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Or North Korea, allegedly
Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #102
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Or North Korea, allegedly
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I just got home from visiting my very elderly parents in Florida. Not the BVI, but palm trees, 79° etc.
BUT- on my way there, omicron had not been discovered yet. By the time I returned to NYC 10 days later, it was spreading everywhere.
At JFK airport, I’m sorry to say, there was a good 25% of people who were NOT wearing their masks. I ran to a security guard who told me that if someone is eating or drinking they don’t have to have their mask on. So I noticed 1) people were walking around with a coffee cup so that they didn’t have to wear a mask and 2) a hundred people were nonchalantly sitting at the gate just talking on their phones without masks.
That was on my way TO Florida, no omicron knowledge yet.
On the way home, in a Floridian airport, same thing but with omicron all over the news. I know Florida is lax with mask and vaccine rules, but I would HOPE people would have common sense and courtesy anyway.
On the planes people wore their masks but could take them off to eat and drink. Some people were doing so, VERY SLOWLY, so as to keep the mask off longer.
I say all this to say that I was extraordinarily uncomfortable and worried I would transmit something to my parents, even though we are all triple vaxed.
So I’m sorry to spoil your daydream! But IMO flying anywhere right now is not worth it.
I hear you! Unfortunately, we have to fly from Oregon to LA on Monday to see a medical specialist my husband has to visit occasionally. It’s essential to do this now. We had booked a non-stop flight back in October, but I discovered last evening (quite by accident) that United never notified me on Oct. 22 that they will no longer fly non-stop from Medford to LAX and we now have layovers both ways in SFO. Not only is this exhausting for both of us with mobility issues, but we have more chance of exposure to omicron. Needless to say, I’m furious and United got a blistering email from me FWIW.
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10ofRods, I wanted to quickly let you know your posts have meant so much to me. I tend to be here lots when we're entering a new or frightening phase of the pandemic. I always look for you and I'm amazed at how much you know and teach us in a language easy to understand. I too have been depressed with the ups and downs of this crazy time we're living through. Hang in there and please know you've made a difference by sharing such well thought out posts.
I haven't seen my mom in over 3 years, and haven't seen the rest of my family in 6+ years, and it could still be several years before I get the chance, if things keep going the way they have.
They've probably very good at detecting and suppressing...pretty much anything.
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Should You Get a COVID Booster or Third Dose? – Cleveland Clinic
Q: What’s the difference between a third dose and the booster shot? Who is eligible for the third dose and the booster shot?
I’m glad you made that distinction between a third dose and a booster shot. Currently, when we speak about third doses, we’re speaking about an extra dose apart from the first two doses of the messenger RNA vaccine because the first two doses didn’t give sufficient protection against COVID-19. And that is why some people need a third dose for them to get to a level of immunity that’s protective.
At the moment, after review by the FDA and the CDC, the portion of the population who will need a third dose includes those age 65 and up, those who are at risk of exposure through their work and those who are immune-compromised or are on any medication or treatment that makes their immune responses insufficient.
For those people, the original dose levels don’t seem to be enough. They will need a third dose to have sufficient protection. They’re eligible for the third dose at least 28 days after their second dose. We are seeing people come in and have scheduled for their third doses already.
In contrast, when we talk about booster doses, we’re talking about an additional dose, apart from the first two messenger RNA vaccines because we’re worried that over time, the protection you generated from the first two may be waning. Or it’s also possible that the protection that you got from the first two may not work as well against a new strain, such as the delta strain that’s circulating now.
A booster dose is typically given after a certain amount of time. It’s not necessarily right on top of the first two doses because we expect that your immune response will continue to generate antibodies and give you enough time to actually have a sufficient immune reaction. But over time, when your immune system needs a bit of a reminder to say, “Hey, remember, this is COVID. This is what it looks like,” that booster dose boosts whatever you have so that it amplifies the immune response that you generated the first time.
Q: How would a non-immune-compromised person know if they need a booster shot?
The FDA and the CDC reviewed a lot of the evidence relative to the booster doses for healthy people. We do have some signals based on all the experience that we’ve had over the past year, looking at all the people who’ve received their doses back in January and February, and then over time tracking the same people and saying, “Are they still protected?” or “Are any of them getting infected against COVID?” That is the evidence that the CDC and FDA are right now reviewing.
There does seem to be a signal that, over time, we’re seeing more people get infected with COVID, even though they’ve had the two doses back in January and February. The question remains: Are we seeing waning immunity — the protection we generated back in January doesn’t hold for more than six months? Or is it simply because we have a much more transmissible strain now, the delta strain, that we know people pass on to each other a little bit more readily?
The CDC already had a meeting on August 30 to lay out the framework of the questions we need answered. Do we really need a booster? Who needs a booster? When do we need a booster? What’s the dose of the booster?
What the FDA has now done, with their October 20 update, is to clarify those parameters to allow those most at risk, whether it’s the elderly or someone exposed to COVID-19 at their job, to receive a booster. We still don’t know if everyone will need a booster, though.
Q: What’s the difference between a third dose and the booster shot? Who is eligible for the third dose and the booster shot?
I’m glad you made that distinction between a third dose and a booster shot. Currently, when we speak about third doses, we’re speaking about an extra dose apart from the first two doses of the messenger RNA vaccine because the first two doses didn’t give sufficient protection against COVID-19. And that is why some people need a third dose for them to get to a level of immunity that’s protective.
At the moment, after review by the FDA and the CDC, the portion of the population who will need a third dose includes those age 65 and up, those who are at risk of exposure through their work and those who are immune-compromised or are on any medication or treatment that makes their immune responses insufficient.
For those people, the original dose levels don’t seem to be enough. They will need a third dose to have sufficient protection. They’re eligible for the third dose at least 28 days after their second dose. We are seeing people come in and have scheduled for their third doses already.
In contrast, when we talk about booster doses, we’re talking about an additional dose, apart from the first two messenger RNA vaccines because we’re worried that over time, the protection you generated from the first two may be waning. Or it’s also possible that the protection that you got from the first two may not work as well against a new strain, such as the delta strain that’s circulating now.
A booster dose is typically given after a certain amount of time. It’s not necessarily right on top of the first two doses because we expect that your immune response will continue to generate antibodies and give you enough time to actually have a sufficient immune reaction. But over time, when your immune system needs a bit of a reminder to say, “Hey, remember, this is COVID. This is what it looks like,” that booster dose boosts whatever you have so that it amplifies the immune response that you generated the first time.
Q: How would a non-immune-compromised person know if they need a booster shot?
The FDA and the CDC reviewed a lot of the evidence relative to the booster doses for healthy people. We do have some signals based on all the experience that we’ve had over the past year, looking at all the people who’ve received their doses back in January and February, and then over time tracking the same people and saying, “Are they still protected?” or “Are any of them getting infected against COVID?” That is the evidence that the CDC and FDA are right now reviewing.
There does seem to be a signal that, over time, we’re seeing more people get infected with COVID, even though they’ve had the two doses back in January and February. The question remains: Are we seeing waning immunity — the protection we generated back in January doesn’t hold for more than six months? Or is it simply because we have a much more transmissible strain now, the delta strain, that we know people pass on to each other a little bit more readily?
The CDC already had a meeting on August 30 to lay out the framework of the questions we need answered. Do we really need a booster? Who needs a booster? When do we need a booster? What’s the dose of the booster?
What the FDA has now done, with their October 20 update, is to clarify those parameters to allow those most at risk, whether it’s the elderly or someone exposed to COVID-19 at their job, to receive a booster. We still don’t know if everyone will need a booster, though.
I am becoming flat out confused (as usual). Last winter, we were all supposed to go into lock down and avoid each other: "safer at home." This year, the authorities, relying on the vaccines, seem to be saying "get omicron and you will be OK." So we are supposed to go to school and work, run mass transit, shop. etc. and just sort of hope that we avoid infection. I am concerned that all the talk about "mild symptoms" with omicron might be premature since the other COVID waves had people who were not that sick relapse and get really sick or die. I keep hearing: "In a few weeks we will all know more," but meanwhile the virus is spreading all over. Will it be too late to do anything by the time we know more? IMO.
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Heard it all now 
Italian man tries to dodge Covid jab using fake arm
“The man was reportedly a health worker who had been suspended from his job because he had not been vaccinated. The jab is mandatory for all health workers in Italy. La Repubblica suggests the incident may not have been a one-off, pointing to a message on social media that may have been written by the man. The Twitter post quoted by the paper featured a silicone male chest half-body suit, complete with fake arms and neck, that was on sale on Amazon for €488 (£416).”
"If I go with this, will they notice?”
They noticed…
Italian man tries to dodge Covid jab using fake arm
“The man was reportedly a health worker who had been suspended from his job because he had not been vaccinated. The jab is mandatory for all health workers in Italy. La Repubblica suggests the incident may not have been a one-off, pointing to a message on social media that may have been written by the man. The Twitter post quoted by the paper featured a silicone male chest half-body suit, complete with fake arms and neck, that was on sale on Amazon for €488 (£416).”
"If I go with this, will they notice?”
They noticed…
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I hear you! Unfortunately, we have to fly from Oregon to LA on Monday to see a medical specialist my husband has to visit occasionally. It’s essential to do this now. We had booked a non-stop flight back in October, but I discovered last evening (quite by accident) that United never notified me on Oct. 22 that they will no longer fly non-stop from Medford to LAX and we now have layovers both ways in SFO. Not only is this exhausting for both of us with mobility issues, but we have more chance of exposure to omicron. Needless to say, I’m furious and United got a blistering email from me FWIW.
I'm sorry to hear about the added potential for exposure on your trip and hope you both can avoid the virus. Wishing you a safe trip!
Jealous over here in the US
It depends where you live in the U.S. Each state was given money in the Cares Act during the Trump administration and also funding from the Biden administraiton for PPE related to Covid-19. It is up to each state how they use the funds. Our governor here in Ohio has provided antigen self test kits to be availabe free to Ohioans. You can pick them up at your county health department or at any one of the state's public libraries. You pick them up at the checkout desk in the library. If you don't want to go in, you can request curbside service and they will bring them out to you. You don't need to sign for them or anything. So far over the last year I have picked up six kits, two kits during three trips to the library. We have them in case of travel or other need. My work place also offers free testing, an antigen test if requested (no cost and no insurance needed), and a PCR test if you have symptoms (also free and no insurance needed).
In any event, it is up to your state government how they choose to spend the federal funds they get for COVID-19 and if they allow for providing test kits to their residents.
I don't know where you live. I'm in Canada: we still wear masks, have to stay 6 feet apart in public, talk to people through plexiglass, avoid unvaxxed friends and relatives, show our vaccine passport to get into restaurants.
We're recently been allowed out of the country, and are discovering how other places don't seems to be following any of those rules.
We're not sure if we're the crazy ones, or the sane ones.
So I would say, many are confused. And that's just about Delta. I do agree that they'll know more about Omicron in a few weeks, and can possibly make better decisions - though who knows anymore which decisions are right or wrong.
margarita25
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“VIENNA, Dec 4 (Reuters) - More than 40,000 people marched through Vienna on Saturday to protest against a lockdown and plans to make vaccinations compulsory to curb the coronavirus pandemic.
Faced with a surge in infections, the government last month made Austria the first country in Western Europe to reimpose a lockdown and said it would make vaccinations mandatory from February.”
[...]
“Police put the size of the protest at over 40,000, while around 1,500 staged counterprotests.”
*photos/video at link:
More than 40,000 march in Vienna against coronavirus lockdown
—-
Additional background from above link:
Austria extends COVID-19 lockdown by 10 days
Nov. 30, 2021
“Faced with surging daily coronavirus infections, the conservative-led government introduced the lockdown on Monday of last week, the first country in Western Europe to reimpose a lockdown this autumn.
Roughly 67% of Austria's population is fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, one of the lowest rates in Western Europe. Many Austrians are sceptical about vaccines, a view encouraged by the far-right Freedom Party, the third biggest in parliament.”
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I second this absolutely!
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I quite often feel the "is it me or everyone else" thing, particularly in the office at work. They're all sharing a kettle, milk, microwave, and I'm there in a quiet corner with my thermal mug and school packed lunch
margarita25
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(chanting “RODS!” “RODS!” “RODS!”)
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Up to one third of Africa's vaccine doses remain in storage as rollouts hindered by jab hesitancy | Daily Mail Online
The slow vaccine rollout in developing nations is now due to vaccine hesitancy and poor infrastructure rather than a lack of stock, according to the biggest vaccine manufacturer in the world.
Adar Poonawalla is chief executive of the Serum Institute of India (SII) and has warned that vaccine stock is at risk of going out of date because the demand has dipped over factors such as vaccine hesitancy and the world has now stored 'more Covid shots than it can use'.
Underfunded public health infrastructure in poorer nations also adds to a complex list of problems that are slowing the vaccine rollout in parts of the world.
Reports suggest South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi have all asked vaccine manufacturers and donors to delay sending more doses because they have been unable to use the supplies they have, according to the New York Times.
The latest data suggests that only 246 million of the 384 million doses which have been delivered to African nations have been administered - suggesting a third of its stock, or 138 million doses, remains in storage.
Meanwhile in India, Mr Poonawalla said last month that 200 million doses were available to states in India, where only 33 per cent of the population are fully vaccinated, and said vaccine hesitancy was 'the greatest threat' to overcoming the pandemic.
Mr Poonawalla said the situation in vulnerable countries, particularly in Africa where only 11 per cent of people are vaccinated, is that orders are not materialising as a result
The slow vaccine rollout in developing nations is now due to vaccine hesitancy and poor infrastructure rather than a lack of stock, according to the biggest vaccine manufacturer in the world.
Adar Poonawalla is chief executive of the Serum Institute of India (SII) and has warned that vaccine stock is at risk of going out of date because the demand has dipped over factors such as vaccine hesitancy and the world has now stored 'more Covid shots than it can use'.
Underfunded public health infrastructure in poorer nations also adds to a complex list of problems that are slowing the vaccine rollout in parts of the world.
Reports suggest South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi have all asked vaccine manufacturers and donors to delay sending more doses because they have been unable to use the supplies they have, according to the New York Times.
The latest data suggests that only 246 million of the 384 million doses which have been delivered to African nations have been administered - suggesting a third of its stock, or 138 million doses, remains in storage.
Meanwhile in India, Mr Poonawalla said last month that 200 million doses were available to states in India, where only 33 per cent of the population are fully vaccinated, and said vaccine hesitancy was 'the greatest threat' to overcoming the pandemic.
Mr Poonawalla said the situation in vulnerable countries, particularly in Africa where only 11 per cent of people are vaccinated, is that orders are not materialising as a result
"For the first time in two months, the US is averaging more than 100,000 new Covid-19 cases each day, shortly after millions of Americans traveled for the Thanksgiving holiday."
US coronavirus: The US is averaging more than 100,000 new Covid-19 cases a day, the highest level in two months - CNN
US coronavirus: The US is averaging more than 100,000 new Covid-19 cases a day, the highest level in two months - CNN
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