Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #103

[ilovewings]

FDA Expected to Authorize Pfizer and Merck Covid Pills This Week

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is poised to authorize a pair of pills from Pfizer Inc. and Merck & Co. to treat Covid-19 as soon as this week, according to people familiar with the matter -- a milestone in the fight against the pandemic that will soon expand therapies for the ill.

An announcement may come as early as Wednesday, according to three of the people. They asked not to be identified ahead of the authorization and cautioned that the plan could change.

Pfizer’s pill, Paxlovid, and Merck’s molnupiravir are intended for higher-risk people who test positive for Covid. The treatments, in which patients take a series of pills at home over several days, could ease the burden on stretched hospitals with infections poised to soar through the winter in the U.S.

This could be a game changer ( crossing fingers)

 

[CharlestonGal]

This could be a game changer ( crossing fingers)

I recommend you read up on both of these before choosing one. They work in COMPLETELY different ways, one of which makes me a little nervous. jmo

ETA: So people don't have to google - Merck (molnupiravir) causes the virus to mutate so rapidly it can no longer replicate. Pfizer (Paxlovid) does not impact the virus directly - it works on one of our own cellular enzymes the virus needs to complete replication.

How the new COVID antiviral drugs from Merck and Pfizer work, and whom they’ll help

 

[indicolite22]

If I take a picture of it - would that work? I'll do that - and next time I'm at the store I'll use the picture on my phone - and "see" if they can "read it".

Ah - just read your post @indicolite22 ! I'll give it a shot then - QR code picture.

and Thanks for your help @CharlestonGal ! Much appreciated!!

My certificate is stored within an e-health app, not among pictures.

 

[Niner]

My certificate is stored within an e-health app, not among pictures.

I have no apps on my phone... or my laptop - don't know "how" they work - and too old to figure it out! LOL!

 

[Arkay]

The riddle of Japan's dramatic drop in COVID numbers

"We have had zero COVID patients in our hospital for two months straight," he explains, "so we've been able to concentrate on general medicine just as in pre-COVID times."

"We think it is due to countermeasures taken by many citizens and institutions, and accelerated vaccination, thanks to medical staffs' efforts and citizens' understanding."

"Even though I keep having no COVID patients, I haven't seen anybody on the street in Japan not wearing masks," observers Oka. "Even though they think it may not be necessary, there is pressure for people to do the same as everyone else."

"One hypothesis is that there is something intrinsically different about the immune cells that the Japanese people might carry that is able to fight off the infection," says Akiko Iwasaki, an immunologist at Yale University who, in a paper last year, tackled the question of "Why does Japan have so few cases of COVID-19?"

Interesting premise.

IMO a lot of it is due to a homogeneous population which is conformist in many ways. Mask wearing had been prevalent in Asian countries prior to Covid.

I would also hypothesize that they are not getting as many mixed messages as here in America, where 40,000,000 people are under the impression that Covid is a conspiracy or that they just don't need a vaccine.

It would be fascinating though if the Japanese had some powerful immune system that the rest of us don't have.

 

[indicolite22]

Unvaccinated people who caught Delta have virtually no protection against Omicron infection, lab study suggests - but people who've had it AND been jabbed have incredible 'super immunity'

• Austrian scientists tested blood taken from Delta survivors against Omicron and measured antibody levels
• Only one out of seven samples produced enough of the infection-fighting proteins to neutralise Omicron
• Suggests that prior infection alone offers virtually no protection against catching the highly virulent variant
• But scientists believe people who have had Covid will still enjoy some protection against severe disease

Antibody studies look at one very specific part of the immune response to Covid and do not take into account T cell and B cell immunity, which are vital for protection against severe disease but more difficult to measure.

 

[Chelly]

I will say this: I was unknowingly exposed at work 3 weeks ago. The patient and I were both masked, both triple vaxxed. I was within a foot of her face at times over the course of an hour in a closed room. She mentioned feeling “sniffly” a couple of days back and that 3 family members she visited had gotten ill from a bug. Guess what? All of them ended up testing positive including the patient. Thank God, I did not catch it and her symptoms remained like a bad cold when it finally reared its head after I saw her. I am no longer hopeful that I won’t catch it. But I am hopeful that with the shots, masks, not doing unnecessary and unmasked social activities, maybe it’ll be mild. I have to work and school is still in session for my little one. All we can do is our very best and try to stay healthy and sane (and not flick dumb people in the head).
PS my Christmas plans just changed. My adult stepchild had a huge outbreak at her job and is testing negative but has Delta-like symptoms so she is staying away.

I hope you will stay in touch and let us know how you and family are doing.

 

[CharlestonGal]

Interesting premise.

IMO a lot of it is due to a homogeneous population which is conformist in many ways. Mask wearing had been prevalent in Asian countries prior to Covid.

I would also hypothesize that they are not getting as many mixed messages as here in America, where 40,000,000 people are under the impression that Covid is a conspiracy or that they just don't need a vaccine.

It would be fascinating though if the Japanese had some powerful immune system that the rest of us don't have.

Japan is also an island, well a series of islands anyway. They don't share a land border and have had some pretty darn rigid entry restrictions. That probably helped a bit. Similar to OZ and NZ. They are careful who they let in and then watch the ones they do let in. imo

 

[Satchie]

Interesting premise.

IMO a lot of it is due to a homogeneous population which is conformist in many ways. Mask wearing had been prevalent in Asian countries prior to Covid.

I would also hypothesize that they are not getting as many mixed messages as here in America, where 40,000,000 people are under the impression that Covid is a conspiracy or that they just don't need a vaccine.

It would be fascinating though if the Japanese had some powerful immune system that the rest of us don't have.

I recall some speculation that perhaps Japan experienced a similar virus during one of their numerous plagues in the past, when they were isolated from other countries (and perhaps it affected their DNA?)

And yet, cases did rise before the Olympics, so I agree behaviour may be the biggest factor.

 

[ParkerParky]

It always amazes me that 1 infected person can spark an outbreak of 48 people.

In the land of future-man it would be cool if vaccinating 1 person could spread that vaccine to 48 others. That at least would be a fair fight.

Feeling fanciful today, sorry. jmo

I like how you think

 

[Kingsley]

Interesting premise.

IMO a lot of it is due to a homogeneous population which is conformist in many ways. Mask wearing had been prevalent in Asian countries prior to Covid.

I would also hypothesize that they are not getting as many mixed messages as here in America, where 40,000,000 people are under the impression that Covid is a conspiracy or that they just don't need a vaccine.

It would be fascinating though if the Japanese had some powerful immune system that the rest of us don't have.

I agree that the prevalence of mask wearing is important to this.
The mixed messages have been our downfall here in America, IMO. This is not just a problem with social media but with government messaging as well. "Mask on/mask off." "Anything is fine/need CDC-recommended". I won't even touch on the vaccine debates. This messaging, IMO, was more about people management and manipulation than science.
My own suspicion is that the lack of mask wearing among the vaccinated has lead to variants that can avoid the immune system bolstered by the vaccine. JMO. Seems analogous to super-bugs that don't get killed off by antibiotics -- i.e., survival of the fittest. I'm not an expert, just pondering that.
I think telling people that they don't need a mask if vaccinated was an attempt to "reward and placate the masses" for being vaccinated and was a mistake. The vaccine is a God-send as far as saving lives but continued mask-wearing would've slowed the continued spreading.

But, it does sound as though Japan is continuing a multi-pronged approach, which seems to be working well -- unless it is some super-immunity which has developed since the initial virus when Japan had quite a few infections. I'm glad for them and hope others can learn from it.

(FWIW, yes, I'm pro-vax, just not a fan of the propaganda/people management associated with it. I hope I haven't offended anyone.)

 

[coastal]

So interesting, FYI:

UCSD Reports ‘Unprecedented' Spike in San Diego Wastewater COVID Viral Load

UCSD Reports ‘Unprecedented' Spike in San Diego Wastewater COVID Viral Load

>>>snip

Since people with COVID-19 shed the virus in their stool even before they experience symptoms, wastewater screening acts as an early warning system

By City News Service • Published December 20, 2021 • Updated on December 20, 2021 at 5:20 pm

An "unprecedented" spike in COVID-19 viral load in wastewater collected from San Diego County's primary wastewater treatment facility has been noted by UC San Diego School of Medicine researchers.

The amount of COVID-19 virus detected in wastewater has predicted the region's COVID-19 caseload up to three weeks ahead of clinical diagnostic reports, the researchers said Saturday. Since people with COVID-19 shed the virus in their stool even before they experience symptoms, wastewater screening acts as an early warning system.

"The wastewater screening results reported on Friday are unlike any the team has seen before," said Jackie Carr of UC San Diego Health. Both Delta and Omicron variants of the virus were detected in the wastewater.

"This confirms prior county reports that Omicron is already here and circulating in our community," said Dr. Wilma Wooten, San Diego County's public health officer.

"This is the steepest curve in viral load we've seen since we began screening wastewater in the summer of 2020, and it's continuing to get worse faster than ever before," said Rob Knight, professor and wastewater screening leader at UC San Diego School of Medicine...

..."So what we’re essentially seeing is two pandemics on top of each other, with these two different strains of COVID-19. Unless people act now to protect themselves, we’re going to see the hospitals overflowing and we’re going to see case numbers as we’ve never seen before in San Diego," said Knight...

...San Diego County has only one primary wastewater treatment facility, in the Point Loma neighborhood. All excrement flushed away by nearly two-thirds of the county's residents, including those on the UC San Diego campus, ends up there.

UCSD researchers pick up wastewater samples that had been collected and stored for them by lab technicians at the treatment plant. They bring the samples to a lab at the La Jolla campus to test them for the COVID-19 virus, along with wastewater samples collected from more than 350 campus buildings. All positive samples are sequenced to track viral variants.

The team can detect even a single infected, asymptomatic person living or working in a large building of more than 500 people on the UCSD campus. They have found that notifying the occupants of each building with positive wastewater increases COVID-19 testing rates by as much as 13-fold. The approach has enabled early detection of 85 percent of COVID-19 cases on UCSD's campus, officials said.

(article continues)

Copyright CNS - City News Service

>>>snip

 

[CharlestonGal]

So interesting, FYI:

UCSD Reports ‘Unprecedented' Spike in San Diego Wastewater COVID Viral Load

UCSD Reports ‘Unprecedented' Spike in San Diego Wastewater COVID Viral Load

>>>snip

Since people with COVID-19 shed the virus in their stool even before they experience symptoms, wastewater screening acts as an early warning system

By City News Service • Published December 20, 2021 • Updated on December 20, 2021 at 5:20 pm

An "unprecedented" spike in COVID-19 viral load in wastewater collected from San Diego County's primary wastewater treatment facility has been noted by UC San Diego School of Medicine researchers.

The amount of COVID-19 virus detected in wastewater has predicted the region's COVID-19 caseload up to three weeks ahead of clinical diagnostic reports, the researchers said Saturday. Since people with COVID-19 shed the virus in their stool even before they experience symptoms, wastewater screening acts as an early warning system.

"The wastewater screening results reported on Friday are unlike any the team has seen before," said Jackie Carr of UC San Diego Health. Both Delta and Omicron variants of the virus were detected in the wastewater.

"This confirms prior county reports that Omicron is already here and circulating in our community," said Dr. Wilma Wooten, San Diego County's public health officer.

"This is the steepest curve in viral load we've seen since we began screening wastewater in the summer of 2020, and it's continuing to get worse faster than ever before," said Rob Knight, professor and wastewater screening leader at UC San Diego School of Medicine...

..."So what we’re essentially seeing is two pandemics on top of each other, with these two different strains of COVID-19. Unless people act now to protect themselves, we’re going to see the hospitals overflowing and we’re going to see case numbers as we’ve never seen before in San Diego," said Knight...

...San Diego County has only one primary wastewater treatment facility, in the Point Loma neighborhood. All excrement flushed away by nearly two-thirds of the county's residents, including those on the UC San Diego campus, ends up there.

UCSD researchers pick up wastewater samples that had been collected and stored for them by lab technicians at the treatment plant. They bring the samples to a lab at the La Jolla campus to test them for the COVID-19 virus, along with wastewater samples collected from more than 350 campus buildings. All positive samples are sequenced to track viral variants.

The team can detect even a single infected, asymptomatic person living or working in a large building of more than 500 people on the UCSD campus. They have found that notifying the occupants of each building with positive wastewater increases COVID-19 testing rates by as much as 13-fold. The approach has enabled early detection of 85 percent of COVID-19 cases on UCSD's campus, officials said.

(article continues)

Copyright CNS - City News Service

>>>snip

Now you know why communicable diseases were so rampant before modern plumbing and sanitation. ewwww.......

 

[CharlestonGal]

Looks like some of our "vaccinated cases" may not be so vaccinated after all. I'm sure this is happening everywhere in the world.

France finds over 180,000 fake Covid passes, and Italy makes arrests in suspected false inoculations.

In France, the authorities said on Monday that they had detected over 180,000 fake Covid passes since the measure was introduced this summer. And in Italy on Tuesday, the police in the Sicilian capital, Palermo, arrested a leader of an anti-vaccine movement and a nurse who is accused of accepting payments for pretend vaccinations.

Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said this month that about 400 investigations had been opened into networks of people suspected of providing the fake passes, including some connected to health professionals.

The French news media recently reported several cases of doctors suspected of having sold fake Covid passes. The Covid death of a woman in a Paris regional hospital this month after she showed a fake vaccine certificate has also drawn scrutiny.

In Sicily, the police in Palermo said that a nurse had been paid 100 to 400 euros ($113 to $451) to pretend to inoculate people at a vaccination center so that they could obtain a Green Pass, a health document that is required in Italy to work and to participate in many social activities.

 

[jjenny]

I recommend you read up on both of these before choosing one. They work in COMPLETELY different ways, one of which makes me a little nervous. jmo

ETA: So people don't have to google - Merck (molnupiravir) causes the virus to mutate so rapidly it can no longer replicate. Pfizer (Paxlovid) does not impact the virus directly - it works on one of our own cellular enzymes the virus needs to complete replication.

How the new COVID antiviral drugs from Merck and Pfizer work, and whom they’ll help

Plus Pfizer's is much more effective in preventing hospitalizations and deaths.

 

[CharlestonGal]

Plus Pfizer's is much more effective in preventing hospitalizations and deaths.

I'm going to be surprised if they actually give Merck an EUA tomorrow. Their data doesn't really support that, imo.

ETA: Merck could not explain why the same phase 3 study produced differing results roughly seven weeks apart, drawing consternation from the committee members. Interim data issued in late October from a study of more than 700 participants showed that molnupiravir reduced the risk of hospitalization and death by 48% over placebo. A longer-term look however showed that molnupiravir reduced the risks by just 30%.

Much of the discussion centered on the questionable safety of the treatment on pregnant women and other women of childbearing age. In pregnant rats, molnupiravir killed embryos.

If approved, molnupiravir will become the first oral treatment for COVID-19. Pfizer has also asked the FDA to approve its oral candidate Paxlovid, which was shown to reduce the risk of hospitalization and death by 89%.

Merck's COVID-19 antiviral narrowly clears FDA panel—but committee echos support for revoking nod in favor of superior option

 

[Mo Thuairim]

I have never known many people who got Covid in the last two years but right now I feel like I know more people who have Covid, or have just had it, than don't. A lot of my team at work currently have Covid but have mild cases so they're working as normal. They're all double vaccinated, work from home, are very careful, we have mask requirements and lots of restrictions here, but still it is finding them. Many of my friends with kids have got it from their school-age children and then the whole family tested positive. But a lot of the ones without kids don't know where they got it.

We are at 95% double vaccinated in Ireland, with 40% of over-18s boosted and we're under a semi-lockdown, but we have a two-thirds Omicron/one-third Delta split at the moment and there seems to be no escaping this thing. Looking at my friends' and colleagues' experiences, realistically I am resigned to getting it before too long although I am super careful. This virus is everywhere. But luckily I got my booster last week and am hoping for a mild case whenever Covid does finally catch up with me.

My main concern is our hospitals and I dread to think what will happen in January when people inevitably let their guards down a bit at Christmas and the case numbers soar even higher.

 

[MimosaMornings]

So faar, they're the only doctors who have made that statement, so I'm taking it as just their opinion..

Of all my extended family, friends, neighbors and co workers, no one has gotten Covid 19 yet. Only 2 people in our neighborhood of 300 homes has gotten it.

I'm so sorry you and your husband did, though. I hope you're feeling better and didn't experience ant long term effects.

Wow. Your area is doing well!

Immediate and extended family have had Covid. Several with hospital stays before they were vaccinated. Unvaccinated with PE, pneumonia and cardiac, heart muscle damage from previous covid. Cousin, several coworkers for both of us have died, several before vaccine.
Friends of the family of all ages, in various cities/states. Husband and wife a month or so ago. One vax, other not.
Three neighbors tested yesterday and are positive. None interact with each other. Double vaccinated but not boosted.
A bit scary and depressing.

 

[SouthAussie]

In Australia, our numbers are going up exponentially. Rising in 4 states (my state included) .... which we knew was going to happen once some of us opened up our state borders (with entry restrictions), but is still a big adjustment for us all. The everyday danger has arrived in Australia.

Our concern, too, is our hospital capacity for the serious cases. There are also large numbers (1,400 in NSW) of medical staff who are either in 7-day isolation due to being close contacts, or are off work because they have covid themselves.

Our vax rates are really high, and I think our main hope is that they will be our crutch as we get through this pandemic.
Though National Cabinet (all the state leaders) is having an emergency meeting today to see what we need/want to do now.

'Learning to live with covid' downunder. I sure am glad that I have learned so much from you all (eg: home delivery of groceries is now in effect for my family).

 

[CoverMeCagney]

You have summer time on your side too, @SouthAussie, easier to limit spread when socialising can be outdoors. Plus your vaccines have generally been done more recently than in Europe/USA. Hopefully your boosters will all be in arms before your winter starts. You got this!!