Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #108

[Lilibet]

How are you doing? You mentioned having some heart concerns due to your having Covid in 2020 I think it was, before vaccines. Hoping you are doing well.

Thanks for checking on me @Cool Cats. I see the cardiologist next week…finally…and I plan to ask him if there may be a covid connection. I’ve saved the linked article to mention to him.
https://wapo.st/3F3KImW

I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure when I ended up in the hospital with severe shortness of breath in February. I’m still on oxygen at night and feeling better now for the most part. Covid found me in late January 2021, about two weeks before we were eligible for the vaccination. I haven’t seemed to have long-term symptoms that I can directly associate with covid, but I think the heart issues can be sneaky, so we’ll see. I will post here if I find out anything relevant.

 

[anneg]

I haven’t read all posts recently, but has the “Test to Treat” program been discussed? It seems to make treatment widely available if you qualify. I’m not sure what the parameters are for dispensing the Rx, and it has to be started within five days of the start of symptoms. Positive home test results are accepted, so it seems one could test soon enough. The RiteAid pharmacy in my town of 22,000 participates in the program.

Test To Treat

Our friend who had Covid recently did that, with a positive home test, and he was given an RX for Paxlovid. He's fine now. Elderly like me.

 

[Lilibet]

Y'all, don't forget vaccine efficacy is not so much focused on avoiding infection as preventing severe illness and death. And the vaccines are working very well to do that. It's up to individuals to take steps to avoid exposure, as much as we can... and the vaccines will keep us from severe illness, having to be hospitalized, and dying. I call that very good efficacy. MOO

Yes, this is very important to remember. From what I’ve read, among those vaccinated/boosted the elderly are the main ones experiencing severe illness and death. So those of us on the downhill slide toward 80 need to be extra careful.

 

[Lilibet]

Our friend who had Covid recently did that, with a positive home test, and he was given an RX for Paxlovid. He's fine now. Elderly like me.

That’s encouraging to know. I’d rather “waste” a couple of home test kits if I have symptoms than wait until I’m past the time for getting the Rx.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

I am so disappointed I figured three shots would be all I would need -- that we
Would then require an annual booster------ so now we learn that the vaccine
effectiveness wanes fairly quickly, depending on who to believe-----anywhere
Between a few weeks to 4 months!!!

DH and I had our initial boosters (Pfizer) in mid-November and were considering our second shots in a couple of weeks. We might delay getting the second booster until sometime this summer but before we would get our flu vaccines in the fall. We're not happy about having to continue to get Covid boosters every 4-6 months and hope this won't be necessary. We don't want to get Covid, but there are risks and side effects with the vaccines that also need to be considered. JMO

 

[ilovewings]

DH and I had our initial boosters (Pfizer) in mid-November and were considering our second shots in a couple of weeks. We might delay getting the second booster until sometime this summer but before we would get our flu vaccines in the fall. We're not happy about having to continue to get Covid boosters every 4-6 months and hope this won't be necessary. We don't want to get Covid, but there are risks and side effects with the vaccines that also need to be considered. JMO

I agree - I too had my first booster in mid November and planned
On getting my 2nd booster in mid-May but I am rethinking that.
My hubby got his 2nd booster yesterday and he is fine.

I am really concerned about having to get boosters
Every few months.

 

[Cool Cats]

Thanks for checking on me @Cool Cats. I see the cardiologist next week…finally…and I plan to ask him if there may be a covid connection. I’ve saved the linked article to mention to him.
https://wapo.st/3F3KImW

I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure when I ended up in the hospital with severe shortness of breath in February. I’m still on oxygen at night and feeling better now for the most part. Covid found me in late January 2021, about two weeks before we were eligible for the vaccination. I haven’t seemed to have long-term symptoms that I can directly associate with covid, but I think the heart issues can be sneaky, so we’ll see. I will post here if I find out anything relevant.

I think this is very important that you mention the possible Covid link with your cardiologist and share the article.

Yes please post for us! We care how you are doing. Glad your feeling better and that you haven’t seemed to have long-term symptoms.

Take Care!

 

[ilovewings]

It's pretty ridiculous. There is no other vaccine with that poor of efficacy that I'm aware of.

What's even more enraging is the downplaying of the risks of catching covid. Like the video link above saying we have good treatment now. Um, for famous and wealthy people. I don't know anyone given paxlovid and people don't get tested soon enough in general to get it. Forget if it's truly effective.

Now basically no one gets any treatment unless their oxygen drops too low. It's worse than it was this past winter before the new variants. And not dying is basically seen as a success, regardless of how crippled in health someone might end up.

As someone diagnosed in my teens with chronic fatigue syndrome and some new treat every 5-10 years I am so disgusted at the almost total lack of treatment. We put all our eggs in the vaccine basket. And if anyone pays any attention we all know we're being lied to over this.

It's time to move on. You can deal with your crippling poor health on your own dime now.

I had to pick up a prescription today at Rite Aid and got into a discussion
With the pharmacist about Covid---- he told me he has not filled one prescription for Paxlovid- he is puzzled by that but did say this drug has lots of side
Effects and, as we know, lots of drug interactions.

 

[ilovewings]

Yes, this is very important to remember. From what I’ve read, among those vaccinated/boosted the elderly are the main ones experiencing severe illness and death. So those of us on the downhill slide toward 80 need to be extra careful.

So what does that say about the efficacy of the boosters????
We were told that boosters would prevent severe illness
And death of the elderly but now we are told efficacy wanes pretty
Quickly, leaving us vulnerable to both severe illness and death!!!

 

[ilovewings]

It's pretty ridiculous. There is no other vaccine with that poor of efficacy that I'm aware of.

What's even more enraging is the downplaying of the risks of catching covid. Like the video link above saying we have good treatment now. Um, for famous and wealthy people. I don't know anyone given paxlovid and people don't get tested soon enough in general to get it. Forget if it's truly effective.

Now basically no one gets any treatment unless their oxygen drops too low. It's worse than it was this past winter before the new variants. And not dying is basically seen as a success, regardless of how crippled in health someone might end up.

As someone diagnosed in my teens with chronic fatigue syndrome and some new treat every 5-10 years I am so disgusted at the almost total lack of treatment. We put all our eggs in the vaccine basket. And if anyone pays any attention we all know we're being lied to over this.

It's time to move on. You can deal with your crippling poor health on your own dime now.

I dont believe we were lied to---there just so much that is being learned as time goes on about this new. vaccine, but I would hope the vaccine could be tweaked to provide a longer period of efficacy.

 

[Cool Cats]

I feel protected with my 2 shots and have decided against a booster. This business of needing more and more boosters etc.... isn't even healthy, can tire you out.

Repeat Booster Shots Could Be Bad For You, Warn Some Experts
Repeat booster doses every four months could eventually weaken the immune system and tire out people, according to the European Medicines Agency.

Frequent Boosters Spur Warning on Immune Response

European Union regulators warned that frequent Covid-19 booster shots could adversely affect the immune response and may not be feasible.

Repeat booster doses every four months could eventually weaken the immune response and tire out people, according to the European Medicines Agency. Instead, countries should leave more time between booster programs and tie them to the onset of the cold season in each hemisphere, following the blueprint set out by influenza vaccination strategies, the agency said.

The advice comes as some countries consider the possibility of offering people second booster shots in a bid to provide further protection against surging omicron infections. Earlier this month Israel became the first nation to start administering a second booster, or fourth shot, to those over 60. The U.K. has said that boosters are providing good levels of protection and there is no need for a second booster shot at the moment, but will review data as it evolves.

 

[MimosaMornings]

I had to pick up a prescription today at Rite Aid and got into a discussion
With the pharmacist about Covid---- he told me he has not filled one prescription for Paxlovid- he is puzzled by that but did say this drug has lots of side
Effects and, as we know, lots of drug interactions.

Three in my family over 70 were told not to take it because of the blood thinner and statin drug interactions. But that could be one doctor’s opinion.

 

[ilovewings]

Three in my family over 70 were told not to take it because of the blood thinner and statin drug interactions. But that could be one doctor’s opinion.

https://www.medpagetoday.com/opinion/skeptical-cardiologist/96692

Here is a summary of Paxalovid intereactions with meds which includes interaction with statins and some blood thinners.

 

[Lilibet]

So what does that say about the efficacy of the boosters????
We were told that boosters would prevent severe illness
And death of the elderly but now we are told efficacy wanes pretty
Quickly, leaving us vulnerable to both severe illness and death!!!

It’s also true that seniors generally have weaker immune systems, some weaker than others. And this is a “novel coronavirus,” so everything is a steep learning curve, including vaccines and boosters. I’ve never felt that anything is a sure thing and I need to keep taking precautions. But the truth is that the ones getting sickest and dying are the unvaxxed and unboosted.

 

[Sundog]

So if I get my 2nd booster in May, are we Going to require another one in the fall???

I'm guessing that the fall booster will be offered at the same time as the flu vaccine, to encourage people to get both. We usually get the flu shot at the end of September or early October. So I am trying to wait until the end of May to get the 2nd booster, although I would like to get it sooner. But in terms of timing and a possilbe fall surge, I am trying to wait a few more weeks before getting the booster. So for the next 4 weeks will keep masking and avoiding indoor situations and practice social distancing outdoors.

This goes against Dr. Birx's advice, she recommends keeping up with the vaccines and boosters. Probably a risk to wait, and a risk not to wait, in terms of timing and vaccine waning/effectiveness.

 

[Sundog]

https://www.medpagetoday.com/opinion/skeptical-cardiologist/96692

Here is a summary of Paxalovid intereactions with meds which includes interaction with statins and some blood thinners.

Doctors recommend that if a person is going to start the Paxalovid treatment over five days, then they should temporarily stop taking blood pressure medication for the five days. Some statins as well, but not all of them. Other medications should also be checked against the list of medications that one shouldn't take with Paxlovid and reviewed with a doctor before stopping them.

One of the hospitals in our region has a good supply of Paxlovid, it requires a doctor's prescription, and the doctor requires both a positive antigen test and a positive PCR test before prescribing it. It also is limited to those over 65 and others with conditions that could result in serious illness if they get covid-19.

 

[Sundog]

That’s encouraging to know. I’d rather “waste” a couple of home test kits if I have symptoms than wait until I’m past the time for getting the Rx.

In Ohio, in our region, the antigen self-test needs to be confirmed with a PCR test before getting an RX for Paxlovid. And there is usually a 48 hour wait for the PCR test results. Still, good to take a home test early and if positive get the PCR test as quickly if possible, if over 65 and/or have a condition that puts you at serious risk.

 

[Sundog]

What you need to know about at-home rapid tests and their results

“These tests don’t seem to work really well in the early parts of these infections because it doesn’t look like omicron has as high a viral load in the first couple of days, as opposed to delta, which had a screaming-high viral load on Day One,” he said. “What is shifting now is, when did you get tested? Because there now appears to be a lower amount of virus early on, that might explain why the antigen tests are not showing up positive until Day Three, when there’s lots of positivity.”

I guess that’s why Dr. Birx says she tests herself for 5 days if she thinks she’s had a possible exposure, so she is certain that she isn't covid positive before visting her 93 year old mother and her grandchildren.

ETA: She must have a good supply of tests.

 

[MimosaMornings]

Florida lost 70,000 people to Covid. It’s still not prepared for the next wave. — POLITICO

“Hospital officials told state lawmakers during a November committee meeting that contract nurses had driven up labor costs by almost eight times the normal rate. The nationwide push to hire nurses under lucrative contracts also led to an exodus of staffers at Florida hospitals earlier in the pandemic. Now, facing burnout from increasing workloads and less help, many medical staffers are retiring early or leaving the field entirely.”

 

[Sundog]

Florida lost 70,000 people to Covid. It’s still not prepared for the next wave. — POLITICO

“Hospital officials told state lawmakers during a November committee meeting that contract nurses had driven up labor costs by almost eight times the normal rate. The nationwide push to hire nurses under lucrative contracts also led to an exodus of staffers at Florida hospitals earlier in the pandemic. Now, facing burnout from increasing workloads and less help, many medical staffers are retiring early or leaving the field entirely.”

Similar in our state, lots of bonuses being offered to new hires to attract them to hospital employment. A lot of medical staff retired early or left their jobs during the pandemic and hospitals around the country are having a hard time re-building staffing levels.