Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #77

[ilovewings]

Vaccine-making technology is very different than in the past, though. I am very optimistic about both the vaccine and its clinical trials.

I think they already know that it doesn't kill people or make them sicker. All people in the early trials had very mild reactions to the vaccine. In fact, it seemed to work very well in two doses (smaller) rather than one big dose.

Tens of thousands of people have already been vaccinated. So far, no deaths.

That is very encouraging

 

[MrX]

Can I ask, if your missus had not taken this stance would you still have gone to bars?

Its a tricky dynamic I think.

Yes. I may be in a unique spot, in that mental illness has caused me to not plan for the future (no retirement, unhealthy lifestyle, no preventative medical exams, etc.) That being the case, I kind of embody the phrase "live for today." I simply could not afford to waste however many months (years?) Covid was going to take to resolve. Friends could not understand the state of anxiety I would work myself into every Thursday, fearing the Governor was going take my "life" away. You all experienced that, in real time, with my updates. Mrs X probably would have been fine staying in, but she's a contradiction - she takes excellent care of her diabetes, yet won't quit smoking.

 

[10ofRods]

Economist: Pay Americans $1,000 each to take a coronavirus vaccine

One in Three Americans Would Not Get COVID-19 Vaccine

“If we don’t get herd immunity, we’re not getting our economy back and we’re not getting our society and our lives back,” Robert Litan, an economist who served in the Clinton administration and the Brookings scholar who authored the report, told Yahoo Finance (video above). “If you paid $1,000 a person — so for a family of four you’re talking $4,000. In these hard times, that’s a lot of money and I think a lot of people would take the vaccine for $1,000.”

Once the U.S. epicenter, New York's coronavirus cases have decreased dramatically. (Graphic: David Foster/Yahoo Finance)

So interesting how little any scientific/medical opinion plays into this economist's views.

 

[HongKongPhooey]

Yes. I may be in a unique spot, in that mental illness has caused me to not plan for the future (no retirement, unhealthy lifestyle, no preventative medical exams, etc.) That being the case, I kind of embody the phrase "live for today." I simply could not afford to waste however many months (years?) Covid was going to take to resolve. Friends could not understand the state of anxiety I would work myself into every Thursday, fearing the Governor was going take my "life" away. You all experienced that, in real time, with my updates. Mrs X probably would have been fine staying in, but she's a contradiction - she takes excellent care of her diabetes, yet won't quit smoking.

My mum (mid 70s) is recognising that for her mental health they need to start venturing out. I have to respect that I think and just advise her as best I can.

I'm quite lucky in that I'm generally happiest at home, so it hasnt been a strain for me.

Although my son did remind me a couple of days ago that I've had many happy times drinking cocktails in London!

 

[MrX]

My mum (mid 70s) is recognising that for her mental health they need to start venturing out. I have to respect that I think and just advise her as best I can.

I'm quite lucky in that I'm generally happiest at home, so it hasnt been a strain for me.

Although my son did remind me a couple of days ago that I've had many happy times drinking cocktails in London!

It seems to be getting more common. Even for people that are confirmed "homebodies," almost six months of this is going to cause issues. I've noticed that every time someone returns to the pub, for the first time, that's like waking from a coma into a strange new world. The assumption is that everyone will be draped in PPE, standing miles apart and wiping everything down with bleach. They see a bunch of people at a table, no masks and touching pints with their bare hands and it's shocking.

 

[ilovewings]

Clinical trials for H1N1 started on July 22nd and by Sept 15th, FDA approved 4 vaccines.


2009 H1N1 Flu Pandemic Timeline

seems to me H1N1 was influenza-- is that right?? if so, i would think it would not
be that difficult to develop a flu vaccine for H1N1 whereas this is a new novel virus
for which it might be more difficult to develop an effective and safe virus--admittedly
i dont have a wealth of knowledge about vaccines,so i am open to learning and
understanding vaccines.

 

[HongKongPhooey]

It seems to be getting more common. Even for people that are confirmed "homebodies," almost six months of this is going to cause issues. I've noticed that every time someone returns to the pub, for the first time, that's like waking from a coma into a strange new world. The assumption is that everyone will be draped in PPE, standing miles apart and wiping everything down with bleach. They see a bunch of people at a table, no masks and touching pints with their bare hands and it's shocking.

Our local had space markings on the floor and lots of hand sanitiser gel around. Cashless payments (contactless). But I was aware that the barmaid handled our glasses. We sat outside.

There's only 100 people living in our village. I wouldn't be comfortable going to a pub in a town. Too many holidaymakers returning from Europe right now

 

[Trino]

Vaccine-making technology is very different than in the past, though. I am very optimistic about both the vaccine and its clinical trials.

I think they already know that it doesn't kill people or make them sicker. All people in the early trials had very mild reactions to the vaccine. In fact, it seemed to work very well in two doses (smaller) rather than one big dose.

Tens of thousands of people have already been vaccinated. So far, no deaths.

I am not terribly keen on getting a vaccine shot. Last fall I received a newer, two shot shingles vaccine, supposedly safe, and with BOTH shots, I was bedfast and out of commission for 4 days. Why? No one has any idea. No allergies (supposedly) to the shot. Well, we can see how that went.

As to the vaccine, I just cannot imagine it will be safe in such short time, assuming it comes out by the end of the year.

 

[Tillicum]

Over 100 million testing kits to be distributed by feds to schools

The Trump administration will begin shipping tens of millions of coronavirus testing kits this month to state governors for school distribution, it announced Tuesday.

Admiral Brett Giroir, assistant secretary for health, announced a plan to distribute 150 million Abbott Laboratories rapid tests to states where schools are reopening.

Giroir said Tuesday that the “great majority” of tests will be handed over to governors to use in screening children in the K-12 school age range. But some tests will be reserved for first responders and at-risk groups, like the elderly.

 

[Simply Southern]

seems to me H1N1 was influenza-- is that right?? if so, i would think it would not
be that difficult to develop a flu vaccine for H1N1 whereas this is a new novel virus
for which it might be more difficult to develop an effective and safe virus--admittedly
i dont have a wealth of knowledge about vaccines,so i am open to learning and
understanding vaccines.

CDC has a good article explaining novel viruses. Novel is a virus transmitted from animals to human. We've had many of these before, Avian Flu is a novel virus transmitted from poultry.

We have much more experience developing vaccines and the shole world is working and sharing information. The trials are going very well. MOO..I think we will see a Covid vaccine available for healthcare and nursing homes before the end of the year or sooner.

Viruses of Special Concern | Pandemic Influenza (Flu) | CDC

A novel influenza A virus is one that has caused human infection, but is different from current seasonal human influenza A viruses that circulate among people. Novel influenza A viruses are usually influenza A viruses that circulate among animals. Some novel influenza A viruses are believed to pose a greater pandemic threat than others and are more concerning to public health officials because they have caused serious human illness and death and also have been able to spread in a limited manner from person-to-person. Novel influenza A viruses are of extra concern because of the potential impact they could have on public health if they gain the ability to spread easily from person to person, which might cause the next influenza pandemic. Human infection with a novel influenza A virus is a nationally notifiable condition reportable to CDC. The text below summarizes the novel influenza A viruses that are currently most concerning to public health officials.

Avian Influenza A Viruses

• Avian influenza A viruses do not normally infect humans, but sporadic human infections have occurred.
• Illness in humans caused by avian influenza A virus infections has ranged from mild to severe (e.g. pneumonia).
• Several subtypes of avian influenza A viruses are known to have infected people (H5, H6, H7, H9, H10 viruses).
• Highly pathogenic Asian avian influenza A(H5N1) and low pathogenic Asian A(H7N9) viruses account for the majority of human infections with avian influenza A viruses.
• Human infections with avian influenza A viruses have most often occurred after exposure to infected poultry or their secretions or excretions, such as through direct or close contact, including visiting a live poultry market.

Avian influenza A H5 viruses

• Among H5 avian influenza A viruses, Asian highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A (H5N1) viruses have caused the most human infections. Asian H5N1 viruses are currently circulating among poultry in Asia and the Middle East and human infections with these viruses have been reported in 17 countries since 2003. Human infections are often associated with severe pneumonia and mortality greater than 50%. Probable, limited, non-sustained human-to-human spread of Asian H5N1 viruses has been reported in several countries. (HPAI H5 viruses detected in birds and poultry in the United States are different and have not caused human infections.)

Avian influenza A H7 viruses

• Among H7 viruses, low pathogenic Asian lineage avian influenza A H7N9 viruses have caused the most reported human infections; with most of them occurring in China. The first human infections with H7N9 viruses were reported by WHO on April 1, 2013external icon and sporadic human infections continue to be reported in China. In late 2016, some low pathogenicity Asian H7N9 viruses developed mutations that made them highly pathogenic in poultry. These HPAI H7N9 Asian viruses continue to be associated with human infections in China. Many Asian H7N9 virus infected patients have had severe respiratory illness. During the past five annual epidemics of Asian H7N9 virus infections in people, the mortality rate in hospitalized patients has averaged about 40 percent. Probable, limited, non-sustained human-to-human spread of Asian H7N9 viruses also has been reported in China. Since the implementation of a large-scale H5-H7 poultry vaccination program in September 2017, few human infections with Asian H7N9 viruses have been reported.

More at article.....

 

[tresir2012]

seems to me H1N1 was influenza-- is that right?? if so, i would think it would not
be that difficult to develop a flu vaccine for H1N1 whereas this is a new novel virus
for which it might be more difficult to develop an effective and safe virus--admittedly
i dont have a wealth of knowledge about vaccines,so i am open to learning and
understanding vaccines.

H1N1 was AKA Swine Flu. Scary at the time but the speed they got the vaccine out was impressive IIRC.

 

[Simply Southern]

Vaccine-making technology is very different than in the past, though. I am very optimistic about both the vaccine and its clinical trials.

I think they already know that it doesn't kill people or make them sicker. All people in the early trials had very mild reactions to the vaccine. In fact, it seemed to work very well in two doses (smaller) rather than one big dose.

Tens of thousands of people have already been vaccinated. So far, no deaths.

Totally agree!! And to add.... the greatest scientists in the world are working on this with billions of dollars supporting the effort.

 

[tresir2012]

seems to me H1N1 was influenza-- is that right?? if so, i would think it would not
be that difficult to develop a flu vaccine for H1N1 whereas this is a new novel virus
for which it might be more difficult to develop an effective and safe virus--admittedly
i dont have a wealth of knowledge about vaccines,so i am open to learning and
understanding vaccines.

H1N1 was AKA Swine Flu. Scary at the time but the speed they got the vaccine out was impressive IIRC.

 

[Simply Southern]

I think that the real problem will be backlog on tests, as so many people might have the flu, and will think it is Covid. Or people will have Covid, shrug it off, thinking it is a cold or flu.

Everyone, please get a flu vaccine this year.

Yes!!!! Everybody get the flu vaccine !!!

Thankfully we have many more rapid tests available in hospitals, ERs, urgent care and doctors offices.

The PCR test take longer and may be used to confirm hospitalized patients.

 

[musicaljoke]

From what I have read and heard, it normally takes anywhere from 4 years to maybe 10 years to develop a safe vaccine. Because of the lethality of this virus they have accelerated the process in an unprecedented way--- i think there is a reason a vaccine has had to prove it is safe after going thru three complete stages. If you shorten the process you really don't know what can happen with the vaccine: maybe it will kill people or make them much sicker. In other words, you could make things much worse.
I think the FDA is being pressured and I don't like it.

There are a couple of potential serious consequences that will have to be tested carefully. What happens when you give a vaccine to someone who is asymptomatic? Is it possible for a healthy, vaccinated individual to transmit the disease.

I appreciate the urgency of getting a vaccine out, but I too want the process to go through the proper testings for safety. There's no way a vaccine can be tested within the pre-election time frame. We know that from every reliable medical scientific research organisation ... plus Bill Gates.

ETA ... having said that, testing will continue even after a vaccination program has started.

 

[Tillicum]

Coronavirus: State to receive 9 million face masks from FEMA

The Ohio Departments of Education, Health and Job and Family Services are receiving shipments of masks from the Ohio Emergency Management Agency. Shipments will total 9 million masks.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) donated these additional masks to the State of Ohio as part of a new FEMA Mask Program. FEMA provided an initial 2 million face masks for Ohio school districts early last month. The masks are being provided at no cost to Ohio, a release from the State of Ohio said. The masks are KN-95 non-medical grade face masks.

 

[Simply Southern]

I am not terribly keen on getting a vaccine shot. Last fall I received a newer, two shot shingles vaccine, supposedly safe, and with BOTH shots, I was bedfast and out of commission for 4 days. Why? No one has any idea. No allergies (supposedly) to the shot. Well, we can see how that went.

As to the vaccine, I just cannot imagine it will be safe in such short time, assuming it comes out by the end of the year.

It's not to say we won't have mild side effects. The pneumonia vaccine put me down for 3 days. Most flu I feel achey for a few days.

I always tried to get vaccines on Friday, so I'd be feeling better by Mon. Working in HC, I've had so many vaccines, Hep B, C, all the flu vaccines, and more.

Most kids have mild fever, achey with MMR. Remember the small pox vaccine? It left a big blister, they gave me a plastic patch to protect it and then we all had a scar.

It's a small price we pay for protection of a greater illness.

MOO...by the time the general public is offered the vaccine, millions of healthcare, EMTs, law enforcement, long term care patients, and sports teams will have received. We certainly won't be the first in line.
MOO...

 

[weepingangel]

Sbm
And don’t forget the military !

MOO...by the time the general public is offered the vaccine, millions of healthcare, EMTs, law enforcement, long term care patients, and sports teams will have received. We certainly won't be the first in line.
MOO...

 

[Simply Southern]

Sbm
And don’t forget the military !

Thanks for reminding me. That means I'm way down on the list for a vaccine.

 

[SouthAussie]

There are a couple of potential serious consequences that will have to be tested carefully. What happens when you give a vaccine to someone who is asymptomatic? Is it possible for a healthy, vaccinated individual to transmit the disease.

I appreciate the urgency of getting a vaccine out, but I too want the process to go through the proper testings for safety. There's no way a vaccine can be tested within the pre-election time frame. We know that from every reliable medical scientific research organisation ... plus Bill Gates.

ETA ... having said that, testing will continue even after a vaccination program has started.

Even with a vaccine - and the majority of Australians in the know believe that will be in 2021 - there will likely still be some restrictive measures in place (at least in my country).


He (University of Melbourne epidemiologist Dr Tony Blakely) said if we assumed an early version of a vaccine would be 70 per cent effective and that 70 per cent of the nation would be vaccinated, we could expect around 50 per cent of the population to be protected and 50 per cent to remain susceptible.

“It’s reasonable that even with herd immunity, there will still be people getting infected post-vaccination,” he said.

“The probable scenario is we would open up like normal but there would still be outbreaks and deaths, so there would still need to be measures to deal with infected people.”

He said the flu vaccination’s effectiveness varied from 55 per cent to 80 per cent year to year, and that it was unreasonable to expect a coronavirus vaccine to be “perfect”.

And while the overall effectiveness will increase along with the vaccination rate, it would not be possible to make the jab mandatory – although Dr Blakely predicted some workplaces would prevent staff from returning to work without proof of vaccination until the outbreak passes.

Expert predicts coronavirus vaccine won’t fix pandemic