Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #103

[Tiff23fr]

I was just in the kitchen making lunch and realized I feel markedly better. I was a bit dubious yesterday when the infusion center said I would likely feel much better by today, but I do. At the moment I only feel like I have a mild/moderate cold instead of feeling like death warmed over.

It's remarkable.

It is comforting to hear how well you are doing. Take care and happy holidays.

 

[CharlestonGal]

I am so happy for you-- thank goodness they have a treatment now
that can turn this thing around in a short period of time----

I fear many places are going to run out soon. It has already started in several areas. I don't think we're going to have enough for everyone who could benefit, unfortunately. jmo

 

[ilovewings]

I fear many places are going to run out soon. It has already started in several areas. I don't think we're going to have enough for everyone who could benefit, unfortunately. jmo

I agree and that is very concerning and frustrating

 

[CharlestonGal]

Good news!

First doses of Paxlovid, Pfizer's new COVID pill, are released to states

A federal agency has released the first allocations of Paxlovid, the new COVID-19 treatment from Pfizer, to states and territories. The federal government has a contract for 10 million courses of the treatment and is providing the medicine free to state and territorial health departments.

 

[mickey2942]

The fun has begun at work with two employees testing positive. One had Covid in 2020 and is triple vaccinated with Pfizer. Another that’s triple vaccinated. I’m expecting more to come up positive when staff re-test next week. It had been several months since we had seen a positive employee, so it definitely feels discouraging, though not at all surprising.

Hmm, I tried to mix it up, 2 Pfizer, 1 Moderna. Pretty sure it is just a matter of time.

 

[CrimeAway]

More news about Covid mortality and excess deaths:

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[Yesiamapirate]

Hmm, I tried to mix it up, 2 Pfizer, 1 Moderna. Pretty sure it is just a matter of time.

Three Pfizer’s here. I agree with you. It is probably a matter of time for most of us. Will it be the office, the grocery store or maybe a restaurant or the gym. Who knows. The first year, before vaccines we isolated. Now, I mentally don’t have it in me to isolate. Our fully vaccinated family will be together on Christmas. Not the decision everyone would make and I respect that. But it is the right one for us.

 

[CrimeAway]

The UK has recorded over 122,000 cases today:

COVID Live - Coronavirus Statistics - Worldometer

The good news is that some vaccine centers will be open over the Christmas weekend:

Get your 'jingle jab' on Christmas day: Booster rollout to carry on over the weekend | Daily Mail Online

 

[Sundog]

White House lifting omicron travel ban on southern African countries amid spread in US

 

[Lilibet]

COVID deaths obscured by inaccurate death certificates

This will drive the local FB covid minimizers nuts! They insist that covid deaths are inflated because they are counted as covid even if the person died of an underlying condition or…get this…in an accident.

 

[jjenny]

I fear many places are going to run out soon. It has already started in several areas. I don't think we're going to have enough for everyone who could benefit, unfortunately. jmo

Yes there is going to be a real shortage of antibody treatments. Regeneron doesn't work against Omicron.

 

[jjenny]

Good news!

First doses of Paxlovid, Pfizer's new COVID pill, are released to states

A federal agency has released the first allocations of Paxlovid, the new COVID-19 treatment from Pfizer, to states and territories. The federal government has a contract for 10 million courses of the treatment and is providing the medicine free to state and territorial health departments.

Yes, it appears to be highly efficient. The key will be getting tested quickly, since it has to be given early on to work.

 

[Lilibet]

So glad to hear you’re feeling better @CharlestonGal. Yay for mabs!

 

[Sundog]

I agree and that is very concerning and frustrating

The Biden administration needs to announce what it is doing to replenish the suppy of monoclonal antibodies that work on omicron, as they are in extremely short supply, <modsnip - no link> Not everyone will be able to take the new Pfizer antiviral due to drug interactions. And the Merck antiviral isn't something that a lot of us would take due to how it works, and it is less effective.

 

[Lilibet]

Yes, it appears to be highly efficient. The key will be getting tested quickly, since it has to be given early on to work.

I hope the rapid home tests I bought in early December will be accepted if I need Paxlovid. That’s why I bought them even before the fed government decided to provide them for free.

 

[musicaljoke]

The UK has recorded over 122,000 cases today:

COVID Live - Coronavirus Statistics - Worldometer

The good news is that some vaccine centers will be open over the Christmas weekend:

Get your 'jingle jab' on Christmas day: Booster rollout to carry on over the weekend | Daily Mail Online

Oh my, bless the hearts of those who are working Christmas Day to make this possible.

 

[CharlestonGal]

More news about Covid mortality and excess deaths:

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Thank you. That was very interesting. I know it's going to take a while to get a reasonable handle on the data, but I highly suspect that for each person that dies of covid, two or three others will die from the pandemic. jmo

 

[CrimeAway]

Yes, it appears to be highly efficient. The key will be getting tested quickly, since it has to be given early on to work.

I think getting tested quickly over the holiday period could be tricky though. My local testing centers and most Dr's offices are closed until Monday, and rapid antigen tests are becoming increasingly difficult to find. Maybe pharmacies and urgent care centers will be open on Sunday?

 

[CrimeAway]

I hope the rapid home tests I bought in early December will be accepted if I need Paxlovid. That’s why I bought them even before the fed government decided to provide them for free.

I had read somewhere that home tests could be reported to a PCP/GP, who could then upload that information to state health authorities. I wonder if PCP/GP offices will have an answering service who would use the test results to triage patients for MABs or antivirals?

As usual the distinct lack of an adequate public health infrastructure and pandemic preparedness is showing. JMO.

 

[CharlestonGal]

I think getting tested quickly over the holiday period could be tricky though. My local testing centers and most Dr's offices are closed until Monday, and rapid antigen tests are becoming increasingly difficult to find. Maybe pharmacies and urgent care centers will be open on Sunday?

The problem is Paxlovid requires a prescription so a doctor has to be involved at some point. Will they send a script to the pharmacy for you if you just call and tell them your home test was positive? Maybe a telehealth appointment or something like that?

Also, I just saw that Merck's antiviral was approved yesterday as well.