Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #108

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What Happened to Paxlovid, the COVID Wonder Drug?

[Paxlovid is the antiviral drug our friend with Covid is taking. He's feeling pretty well but tested positive again yesterday.]

Paxlovid, the COVID antiviral developed by Pfizer, was hailed as a miracle drug against COVID-19 when it was approved for use by the FDA in December. But it was nowhere to be found during the Omicron wave that followed and now is little discussed and underused, with doses reportedly piling up on pharmacy shelves. Has Paxlovid failed to live up to the hype as a pandemic game changer, or is it another effective defense against COVID that’s been unjustly snubbed by a misinformed public?

For a frontline view I turned to my brother-in-law, John Emy, a doctor of internal medicine who practices with CareMount Medical in Manhattan and has been prescribing Paxlovid to his patients with COVID. He said he’s a fan — with qualifications. “I think it’s a great drug. It’s certainly very effective. It starts working pretty quickly,” he told me over the phone while walking to work. “Usually within 24 hours, the symptoms start to improve.” He wondered how badly it was really needed, though. “It’s probably wasted on the mildly ill,” he said. “Before we had Paxlovid, plenty of people who had mild symptoms would get over it and they were fine.”

Five hours later, he texted me that he’d thought of another argument for taking Paxlovid. “By reducing viral load quickly it could reduce contagiousness,” he wrote, before dropping the lede: “I woke up feeling not great, but then much worse on the subway after I spoke with you. I have COVID.”

(More at link)
 
Why didn't someone tell me the pandemic was over? I mean we don't need to mask up on planes anymore- and people are travelling by the millions for the holiday, and looks like most of society has just decided to completely go back to normal living. Must be the pandemic is over!!!!! Am I missing something?
 
ilovewings said:
Why didn't someone tell me the pandemic was over? I mean we don't need to mask up on planes anymore- and people are travelling by the millions for the holiday, and looks like most of society has just decided to completely go back to normal living. Must be the pandemic is over!!!!! Am I missing something?
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My work crew is taking bets.
 
He was twice boosted ? And I assume that was fairly recently. Ugh. Glad he’s only got mild symptoms.
( reading thread backwards sorry :))
anneg said:
I doubt she's been wearing a mask around her husband, but it didn't occur to me to ask her about that. And I don't know why the 2nd booster would protect her but not him--it might just be individual variation in response. Anyway, I'm glad she didn't get sick, and he only has had cold-type symptoms.
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I just got a text reminder from Vsafe that I’m due for second booster.
I’m def on board with it but might wait a little longer. Have another few weeks at home we’ll see what things look like then.


Our Massachusetts/NE are yep you guessed it going up. I haven’t checked country wide maps so idk how things are going elsewhere in the US . Maine is top in the US for Covid in the waste water right now I just read. PA has been I assume climbing (with a recent mask mandate ?). It’s all so frustrating. Letting it rip on transportation now I guess too. That’s nice :mad:




ilovewings said:
I am puzzled as to how long the booster is protective-- I don't want to get the 2nd booster before 6 months after the first booster. I just don't feel comfortable getting it sooner, but I wonder at what point does the 3rd shot wane to the point of not providing much protection. For me 6 months will be mid- May. I heard a physician speak on one of the cable channels this morning: she stated that they do not know how long immunity lasts with natural infection or with vaccines and she expressed concern about that.
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Moderna announces step toward updating COVID shots for fall


Moderna hopes to offer updated COVID-19 boosters in the fall that combine its original vaccine with protection against the omicron variant. On Tuesday, it reported a preliminary hint that such an approach might work.





Today’s COVID-19 vaccines all are based on the original version of the coronavirus. But the virus continues to mutate, with the super-contagious omicron variant — and its siblings — the latest threat.





Before omicron came along, Moderna was studying a combination shot that added protection against an earlier variant named beta. Tuesday, the company said people given that beta-original vaccine combination produced more antibodies capable of fighting several variants — including omicron — than today’s regular booster triggers.
 
I'm just furious and frustrated that one judge has the power to, IMO, jeopardize millions of people by overruling the mask mandate on airplanes and in airports.

I am certainly hoping this is won on appeal. I have to go to Florida again to help my parents and even though I hate to go with Covid still around, I have to fly there. Millions of people from all across the country and the world, intermingling, is a nightmare. Cases are already way up here in NY again.
 
Arkay said:
I'm just furious and frustrated that one judge has the power to, IMO, jeopardize millions of people by overruling the mask mandate on airplanes and in airports.

I am certainly hoping this is won on appeal. I have to go to Florida again to help my parents and even though I hate to go with Covid still around, I have to fly there. Millions of people from all across the country and the world, intermingling, is a nightmare. Cases are already way up here in NY again.
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Arkay said:
I'm just furious and frustrated that one judge has the power to, IMO, jeopardize millions of people by overruling the mask mandate on airplanes and in airports.

I am certainly hoping this is won on appeal. I have to go to Florida again to help my parents and even though I hate to go with Covid still around, I have to fly there. Millions of people from all across the country and the world, intermingling, is a nightmare. Cases are already way up here in NY again.
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I am so with you on this-- the potential to damage the health of millions
of people is incalcuable- as far as i know there has not been an appeal yet
 
Arkay said:
I'm just furious and frustrated that one judge has the power to, IMO, jeopardize millions of people by overruling the mask mandate on airplanes and in airports.

I am certainly hoping this is won on appeal. I have to go to Florida again to help my parents and even though I hate to go with Covid still around, I have to fly there. Millions of people from all across the country and the world, intermingling, is a nightmare. Cases are already way up here in NY again.
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I agree to all.
It seems our decision makers forget about the dangers of long covid. There will be so many working people who are unwell to be productive and efficient. Consumers will be affected most definitely, like I just experienced with a customer service agent for our bank. I really had to help her with logic and senses to figure out why we never received the new debit cards that replace the expired ones.
Brain fog big time. Or she is just ill-trained worker.

Anyway, the article below explains one way masking is still protective. Safe trips Arkay!
Home Page - MarketWatch
(oops, I can't copy paste the article on my tablet. I don't know why. The article is in there. )
 
I no longer wear a mask at work. People who come in can choose to wear a mask or not. 90% choose not to wear a mask. Of the 10% who choose to wear a mask, they are usually Asian, or parents of young children, often with their kiddos, who are masked.

Not scientific at all. Just a random sample.
 
acutename said:
supposedly they are thinking about an appeal...

Justice Department to appeal mask mandate if CDC approves

a little chaotic now- NY Port Auth says mask; NJ Port Auth says no...
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I don't see why there should be an appeal since the federal mandate will expire in a couple of weeks anyway.
The federal mask mandate was announced in January 2021. Before the judge's decision, the mandate was set to last through at least May 3. It required face coverings on airplanes, trains, buses and public transportation hubs.
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Justice Department to appeal mask mandate if CDC approves
 
CSIDreamer said:
This. I have zero desire to get on a plane. I would probably wear a mask if I had to fly. JMO
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At the recommendation of my allergy/asthma specialist, I was wearing a mask when flying for several years before the pandemic. When/If I fly anywhere in the future, I will wear a mask. My health; my choice.
 
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