Canada - Coronavirus COVID-19 #3

[otto]

Canada could be heading for flu season amid 4th wave of COVID-19, Tam says - National | Globalnews.ca

What is everyone thinking about getting the annual flu shot? I got it last year, and for many years before, but if we're all wearing masks and carefully washing our hands, is the flu shot still necessary?

It probably is, but masking and hand washing prevented the spread of the seasonal flu last year. There's also the fact that we were just double vaccinated and may need a booster shot in the next 6 months, so I question how so many vaccines in such a short time impact our bodies.

 

[otto]

Covid mutated to Delta and now Delta is mutating to become more transmissible?

"An offshoot of the Delta coronavirus variant which appears to be more transmissible than its predecessor is beginning to spread throughout England, scientists have said.

Little is known about the AY.4.2 sub-variant, but data suggest it was responsible for almost 10 cent of new infections at the beginning of October. "
​

Scientists investigate new Delta sub-variant ‘expanding’ throughout England

"There have been reports in the media of a new Delta descendant designated as AY.4.2

“The AY.4.2 is being closely monitored in the UK and elsewhere. It remains rare outside the UK. There have been only three cases detected in the US so far. In Denmark, the other country that besides the UK has excellent genomic surveillance in place, it reached a 2% frequency but has gone down since. In addition, functional work is underway to test whether it may be less well recognised by antibodies.”
...

Here we are dealing with a potential small increase in transmissibility that would not have a comparable impact on the pandemic.”
​

expert comments on the AY.4.2 subvariant | Science Media Centre

​

 

[JDG]

What is everyone thinking about getting the annual flu shot? I got it last year, and for many years before, but if we're all wearing masks and carefully washing our hands, is the flu shot still necessary?

It probably is, but masking and hand washing prevented the spread of the seasonal flu last year. There's also the fact that we were just double vaccinated and may need a booster shot in the next 6 months, so I question how so many vaccines in such a short time impact our bodies.

I was speaking with a very top drawer physician from UHN about the idea of a booster and flu shot just last week.

His take on it is to protect yourself with both vaccines, he thinks the booster will be offered around the New Year (very high risk patients in the transplant program have had theirs already).

I was primarily asking about having both on the same day…one per arm. His response to that was ‘they can both cause a fever and muscle pain, might as well get it over with once’. He chuckled when I said, so take an aspirin and calm down.

My recently retired GP had previously stated that having the flu shot lowered your chance of getting the pneumonia that is linked to COVID, if one was unlucky enough to catch COVID.

The doctor from UHN also shared with me that even though the science is showing slow lowering of antibodies after 6 months, vaccinated people do not lose their protection from serious illness once they’ve had two COVID shots. Very interesting.

 

[JDG]

IMO, MOO

I think there was less flu last year mostly because we were all avoiding one another, much less interpersonal contact in general.

Handshakes, hugs etc are now passé, maybe the masks helped and definitely hand washing as well.

I have not shook hands for years, nor do I elbow click/tap or whatever it’s called. lol

A pleasant ‘hello’ should suffice, IMO.

 

[otto]

I was speaking with a very top drawer physician from UHN about the idea of a booster and flu shot just last week.

His take on it is to protect yourself with both vaccines, he thinks the booster will be offered around the New Year (very high risk patients in the transplant program have had theirs already).

I was primarily asking about having both on the same day…one per arm. His response to that was ‘they can both cause a fever and muscle pain, might as well get it over with once’. He chuckled when I said, so take an aspirin and calm down.

My recently retired GP had previously stated that having the flu shot lowered your chance of getting the pneumonia that is linked to COVID, if one was unlucky enough to catch COVID.

The doctor from UHN also shared with me that even though the science is showing slow lowering of antibodies after 6 months, vaccinated people do not lose their protection from serious illness once they’ve had two COVID shots. Very interesting.

Thank you! I'm on the fence at this time - will book an appointment for the flu shot and go from there. I suppose there no known downside to having the annual flu shot.

 

[JDG]

Thank you! I'm on the fence at this time - will book an appointment for the flu shot and go from there. I suppose there no known downside to having the annual flu shot.

IMO, MOO

The only downside that I know about is that because scientists ‘guess’ which combo we need, they could be wrong and a different variant springs up and bites us. Life is truly a crap shoot.

 

[otto]

IMO, MOO

The only downside that I know about is that because scientists ‘guess’ which combo we need, they could be wrong and a different variant springs up and bites us. Life is truly a crap shoot.

Yup! I booked an appointment next week for the influenza shot. If I need a covid booster, that is still 3+ months away. My preference is to spread out the shots.

 

[Bravo]

Flu shots for us next week for sure. Booked.

 

[LadyL]

What is everyone thinking about getting the annual flu shot? I got it last year, and for many years before, but if we're all wearing masks and carefully washing our hands, is the flu shot still necessary?

It probably is, but masking and hand washing prevented the spread of the seasonal flu last year. There's also the fact that we were just double vaccinated and may need a booster shot in the next 6 months, so I question how so many vaccines in such a short time impact our bodies.

[bbm]
yeah that's what I'm worried about
I would've already got it otherwise

 

[tarabull]

Castanet.net:
5,500 healthcare workers in B.C. unvaccinated a week before mandate goes into effect - BC News

 

[musicaljoke]

What is everyone thinking about getting the annual flu shot? I got it last year, and for many years before, but if we're all wearing masks and carefully washing our hands, is the flu shot still necessary?

It probably is, but masking and hand washing prevented the spread of the seasonal flu last year. There's also the fact that we were just double vaccinated and may need a booster shot in the next 6 months, so I question how so many vaccines in such a short time impact our bodies.

There isn't much concern about having too many vaccines too close together if it's just covid and flu that you are getting.

From the Health Canada page:
NACI recommends that COVID-19 vaccines may be given concomitantly with, or at any time before or after, other vaccines*. (Discretionary NACI Recommendation)

* including live, non-live, adjuvanted, or unadjuvanted vaccines

Since COVID-19 vaccine programs were first implemented, evidence on the efficacy/effectiveness, immunogenicity, and safety of COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized in Canada has been accumulating. Combined with the extensive data and experience on the concomitant administration of non-COVID-19 vaccines for routine immunizations, NACI has concluded that a precautionary approach is now no longer necessary and recommends that COVID-19 vaccines may be concomitantly with (i.e. same day), or any time before, non-COVID-19 vaccines (including live, non-live, adjuvanted, or unadjuvanted). The concomitant administration of COVID-19 with non-COVID-19 vaccines will facilitate influenza vaccine programs in the fall and winter months and other routine vaccine programs that were disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Informed consent should include a discussion of the benefits and risks given the limited data available on administration of COVID-19 vaccines with other vaccines. Studies to assess the safety and immunogenicity of concomitant administration of COVID-19 vaccines with other vaccines are ongoing.

It is currently not known if the reactogenicity of COVID-19 vaccines is increased with concomitant administration of other vaccines. While no specific safety concerns have been identified for various other vaccines with concomitant administration regimens, there is potential for increased reactogenicity with concomitant administration of COVID-19 vaccines with other vaccines, particularly those known to be more reactogenic, such as newer adjuvanted vaccines.

If more than one type of vaccine is administered at a single visit, they should be administered at different injection sites using separate injection equipment.

NACI will continue to monitor the evidence and update recommendations as needed.
Recommendations on the use of COVID-19 vaccines - Canada.ca

 

[LadyL]

Don’t use ivermectin for COVID-19, Health Canada warns as poison control calls increase - National | Globalnews.ca

 

[otto]

Outspoken anti-vaxxer in denial after getting covid. Anti-vaxxer friends recommend that he take horse medicine: ivermectin

'A severe flu?!': Prominent anti-restriction activist from B.C. falls ill, reports symptoms consistent with COVID-19

 

[musicaljoke]

Outspoken anti-vaxxer in denial after getting covid. Anti-vaxxer friends recommend that he take horse medicine: ivermectin

'A severe flu?!': Prominent anti-restriction activist from B.C. falls ill, reports symptoms consistent with COVID-19

Meh, I guess he's not up for a covid test.

 

[otto]

Meh, I guess he's not up for a covid test.

Perhaps he'll have one of those deathbed epiphanies about vaccines.

 

[Sundog]

Will this flu season be worse than usual? - Macleans.ca

 

[LadyL]

maybe those of us in Ontario will be able to have a normal Christmas?

Ontario Will Be Releasing A Plan To Exit Step 3 Tomorrow & Here's What You Need To Know

 

[musicaljoke]

maybe those of us in Ontario will be able to have a normal Christmas?

Ontario Will Be Releasing A Plan To Exit Step 3 Tomorrow & Here's What You Need To Know

I just wish they'd wait until the kids had a chance to be vaccinated. If they held clinics right in the schools, I bet it wouldn't take longer than a couple of weeks, then the waiting period and the second shot, then one more waiting period. I'd be happy to keep doing what we are doing until Christmas if it gave us a better chance of returning to precovid activities.

 

[LadyL]

Saskatchewan putting lives at risk by not sending more ICU patients to Ontario, says doctor

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappen...0N6wbnndHUrNBe3vtnhYlq1I11ulIlZM7ysMaBzbWT2fA

 

[JDG]

I just wish they'd wait until the kids had a chance to be vaccinated. If they held clinics right in the schools, I bet it wouldn't take longer than a couple of weeks, then the waiting period and the second shot, then one more waiting period. I'd be happy to keep doing what we are doing until Christmas if it gave us a better chance of returning to precovid activities.

We won’t be going back to the Before Times for quite some time.

The vaccines do not eradicate COVID, only offer decreased morbidity/mortality for most people.

Until/unless COVID burns itself out by going through the unvaccinated population, we will have to remain vigilant and hermit like. IMO. MOO