's key COVID updates

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by Anonymousreply 105January 31, 2021 7:50 PM

No shots tomorrow due to snow storm

by Anonymousreply 106January 31, 2021 7:52 PM

WSJ: Ten GOP Senators Push Biden for Smaller Relief Package

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by Anonymousreply 107January 31, 2021 8:06 PM

Passing coronavirus relief more important than bipartisanship: Sen. Bernie Sanders

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by Anonymousreply 108January 31, 2021 8:49 PM

US hospitalizations fall below 100,000 for the first time in nearly two months

From CNN’s Amanda Watts and Hollie Silverman

For the first time in nearly two months, current Covid-19 hospitalizations in the United States have fallen below 100,000, according to data from The Covid Tracking Project.

On Saturday, the US reported 97,561 Covid-19 hospitalizations, the data shows.

Before then, the last time the US had fewer than 100,000 current hospitalizations was December 1, 2020 -- 60 days ago.

On December 1, the United States had a 7-day average of roughly 163,000 new cases and 1,540 reported deaths per day, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Right now, the US has roughly the same new case average, but sees more than double the average daily deaths, with over 3,000 a day.

Hospitalizations have been dropping consistently since the start of the year, according to CTP. This past week was the first week since November 5 that no state has reached a new record high for current hospitalizations, according to CTP.

by Anonymousreply 109January 31, 2021 9:21 PM

WSJ: Timetables for vaccinating enough people to effectively curb Covid-19 are slipping in many countries, raising fears that a large portion of the world will still be battling the pandemic and its economic effects well into 2022 or beyond.

Just 10 countries are on track to vaccinate more than a third of their population this year.

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by Anonymousreply 110January 31, 2021 9:41 PM

I'm 67 and live in Miami-Dade, a blue county in a red state.

To date, the governor has made damn sure that I cannot receive the vaccine.

by Anonymousreply 111January 31, 2021 9:48 PM

Where r106?

by Anonymousreply 112January 31, 2021 11:11 PM

I swear to Christ, if Biden gives in to the fucking repugs for a "skinny" COVID relief I'll be pissed as hell. Enough of this fucking pandering to a party that has done nothing but destroy. When are the dems gonna grow some balls. Joe, the GOP will never be your friends and they will never play fair. Enough of this Charlie Brown trying to kick the football shit.

by Anonymousreply 113January 31, 2021 11:14 PM

That article at R110 is ridiculous.

[quote]At the current rates of vaccination, only about 10% of the world would be inoculated by the end of the year and 21% by the close of 2022

Vaccinations literally started a month ago in any numbers at all. What a ridiculous and misleading projection. We will not be at current levels for long. In fact, we are increasing every single day. And, now that Johnson and Johnson and Astrazeneca will probably be okayed for at least people under 65 around the world, that acceleration will increase. I mean, really, why even write this shit that is out of date before you even publish it? Alarmist crap.

by Anonymousreply 114February 1, 2021 12:33 AM

COVID-19 tests now available in Oakland airport vending machines

Travelers passing through Oakland International Airport will now be able to grab a COVID-19 test out of a vending machines, officials said.

The self-administered kits are available for about $150 at the contactless kiosks in each terminal, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Oakland is the first US airport to sell the coronavirus tests in vending machines, officials said.

“We realized that travelers are going through a tough time right now, especially as we all navigate this COVID pandemic,” airport spokesman Roberto Bernardo told the paper. “We wanted to give travelers another option for testing.”

Bernardo said the kits are intended for travelers returning to Oakland, rather than those who are flying to a destination that requires a negative test upon arrival.

The kits require travelers collect a saliva sample then mail it in for testing, the outlet reported. Results are expected on an app on their phone within 48 hours of the shipment being received.

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by Anonymousreply 115February 1, 2021 2:20 AM

What would be the fucking point of testing yourself after you land after your return trip and then waiting for up to a couple weeks for results by the time you do the test, mail it, they receive it, and then get around to testing it? You can get free covid tests all over the place? What moron would pay $150 to do it? This is a money-making scheme that they are pretending they are doing out of good will. Fuck the profiteers.

by Anonymousreply 116February 1, 2021 2:27 AM

Australia vs. the US:

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by Anonymousreply 117February 1, 2021 10:56 AM

Restoring integrity to US science policy.

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by Anonymousreply 118February 1, 2021 12:54 PM

R118 Can we get an A-MEN?!

by Anonymousreply 119February 1, 2021 1:24 PM

[bold]Playing favorites? Hospital boards, donors get COVID shots[/bold]

The Seattle Times has reported that Overlake Medical Center & Clinics emailed about 110 donors who gave more than $10,000 to the hospital system, telling them that vaccine slots were available. The email gave the donors an access code to register for appointments “by invite” only.

More at link.

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by Anonymousreply 120February 1, 2021 1:29 PM

r119 - A-MEN, Sylvia!

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by Anonymousreply 121February 1, 2021 1:52 PM

It feels like the America I love again! Thanks President Biden!

by Anonymousreply 122February 1, 2021 1:58 PM

Yes! Tase the fuckers.

[quote] The TSA will require travelers to wear masks through airport screening checkpoints and throughout all public transportation systems beginning Tuesday. TSA workers are authorized to deny entry or boarding to passengers who refuses to wear masks, and those passengers could be subject to fines. “Depending on the circumstance, those who refuse a mask may be subject to a civil penalty for attempting to circumvent screening requirements, interfering with screening personnel, or a combination of those offenses,” TSA announced on Sunday.

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by Anonymousreply 123February 1, 2021 3:13 PM

Anti-lockdown protesters demonstrate in Brussels, Budapest and Vienna over the weekend

From CNN's Stephanie Halasz, Chloe Adams and Jo Shelley

As governments across Europe try to suppress the deadly second wave of Covid-19 with strict lockdown measures, protests against the restrictions flared up in Brussels, Vienna and Budapest over the weekend.

In Belgium on Sunday, 488 demonstrators were arrested in Brussels in an unauthorized anti-lockdown protest, a spokesperson for Mayor Philippe Close told CNN.

“Protests of 100 people are allowed under strict coronavirus restrictions, but when far more people arrived they were asked to leave by police and some (were) arrested because they didn’t comply with police orders," said Close's spokesperson Wafaa Hammich.

TV footage showed protestors clashing with riot police and holding signs that said, "Free Belgium."

Some of those arrested were found to be carrying dangerous items such as knives, firecrackers, and a catapult, the Brussels Police department said on Twitter.

In Hungary, people marched in Budapest on Sunday to protest the closure of restaurants and cafes, which are limited to takeout service because of the pandemic.

Anatoli Belov, the owner of Husikam restaurant in the Hungarian capital, told CNN the government has been promising restaurants funds for many months but the industry has not received any. “It’s been very difficult but we are going to pull our socks up,” he said.

The Budapest Metropolitan Police said in a statement posted to their website that demonstrations are not allowed because of the pandemic. Police fined six people during Sunday's demonstration for not wearing a mask but made no arrests.

Restaurateur Peter Regős -- who owns the Regős Vendéglő restaurant in Budapest -- didn't attend Sunday's demonstration, but said that he was in a tough situation. When asked by CNN about whether he had been given any government assistance, he lamented that, “there is nothing for little people.” Regős said his restaurant had been closed for three months, and he had lost Forint 500,0000 (bpproximately S$ ,7000) f his savings duince

And in Austria, Reuters reported that thousands of anti-lockdown protesters gathered in central Vienna on Sunday but were prevented from marching by riot police. Austria is currently in its third national lockdown, with non-essential businesses closed.

by Anonymousreply 124February 1, 2021 3:39 PM

Single Covid case in Western Australia leads to 5-day lockdown for 2 million

From CNN's Chandler Thornton

Parts of Western Australia went into a five-day lockdown Sunday, after a hotel security guard tested positive for coronavirus.

The Perth metropolitan area and the Peel and South West regions of the Australian state are now under "full lockdown," Premier Mark McGowan announced Sunday, with residents only able to leave their homes for essential shopping, medical needs, exercise, and for jobs that cannot be done at home or remotely.

Schools, most businesses, entertainment venues and places of worship are all closed, and restaurants restricted to takeaway only. ""This is a very serious situation and each and every one of us has to do everything we personally can to help stop the spread in the community," McGowan said."

The Perth metropolitan area and the Peel and South West regions have a combined population of more than 2 million people, with the vast majority living in the state capital Perth.

What happened? The drastic measures come after a man in his 20s who worked as a security guard at the Sheraton Four Points, a hotel quarantine facility, tested positive for the coronavirus. Of the four active cases at the hotel while the man was on shift, two were carrying the United Kingdom strain and one the South African strain of the virus, which are believed to be more contagious than other variants.

"We are told the guard was working on the same floor, as a positive UK variant case," McGowan said. As the man had worked two 12-hour shifts on January 26 and 27, it was possible he had contracted the UK strain, the premier added, though he said "exactly how the infection was acquired remains under investigation."

What happens next? Officials are calling on all people who visited a specified list of venues on a certain date to get tested. All close contacts of the man are required to quarantine for 14 days.

"Western Australians have done so well for so long but this week it is absolutely crucial that we stay home, maintain physical distancing and personal hygiene and get tested if you have symptoms," McGowan said.

by Anonymousreply 125February 1, 2021 3:40 PM

Has the South African variant spread everywhere yet?

by Anonymousreply 126February 1, 2021 3:42 PM

R125 That is a shame West Australia allowed such complacency to set in, especially after the other Australian capital cities have had to scramble to clean up their own costly blunders with the hotel quarantine system. Australia has no vaccine rollout as of yet, even though we are manufacturing our own version of the AstraZeneca vaccine in Melbourne, this will not be available until March. The Australian government is currently considering options of centralising quarantine for new arrivals, perhaps using some old mining or remote military facilities in the Northern Territory desert.

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by Anonymousreply 127February 1, 2021 5:05 PM

A global analysis published in November in the Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism journal found about 14% of people hospitalized with severe cases of Covid-19 developed diabetes.

Many of those patients had no prior history of diabetes. Some who developed elevated blood sugar while they had covid-19 returned to normal by the time they left the hospital. Others went home with a diagnosis of full-blown diabetes.

Although covid-19 often attacks the lungs, it is increasingly associated with a range of problems including blood clots, neurological disorders, and kidney and heart damage. Researchers say new-onset diabetes may soon be added to those complications — both Type 1, in which people cannot make the insulin needed to regulate their blood sugar, and Type 2, in which they make too little insulin or become resistant to their insulin, causing their blood sugar levels to rise. But scientists do not know whether covid-19 might hasten already developing problems or actually cause them — or both.

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by Anonymousreply 128February 1, 2021 8:40 PM

[quote]One of our part-time employees got fired from his full-time job at @ Academy because he was being insistent with a “customer” to wear a mask. Guy called the store non-stop till they fired our guy. That is some corporate bullshite. - Cactus Music (Houston)

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by Anonymousreply 129February 2, 2021 3:43 AM

If you've been infected with Covid-19, there's a "very high rate of reinfection" with new variant, Fauci says

From CNN's Andrea Diaz

Even if you've had coronavirus, there's a "very high rate" of being reinfected with the new variants if they become dominant, Dr. Anthony Fauci says.

"If it becomes dominant, the experience of our colleagues in South Africa indicate that even if you've been infected with the original virus that there is a very high rate of reinfection to the point where previous infection does not seem to protect you against reinfection, at least with the South African variant that's the one that we know the most about when it comes to reinfection," Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious diseases, told CNN's Wolf Blitzer on Monday.

Fauci emphasized the importance of getting vaccinated to prevent severe and potentially fatal illness that may require hospitalization.

"We need to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as we possibly can, and when vaccine becomes available to individuals please take the vaccine, even though there is a diminished protection against the variants, there's enough protection to prevent you from getting serious disease, including hospitalization and deaths. So, vaccination is critical," Fauci said.

by Anonymousreply 130February 2, 2021 3:57 AM

New York state positivity rate is down for the 24th straight day, governor says

From CNN's Brian Vitagliano

New York state positivity rate is 4.8%, which is the 24th straight day of decline, according to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

The positivity rate is the percentage of people who test positive for the virus of those overall who have been tested.

Speaking at a news conference today, Cuomo said 141 New Yorker’s passed away yesterday due to Covid-19, “Remember these are not just numbers, these are 141 number of deaths,” he said.

New York state has vaccinated approximately 1.69 million residents according to the governor. “We are basically exhausting our week to week allocation, waiting for my supply from the federal government, we have much more distribution in place than we have supply,” Cuomo said Monday.

Note: These numbers were released by New York State Dept. of Health and may not line up exactly in real time with CNN’s database drawn from Johns Hopkins University and the Covid Tracking Project.

by Anonymousreply 131February 2, 2021 3:59 AM

More than 470 cases of concerning variants in the US, CDC reports

From CNN’s Michael Nedelman

A total of 471 cases of coronavirus strains first spotted in the UK, South Africa and Brazil have been reported in at least 32 US states, according to data posted late Sunday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The vast majority of these cases, 467, are the more contagious variant known as B.1.1.7, which was originally detected in the UK. These include 147 cases in Florida, 113 in California, 42 in New York and 22 in Michigan. The rest have fewer than 20 cases each

In addition, there are three US cases of a strain initially seen in South Africa, called B.1.351 – two in South Carolina and one in Maryland. Last, Minnesota health officials previously reported one case of the P.1 strain first linked to Brazil.

CDC says this does not represent the total number of such cases circulating in the US, but rather just those that have been found by analyzing positive samples. The agency cautions that its numbers may not immediately match those of state and local health departments.

by Anonymousreply 132February 2, 2021 4:00 AM

[quote]Fauci emphasized the importance of getting vaccinated to prevent severe and potentially fatal illness that may require hospitalization.

If the antibodies you acquired from infection with the original recipe covid don't protect against the new variant, then the antibodies you form from a vaccine based on the original recipe covid also will not protect against the new variant. He wants everyone to get vaccinated to try to stop the new variant from gaining a foothold but that's not going to happen. There isn't enough vaccine. We'd be better off if they just started producing the next vaccine at this point because people are too fucking stupid to stay home and politicians are too fucked up to stop international travel. Our current vaccine will be useless by April, even to those already vaccinated.

I'm not sure why they are even bothering to count the number of cases of the new variant. He's a preview:

April 20, 2021 Breaking: 100% of new infections are the more infectious variant

There, I saved you months of uselessly counting the numbers day by day for no fucking reason. Our only hope is that the next mutation makes it less virulent and it fades away like the 1918 pandemic.

by Anonymousreply 133February 2, 2021 5:35 AM

The vaccines are actually more effective in creating neutralizing antibodies than having had the disease itself.

I know it sounds counterintuitive, but it is what the science shows. Maybe there’s too much “fog of war” when people are actually sick to get a proper immune response.

by Anonymousreply 134February 2, 2021 10:00 AM

I'm so angry with our fucking useless Conservacunt government. Yesterday a whole 436 people were vaccinated. Fucking 400 people. In a day. We have a population of more than 5 million. With this pace it will take three years to get everyone vaccinated. I could have done a better job.

by Anonymousreply 135February 2, 2021 12:23 PM

CNN: People previously infected with Covid-19 may only need one vaccine dose.

After getting just one shot of a Covid-19 vaccine, people who were previously infected showed antibody levels equal to or above those of people who had gotten both doses but never been infected, according to a study published Monday.

Those with previous infections also appeared to have more generalized side effects after the first dose, such as fatigue, fever and muscle pain -- similar to what other participants might be expected to have after a second dose of an mRNA vaccine, the researchers wrote.

by Anonymousreply 136February 2, 2021 12:26 PM

Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine was 91.6% effective in preventing people from developing Covid-19, according to peer-reviewed results from its late-stage clinical trial published in The Lancet international medical journal on Tuesday.

The vaccine was also found to be 100% effective against moderate or severe Covid-19.

Sputnik V has been approved by 15 countries, including Argentina, Hungary, and the United Arab Emirates and this will increase to 25 by the end of next week.

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by Anonymousreply 137February 2, 2021 12:33 PM

I’ve been very skeptical of Sputnik, both the product and the process. But I am very happy if the above is true. We need as many effective vaccines as possible.

by Anonymousreply 138February 2, 2021 4:43 PM

‘Worrying’ new mutation detected in UK COVID-19 variant

The highly-contagious COVID-19 variant that first emerged in the United Kingdom appears to have evolved again to include a “worrying” new mutation, researchers said.

Nearly a dozen cases have been identified that include a mutation known as E484K, which has already been identified in the South Africa and Brazil variants, the BBC reported.

“The mutation of most concern, which we call E484K, has also occurred spontaneously in the new Kent strain in parts of the country too,” Calum Semple, an outbreak medicine expert who advises the UK government, said on BBC radio.

The highly-contagious mutation changes the shape of the virus’ spike protein — the part of the bug that makes it infectious.

Experts now fear that E484K has allowed the South Africa and Brazil strains to get past the natural antibodies of those who have already recovered from becoming infected in the first wave. Nearly a dozen cases of COVID-19 have been identified that include a mutation known as E484K.

This also means the mutation may mean the strain is more resistant to antibody drugs or plasma from coronavirus survivors, both of which help people fight off the virus, experts said.

Dr. Julian Tang, a virologist at the University of Leicester, said the mutation to the UK variant “is a worrying development, though not entirely unexpected,” the BBC reported.

He urged people to follow lockdown orders in the UK to prevent the virus from continuing to mutate and spread.

“Otherwise not only can the virus continue to spread, it can also evolve,” Tang said.

The mutated UK cases were first detected in the English county of Kent, southeast of London.

Public Health England said it was seen in 11 out of 214,159 samples that they tested, the BBC reported.

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by Anonymousreply 139February 2, 2021 5:09 PM

My virologist friend was so right when he correctly predicted last March that the UK would end up being the hardest hit of European countries.

by Anonymousreply 140February 2, 2021 5:31 PM

R140 There are too many people living on that tiny island. Norway is like 3 times bigger than England. We have a population of 5 million. England has 50. Again, just too many people cramped together in a tight space. I truly believe the fact that Norwegians live so spread out all over the country has helped against the virus from spreading. We are really just a bunch of farmers yet, despite the oil. Spain and Italy are also hit hard because they live cramped in tight spaces and have an elderly population.

by Anonymousreply 141February 2, 2021 5:38 PM

R136 I think this is the article CNN is referring to.

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by Anonymousreply 142February 2, 2021 5:52 PM

UK detects South African coronavirus variant in people with no travel links

LONDON – Eleven people in different regions of England have tested positive for the South African coronavirus variant without having any links to people who have traveled, prompting mass testing in the areas to contain the outbreak., an

Britain, with the world’s fifth-highest COVID-19 death toll, has moved to tighten its borders out of concern that new variants of the virus will undermine its vaccination drive.

To contain the new outbreaks, residents in eight areas of the country will now be tested whether or not they are showing symptoms, a process known as “surge testing”.

There are about 10,000 people in each area. Three are in London, two in the southeast, one in central England, one in the east and another in the northwest.

Health minister Matt Hancock said those in the affected areas needed to comply with the request to be tested, even if they are asymptomatic, to break any chain of transmission.

“There’s currently no evidence to suggest this variant is any more severe,” he said. “But we need to come down on it hard and we will.”

Positive tests in the areas will be sequenced to identify any further spread of the variant.

All viruses mutate and scientists have identified several variants of the coronavirus found to be more transmissible than the original strain.

Their emergence has raised questions over whether vaccines will still prove effective.

Public Health England said it has identified a total of 105 cases of the South African variant since Dec 22.

Scientists have said it appears to be more transmissible, but there is no evidence that it causes more severe disease. However, several laboratory studies have found that it reduces vaccine and antibody therapy efficacy.

Simon Clarke, associate professor in cellular microbiology at the University of Reading, said there was emerging evidence to suggest the variant was less susceptible to immunity induced by the current crop of vaccines.

“The discovery of a handful of cases with no links to travel to Africa indicates that it might be more widespread in the community than previously thought,” he said.

“This spread, even if small in scale, needs to be brought under control quickly, so Public Health England’s house-to-house checks and intensive testing are the right thing to do.”

Public Health England’s Managing Director Susan Hopkins said the cases did not appear linked.

“They’re more likely to be related to somebody who potentially had asymptomatic infection when they came in from abroad,” she said at a news conference.

Britain is battling a new wave of COVID-19 turbocharged by the emergence in September of a more transmissable variant found in the southeast of England. The country’s official death toll passed 100,000 last week.

Britain is, however, making rapid progress in its vaccination programme, with nearly 9.3 million people having received the first shot of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Oxford-AstraZeneca shot.

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by Anonymousreply 143February 2, 2021 7:08 PM

Have any new versions popped up?

by Anonymousreply 144February 2, 2021 7:30 PM

Israel: "The magic has started."

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by Anonymousreply 145February 2, 2021 8:56 PM

This is weird. Only under 65 for A-Zeneca vax. From AP: PARIS (AP) — France will only administer the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine to people under age 65, President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday after the government's health advisory body cited a lack of sufficient data about its effectiveness in older people.

The decision could shake up the French vaccination strategy, because the country has prioritized nursing home residents and people over 75. France had counted on the AstraZeneca vaccine for a large part of its upcoming inoculations, until the company announced delays affecting countries around Europe and the world.

“For this AstraZeneca vaccine, we will not propose it to those older than 65,” Macron told TF1 television Tuesday night. Instead, the vaccine the British-Swedish company developed with Oxford University will be given to medical personnel under 65, individuals with health vulnerabilities or those facing high exposure, he said.

by Anonymousreply 146February 2, 2021 11:26 PM

R145 based on this we should really be focusing on our elderly population. Too bad soul cycle instructors are scamming their way to a vaccine here in NYC

by Anonymousreply 147February 2, 2021 11:59 PM

A bit OT, but has anyone had a mix and match vaccine? Moderna for the first and Pfizer for the booster. I have an appointment for the second one but not feeling confident to mix them.

by Anonymousreply 148February 3, 2021 12:00 AM

R148, I've heard on the news that the vaccines sources should not be mixed between 1st and 2nd. I'll see if I can find it for a link.

BTW, I didn't see it in a search, but Andrew Yang has tested positive and has mild symptoms.

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by Anonymousreply 149February 3, 2021 2:27 AM

Hmmm, the CDC now says theoretically it might be OK in "exceptional circumstances" but admit that there is no data showing whether safety or effectiveness is affected. So, it looks like they're still going with the FDA who granted their approval to each company based on same company's vaccine for both doses.

Personally, I wouldn't mix unless there's a severe shortage by the time I'm able to even get the vaccine.

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by Anonymousreply 150February 3, 2021 2:52 AM

The U.K.’s decision to delay the second shot of the AstraZeneca-University of Oxford coronavirus vaccine has been found to be an effective strategy, according to a new study.

Oxford researchers found that the Covid vaccine was 76% effective at preventing symptomatic infection for three months after a single dose, and in fact that the efficacy rate rose with a longer interval between the first and second doses.

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by Anonymousreply 151February 3, 2021 11:46 AM

Rate of Severe Allergic Reactions to the Various Vaccines

[quote] Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines appear, on rare occasions, to trigger anaphylaxis, a severe and potentially life-threatening reaction. People who develop anaphylaxis must be treated with epinephrine — the drug in EpiPens — and may need to be hospitalized to ensure their airways remain open. The CDC says people should be monitored for 15 minutes after getting a Covid-19 shot, and 30 minutes if they have a history of severe allergies.

[quote] The most recent data from the CDC suggest that anaphylaxis occurs at a rate of about 2.1 cases per one million doses given of the Moderna vaccine, and 6.2 cases per million doses of the Pfizer. Many of the people who have developed anaphylaxis have a history of severe allergies and some have had previous episodes of anaphylaxis.

[quote] To date the J&J vaccine has not been associated with anaphylactic reactions.

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by Anonymousreply 152February 3, 2021 1:32 PM

That's because the J&J vaccine is saline with a shot of grenadine.

by Anonymousreply 153February 3, 2021 5:45 PM

VOTN are you going to donate plasma? Word on the street is that your antibodies (and the antibodies of others like you) are in high demand.

by Anonymousreply 154February 3, 2021 6:05 PM

While you're joking, R153, I'm not sure why people are shitting on the Johnson and Johnson vaccine so much. It's a more traditional vaccine that does the exact same thing that the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines do, namely codes for production of the covid spike protein. It's going to be a game changer once it is okayed by the FDA because it doesn't need the extraordinarily cold storage that the Pfizer and Moderna ones need and you only need one shot. People think that the ~65% effectiveness after the one dose is bad because the other ones have 95% after two doses. If the J&J vaccine was given two times, it may reach that 95% effectiveness, too, and they are testing that right now. But, its initial effectiveness after one dose is actually higher than the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines after their first shot.

I just don't want people to not get this vaccine when it becomes available because they think something is wrong with it due to misinformation.

by Anonymousreply 155February 3, 2021 6:09 PM

I think the J&J vaccine would be perfect for certain strategic uses -- namely colleges, high schools, and elementary schools once they've tested on kids. An easy to distribute, one-and-done vaccine that you don't have to worry about dumbass college kids (or addled parents of little kids) forgetting to come back for their second dose, no fancy equipment needed, etc. It could solve the whole back to school issue. Save the better vax for the teachers.

by Anonymousreply 156February 3, 2021 6:19 PM

R156, again, Moderna and Pfizer are not "the better vax". That kind of thing is what's worrying me. It's going to have people refusing to take a perfectly good vaccine.

by Anonymousreply 157February 3, 2021 6:27 PM

[quote] UK detects South African coronavirus variant in people with no travel links

How can they be so sure? Someone with it or with links to travel may have stood next to someone in a shop or wherever and you would never know. They cannot say with any degree of scientific surety that this is true.

There is much carelessness in how the "experts" and officials are trying to reassure people about the vaccine and the virus itself. While I think everyone should get the vaccine and while I know that every vaccine can carry risk I think we have to be honest about the fact we do not know many things, e.g., like the long term effects of the vaccine especially the mRNA ones. Probably okay but they really can't say based on medical and scientific proof.

by Anonymousreply 158February 3, 2021 7:02 PM

Two shelf stable vaccine candidates from Mass General look like they will be going in to human testing.

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by Anonymousreply 159February 3, 2021 7:57 PM

I’m gonna sound horrible but Florida is way too infested with Deplorables and seniors and it really needs a flush.

by Anonymousreply 160February 3, 2021 11:18 PM

I like that J&J is not an mRNA vaccine and is more of a traditional vaccine structure.

by Anonymousreply 161February 4, 2021 3:00 AM

AstraZeneca's vaccine will NOT be avilable for elderly people here in Norway. Good decision imo. Even though it means the vaccination will be even slower, as if that's even possible as we're last of the Nordic countries. Anyways, better to be safe than sorry.

by Anonymousreply 162February 4, 2021 7:54 AM

It even looks like the Poltergeist 3 tower. I'd expect to see Zelda Rubinstein found the gateway to hell there.

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by Anonymousreply 163February 4, 2021 8:48 AM

R163 Sorry, wrong thread, low blood sugar today.

by Anonymousreply 164February 4, 2021 9:51 AM

Another hotel worker, this time in Melbourne is at the center of another Australian quarantine breach.

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by Anonymousreply 165February 4, 2021 9:56 AM

The medical staff of NFL basically used its entire organization as a giant COVID-tracking experiment. They tested everyone, every day, made people wear proximity detectors, and followed up with rigorous contact tracing.

TLDNR takeaways:

1. MASKS

2. Ventilation, ventilation, ventilation. Brief contact and distance are meaningless without masks + ventilation. Why aren't more agencies talking about ventilation?

3. People cannot eat together safely.

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by Anonymousreply 166February 4, 2021 11:44 AM

There are around 4,000 Covid-19 mutations, UK minister warns

From CNN's Amy Cassidy and Jo Shelley

There are approximately 4,000 mutations of Covid-19 in the world right now, according to the UK’s vaccine minister Nadhim Zahawi.

Speaking to Sky News on Thursday, Zahawi said researchers are tracking how the virus evolves and Pfizer, BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca are among the manufacturers working to improve their vaccines “to make sure we are ready for any variant.”

He said: “There are about 4,000 variants around the world of Covid now. We have the largest genome sequencing industry – we have about 50% of the world’s genome sequencing industry – and we are keeping a library of all the variants so that we are ready to be able to respond, whether in the autumn or beyond, to any challenge the virus may present, and produce the next vaccine so we can always protect the United Kingdom and of course offer it to the rest of the world as well.”

Some context: Professor Ravi Gupta, Professor of Microbiology at the University of Cambridge, said UK vaccine minister was not referring to variants “as we have come to know them.”

“Rather he is referring to individual mutations," Gupta said, noting that, "many mutations emerge and disappear continuously. Scientists are using ‘variants’ to describe viruses with mutations that are transmitting in the general population – there aren’t 4,000 of those.”

Scientists are not surprised to see the coronavirus evolving but new variants first identified in the UK, Brazil and South Africa are worrisome as they appear more transmissible. Here's what we know about them.

by Anonymousreply 167February 4, 2021 1:43 PM

Increasing data suggests UK variant may be deadlier, says CDC director

From CNN's Andrea Diaz

Health authorities are still learning about the new coronavirus variants, and whether current health measures are as effective against them -- but data suggests that the B.1.1.7 variant, first identified in the UK, may be deadlier than the original strand.

"We know that some of the variants have increased transmissibility, there's increasing data that suggests that some of the variants, the B.1.1.7 variant may actually ... lead to increased mortality, and the jury's still out with regard to how these vaccines are going to work with against these variants," said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on MSNBC Wednesday.

"We'd have to ... follow the science, and we are learning more and more about whether our public health measures, our mitigation measures, our mask wearing, our distancing, will be fully effective against these variants, but we have every reason to believe that they will."

Walensky added that as authorities examine more people infected by the variants, they are finding that those people are typically not wearing masks or social distancing. "What we know is that they'll (variants) probably be less forgiving when we don't follow that guidance," she said.

by Anonymousreply 168February 4, 2021 1:46 PM

Do they think there will be other variants before the vaccine is available to everyone who wants it?

by Anonymousreply 169February 4, 2021 6:08 PM

Contact tracers in Canada's York Region are finding that some individuals who have tested positive for the highly contagious COVID-19 variant known as B.1.1.7 have been in a retail store for just a few minutes. Karim Kurji, the region’s Medical Officer of Health, is in talks with Public Health Ontario to lower the threshold of what is typically considered a high-risk contact: face-to-face interaction within two metres for at least 15 minutes.

Interim guidance from the government does include a lower threshold for classifying contacts associated with COVID-19 variants as high risk of exposure and requiring quarantine.

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by Anonymousreply 170February 5, 2021 1:30 PM

I wish they would define better what they mean by more contagious. Is a couple of minutes six feet apart with masks now no longer considered "safe"? They keep opening everything the fuck up around here and more and more people are being allowed in places with the same rules in place as before...and those rules didn't work back then, let alone if this more contagious strain seems to infect by just looking at someone at this point.

We should have kept everything shut down for just another month. Let the vaccine threshold go up some more while this more contagious strain gets its foothold in the US. But, no, just open everything the fuck up quickly again for no fucking reason. The numbers will soon start to skyrocket again and the government will just shrug their shoulders. And, again, they are opening up just before a superspreader even, the Superbowl. They opened up for Memorial Day when people have big get-togethers. They opened up right before the 4th of July when people have picnics. And, now the Superbowl. How can all the governments be so fucking stupid? You'd have to be trying to infect more people to be this stupid.

by Anonymousreply 171February 5, 2021 2:41 PM

If the new strain is that easy to transmit, we are going to reach herd immunity before most people can get the vaccine. I hope the elderly and frail are able to get vaccinated soon.

by Anonymousreply 172February 5, 2021 3:13 PM

People who violate US transportation mask mandate face a $250 fine and up to $1,500 for repeat offenders

From CNN's Greg Wallace

Violators of the federal transportation face mask requirement face a $250 fine that increases for subsequent violations, the Transportation Security Administration said Friday.

The fine can grow up to $1,500 for repeated violations.

The penalties may be in addition to those imposed by operators. US airlines have taken the initiative to ban passengers who do not follow the rules, and the Federal Aviation Administration has said it will crack down on any passengers who disrupt flights of assault crew members over instructions to wear a mask.

The order that took effect earlier this week requires masks in transportation hubs like train stations and airports, and on many commercial and public transportation networks, like trains, buses and airplanes.

by Anonymousreply 173February 5, 2021 3:51 PM

AstraZeneca vaccine effective against UK variant, University of Oxford statement says

From CNN’s Martin Goillandeau

The Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine “has similar efficacy against the B.1.1.7 ‘Kent’ coronavirus strain currently circulating in the UK to previously circulating variants,” a statement from University of Oxford published Friday read.

The university said a preprint of ongoing work to assess effectiveness of its coronavirus vaccine also described recent analysis “showing that the vaccination results in a reduction in the duration of shedding and viral load, which may translate into a reduced transmission of the disease.”

Andrew Pollard, professor of paediatric infection and Immunity and chief investigator on the Oxford vaccine trial, said: “Data from our trials of the ChAdOx1 vaccine in the United Kingdom indicate that the vaccine not only protects against the original pandemic virus, but also protects against the novel variant, B.1.1.7, which caused the surge in disease from the end of 2020 across the UK.”

Sarah Gilbert, professor of vaccinology and chief investigator on the Oxford vaccine trial, said the university was working with AstraZeneca to “optimise the pipeline required for a strain change should one become necessary.”

“This is the same issue that is faced by all of the vaccine developers, and we will continue to monitor the emergence of new variants that arise in readiness for a future strain change,” she added.

by Anonymousreply 174February 5, 2021 3:52 PM

A fun thread on variant virus. Especially part 25 about the Italian village where it's being spread by school kids.

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by Anonymousreply 175February 5, 2021 3:59 PM

Re: Eric Feigl-Ding, the author of the thread at R175. It doesn't seem he's well regarded by his fellow scientists.

One of the nation’s most prominent infectious-disease researchers, Marc Lipsitch, a professor of epidemiology at Harvard and director of the university’s Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics, has made no secret of his disdain for Feigl-Ding’s virus-related commentary, repeatedly calling him out as an unqualified publicity-seeker.

In a tweet on March 19, Lipsitch referred to Feigl-Ding as a “charlatan exploiting a tenuous connection for self-promotion.” In that thread, he characterized Feigl-Ding’s analysis of the coronavirus as “80% repeating conventional wisdom, 20% promoting wacko pseudoscience, and 100% derivative.” He went on to say that Feigl-Ding “gets something spectacularly wrong sufficiently often that you should find other parts of the firehose of info to drink from.”

(Doesn't mean he's wrong with his analysis of the variant, but I'd take it with a grain of salt. )

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by Anonymousreply 176February 5, 2021 4:49 PM

R176 I fully agree that Eric is a big MARY! But I still give him credit for being one of the first people who called this pandemic out for what it was. I always take whatever hysterics he's spilling and mentally crank it down about about 5 notches.

It's best to look at the research he's quoting rather than his interpretations.

by Anonymousreply 177February 5, 2021 5:08 PM

I will always enjoy reading about anyone named Fiegl-Ding.

by Anonymousreply 178February 5, 2021 5:12 PM

Members of the LGBT community are at greater risk of of experiencing severe symptoms of COVID-19, according to a report released by the CDC.

The CDC found that members of the LGBT community are more likely to have underlying health conditions that put them at an increased risk to contract the coronavirus and experience severe symptoms of the disease.

"Sexual minority persons have higher prevalences than do heterosexual persons of self-reported cancer, kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease (including myocardial infarction, angina, or coronary heart disease), obesity, smoking, diabetes, asthma, hypertension, and stroke," the report states.

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by Anonymousreply 179February 5, 2021 5:21 PM

So the CDC has found that the LGBT community is a bunch of fat whores.

by Anonymousreply 180February 5, 2021 5:28 PM

That article at R179 is NUTS

by Anonymousreply 181February 5, 2021 6:09 PM

The article at R179 includes the whole alphabet umbrella which has to be why it declares the whole community more likely to have an underlying condition. Other than HIV most of those diseases aren’t more common for gay men

by Anonymousreply 182February 5, 2021 6:57 PM

COVID: The Atlantic vs. the Pacific

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by Anonymousreply 183February 5, 2021 7:00 PM

NYC will start making a real effort to start tracking circulating variants very soon.

My wife had a very good experience getting vaccinated today; so far no side effects and it was a smooth process.

After many wasted hours on the dysfunctional Massachusetts website, Governor Baker decided to set up local distribution in hard hit communities totally outside the website locations. Mom’s getting Pfizer tomorrow at my old high school down the street from where she lives.

And as of February 15th Cuomo will be allowing people on immunosuppressant medications to be vaccinated so I need to work on scheduling my vaccination now.

February 5th is generally an exhausting day for me, but this year has been extra special.

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by Anonymousreply 184February 6, 2021 12:34 AM

NYC variant tracking

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by Anonymousreply 185February 6, 2021 1:04 AM

Best of luck, ElderLez!

by Anonymousreply 186February 6, 2021 1:54 AM

Iowa governor Kim Reynolds is removing indoor mask requirements in public spaces, gathering limits and restrictions on businesses starting 12:01 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 7.

This comes the same week Iowa was ranked No. 47 in the country for its vaccine distribution, worse than all other states except Idaho and Missouri.

Guess we can all look forward to a new Iowa variant soon.

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by Anonymousreply 187February 6, 2021 12:48 PM

Iowa removing these requirements is akin to stopping an antibiotic regime midway because you are starting to feel better. Dumb.

by Anonymousreply 188February 6, 2021 12:52 PM

Excellent analogy, r188.

by Anonymousreply 189February 6, 2021 2:20 PM

Netherlands surpasses 1 million Covid-19 cases

From CNN’s Arnaud Siad and Mick Krever

The Netherlands has passed the mark of a million confirmed Covid-19 since the pandemic began, according to numbers by the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) on Saturday.

RIVM reported 4,130 new Covid-19 cases on Saturday, bringing the total since the pandemic started almost a year ago to 1,001,826.

by Anonymousreply 190February 6, 2021 4:38 PM

South Dakota approves dentists to administer Covid-19 vaccine

From CNN’s Chris Boyette

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem signed an executive order Friday allowing dentists with experience giving injections to administer vaccines for Covid-19.

The order temporarily suspends state rules stipulating dentists can only prescribe or administer drugs for dental-related conditions and specifies dentists who wish to administer the Covid-19 vaccine can only do so as a volunteer at a Department of Health vaccination site.

A report released by the Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy and National Governors Association in December cited 20 states that are considering recruiting non-traditional providers, including students, dentists, veterinarians, and paramedics.

The American Dental Association says dentists are cleared to give the vaccine in multiple states, including Oregon, where the first dentist in the US to administer a Covid-19 vaccine did so in December. Last month, California approved an emergency waiver allowing dentists to administer Covid-19 vaccines.

by Anonymousreply 191February 6, 2021 4:39 PM

California is allowing churches to open at 25% capacity again. Newsom needs to go.

by Anonymousreply 192February 6, 2021 5:38 PM

The Supreme Court is forcing California to allow churches to open at 25% capacity again, R192.

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by Anonymousreply 193February 6, 2021 6:19 PM

Another win for Covid.

by Anonymousreply 194February 6, 2021 6:56 PM

My apologies, R193. Newsom has fucked up so many times in the past year that I naturally assumed it was another craven move on his part to save his own ass.

by Anonymousreply 195February 6, 2021 7:00 PM

R174 Meanwhile here in Norway the vaccine did not get approved for those aged 65+. They said it was due to a lack of testing on the elderly.

by Anonymousreply 196February 6, 2021 7:48 PM

Why are all the republicunts in the US so anti-science? They would sacrifice thousands if not milllions for their own fucked up agenda. I can't stand the conservacunts in charge here in Norway, but at least they believe in science and have listened to the experts and done what they suggested, like lockdowns, masks etc.

by Anonymousreply 197February 6, 2021 7:53 PM

The president of the NFL wrote to Biden offering up all stadiums as mass vax centers.

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by Anonymousreply 198February 6, 2021 8:20 PM

Cool. I wish the public would adhere to public health guidelines out of common sense and decency, but that's not working as well as it should. If Goodell offering up NFL stadiums helps get more people immunized, I'm all for it.

Earlier Kareem Abdul-Jabbar said something about getting basketball players immunized. I'll admit I didn't read all of that thoroughly. However, if a star athlete's immunization encourages people who otherwise would not go in for their shots, then, fuck it, let's do it. Common sense and decency are just not doing the trick. Let's use star power if that's what it takes.

by Anonymousreply 199February 6, 2021 8:58 PM

Breaking: The Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine does not appear to offer protection against mild and moderate disease caused by the South Africa variant, according to preliminary findings of a study due to be published on Monday.

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by Anonymousreply 200February 6, 2021 9:13 PM

R187, Lincoln's Bible tweeted this in response to the Iowa governor's announcement:

[quote]When your chosen path of sabotaging the new administration is intentionally slaughtering the lives and physical health of civilian Americans.

[quote]Behold, the #QOP.

I don't want to believe Republican politicians want a high mortality rate for Covid, but I cannot come to any other conclusion. I wonder if there's some document out there analyzing the savings on pensions and disability payouts if the death rate stays high.

by Anonymousreply 201February 6, 2021 11:35 PM

[quote]Breaking: The Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine does not appear to offer protection against mild and moderate disease caused by the South Africa variant, according to preliminary findings of a study due to be published on Monday.

The article linked to this is subscription so I can't read it. Does it still offer protection against severe illness? It seems strange that they would word it that wIay unless they didn't yet analyze its effect on severe manifestation of covid illness. Doesn't the Astrazeneca vaccine work in the same manner as the Johnson and Johnson, just with a different carrier vector? They all code for the spike proteins, in the end, so I'm surprised that the other ones were reported to still work.

by Anonymousreply 202February 7, 2021 12:57 AM

Uneducated people have always feared medicine and science. I know that doesn’t fit all Trump supporters but it fits a lot of them.

by Anonymousreply 203February 7, 2021 12:57 AM

[quote] The Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine does not appear to offer protection against mild and moderate disease caused by the South Africa variant, according to preliminary findings of a study due to be published on Monday.

I will get the vaccine but I am glad I am at the end of the line. I think these vaccines will need to be fine tuned for the variants. We have research, but this is all still uncharted waters. I wouldn't be like that Soul Cycle lesbo and cut the line to get the vaccine today.

by Anonymousreply 204February 7, 2021 1:01 AM

Here's Reuters on AstraZeneca and the South African variant-

[quote] The study from South Africa’s University of the Witwatersrand and Oxford University showed the vaccine had significantly reduced efficacy against the South African variant, according to a Financial Times report published earlier in the day.

[quote] Among coronavirus variants currently most concerning for scientists and public health experts are the so-called British, South African and Brazilian variants, which appear to spread more swiftly than others.

[quote] The newspaper said none of the more than 2,000 trial participants had been hospitalised or died.

[quote] “However, we have not been able to properly ascertain its effect against severe disease and hospitalisation given that subjects were predominantly young healthy adults,” the AstraZeneca spokesman said.

[quote] The company said it believed its vaccine could protect against severe disease, given that the neutralising antibody activity was equivalent to that of other COVID-19 vaccines that have demonstrated protection against severe disease.

[quote] The trial, which involved 2,026 people of whom half formed the placebo group, has not been peer-reviewed, the FT said.

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by Anonymousreply 205February 7, 2021 2:43 AM

[quote]I don't want to believe Republican politicians want a high mortality rate for Covid, but I cannot come to any other conclusion.

I don't think they want people to die but I do believe they view Covid deaths as acceptable collateral damage in the battle to "save" capitalism.

They look at 500,000 dead and millions more facing lifelong medical complications as a small price to pay for keeping the economy afloat. Of course, they could also have kept the economy afloat by paying workers to stay home, but that won't goose the stock market like tax cuts for billionaires does.

And you can bet that the minute they get the chance they'll enable insurance companies to reject coverage for Covid long-haulers.

by Anonymousreply 206February 7, 2021 12:15 PM

If Corona does keep making more and more variants of itself, could one of them potentially be completely resistant to the vaccines?

by Anonymousreply 207February 7, 2021 1:58 PM

That is my fear r207. A year has passed and we still haven’t clamped down to defeat this scourge. California has opened restaurants etc again. A destructive cycle of open, close, open, close.

by Anonymousreply 208February 7, 2021 2:10 PM

A bit of celebrity adjacent

Singer Engelbert Humperdinck is mourning his wife of 56 years, Patricia Healey, who died Thursday at age 85 after contracting COVID-19.

Humperdinck, 84, announced in a social media post shared Friday that his family was "heartbroken over the loss of my darling wife," who died the night before, "surrounded by our children, Louise, Jason, Brad, with Scott on FaceTime."

"Her earthly limitations no longer hold her down as she is freely running the glorious gardens of Heaven, reunited with so many loved ones," Humperdinck wrote. "We prayed as a family, blessed her with the water from Lourdes and off she went ... ushered into the arms of Jesus with help from the generous heart filled prayers from all around the world."

by Anonymousreply 209February 7, 2021 2:34 PM

Bad news in the NY Times just now on the UK variant spreading rapidly in the US, particularly Florida. Sorry, the link won’t post.

by Anonymousreply 210February 7, 2021 3:47 PM

From the story r210 references:

A more contagious variant of the coronavirus first found in Britain is spreading rapidly in the United States, doubling roughly every 10 days, according to a new study.

Last month, the CCDC warned that B.1.1.7 could become predominant by March if it behaved the way it did in Britain. The new study confirms that projected path.

Some parts of the United States (are) especially worrisome. In Florida, where the new study indicates the variant is spreading particularly quickly, epidemiologist Nicholas Davies fears that a new surge may hit even sooner than the rest of the country.

“If these data are representative, there may be limited time to act,” he said.

“If these data are representative, there may be limited time to act,” he said.

by Anonymousreply 211February 7, 2021 4:27 PM

Nicholas Davies seems to be a repetitive sort.

by Anonymousreply 212February 7, 2021 4:43 PM

All the bettter to get it through thick American skulls, R212.

by Anonymousreply 213February 7, 2021 4:47 PM

Repeating for emphasis, R212.

Seriously, though, it's astonishing to me that our leaders, D and R alike, are reacting to the threat of the new variants by further opening up their states. The R governor of Iowa is the most extreme, doing away with most every safety measure starting today, but Cuomo in NY and Whitmer in MI are allowing indoor dining again. What's the definition of insanity again?

by Anonymousreply 214February 7, 2021 4:56 PM

R207, the good news is that the virus can't mutate into anything possible under the sun. The virus has to be functional, or it won't replicate. I believe that's why many vaccines were designed to target the spike protein. The virus can't say "Well, I'm going to come up with a new spike protein, what are you going to do about that?" because then the spike protein wouldn't dock into our cells.

by Anonymousreply 215February 7, 2021 4:58 PM

Study shows AstraZeneca vaccine provides "minimal protection" against South Africa Covid-19 variant, Oxford University says

From CNN's Jamie Gumbrecht

Early data suggest two doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine provide “minimal protection” against mild and moderate infection from the variant first identified in South Africa, the University of Oxford said Sunday.

Viral neutralization against the B.1.351 variant was “substantially reduced” when compared to the earlier coronavirus strain, according to a news release Sunday from the University of Oxford. The study, which has not been released, included about 2,000 volunteers who were an average of 31 years old; about half received the vaccine and half received a placebo, which does nothing. The vaccine’s efficacy against severe Covid-19, hospitalization and death were not assessed.

Details of the study by researchers from South Africa’s University of Witwatersrand and others and the University of Oxford were shared in a press release. The results have been submitted for peer-review and a preprint will be released soon, Oxford said.

After the study was reported Saturday by the Financial Times, AstraZeneca said in a statement it believes the vaccine could provide protection against severe disease, and said it has started to adapt the vaccine against the variant “so that it is ready for Autumn delivery should it be needed.”

“Efforts are underway to develop a new generation of vaccines that will allow protection to be redirected to emerging variants as booster jabs, if it turns out that it is necessary to do so,” Sarah Gilbert, a professor of vaccinology at the University of Oxford, said in Sunday’s statement, noting that this issue faces all vaccine developers. “We are working with AstraZeneca to optimise the pipeline required for a strain change should one become necessary.”

In the Oxford statement, Shabir Madhi, a professor of vaccinology at University of Witwatersrand who led the study, noted recent data in South Africa from Janssen, Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine arm, found some protection against moderate and severe Covid-19 disease with a similar vaccine.

“These findings recalibrate thinking about how to approach the pandemic virus and shift the focus from the goal of herd immunity against transmission to the protection of all at risk individuals in population against severe disease,” Madhi said.

by Anonymousreply 216February 7, 2021 6:42 PM

The UK variant will decimate Floridians following Superspreader Sunday and they’ll only have themselves (and their governor) to blame.

by Anonymousreply 217February 7, 2021 7:04 PM

But can it vary enough that it becomes harder to control with vaccines?

by Anonymousreply 218February 7, 2021 7:05 PM

NYT 2/7/21

[quote] South Africa halted use of the AstraZeneca-Oxford coronavirus vaccine on Sunday after evidence emerged that the vaccine did not protect clinical-trial participants from mild or moderate illness caused by the more contagious virus variant that was first seen there.

[quote] The findings were a devastating blow to the country’s efforts to combat the pandemic.

[quote] Scientists in South Africa said on Sunday that a similar problem held among people who had been infected by earlier versions of the coronavirus: the immunity they acquired naturally did not appear to protect them from mild or moderate cases when reinfected by the variant, known as B.1.351.

by Anonymousreply 219February 7, 2021 7:26 PM

More....

[quote] However, based on the immune responses detected in blood samples from people who were given the vaccine, the scientists said they believed that the vaccine could yet protect against more severe cases.

[quote] If further studies show that it does, South African health officials said on Sunday that they would consider resuming use of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine.

by Anonymousreply 220February 7, 2021 7:27 PM

R218, yes. The answer to "Can it mutate to...?" is always yes. To the person above who said that it can't change its spike protein, you're wrong. It already has. There are all kinds of receptors on cells. It might mutate to attack different cells. Because of idiots and greed, the world is giving Covid billions of hosts to play the role of mutation factory. We have no real idea what it can do because it's a new virus and mutation is a crap shoot. If the vaccine is no longer effective against the variant, they can make all the booster shots they need but as long as we continue to stay open to idiotic things like eating in restaurants and going bowling, etc., there will just be another new strain that the booster doesn't work on.

This is the endgame of scientific illiteracy. Congrats morons of the world.

by Anonymousreply 221February 7, 2021 7:28 PM

South Africa has an alternative plan (NYT)

[quote] The pause in the country’s rollout of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine means that the first shipments will now be put in warehouses. Instead, South African health officials said they would inoculate health workers in the coming weeks with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which has strong efficacy in preventing severe cases and hospitalizations caused by the new variant.

by Anonymousreply 222February 7, 2021 7:29 PM

Scientists don't all agree it began with an animal and say the properties show it most likely began in a lab. We'll probably never be told if it's true.

by Anonymousreply 223February 7, 2021 7:36 PM

Go to hell, R223. You're the scientifically illiterate who are the problem with the world.

by Anonymousreply 224February 7, 2021 7:38 PM

R224 Screw you.

by Anonymousreply 225February 7, 2021 7:39 PM
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by Anonymousreply 226February 8, 2021 1:55 AM

R226 Beautiful! That really does belong in a museum some day.

by Anonymousreply 227February 8, 2021 11:57 AM

The BioNTech/Pfizer coronavirus vaccine should grant protection against both the South African and British variants, according to an article published in Nature Medicine Monday.

The researchers tested the blood sera of participants who had been given the vaccine against virus samples that were genetically modified to resemble the variants, finding that the antibodies responded to these viruses.

However, one limitation of the peer-reviewed study is "that the engineered viruses do not include the full set of spike mutations found in the [U.K.] or [South African] variants," the researchers said.

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by Anonymousreply 228February 8, 2021 12:14 PM

GOP Rep. Ron Wright (TX) is the first sitting member of Coronavirus to die from the coronavirus. The 67-year-old died Sunday night.

Rep.-elect Luke Letlow (R-La) died from the virus in December before he was sworn in to office.

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by Anonymousreply 229February 8, 2021 3:50 PM

r229, how odd they were both republicans.

by Anonymousreply 230February 8, 2021 3:57 PM

Delta to block middle seats on flights through April

From CNN's Pete Muntean

Delta Air Lines says it will keep blocking middle seats through April, an extension of a pandemic policy shed by other airlines.

Delta’s policy will now expire April 30. It was set to expire at the end of next month.

Delta maintains it is the only US airline to keep blocking middle seats on its flights. JetBlue began filling every seat last month, Southwest stopped capping capacity last December, while American and United airlines did so last summer.

“We want our customers to have complete confidence when traveling with Delta, and they continue to tell us that more space provides more peace of mind,” said Bill Lentsch, Chief Customer Experience Officer.

In a news release, Delta says it made the decision so “customers can confidently plan and book their spring travel.” You may still find empty seats on other airlines, as TSA figures show air travel demand remains depressed.

by Anonymousreply 231February 8, 2021 4:13 PM

COVID-19 vaccine may soon be available in pill form, Nadhim Zahawi says

COVID-19 vaccinations could one day be taken in pill form, Britain’s vaccine deployment minister said.

Nadhim Zahawi said that there may be an oral option available in the future, the Telegraph reported.

“There are technologies with pills and others being developed around the world and we will continue to look at those,” Zahawi told the Times Radio.

“But we’re making sure the UK will always have the capability and capacity to manufacture the variant vaccines that will deal with any variant virus.”

A British biotech company has already turned the jabs into a tablet that produced “outstanding” results protecting monkeys against the coronavirus.

“You catch COVID in your mucosal cells,” Wayne Channon, the chief executive of the Sussex-based biotech firm iosBio, told the Telegraph. “But with jabs you get injected into the arm which goes into the muscles and blood cells. Our tablets go straight into mucosal cells to elicit mucosal immunity so we hit the virus where it is.”

He said the tablets could also speed up the race to vaccinate people across the world.

“With our capsule you wouldn’t need medical professionals to administer the vaccine, you could send this out on Amazon Prime and have everyone vaccinated by Saturday,” Channon told the outlet.

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by Anonymousreply 232February 8, 2021 4:30 PM

Sheriffs shut down three illegal NYC parties packing in hundreds of revelers

New York City sheriff’s deputies busted up three large illegal parties over the weekend that included hundreds of boozy revelers packed together in violation of COVID-19 restrictions.

In Brooklyn, about 230 partygoers were discovered at a members-only club at 283 Liberty Ave. in Brownsville shortly before 3:30 a.m. Sunday — with patrons also being served liquor without a license, authorities said.

The manager of the club, Geradino Luis Abdiel, was cited for allegedly violating coronavirus emergency and health-code orders. He also was charged with second-degree weapons possession after deputies said they found him with a knife and brass knuckles.

Two patrons accused of organizing the event, Fernanda Sales and Han Kyung, were also charged over the gathering, including for the alleged failure to protect health and safety.

Less than an hour earlier, at nearby 1764 Pitkin Ave., deputies had broken up a house party where more than 200 people were packed in dancing and drinking.

Authorities said three people were working the party as security guards and a photographer when deputies showed up shortly after 2:45 a.m.

Joseph Jerome was charged with health and code violations, working as an unlicensed security guard and for the alleged state liquor violation of operating an unlicensed bottle club.

Two other people, Daniel Sang and Noel Charles, were arrested and charged with violating the emergency coronavirus order as well as health and safety violations.

A little earlier, around 2 a.m., deputies also raided an unlicensed bar at 50-00 Grand Ave. in Maspeth, Queens, where they said about 165 people were packed into a club — which had only one door in and out of the building, a safety-code violation.

Party organizers there were selling booze without a license, too, according to the sheriff’s office.

One man, Jose Lopez, who was working security, was fined $1,000 for allegedly failing to protect health and safety, a city health-code violation.

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by Anonymousreply 233February 8, 2021 4:32 PM

As long as they are (R).

by Anonymousreply 234February 8, 2021 4:37 PM

A congressman died from covid and it doesn't seem to be a big deal. Granted I haven't checked social media or tuned into cable news. It's just numbers now.

by Anonymousreply 235February 8, 2021 4:43 PM

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today that NYC restaurants can start serving customers indoors beginning Friday, two days earlier than planned, presumably so the eateries can benefit from a Valentine's Day weekend rush.

Because really, what could be a better response to the increasing prevalence of a more contagious covid variant?

by Anonymousreply 236February 8, 2021 7:16 PM

[bold]Seoul launches Covid tests for pets[/bold]

Mon, February 8, 2021, 2:55 AM Pet cats and dogs with a fever, cough or breathing difficulties will be offered coronavirus tests if they have been exposed to carriers, the Seoul metropolitan government said Monday.

The programme in the sprawling South Korean capital comes weeks after the country reported its first case of Covid-19 infection in an animal, involving a kitten.

"Starting today, the Seoul metropolitan government will offer coronavirus tests for pet dogs and cats," Park Yoo-mi, a Seoul city official handling disease control, told reporters.

more at link

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by Anonymousreply 237February 8, 2021 11:17 PM

The coronavirus is unlikely to have leaked from a Chinese lab and is more likely to have jumped to humans from an animal, a World Health Organization team has concluded, an expert said Tuesday as the group wrapped up a visit to explore the origins of the virus.

"(Our) findings suggest that the laboratory incidents hypothesis is extremely unlikely to explain the introduction of the virus to the human population” and will not be suggested as an avenue of future study.

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by Anonymousreply 238February 9, 2021 12:12 PM

Covid hospitalizations at Israel's Sourasky Medical Center plummet for the vaccinated:

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by Anonymousreply 239February 9, 2021 12:47 PM

That's very encouraging news from Israel. Looks like the vaccine is doing its job.

by Anonymousreply 240February 9, 2021 12:56 PM

How much did China pay the WHO for that conclusion?

by Anonymousreply 241February 9, 2021 2:19 PM

R241, smother yourself with your tin hat, would you? Thanks.

by Anonymousreply 242February 9, 2021 5:50 PM

Austria to introduce mandatory negative test for anyone travelling out of state of Tyrol

From CNN's Stephanie Halasz

Austria will introduce a mandatory negative test from Friday onwards for anyone travelling out of the state of Tyrol, chancellor Sebastian Kurz said Tuesday.

The reason for the move is the more infectious South African mutant of the coronavirus, he said, adding the test could not be older than 48 hours.

Kurz, speaking at a press conference in Vienna, noted that both the UK and the South African variant provide more of a challenge for authorities.

But he singled out the South African variant, saying it may be more difficult to fight with the AstraZeneca vaccine. Early data released this weekend suggests the vaccine offers limited protection against mild-and-moderate disease from that variant. Until the summer, the AstraZeneca vaccine represents almost 50% of Austria's vaccine program.

Kurz said the two challenges his government had were to “stop the spread in Tyrol, and secondly, to do everything possible to stop the spread into other part of Austria, or to slow it down.”

Kurz added that the district of Schwaz in Tyrol -- where cases of the South African variant have been confirmed -- would be a focus point, with “massive testing” all over Tyrol. Eastern Tyrol would be exempt, Kurz said, because the region has hardly any cases.

But other areas of Austria will see a loosening of coronavirus restrictions first announced last week. As of yesterday, a curfew was moved to the night-time hours of 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. local time. Previously, there was an order to stay at home around the clock.

Schools, shops and museums are allowed to open again, but with tight measures. A FFP2/N95 mask has to be worn in all shops, and a space of 20 square metres has to be available per customer. Hairdressers are also allowed to open.

But restaurants remain closed in the country, with a review on whether to open them set for mid-February.

by Anonymousreply 243February 9, 2021 5:53 PM

People who lie on passenger locator forms will face up to 10 years imprisonment under new border rules, says UK Health Secretary

From CNN’s Sarah Dean in London and Sharon Braithwaite

England is introducing stricter border rules to increase protection against new Covid-19 variants arriving from abroad, UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Tuesday.

Hancock warned the government is “coming down hard” on passengers arriving in the UK lying on mandatory "locator forms," with the threat of a potential ten-year jail prison sentence.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Hancock set out three elements of the strengthened system for international arrivals coming into force in England from Monday. He said the government is working with the devolved administrations as well as the Irish government to put in place a similar system that works across the common travel area.

by Anonymousreply 244February 9, 2021 5:54 PM

1 in 3 Covid-19 patients put on a ventilator experience "extensive” PTSD symptoms, UK research shows

From CNN's Sharon Braithwaite

New research in the UK shows around 1 in 3 (35%) of Covid-19 patients put on a ventilator experience "extensive symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)" after treatment.

The research, conducted in the UK by Imperial College London and the University of Southampton, also found that extensive symptoms of PTSD, such as "intrusive images" of the ICU environment, were also found in 18% of patients hospitalized without requiring a ventilator.

The results of the study were published Tuesday in the UK Royal College of Psychiatrists’ BJPsych Open journal.

by Anonymousreply 245February 9, 2021 5:56 PM

[quote] How much did China pay the WHO for that conclusion?

HA! I read the article when I woke up this morning scrolling through the news and that was my first thought, as well.

by Anonymousreply 246February 9, 2021 6:52 PM

My neighbor was put on a ventilator. She wished they would have just let her die. She is alive but severely traumatized.

by Anonymousreply 247February 9, 2021 7:18 PM

That isn’t unique to COVID patients.

[quote]In observing 520 mechanically ventilated patients, researchers found that 66 of the 186 patients (35%) displayed clinically significant symptoms of PTSD, with the greatest apparent onset occurring by the initial, three-month follow-up visit. Of those who developed PTSD 62% still had symptoms at their two-year visit; 50% were taking psychiatric medications and 40% had seen a psychiatrist in the two years since being hospitalized.

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by Anonymousreply 248February 9, 2021 8:54 PM

I had symptoms of PTSD after 36 hours in the ER with an NG tube I can’t imagine not having severe PTSD after being on a ventilator.

by Anonymousreply 249February 9, 2021 9:18 PM

Johnson and johnson ceo said we would need a vaccine every season for next several years if the virus keep mutating

by Anonymousreply 250February 9, 2021 11:48 PM

johnson and johnson also made a shitty vaccine

by Anonymousreply 251February 9, 2021 11:51 PM

R250 Which is just like the flu shot you get every year, so who cares if that's the case?

by Anonymousreply 252February 10, 2021 1:13 AM

Food for thought: @ my physical today, my MD recommended that since I'm <65+ to get the J&J one as soon as it's available, given its efficacy is 65%, instead of waiting around for either Pfizer or Moderna. Granted Covid is not like the flu, she said the annual flu vaccine is only 50% effective, and J&J is better than being unvaccinated. Then down the road, revisit P & M should they become more available

by Anonymousreply 253February 10, 2021 1:20 AM

World's second oldest person, 116, survives COVID, saying, "I didn't even know I had it"

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by Anonymousreply 254February 10, 2021 1:29 AM

[quote] [R250] Which is just like the flu shot you get every year, so who cares if that's the case?

Well, I care because COVID is not like the flu, and if I have to be paranoid about everything I touch, everyone I'm near and everything I breathe around for the rest of my life, I'm not going to be able to handle it. The flu doesn't leave you with blood clots and sudden strokes, lung scarring and dementia.

by Anonymousreply 255February 10, 2021 2:37 AM

[quote]Johnson and johnson ceo said we would need a vaccine every season for next several years if the virus keep mutating.

It won't keep mutating like it has been once it no longer has an endless supply of idiots and ignorant assholes to act as voluntary hosts. People not wearing masks or following other guidelines CAUSED these mutations. They should be held liable for it and scorned from society forever. They've killed thousands and thousands of people and should be punished accordingly.

Anyone who says that the J&J vaccine is bad is an ignorant idiot who knows nothing about vaccines.

The current flu vaccines have prior dangerous vectors in them. Currently, they have H1N1 which was a lesser pandemic in 2009.

by Anonymousreply 256February 10, 2021 6:47 AM

Dr. Scott Gottlieb on CNBC:

"We're going to run out of demand sooner than we think. At some point in March and certainly by the end of March we're going to have to make this generally available ... everyone is going to be able to go online and get an appointment sooner than we think."

by Anonymousreply 257February 10, 2021 2:47 PM

R257 "everyone is going to be able to go online and get an appointment sooner than we think."

Not in PA they won't. Rollout here has been even more of a joke than other states. Plus the categories of people they're vaccinating right now; elderly, obese, smokers, diabetes, heart conditions, make a Venn diagram shaped like the state of PA. Something like 70% of the population qualifies.

by Anonymousreply 258February 10, 2021 3:15 PM

U.S. government researchers found that two masks are better than one in slowing coronavirus spread, but health officials stopped short of recommending that everyone double up.

Researchers found that wearing one mask — surgical or cloth — blocked around 40% of the particles coming toward the head that was breathing in. When a cloth mask was worn on top of a surgical mask, about 80% were blocked.

When both the exhaling and inhaling heads were double-masked, more than 95% of the particles were blocked.

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by Anonymousreply 259February 10, 2021 3:33 PM

Wouldn't that just be common sense, r259?

by Anonymousreply 260February 10, 2021 3:42 PM

You would think, but the CDC still isn't recommending double masking, R259.

by Anonymousreply 261February 10, 2021 3:45 PM

Scientists theorize that the UK B.1.1.7 variant originated in a man suffering from lymphoma who had been chronically infected with the garden-variety strain of the virus for 102 days before dying.

"Since Sars-CoV-2 infects cells relatively quickly, in most cases it enters a host, replicates and then swiftly infects someone else, leaving little time for the virus to acquire many genetic changes. When the virus enters the body of someone who is already immunocompromised, their body is constantly applying evolutionary pressure on the virus – pushing it to evolve into new and, in some cases, more infectious forms."

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by Anonymousreply 262February 10, 2021 3:54 PM

Qanon is coming up with some extreme propaganda theories telling people something terrible is going to happen to them if they take the vaccine, and it’s irreversible. Instilling extreme fear into Republicans, to the point that Qanon members now cut off their family members that take the vaccine. They’ve been told it will separate them from God, it’s demon possession, they’ll be sterilized, Bill Gates put a tracker in the vaccine. These claims are based on pure superstitition and hysteria.

Malcom Nance, a retired military intelligence officer, does public speaking and has written books about military intelligence, and he pointed out years ago that Russia is behind a lot of this, with the cooperation of Trump. This is an interesting speech he did in 2018.

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by Anonymousreply 263February 10, 2021 3:59 PM

R262

[quote] When the virus enters the body of someone who is already immunocompromised, their body is constantly applying evolutionary pressure on the virus

That bolsters my theory that the very scary South African virus had something to do with the millions of HIV positive people in S Africa.

by Anonymousreply 264February 10, 2021 4:24 PM

The US could have averted 40% of the deaths from Covid-19, had the country’s death rates corresponded with the rates in other high-income G7 countries, according to a Lancet commission tasked with assessing Donald Trump’s health policy record.

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by Anonymousreply 265February 11, 2021 2:05 PM

Fascinating: All the Sars-CoV-2 virus particles in the world would fit inside a soft drink can.

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by Anonymousreply 266February 11, 2021 2:22 PM

There are 30 million N95 masks sitting in a Miami factory that the company can't figure out how to sell despite a desperate national shortage.

In one of the more confounding disconnects between the laws of supply and demand, many of the nearly two dozen small American companies that recently jumped into the business of making N95s are facing the abyss — unable to crack the market, despite vows from both former President Donald Trump and President Biden to “Buy American” and buoy domestic production of essential medical gear.

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by Anonymousreply 267February 11, 2021 2:39 PM

Put 'em on Amazon. They'll fly off the shelves. Hell, put me down for a couple hundred.

by Anonymousreply 268February 11, 2021 6:09 PM

R268 Actually, if you Google the name of the company mentioned in the article above, you can buy boxes of 50 masks direct from their site.

by Anonymousreply 269February 11, 2021 10:37 PM

[quote]BBC has been banned in China. The report said the BBC was responsible for a 'slew of falsified reporting' on issues including Xinjiang and China's handling of coronavirus. It went on to say that 'fake news' is not tolerated in China - Yalda Hakim (BBC correspondent)

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by Anonymousreply 270February 11, 2021 11:00 PM

Thanks, Sylvia. : *

by Anonymousreply 271February 12, 2021 12:17 AM

I went to their website and bought a box of 20 N95 cup masks that go around the back of the head. $80 for the box of 20 plus $9 shipping. That's a great deal. And now I can double up on masks (one N95, one cloth) now that I have masks that go around the back of the head. Thanks again!

by Anonymousreply 272February 12, 2021 12:30 AM

[quote]BBC has been banned in China.

A crime against humanity!

by Anonymousreply 273February 12, 2021 1:02 AM

Europe's oldest known person, a nun named Sister André, beat the virus and turned 117 yesterday. Her celebratory lunch menu included foie gras with hot figs, roasted capon, Roquefort, baked Alaska, port wine, champagne, and "maybe a few glasses of red wine."

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by Anonymousreply 274February 12, 2021 12:11 PM

That’s so sweet. Hot figs and champagne. Adorable.

by Anonymousreply 275February 12, 2021 12:24 PM

Sounds gassy to me r275.

by Anonymousreply 276February 12, 2021 1:22 PM

Couple of treatments moving to phase 2 testing.

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by Anonymousreply 277February 12, 2021 9:12 PM

Interesting news about reinfection after illness.

by Anonymousreply 278February 12, 2021 9:56 PM

Oy vey is mer

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by Anonymousreply 279February 12, 2021 9:56 PM

French authorities saying only one dose is necessary for those who already suffered Covid.

Sorry, NY Times link won’t post here.

by Anonymousreply 280February 12, 2021 10:47 PM

I’d wish the CDC and FDA would get it together and make the same call R280.

by Anonymousreply 281February 13, 2021 12:10 AM

Los Angeles is allowing those with cancer, kidney disease, other serious illnesses and who are morbidly obese to be vaccinated starting March 15. And here I just lost 50 lbs.

by Anonymousreply 282February 13, 2021 2:09 AM

CNN: Vitamin C and zinc don’t do anything to help coronavirus patients, a Cleveland Clinic team reported Friday.

Their research is the first major randomized study looking at the popular supplements, given under medical supervision, and it found even high doses did nothing to help patients recover from Covid-19.

by Anonymousreply 283February 13, 2021 6:35 PM

[quote]CNN: Vitamin C and zinc don’t do anything to help coronavirus patients, a Cleveland Clinic team reported Friday. Their research is the first major randomized study looking at the popular supplements, given under medical supervision, and it found even high doses did nothing to help patients recover from Covid-19.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't recall anyone claiming they helped "recovery." The claims I remember seeing had more to do with building a strong immune system, with particular emphasis on vitamin D and zinc, maybe with a little C thrown in. I suppose prevention is harder to prove, so this is what they make hay with. Seems a tad specious, though.

by Anonymousreply 284February 14, 2021 12:20 AM

Covid-19: U.K.-Based Variant Is Probably More Lethal, Scientists Say- New York Times

In the U.S., more vaccines will be made available, but logistics continue to be a problem. Montana became the latest state to remove its mask mandate. A French mayor defied orders and opened museums.

LONDON — British government scientists are increasingly finding the coronavirus variant first detected in Britain to be linked to a higher risk of death than other versions of the virus, a devastating trend that highlights the serious risks and considerable uncertainties of this new phase of the pandemic.

The scientists said last month that there was a “realistic possibility” that the variant was not only more contagious than others, but also more lethal. Now, they say in a new document that it is “likely” that the variant is linked to an increased risk of hospitalization and death.

The British government did not publicly announce the updated findings, which are based on roughly twice as many studies as its earlier assessment and include more deaths from Covid-19 cases caused by the new variant, known as B.1.1.7. It posted the document on a government website on Friday.

The reasons for an elevated death rate are not entirely clear. Some evidence suggests that people infected with the variant may have higher viral loads, a feature that could not only make the virus more contagious but also potentially undermine the effectiveness of certain treatments.

But scientists are also trying to understand how much of the increased risk of death may stem from the propensity of the variant to spread very easily through settings like nursing homes, where people are already vulnerable.

No matter the explanation, scientific advisers to the British government said on Saturday, the new findings laid bare the dangers of countries easing restrictions as the variant takes hold.

The variant has spread to at least 82 countries, and is being transmitted 35 to 45 percent more easily than other variants in the United States, scientists recently estimated. American officials have suggested that the variant could be the dominant source of infection there by March.

“The overall picture is one of something like a 40 to 60 percent increase in hospitalization risk, and risk of death,” Neil Ferguson, an epidemiologist and scientific adviser to the British government, said in an interview on Saturday. Referring to the tight restrictions on socializing that are in effect across Britain, he said, “It reinforces the policy measures in place.”

Most Covid-19 cases, even those caused by the new variant, are not fatal. And the government scientists were relying on studies that examined a small proportion of overall deaths.

Over all, the government scientists’ assessment that the variant was “likely” to be linked to a higher risk of death still only signaled 55 to 75 percent confidence in the finding.

“I think these results are possibly genuine, although there are still several limitations and we need to understand what causes it,” said Muge Cevik, an infectious disease expert at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland and a scientific adviser to the British government.

She added that “there are other explanations of this increased severity,” among them that the variant may “transmit disproportionately in settings with frailer people,” like nursing homes, because it is more transmissible.

The biggest danger of the new variant remains its propensity to spread: It is thought to be 30 to 50 percent more transmissible, though some scientists put the figure higher than that.

by Anonymousreply 285February 14, 2021 4:32 AM

Why the fuck are states opening up now right when the more easily spread variant is about to become dominant and the logistics of vaccine distribution are so fucked up? Are they all really this fucking stupid or are they just cravenly capitalistic? Why not wait one more fucking month until more people are vaccinated?

by Anonymousreply 286February 14, 2021 5:54 AM

[quote] Are they all really this fucking stupid or are they just cravenly capitalistic?

Yes.

by Anonymousreply 287February 14, 2021 10:43 AM

Yes, even Democratic governors who have been relatively good during the pandemic have given in to pressure from business groups the past few weeks. Leadership is so reactive in this country, they don't do anything unless the situation is dire (see also: climate change). They can't seem to think beyond a few weeks -- case counts are going down at the moment so they'll ease up, never mind the looming threat of variants. We'll have to shut things down again in a month. Rinse, lather, repeat.

by Anonymousreply 288February 14, 2021 11:40 AM

Medical Express: Doctors in France are treating a critically ill patient infected with the South African coronavirus variant, four months after he recovered from COVID-19, in what study authors said was the first case of its kind.

The 58-year-old man had a history of asthma and initially tested positive for COVID-19 in September when he presented to medical staff with a fever and shortness of breath.

The symptoms persisted only for a few days, and the man tested negative for COVID-19 twice in December 2020.

However, he was admitted to hospital in January and diagnosed with the South African variant.

The patient's condition worsened, and he is currently in a "critical condition" on a ventilator.

by Anonymousreply 289February 14, 2021 1:53 PM

Emergency shutdown in New Zealand

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by Anonymousreply 290February 14, 2021 3:03 PM

COVID related:

Glenn Kirschner: Trump Found Not Guilty at Impeachment Trial, McConnell is Grim Reaper of Justice. What Now?

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by Anonymousreply 291February 14, 2021 3:57 PM

WHO Wuhan mission finds possible signs original 2019 Covid-19 outbreak was wider than previously thought

From CNN's Nick Paton Walsh

Investigators from the World Health Organization looking into the origins of coronavirus in China have discovered signs the outbreak was much wider in Wuhan in Dec. 2019 than previously thought. They are urgently seeking access to hundreds of thousands of blood samples from the city that China has so far not let them examine.

The lead investigator for the WHO mission, Peter Ben Embarek, told CNN in a wide-ranging interview that the mission had found several signs of the more wide-ranging 2019 spread, including establishing for the first time that there were over a dozen strains of the virus in Wuhan already in December.

The team also had a chance to speak to the first patient Chinese officials said had been infected, an office worker in his 40s with no travel history of note, reported infected on Dec. 8.

The slow emergence of more detailed data gathered on the WHO's long-awaited trip into China may add to concerns voiced by other scientists studying the origins of the disease that the virus may have been spreading in China long before its first official emergence in mid-December.

Embarek, who has just returned to Switzerland from Wuhan, told CNN:

"The virus was circulating widely in Wuhan in December, which is a new finding."

He explained that Chinese scientists presented his team with 174 cases of coronavirus in and around Wuhan in Dec. 2019. Of these, 100 had been confirmed by laboratory tests and another 74 through the clinical diagnosis of the patient's symptoms.

Embarek said it was possible this larger number – of likely severe cases that had been noticed by Chinese doctors early on – meant the disease could have hit an estimated 1,000-plus people in Wuhan that December.

Embarek said the mission – which comprised 17 WHO scientists and 17 Chinese – had broadened the type of virus genetic material they examined from early coronavirus cases that first December. This allowed them to look at partial genetic samples, rather than just complete ones, he said. As a result, they were able to gather, for the first time, 13 different genetic sequences of the SARS-COV-2 virus from Dec. 2019. The sequences, if examined with wider patient data in China across 2019, could provide valuable clues about the geography and timing of the outbreak before December.

Embarek said: "Some of them are from the markets... Some of them are not linked to the markets," which includes the Huanan seafood market in Wuhan, thought to have played a role in the virus' first spread. "This is something we found as part of our mission... part of the interaction we had all together."

by Anonymousreply 292February 14, 2021 4:21 PM

Covid-19 vaccine is better at protecting against reinfection than a previous natural infection, Fauci says

From CNN's Naomi Thomas

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said on ABC’s “This Week” Sunday, that while people have been reinfected with the coronavirus variant first identified in South Africa, it appears as though the vaccine is better at preventing reinfection than a previous natural infection.

The variant first identified in South Africa is more problematic that the variant first identified in the United Kingdom, Fauci said, “in the sense that we know less about it vis a vis whether it transmits more readily or not.”

However, it is known that it evades the protection from some monoclonal antibodies, and it somewhat diminishes that effectiveness of the vaccine, Fauci said, but there is “still some cushion left so that the vaccine does provide some protection against it.”

He said attention needs to be paid to the fact that in South Africa there were people who were infected with the original virus, recovered and then got reinfected with the variant.

“Which tells us that prior infection does not protect you against reinfection – at least with this particular variant,” Fauci said. “Somewhat good news is it looks like the vaccine is better than natural infection in preventing you from getting reinfected with the South African isolate.”

by Anonymousreply 293February 14, 2021 5:00 PM

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

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by Anonymousreply 294February 14, 2021 5:04 PM

Ebola, you cunt. Get your own thread!

by Anonymousreply 295February 14, 2021 5:12 PM

Israel’s largest healthcare provider on Sunday reported a 94% drop in symptomatic Covid-19 infections among 600,000 people who received two doses of Pfizer’s vaccine in the country’s biggest study to date.

Health maintenance organization (HMO) Clalit, which covers more than half of all Israelis, said the same group was also 92% less likely to develop severe illness from the virus.

The comparison was against a group of the same size, with matching medical histories, who had not received the vaccine.

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by Anonymousreply 296February 15, 2021 1:08 PM

NYT: In a study posted on Sunday, a team of researchers reported seven growing lineages of the coronavirus, spotted in states across the country. All have gained a mutation at the exact same spot in their genes.

“There’s clearly something going on with this mutation,” said Jeremy Kamil, a virologist at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center and a co-author of the new study.

It’s not clear yet whether this shared mutation makes the variants more contagious, but because it appears in a gene that influences how the virus enters human cells, the scientists are highly suspicious.

by Anonymousreply 297February 15, 2021 11:54 PM

Could any of these mutations make the vaccine less effective?

by Anonymousreply 298February 16, 2021 12:50 AM

Yes, R298. Any mutation can make the vaccine less effective. The more variants that show up, the more likely one will be completely able to dodge the vaccine. These mutations are being caused by dumb motherfuckers who can't be bothered to stay the fuck home and wear a mask when they must go out. They are to blame for this and should be held legally responsible for the negligent homicides they are responsible for.

by Anonymousreply 299February 16, 2021 3:24 AM

With today's vaccination speed it will take two years to vaccinate the entire Norwegian population. Wish us luck.

by Anonymousreply 300February 16, 2021 8:41 AM

It seems as if talk of a "Green Passport" (a passport for the vaccinated) is picking up steam as a way to allow the flow between international borders to resume.

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by Anonymousreply 301February 16, 2021 2:20 PM

Where is the flow of international travel not currently on-going? These variants are spreading because assholes from all over the world are traveling all over the place? Oh, great idea to regulate travel AFTER the fucking pandemic.

by Anonymousreply 302February 16, 2021 6:14 PM

It does seem inevitable that a vaccination database, or a green passport will become an inevitable part of life in most places over the coming years. In the UK that there are big concerns this will make it impossible for someone who chooses to stay non-vaccinated to live a normal life post-lockdown.

by Anonymousreply 303February 16, 2021 9:58 PM
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by Anonymousreply 304February 16, 2021 10:18 PM

Because this pandemic just isn't bad enough:

[quote]Russia scientists 'are trying to extract prehistoric viruses from 50,000-year-old animal carcasses frozen in permafrost' this week. The work is spearheaded by Vector State Research Centre of Virology and Biotechnology, once a Cold War biological warfare research plant.

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by Anonymousreply 305February 16, 2021 11:39 PM

Just got my second Moderna shot this afternoon in Indio (near Palm Springs). Hoping the side effects aren't too bad. I only had a slight headache with the first.

by Anonymousreply 306February 16, 2021 11:43 PM

Goop had covid last year and has lingering effects, fatigue, brain fog and body inflammation.

by Anonymousreply 307February 17, 2021 3:42 AM

r306, what is the criteria for getting the shots?

by Anonymousreply 308February 17, 2021 5:31 AM

The prospect of vaccine passports is getting closer in Europe — with more governments considering introducing them not only for travelers, but also to help reopen bars, restaurants and concert halls.

Asked whether the introduction of vaccine passports is likely, Britain’s prime minister, Boris Johnson, told reporters Monday some international travel likely would require proof of coronavirus inoculation.

“Some countries, clearly, are going to be wanting to insist that people coming to their country have evidence of a vaccination — just as people have insisted in the past that you have evidence you are vaccinated against yellow fever or other diseases,” he said.

European governments have been split about whether to endorse a system of vaccine passports, but the travel, tourist and hospitality sectors are desperate to get business going again and say they can’t afford another lost summer.

But civil libertarians worry the continent will be divided along a new haves and have-nots fault-line, and this week Britain’s foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, provoked a political uproar when he told a radio interviewer that Britons may have to present evidence of vaccination to enter bars and grocery stores.

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by Anonymousreply 309February 17, 2021 12:39 PM

Wouldn’t they have to first figure out how long the vaccine protection lasts before any sort of vaccination passport would be useful?

by Anonymousreply 310February 17, 2021 1:56 PM

I mean what's the point? The virus keeps mutating, it won't be effective by the time the whole world is vaccinated.

Just read that the uk and california variants have merged! They found this in a CA patient.

by Anonymousreply 311February 17, 2021 2:44 PM

How many strains are there now?

by Anonymousreply 312February 17, 2021 6:38 PM

I heard there are now seven variants in the US.

by Anonymousreply 313February 17, 2021 6:40 PM

Seven! Are there any that have been found to be worse than the original three?

by Anonymousreply 314February 17, 2021 6:59 PM

Here's an article about the seven variants. Interestingly, there seems to be some convergent evolution going on where the virus is independently mutating at the same region. This probably means that whatever that particular mutation does is very beneficial to the virus. Most likely it helps it become more easily transmittable so it spreads more quickly and becomes the dominant strain.

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by Anonymousreply 315February 18, 2021 3:51 AM

Get ready for LOTS of shots, bitches!

by Anonymousreply 316February 18, 2021 3:53 AM

New study suggests that B.1.1.7's increased infectiousness may be due to it sticking around in the body longer and not because it's somehow more transmissible. This would be (relatively) positive news, as existing masking and social distancing protocols would be just as effective against its transmission. But longer quarantine times would be needed for those infected.

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by Anonymousreply 317February 18, 2021 1:07 PM

CNN: Lab studies suggest Pfizer, Moderna vaccines can protect against coronavirus variant

A new report published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Wednesday suggests that Pfizer-BioNTech's Covid-19 vaccine can protect people against concerning new coronavirus variants, including one first seen in South Africa called B.1.351. While the blood serum samples produced less neutralizing antibody activity, it was still enough to neutralize the virus. This is in line with other studies, and it's well within what is seen with other viruses..

Separately, a team at the NIHh and Moderna published a letter in the same journal outlining findings from an experiment they reported last month. They also reported a reduction in the antibody response to viruses genetically engineered to look like the B.1.351 variant -- but not enough of a reduction to make the vaccine work any less effectively.

by Anonymousreply 318February 18, 2021 1:40 PM

Another 861,000 Americas filed for initial benefits last week as pandemic continues to slam economy

From CNN’s Anneken Tappe

Another 861,000 workers filed for unemployment benefits for the first time last week, according to seasonally adjusted data released Thursday from the Labor Department.

It was nearly 100,000 claims more than economists had predicted, as well as an increase from the week before — which was also revised higher.

America's jobs recovery has really lost steam and last week's initial claims were four times higher than in the same period last year.

The anniversary of the benefit claims spike is only a month away. Last year, initial claims jumped to 3.3 million in the week ended March 21 before peaking at 6.9 million in the following week.

Nearly a year later, the weekly numbers are much lower again, but haven't meaningfully improved in months. Weekly claims dropped below a million in August, but their most recent adjusted low was 711,000 — several times higher than the pre-pandemic average.

On top of regular state claims, 516,299 Americans filed for benefits through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, which provides aid for people like the self-employed or gig workers.

Added up, first-time claims actually stood at 1.4 million last week, not adjusted for seasonal swings.

Continued jobless claims, which count filings for at least two consecutive weeks, stood at 4.5 million.

by Anonymousreply 319February 18, 2021 4:03 PM

As the WHO probed the pandemic's origins, China pushed a conspiracy about the US

From CNN's James Griffiths and Yong Xiong

When World Health Organization investigators wrapped up their work examining the origins of the coronavirus in Wuhan this month, Chinese officials were clear where they felt the WHO should look next.

"(We hope) that following China's example, the US side will act in a positive, science-based and cooperative manner on the origin-tracing issue (and) invite WHO experts in for an origin-tracing study," Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said last week.

Going even further, Zeng Guang, chief epidemiologist at China's Center for Disease Control, said the US should now be "the focus" of global efforts to trace the virus.

That Chinese officials should point to the US when discussing the origins of a virus first detected in central China may at first appear confusing to many.

But for months now, China has been advancing alternative theories for how the coronavirus first emerged, ones that would obviate any blame officials in Wuhan may bear for not reacting quickly enough to the initial outbreak in that city in late 2019, during which they are accused of dragging their feet as evidence of human-to-human spread became clear and the virus ran rampant.

by Anonymousreply 320February 18, 2021 4:03 PM

New standards will take the guesswork out of choosing the most effective face masks

From CNN's Keri Enriquez

Americans may soon be able to choose between two clearly labeled levels of face mask protection while browsing store shelves.

The new national mask standard outlines minimum fit, design, performance and testing requirements for face masks and would require user instructions, package labeling and a permanent tag on the product.

ASTM International -- an international standards organization -- spent seven months conducting expedited testing and review and published its guidance on Tuesday. Experts and industry leaders say the new "Standard Specification for Barrier Face Coverings" has the potential to transform the quality of masks available for personal protection in the American marketplace.

Until this point, there were no standards even though masks are highly recommended by US health officials to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

by Anonymousreply 321February 18, 2021 4:04 PM

CNN: The United States is seeing a large decline in new Covid-19 cases -- but there's a major caveat.

The US is seeing a 29% decline in new Covid-19 cases compared to this time last week, the steepest one-week decline the US has seen during the pandemic. That continues a five-week decline, with the seven-day average of cases declining 69% since peaking on January 11.

But it's unclear exactly how much of the decline can be attributed to the winter weather that's gripped much of the country, forcing officials to close testing sites, which affects the collection of crucial data.

by Anonymousreply 322February 19, 2021 6:49 PM

I'm so sick of the media shitting on everything. Even this reporting at R322 is bothsiderism. No, there has not been horrible weather throughout the entire country for the last five weeks of declining numbers. Positivity rates take the test numbers into account, and those are also precipitously declining. Yes, numbers are declining for real. They need to start reporting and stop editorializing, especially when they have no fucking clue what they are talking about. Cover your ass, bothsiderism journalism is a huge part of what got this country into the shithole state it is in. Acting as Trump apologists and bothsiderism-ing away his criminality was their ultimate, and hopefully their peak, fuckup as an industry.

by Anonymousreply 323February 19, 2021 7:08 PM

A Johns Hopkins doctor believes that Covid-19 will be “mostly gone” two months from now.

In an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal on Friday, Dr. Marty Makary — a surgeon and a professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health — argues that there are actually many more than the 28 million confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the U.S., possibly as much as 6.5 times more than that number. Between that group, and the roughly 15 percent of the country which has already received one dose of the vaccine, Makary argues that much of the nation is already protected from the virus.

“There is reason to think the country is racing toward an extremely low level of infection,” Makary wrote. “As more people have been infected, most of whom have mild or no symptoms, there are fewer Americans left to be infected. At the current trajectory, I expect Covid will be mostly gone by April, allowing Americans to resume normal life.”

Makary appeared on Fox News, Friday, to expand on his column — claiming that the U.S. has been over-reliant on antibody tests as a gauge to determine who has had the virus.

“There’s a 76 percent reduction in daily cases over the last six weeks,” Makary said. “You, as a scientist, have to ask why. And we cannot explain that by vaccinated immunity. We can’t explain it by a sudden change in behavior. It’s natural immunity, and it’s now over 50 percent of the population.”

The doctor acknowledged the reluctance of many scientists to publicly acknowledge his conclusions, and chalked it up to public health experts not wanting Americans to get complacent in their mitigation efforts, and possibly not take the vaccines. Indeed, during a briefing Wednesday, CDC director Dr. Rochelle Wallensky attributed the current decline to a lack of travel and large gatherings after the holidays, and said that the U.S. has not vaccinated nearly enough people yet to achieve herd immunity.

“[W]e’re not at the place where we believe that the current level of vaccination is what is driving down the current level of disease,” Wallensky said. “We believe that much of the surge of disease happened related to the holidays, related to travel. And so we believe that now we’re coming down from that. So I would articulate really loudly that if you’re relying on our current level of vaccination rather than the other mitigation efforts to get us to remain low, that we shouldn’t rest in that comfort.”

by Anonymousreply 324February 19, 2021 10:45 PM

Sorry, I just saw this was posted as a stand alone thread. 324

by Anonymousreply 325February 19, 2021 11:30 PM

Not to worry r324. Belongs here as well.

Thank you for posting it.

by Anonymousreply 326February 20, 2021 8:14 AM

So, it looks like we'll all be mask-free by summer.

Good news, I guess.

by Anonymousreply 327February 20, 2021 7:32 PM

You may well be all mask-free by summer r327.

by Anonymousreply 328February 20, 2021 7:34 PM

I'm really not sure what to make of that WSJ piece. On the one hand, I agree that the true number of COVID cases in the US is at least five times the reported number, so there should be quite a bit of immunity. And all epidemics peter out eventually, sometimes seemingly for no good reason.

On the other hand, the author is a gastrointestinal surgeon, not an epidemiologist. He also doesn't seem to be taking the variants into account; haven't people with prior infections been reinfected by the variants?

I wish I lived someplace where cases were dropping. Our case numbers have leveled off but remained almost exactly the same every day for two weeks. No spikes but no precipitous drops, either.

by Anonymousreply 329February 20, 2021 8:39 PM

There's a *bad* reason for them to peter out, r329?

by Anonymousreply 330February 20, 2021 9:01 PM

Pfizer's Covid vaccine stopped 89.4% of transmission in Israel, the first real-world sign that immunization will curb the spread of coronavirus.

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by Anonymousreply 331February 21, 2021 5:32 PM

^^Cue the "it's just marketing copy!" troll.

by Anonymousreply 332February 21, 2021 5:38 PM

We’re coming up on 500,000 deaths. Never in a million years would I have believed an estimate like that. I was horrified to see 50,000 dead when we started these threads. I just don’t understand how this got so out of control and the cavalier manner some Americans and politicians have treated this pandemic.

Very grateful to have followed the sanity and well reasoned, informative posts this past year. Kept me sane and healthy. Thank you.

by Anonymousreply 333February 21, 2021 8:14 PM

CNN's David Gelles:

Covid-19 deaths since the pandemic began

South Korea (pop 51M) : 1,557

South Carolina (pop 5.1M): 8,324

by Anonymousreply 334February 21, 2021 8:18 PM

[quote] I just don’t understand how this got so out of control

You don't? I can explain it in two words: Donald Trump.

by Anonymousreply 335February 21, 2021 8:19 PM

American life expectancy dropped an entire year since the start of Covid.

by Anonymousreply 336February 21, 2021 8:20 PM

When 3rd world countries like Serbia and Chile vaccinate faster than Norway😂🤦‍♀️

by Anonymousreply 337February 22, 2021 12:08 PM

I'm totally bummed that this isn't an Elke Sommers thread but I'll add. r324, I read that as Dr. Marty Malarky. It makes me wonder. Trump also said that it would "just disappear". Science is the one area where we need consensus. We need to pay attention to what's happening elsewhere and what other experts are telling us.

I'm convinced that it's all about viral load. People who get a small amount of virus get mild cases, people exposed to a lot of virus during long conversations and close extended contact with infected people. The people who I know who had severe cases were exposed for long times or were old/sick.

I am a faithful. mask wearer and have had no social contacts other than errands.

3 weeks ago I woke up with no sense of smell or taste-It's crazy when it happens. The next day was better but it took about 10 days to come back to normal. No other symptoms.

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by Anonymousreply 338February 22, 2021 1:20 PM

Israel far out ahead of everybody in terms of vaccinations. The EU not doing well.

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by Anonymousreply 339February 22, 2021 5:10 PM

I think the European Union is finding out what America has known for a long time, namely, what happens when you've got a huge number of "states" with very large economic disparities and very different cultures trying to reach a common goal. The stupid, backwards ones ruin it for everyone.

by Anonymousreply 340February 22, 2021 6:12 PM

Real-world data from Scotland and England shows vaccines deliver strong protection.

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by Anonymousreply 341February 22, 2021 6:19 PM

Brianna Keilar breaks down on live TV over coronavirus losses

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by Anonymousreply 342February 22, 2021 11:39 PM

She looks like she could have a high school field hockey stick in the back of her closet.

by Anonymousreply 343February 23, 2021 3:50 AM

R343, I was going to say that if you want to know what lesbian voice sounds like, watch R342's clip.

by Anonymousreply 344February 23, 2021 3:57 AM

Just looked her up. Brianna Keilar is actually married to a guy. Maybe it's the inner Australian sneaking out that makes her seem a little "sporty", shall we say?

by Anonymousreply 345February 23, 2021 4:00 AM

Here's a pic of her and the family. The husband has so much gay face that the kids have secondary gay face. That whole family is smelling cookies.

by Anonymousreply 346February 23, 2021 4:04 AM

Oops, here's the pic...

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by Anonymousreply 347February 23, 2021 4:05 AM

I’m desperate to get vaccinated but can’t find a place a yet. I’ve been on a waiting list for a month.

by Anonymousreply 348February 23, 2021 4:09 AM

The vaccine is proving its effectiveness in long-term care facilities:

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by Anonymousreply 349February 23, 2021 1:33 PM

Scotland: By the fourth week after receiving the initial dose, the Pfizer vaccine reduced the risk of hospital admission from Covid-19 by up to 85%. The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine reduced the risk of hospitalization by up to 94%.

by Anonymousreply 350February 23, 2021 1:45 PM

Fingers crossed for that single dose protection effect both in severity and viral load. My wife got sick over the weekend and tested positive yesterday. I’m negative so far (both rapid and PCR) and she’s only got congestion, tiredness and loss of smell. Her Pfizer dose was feb 5.

by Anonymousreply 351February 23, 2021 2:04 PM

R351 Oh no! Any idea how she caught it?

by Anonymousreply 352February 23, 2021 2:08 PM

If a person tests positive right before it's about time for the second dose, how long will they delay the second dose? Will they require a negative test or something?

by Anonymousreply 353February 23, 2021 2:19 PM

R352/Sylvia my top three guesses are at a student’s house, at the supermarket or in the elevator of our building. Obviously, the teaching is the highest risk because she’s in the houses for an hour+ at a time. But it’s all masked, with a window open, distanced etc. And no one in any of the three houses she teaches at has been sick. They are all getting tested now though so we’ll see what that turns up.

R353 we are waiting for her PCR test results before calling the state to cancel/reschedule her Friday second dose appointment. We don’t want to do anything rash based on the 15 minute test. That said false positives are much less frequent on the Rapid test than false negatives and she’s lost her sense of smell. I’ll have more details for you soon on how that call goes. I don’t understand why my PCR results came back so quickly and hers are still pending.

by Anonymousreply 354February 23, 2021 6:24 PM

Wow, that's awful to hear, EL. I hope she gets better soon and you stay healthy!

by Anonymousreply 355February 23, 2021 8:24 PM

Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose vaccine protects against COVID-19, according to an analysis by U.S. regulators Wednesday that sets the stage for a final decision on a new and easier-to-use shot to help tame the pandemic.

FDA scientists confirmed that overall the vaccine is about 66% effective at preventing moderate to severe COVID-19. The agency also said J&J's shot — one that could help speed vaccinations by requiring just one dose instead of two — is safe to use.

While the overall effectiveness numbers may suggest the J&J candidate isn't quite as strong as two-dose competitors, all of the world’s COVID-19 vaccines have been tested differently, making comparisons nearly impossible. While it wouldn’t be surprising if one dose turns out to be a little weaker than two doses, policymakers will decide if that’s an acceptable trade-off to get more people vaccinated faster.

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by Anonymousreply 356February 24, 2021 1:25 PM

From the CDC website concerning when you can get the vaccine if you are currently infected with Covid.

[quote] Can you receive the COVID-19 vaccine if you are currently infected?

[quote] Vaccination of persons with known current SARS-CoV-2 infection should be deferred until the person has recovered from the acute illness (if the person had symptoms) and criteria have been met for them to discontinue isolation. (Feb 10, 2021)

by Anonymousreply 357February 24, 2021 1:41 PM

CNN contributor Leana Wen, M.D.

BREAKING: FDA scientists confirm safety & efficacy of one-dose Johnson & Johnson #covid19 vaccine.

* 86% effective against severe disease in the U.S. & 82% in South Africa (with predominant B.1.351 variant)

* Consistent across ages

* Possible reduction of asymptomatic infection

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by Anonymousreply 358February 24, 2021 2:02 PM

Two week delay on her second dose. She should have magic plasma by the end of March. (Symptoms still mild and getting better.)

by Anonymousreply 359February 24, 2021 2:58 PM

Alarming COVID-19 study finds virus survives on fabric for 3 days

A new study has revealed that the virus which causes COVID-19 can linger on fabric, such as clothing or upholstery, for up to three days.

Between polyester, a poly-cotton blend and 100% cotton fabrics, the polyester posed the greatest risk, even after 72 hours; on full-cotton samples, the virus lasted one day, while the poly-cotton blend remained contaminated by viral droplets — designed to mimic human saliva — for just six hours.

The breakthrough finding could be especially dangerous when it comes to clothing worn by health-care workers, said Dr. Katie Laird, a microbiologist and author of the study.

If not frequently washed, the fabrics could help transmit the virus from patient to patient.

“When the pandemic first started, there was very little understanding of how long coronavirus could survive on textiles,” said Dr. Laird, a leading infectious disease researcher at De Montfort University in Leicester, United Kingdom.

“Our findings show three of the most commonly used textiles in health care pose a risk for transmission of the virus,” she continued in an interview for the university’s news site. “If nurses and health-care workers take their uniforms home, they could be leaving traces of the virus on other surfaces.”

In terms of sanitizing, researchers also found that soap and scorching hot water — at least 153 degrees Fahrenheit (67 degrees Celsius) — was required to effectively clean 100% cotton fabric, which is commonly used for medical staff uniforms.

Regular household washing machines typically only go up to about 130 degrees on their hottest setting.

The findings suggest that hospital staff should refrain from wearing their uniforms home, according to Dr. Laird, whose study has been submitted to a research journal for publication, pending peer review.

“This research has reinforced my recommendation that all health-care uniforms should be washed on site at hospitals or at an industrial laundry,” she said. “These wash methods are regulated and nurses and health-care workers do not have to worry about potentially taking the virus home.”

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by Anonymousreply 360February 24, 2021 3:30 PM

Has anyone checked on Andi?

by Anonymousreply 361February 24, 2021 3:52 PM

A newborn at Children's National Hospital in D.C. was very sick this past September. Most infected kids barely show symptoms of the Covid-19 virus and even the hospitalized ones tend to have mild cases.

But this infant's viral load was 51,418 times the median of other pediatric patients. The baby's virus was recently sequenced and researchers found a variant they had never seen before – raising alarm that a mutation called N679S may be circulating in the Mid-Atlantic region.

No one knows whether the infant, who was seen in September and has since recovered, represents a chance case, a sign of things to come, or worrisome changes already in motion as new, more transmissible variants race across the Earth.

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by Anonymousreply 362February 24, 2021 3:57 PM

How in the fuck are we supposed to get COVID off our clothes????

by Anonymousreply 363February 24, 2021 4:36 PM

None of these studies of COVID on surfaces answer the most important question. Sure, there's virus on the surface, but is there enough to be infective?

Real-world results suggest there is typically not.

by Anonymousreply 364February 24, 2021 4:40 PM

I recommend Happy, r363!

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by Anonymousreply 365February 24, 2021 4:45 PM

I'm so sick of alarmist articles like R360. If you don't work in the COVID wing of a hospital, where you would be getting doused in virus particles, don't freaking worry about it.

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by Anonymousreply 366February 24, 2021 4:48 PM

Wow, ElderLez @ R354. Crazy that she got infected with all those precautions, but I guess it's incredibly lucky that she got vaccine #1 as it should limit severity. Is there still a need for donated convalescent plasma? Seems that hers should indeed be potent in a few weeks.

by Anonymousreply 367February 24, 2021 5:05 PM

Yes, donated plasma is still needed to make hyperimmune globulin R367.

by Anonymousreply 368February 24, 2021 7:11 PM

A variant is spreading rapidly in NYC, one which might even prove to be not affected by vaccines.

Harvey Fierstein voice: Swell. This is just swell.

Sorry, NY Times doesn’t link here.

by Anonymousreply 369February 24, 2021 11:29 PM

CNN: The Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine seems to work better against the coronavirus variant first identified in South Africa than data initially suggested.

According to a US Food and Drug Administration’s briefing document released Wednesday, the vaccine showed a 64% efficacy rate in South Africa. That’s seven points higher than what was reported in interim data released by the company in January.

Also, Moderna has designed an updated version of its Covid-19 vaccine to help it combat the South Africa coronavirus variant, the company announced Wednesday.

by Anonymousreply 370February 24, 2021 11:38 PM

NYT: A new form of the coronavirus is spreading rapidly in New York City, and it carries a worrisome mutation that may weaken the effectiveness of vaccines, two teams of researchers have found. The new variant, called B.1.526, first appeared in samples collected in the city in November.

by Anonymousreply 371February 24, 2021 11:40 PM

So in other words restaurants and theatres are doomed in NYC.

by Anonymousreply 372February 24, 2021 11:51 PM

I'm not buying the spin on the J&J vaccine.

by Anonymousreply 373February 24, 2021 11:59 PM

With this new NYC variant I feel like we're at that point in Contagion where the doctor says there's a new R not number.

by Anonymousreply 374February 25, 2021 3:49 AM

Well, R373, there's no accounting for your stupidity. More vaccine for the rest of us who understand how to read medical studies.

Variants are caused by irresponsible people continuing to get infected. They should be held criminally responsible for negligent homicide.

by Anonymousreply 375February 25, 2021 4:04 AM

[quote] Well, [R373], there's no accounting for your stupidity. More vaccine for the rest of us who understand how to read medical studies.

Good, sweetheart. You take the J&J. I'll wait for Pfizer or Moderna.

by Anonymousreply 376February 25, 2021 4:41 AM

Fine with me, R376. Johnson and Johnson is the only one with real world proven effectiveness against the South African strain. It's is 100% effective against hospitalization and death six weeks after vaccination, just like Pfizer and Moderna. You don't understand what the vaccine efficacy numbers mean or you wouldn't have any problems with Johnson and Johnson. So, you go ahead and wait and risk infection in the meantime for no reason at all.

by Anonymousreply 377February 25, 2021 6:21 AM

J & J is also not using an experimental mRNA delivery system.

by Anonymousreply 378February 25, 2021 6:28 AM

J&J's efficacy is maybe 72%. Pfizer and Moderna are much higher. I'm happy to wait for their booster that will counter the variants.

by Anonymousreply 379February 25, 2021 8:33 AM

I'm impressed by Chile. They're doing much better than us here in Norway, thanks to the fuck up by the EU. And no, we are not part of the EU but our conservacunt EU-ass licking government decided to make a deal with the EU instead of buying the doses themselves. So here we are... the vaccination is slow and slower than slow.

by Anonymousreply 380February 25, 2021 8:51 AM

New information from Spain is that the country might not open up for vacationers until fall. This will go over well with the brits and scandis who will have their spanish summer vacation ruined😂 Thanks EU! You're doing a great job with the vaccination😂

by Anonymousreply 381February 25, 2021 8:53 AM

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

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by Anonymousreply 382February 25, 2021 10:23 AM

[quote]Bad news for NYC --- mutations that weaken the current vaccines.

You omitted the "may" -- mutations may weaken effectiveness of vaccines.

by Anonymousreply 383February 25, 2021 11:47 AM

Newly infected numbers rose to more than 400 today. This is after the government insisted on another lockdown. It's almost an all time high this year. It hasn't been this bad since right after new year. Yikes. This is not good😬 Then you have the slower than slow vaccination. Not great.

by Anonymousreply 384February 25, 2021 2:26 PM

R379, you do not understand efficacy numbers. You also need to do more reading. J&J is 100% effective at preventing severe illness just like Pfizer and Moderna. The longer people wait because they are ignorant the more chance of covid mutating because you are risking infection while you wait. Your ignorance is astounding. Every single doctor will tell you to take whatever vaccine you can get. If you are over 80, due to a weakened immune system, you could maybe justify waiting for Moderna or Pfizer. You current stand is no better than anti-vaxxers because you are putting yourself and other people at risk due to your ignorance.

by Anonymousreply 385February 25, 2021 6:44 PM

R385, you worry about yourself and I'll do the same. If I was interested in your opinion, I'd have made that clear three of your haranguing posts earlier. I'm not putting anyone at risk. You don't know me and have no cause to say that. I have been super careful for almost a year and have barely left my home. I get everything delivered and I wear more than the required protection when I do need to venture past my front door. I live alone and take this far more seriously than I'm sure you do. If I want to choose which vaccine I prefer, that's my business and you can (not so) kindly shut the fuck up about it.

by Anonymousreply 386February 25, 2021 8:06 PM

R386 is stating their boundaries and I am totally here for it.

by Anonymousreply 387February 26, 2021 5:12 AM

Lung/ICU Doc Vin Gupta:

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by Anonymousreply 388February 26, 2021 2:42 PM

Florida has now opened up vax appointments at all Publix pharmacies. I was able to make an appointment this morning for my first shot on Monday.

by Anonymousreply 389February 26, 2021 3:07 PM

CDC Head Dr. Rochelle Walensky say the decline in Covid-19 cases reported in the U.S. since early January may be flattening, a concerning shift as highly transmissible variants threaten to exacerbate infections.

"The latest data suggest that these declines may be stalling, potentially leveling off at still a very high number.”

“We have to carefully look at what happens over the next week or so with those numbers before you start making the understandable need to relax on certain restrictions,” added Dr. Anthony Fauci.

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by Anonymousreply 390February 26, 2021 7:35 PM

I had the 2nd Moderna shot yesterday. Glad that's done.

by Anonymousreply 391February 26, 2021 7:51 PM

Excerpt from WaPo:

Live updates: FDA panel recommends authorization of Johnson & Johnson single-shot vaccine

A key Food and Drug Administration expert panel recommended the approval of the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine Friday, paving the way for its likely authorization to come as early as Saturday, which would make it the third vaccine available in the United States.

During the hours-long discussion, Johnson & Johnson scientists argued that the single-shot vaccine was 66 percent effective in protecting against cases of moderate to severe illness in a large, global trial, and 85 percent effective against severe cases.

The panel’s recommendation comes the same week the United States reached yet another grim milestone of 500,000 coronavirus-related deaths, raising experts’ hopes of a faster and more effective inoculation process as virus mutations spread.

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by Anonymousreply 392February 26, 2021 10:35 PM

Something I heard on NPR today- the J & J has been tested against the South African variant, whilst the Moderna and Pfizer has not, so we don't know the effectiveness of those two against the new variant.

by Anonymousreply 393February 26, 2021 10:39 PM

Auckland NZ enters 7 day lockdown after a few cases found.

by Anonymousreply 394February 27, 2021 5:46 PM

Millions are on the brink of losing unemployment benefits if Congress doesn't pass another relief bill

From CNN's Tami Luhby and Katie Lobosco

An estimated 11.4 million workers will lose their unemployment benefits between mid-March and mid-April unless Congress passes its next coronavirus relief package in coming weeks, a recent study by The Century Foundation found.

The House bill would extend two key pandemic unemployment programs through Aug. 29. It would also increase the federal weekly boost to $400, from the current $300, and continue it for the same time period.

It would lengthen the duration of the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program to up to 74 weeks, from 50 weeks, and the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program to 48 weeks, from 24 weeks.

The former provides benefits to freelancers, gig workers, independent contracts and certain people affected by the pandemic, while the latter increases the duration of payments for those in the traditional state unemployment system.

The President's plan had called for continuing the benefits through the end of September.

Out-of-work Americans will start running out of Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation benefits in mid-March, when provisions in December's $900 billion relief package begin phasing out.

The $300 enhancement also ends in mid-March.

by Anonymousreply 395February 27, 2021 5:47 PM

Cases dip, restrictions lift and then infections and deaths surge again.

Rinse, repeat as health officials plead for caution.

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by Anonymousreply 396February 27, 2021 6:36 PM

The news is similar in the UK.

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by Anonymousreply 397February 27, 2021 7:41 PM

Crowd of Parisians congregated on the banks of the Seine todag. Cops had to show up to get them to disperse. Of course not a whole lot of them were wearing masks. Fucking French.

by Anonymousreply 398February 27, 2021 8:30 PM

If they'd stop announcing the slight dips as though they were a call to action to start partying like it's 1999, then maybe the spikes wouldn't keep happening.

by Anonymousreply 399February 27, 2021 8:33 PM

Why the fuck do the states, even the "responsible" ones, keep opening up all kinds of dangerous shit every time there's a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel? No, you fuckers don't need to eat in a restaurant or go to a bar. We don't need to send the biggest group of germ spreaders in the world, namely children, back to school for the final three months of the school year. If they'd all just wait one more month after the numbers drop, we'd be way better off. The US has 1/5 of the entire world's deaths due to Trump and the general worship of capitalism.

[quote][R385], you worry about yourself and I'll do the same.

R386, that's not how contagious pandemics work. You can try to explain it away as much as you like. People doing everything right are still getting infected. Maybe you're the person who will birth the mutation that will make all the vaccines irrelevant. As much as you want to explain it away, you are being completely selfish and, like I said, are no better than an anti-vaxxer.

by Anonymousreply 400February 27, 2021 9:06 PM

[quote] Something I heard on NPR today- the J & J has been tested against the South African variant, whilst the Moderna and Pfizer has not, so we don't know the effectiveness of those two against the new variant.

The J&J and the Oxford-AstroGlide whatever it's name are DNA vaccines. The Pfizer & Moderna are mRNA vaccines. That's good news with the South Adrican variant.

It seems the problem may be that these vaccines have been designed to be very targeted at specifics proteins within the virus rather than the virus as a whole so when there are variants they become much less effective tho not useless. One of the vaccines was created very quickly like over a weekend back in February 2020 but obviously needed to go through safety trials. That may be a good future in that if they have a new virus they can quickly create a vaccine and target it quickly and shut it down if the proper measures are taken. Also they may be able to develop geographicallly targeted vaccines to attack variants.

It's really a fascinating area of science. The problem with new type vaccines is that we just don't know about delayed side effects. For the older population that may not be important cause they may not live that long to be affected but when we start vaccinating children that will be very important as thy have an entire life ahead and are still developing.

by Anonymousreply 401February 27, 2021 9:50 PM

Which is better? DNA or mRNA?

by Anonymousreply 402February 28, 2021 1:44 AM

[quote] As much as you want to explain it away, you are being completely selfish and, like I said, are no better than an anti-vaxxer.

Well then I hope I give it to you, since you can't type on a ventilator, you fucking asshole.

by Anonymousreply 403February 28, 2021 2:34 AM

New lockdown for Oslo after a spike in number of cases. All stores closed except pharmacies and grocery stores. All schools have to close too. Students will get online schooling. All this could have been avoided if they actually managed to vaccinate people. It's still going way too slow. We don't have enough doses.

by Anonymousreply 404February 28, 2021 7:40 PM

Dr. Fauci on US case count: This is what history tells us

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by Anonymousreply 405February 28, 2021 7:51 PM

Norway has managed to vaccinate 2 % of the population after 2 months. Yes, you read that right. TWO fucking per cent. It's excruciatingly slow. Fuck our conservacunt government for making a horrible vaccine deal with the EU. In comparrison UK that negotiated a deal outside of EU has vaccinated about 50 % of their population in the same time frame. Fuck this shit. Now people have to suffer in yet another lockdown because the government didn't do their job and secured enough vaccines. Fuck them. It's a good thing we have an election this fall. Hoping they get the boot.

by Anonymousreply 406March 1, 2021 8:48 AM

Last week was Brazil's deadliest since the start of the pandemic. The country's health secretaries are beseeching the government for a shutdown, but president Bolsonaro refuses to acknowledge the gravity of the situation.

Less than 4% of Brazil's population has been vaccinated thus far.

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by Anonymousreply 407March 1, 2021 6:44 PM

Statin use seems to be associated w/ increased survival in severe COVID19. Doctors at Columbia Univ Medical Cntr found that people who regularly took a statin to lower cholesterol were ~50% less likely to die if hospitalized for COVID. Statins are anti-inflammatory .

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by Anonymousreply 408March 1, 2021 8:57 PM

NIH funding opportunities about the long haulers have super quick turn around times.

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by Anonymousreply 409March 1, 2021 11:32 PM

[quote]A Louisiana man who tried to walk into a high school basketball game without wearing a mask punched a staffer who tried to stop him and then fatally shot Martinus Mitchum, a Tulane University officer, when he came to help.

A man was [italic]murdered[/italic] because someone didn't want to wear a mask. This is so awful and so insane.

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by Anonymousreply 410March 2, 2021 1:25 AM

[quote] Statin use seems to be associated w/ increased survival in severe COVID19. Doctors at Columbia Univ Medical Cntr found that people who regularly took a statin to lower cholesterol were ~50% less likely to die if hospitalized for COVID. Statins are anti-inflammatory .

Weren't they telling us last year that anti-inflammatories were to be avoided? They told everyone not to take ibuprofen or aspirin (only Tylenol) because A-I would exacerbate reaction to covid.

by Anonymousreply 411March 2, 2021 4:16 AM

New record yesterday here in Norway. More than 700 new cases. Meanwhile only 2 % of the population have been vaccinated.

by Anonymousreply 412March 2, 2021 5:20 AM

R411, the opposite actually. They always said anti-inflammatories were helpful.

by Anonymousreply 413March 2, 2021 8:13 AM

[quote]A man was murdered because someone didn't want to wear a mask.

A man was murdered because his murderer didn't want to wear a mask.

by Anonymousreply 414March 2, 2021 8:30 AM

NYT: A coronavirus variant of concern first reported in Brazil, known as P.1, may be up to 2.2 times more transmissible and could evade immunity from previous Covid-19 infection by up to 61%, a new modelling study by researchers in Brazil and the UK suggests.

The P.1. variant is also of concern because it “gained the ability to infect some people who had immunity from previous bouts of Covid-19. And laboratory experiments suggest that P.1 could weaken the protective effect of a Chinese vaccine now in use in Brazil.

The new studies have yet to be published in scientific journals. Their authors caution that findings on cells in laboratories do not always translate to the real world, and they’ve only begun to understand P.1’s behavior.

by Anonymousreply 415March 2, 2021 2:19 PM

Here comes the civil war.. they are talking about giving Oslo a larger share of the vacccines because Oslo has more infected people. But then they'd have to take the vaccines from smaller municipalities. People in those places are pissed. Again, they simply don't have enough doses. We need a lot more.

by Anonymousreply 416March 2, 2021 2:30 PM

Norwegian - I am sure I speak for many when I thank you for keeping us up to date on status of things in your country.

by Anonymousreply 417March 2, 2021 2:34 PM

Trump Kept January Vaccination A Secret; Let Supporters Go Astray On Covid Science | Rachel Maddow

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by Anonymousreply 418March 2, 2021 3:35 PM

I am hoping having RH negative blood will help me. I have B- and my niece is O-. She has been working at a supermarket on the front line in fucking mask-less Arizona since the pandemic started. She is doing fine.

by Anonymousreply 419March 2, 2021 3:45 PM

Twitter thread from the Miami Herald:

[quote]Publix — a big financial supporter of Gov. Ron DeSantis — has been getting 70,000 vaccine doses a week shipped to its hub in Lakeland.

[quote]Data show it’s the state’s single-largest vaccine supplier.

[quote]So where are all those shots going?

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by Anonymousreply 420March 2, 2021 7:48 PM

Texas throws all caution to the wind:

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by Anonymousreply 421March 2, 2021 7:55 PM

They allowed people 55-64 to register to get the vaccine. What a clusterfuck. Every time I picked a day or time it would show 6 slots available and when it went to confirm said there were no available slots. Finally got one for 3:18am this Saturday. I really hope getting the second shot is a lot easier than trying to get the first shot.

by Anonymousreply 422March 2, 2021 7:58 PM

R419 Interesting. I hadn't read anything about blood types for a long time. This is from November.

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by Anonymousreply 423March 2, 2021 8:05 PM

[quote]Texas throws all caution to the wind

Coming soon to your state:

Texas Covid Variant A

Texas Covid Variant B

Texas Covid Variant C

etc.

by Anonymousreply 424March 2, 2021 8:09 PM

[quote]Publix — a big financial supporter of Gov. Ron DeSantis — has been getting 70,000 vaccine doses a week shipped to its hub in Lakeland. Data show it’s the state’s single-largest vaccine supplier. So where are all those shots going?

One of them went into my 67 year old gay arm yesterday.

by Anonymousreply 425March 2, 2021 8:11 PM

From a different perspective, some argue that allowing oldies, smokers, drinkers, and fatties higher priority to ‘save their lives’ is nonsensical and not letting nature take care of them, since it’s allowing the weak to survive as long as possible and in turn wasting more money on them.

by Anonymousreply 426March 2, 2021 8:30 PM

Whatever, r426...

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by Anonymousreply 427March 2, 2021 8:34 PM

[quote]From a different perspective ...

By which, of course, you mean "From a sociopath's perspective ..." R426.

by Anonymousreply 428March 2, 2021 8:36 PM

Andy Slavitt:

NEW: President Biden announces we will now have enough vaccine supply for 300 million Americans by the end of May.

This is an acceleration of 2 months over our prior outlook.

by Anonymousreply 429March 2, 2021 8:38 PM

I'm still concerned about my 86 year old Dad. He developed a late-in-life shellfish allergy. I've read everything I could on the CDC website. They are still advising against the vaccine for allergy sufferers with no options in sight. He lives in a Senior Living development where there have been cases. He also goes to church (although not now since it's been closed) and does his own food shopping.

by Anonymousreply 430March 2, 2021 8:43 PM

R422, what state do you live in? Texas?

by Anonymousreply 431March 2, 2021 8:48 PM

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine might be your dad's bet bet, R430.

Though my mom developed a late-in-life shellfish allergy and she got the Pfizer shot with no ill effects.

by Anonymousreply 432March 2, 2021 8:49 PM

Arizona R431. They ran out of vaccines so those 65+ were waiting for more vaccines and the idiots decided to add the 55-64 year olds eligible for the vaccine. Now those 65+ people are competing against the newly added 55-64,

by Anonymousreply 433March 2, 2021 8:52 PM

Got my first shot today (Moderna) the only side effect is a sore arm, next shot os on the 30th.

by Anonymousreply 434March 2, 2021 9:09 PM

[quote] some argue that allowing oldies, smokers, drinkers, and fatties higher priority to ‘save their lives’ is nonsensical and not letting nature take care of them

The "some" were identified as people opposing any lockdown. Remember this sign appearing at re-open rallies? These are your "some", and they're all yours. The rest of us elected Biden and went in a different direction.

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by Anonymousreply 435March 2, 2021 9:45 PM

Well, with Brazil’s P.1.running rampant this spring it looks like an awful lot of people (especially Texans) in those catagories will have a rough time of it.

by Anonymousreply 436March 2, 2021 10:10 PM

[quote] They are still advising against the vaccine for allergy sufferers with no options in sight.

Is there a list of what allergies they consider serious enough to hold off on the vaccine for now? I'm curious if it's just food or if it stretches to animal, mold, dust, etc. or how they qualify it.

by Anonymousreply 437March 2, 2021 10:51 PM

I thought they were just monitoring if you had allergies; that it wasn’t a hard no.

FWIW, my mother has a history of bad reactions to vaccines, including getting ITP from the MMR as an adult and she still got both Pfizer shots, although obviously she’s getting her platelets tested and been in contact with her primary care doctor.

As of tonight my wife’s sense of smell has started to return!!! I was worried it would be months like my siblings so yay partial protection from the first vaccine dose. It seems like all her students tested negative so it’s still a mystery where she got it.

by Anonymousreply 438March 2, 2021 11:23 PM

The people who don't know where they got it are why I'm still wiping down groceries and not eating takeout. They don't know where something like 40% of infection came from. The REALM study done for libraries and archives showed it lived on certain surfaces for over a week, especially in a stacked arrangement. Some of these unexplained infections are coming from surfaces. No doubt.

by Anonymousreply 439March 3, 2021 3:35 AM

Which "certain surfaces", r439?

by Anonymousreply 440March 3, 2021 2:45 PM

[bold]Dutch COVID center blast appears intentional[/bold]

Dutch police say a coronavirus testing center north of Amsterdam appears to have been intentionally targeted after an explosion went off at the facility.

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by Anonymousreply 441March 3, 2021 2:56 PM

ElderLez, my Dad asked his doctor, which the CDC says to do. The Doc said not to get the vaccine. No additional info was provided.

I agree that they are monitoring people with allergies after getting the shot and wish my Dad would get a second opinion. I'd like to see him after my sister and I are vaccinated but we could still make him sick. I don't want that on my conscience.

by Anonymousreply 442March 3, 2021 3:09 PM

Understood R442!

by Anonymousreply 443March 3, 2021 3:34 PM

National Geographic:

In a first, orangutans and bonobos at the San Diego Zoo have received a vaccine for COVID-19, built specifically for animals. This follows a gorilla troop testing positive for the virus earlier this year.

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by Anonymousreply 444March 3, 2021 3:46 PM

my friend who is over 50 got 2 shots of modena, no problem at all. But his elderly mom who is in her 80s got it recently, just died on Sunday. I asked him if he thought it was related to the vaccine but he's not sure. I do not know her medical history and didn't ask. I couldn't help thinking about those old people who died in the nursing home in Norway who got the jabs and died days later...

I'm gonna take the vaccine when it's my turn. I read about unexpected "benefits" of the vaccine. someone's knee pain went away etc.

by Anonymousreply 445March 3, 2021 5:00 PM

It would be marvelous if one of the benefits was anti-ageing!

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by Anonymousreply 446March 3, 2021 5:15 PM

We were told that there would be an increase in supply of the vaccine in the midwest this week and that it should be easier to make an appointment for one. I guess so. I got three text messages from three different pharmacies offering me an appointment this week. (I got a vaccination last week.) People I know who were not able to get an appointment before are now able to schedule one, even if they have to drive to a nearby town to get it. So it must be true that things are getting better, at least in our area. Thank you, Biden Administration and Vaccine Companies.

by Anonymousreply 447March 3, 2021 5:17 PM

[quote]We were told that there would be an increase in supply of the vaccine in the midwest this week and that it should be easier to make an appointment for one.

Yep, Michigan today announced that the vaccine would be available to everybody over age 50 starting March 22. 50somethings with preexisting conditions can be vaccinated starting March 8.

by Anonymousreply 448March 3, 2021 5:20 PM

R440, the main ones where it lingered for a long time were smooth plastic surfaces and things like glossy magazine pages. Basically, smooth, impenetrable surfaces that allowed the virus to linger on the surface without being trapped or dehydrated by the fibers on the surface. It was especially bad in a stacked configuration. Here's the study so you can read up on it if you want.

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by Anonymousreply 449March 3, 2021 6:50 PM

CVS is one of the distribution centers for the vaccine but apparently not in Kentucky!

by Anonymousreply 450March 3, 2021 7:02 PM

A new consensus is emerging among scientists, according to Reuters interviews with 18 specialists who closely track the pandemic or are working to curb its impact. Many described how the breakthrough late last year of two vaccines with around 95% efficacy against COVID-19 had initially sparked hope that the virus could be largely contained, similar to the way measles has been.

But, they say, data in recent weeks on new variants from South Africa and Brazil has undercut that optimism. They now believe that SARS-CoV-2 will not only remain with us as an endemic virus, continuing to circulate in communities, but will likely cause a significant burden of illness and death for years to come.

As a result, the scientists said, people could expect to continue to take measures such as routine mask-wearing and avoiding crowded places during COVID-19 surges, especially for people at high risk.

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by Anonymousreply 451March 3, 2021 8:06 PM

Give me some good Corona news , bitches! I need it today

by Anonymousreply 452March 3, 2021 11:36 PM

R451 Let’s cc: that to Governor Abbott in Texas. He has declared that on March 10 there will no longer be any preventive rules in the state. Doors open wide at restaurants and bars. Full stadiums for sports. Big weddings are back. Fill all the pews at churches. It’s a marvelous new world.

by Anonymousreply 453March 4, 2021 12:07 AM

China makes COVID-19 anal swabs mandatory for foreigners (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

China has made anal COVID-19 swabs mandatory for all foreign travelers arriving in the country, a report said Wednesday.

The government has claimed that such tests provides a higher degree of accuracy than other screening methods for the virus, the Times UK reported.

As part of the new travel requirement, there will be testing hubs in Beijing and Shanghai airports, the outlet reported.

Li Tongzeng, a respiratory disease medic, said that the anal swabs are better because virus traces stay longer in fecal samples than they do in the nose or throat, state media reported.

The move comes after Japan asked China to stop performing the exams on their citizens when they enter the country because the swabs cause mental anguish.

“Some Japanese reported to our embassy in China that they received anal swab tests, which caused a great psychological pain,” Katsunobu Kato, Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, told a news conference.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin, however, defended the screenings as “science-based”

The tests are “in accordance with the changes in the epidemic situation as well as relevant laws and regulations,” he said.

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by Anonymousreply 454March 4, 2021 12:16 AM

I guess Texas will have fewer dumbasses soon.

by Anonymousreply 455March 4, 2021 12:36 AM

R455, the problem is that those dumbasses will travel around and infect us all with the new Texas variant that we can only hope doesn't evade all the vaccines. We should ban all travel to and from Texas. Actually, the entire south. Fucking hicks.

by Anonymousreply 456March 4, 2021 5:09 AM

I think I want the J & J vaccine when my time comes. I'm at the bottom of the list. I was reading that for those in good health under 50, the J&J has less side effects, is more mild while still protective and was tested during our surges. I like that it's one shot and done. My MD uses Pfizer, so we'll see.

by Anonymousreply 457March 4, 2021 7:13 AM

CNN: Covid-19 death rates 10 times higher in countries where most adults are overweight.

A new report finds that every country where less than 40% of the population was overweight had a low Covid-19 death rate of no more than 10 people per 100,000.

But in countries where more than 50% of the population was overweight, the Covid-19 death rate was much higher -- more than 100 per 100,000.

In the US, close to three-quarters of the population is either overweight or obese.

by Anonymousreply 458March 4, 2021 12:17 PM

WaPo: A coronavirus resurgence across Europe has ended a six-week decline in new cases on the continent, reflecting a broader global trend that has seen infections on the rise again.

New covid-19 cases in the European region rose by 9 percent over the past week. More than half of the region is seeing an increase in new infections, including a particularly worrying surge in the east of the region.

by Anonymousreply 459March 4, 2021 12:57 PM

Now all the hospitals in Oslo is full.

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by Anonymousreply 460March 4, 2021 3:02 PM

Sorry.. are*

by Anonymousreply 461March 4, 2021 3:03 PM

Worrying Covid resurgence in Eastern Europe, WHO warns, as Hungary goes into lockdown

From CNN's Chloe Adams and Samantha Tapfumaneyi

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of a concerning resurgence in coronavirus cases in central and eastern parts of Europe.

“New cases are also on the rise in several western European countries where rates were already high,” Dr. Hans Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, said during a Thursday news conference. "The continued strain on our hospitals and health workers is being met with acts of medical solidarity between European neighbors. Nonetheless, over a year into the pandemic, our health systems should not be in this situation,” he added"

During the WHO news conference, it was also revealed that recent data around the Pfizer/BioNTech and AstraZeneca vaccines have been promising and could lead to further recommendations on dosing intervals.

“The recent data on the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines are encouraging, and I think this will lead us to the review of the earlier recommendations being made,” said Dr. Siddhartha Datta, WHO Europe’s program manager for vaccine preventable disease and immunization.

A total of 45 countries have started vaccinations in the European region. So far, 1.9% of the population in 40 countries and 24.5% of health workers in 20 countries have received both doses of a vaccine.

Meanwhile, Hungary will enter another lockdown on March 8 as Covid-19 cases spike across the eastern European country, government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs tweeted on Thursday.

As part of the lockdown, most shops will be closed and schools will shift to remote learning. The government will also extend state income support to sectors that have to close down from March 8 until March 22.

Kovacs spoke to CNN’s Becky Anderson on Tuesday and warned that the third wave of Covid-19 pandemic would be the hardest one.

The country of around 9.7 million people has reported a total of more than 446,000 Covid-19 cases and around 15,400 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins University tally.

by Anonymousreply 462March 4, 2021 3:12 PM

Government warns Covid-19 epidemic "worsening quickly" across Finland.

Over the past two weeks the number of new Covid-19 cases reported in Finland has been significantly higher than ever before. And infections have continued to increase "at an alarming rate despite the restrictions."

On Wednesday, the country broke a record with 797 infections, but on Thursday it was not far from that mark, with 758 new cases and 5 deaths.

by Anonymousreply 463March 4, 2021 3:57 PM

Ahus hospital in Oslo is full. They don't have the capacity to take more covid patients. It's getting bad here. A huge spike and a new record of cases.

by Anonymousreply 464March 4, 2021 4:09 PM

That's it. Somebody needs to cordon off Scandinavia.

by Anonymousreply 465March 4, 2021 4:21 PM

Can't say as I'll miss the lutefisk.

by Anonymousreply 466March 4, 2021 4:22 PM

Meanwhile in Sweden....

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by Anonymousreply 467March 4, 2021 4:31 PM

Sweden has missed the mark on this from Day One.

by Anonymousreply 468March 4, 2021 4:32 PM

Clearly, Finland, Norway, and Sweden need more vaccine doses and they need to provide them to everyone—open enrollment. No time for restrictions.

by Anonymousreply 469March 4, 2021 4:33 PM

I'm sure most here have heard, but I didn't see it posted, the Covid vaccine will be a yearly vaccine just like a flu shot.

by Anonymousreply 470March 4, 2021 5:28 PM

Is that BREAKING NEWS today, R470?

by Anonymousreply 471March 4, 2021 5:34 PM

We’ve been told the UK variant was going to destroy us for months now. Hasn’t happened yet. Dr. Olsterhom is still on cable news telling us we”re all going to die in the next few weeks unless we have a Wuhan style lockdown. Sometimes I think these doctors get off on scaring people and they just like to hear themselves talk.

by Anonymousreply 472March 4, 2021 5:39 PM

I was at my chiropractors office today and we were discussing the vaccine R471. The medical profession is saying it will be yearly. Don't know if they have come out and said it or it is just talk within the medical profession.

by Anonymousreply 473March 4, 2021 5:58 PM

Osterhelm is a nervous nelly.

The British variant is a variant of concern for sure, but all evidence so far is consistent with the approved vaccines preventing hospitalization and death with the three variants of concern.

Since the microbiologists don’t know if and ,if yes, how frequently SARS-CoV-2 vaccines will need to be given, I am going to go out on a limb and assume Chiropractors might not know either.

We are likely to have a universal flu vaccine in the next decade.

by Anonymousreply 474March 4, 2021 6:09 PM

Some of us know these recent vaccines are bullshit. The Real Deal will arrive just before Christmas

2022 will be our transition year. They'll be hard times but nothing compared to 20-21.

March 2023 (2 yrs, my god) we'll be shooting out of any ashes & cinders

Hold on, for now. Hold on tight

Datalounge gang knows I always call it

{See Prediction threads here}

by Anonymousreply 475March 4, 2021 6:10 PM

If you read what I wrote R474 I said it was talked about within the medical profession. I did not say they made an announcement.

by Anonymousreply 476March 4, 2021 6:24 PM

The vast majority of the medical profession would bristle over being lumped in with chiropractors.

by Anonymousreply 477March 4, 2021 7:48 PM

Side effect of Moderna vaccine may be a delayed skin rash, doctors warn

An itchy rash may be a side effect of receiving the Moderna vaccine, doctors said.

About 12 recipients in a 30,000-person trial have seen their arms turn red, sore, itchy or swollen about a week after receiving the first dose, according to a letter from doctors published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Five of the patients had large skin lesions more than 10 centimeters (4 inches) in diameter at the injection site, the letter said.

Two experienced the rash in other places, such as near the elbow and on the palm of the hand.

The rash appeared on average about eight days after getting the first jab, but then resolved itself in all of the cases about four or five days later, the report said.

“All 12 patients were encouraged to receive the second dose and completed their [Moderna] vaccination course,” the letter said.

Three of the patients experienced the same reaction after the second dose, while three of the others had skin issues that were less severe.

The doctors said the reactions appear to be harmless but could be mistaken for more serious conditions.

“Whether you’ve experienced a rash at the injection site right away or this delayed skin reaction, neither condition should prevent you from getting the second dose of the vaccine,” lead author Dr. Kimberly Blumenthal of Massachusetts General Hospital said in a statement.

“Our immediate goal is to make physicians and other care providers aware of this possible delayed reaction, so they are not alarmed, but instead well-informed and equipped to advise their patients accordingly.”

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by Anonymousreply 478March 4, 2021 8:02 PM

Australia extends international travel ban for 3 more months

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by Anonymousreply 479March 4, 2021 8:04 PM

[quote]Australia extends international travel ban for 3 more months

Only for the little people

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by Anonymousreply 480March 4, 2021 8:08 PM

A lawmaker persuaded the Arizona House to let businesses ignore mask mandates to stem COVID spread partly by arguing they weren’t needed decades ago to stop the spread of AIDS. The GOP-controlled House approved legislation that says business owners need not enforce any state, city, town or county requirement for people to wear a mask. The measure now goes to the GOP-controlled Senate.

Bill sponsor Rep. Justin Chaplik cited HIV “that was going to wipe our global destruction of human bodies with AIDS. We heard about that in the ’80s,” Chaplik said. “Yet no masks were required.”

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by Anonymousreply 481March 4, 2021 8:36 PM

R481 Jesus wept.

by Anonymousreply 482March 4, 2021 9:17 PM

Pass me a tissue, Jesus.

by Anonymousreply 483March 4, 2021 9:33 PM

He was talking to medical doctors R477. Chiropractors get a lot of shit, but there are good ones that know what they are talking about. The best thing I did for my dog was to take her to the chiropractor. The rehab vet I was taking her to wasn't doing shit for her and she is thriving under the care of the chiropractor.

by Anonymousreply 484March 4, 2021 10:01 PM

CT governor Ned Lamont (D) is lifting capacity restrictions at most businesses, including restaurants, museums, fitness centers, offices and churches, but keeping guidelines on masks, spacing and cleaning protocols.

AL governor Kay Ivey (R) announces she will lift the state's mask mandate April 9.

by Anonymousreply 485March 4, 2021 10:48 PM

R467 It's all ending in tears for Anders Tegnell not to mention those that he has murdered and their familes.

by Anonymousreply 486March 4, 2021 11:13 PM

R485 CT small business owner here. The headlines make it sound like the state is completely reopening and that Lamont is being reckless but there’s more to it. First of all, it takes effect in two weeks so it can be easily taken back if our vaccine numbers go down or cases go up. We’re at 21% of all adults vaccinated, and our positivity rate was under 2% today. It is time to start reopening and I’m glad Lamont is taking the first steps.

As far as capacity goes-100% is misleading. All mask and distancing rules are still in place. I own a small bar and I can’t fit anymore people in with 100% capacity than I can with 50% because of the distancing rules.

Lamont has handled this pandemic about as well as a governor could handle it. I trust him. If he says it’s safe to start the process of opening up I believe him.

by Anonymousreply 487March 5, 2021 12:46 AM

Humans are too fucking stupid to live much longer as a species. If covid only killed the irresponsible pieces of shit, we might have had a chance because it might have stopped our current slide to true idiocracy but, alas, it kills the innocent. Or, I should say, the fucking irresponsible pieces of shit kill the innocent.

by Anonymousreply 488March 5, 2021 5:07 AM

Stop trying to save stupid people, let them remove themselves from the human gene pool.

by Anonymousreply 489March 5, 2021 11:41 AM

I get my first covid vaccine shot tomorrow. So relieved. In my state, Arizona, they have a portal you sign up to. When it is your time don't use the portal just call the phone number.

by Anonymousreply 490March 5, 2021 3:11 PM

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan (D) has rejected a shipment of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, contending that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are better and he wants Detroit residents to "get the best."

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by Anonymousreply 491March 5, 2021 5:38 PM

[quote] Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan (D) is defending his decision to reject a shipment of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, saying in a press conference Thursday that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are better and he wants Detroit residents to "get the best."

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by Anonymousreply 492March 5, 2021 8:06 PM

R489, unfortunately, due to your inability to understand that a highly communicable respiratory pathogen doesn't just affect those who act stupidly, you have to go, too. Sorry.

by Anonymousreply 493March 5, 2021 8:20 PM

[bold]CDC study: Restaurant dining bans and mask mandates make a difference in COVID-19 rates[/bold]

In the fight against COVID-19, public health authorities have long urged people to mask up and avoid shared spaces like restaurants. Now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has real-world evidence that these policies work.

By tracking changes in the case and death rates in counties across the United States, CDC researchers showed that these strategies are indeed crucial.

“Such efforts are increasingly important given the emergence of highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants in the United States,” they wrote in a study published Friday in the agency’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

more at link

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by Anonymousreply 494March 6, 2021 1:53 AM

SC Governor Henry McMaster (R) is lifting his mask mandate for state buildings and restaurants and telling state employees still working from home to come back to their office.

McMaster’s March 5 update means the Republican governor is no longer requiring face coverings to be worn in state buildings, by restaurant employees or by diners, who were previously ordered to cover up while not eating or drinking. But that doesn’t mean people can ditch their masks, as local ordinances and businesses’ own policies still apply.

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by Anonymousreply 495March 6, 2021 12:43 PM

California will allow amusement parks, concert and sports venues to reopen from April 1

From CNN's Cheri Mossburg

All of California’s amusement parks — including Disneyland, Magic Mountain and Universal Studios — along with sports and concert venues will be allowed to reopen with limited capacity starting April 1, state Health and Human Services Secretary Mark Ghaly announced Friday.

“We feel like now is the appropriate time to begin to reintroduce these activities in some fashion, and in a guarded way, in a slow and steady way,” Ghaly said in a teleconference.

Theme parks, sports and concert venues have been shuttered in California for nearly a year to reduce spread of the coronavirus

For an amusement part to reopen, the spread of Covid-19 in each county where a theme park is located must be reduced enough to advance out of the state’s most restrictive reopening tier. California has four color-coded tiers with purple being the most stringent. As of Friday, Los Angeles and Orange counties, home to Disneyland and Universal Studios, remained in the purple tier. Both will likely advance to a less restrictive tier in the next week or two.

For theme parks located in the red tier, attendance will be limited to 15% of capacity, and only California residents will be allowed to reserve admission to the parks. California remains under a statewide travel advisory asking residents to remain within 120 miles from their homes. There will be a time limit on indoor rides, though most are fairly short and already socially distanced. Thrill-seekers will be generally required to queue up outside and enter in groups

“Today’s announcement from the Newsom Administration is very encouraging news for California’s amusement parks. Parks now have a framework to safely and responsibly reopen. We appreciate the Administration’s willingness to work with the State’s theme parks on the finer details of the plan so parks can responsibly reopen soon, putting people safely back to work and reinvigorating local economies,” said Erin Guerrero, Executive Director for California Attractions and Parks Association.

Attendance at outdoor sporting events and concerts, will also be allowed beginning April 1 with up to 20% capacity for venues located in the red tier, 33% in the orange tier, then 67% capacity in the least restrictive yellow tier, according to California economic advisor DeeDee Myers. Rules will be in place limiting concessions along the concourse and throughout the stadium seating areas.

by Anonymousreply 496March 6, 2021 5:59 PM

Arizona governor lifts occupancy limits on business, but keeps mask rules in place

From CNN's Konstantin Toropin

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey announced he is lifting occupancy limits on business in a new executive order announced today.

Ducey's new order, which applies to "restaurants, gyms, theaters, water parks, bowling alleys, and bars providing dine in services," removes occupancy percentage limitations, a statement from his office explained.

Additionally, according to the statement, spring training and Major League Sports will have the ability to operate after getting a safety precaution and physical distancing plan approved by the state's Department of Health Services

However, the new order keeps in place physical distancing and mask protocols, but local officials will still be "precluded from implementing extreme measures that shut down businesses."

Ducey cited "7 weeks of declining cases in Arizona and the distribution of more than 2 million vaccines" as part of the reason for the move.

“Today’s announcement is a measured approach; we are not in the clear yet," Ducey said in his statement.

"We need to continue practicing personal responsibility," he added.

The relaxing of regulations follows a Wednesday executive order that required Arizona schools to offer in-person learning by March 15.

Earlier this week, nearby Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced he would be lifting the mask mandate and "opening Texas 100 percent" while Mississippi also lifted its county specific mask mandates.

by Anonymousreply 497March 6, 2021 6:00 PM

“Scientists in Oregon have spotted a homegrown version of a fast-spreading variant of the coronavirus that first surfaced in Britain — but now combined with a mutation that may make the variant less susceptible to vaccines. … The new version that surfaced in Oregon has the same backbone [as the UK variant], but also a mutation — E484K, or ‘Eek’ — seen in variants of the virus circulating in South Africa, Brazil and New York City.”

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by Anonymousreply 498March 6, 2021 7:00 PM

In the year 21 21...

by Anonymousreply 499March 6, 2021 7:08 PM

21 21 R499? There was a song called In The Year 2525.

by Anonymousreply 500March 6, 2021 8:33 PM

Laurie Garrett:

Researchers in Brazil found 2 patients that are infected with a mix of 2 variant SARSCoV2 strains. Both indivs are recovering. It raises serious concern about viruses mixing, swapping genetic material, inside of human bodies. This happens w/ HIV and flu.

by Anonymousreply 501March 6, 2021 9:00 PM

Does the regular flu mutate that quickly like this virus?

by Anonymousreply 502March 6, 2021 10:53 PM

R502 Yes, that's why every year the flu vaccine you (hopefully) get is somewhat different from past years' to account for new flu strains.

[quote] Flu viruses are constantly changing, so the vaccine composition is reviewed each year and updated as needed based on which influenza viruses are making people sick, the extent to which those viruses are spreading, and how well the previous season’s vaccine protects against those viruses.

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by Anonymousreply 503March 7, 2021 1:19 AM

Why the fuck are these assholes opening up??? WTF is wrong with them? Right after Trump showed his fucking face again.

by Anonymousreply 504March 7, 2021 1:32 AM

Got my first shot today. I was amazed by how coordinated the drive-thru was, nothing like it was trying to book an appointment. They wrote several things on my windshield that gave the other person info. I went through several checkpoints where they re-verified my information. When I received my shot I entered another line for observation. On my windshield was the time to let me go if there were no signs of an adverse reaction. The amount of volunteers to pull this off was astounding. I hope they know they are not taken for granted. I so appreciate how they made a stressful situation very calming.

by Anonymousreply 505March 7, 2021 3:49 AM

R505 Glad it went well for you, what state are you in?

by Anonymousreply 506March 7, 2021 5:23 AM

Arizona R506. The portal to sign up and book an appointment was a nightmare. The difference between booking and actually receiving the vaccine is night and day. I've advised, upthread, those in Arizona to go through the phone number instead of the portal. The portal will tell you there are no available slots, but calling the number and they will get you in.

by Anonymousreply 507March 7, 2021 5:26 AM

My wife is still going for her second shot next week just to be safe (and for any potential vaccine passport requirements), but here's another early study that it probably is not needed.

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by Anonymousreply 508March 7, 2021 1:59 PM

Thanks to Texas Louisianna and all the other red states opening everything back up, it's only a matter of time until new variants start popping up all over the place.

by Anonymousreply 509March 7, 2021 2:01 PM

In Louisiana we have to wear masks. And are only 75% reopened.

by Anonymousreply 510March 7, 2021 2:35 PM

75% is enough R510.

by Anonymousreply 511March 7, 2021 5:18 PM

pfizer ceo still hasn't taken the vaccine yet...

by Anonymousreply 512March 7, 2021 5:42 PM

Something always came up r512.

The phone rang, someone was at the door....

by Anonymousreply 513March 7, 2021 6:33 PM

He’s only 59 and so wasn’t eligible in New York until recently (assuming he has a pre-existing condition like me and is eligible at all)

AND a simple google search and you’d learn that he’s had the first shot R512.

Of course waiting in line and the disinformation is “people in the know won’t take it”, cut the line to show its safe and the outrage machine is all “rich people cut line and steal doses from the poor.” There’s always an angle when pushing societal distrust and division.

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by Anonymousreply 514March 7, 2021 6:52 PM

December 2020 explanation of waiting.

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by Anonymousreply 515March 7, 2021 6:56 PM

ElderLez - I don't know why, but I feel more comfortable with the J&J vaccine and am more nervous about the mRNA vaccine. This is my own personal issue/neurosis, but my gut feels like the J&J vaccine seems more tested in the way it's believed . I'm at the bottom of the list so there is no urgent decision needing to be made for a month or so, possible longer. Am I just being completely irrational? Or there any merit to my thinking. Just tell me I'm being crazy. Thank you for your contributions.

by Anonymousreply 516March 7, 2021 8:07 PM

Delivered not believed - typo

by Anonymousreply 517March 7, 2021 8:07 PM

WSJ: Russian intelligence agencies have mounted a campaign to undermine confidence in Pfizer Inc.’s and other Western vaccines, using online publications that in recent months have questioned the vaccines’ development and safety, U.S. officials said.

The websites played up the vaccines’ risk of side effects, questioned their efficacy, and said the U.S. had rushed the Pfizer vaccine through the approval process, among other false or misleading claims.

(Many of those claims have been echoed here on DL in recent weeks.)

by Anonymousreply 518March 7, 2021 8:25 PM

R516 I will be thrilled whatever I get. The irony is that the science of vaccine development is speeding up so fast that the J&J vaccine is seen as old even though it is also new technology, it just started back when everything took so much longer, which was only about a decade ago.

In my non-scientific opinion, the J&J seems to have slightly less reactogenicity (sp?); meaning maybe a less sore arm, maybe the difference between feeling crappy for one day vs a few hours,. On the other hand, the mRNA vaccines seemed to have no loss of effectiveness in the elderly. (I am not sure if the J& study specifically looked at that, but it is an issue with most vaccines), which is certainly an advantage, but not one that would seem important to you given your category. It's a plus for me since I am on an immunosupressant, but I will take whatever I can get first, because comparing vaccines to each other is so much less important to comparing the vaccines to the risk of illness. If I get vaccinated in time, I will not be on a ventilator because of this virus, I will not die because of this virus.

I don't know about all of you, but this is a week of strong and emotional memories for me. I was just speaking to my Dad and this time last year I was begging him to come home from Costa Rica and he was yelling at me to stop going in to work. A few days later one of my staff would be screaming at me that we shouldn't be planning to work from home, we should be home already. And every morning started with a phone call that was really important and productive, but emotionally difficult. (I know, MARY!) And my wife's movie that she spent years on was about to premiere and they'd sold so many tickets it had to moved in to a bigger theater, but we were both terrified to go.

by Anonymousreply 519March 7, 2021 9:53 PM

Is there a single website that shows where any of the vaccines are available?

by Anonymousreply 520March 7, 2021 9:54 PM

There is something Orwellian about this whole vaccine. As I was in line to receive my first vaccine I thought how dystopian this was. Not sure dystopian is the right word, but it seems surreal to be in a line to receive a vaccine and grateful. Our world is "off" and afraid this will be our new normal.

by Anonymousreply 521March 8, 2021 4:10 AM

WTF??!!

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by Anonymousreply 522March 8, 2021 10:38 AM

[quote]There is something Orwellian about this whole vaccine.

What makes this one "dystopian" as opposed to the cholera, flu, diptheria, hepatitis, HPV, measles, mumps, pertussis, pneumonia, polio, rabies, rotavirus, rubella, shingles, smallpox, tetanus, typhoid fever, varicella and yellow fever vaccines?

by Anonymousreply 523March 8, 2021 11:42 AM

Republican calls relief bill ‘blue state bailout.’ Fox host says HER state got money too

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by Anonymousreply 524March 8, 2021 5:12 PM

Interesting take on the global political ramifications of the pandemic:

"Americans continue to suffer the ravages of COVID-19, but America’s human and economic losses have not fundamentally changed the global balance of power. Instead, after the “plague year” of 2020, the United States is paradoxically in a much stronger position.

The pandemic has made Russia more susceptible to U.S. sanctions pressure, while common concerns about Chinese activity are providing a new rationale for rebuilding and reconnecting ties with the United States. European partners who were envisioning a greater equidistance from the United States are now, in the wake of the pandemic, looking to secure investment and supply chains across the Atlantic than with the dragon of the East."

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by Anonymousreply 525March 8, 2021 5:56 PM

Counties With Highest COVID Death Rates Voted For Trump By Double Digits

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by Anonymousreply 526March 8, 2021 9:26 PM

I just scheduled my appointment for my first shot this Friday. They didn't specify which shot I would be getting though. I tried to get in in early February and they told me I wasn't eligible for it.

by Anonymousreply 527March 8, 2021 9:35 PM

Regarding comments above, a friend was eligible but indecisive about getting a vaccine. He has a medical condition that made him eligible, but he was worried about health effects of the vaccine ( and was encouraged in this thinking by anti-vaxers.) He tested positive for Covid today. If you can get any one of the three vaccines, don't dally. The UK variant was 1-4% of positive cases a month ago. Now it's 30-40%. Dr Osterholm says we may likely be in the 4th wave in one to three months. And masking and distancing won't work as well. It's 70% more transmissible, and according to him, more lethal.

by Anonymousreply 528March 8, 2021 9:40 PM

[quote] And masking and distancing won't work as well. It's 70% more transmissible, and according to him, more lethal.

That was suggested, subject to more longer term verification, by the UK prime minister. Today, Dutch scientists seem to have come to the same conclusion. The variant has been doing a number right across Europe just as most countries (apart from the UK) were getting their infection/death numbers down after the Xmas spike. It has taken the UK until now to get the daily deaths under three figures and that is with a pretty harsh lockdown. Vaccination seems the only way out now.

Anyway, I get my first injection tomorrow, so roll on summer.

by Anonymousreply 529March 8, 2021 9:54 PM

Congrats on your vax, R529! I got my first one on Saturday.

Re 70% more virulent: Doctors Osterholm and Jha have been agreeing with the recently.

by Anonymousreply 530March 8, 2021 10:05 PM

I have to get a PET/CAT scan on Monday for my yearly cancer follow-up (once a year for 5 years after diagnosis) and I am terrified to spend all that time in the doctor's office without being vaccinated yet. But I will be able to pick up a letter saying I qualify for a vax starting March 15th. I wish my damn doctor's office had them because there are no appointments to be had in Los Angeles, even for those who qualify (which I don't for another week).

by Anonymousreply 531March 8, 2021 10:21 PM

[quote]And masking and distancing won't work as well. It's 70% more transmissible, and according to him, more lethal.

So, of course, governors across the U.S. are doing the stupidest things possible. The latest: WY Gov. Mark Gordon (R) announced today that he is removing his state's mask requirement and allowing bars, restaurants, theaters and gyms to resume normal operations effective March 16.

by Anonymousreply 532March 8, 2021 10:55 PM

I posted upthread about this, but thought I would add to it. There is a state portal where I live that you register your information. You use that portal to try to get a vaccination. It is actually easier to get a vaccination if you call the phone number and talk to a live person. They have more information available then you would. The portal says there are no more slots available, but when you talk to an individual they have access to all the places offering the vaccination. Where I got mine wasn't even listed at the portal. Try to call the number your state provides and see if you can get an appointment through them.

by Anonymousreply 533March 8, 2021 11:02 PM

Thanks, R533. A friend of mine said she called Kaiser in Woodland Hills (in the valley in Los Angeles) and they told her they were vaccinating people with underlying conditions, but when I go on their website, they say they don't.

by Anonymousreply 534March 9, 2021 12:06 AM

[quote]Dr Osterholm says we may likely be in the 4th wave in one to three months. And masking and distancing won't work as well. It's 70% more transmissible, and according to him, more lethal.

From the scientific research I've read, the higher transmissibility is due to the virus sticking around longer once it's in your body. So, masking and distancing will work the exact same amount it's just that if you get some in your body, they swim around longer and are more likely to find their target. They are not getting through the masks more easily or infecting eyes more readily or anything like that.

by Anonymousreply 535March 9, 2021 12:13 AM

I read an article speculating that, R535, but that’s all it was — informed speculation. Has it been confirmed anywhere?

by Anonymousreply 536March 9, 2021 1:50 AM

1/3 of "Long Covid" Cases Started Asymptomatically

New study shows that many people who experience long-term symptoms from the coronavirus did not feel sick at all when they were initially infected.

Nearly one-third of patients in the study who were struggling with post-Covid symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain, cough, rapid heart rate or abdominal pain had not had any symptoms from their initial coronavirus infection through the 10 days after they tested positive. Long-term problems affect every age group, including children.

Post-acute Covid syndrome "doesn’t always match up with severity of acute symptoms, so you can have no symptoms but still have a very aggressive immune response," says a doctor of a similar study.

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by Anonymousreply 537March 9, 2021 11:15 AM

More real-world results for the "it's just marketing copy!" troll:

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by Anonymousreply 538March 9, 2021 1:00 PM

r531, this is anecdotal, but I had a yearly physical last week, and my doctor was telling me that her sister, who was an anesthesiologist, got the vaccine on a Thursday, exhibited symptoms on Sun, then tested positive on Monday. This was during Christmas. My doctor said her sister was a Long-Hauler now, which is a pity. You should wait at least 2 weeks after your second inoculation for that vaccine to do its stuff before getting your exam if you feel uneasy.

by Anonymousreply 539March 9, 2021 1:37 PM

More information about the Long Haul Other Transaction Award studies.

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by Anonymousreply 540March 9, 2021 1:46 PM

Interesting parallels between Long Haul Covid and the aftermath of the 1918 flu epidemic:

“The incapacity caused by the flu and its after-effects seriously affected the country’s economy for some time,” wrote historian Howard Phillips in 1990, in Black October, his comprehensive study of the 1918 epidemic in South Africa. In what is now Tanzania, to the north, post-viral syndrome has been blamed for triggering the worst famine in a century—the so-called “famine of corms”—after debilitating lethargy prevented flu survivors from planting when the rains came at the end of 1918.

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by Anonymousreply 541March 9, 2021 1:55 PM

848 new cases yesterday. New record here in Norway. Meanwhile the vaccination rate is horrible. My 75 year old dad still hasn't gotten his vaccine shot yet.

by Anonymousreply 542March 9, 2021 2:11 PM

Speaking of long-haulers, a long but fascinating article from The Atlantic this month points to dysautonomia, an impairment of the usual functioning of the autonomic nervous system, as a possible cause of long-term symptoms ... and says that "breathwork" may help relieve them.

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by Anonymousreply 543March 9, 2021 3:26 PM

New study finds that 31.3% of those over 80 did not attain neutralizing antibody responses after their second vaccination.

Only 2.2% of those under 60 had no detectable neutralizing antibodies.

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by Anonymousreply 544March 9, 2021 4:03 PM

What the latest research saying about the longevity of the vaccine immunity?

by Anonymousreply 545March 9, 2021 4:07 PM

So even if you recover from Covid you still might be fucked up for life...it just keeps getting better.

by Anonymousreply 546March 9, 2021 4:10 PM

R544 Not surprising. Isn't that why they stopped using the Astra Zeneca vaccines? Because it wasn't as effective in older people? At least I think that's why. The vaccine is a B vaccine at best. Still not approved for 65+ here in Norway. Health care workers get it and a ton are experiencing nasty side effects. I think it's wise to save the better Moderna and Pfizer vaccines for the elderly.

by Anonymousreply 547March 9, 2021 4:46 PM

Hear Dr. Gupta's pandemic prediction from 1 year ago

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by Anonymousreply 548March 9, 2021 5:09 PM

A realistic take on the future.

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by Anonymousreply 549March 9, 2021 6:33 PM

R547, hate to break it to you, but that article is about the Pfizer vaccine.

by Anonymousreply 550March 9, 2021 7:25 PM

[quote]Hear Dr. Gupta's pandemic prediction from 1 year ago

Sanjay has aged a lot in the past year.

by Anonymousreply 551March 9, 2021 7:27 PM

RR

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by Anonymousreply 552March 9, 2021 7:41 PM

Covid-19 vaccine boosters may be needed six months to year later, Novavax official says

From CNN's Jacqueline Howard

Biotechnology firm Novavax is developing a booster shot to its coronavirus vaccine, and company officials anticipate that vaccinated people might need boosters every six months or annually to stay protected against Covid-19. Similar to others, Novavax's Covid-19 vaccine is administered as two doses given three weeks apart.

After the second dose, “we’re seeing that at six months, there's a pretty big decline in antibodies and I think all the vaccine makers are going to see that," Dr. Gregory Glenn, president of research and development for Novavax, told CNN on Tuesday.

“But it's our view that somewhere between six months and one year, we’re going to need to boost everybody to protect them,” Glenn said. “I think governments are gearing up for that kind of thinking – but we're still collecting the information that will guide that. This is a new virus, these are new vaccines, and we just don't have enough information.”

Novavax has initiated a booster shot study to gather that information.

"We have actually started a trial where some of the people who got our vaccine last summer, at six months later we're giving them a boost," Glenn said. "We're going to see how good that looks in terms of immune responses – and it can either be one dose, given once, or maybe we kind of repeat the same thing we did before where we give them a three-week interval."

by Anonymousreply 553March 9, 2021 8:56 PM

Maryland plans to remove all Covid-19 capacity restrictions on restaurants and other businesses

From CNN's Laura Ly

Maryland is removing all Covid-19 capacity restrictions on restaurants and other businesses on Friday, citing "significant improvements in [their] health metrics," Gov. Larry Hogan announced at a news conference Tuesday.

Although physical distancing will still be required, capacity limits will be lifted on all indoor and outdoor dining establishments, retail businesses, religious buildings, fitness centers, personal service locations, such as hair and nail salons, and indoor recreation centers, such as casinos, bingo halls, bowling alleys, and skating rinks, the governor said.

All changes will be effective on Friday starting at 5 p.m. ET, Hogan said.

Large venues, such as for conferences, weddings, or concerts, may expand their indoor and outdoor capacity to 50%, Hogan said.

by Anonymousreply 554March 9, 2021 8:57 PM

I had MSNBC on earlier. Since I was just listening and didn't have a view of my TV I don't know who the person was they were interviewing. They said we don't eradicate things like covid. In fact smallpox is the only disease we have eradicated. When asked if we will have to get another shot, along with our yearly flu shot, they expect we will have to get shots again, but don't know if it will be yearly or every 5 years. This pretty much aligns up with my previous post concerning what my chiropractor was hearing.

by Anonymousreply 555March 9, 2021 9:13 PM

[quote] So even if you recover from Covid you still might be fucked up for life...it just keeps getting better.

And this is why I want the Pfizer or the Moderna over the J&J. Arguing that J&J is very effective in preventing severe illness, death and hospitalization (while not as effective in preventing COVID) doesn't matter to me. I don't want to only avoid death or hospitalization, I want to avoid getting this thing at all because of the long term effects, many of which we still have no idea about.

by Anonymousreply 556March 9, 2021 9:14 PM

R556, you don't understand the efficacy data on the vaccines.

[quote]After the second dose, “we’re seeing that at six months, there's a pretty big decline in antibodies and I think all the vaccine makers are going to see that," Dr. Gregory Glenn, president of research and development for Novavax, told CNN on Tuesday.

Anyone who talks only about antibody levels without mention of B or T memory cells as they pertain to lasting immunity has an agenda, probably a monetary one.

by Anonymousreply 557March 9, 2021 11:05 PM

We are still lacking vaccines here in Norway. We simply don't have enough doses. Now the health authorities have finally realized maybe it's a good idea to wait giving the second shot. So more people get vaccinated, even if it means just one dose. The effect is good even if they have to wait longer for the second dose. It only took them three months to reach this conclusion smh. People have been saying this for a while now. Fucking hell this whole vaccination process is a nightmare.

by Anonymousreply 558March 10, 2021 11:01 AM

Here's a global map of vaccinations to date. If you hover your pointer over the country, you can see the percentage of people with one or two doses of the vaccine. (Page down in the link if you only see a map of the United States.)

Hey, Norway, at least you're not Canada or Russia. As bad as it may feel for some people not to have access to vaccines yet, Norway is not doing that badly. Although it must be admitted that the standard set in Europe and parts of North America are rather low.

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by Anonymousreply 559March 10, 2021 1:34 PM

R544, if many old people can’t produce antibodies, they’re either going to have to spend their older years in seclusion or they’re going to have their natural lives shortened, it sounds like. And it also sounds like Covid may be around for decades. Maybe it will be different if people get vaccinated younger and then age. But Covid sounds like it a population culler. If our society doesn’t change, it will be much worse than it has to be. And people don’t want to sacrifice to help others, we’ve seen that.

I read recently that new home builders are putting in vestibules so people can leave their outdoor clothing outside, or put it in the washer before they enter the house, instead of the usual modern house plans with no entry area.

Between that and an article I read in the NYT yesterday, saying human fertility is going way down since about 1980, it seems like our population is going down whether we like it or not.

by Anonymousreply 560March 10, 2021 2:32 PM

R559 Look at how pathetic PA is! I can't stand it.

R560

[quote] our population is going down whether we like it or not

What's not to like?

by Anonymousreply 561March 10, 2021 2:33 PM

Sylvia Fowler, that is what most people in the NYT comments section said after the fertility article. Many said it would be better if the human race was extinct. People don’t realize, there’s so much nuclear waste and so many nuclear plants that need constant maintenance, if the human race dies out so would everything else. There is no “If we all die we’ll save the bunnies” any more, it’s too late for that. The ocean is full of plastic trash and plastic particles. Even breastfeeding mothers are feeding their babies plastic particles in breast milk. That’s affecting our fertility, so presumably the fertility of ocean animals will be affected too. The only hope is for some people to live long enough to figure out how to clean the mess up. Assuming anybody cares to, with this “live for today, fuck the grandchildren” attitude.

by Anonymousreply 562March 10, 2021 2:41 PM

Nature came back at Chernobyl; it's more powerful than you think.

by Anonymousreply 563March 10, 2021 3:58 PM

From Monday:

Children burn masks at rally

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by Anonymousreply 564March 10, 2021 4:31 PM

Rise up Covid and let these anti-mask fools feel your POWER!!!

by Anonymousreply 565March 10, 2021 5:07 PM

Very sobering article about epidemiologist Michael Olsterholm AKA Dr. Doom:

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by Anonymousreply 566March 10, 2021 6:10 PM

From link at r566:

[quote]On the other side of the table is my mom and my dad, or my grandpa and my grandma. And they both are over 65, they both have an underlying health condition. And I’m gonna look them in the eye and say, okay, I can give both doses to one of you, or I can give one dose to each of you. What would you like me to do? Wouldn’t you want, particularly with evidence of the protection we have, to protect both of them, and not leave one totally vulnerable?

Except we are not really faced with that choice are we? Fortunately we have both doses for both of them.

by Anonymousreply 567March 10, 2021 6:52 PM

Mark D. Levine, Chair of the Health Committee, NYC Council:

Virus is still spreading at an extraordinary rate in NYC. ~4,000 cases/day, despite steady progress on vaccination.

One big reason: variants

B.1.117 (UK) & B.1.526 (NYC) now together make up 51% of new cases here, up from 31% last week.

We still need to take this seriously.

by Anonymousreply 568March 10, 2021 8:55 PM

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

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by Anonymousreply 569March 11, 2021 6:30 AM

At this rate, I'm surprised that the fucking Repug states aren't mandating that everyone must lick each other as they walk by. Fucking morons. They should suspend federal money from any states that open up and drop their mask mandates to help cover the added expense they are going to cause by spreading Covid more and more.

by Anonymousreply 570March 11, 2021 7:29 AM

I got my first dose today (pfizer) it was an easy process. My arm is a little sore, other than that no ill effects.

by Anonymousreply 571March 11, 2021 7:36 AM

She didn't die of embarrassment from being named Kassidi, R569?

by Anonymousreply 572March 11, 2021 7:49 AM

Received the Pfizer 1st dose Saturday morning. No reaction.

by Anonymousreply 573March 11, 2021 8:57 AM

They suspect a death from the Astra Zeneca vaccine in Denmark. They have stopped using it. It is only used on health care workers here in Norway. Some said they experienced horrible side effects. Glad they didn't allow it for 65+ here in Norway. Seems it was the right decision.

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by Anonymousreply 574March 11, 2021 9:32 AM

R569 looking at those pictures I am wondering if she had breast implants. I know that there have been issues for people with fillers with Moderna.

(Which I’ll be getting Monday, managed to get a sooner appointment.)

by Anonymousreply 575March 11, 2021 9:55 AM

If the idiots want to kill themselves then let them, stop trying to save evil, dumb people.

by Anonymousreply 576March 11, 2021 10:54 AM

If only they were just killing themselves r576.

by Anonymousreply 577March 11, 2021 10:57 AM

[quote] Utah mother, 39, with NO known health issues dies four days after receiving second dose of Moderna's COVID vaccine

Alarming, Wondering though why she access to vaccine already at that age. Was she's a frontliner or any of those given priority?

by Anonymousreply 578March 11, 2021 10:59 AM

The people around them enough to catch it from them are probably shit bags too R577.

by Anonymousreply 579March 11, 2021 11:04 AM

R569 she might just have keeled over and died. It happens all the time. Doesn’t mean it has anything to do with receiving the vaccination. Millions upon millions have received them so far.

by Anonymousreply 580March 11, 2021 11:44 AM

Got my second Moderna yesterday. I'm 65.T he second , for me, was a lot worse. 12 hrs after the shot I had 101.8 fever, my arm was swollen and very painful....I felt like I had the flu.

Today I feel better but my arm still very sore and my joints hurt. I do have psoriatic arthritis and have to give myself a shot of methotrexate weekly. It's an immune suppressor so that might be the reason I reacted a bit more than most

by Anonymousreply 581March 11, 2021 11:55 AM

Sturgis redux:

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by Anonymousreply 582March 11, 2021 12:34 PM

r575 - Oh ElderLez, you don't need fillers!

by Anonymousreply 583March 11, 2021 1:54 PM

The CDC is set to announce that 2020 was the deadliest year in recorded U.S. history, as the death rate increased by 15% due to the Covid-19 pandeic.

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by Anonymousreply 584March 11, 2021 2:52 PM

Tucker Carlson Says Listening to Doctors is Gay

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by Anonymousreply 585March 11, 2021 3:37 PM

Tucker oughta know.

by Anonymousreply 586March 11, 2021 4:05 PM

Covid variant in the U.K. appears to be 64% more deadly than other strains.

Researchers analyzed data from more than 100,000 patients, comparing death rates among people infected with B.1.1.7 and those infected with other previously circulating strains. They found that people infected with B.1.1.7 were between 32% and 104% more likely to die.

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by Anonymousreply 587March 11, 2021 4:09 PM

Pfizer said its Covid-19 vaccine blocked 94% of asymptomatic infections in an Israeli study.

The study also found the vaccine was at least 97% effective against symptomatic Covid cases, hospitalizations and deaths.

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by Anonymousreply 588March 11, 2021 4:22 PM

R581, your joints hurt because you have a fever. I have arthritis, I can tell when I have a fever because every joint in my body hurts like hell. You’ll know when the fever is gone because your joints will stop hurting. It’s an inflammatory response, it means the vaccine is working. Don’t eat or drink anything acidic or caffeine for a few days, that will help.

by Anonymousreply 589March 11, 2021 4:34 PM

It’s a Super Spreader World After All:

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by Anonymousreply 590March 11, 2021 5:17 PM

Let's be honest if half the population in Florida died most of them would be deplorables.

by Anonymousreply 591March 11, 2021 5:33 PM

I want to take the pfizer vaccine when it's my turn!!-------------

Pfizer COVID vaccine prevents 94% of asymptomatic infection, study reveals

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by Anonymousreply 592March 11, 2021 5:42 PM

Real-world data from Israel has revealed that Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine is 94 percent effective in preventing asymptomatic cases, the companies said Thursday.

Using data from Israel’s vaccination campaign between Jan. 17 and March 16, the vaccine was also found to prevent 97 percent of symptomatic disease, severe disease and death, the drugmakers said.

“This comprehensive real-world evidence can be of importance to countries around the world as they advance their own vaccination campaigns one year after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic,” the two pharmaceutical companies said in a statement.

The data, which was collected by Israeli health ministry, has not been peer-reviewed.

Israel has led the fastest vaccination rollout in the world, due in part to an agreement to share data with Pfizer and BioNTech.

More than half of its population has received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to the Health Ministry data. By comparison, a little under 19 percent of the US has received a dose.

More than 80 percent of the samples tested in the country at the time were the UK variant, known as B.1.1.7.

However, the analysis provided no insight into the Brazil and South Africa variants because there have been few cases of those in Israel.

Yeheskel Levy, director of the health ministry, said the study “clearly demonstrates the power of the Covid-19 vaccine to fight this virus.”

“We aim to achieve even higher uptake in people of all ages, which gives us hope of regaining normal economic and social function in the not-so-distant future,” he said in a statement.

by Anonymousreply 593March 11, 2021 5:43 PM

Fucking hell. Exactly one week ago we had a guy over to look at replacing some windows. I've been emailing him to follow up, with no response until today when he tells me he's in the hospital with COVID! Absolutely no contact from the company to let us know we'd been exposed.

He was only at the house for under 15 minutes, we weren't within six feet, we all had masks on (partner and I had our good K94s), and we have no symptoms. But partner finally got an appointment to be vaccinated tomorrow -- do you think he can still go? I'll never be able to get him another appointment.

by Anonymousreply 594March 11, 2021 6:10 PM

Next thread

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by Anonymousreply 595March 11, 2021 6:17 PM

I would go if I were him Sylvia if neither one of you has had symptoms and the exposure is as you described.

But of course your call and perhaps contact a physician.

Also yay on getting the appointment.

by Anonymousreply 596March 11, 2021 6:42 PM

I don't understand voluntarily having strangers into your house for any reason beyond an emergency right now.

by Anonymousreply 597March 11, 2021 6:52 PM

Thanks EL, that's what I've been telling him. We may go out and get rapid tests tonight to make us feel better. I really lucked in to the appointment for partner; that'll never happen again. Can't go myself because I have a work conflict, so I continue to wait for the state of PA to dole out doses to my university.

R597 Cases have really dropped off around here such that I feel safer doing things, it was for a short period of time, masks were worn by all, and my air purifier was running. I didn't invite him over for dinner.

by Anonymousreply 598March 11, 2021 6:55 PM

R583 you made me chuckle.

by Anonymousreply 599March 11, 2021 8:35 PM

bajour

by Anonymousreply 600March 11, 2021 9:48 PM
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