Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #102

[cujenn81]

Interview with Moderna chairman about Omicron and vaccines:

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He makes a really good point and a valid argument for those willing to take a risk by not getting vaccinated. Either because they somehow think they won’t catch it or because they assume their symptoms will be mild if they do. He talks about (and I’m paraphrasing here) the many things we can’t do because it would harm others if we did — drink and drive, smoke in certain settings, etcetera. Similarly, those who choose to remain unvaccinated are essentially choosing to put their friends and family in harm’s way. No one is asking the unvaccinated to give up their freedoms. They are only asking them to do the right thing.

 

[ilovewings]

Just saw an article in the Daily Mail , which I cannot post from my tablet--
the jist of the article is that the efficacy of Pfizer and Moderna drops quite a bit
after 120 days-- you may want to locate tbe article and post it. They studied veterans
over a period of months. Dr Fauci is talking about a 4th booster- I am beginning to
think the weakness of this vaccine is its shelf lif

Is this the article you saw?

Effectiveness of the vaccines at preventing hospitalization from Covid drops after 120 days | Daily Mail Online

There is also this one in the mail .
Pfizer's boss says FOURTH Covid jab will be needed next winter | Daily Mail Online

Yes -thank you!!!!

 

[ilovewings]

Just saw an article in the Daily Mail , which I cannot post from my tablet--
the jist of the article is that the efficacy of Pfizer and Moderna drops quite a bit
after 120 days-- you may want to locate tbe article and post it. They studied veterans
over a period of months. Dr Fauci is talking about a 4th booster- I am beginning to
think the weakness of this vaccine is its shelf lif

Is this the article you saw?

Effectiveness of the vaccines at preventing hospitalization from Covid drops after 120 days | Daily Mail Online

There is also this one in the mail .
Pfizer's boss says FOURTH Covid jab will be needed next winter | Daily Mail Online

Yes -thank you!!!!

 

[WichitaFalls]

The Pandemic of the Vaccinated Is Here
A coming winter surge and the spread of Omicron have made it clear that COVID is everyone’s problem.

Even before the arrival of Omicron, the winter months were going to be tough for parts of the United States. While COVID transmission rates in the South caught fire over the summer, the Northeast and Great Plains states were largely spared thanks to cyclical factors and high vaccination rates. But weather and the patterns of human life were bound to shift the disease burden northward for the holidays—and that was just with Delta. Enter a new variant that appears better able to evade immunity, and that seasonal wave could end up a tsunami.

Back in July, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky announced that COVID had become “a pandemic of the unvaccinated,” an unfortunate turn of phrase that was soon picked up by the president. Now the flaws in its logic are about to be exposed on what could be a terrifying scale. Unvaccinated Americans will certainly pay the steepest price in the months to come, but the risks appear to have grown for everyone. The pandemic of the vaccinated can no longer be denied.

More at link . . .
The Pandemic of the Vaccinated Is Here

 

[ilovewings]

The Pandemic of the Vaccinated Is Here
A coming winter surge and the spread of Omicron have made it clear that COVID is everyone’s problem.

Even before the arrival of Omicron, the winter months were going to be tough for parts of the United States. While COVID transmission rates in the South caught fire over the summer, the Northeast and Great Plains states were largely spared thanks to cyclical factors and high vaccination rates. But weather and the patterns of human life were bound to shift the disease burden northward for the holidays—and that was just with Delta. Enter a new variant that appears better able to evade immunity, and that seasonal wave could end up a tsunami.

Back in July, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky announced that COVID had become “a pandemic of the unvaccinated,” an unfortunate turn of phrase that was soon picked up by the president. Now the flaws in its logic are about to be exposed on what could be a terrifying scale. Unvaccinated Americans will certainly pay the steepest price in the months to come, but the risks appear to have grown for everyone. The pandemic of the vaccinated can no longer be denied.

More at link . . .
The Pandemic of the Vaccinated Is Here

Well that is pretty depressing!!!!

 

[Skigh]

No10's Plan C to fight Omicron could also limit care home visits BEFORE Christmas | Daily Mail Online


Nicola Sturgeon today announced entire families in Scotland will have to self-isolate for 10 days if one member of the household tests positive for coronavirus as she unveiled new Covid restrictions and warned the nation is facing a 'tsunami' of Omicron cases.

The Scottish First Minister said that as of tomorrow 'all household contacts of any confirmed Covid case should isolate for 10 days, regardless of their vaccination status and even if they initially get a negative PCR test'.

Ms Sturgeon said she knew this would not be 'easy' and that there will be 'careful exemptions for critical services'.

However, she insisted the move is 'essential at this moment' because of the rapid spread of the new variant.

The SNP leader said non-household contacts of a positive case should continue to self-isolate, pending a PCR test and if that test is negative they can leave isolation as long as they are double-jabbed.

Meanwhile, Ms Sturgeon also urged people in Scotland to defer work Christmas parties as she said limiting 'unnecessary contacts' is the 'sensible' thing to do to slow transmission of the disease.

It came amid reports that the UK Government is already working on a 'Plan C' of Covid restrictions, just days after Boris Johnson triggered his 'Plan B'.

Ms Sturgeon told a coronavirus briefing in Edinburgh at lunchtime that as of yesterday at 5pm there were 110 confirmed Omicron cases in Scotland and 10 days ago the number was just nine.

She warned the latest figure is likely to be the 'tip of the iceberg' and the data suggests the current spread of Omicron represents the 'fastest exponential growth that we have seen in this pandemic so far’.

Ms Sturgeon said the number of Omicron cases is doubling every two to three days and the variant could overtake Delta as the dominant strain 'within days'.

She said the R number in Scotland - the average number of secondary infections produced by a single infected person - had been 'hovering' around one in recent weeks but the R number for Omicron is 'likely to be well over two and possibly closer to three' which could result in a 'rapid rise' in cases in days ahead.

 

[anneg]

No10's Plan C to fight Omicron could also limit care home visits BEFORE Christmas | Daily Mail Online


Nicola Sturgeon today announced entire families in Scotland will have to self-isolate for 10 days if one member of the household tests positive for coronavirus as she unveiled new Covid restrictions and warned the nation is facing a 'tsunami' of Omicron cases.

The Scottish First Minister said that as of tomorrow 'all household contacts of any confirmed Covid case should isolate for 10 days, regardless of their vaccination status and even if they initially get a negative PCR test'.

Ms Sturgeon said she knew this would not be 'easy' and that there will be 'careful exemptions for critical services'.

However, she insisted the move is 'essential at this moment' because of the rapid spread of the new variant.

The SNP leader said non-household contacts of a positive case should continue to self-isolate, pending a PCR test and if that test is negative they can leave isolation as long as they are double-jabbed.

Meanwhile, Ms Sturgeon also urged people in Scotland to defer work Christmas parties as she said limiting 'unnecessary contacts' is the 'sensible' thing to do to slow transmission of the disease.

It came amid reports that the UK Government is already working on a 'Plan C' of Covid restrictions, just days after Boris Johnson triggered his 'Plan B'.

Ms Sturgeon told a coronavirus briefing in Edinburgh at lunchtime that as of yesterday at 5pm there were 110 confirmed Omicron cases in Scotland and 10 days ago the number was just nine.

She warned the latest figure is likely to be the 'tip of the iceberg' and the data suggests the current spread of Omicron represents the 'fastest exponential growth that we have seen in this pandemic so far’.

Ms Sturgeon said the number of Omicron cases is doubling every two to three days and the variant could overtake Delta as the dominant strain 'within days'.

She said the R number in Scotland - the average number of secondary infections produced by a single infected person - had been 'hovering' around one in recent weeks but the R number for Omicron is 'likely to be well over two and possibly closer to three' which could result in a 'rapid rise' in cases in days ahead.

So discouraging.

 

[Tiff23fr]

But this week Michigan had more patients hospitalized for Covid-19 than ever before. Covid-19 hospitalizations jumped 88% in the past month, according to the Michigan Health & Hospital Association.

"We have more patients than we've ever had at any point, and we're seeing more people die at a rate we've never seen die before," said Jim Dover, president and CEO of Sparrow Health System.

Covid-19 patients at this hospital are dying 'at a rate we've never seen die before' -- and it's taking a toll on health care workers - CNN

 

[WichitaFalls]

But this week Michigan had more patients hospitalized for Covid-19 than ever before. Covid-19 hospitalizations jumped 88% in the past month, according to the Michigan Health & Hospital Association.

"We have more patients than we've ever had at any point, and we're seeing more people die at a rate we've never seen die before," said Jim Dover, president and CEO of Sparrow Health System.

Covid-19 patients at this hospital are dying 'at a rate we've never seen die before' -- and it's taking a toll on health care workers - CNN

From the article above . . .

"Since January, we've had about 289 deaths; 75% are unvaccinated people," Dover said. "And the very few (vaccinated people) who passed away all were more than 6 months out from their shot. So we've not had a single person who has had a booster shot die from Covid."

 

[jjenny]

Well that is pretty depressing!!!!

Two doses aren't going to protect against omicron, based on preliminary data already released. So get your boosters, people!
I got mine. If more boosters are deemed beneficial, I will get more. I am really not sure what the big deal is. Flu vaccine is given once a year, and nobody seems to be that upset over it.
We also should have meds coming that one can take orally, hopefully pretty soon.

 

[HongKongPhooey]

Two doses aren't going to protect against omicron, based on preliminary data already released. So get your boosters, people!
I got mine. If more boosters are deemed beneficial, I will get more. I am really not sure what the big deal is. Flu vaccine is given once a year, and nobody seems to be that upset over it.
We also should have meds coming that one can take orally, hopefully pretty soon.

I was pleasantly surprised incidentally to have no obvious effects from the flu jab. I had it the same time as the booster. For years I've avoided the flu jab because *everyone* says it's awful etc.. Just goes to show!

 

[anneg]

From the article above . . .

"Since January, we've had about 289 deaths; 75% are unvaccinated people," Dover said. "And the very few (vaccinated people) who passed away all were more than 6 months out from their shot. So we've not had a single person who has had a booster shot die from Covid."

That, at least, is encouraging for those of us who are triple vaccinated.

 

[jjenny]

I understand that we're (the world) currently in a pretty bad state and that schools are reporting covid cases

I'm in Dallas and going back to school here in August did not produce the rise in cases that was possible/feared. It was in the 80s here today so we haven't been forced indoors so our numbers although slightly higher aren't as dire as some of the northern states. I wasn't as clear as I could have been. Thanks for your clarification, I always enjoy your posts.

When I live in a cold weather state, I pretty much get the flu every year (last year was an exception, maybe because covid precautions started). In a warm weather state, where I lived until recently for many years, I didn't have flu once.
I think those viruses thrive in cold weather environment (flu especially, as covid does pretty well even during summer).

 

[Turkeytrot]

Dumb question here. I've only had two doses, I'm not at the 6 month mark yet to get a booster. Is it that two doses don't offer enough protection in general, or would I still be protected since I'm not due for a booster? If that makes sense.

 

[jjenny]

Dumb question here. I've only had two doses, I'm not at the 6 month mark yet to get a booster. Is it that two doses don't offer enough protection in general, or would I still be protected since I'm not due for a booster? If that makes sense.

The best I can tell, it should still work pretty well against delta (which is what is the vast majority of covid circulating in the US right now) but not omicron. So be careful out there (wear your mask, etc) before you are eligible for the booster. Right now delta is 99% of covid variants in the US, and omicron is only starting to get going. So hopefully you can get your booster before omicron really gets going.

 

[Niner]

Dumb question here. I've only had two doses, I'm not at the 6 month mark yet to get a booster. Is it that two doses don't offer enough protection in general, or would I still be protected since I'm not due for a booster? If that makes sense.

JMO - but I read that after the 2 jabs - 6 to 8 months for a booster - I got my booster at the 7th month time.

 

[Turkeytrot]

The best I can tell, it should still work pretty well against delta (which is what is the vast majority of covid circulating in the US right now) but not omicron. So be careful out there (wear your mask, etc) before you are eligible for the booster. Right now delta is 99% of covid variants in the US, and omicron is only starting to get going. So hopefully you can get your booster before omicron really gets going.

I just got my 2nd on 9/17 so still a ways to go for me. We've been very cautious though and plan to continue that - I mask everywhere I go but generally do pick up orders and avoid public spaces

 

[CoverMeCagney]

3 cases of Omicron found in my city, with 6 others suspected. Great . I wouldn’t normally post local news here but I thought the info about S-genes was interesting:

“…. tests showed an absence of the marker called the S-gene. This is missing in variants such as Omicron and Alpha but present in Delta cases. Once identified, swabs showing the so-called ‘S-gene dropout’ can then be sent for definitive testing for Omicron. About one in every six positive PCR tests are sent for genome sequencing to determine which variant they are”

Three people in Leeds have tested positive for the Omicron variant, Government confirms

 

[jjenny]

JMO - but I read that after the 2 jabs - 6 to 8 months for a booster - I got my booster at the 7th month time.

That was for delta and previous variants, not omicron. I don't think 2 doses work well against omicron (at least based on preliminary data already released). I wonder if CDC will decrease the time of waiting for a booster based on omicron data. Right now the booster is not specific for variants. But antibodies from the vaccines don't neutralize omicron well, so you need a lot of antibodies to neutralize it (which is what booster provides). The vaccine manufacturers are working on omicron specific boosters but those won't be available until sometime in 2022.

 

[Niner]

That was for delta and previous variants, not omicron. I don't think 2 doses work well against omicron (at least based on preliminary data already released). I wonder if CDC will decrease the time of waiting for a booster based on omicron data. Right now the booster is not specific for variants. But antibodies from the vaccines don't neutralize omicron well, so you need a lot of antibodies to neutralize it (which is what booster provides). The vaccine manufacturers are working on omicron specific boosters but those won't be available until sometime in 2022.

Yes, I do realize that the booster not effective against omicron. But traveling to Sweden, so I thought I'd get my booster before than. And when a booster for this omicron variant comes out - I'll get another one. All my shots have been with Moderna - and all with little side effects - thankfully!!