Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #89

[SoCalDavidS]

No, you are probably correct. The official projection at this point in time is 'only' 332,000+ deaths by 31st December.

IHME | COVID-19 Projections

Those projections are low. I predict it will be more like 350,000 by month's end. We're on the verge of averaging 3,000/day, and with 19 days remaining in the month, at that rate it would be another 57,000.

We have yet to feel the full effect of Thanksgiving travel, which will almost certainly increase the daily average as we get closer to 12/31. We'll probably hit 332K before Christmas Day.

 

[SouthAussie]

Those projections are low. I predict it will be more like 350,000 by month's end. We're on the verge of averaging 3,000/day, and with 19 days remaining in the month, at that rate it would be another 57,000.

We have yet to feel the full effect of Thanksgiving travel, which will almost certainly increase the daily average as we get closer to 12/31. We'll probably hit 332K before Christmas Day.

Yes, I just edited my post. To add the following, because I just did my sums. And I could still be on the low side ... depending how bad this death surge gets.

"However, I think it could go much higher. If you are now averaging 3,000 US covid deaths per day, and there are 19 more days till 31st December. That is at least 57,000 more deaths this month.

Add that to the existing 305,082 deaths and the US could well be at over 362,000+ deaths by the end of this year."

 

[GRT]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nati...c28e98-3990-11eb-80ac-d1978d86bc9c_story.html

Okay- call me naieve -- never thought about something like this-- WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE??? PPE's polluting our oceans--- I am gobsmacked!!!!

Littering bothers me on all levels, but this is ridiculous.

 

[GRT]

My mom's in her 80s and I'm hoping she can get the vaccine sooner rather than later. Who would I contact to get her on the list, so to speak? Our County Health Department? Walgreens?

 

[GRT]

Those projections are low. I predict it will be more like 350,000 by month's end. We're on the verge of averaging 3,000/day, and with 19 days remaining in the month, at that rate it would be another 57,000.

We have yet to feel the full effect of Thanksgiving travel, which will almost certainly increase the daily average as we get closer to 12/31. We'll probably hit 332K before Christmas Day.

So many people didn't pay attention to the suggestions to keep Thanksgiving small, or not at all, so I'm not surprised to see the infection rate growing. And the death rate is going to grow as well. As it does, it's going to become even more difficult to keep the vulnerable safe.

 

[SouthAussie]

It doesn't help matters that people keep on having large gatherings of one kind or another.


An outbreak of COVID-19, resulting in 77 positive cases, has been traced to a youth basketball tournament held last month in California's Santa Clara County, public health officials said Friday.

Officials said it violated local and state orders for youth sports put in place during the coronavirus pandemic.

Another 17 cases outside the county have also been traced to the event, officials said in a news release.

The outbreak comes as California is seeing record numbers of COVID-19 cases during the holiday season.

Coronavirus live updates: 1st vaccines to arrive at 145 sites on Monday

 

[weepingangel]

Health dept should be able to give you a timeline. Our states website has a decent page up already. Does she live independently? I think those living in facilities are near the top of the list.

My mom's in her 80s and I'm hoping she can get the vaccine sooner rather than later. Who would I contact to get her on the list, so to speak? Our County Health Department? Walgreens?

 

[Cool Cats]

Trucks with first COVID-19 vaccine in US get ready to roll

The first trucks carrying a COVID-19 vaccine for widespread use in the United States were set to pull out of a Michigan manufacturing plant Sunday.

Federal officials say the first shipments of Pfizer’s vaccine will be staggered, arriving in 145 distribution centers Monday, with an additional 425 sites getting shipments Tuesday, and the remaining 66 on Wednesday based on each state's adult population.

Doses should be delivered within three weeks and the government is holding back 3 million doses to give those vaccinated in the first round a second shot a few weeks later.

The vaccine is heading to hospitals and other sites that can store it at extremely low temperatures — about 94 degrees below zero. Pfizer is using containers with dry ice and GPS-enabled sensors to ensure each shipment stays colder than the weather in Antarctica.

A truck backs into the loading dock of the Pfizer Global Supply manufacturing plant in Portage, Michigan, on December 11, 2020.

Pennsylvania health care giant UPMC has chosen staff who are critical to operating its facilities as among those getting the first round of vaccinations, said Dr. Graham Snyder, who led the center's vaccine task force.

Snyder said the UPMC system estimates that half its employees are willing to get the vaccine as soon as it’s offered to them.

The 40-hospital Oschner Health System in Louisiana and Mississippi expects to receive more than 9,000 doses in the coming days, said Dr. Sandra Kemmerly, medical director of hospital quality.

Employees approved for the first round are getting texts and emails directing them to schedule their initial injection, she said.

“I would say there’s enthusiasm,” Kemmerly said Saturday. “There’s that thought that maybe they don’t have to be so afraid to come to work if they can be vaccinated and be immune.”

 

[weepingangel]

also Dentists!!! May be giving vaccines. (No link handy will be back if I find one in time)

COVID-19 Vaccine in Massachusetts
here’s our list.


Phase 1
(December 2020 – February 2021)
Listed in order of priority:

• Clinical and non-clinical health care workers doing direct and COVID-facing care
• Long term care facilities, rest homes and assisted living facilities
• Police, fire and emergency medical services
• Congregate care settings (including corrections and shelters)
• Home-based health care workers
• Health care workers doing non-COVID-facing care

Phase 1 vaccination settings:

• Most health care workers and first responders will be vaccinated at their place of employment or have their employer otherwise coordinate their vaccination
• Individuals living and working in long term care will be vaccinated as part of the Federal Pharmacy Partnership Program
• Vaccination for individuals in other congregate settings (e.g., group homes, shelters, corrections) will be coordinated by the management of those facilities
• Many additional vaccination administration sites will be made available for other populations

Phase 2
(February-March 2021)
Listed in order of priority:

• Individuals with 2+ co-morbid conditions (high risk for COVID-19 complications)
• Early education, K-12, transit, grocery, utility, food and agriculture, sanitation, public works and public health workers
• Adults 65+
• Individuals with one co-morbid condition

Phase 3
(Starting April 2021)

The vaccine is expected to be available to the general public.

Phase 3 vaccination settings:
Once the vaccine is available to the general public, public vaccine clinics will be available on the CDC’s interactive website: vaccinefinder.org. You will also be able to check with your primary care provider, local pharmacy or local health department.

 

[dixiegirl1035]

This is the first that I've seen published on the ingredient s of the COVID vaccine, I don't see it on the FDA website yet though as to the Pfizer ingredients. (Article goes into explanation thoroughly on each component)

Here, for instance, is what the US Food and Drug Administration says is in Pfizer’s vaccine:

• Active Ingredient
  • nucleoside-modified messenger RNA (modRNA) encoding the viral spike glycoprotein (S) of SARS-CoV-2
• Lipids
  • (4-hydroxybutyl)azanediyl)bis(hexane-6,1-diyl)bis (ALC-3015)
  • (2- hexyldecanoate),2-[(polyethylene glycol)-2000]-N,N-ditetradecylacetamide (ALC-0159)
  • 1,2-distearoyl-snglycero-3-phosphocholine (DPSC)
  • cholesterol
  • Salts
    • potassium chloride
    • monobasic potassium phosphate
    • sodium chloride
    • basic sodium phosphate dihydrate
  • Other
    • sucrose

The lipids
The Pfizer vaccine, like one from Moderna, uses lipid nanoparticles to encase the RNA. The nanoparticles are, basically, tiny greasy spheres that protect the mRNA and help it slide inside cells.

These particles are probably around 100 nanometers across. Curiously, that’s about the same size as the coronavirus itself.

Pfizer says it uses four different lipids in a “defined ratio.” The lipid ALC-0315 is the primary ingredient in the formulation. That’s because it’s ionizable—it can be given a positive charge, and since the RNA has a negative one, they stick together. It's also a component that can cause side-effects or allergic reactions. The other lipids, one of which is the familiar molecule cholesterol, are “helpers” that give structural integrity to the nanoparticles or stop them from clumping. During manufacturing, the RNA and the lipids are stirred into a bubbly mix to form what the FDA describes as a “white to off-white” frozen liquid.

Salts
The Pfizer vaccine contains four salts, one of which is ordinary table salt. Together, these salts are better known as phosphate-buffered saline, or PBS, a very common ingredient that keeps the pH, or acidity, of the vaccine close to that of a person’s body. You’ll understand how important that is if you’ve ever squeezed lemon juice on a cut. Substances with the wrong acidity can injure cells or get quickly degraded.

Sugar

The vaccine includes plain old sugar, also called sucrose. It’s acting here as a cryoprotectant to safeguard the nanoparticles when they’re frozen and stop them from sticking together.


Saline solution
Before injection, the vaccine is mixed with water containing sodium chloride, or ordinary salt, just as many intravenously delivered drugs are. Again, the idea is that the injection should more or less match the salt content of the blood.

No preservatives
Pfizer makes a point of saying its mixture of lipid nanoparticles and mRNA is “preservative-free.” That’s because a preservative that’s been used in other vaccines, thimerosal (which contains mercury and is there to kill any bacteria that might contaminate a vial), has been at the center of worries around over whether vaccines cause autism. The US Centers for Disease Control says thimerosal is safe; despite that, its use is being phased out. There is no thimerosal—or any other preservative—in the Pfizer vaccine. No microchips, either.

What are the ingredients of Pfizer’s covid-19 vaccine?

 

[Cool Cats]

also Dentists!!! May be giving vaccines. (No link handy will be back if I find one in time)

COVID-19 Vaccine in Massachusetts
here’s our list.

View attachment 275461
Phase 1
(December 2020 – February 2021)
Listed in order of priority:

• Clinical and non-clinical health care workers doing direct and COVID-facing care
• Long term care facilities, rest homes and assisted living facilities
• Police, fire and emergency medical services
• Congregate care settings (including corrections and shelters)
• Home-based health care workers
• Health care workers doing non-COVID-facing care

Phase 1 vaccination settings:

• Most health care workers and first responders will be vaccinated at their place of employment or have their employer otherwise coordinate their vaccination
• Individuals living and working in long term care will be vaccinated as part of the Federal Pharmacy Partnership Program
• Vaccination for individuals in other congregate settings (e.g., group homes, shelters, corrections) will be coordinated by the management of those facilities
• Many additional vaccination administration sites will be made available for other populations

Phase 2
(February-March 2021)
Listed in order of priority:

• Individuals with 2+ co-morbid conditions (high risk for COVID-19 complications)
• Early education, K-12, transit, grocery, utility, food and agriculture, sanitation, public works and public health workers
• Adults 65+
• Individuals with one co-morbid condition

Phase 3
(Starting April 2021)

The vaccine is expected to be available to the general public.

Phase 3 vaccination settings:
Once the vaccine is available to the general public, public vaccine clinics will be available on the CDC’s interactive website: vaccinefinder.org. You will also be able to check with your primary care provider, local pharmacy or local health department.

Here is a dentist and eye doctor link:

Dentists, eye doctors may soon be asked to help administer coronavirus vaccinations

Some medical professionals, who don’t normally give vaccines, may soon be called on to help administer the COVID vaccination. In fact, the American Dental Association has sent a letter to the CDC pushing for it.

Dentists are the latest medical professionals who could be pulled in to help give COVID-19 vaccinations. Memphis dentist Dr. Denise Mustiful Martin says it makes sense.

“Dentists are very apt at giving inter-muscular injections because we give them every day,” Martin said. She says shots are often given during dental procedures and dentists are qualified.

“It’s logical. It’s good. It’s reasonable. It gets to the masses quickly,” Martin said.

Eye Doctors
Eye doctors are also being talked about as another source to give the vaccine. Optometrist Dr. David Haba says it’s a great way to reach people in rural areas, who don’t live close to vaccination sites.

 

[dixiegirl1035]

Health Monograph from Canada on the Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine (26 pages). Good reading to keep up with all MOO.

https://vaccin-covid.canada.ca/info/pdf/pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine-pm1-en.pdf

Something I had never heard before in it:

Individuals receiving anticoagulant therapy or those with a bleeding disorder that would contraindicate intramuscular injection should not be given the vaccine unless the potential benefit clearly outweighs the risk of administration. (I guess this is normal for any vaccine though)

Interesting how again it is pointed out no preservatives in the vaccine (as many antivaxers were against thimerisol.. which vaccines are moving away from)

 

[Cool Cats]

COVID-19 gave this Ohio family a 'sucker punch.' Powerful family emails show how tragedy unfolded.


Akron Beacon Journal
Sun, December 13, 2020, 6:00 AM EST

The Malinowski family at the wedding of Frank "Keith" Malinowski, second from right, including his father Frank, on right, sister Jamie, and mother Jody.

Powerful family emails show how tragedy unfolded.

The family has granted the Akron Beacon Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network, permission to print those emails, which have been lightly edited for clarity and length, in the hopes they can convince others to take the virus seriously as cases and hospitalizations continue to surge.

They show, in real time, the reality of the virus that has caused more than 290,000 deaths in the United States, yet still has its skeptics and naysayers.

They also show a family clinging to joy, wherever they can find it.

Oct. 15, 4:12 p.m. "Dad was tested for COVID yesterday evening...."

 

[MimosaMornings]

Health Monograph from Canada on the Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine (26 pages). Good reading to keep up with all MOO.

https://vaccin-covid.canada.ca/info/pdf/pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine-pm1-en.pdf

Something I had never heard before in it:

Individuals receiving anticoagulant therapy or those with a bleeding disorder that would contraindicate intramuscular injection should not be given the vaccine unless the potential benefit clearly outweighs the risk of administration. (I guess this is normal for any vaccine though)

Interesting how again it is pointed out no preservatives in the vaccine (as many antivaxers were against thimerisol.. which vaccines are moving away from)

So it’s a no on the vaccine if you’re on a blood thinner (Heparin, Coumadin, Eliquis).
Hmmm
Wonder how many elderly that we are trying to protect are on this medication and might not be able to vaccinated.

 

[dixiegirl1035]

Trucks with first COVID-19 vaccine in US get ready to roll

The first trucks carrying a COVID-19 vaccine for widespread use in the United States were set to pull out of a Michigan manufacturing plant Sunday.

Federal officials say the first shipments of Pfizer’s vaccine will be staggered, arriving in 145 distribution centers Monday, with an additional 425 sites getting shipments Tuesday, and the remaining 66 on Wednesday based on each state's adult population.

Doses should be delivered within three weeks and the government is holding back 3 million doses to give those vaccinated in the first round a second shot a few weeks later.

The vaccine is heading to hospitals and other sites that can store it at extremely low temperatures — about 94 degrees below zero. Pfizer is using containers with dry ice and GPS-enabled sensors to ensure each shipment stays colder than the weather in Antarctica.

A truck backs into the loading dock of the Pfizer Global Supply manufacturing plant in Portage, Michigan, on December 11, 2020.

Pennsylvania health care giant UPMC has chosen staff who are critical to operating its facilities as among those getting the first round of vaccinations, said Dr. Graham Snyder, who led the center's vaccine task force.

Snyder said the UPMC system estimates that half its employees are willing to get the vaccine as soon as it’s offered to them.

The 40-hospital Oschner Health System in Louisiana and Mississippi expects to receive more than 9,000 doses in the coming days, said Dr. Sandra Kemmerly, medical director of hospital quality.

Employees approved for the first round are getting texts and emails directing them to schedule their initial injection, she said.

“I would say there’s enthusiasm,” Kemmerly said Saturday. “There’s that thought that maybe they don’t have to be so afraid to come to work if they can be vaccinated and be immune.”

I missed it until I watched Dr. C the other day. FedEx is primary delivery company for the east, and UPS is primary delivery for the west.

I found that very interesting! Competition will kick in between them to make sure their company doesn't screw up?

 

[gngr~snap]

So it’s a no on the vaccine if you’re on a blood thinner (Heparin, Coumadin, Eliquis).
Hmmm
Wonder how many elderly that we are trying to protect are on this medication and might not be able to vaccinated.

Lots of them I suspect.
MOO

 

[gngr~snap]

Good read!
MOO
Why are mRNA vaccines so exciting? - Harvard Health Blog

 

[nhmemorymaker]

Florida reported 11,699 new cases on Friday, the most since the state’s summer viral surge. Its rate of positive cases was 8.5 percent.

TALLAHASSEE — A White House Coronavirus Task Force report about the state of the pandemic in Florida made public Saturday urges state leaders to take immediate action to slow the virus’ spread. Officials should close or severely limit indoor dining, limit capacity at bars and issue stronger policies around mask wearing, the report states.

Those are the same public health measures that Gov. Ron DeSantis has publicly assailed for months as ineffective. While he was making the case for no new business restrictions, DeSantis’ office refused to publicize reports from the task force which recommended a more robust public response.

DeSantis refused to disclose White House coronavirus report that contradicts him

 

[dixiegirl1035]

COVID-19 gave this Ohio family a 'sucker punch.' Powerful family emails show how tragedy unfolded.


Akron Beacon Journal
Sun, December 13, 2020, 6:00 AM EST

The Malinowski family at the wedding of Frank "Keith" Malinowski, second from right, including his father Frank, on right, sister Jamie, and mother Jody.

Powerful family emails show how tragedy unfolded.

The family has granted the Akron Beacon Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network, permission to print those emails, which have been lightly edited for clarity and length, in the hopes they can convince others to take the virus seriously as cases and hospitalizations continue to surge.

They show, in real time, the reality of the virus that has caused more than 290,000 deaths in the United States, yet still has its skeptics and naysayers.

They also show a family clinging to joy, wherever they can find it.

Oct. 15, 4:12 p.m. "Dad was tested for COVID yesterday evening...."

Oh my, the unexpected twist at the end was just heartbreaking.

Thanks for letting us all have witness to others experiences.

 

[dixiegirl1035]

Question for all. If you see an article/study/report on how mRNA vaccines are done/grown large scale, can you post as I would like to learn how the mRNA is replicated in such quantity. It's not cell culture like the old ones I'm familiar with the technology (or going further back in eggs!)... wondering minds want to know and educate.

And furthermore, how does having a computer sequence of the virus in January get taken from the coding, into a computer, and then to real life making a snippet in quantities. (or heck, for the antibodies development also)

I can't wrap my mind around how this is done. And with Dr. C and Dr. S backgrounds here, perhaps it could be understood if a technical paper?

I haven't seen anything on such on threads...

Thanks.

ETA: I said before and will again.. this is like the moonshot in the 60's.. the scientific community is doing an exponential learning phase for this virus which can be used for other diseases perhaps. I firmly believe such.