Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #78

[tresir2012]

Yes, sorry, I meant "you" in a generic sense, "one can prove anything one wants". Whoever wrote the article was, IMO, making the case that no closure is better than strict closure, using selective stats.

The figures are from Eurostat. There is an analysis at the end of the article which has this as the summary.

"Despite the contraction, Sweden is not yet in recession, since the first quarter saw growth of 0.1%.

An economy is generally deemed to be in recession if it contracts for two consecutive quarters.

Various forecasts predict the Swedish economy will still shrink by about 5% this year.

That is less than other countries hit hard by Covid-19, such as Italy, Spain and the UK, but still similar to the rest of Scandinavia.

Sweden's unemployment rate of 9% remains the highest in the Nordics, up from 7.1% in March."

 

[tresir2012]

I addressed that in a post you missed, just above, comparing nordic countries with each other. Interesting, but complex and subtle issues at play, IMO.

CL was discussing deaths I believe not the economy. No links were given re deaths.

Edit to remove duplicate quote and post. Sorry my posts are messing up.

Sweden are not officially in recession ATM. Depends on current quarter (Q3).

 

[anneg]

I don't think information about this interesting study in front-line health care workers has been posted here. Recruiting is underway. BBM

Global trial to test whether MMR vaccine protects front-line health-care workers against COVID-19
Vaccine may strengthen immune response to viral infections; trial to enroll up to 30,000 health-care workers

Excerpts:
The research team leading the trial points to growing evidence that suggests the MMR vaccine may have benefits beyond protecting against measles, mumps and rubella. It could broadly boost an individual’s immunity and may prevent infection from SARS-CoV-2 for a limited period. This is because the vaccine carries small amounts of live, weakened viruses that could train the body’s immune system to fight multiple pathogens.

(snip)
“We know that the MMR vaccine is safe, and we think there are two main reasons that it could prevent COVID-19,” said one of the collaborative’s principal investigators, Michael S. Avidan, MBBCh, the Dr. Seymour and Rose T. Brown Professor and head of the Department of Anesthesiology at Washington University. “The first is this vaccine includes small amounts of live but very weakened measles, mumps and rubella viruses. This type of vaccine appears to strengthen the body’s immune response to infections in general, not just to the viruses in that particular vaccine.”

A second reason the MMR vaccine may be effective is that there are similarities between the weakened viruses in the vaccine and the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. All of these viruses have similar proteins on their surfaces that are involved in infecting cells in the body, so the researchers think that antibodies made in response to the MMR vaccine also may recognize and fight the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Unlike the drugs remdesivir and dexamethasone, the only medications so far identified as being helpful in treating COVID-19, the MMR vaccine would not be used to aid recovery from illness. Instead, the researchers want to learn whether the vaccine can elicit an immune response that slows the spread of the virus and protects front-line health-care workers who work in high-risk settings from developing COVID-19. The vaccine also will be examined to see whether it might reduce the severity of illness for those who do become infected.

(snip)
The study will recruit front-line health-care workers, including those from lower- and middle-income countries. The countries involved include Canada, Ghana, Ireland, South Africa, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
(More at link.)

Information on the study at clinicaltrials.gov: CROWN CORONATION: COVID-19 Research Outcomes Worldwide Network for CORONAvirus prevenTION - Full Text View - ClinicalTrials.gov

 

[10ofRods]

You would think the hospital would just give him a rapid test. When I was in the ER I got one. Jmo

Don't know where you live, but rapid tests are not available everywhere. You're lucky. Of the three hospitals nearest me, only one has rapid testing.

And I've collected a few anecdotes from doctors who were asked/forced to work while positive for CoVid - including a pair (father-son) in private practice, where they did not wear masks.

That "community spread" thing (which is more than ⅓ of the cases in my locale) may have many vectors - but who'd have thought doctors would be one of them?

 

[LadyL]

Hospital employee feels 'worthless' after error forces 200 workers to return pandemic pay

 

[Clair Louise]

I don't think information about this interesting study in front-line health care workers has been posted here. Recruiting is underway. BBM

Global trial to test whether MMR vaccine protects front-line health-care workers against COVID-19
Vaccine may strengthen immune response to viral infections; trial to enroll up to 30,000 health-care workers

Excerpts:
The research team leading the trial points to growing evidence that suggests the MMR vaccine may have benefits beyond protecting against measles, mumps and rubella. It could broadly boost an individual’s immunity and may prevent infection from SARS-CoV-2 for a limited period. This is because the vaccine carries small amounts of live, weakened viruses that could train the body’s immune system to fight multiple pathogens.

(snip)
“We know that the MMR vaccine is safe, and we think there are two main reasons that it could prevent COVID-19,” said one of the collaborative’s principal investigators, Michael S. Avidan, MBBCh, the Dr. Seymour and Rose T. Brown Professor and head of the Department of Anesthesiology at Washington University. “The first is this vaccine includes small amounts of live but very weakened measles, mumps and rubella viruses. This type of vaccine appears to strengthen the body’s immune response to infections in general, not just to the viruses in that particular vaccine.”

A second reason the MMR vaccine may be effective is that there are similarities between the weakened viruses in the vaccine and the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. All of these viruses have similar proteins on their surfaces that are involved in infecting cells in the body, so the researchers think that antibodies made in response to the MMR vaccine also may recognize and fight the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Unlike the drugs remdesivir and dexamethasone, the only medications so far identified as being helpful in treating COVID-19, the MMR vaccine would not be used to aid recovery from illness. Instead, the researchers want to learn whether the vaccine can elicit an immune response that slows the spread of the virus and protects front-line health-care workers who work in high-risk settings from developing COVID-19. The vaccine also will be examined to see whether it might reduce the severity of illness for those who do become infected.

(snip)
The study will recruit front-line health-care workers, including those from lower- and middle-income countries. The countries involved include Canada, Ghana, Ireland, South Africa, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
(More at link.)

Information on the study at clinicaltrials.gov: CROWN CORONATION: COVID-19 Research Outcomes Worldwide Network for CORONAvirus prevenTION - Full Text View - ClinicalTrials.gov

Could be another clue why older people get it.

 

[tresir2012]

Don't know where you live, but rapid tests are not available everywhere. You're lucky. Of the three hospitals nearest me, only one has rapid testing.

And I've collected a few anecdotes from doctors who were asked/forced to work while positive for CoVid - including a pair (father-son) in private practice, where they did not wear masks.

That "community spread" thing (which is more than ⅓ of the cases in my locale) may have many vectors - but who'd have thought doctors would be one of them?

Were these anecdotes from California hospital doctors or other states? I don't understand why Covid positive doctors would be working maskless anywhere. This is crazy.

 

[tresir2012]

Could be another clue why older people get it.

Older people have probably had those diseases so wouldn't that have the same effect as a vaccine for those diseases?

 

[cass523]

(CNN) – The race to come up with a safe and effective coronavirus vaccine is underway. But the true hurdle could be getting people to get vaccinated.

Americans are voicing real concerns over the rush to roll it out.

“Either side that politicizes this is … working against the goal … which is to get American culture to be at a point of view to vaccinate with confidence,” said Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield.

President Donald Trump has frequently said he believes a coronavirus vaccine will be ready by election day.

Surgeon General Jerome Adams said a vaccine is possible by that date, but not probable.

video
Poll: Americans worry politics will rush vaccine

 

[anneg]

Could be another clue why older people get it.

Yes, and scientists are suggesting that high-risk adults would benefit from getting a booster MMR vaccine. I am going to ask my doctor about this at my upcoming appointment.
MMR Vaccine Could Protect Against the Worst Symptoms of COVID-19

Excerpt (BBM):
The researchers propose a clinical trial to test whether the MMR vaccine can protect against COVID-19, but in the meantime, they suggest that all adults, especially health care workers and individuals in nursing homes get the MMR vaccine. “If adults got the MMR as a child they likely still have some level of antibodies against measles, mumps, and rubella, but probably not the myeloid-derived suppressor cells,” said Dr. Fidel. “While the MDSCs are long-lived, they are not life-long cells. So, a booster MMR would enhance the antibodies to measles, mumps, and rubella and reinitiate the MDSCs. We would hope that the MDSCs induced by the MMR would have a fairly good life-span to get through the critical time of the pandemic.”

 

[musicaljoke]

Older people have probably had those diseases so wouldn't that have the same effect as a vaccine for those diseases?

No, not ecactly. I believe the reason for giving a small amount of live vaccine of MMR is that it boosts the immune response so that there is a more general benefit that might aid in the antibody fight against CoVid.

I wonder what the risks would be if one was pregnant and given the live vaccine. Perhaps pregnant women were excluded. I haven't read the actual study yet, but will hunt it up.

 

[MimosaMornings]

Older people have probably had those diseases so wouldn't that have the same effect as a vaccine for those diseases?

I asked my mother (late 80’s - she forbid me to post her exact age ) and she does not remember having measles, mumps or rubella. I got a booster MMR and T-dap a few years ago before the grandchildren were born.

 

[ilovewings]

Don't know where you live, but rapid tests are not available everywhere. You're lucky. Of the three hospitals nearest me, only one has rapid testing.

And I've collected a few anecdotes from doctors who were asked/forced to work while positive for CoVid - including a pair (father-son) in private practice, where they did not wear masks.

That "community spread" thing (which is more than ⅓ of the cases in my locale) may have many vectors - but who'd have thought doctors would be one of them?

now that is pretty scary stuff-- good grief!!!!!
I do have to ask how a doctor would be "forced" to work?

 

[FrostOwl]

So he didn't even quarantine for one day while waiting for test results? What would he have done if it was positive I wonder?

If working at a hospital with a laboratory that does Covid testing, it only takes a couple of hours (if that long) to get a test result. I work at an emergency department and patients who have symptoms of Covid infection, and who needs to be admitted are tested, and the test doesn't take more than a couple of hours, and the result determines if the patient can go to an ordinary ward, or to be isolated at the infectious disease department.

 

[FrostOwl]

No, not ecactly. I believe the reason for giving a small amount of live vaccine of MMR is that it boosts the immune response so that there is a more general benefit that might aid in the antibody fight against CoVid.

I wonder what the risks would be if one was pregnant and given the live vaccine. Perhaps pregnant women were excluded. I haven't read the actual study yet, but will hunt it up.

Not a good idea to give a MMR vaccine to a pregnant woman, as rubella can cause serious complications for the baby.
Rubella | Pregnancy | CDC
One reason why a woman contemplating pregnancy should make sure she has had the vaccine before getting pregnant.

 

[cass523]

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — A group of bipartisan lawmakers calling itself the Problem Solvers Caucus released a $1.5 trillion coronavirus aid proposal that includes a second round of $1,200 direct payments to Americans.

The package also includes $500 billion for cities and states, unemployment insurance of $600 a week, increased SNAP benefits and rental assistance.

The group of House lawmakers behind the aid plan includes 25 Democrats and 25 Republicans.

The Problem Solvers Caucus says its plan is ultimately designed to bring both sides back to the negotiating table following last week’s rejection of a $500 billion aid proposal pushed by Senate Republicans.

Second stimulus checks: Group of bipartisan lawmakers unveils plan with $1,200 checks | CBS 17

 

[tresir2012]

No, not ecactly. I believe the reason for giving a small amount of live vaccine of MMR is that it boosts the immune response so that there is a more general benefit that might aid in the antibody fight against CoVid.

I wonder what the risks would be if one was pregnant and given the live vaccine. Perhaps pregnant women were excluded. I haven't read the actual study yet, but will hunt it up.

Well what about the original SARS or MERS vaccine plus the regular flu vaccine. Hasn't similar also been suggested for the flu vax too?

 

[tresir2012]

Not a good idea to give a MMR vaccine to a pregnant woman, as rubella can cause serious complications for the baby.
Rubella | Pregnancy | CDC
One reason why a woman contemplating pregnancy should make sure she has had the vaccine before getting pregnant.

Yes of course. It can cause blindness in the child if the mother catches the disease during pregnancy. That's the whole point of the Rubella vax in the first place. I am not sure about this at all.

 

[weepingangel]

Virus Death Toll Linked to Maine Wedding Grows to 7
More at link
Maine authorities have identified overlaps between the wedding reception and outbreaks elsewhere in the state. An employee of the York County Jail attended the wedding, Maine CDC officials have said. Maine health officials have also said a staff member from a Madison rehabilitation center, which is the site of six of the seven deaths, attended the event.

 

[tresir2012]

I asked my mother (late 80’s - she forbid me to post her exact age ) and she does not remember having measles, mumps or rubella. I got a booster MMR and T-dap a few years ago before the grandchildren were born.

I have to say I don't remember having them either. I think I did receive a Rubella jab when I was a teen. Don't think I ever had the other two. Only boys got the Mumps vaccine IIRC. I am talking about the '60's here.

ETA I checked and the MMR vaccine started being given in 1988. Before then the vaccinations were given individuaĺly.

Q&A: Measles and MMR