Canada - Coronavirus COVID-19 #3

[otto]

I had the Pfizer for my first shot and had to get the Moderna for my second. Neither caused more than slight side-effects. I have a choice to get either one for my booster. Has anyone read recent reports that one is better than the other for the Omicron variant?

Moderna claims that booster increases neutralizing antibodies for omicron by a factor of 37, Pfizer claims a factor of 25.

"Moderna said lab tests showed the half-dose booster shot increased by 37 times the level of so-called neutralizing antibodies able to fight Omicron.

And a full-dose booster was even stronger, triggering an 83-fold jump in antibody levels, although with an increase in the usual side-effects, the company said.

Moderna announced the preliminary laboratory data in a media release and it hasn't yet undergone scientific review.

While half-dose shots are being used for most Moderna boosters, a full-dose third shot has been recommended for people with weakened immune systems.
...

Pfizer and BioNTech said earlier this month that two vaccine doses of their vaccine resulted in significantly lower neutralizing antibodies, but that a third dose of their vaccine increased the neutralizing antibodies by a factor of 25."
​

https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/moderna-booster-dose-coronavirus-omicron-1.6292454

 

[casesensitive]

Thanks otto.

 

[musicaljoke]

Sheesh! You'd think ... ??

Thirty employees with the Ottawa Paramedic Service have come down with COVID-19 following a private get-together last week, the city says.

The exposures took place at an off-duty social gathering on Dec. 15, said Pierre Poirier, chief of the paramedic service, in a memo to council Tuesday evening.

One member of the service who was asymptomatic at the time of the gathering later tested positive, Poirier said.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/30-covid-cases-ottawa-paramedics-social-gathering-1.6294510

 

[otto]

Sheesh! You'd think ... ??

Thirty employees with the Ottawa Paramedic Service have come down with COVID-19 following a private get-together last week, the city says.

The exposures took place at an off-duty social gathering on Dec. 15, said Pierre Poirier, chief of the paramedic service, in a memo to council Tuesday evening.

One member of the service who was asymptomatic at the time of the gathering later tested positive, Poirier said.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/30-covid-cases-ottawa-paramedics-social-gathering-1.6294510

It only takes one person to act as though masks aren't really necessary and covid isn't serious. That one person will, through coercion, peer pressure, or authority, encourage others to drop their guard.

I was at the Scotiabank this afternoon. A sign at the door said Masks Mandatory. I looked at the employees in the bank, they were not wearing masks. I pointed at my mask and pointed at them. They then put on loose fitting cloth masks that were chin masks half the time. The bank manager identified himself as one of the people who was not wearing a mask, one of the people later wearing a pointlessly loose mask. In one of the offices, someone was coughing.

I said I was surprised that they expect clients to wear a mask, but they don't think that applies to employees.

That attitude might be far more common than we realize.

 

[JDG]

Some people cannot wear a mask/have an exemption.

I’d hesitate to *judge* them as either not thinking that COVID is serious nor thinking that masks are not necessary.

Sadly, I think many are losing perspective about regular colds, winter bugs etc.

Does anyone else think it’s a waste of resources to ‘go get tested’ every time you have a runny nose or a brief throat tickle that makes you cough briefly?? Geesh, try drinking some water; if it goes away, it’s not COVID.

 

[JDG]

I was in a bank the other day and everyone was masked.

The banker, however, did not want to shut the glass door, said it would get hot.

I prefer some privacy when discussing banking so it eventually got shut.

Why have cubicles if not for privacy? Yes, it got hot. Ah well…

 

[musicaljoke]

Some people cannot wear a mask/have an exemption.

I’d hesitate to *judge* them as either not thinking that COVID is serious nor thinking that masks are not necessary.

Sadly, I think many are losing perspective about regular colds, winter bugs etc.

Does anyone else think it’s a waste of resources to ‘go get tested’ every time you have a runny nose or a brief throat tickle that makes you cough briefly?? Geesh, try drinking some water; if it goes away, it’s not COVID.

From what I have seen, the only exemptions to wearing a mask are if the person is under 2 yrs old, or has cognitive or developmental disabilities and can't keep a mask on.

Breathing problems and anxiety are not exemptions. Coronavirus (COVID-19): masks

 

[JDG]

Cognitive or developmental reasons, in that context, are just examples.

Any valid medical reason is acceptable for an exemption.

They are few and far between but do exist.

 

[Puzzles]

Zoo in Quebec to vaccinate animals against COVID-19 | Canoe.Com

"...Quebec reported a record-breaking COVID-19 case count with 5,043 new infections — the highest single-day total reported Canada-wide since the pandemic began..."

With the above news released today, along with the fact that the province of Quebec has the highest rate per-capita of Covid cases in the whole of Canada, their government has not permitted Covid vaccine booster shots to be given to people under the age of 60.

Nor have they released any plans to do so in the future.

Yet they have decided to provide vaccination to animals in a zoo?

How can this be justified?

I am outraged.

Quebec breaks record for highest daily provincial COVID-19 case count in Canada | Globalnews.ca

 

[Puzzles]

Of those who have had the booster shot, were there any noticeable side effects? I don't recall my first dose causing side effects, but my second one caused chills and feeling unwell for about 24 hours. I'm curious about what to expect.

Hi Otto,

Following my first Covid shot I had no symptoms.

I experienced chills, exhaustion, and a vague malaise following the second vaccine.

After the booster shot, I felt perfectly normal.

I hope you sail through your booster too.

 

[MimosaMornings]

Some people cannot wear a mask/have an exemption.

I’d hesitate to *judge* them as either not thinking that COVID is serious nor thinking that masks are not necessary.

Sadly, I think many are losing perspective about regular colds, winter bugs etc.

Does anyone else think it’s a waste of resources to ‘go get tested’ every time you have a runny nose or a brief throat tickle that makes you cough briefly?? Geesh, try drinking some water; if it goes away, it’s not COVID.

I don’t think it’s a waste of resources in light of how omicron symptoms are presenting in positive cases.

I have three neighbors who have tested positive in the past two days. They had no idea they had been exposed, symptoms started as a runny nose and sneezing.

If I started having those symptoms - I would get tested, I don’t have allergies during the winter months and omicron appears to transmit better than a cold.

Especially with the upcoming holidays.
JMO

Watch out for these 5 early omicron symptoms, study says

 

[otto]

Hi Otto,

Following my first Covid shot I had no symptoms.

I experienced chills, exhaustion, and a vague malaise following the second vaccine.

After the booster shot, I felt perfectly normal.

I hope you sail through your booster too.

I had the same symptoms as the second shot. After 3-4 hours, I felt chills, then headache and sore muscles. It's now roughly 23 hours post-shot, and I expect it will be over within the next couple of hours. On the plus side, at least I know the vaccine is doing what it's supposed to do.

 

[SA55]

I had the same symptoms as the second shot. After 3-4 hours, I felt chills, then headache and sore muscles. It's now roughly 23 hours post-shot, and I expect it will be over within the next couple of hours. On the plus side, at least I know the vaccine is doing what it's supposed to do.

And that’s a big plus!
I reacted to all 3 Moderna vaccines I received, the 2nd was strongest reaction. I just kept reassuring myself it meant it was working

 

[JDG]

Israel and Germany are giving out second boosters.

Britain is considering second boosters for the New Year as the numbers soar.

Get ready for us to follow suit in the early spring.

Feeling like a pin cushion. lol

 

[JDG]

Go ahead, laugh!

 

[LadyL]

Some people cannot wear a mask/have an exemption.

I’d hesitate to *judge* them as either not thinking that COVID is serious nor thinking that masks are not necessary.

Sadly, I think many are losing perspective about regular colds, winter bugs etc.

Does anyone else think it’s a waste of resources to ‘go get tested’ every time you have a runny nose or a brief throat tickle that makes you cough briefly?? Geesh, try drinking some water; if it goes away, it’s not COVID.

nope it's not a waste of resources when we can't get a handle on this virus and mutations
the prevalence of regular colds, winter bugs etc. is down because of all the precautions we are taking so it's just as likely to be COVID

 

[LadyL]

Yesterday I went to a local Shoppers Drug Mart to pick up a script. There was a lineup waiting at the pharmacy pickup window, which was annoying, and I wondered why it was like that (it isn't usually), and further wondered if they might be doing Covid vaccinations, since I'd seen lineups for that purpose in earlier days. As I made my way up the line, and got to second place, I could overhear what the couple before me were saying to the pharma clerk: "We're here for a covid test."

I thought, wow. Unbeknownst to me, I've been walking amongst potentially symptomatic, not-yet-officially-diagnosed-Covid patients, in a public store.. lining up right behind them, etc..... along with probably all kinds of sick people coming in to fill their scripts, old people, disabled people, who might be vulnerable, etc.

I shared this with a friend in healthcare, and they said, "Oh, the testing done at the pharmacies is only for NON symptomatic testing, and for travel." But after looking at the Ontario website for official testing sites, the store I visited, along with numerous others all over, is indeed listed as a site for testing SYMPTOMATIC (as well as 'exposure') Covid.

I hadn't realized that stores serving the general shopping public were doing this type of testing, so I thought I'd share. SDM is not just a pharmacy, they sell all kinds of stuff from food, books, toys, gifts, seasonal, electronics, household supplies, post office, etc. Think I'll ask for delivery next time one of my family needs a script filled, and maybe stop shopping for other things at SDM for now - especially if 'Omicron' is such an easy/fast spreader and they're not sure if the vaxxes will work against this strain.

It's one thing to go for your own Covid test at a Covid testing facility, knowing you're amongst others who are in the same boat as you, (who also must wait outside until no more than 5 minutes before their scheduled appointment, and the facility is manned with people monitoring behavior, as far as I understand it).. but it's another to shop amongst those who've been sent for testing due to exposure, or symptoms. Of course we're all potentially exposed to this every time we walk into any store, but in this case, people are potentially just cluelessly shopping amongst at least some people who know they've been exposed or have symptoms. I guess ignorance is bliss?

From Ontario's website linked below:

"Tests people with symptoms, exposure, or people in certain groups without symptoms or exposure"

Who can get a test

• Can test anyone over 2 years old

Diagnostic testing available

• In-store testing

Appointment and location details

• In-store testing is by appointment only (call or visit their website to make an appointment)

https://covid-19.ontario.ca/assessment-centre-locations

thanks for this info
there's not usually a lineup at your Shoppers pharmacy?
I've never not had a line at mine ... long ones that extend all the way to the last aisle and down it
anyway ... I might follow your lead and get delivery now knowing about the testing

 

[LadyL]

I don’t know of any with drive-thru options.

Have only seen that, along with drive in banks, in the US.

there are drive-through pharmacies here, but not at any Shoppers locations that I've seen

 

[JDG]

there are drive-through pharmacies here, but not at any Shoppers locations that I've seen

which province or area are you located in?

I’m in the GTA (Toronto area) and we just don’t have the land for drivethru pharmacies. Just for Timmies and McDonalds.

 

[JDG]

nope it's not a waste of resources when we can't get a handle on this virus and mutations
the prevalence of regular colds, winter bugs etc. is down because of all the precautions we are taking so it's just as likely to be COVID

At the moment you cannot get tested in the TO area, the systems are swamped with people wanting tests. Think it will be the New Year before they can get appointments unless they are really sick.

it has been said that if you think it’s COVID, stay home and isolate.