COVID-19

[BleedBlueGold]

I did initially register with Meijer, but haven't heard from them. The wife said she wasn't sure she wanted to get it when I registered and told her I was doing it right then. A few days later, she asks when our appointments were. "Uh Dear, you said you weren't sure you wanted to get it and you didn't answer me when I was registering." Got her registered, but she's upset that were not getting our shots at the same time. lol

I saw the newest vaccine is shown to be about 65% effective which is much lower than the other two. Is that true? Will people get a choice? I'd rather have the 95% vaccine myself.

Isn't marriage grand? haha

Are you referring to Johnson & Johnson's? I'm not sure about the effectiveness. Last I knew, in our area around Indy, vast majority will get Moderna. I don't know for sure though.

 

[Irish#1]

Isn't marriage grand? haha

Are you referring to Johnson & Johnson's? I'm not sure about the effectiveness. Last I knew, in our area around Indy, vast majority will get Moderna. I don't know for sure though.

48 years come Feb 10. You'd think by now I would see that coming and sign her up anyway. lol

Yeah, the J&J is 66% effective. Did a quick read. Looks like it won't get to market until late March or early April, so I won't have to worry about that. It is a one dose vaccine which is a plus.

 

[notredomer23]

48 years come Feb 10. You'd think by now I would see that coming and sign her up anyway. lol

Yeah, the J&J is 66% effective. Did a quick read. Looks like it won't get to market until late March or early April, so I won't have to worry about that. It is a one dose vaccine which is a plus.

J&J is 66% effective against all COVID, but 85% against severe COVID and 100% effective against hospitalization/death (in the study, this number will obviously eventually fall).

As you said, 1 dose is a big advantage. It's meeting for authorization is February 26th which is when it will get authorized as well. It will probably start distributing March 1st but I think I saw their manufacturing is a bit behind and they won't catch up til April.

 

[Irish2155]

Both of my parents got their 2nd Moderna dose on Wednesday. They felt fine that day, a little achy and tired Thursday, and today they feel good.

That’s what I told her, NDB’s parents were champions but she’s not hearing it. I explained that she’s being a big WAP but she refuses to break her fever. Chump

A ‘lil Tussin cures everything but she wants no part of that either.

In all seriousness though, she’ll be shopping tomorrow because nothing stops that come a Saturday.

 

[Irishize]

Anyone who has worked with/among physicians knows that they have their own "thin white-coated line" that they hardly cross. Trying to get a physician to reign in another physician is often a difficult task because they don't like to tread on each other's toes. It's a bit of professional respect that can be infuriating at times, because there are some really shitty doctors out there. Like, not just bad professionals, but bad human beings to go along with it.

That's why I was stunned to see this article. These two authors really go at that charlatan, Scott Atlas.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2776293

No question. Just like society, there’s pieces of crap in every bunch regardless of education.

On another note, I’ve talked to many a doc (primary care & specialty) who said if they had to do it over again, they wouldn’t. The costs is just so overwhelming regardless of what their eventual salaries will be.

I ask them what they would recommend to someone today & most say be an APRN vs MD or PA.

 

[Irishize]

J&J is 66% effective against all COVID, but 85% against severe COVID and 100% effective against hospitalization/death (in the study, this number will obviously eventually fall).

As you said, 1 dose is a big advantage. It's meeting for authorization is February 26th which is when it will get authorized as well. It will probably start distributing March 1st but I think I saw their manufacturing is a bit behind and they won't catch up til April.

It’s looking like the AZ vaccine could prevent transmission which would be awesome. IIRC, the AZ & J&J vaccines both have similar MOAs despite different dosages. Big picture is that the more the better.

 

[Legacy]

I got my booster shot with the Pfizer vaccine yesterday. Felt a bit warm and the area around the site was pretty sore yet is resolving. That's it, buckos.

The process of registration, notification and processing went smoothly for all.

While waiting for my fifteen minutes of observation to end, a man with a worn T-shirt that said Sturgis Motorcycle Rally walked by. I guess one can always hedge their bets in a pandemic.

 

[Irishize]

Just to play devil's advocate a little; is it possible some of these people are on reserve waiting lists? For example, in our area, every night there are multiple doses left over due to cancellations and no-shows. The facility will usually send out a notification to anyone on the list. "Be here in 30 minutes" sort of message. Otherwise they get dumped, if I understand correctly. So, better someone gets vaccinated than no one I guess.

Agree with that but that’s not been the case on the most of the ones I’ve seen/know.

 

[Irish2155]

That’s what I told her, NDB’s parents were champions but she’s not hearing it. I explained that she’s being a big WAP but she refuses to break her fever. Chump

A ‘lil Tussin cures everything but she wants no part of that either.

In all seriousness though, she’ll be shopping tomorrow because nothing stops that come a Saturday.

As predicted, back shopping today. Not feeling the best yet but, when it comes to shopping, that’s her passion/purpose. Take a step back. Lol

 

[NDBoiler]

As predicted, back shopping today. Not feeling the best yet but, when it comes to shopping, that’s her passion/purpose. Take a step back. Lol

Good to see she’s rebounded lol.

 

[Irishize]

“More Americans Vaccinated Than Total COVID-19 Cases”

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/945302

 

[Irishize]

“The coronavirus vaccines have shattered expectations”


https://www.axios.com/coronavirus-v...ity-aaa8b39e-1840-482a-a099-050c31529d1c.html

 

[Irish#1]

As predicted, back shopping today. Not feeling the best yet but, when it comes to shopping, that’s her passion/purpose. Take a step back. Lol

She's a trooper! Glad to hear she's rebounded.

 

[Irish#1]

“The coronavirus vaccines have shattered expectations”


https://www.axios.com/coronavirus-v...ity-aaa8b39e-1840-482a-a099-050c31529d1c.html

Thanks for posting. Given how quickly this was developed, I wonder if the FDA will eventually look at the requirements for introducing new drugs and cut the time to market a little?

Should also be a mechanism for companies banding together to develop answers for some of these illnesses that still plague us, but that would probably mean not introducing other drugs that are good for the bottom line.

 

[Irishize]

Thanks for posting. Given how quickly this was developed, I wonder if the FDA will eventually look at the requirements for introducing new drugs and cut the time to market a little?

Should also be a mechanism for companies banding together to develop answers for some of these illnesses that still plague us, but that would probably mean not introducing other drugs that are good for the bottom line.

It’s typically money that can speed up or slow down clinical trials. Gov’t investment definitely sped up the process. Also, the technology had already began so at least they weren’t technically starting from scratch.

I’m sure it’s increased since I last heard but it used to be that it takes $1B to get a molecule to market. Of course, hundreds get through Phase III and don’t show enough benefit to ultimately be approved by the FDA. There is no refund on that investment if the molecule fails the approval process.

 

[Legacy]

Getting enough volunteers for the Phase III clinical trials in such new ways of boosting immune responses is another key. Amazing scientific achievement, though whether the less developed countries can benefit and avoid the ravages of the coming diseases is of concern.

 

[PerthDomer]

The course of a pandemic respiratory infection also aids vaccine development. A large enough number of patients got exposed to get results really quick. For some infections that are chronic/endemic it takes years to see that many exposures.

Additionally the ability to go from DNA to sequencing targets to vaccine prototype is super short vs what we had a decade ago.

 

[PerthDomer]

The big thing to me is take a look at this afterwards and pinpoint exactly where you could speed up the vaccine production effort/initial containment. Imagine a world where we're rolling into phase 3 trials before wave 1 hits and were a month or 2 better at scaling up production.

Figuring out how to have viral testing/PPE etc. Scaled up early and rational population surveilance and more rapid RCT rollout for therapeutics as well. Given globalization/human encroachment on animal habitats/climate change shifting animal habitats we're going to see another one of these in the next 20 to 30 years. And we could see something much more deadly.

 

[GoldenToTheGrave]

One big silver lining to all of this is that besides just the research that's gone into the science of MRNA vaccines, but the and billions of dollars spent in the MRNA vaccine production infrastructure. That investment may pay dividends for decades.

 

[Irishize]

The big thing to me is take a look at this afterwards and pinpoint exactly where you could speed up the vaccine production effort/initial containment. Imagine a world where we're rolling into phase 3 trials before wave 1 hits and were a month or 2 better at scaling up production.

Figuring out how to have viral testing/PPE etc. Scaled up early and rational population surveilance and more rapid RCT rollout for therapeutics as well. Given globalization/human encroachment on animal habitats/climate change shifting animal habitats we're going to see another one of these in the next 20 to 30 years. And we could see something much more deadly.

I heard a scientist on a podcast lamenting the fact that US didn’t just roll out the cheaper rapid antigen tests nationwide and encourage everyone to test early in the process. He acknowledged there was a lot of false negatives but that if a person tested positive its pretty certain they are infected. He claimed the FDA insisted on rolling out the more expensive yet accurate PCR tests. Hindsight is 20/20 but that was an interesting case he made.

 

[PerthDomer]

One of the 1st things Biden did was use the DPA to buy a bunch of high fidelity rapid tests.

 

[Valpodoc85]

Have to get thru this one first. Evolution happens at reproduction. The longer this virus hangs around and the higher the number of cases the more it will evolve. There are two equally likely events: covid evolves into something less virulent and simply disappears or becomes very manageable or it becomes more virulent and kills everyone on the planet.

Historically pandemics or large scale infectious events happen twice a century. Last century was the anomaly. Of course there is the melting of the permaforst and all the germs/virus therein

 

[BilboBaggins]

Have to get thru this one first. Evolution happens at reproduction. The longer this virus hangs around and the higher the number of cases the more it will evolve. There are two equally likely events: covid evolves into something less virulent and simply disappears or becomes very manageable or it becomes more virulent and kills everyone on the planet.

Historically pandemics or large scale infectious events happen twice a century. Last century was the anomaly. Of course there is the melting of the permaforst and all the germs/virus therein

I'm not sure scientists would agree with that. Doesn't history suggests viruses become less virulent more often than not?

 

[Greenore]

Really good information and observations guys. I've been going back and forth with a couple of Doctors that are highly engaged in research/vaccines for Covid. I wish I could share their e-mails but I think you are all on the same page.

My biggest takeaway from our correspondence is that Covid and variants are not going away anytime soon... if ever.

I was a little disappointed as I had hoped we might be done with this in the next 12-18 months. We need to manage expectations and be vigilant.

The science and technologies that has advanced in the past 12 months is nothing short of spectacular. I think that gives everyone hope and rightfully so.

As a corporate guy, this past year has really opened my eyes to the importance of science. I was hardly a troglodyte before but I hope Covid becomes a very important teaching tool for the future.

Best of luck to everyone and be safe.

Cheers and Go Irish!!

 

[NorthDakota]

Have to get thru this one first. Evolution happens at reproduction. The longer this virus hangs around and the higher the number of cases the more it will evolve. There are two equally likely events: covid evolves into something less virulent and simply disappears or becomes very manageable or it becomes more virulent and kills everyone on the planet.

Historically pandemics or large scale infectious events happen twice a century. Last century was the anomaly. Of course there is the melting of the permaforst and all the germs/virus therein

(Insert Jesse Pinkman "science b****" Gif)

 

[PerthDomer]

Viruses evolve to transmit better. Given covid spreads just as symptoms start or before. And for people who drive transmission (young folk) severe disease is pretty rare. B.1.1.7 is more deadly than OG COVID. It will get more or less deadly as a function of improving spread. We know higher viral loads = spread better and more deadly.

This could double in IFR and it'd be way worse for the health system, but you'd still have people saying it's a cold. Because the vast majority of those catching it would be ok.

 

[Old Man Mike]

"Spread better", yes. Absolutely a natural selection type thing. "Get more deadly", no. That might or might not happen, but is a side issue. More deadly MIGHT come alongside with more successful attachment on the one hand, but killing the host goes the opposite way in terms of natural selection.

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

Update: I took a rapid test on Monday which was negatie but the doctor told me to come back on Friday and take another. I did and took the molecular test. I still haven't got a results call which I understand is a good thing.

Anyway Im leaving self quarantine and I dont think I got it. Ill take that as a win.

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

"Spread better", yes. Absolutely a natural selection type thing. "Get more deadly", no. That might or might not happen, but is a side issue. More deadly MIGHT come alongside with more successful attachment on the one hand, but killing the host goes the opposite way in terms of natural selection.

Whenever I see a product claim its 99.99% effective at killing germs and bacteria, I cant help but think every single time.... what's that other 0.01 percent doing and how did it survive? It has an exponential growth rate and basically since it didn't die, this indicates its dna is capable of resisting that cleaning solution and able to go again as I assume the surface was saturated with the solution in testing situations.

Needless to say public bathrooms are a nightmare for me and contact time is a huge item of discussion in my house while cleaning .

 

[Legacy]

I think of drug-resistant bacteria and its costs in procedures we won't be able to do, the infections which will rage as we lose our last line of defense.