Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #88

[SouthAussie]

A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace said: “Having considered all the appropriate advice, the Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh have decided that this year they will spend Christmas quietly in Windsor.”

The decision by the palace comes after the Government announced plans to temporarily relax coronavirus restrictions for five days over the Christmas period.

“Her decision emphasises that this is not going to be a normal Christmas in the UK, whatever the politicians would like.”

Queen heartbreak: Her Majesty and Prince Philip CANCEL Royal Family Christmas plans

 

[10ofRods]

With some states yet to report today's mortality figures, the US is already over 2000 deaths. The stats from Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Indiana, Missouri...are shocking.

Illinois has roughly twice as many active cases per capita as California. And Arizona's per capita active case rate is even higher than that of Illinois (about 4X higher than California's!)

I have several friends that I went to school with for all 12 years, who still are saying that it's all media hype, no big deal, "just the flu" and the numbers being reported are inflated or false being reported as COVID.
One currently has COVID, as does his father in a nursing home, whom he recently visited after being unable to see him for 8 months. He is scared and bith are very sick now.
Sadly, another one of them was admitted for COVID 5 days ago.
She is no longer with us.
The same people who continued to try and argue with others about masks being required at stores and complaining that they can't go to concerts like they used to all because of some conspiracy.
I think to myself, well maybe if you had worn the mask and used a little common sense...
I do believe that I will hear of more cases with the people I know who have been carrying on as if there wasn't any pandemic.
I guarantee my schoolmate who passed never thought she would catch it, be hospitalized or end up dying. Now I am very concerned for her family as well. They had quite a gathering over Thanksgiving, but will not be having a funeral service any time in the near future.
It's so sad. People tried to reason with them!
-sigh
MOO

I'm so sorry about the loss of your friend. It is truly mindboggling how people are handling this - but I'm thinking it's probably always been this way (some humans just do not activate the risk-assessment part of their brain in the way that other humans do...)

 

[SoCalDavidS]

The first doses of a coronavirus vaccine should be given to an estimated 21 million health-care workers and three million residents and staff of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, a federal advisory panel recommended Tuesday afternoon.

These groups were deemed the highest priority by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, because the vaccine will initially be in extremely short supply after it is cleared by federal regulators. Health-care personnel are a top priority because of their exposure to the virus and their critical role keeping the nation’s hospitals and clinics functioning.

Residents and employees of long-term care facilities were prioritized because they account for nearly 40 percent of deaths from covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/12/01/vaccine-priority-groups-covid/

 

[roche.analisa]

I am not sure what the requirements are for administering the vaccine (I got my flu shot at a drugstore - was the person an RN? No idea - but if she was, she would be the type of person who would be available).

RSBM

My flu shot was done at CVS, and I think the young women who administered it was just a pharm tech.

I saw something yesterday which said they were calling nurses out of retirement / note to follow up / busy atm.

Gov. Cuomo said in a press conference this week that NY is seeking people in this situation.

 

[musicaljoke]

I think there are nurses currently employed outside of hospital care who will step up to deliver (for example, nursing professors and newly minted RN's - if a region has nursing schools). I am not sure what the requirements are for administering the vaccine (I got my flu shot at a drugstore - was the person an RN? No idea - but if she was, she would be the type of person who would be available).

But the logistics will surely be complicated.

The UK is recruiting 30,000 volunteers to give vaccinations and provide support services. They'll be trained by St. John's Ambulance.

30,000 volunteers sought to deliver Covid vaccine across England

 

[10ofRods]

RSBM

My flu shot was done at CVS, and I think the young women who administered it was just a pharm tech.

Gov. Cuomo said in a press conference this week that NY is seeking people in this situation.

Thank you for adding that - I think mine was too (it's very hard for me to believe that CVS or Von's is employing actual nurses to staff the cash register and wait around to give flu shots).

I wonder if we'll see similar techs giving shots for COVID. I would guess yes.

 

[beatrixpotter]

TBF, there are people who have long-term autoimmune problems with the adenovirus vectored vaccines as well. It's true there's more study on them, but there are documented concerns as well.

I figure all the vaccines will have similar concerns. The adenovirus vector vaccine issues do not tend to affect immune-normal people (and I doubt the RNA based ones will, either).

IOW, trigger a human's immune response through a vaccine will always have side effects and difficulties. The chances of any one of us having a severe issue (as compared to getting COVID) are very small.



I think there are nurses currently employed outside of hospital care who will step up to deliver (for example, nursing professors and newly minted RN's - if a region has nursing schools). I am not sure what the requirements are for administering the vaccine (I got my flu shot at a drugstore - was the person an RN? No idea - but if she was, she would be the type of person who would be available).

But the logistics will surely be complicated.

Of course there is also a chance any illness will trigger an autoimmune disease. My sil has severe lupus triggered by the flu. Another friend has type 1 diabetes they believe triggered by a cold as a child. I wonder how often covid will do similar to others?

 

[SouthAussie]

RSBM

My flu shot was done at CVS, and I think the young women who administered it was just a pharm tech.

I think the Pfizer covid vac will be a bit different, due to its current super-cold storage requirement. They say it can last only 24 hours in a fridge. Unless all the pharmacies can get themselves a -70C kind of temporary storage.

The Moderna vac can last for 6 months in normal freezer conditions (which pharmacies may or may not have), and for 30 days in fridge conditions.

Pfizer’s COVID vaccine comes with a chilly complication. But that may change

 

[SouthAussie]

Kentucky plans to use CVS/Walgreens to distribute the vaccine

Beshear: First batch of COVID-19 vaccine set to arrive in Kentucky within weeks

Sounds as though they plan to use CVS/Walgreens staff to go to long term care facilities to distribute the vac ... not that they plan to vaccinate at the pharmacies.
Presumably they have planned some way to keep the vac super-cold, seeing that they are speaking of the Pfizer vac.


"There are about 50,300 residents and staff in the "most intensive" tier of long-term care, Beshear estimated.
In the first allocation, the state will provide 26,000 doses to that group. Walgreens and CVS will handle the distribution of the vaccine."

 

[MimosaMornings]

The Ripple Effect Of One Rural Colorado Doctor Catching The Coronavirus — NPR

“Kurt Papenfus, a doctor in the small town of Cheyenne Wells, Colo., started to feel sick around Halloween. He developed a scary cough, intestinal symptoms and a headache. In the midst of a pandemic, the news that he had COVID-19 wasn't surprising, but Papenfus' illness would have repercussions far beyond his own health.

Papenfus is the lone full-time emergency room doctor in the town of 900, not far from the Kansas line.

"I'm chief of staff and medical director of everything at Keefe Memorial Hospital currently in Cheyenne County, Colo.," he said. “


“He said he was now at Day 35 from his first symptoms, lying in his hospital bed in Denver, "wondering when I'll ever get back." Papenfus noted that COVID-19 has affected his critical thinking and that he'd need to be cleared cognitively to return to work. He said he knows he won't have the physical stamina to get back to full duty "for a while, if ever."

 

[Colorado303]

Denver International Airport lifted the ground stop imposed earlier today when three air traffic controllers were found to test positive for COVID.

The airport is still on Ground Delay status so some flights will likely be delayed.

Ground stop lifted at DIA, flights delayed after COVID-19 cases at Air Traffic Control
Ground stop lifted at DIA, flights delayed after COVID-19 cases at Air Traffic Control

 

[MimosaMornings]

Denver International Airport lifted the ground stop imposed earlier today when three air traffic controllers were found to test positive for COVID.

The airport is still on Ground Delay status so some flights will likely be delayed.

Ground stop lifted at DIA, flights delayed after COVID-19 cases at Air Traffic Control
Ground stop lifted at DIA, flights delayed after COVID-19 cases at Air Traffic Control

 

[musicaljoke]

Sounds as though they plan to use CVS/Walgreens staff to go to long term care facilities to distribute the vac ... not that they plan to vaccinate at the pharmacies.
Presumably they have planned some way to keep the vac super-cold, seeing that they are speaking of the Pfizer vac.


"There are about 50,300 residents and staff in the "most intensive" tier of long-term care, Beshear estimated.
In the first allocation, the state will provide 26,000 doses to that group. Walgreens and CVS will handle the distribution of the vaccine."

The super cold freezers are already on a months long back order. I really can't see how the Pfizer vaccine is going to be feasible.

U.S. states race to buy ultra cold vaccine freezers, fueling supply worries

I heard on the radio today, that one of the drug manufacturers is coming out with a single dose vaccine. I'm not sure if this is the study that was discussed on the radio, or if it was a different one.

A single-dose live-attenuated YF17D-vectored SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate | Nature

 

[MimosaMornings]

Thermo sees ‘very, very’ significant cold-chain demand as COVID-19 vaccines enter endgame

The Cold Truth about COVID-19 Vaccines

 

[airportwoman]

RSBM

My flu shot was done at CVS, and I think the young women who administered it was just a pharm tech.

She may also have had a nursing or medical assistant diploma, and was qualified to give vaxes for this reason.

I do not believe that the vaccine should be mandatory for anyone, because we just don't know enough about any of it yet.

I am also one of the people who believes I had COVID before it hit the news, albeit a very mild case. I recently heard that a local plasma center is paying $100 a unit for COVID-antibody plasma, and I'm going to pursue this. Worst thing they can tell me is that I'm not qualified.

 

[pocketaccent]

'Worst day' so far: LA County reports 7,593 new COVID-19 cases, shattering daily record
...
"Today, Tuesday, December 1, 2020, is the worst day thus far of the COVID-19 pandemic in Los Angeles County," said county health director Dr. Barbara Ferrer.

"However, it will likely not remain the worst day of the pandemic in Los Angeles County. That will be tomorrow, and the next day and the next as cases, hospitalizations and deaths increase. Every resident and every business needs to take immediate action if we are to dampen this alarming surge. We are in the middle of an accelerating surge in a pandemic of huge magnitude."
...
---------------------------------
I think the Thanksgiving super surge has begun here and everywhere. Truly scary time is here to stay.
It's time to heed the advise from the WHO Chief - Act Now, Act Fast, Act Decisively. Do what Australia did. We have no time to mull over what to do next. Only a stricter lockdown can help us now, imo.

 

[ilovewings]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/05/09/seven-weeks-with-coronavirus/?arc404=true

This lady's story about her battle with Covid (she lost the fight) really got to me. As I was reading it I felt sure that she would overcome it- she didn't- She was only 52 years old.

Here is her son describing his mother's death-- it is so sad---

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/06/06/coronavirus-mother-dead-son/?arc404=true

 

[MimosaMornings]

Soccer showcase will bring thousands to the Triangle this week. What about COVID-19? — News & Observer

“The Girls College Showcase will be played this week in the Triangle, bringing together 6,000 youth soccer players and 300 college coaches.

While it’s a needed economic boon for the area, it raises a question: play during a pandemic? Coronavirus cases are spiking nationwide and there are concerns about further COVID-19 spread after Thanksgiving family gatherings.”

“athletes are not being tested for COVID-19 before coming to the event. Temperature checks will not be made before each day’s competition, although parents have been asked to monitor their child’s temperature. Those who participate in the event sign and submit a “Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk” agreement concerning COVID-19.”

 

[margarita25]

I think the Pfizer covid vac will be a bit different, due to its current super-cold storage requirement. They say it can last only 24 hours in a fridge. Unless all the pharmacies can get themselves a -70C kind of temporary storage.

The Moderna vac can last for 6 months in normal freezer conditions (which pharmacies may or may not have), and for 30 days in fridge conditions.

Pfizer’s COVID vaccine comes with a chilly complication. But that may change

I was starting to get overloaded with all the vaccine stuff, so I figured out a way to remember that Pfizer is the one requiring cold storage as “Pfizer = Freezer“.

This is a very good video, for anyone who missed it, must watch / (@nightowl1975, you may find this of interest):

—-

Eta: We’re now going to be seeing “needle pics” everyday, as in the above video still shot...I can’t decide which is more unpleasant, that or the nasal swab images...

The super cold freezers are already on a months long back order. I really can't see how the Pfizer vaccine is going to be feasible.

U.S. states race to buy ultra cold vaccine freezers, fueling supply worries

I heard on the radio today, that one of the drug manufacturers is coming out with a single dose vaccine. I'm not sure if this is the study that was discussed on the radio, or if it was a different one.

A single-dose live-attenuated YF17D-vectored SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate | Nature

I recall Johnson and Johnson is a single dose.

Also, I saw a video, likely posted yesterday in one of the 6 vaccine videos on this page, that shows the mass production of these “mobile freezers”.

 

[drama_farmer]

Also from that link:

To test Kentucky's readiness to deliver vaccines, the state is participating in an exercise with the CDC and Pfizer this week to deliver a mock shipment in an empty thermal container to University of Kentucky Medical Center. Beshear said he hopes a vaccine will be widely available to the public later next year.

“It’s not going to be everywhere, and it’s not going to be available to the general public until we get the healthcare workers, long-term care residents and staffers,” Beshear said, adding that vaccinating teachers will also be a "big priority."

Sounds as though they plan to use CVS/Walgreens staff to go to long term care facilities to distribute the vac ... not that they plan to vaccinate at the pharmacies.
Presumably they have planned some way to keep the vac super-cold, seeing that they are speaking of the Pfizer vac.


"There are about 50,300 residents and staff in the "most intensive" tier of long-term care, Beshear estimated.
In the first allocation, the state will provide 26,000 doses to that group. Walgreens and CVS will handle the distribution of the vaccine."