Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #102

[sds71]

Omicron significantly reduces Covid antibodies generated by Pfizer vaccine, study finds

Pfizer says booster dose of vaccine protects against omicron variant

 

[jjenny]

That's good news about the Pfizer booster working against omicron. I imagine Moderna's will do the same. So get your boosters, don't delay!

"U.S. vaccine maker Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech said on Wednesday, meanwhile, that while the standard two-dose regimen of their vaccine was "significantly less effective at blocking the virus," a booster shot "neutralized the Omicron variant in lab tests." "

Omicron variant has "robust ability" to evade COVID vaccines, but Pfizer says booster shots "neutralized" it - CBS News

 

[WichitaFalls]

Wow, it's one year today that the first vaccine was administered to a 90 year old woman in Coventry England. Time has felt so distorted to me during this pandemic. It feels like many years ago that I watched this event on tv and felt cautious hope. So, today I'm going to be grateful for the miracle of the vaccines despite a still unsure future in the world. Does the year seem like at least ten years to you guys?

Eight billion shots: On the anniversary of the COVID vaccine, the virus is still with us

More at link . . . Eight billion shots: On the anniversary of the COVID vaccine, the virus is still with us | Montreal Gazette

 

[chimpface]

@chimpface - your Auntie Marg is in the papers again! Glad to hear she’s doing well


The first person in the world to be given a fully-tested COVID-19 vaccine, 91-year-old Briton Margaret Keenan, urged people on Wednesday to get vaccinated, one year on from her shot. Keenan described receiving the vaccine on Dec. 8 2020 as the "best thing that has ever happened".

“It was wonderful. I cannot believe it now, what happened at the time... I'm so happy I got the jab"

'I'm so happy': first person to get fully-tested COVID-19 shot says one year on

She's obviously enjoying the attention

 

[CoverMeCagney]

She's obviously enjoying the attention

LOL, good to know she’s still going strong!!

@WichitaFalls the lady you posted about is our Chimps great aunt (and honorary great aunt to all of us!)

 

[WichitaFalls]

LOL, good to know she’s still going strong!!

@WichitaFalls the lady you posted about is our Chimps great aunt (and honorary great aunt to all of us!)

She is precious! and has a special place in history. Stay well sweet lady!

 

[Cool Cats]

So, Queensland has two Omicron cases. One is Omicron. And one is 'like Omicron' and is not Delta (or Alpha or anything else recognisable).


Delta has been ruled out in another recent case, an arrival from South Africa, however the infection has been deemed “Omicron-like” after work with global authorities.

Ms D’Ath said that case revealed a second “lineage” of the variant to the international committee, and “we have both of them”.

Acting Chief Health Officer Peter Aitken said the lineage had about half the genetic changes of the initially discovered Omicron variant.

Queensland reports first Omicron cases in quarantine as new ‘lineage’ discovered

So-Called “Stealth” Omicron Offshoot Identified By Scientists In Three Countries

Scientists have identified a new Covid-19 lineage responsible for a number of recent Covid cases in South Africa, Australia and Canada that displays “many of the defining mutations of B.1.1.529 (Omicron) [but does] not have the full set.

These cases also have “a number of their own unique mutations,” according to analysis posted on information sharing platform GitHub. The platform is widely used by top researchers to share data and information related to Covid-19.

As a result of those similarities and differences with the original Omicron, which was first identified about two weeks ago, the new sequence is being called BA.2, while the original variant has been dubbed BA.1.

 

[weepingangel]

*poop*
‘Action now’: BU professor urges officials to act as local COVID wastewater data rises

 

[anneg]

I don't know where to post this but my sister's best friend has contracted COVID and has had 2 of the vaccine shots, the booster I'm not sure of. Her husband has been very ill so she has been at the hospital a great deal for the past month. So maybe she has just had so much exposure or possibly the new strain? They've discovered her husband has cancer and have given him a month at best. Sent him home today and was supposed to have Hospice but they can't come until she is free of it. Now she is starting to feel bad, flu like symptoms and of course has health issues. She did get the antibody infusion yesterday so hoping it works. I can't even image how overwhelming her situation is.

He has tested negative. I bet it's the new variant. She took 4 tests, the 2 rapid tests said negative. The hospital and CVS tests were positive. I believe 'the covid' is going to be with us for awhile longer.

Overwhelming indeed. I'm sorry they are in such a difficult and sad situation, and I hope she responds well to the antibody infusion.

 

[anneg]

*poop*
‘Action now’: BU professor urges officials to act as local COVID wastewater data rises

Wow. That news stinks. Seriously, I wonder if any action will be taken to deal with this worsening situation.

 

[anneg]

So-Called “Stealth” Omicron Offshoot Identified By Scientists In Three Countries

Scientists have identified a new Covid-19 lineage responsible for a number of recent Covid cases in South Africa, Australia and Canada that displays “many of the defining mutations of B.1.1.529 (Omicron) [but does] not have the full set.

These cases also have “a number of their own unique mutations,” according to analysis posted on information sharing platform GitHub. The platform is widely used by top researchers to share data and information related to Covid-19.

As a result of those similarities and differences with the original Omicron, which was first identified about two weeks ago, the new sequence is being called BA.2, while the original variant has been dubbed BA.1.

It's going to be hard to keep up with all the variants if the virus keeps doing this. And I suppose it probably will.

 

[Cool Cats]

It's going to be hard to keep up with all the variants if the virus keeps doing this. And I suppose it probably will.

Probably will get weaker as time goes on. Not seeing anything more lethal so far and Omicron is showing early signs of being weaker.....Hopefully this is the direction.....

Cross fingers ... Dot i's & Cross T's.

 

[anneg]

Probably will get weaker as time goes on. Not seeing anything more lethal so far and Omicron is showing early signs of being weaker.....Hopefully this is the direction.....

Cross fingers ... Dot i's & Cross T's.

I sure hope it gets weaker over time.

 

[HongKongPhooey]

Live press conference here now from Boris.

Masks back in cinemas and theatres. Vaccine passports (or neg LFT) for nightclubs, indoor and outdoor large venues. Work from home if you can.

Skirted a question about mandatory vaccines but def didnt rule it out.

 

[HongKongPhooey]

Ooops posted twice sorry.

 

[Turkeytrot]

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/08/omi...covid-vaccine-doses-sooner-than-expected.html

I'm not eligible for my third shot yet, and they are talking about a fourth

 

[weepingangel]

Ha I was wondering how long that would take. I’m def going with moderna next time. Just to mix it up. And there will be a next time.

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/08/omi...covid-vaccine-doses-sooner-than-expected.html

I'm not eligible for my third shot yet, and they are talking about a fourth

 

[weepingangel]

New England
Gov. Mills Activates Maine National Guard Amid Rise in COVID Hospitalizations

‘All Hands on Deck': National Guard, FEMA Teams to Assist NH Hospitals With COVID Surge

 

[LadyL]

‘Facial mismatch’: U.S. Customs stops unvaccinated woman at Canadian border with sister’s passport

 

[beatrixpotter]

"A past coronavirus infection appears to give little immunity to the new Omicron variant rippling across the globe, South African scientists warned on Thursday, potentially tearing away one layer of defense that humanity has won slowly and at immense cost."
Omicron Variant Reinfects People Who Have Had the Coronavirus - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

So endless waves of mutating virus, infection and overwhelmed hospitals....I wonder how many more years this will go on. Letting it rip through the population won't stop it. Vaccination is not significantly slowing spread and it's clear that too many people are refusing to ever be vaccinated to meet the minimal goals to halt spread. And we know that this increased doubling time would require even more of the population vaccinated.

I do not understand why Dr Campbell thinks having a mild variant spread over the entire globe infecting us could end the pandemic? He mentioned that in his most recent video briefly. If we don't have lasting immunity how does it end the pandemic? I'm sleep deprived so maybe someone else understands and can explain better.

I mean I guess IF it mutates weaker and weaker then that's great. I'm still not remotely convinced this is really effectively weaker yet myself. And even if marginally weaker it still leaves more people sick at once. He thinks everyone is going to be exposed by Christmas. That seems awful soon to me. We are looking at almost 2 days doubling time now. What was the original viruses doubling time?

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