Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #101

[BetteDavisEyes]

Merck says experimental Covid pill cuts risk of death, hospitalization by 50 percent (nbcnews.com)

If cleared, Merck's drug would be the first pill shown to treat Covid, a potentially major advance in efforts to fight the pandemic.

WASHINGTON — Merck & Co. said Friday that its experimental Covid-19 pill reduced hospitalizations and deaths by half in people recently infected with the coronavirus and that it would soon ask health officials in the U.S. and around the world to authorize its use.

If cleared, Merck's drug would be the first pill shown to treat Covid-19, a potentially major advance in efforts to fight the pandemic. All Covid-19 therapies now authorized in the U.S. require an IV or injection...

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Covid cancels 'Aladdin' one day after Broadway reopening (nbcnews.com)

Producers of the musical, which closed along with the rest of Broadway in March 2020, said breakthrough cases were detected in the company.

One day after it reopened on Broadway, "Aladdin" was canceled Wednesday because of breakthrough Covid-19 cases within the company, producers said.

"Aladdin" appears to be the first Broadway musical to have canceled a performance because of Covid-19 since shows resumed after the pandemic shutdown...

 

[ilovewings]

Merck says experimental Covid pill cuts risk of death, hospitalization by 50 percent (nbcnews.com)

If cleared, Merck's drug would be the first pill shown to treat Covid, a potentially major advance in efforts to fight the pandemic.

WASHINGTON — Merck & Co. said Friday that its experimental Covid-19 pill reduced hospitalizations and deaths by half in people recently infected with the coronavirus and that it would soon ask health officials in the U.S. and around the world to authorize its use.

If cleared, Merck's drug would be the first pill shown to treat Covid-19, a potentially major advance in efforts to fight the pandemic. All Covid-19 therapies now authorized in the U.S. require an IV or injection...

That would be a game-changer!

 

[Sundog]

Merck says experimental Covid pill cuts risk of death, hospitalization by 50 percent (nbcnews.com)

If cleared, Merck's drug would be the first pill shown to treat Covid, a potentially major advance in efforts to fight the pandemic.

WASHINGTON — Merck & Co. said Friday that its experimental Covid-19 pill reduced hospitalizations and deaths by half in people recently infected with the coronavirus and that it would soon ask health officials in the U.S. and around the world to authorize its use.

If cleared, Merck's drug would be the first pill shown to treat Covid-19, a potentially major advance in efforts to fight the pandemic. All Covid-19 therapies now authorized in the U.S. require an IV or injection...

Does anyone know how Merck's new drug works? I am interested in the science behind it.

 

[anneg]

Does anyone know how Merck's new drug works? I am interested in the science behind it.

This is good news! I actually own a little inherited Merck stock and noticed the jump in price.

Merck pill seen as 'a huge advance', raises hope of preventing COVID-19 deaths

(BBM)

If it gets authorization, molnupiravir, which is designed to introduce errors into the genetic code of the virus, would be the first oral antiviral medication for COVID-19....

The results from the Phase III trial, which sent Merck shares up more than 9%, were so strong that the study is being stopped early at the recommendation of outside monitors....

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Behind the teacher shortage, an unexpected culprit: Covid relief money (nbcnews.com)

“I don’t think we’ve ever seen anything like this,” one expert said. “There’s a lot of money flowing.”

DETROIT — When a staffing crisis at Eastpointe Middle School outside Detroit forced administrators to close the school last month for more than a week, moving classes online, it wasn’t because of a Covid-19 outbreak.

And it wasn’t because the district’s teachers had fled the profession after a year and a half of disruptions to instruction and tensions over Covid safety.

The problem, Eastpointe Community Schools Superintendent Ryan McLeod said, is that they could get better teaching jobs — and did.

Of the 10 teachers who resigned from his district since Aug. 9, at least seven landed in other districts, he said...

 

[musicaljoke]

Provincial change comes after 3 school districts made own decisions to tighten rules
CBC News · Posted: Oct 01, 2021 8

The mask mandate for schools in B.C. is being expanded to include staff and students in kindergarten to Grade 3 as of Monday, the province has announced.

Officials said Friday the change is being made after reviewing case data gathered during the first month of the school year and listening to concerns raised by parents, teachers and students.

"I know many parents will welcome these additional measures to keep our kids safe," Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside said during a news conference.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-schools-masks-safety-plans-update-1.6196198

 

[Cool Cats]

So back in spring 2020 my dad's neighbor told my dad no one should visit him, that included me, and my dad just blew him off and I visited him regularly.

Flash forward and my dad gets vaccinated and this neighbor, who "knows it all," refuses to get vaccinated.

So flash forward again and I'm at my dad's today and he tells me this neighbor, who was in his house hanging curtains with him last week, is now sick with Covid.

His whole family has it, which includes his wife, 3 kids aged 1 to 4, and his wife's mother who lives with them. She is very sick. All unvaccinated.

My dad said that if he had not been vaccinated that this neighbor probably would have given him Covid and he would be dead.

My dad is 89. So let me get this straight. Before the vaccine I wasn't suppose to be visiting my dad.

However, it has been ok - with Delta running rampant - for this unvaccinated neighbor to breath on my dad whenever he feels like it.

Which apparently is alot because the neighbor drops over to my dad's alot including 2 weeks ago when I was there.

Ok then. Had to get that off my chest.

 

[musicaljoke]

So back in spring 2020 my dad's neighbor told my dad no one should visit him, that included me, and my dad just blew him off and I visited him regularly.

Flash forward and my dad gets vaccinated and this neighbor, who "knows it all," refuses to get vaccinated.

So flash forward again and I'm at my dad's today and he tells me this neighbor, who was in his house hanging curtains with him recently, is now sick with Covid.

His whole family has it, which includes his wife, 3 kids aged 1 to 4, and his wife's mother who lives with them. She is very sick.

My dad said that if he had not been vaccinated that this neighbor probably would have given him Covid and he would be dead.

My dad is 89. So let me get this straight.Before the vaccine I wasn't suppose to be visiting my dad.

However, it has been ok - with Delta running rampant - for this unvaccinated neighbor to breath on my dad whenever he feels like it.

Which apparently is alot because the neighbor drops over to my dad's alot including 2 weeks ago when I was here.

Ok then. Had to get that off my chest.

Your dad is pretty sharp! I hope he continues to stay well, and keeps the neighbours far away from him for many more days. Unless of course, he'd like to drop a casserole on their front doorstep, all neighbourly and helpful like that.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

California to require Covid vaccine for schoolchildren, Newsom announces (nbcnews.com)

“This is about keeping our kids safe & healthy,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in announcing the mandate.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday announced that the Covid-19 vaccine will be required for the state’s schoolchildren, the first such mandate in the nation.

"CA will require our kids to get the COVID-19 vaccine to come to school. This will go into effect following full FDA approval. Our schools already require vaccines for measles, mumps and more. Why? Because vaccines work. This is about keeping our kids safe & healthy,” the governor wrote in a tweet...

 

[SouthAussie]

I looked at the Merck study (Phase 3 clinical trial) about their touted new anti-viral, which they call molnupiravir.

It was a relatively small study.

385 people given molnupiravir. 28 ended up being hospitalised. No deaths (as at the 29 day mark).
377 given a placebo. 53 being hospitalised with 8 of them dying.

It was used on volunteers with mild to moderate covid (within 5 days of them contracting covid), and with symptoms and at least one risk factor.

Molnupiravir produced consistent results for Delta, Gamma, and Mu variants - although only 40% of volunteers had genomic sequencing to see what variant they had.

35% of the drug group had adverse effects (doesn't say what those were).
40% of the placebo group had adverse effects (doesn't say what those were).

Merck consulted with the FDA and the Data Monitoring Committee and their study has now been concluded, due to these good results.

Merck will submit an application for an EUA to the US as soon as possible, as well as other regulatory bodies around the world.

Merck and Ridgeback’s Investigational Oral Antiviral Molnupiravir Reduced the Risk of Hospitalization or Death by Approximately 50 Percent Compared to Placebo for Patients with Mild or Moderate COVID-19 in Positive Interim Analysis of Phase 3 Study - Merck.com

 

[mickey2942]

So back in spring 2020 my dad's neighbor told my dad no one should visit him, that included me, and my dad just blew him off and I visited him regularly.

Flash forward and my dad gets vaccinated and this neighbor, who "knows it all," refuses to get vaccinated.

So flash forward again and I'm at my dad's today and he tells me this neighbor, who was in his house hanging curtains with him last week, is now sick with Covid.

His whole family has it, which includes his wife, 3 kids aged 1 to 4, and his wife's mother who lives with them. She is very sick. All unvaccinated.

My dad said that if he had not been vaccinated that this neighbor probably would have given him Covid and he would be dead.

My dad is 89. So let me get this straight. Before the vaccine I wasn't suppose to be visiting my dad.

However, it has been ok - with Delta running rampant - for this unvaccinated neighbor to breath on my dad whenever he feels like it.

Which apparently is alot because the neighbor drops over to my dad's alot including 2 weeks ago when I was there.

Ok then. Had to get that off my chest.

None of this makes any sense. We have lost friends, due to our vigilance. My husband and I had a terrible argument about his kids visiting, without masks, before the vaccine. We finally had to drop the discussion it was so contentious.

 

[Cool Cats]

None of this makes any sense. We have lost friends, due to our vigilance. My husband and I had a terrible argument about his kids visiting, without masks, before the vaccine. We finally had to drop the discussion it was so contentious.

For clarification, I was the only one who would visit my dad before he was vaccinated - he did not have anyone else over and I did not visit anyone else. I don't want you to think he had all these people over there.

At that time the unvaccinated neighbor with Covid did not think he should even let ME visit even though I was strictly isolating and mask wearing etc....
My dad, who lives alone, said he was willing to risk seeing his daughter and blew him off.

That sometimes a risk is worth taking.

 

[beatrixpotter]

I just got my booster shot yesterday. Can someone help me with the info on the level of antibodies increasing and when after the booster? I know I've read articles but when I did a google search I was pulling up nothing.

The first family at our church who got covid last year in January now have it again. This is just 8 months later. And this is after losing their grandfather two weeks ago to covid.

I know this nutrition guy on FB who is based in NY and protesting against the mandated vaccines there. And talking about the improved benefits of natural immunity over vaccine based immunity. But he's also had it twice.

I've only had the flu once in my life that I know of. This is going to be a nightmare if covid spreads this easily and people are getting covid twice a flipping year. Thankfully the vaccine does provide a good level of protection, though it's nothing like I remember being promised at first.

I've resigned myself on some level to the fact that I'll probably end up with covid in the next year. I can't isolate my kids anymore. I'm past the dangers of pregnancy though I'm recovering from preeclampsia and my BP is still not under control and I have a ton of weight to lose now. I'm hoping my booster shot will be protective.

Another friend sent all her kids back to school and they started getting covid within the first week. She's not sure how many of them had it but everyone who was eligible was vaccinated and did well.

 

[musicaljoke]

For clarification, I was the only one who would visit my dad before he was vaccinated - he did not have anyone else over and I did not visit anyone else. I don't want you to think he had all these people over there.

At that time the unvaccinated neighbor with Covid did not think he should even let ME visit even though I was strictly isolating and mask wearing etc....
My dad, who lives alone, said he was willing to risk seeing his daughter and blew him off.

That sometimes a risk is worth taking.

Even during our lockdowns, people living alone could have one designated visitor. It was considered important for one's mental health.

 

[beatrixpotter]

Anyone been following Dr John Campbell still? I was pretty freaked out about the aspiration issue. I asked the nurse/pharmacist yesterday if they aspirate to make sure it's not hit a blood vessel and she just said "no, we don't do that" and then boom gave me the shot. I'm guessing this might be behind a lot of the heart damage. It seems insane we don't take a basic step like this to insure the vaccine is given intramuscular.

 

[weepingangel]

Boston Doctors Explain How to Time Your Flu, Booster Shots

Pretty much whenever , no rules

 

[mickey2942]

California to require eligible students in public, private schools be vaccinated against COVID-19

Great idea. Wait...children can have "religious and medical exemptions". Yeah, I have seen those "exemptions". Pretty much, anyone could get one, because it was too much of a hassle to deny it, religious freedom, 1st amendment issues...so...this is pretty meaningless in real life.

 

[nightowl1975]

That would be a game-changer!

One would hope. But we also thought vaccines would be a game changer, yet here we are with a significant percentage continuing to refuse to get vaccinated. I wonder if those same individuals will refuse this treatment as well, as it is also new and would be approved under emergency use.

 

[Cool Cats]

One would hope. But we also thought vaccines would be a game changer, yet here we are with a significant percentage continuing to refuse to get vaccinated. I wonder if those same individuals will refuse this treatment as well, as it is also new and would be approved under emergency use.

Good question.