Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #89

[SoCalDavidS]

Over-the-counter home test for COVID-19 gets US green light
The first home test for COVID-19 that doesn’t require a prescription will soon be on U.S. store shelves. U.S. regulators Tuesday authorized the rapid coronavirus test, which can be done entirely at home. The announcement by the Food and Drug Administration represents another important step in efforts to expand testing options.

Regulators granted emergency use for a similar home test last month, but that one needs a doctor’s prescription. The agency’s action Tuesday allows sales in places like drugstores “where a patient can buy it, swab their nose, run the test and find out their results in as little as 20 minutes,” said FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn, in a statement.

Initial supplies of the over-the-counter test will be limited. Australian manufacturer Ellume said it expects to produce 3 million tests next month before ramping up production over the first half of 2021.

A company spokesperson said the test will be priced around $30 and be available at pharmacies and for purchase online. The test connects digitally to a smart phone app that displays the results and then helps interpret the results. Users can also connect with a health professional via the app.

Over-the-counter home test for COVID-19 gets US green light

 

[Sillybilly]

Good interview with a doctor from McMaster University Hospital in Ontario, Canada .. Dr. Zainab Abdurrahman, a clinical immunologist and allergist, discussing the vaccine ingredients and allergies.

Allergist answers your COVID-19 vaccine questions

That interview alleviated some of my own concerns and hopefully others will find it useful.

 

[Midgie2]

Pfizer COVID jab warning: No breastfeeding, avoid pregnancy for 2 months, unknown fertility impacts

 

[dmac55]

World War II vet at Phoenix VA gets Arizona’s first COVID-19 vaccine | KTAR.com
World War II vet at Phoenix VA gets Arizona's first COVID-19 vaccine

Love this so much

 

[SoCalDavidS]

I still believe it will be July or August before the level of herd immunity will be achieved in the U.S.

Something that occasionally gets addressed, is how long the vaccine will end up being effective. I would think that by around July/August, there will be statistics coming in clarifying this issue a bit. Those who were part of the trials, will be about 1 year out, and the people getting vaccinated now, will have reached the 7-8 month mark.

This is going to be critical, because if the vaccine is wearing off on those vaccinated less than a year earlier, we've got problems. But that's a long way off still, so let's hope and assume the best case scenario will prevail.

Despite what organizations like Live Nation or sports like Major League Baseball say, I just don't see how there will be mass gathering events by Summer. The situation will be vastly improved over Summer 2020, but not nearly to the point you could gather 15,000 - 60,000 people together in close quarters, even with masks.

My guess is that by November 2021, the U.S., and other major countries, will be at least 80% back to normal. Travel could explode over Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Years a year from now, given comfort levels and tremendous pent up demand, on top of a 2020 holiday period where many avoided travel all-together.

I think that it will be Summer 2022, before most countries are back to what could be considered 100% normal. Where everybody truly feels safe again, and enough is known about tracing, treatment, vaccines, etc., that even the most worrisome person is not freaked out when doing the things they felt comfortable doing in 2019. The virus will likely still be out there, but in most of the world, we'll feel like we're far closer to the end than to the beginning.

 

[dixiegirl1035]

I still believe it will be July or August before the level of herd immunity will be achieved in the U.S.

Something that occasionally gets addressed, is how long the vaccine will end up being effective. I would think that by around July/August, there will be statistics coming in clarifying this issue a bit. Those who were part of the trials, will be about 1 year out, and the people getting vaccinated now, will have reached the 7-8 month mark.

This is going to be critical, because if the vaccine is wearing off on those vaccinated less than a year earlier, we've got problems. But that's a long way off still, so let's hope and assume the best case scenario will prevail.

Despite what organizations like Live Nation or sports like Major League Baseball say, I just don't see how there will be mass gathering events by Summer. The situation will be vastly improved over Summer 2020, but not nearly to the point you could gather 15,000 - 60,000 people together in close quarters, even with masks.

My guess is that by November 2021, the U.S., and other major countries, will be at least 80% back to normal. Travel could explode over Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Years a year from now, given comfort levels and tremendous pent up demand, on top of a 2020 holiday period where many avoided travel all-together.

I think that it will be Summer 2022, before most countries are back to what could be considered 100% normal. Where everybody truly feels safe again, and enough is known about tracing, treatment, vaccines, etc., that even the most worrisome person is not freaked out when doing the things they felt comfortable doing in 2019. The virus will likely still be out there, but in most of the world, we'll feel like we're far closer to the end than to the beginning.

What percentage of the population is under the age of 16 that is not going to be vaccinated at this time ? Can we get to herd 2 without including them? I believe one of the upcoming vaccines did studies with younger children.

I wonder if they will delay the Olympics again?

 

[nhmemorymaker]

Oh my.

yes, oh my.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

Over-the-counter home test for COVID-19 gets US green light
The first home test for COVID-19 that doesn’t require a prescription will soon be on U.S. store shelves. U.S. regulators Tuesday authorized the rapid coronavirus test, which can be done entirely at home. The announcement by the Food and Drug Administration represents another important step in efforts to expand testing options.

Regulators granted emergency use for a similar home test last month, but that one needs a doctor’s prescription. The agency’s action Tuesday allows sales in places like drugstores “where a patient can buy it, swab their nose, run the test and find out their results in as little as 20 minutes,” said FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn, in a statement.

Initial supplies of the over-the-counter test will be limited. Australian manufacturer Ellume said it expects to produce 3 million tests next month before ramping up production over the first half of 2021.

A company spokesperson said the test will be priced around $30 and be available at pharmacies and for purchase online. The test connects digitally to a smart phone app that displays the results and then helps interpret the results. Users can also connect with a health professional via the app.

Over-the-counter home test for COVID-19 gets US green light

per usual, people think "anything covid" is free. This is not. We shall see............

 

[margarita25]

UK:

Covid: Christmas safety advice 'set to be strengthened'

“However, it is unlikely the agreed rules - allowing up to three households to mix for five days - will change.

Officials from all four nations held talks on Tuesday - and more are scheduled to take place on Wednesday.

It comes amid concern that relaxing the restrictions will fuel a further surge in Covid-19 case numbers.

Two leading medical journals described the current rules as "rash".“

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[nightowl1975]

I think it does have a real answer. You give 2 doses to people who need the maximum immunity, starting with healthcare workers. We cannot lose any more of them.

I'm not sure people realize that there are now hospitals all throughout the nation where no one else can be admitted to any kind of coronavirus care unit (regular or ICU) because there are no staffed beds. A bed alone is not enough.

The toll among respiratory techs, housekeeping staff, ambulance workers...has been immense. We need to protect those people first. This will save more lives because we need the doctors, nurses, LVN's, etc. to care for the sick.

People are sitting inside ambulances for up to 4 hours to be admitted in SoCal (not just one county, several). Ambulance workers should be vaccinated. These are COVID patients inside the ambulances.

Police and firemen have higher rates of COVID due to professional exposure.

Each place that has contact tracing has a clue about which workplaces and populations are more likely to get Covid (here in California, it's food packing plants, not just meat packing but also fruit, spices, etc). These people are essential workers so that the rest of us can eat.

By end of March, we should be able to vaccinate 100 million people. That will cover nearly all of those people. Then, the rest of us wait in line for our appointments. Since so many people are vaccine-hesitant, I don't think that's going to be a huge issue, either.

There's no point in wasting vaccine by giving half doses. One does is only "up to 50% effective." What good is that? After spending millions (billions?) to get a 95% effective vaccine approved...just seems patently ridiculous on the face of it to then use it against schedule and squander it.

Perhaps one day there will be a single shot dose, but there's a good chance it will remain like the shingles vaccine.

I meant actual scientific data that provides us answers, not opinions, educated or not, that might tell us what the “best” answer is at this particular juncture.

We DO know that many millions of doses of vaccine are being manufactured at this moment. These will be shipped out as they’re available. It seems a valid possibility to vaccinate as many as possible immediately, knowing more doses are coming over the next few weeks. I personally wouldn’t advocate for just randomly deciding to give only one dose of the vaccine with no plans to do a second dose at all. But I would love to see some actual scientific data on what we expect these first few doses of vaccine to do to the overall virus levels, and how quickly.

 

[nightowl1975]

And it is said that we can't mix and match the vaccines. As in, the first dose can't be Pfizer and the 2nd dose be Moderna.

I’ve wondered about this. Do we know why they can’t be from two different manufacturers? I don’t know of any other vaccines where this is an issue at all, so it’s curious that it would be an issue with this one.

 

[margarita25]

Colorado's COVID-19 death toll likely to remain "grim" for few weeks
—

Covid-19 Live Updates: California Orders More Body Bags and Mobile Morgues as Deaths Surge
—

First came news of a vaccine. Now come the scams. - CNN
—

Covid-19 vaccine stickers could encourage people to get vaccinated - CNN

 

[SouthAussie]

I’ve wondered about this. Do we know why they can’t be from two different manufacturers? I don’t know of any other vaccines where this is an issue at all, so it’s curious that it would be an issue with this one.

Probably because they haven't done it yet, nor tested the outcome.
I have read mention that the different temperature requirements may be the first hurdle to overcome. And one requires re-dose after three weeks, the other requires re-dose after four weeks. ... for whatever reasons (maybe safety?)

I think it is possible that things may become more streamlined in the future, but due to the expediency of the vac productions there hasn't been time to experiment further.


Because there are two doses of the vaccine, record keeping will be essential to remind patients to come in for the second dose. It will also be essential to ensure that the second dose will be with the same vaccine as the first dose, as “there’s no information on mixing and matching,” Schaffner said.
Experts discuss logistics of COVID-19 vaccine distribution

“For Pfizer, you have a dose one and a dose two, separated by three weeks,” Dr. Landers said. “Where the Moderna, you have dose one and dose two separated by four weeks.”
The vaccines do require different temperatures for storage, with the Pfizer vaccine requiring extra cold freezers.
“Really the main difference between the vaccines overall appears to be storage,” Dr. Landers said. “There is a difference in the cold chain for the Pfizer versus the Moderna.”
Differences between Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines

 

[10ofRods]

I still believe it will be July or August before the level of herd immunity will be achieved in the U.S.

Something that occasionally gets addressed, is how long the vaccine will end up being effective. I would think that by around July/August, there will be statistics coming in clarifying this issue a bit. Those who were part of the trials, will be about 1 year out, and the people getting vaccinated now, will have reached the 7-8 month mark.

This is going to be critical, because if the vaccine is wearing off on those vaccinated less than a year earlier, we've got problems. But that's a long way off still, so let's hope and assume the best case scenario will prevail.

Despite what organizations like Live Nation or sports like Major League Baseball say, I just don't see how there will be mass gathering events by Summer. The situation will be vastly improved over Summer 2020, but not nearly to the point you could gather 15,000 - 60,000 people together in close quarters, even with masks.

My guess is that by November 2021, the U.S., and other major countries, will be at least 80% back to normal. Travel could explode over Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Years a year from now, given comfort levels and tremendous pent up demand, on top of a 2020 holiday period where many avoided travel all-together.

I think that it will be Summer 2022, before most countries are back to what could be considered 100% normal. Where everybody truly feels safe again, and enough is known about tracing, treatment, vaccines, etc., that even the most worrisome person is not freaked out when doing the things they felt comfortable doing in 2019. The virus will likely still be out there, but in most of the world, we'll feel like we're far closer to the end than to the beginning.

I think your overall timeline is very good. My only concern is the anti-vaxxers.

Different nations will have very different numbers of people who avoid the vaccine. Germany seems to be getting ready to vaccinate. I suppose France is, but I can't find any specific evidence that they have 1) purchased ample doses and 2) have a system for supplying it (especially given the freezer concerns). Slovakia? I don't think they'll have vaccinations next year. What about Mexico, I wonder?

By mid-summer 2021, I think 50% of Americans will have been vaccinated. We hope that it's sterilizing immunity (they can't transmit it). We'll know that by mid to late summer and have good clues before then.

Since only about 1-2% of us have had COVID so far (and it's now clogging the healthcare system as we go from 2% to 5% positive over a period of about 6 weeks), it's a long way to herd immunity. If half of us get the vaccine, it will go a long way to protecting everyone else (presuming 10% of people just getting COVID on their own - maybe 20%)

If 20% of people get COVID without a vaccine, and 50% of us get the vaccine, we're going to see something like herd immunity (there will still be lots of cases, but hopefully not as many deaths). Strain on the healthcare system will last for a while.

As we get vaccines, the non-vaccinated will get COVID at lower rates, be misdiagnosed (because they won't go for testing, for various reasons), and it will all subside and appear to be "over."

If it's necessary for us all to have annual vaccines...2 shots a month apart, COVID will still be lurking to grab the elderly and the people with various underlying conditions (many people have never had assessment of their longterm blood sugar levels - and will only find out that they are diabetic 2 when they go into hospital for COVID).

 

[margarita25]

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[ilovewings]

I still believe it will be July or August before the level of herd immunity will be achieved in the U.S.

Something that occasionally gets addressed, is how long the vaccine will end up being effective. I would think that by around July/August, there will be statistics coming in clarifying this issue a bit. Those who were part of the trials, will be about 1 year out, and the people getting vaccinated now, will have reached the 7-8 month mark.

This is going to be critical, because if the vaccine is wearing off on those vaccinated less than a year earlier, we've got problems. But that's a long way off still, so let's hope and assume the best case scenario will prevail.

Despite what organizations like Live Nation or sports like Major League Baseball say, I just don't see how there will be mass gathering events by Summer. The situation will be vastly improved over Summer 2020, but not nearly to the point you could gather 15,000 - 60,000 people together in close quarters, even with masks.

My guess is that by November 2021, the U.S., and other major countries, will be at least 80% back to normal. Travel could explode over Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Years a year from now, given comfort levels and tremendous pent up demand, on top of a 2020 holiday period where many avoided travel all-together.

I think that it will be Summer 2022, before most countries are back to what could be considered 100% normal. Where everybody truly feels safe again, and enough is known about tracing, treatment, vaccines, etc., that even the most worrisome person is not freaked out when doing the things they felt comfortable doing in 2019. The virus will likely still be out there, but in most of the world, we'll feel like we're far closer to the end than to the beginning.

This vaccine really is the great unknown: there is so much to learn as more people get vaccinated- and over time we will learn so much- I am crossing my fingers that the news will be positive- especially about how long the vaccine is effective. That is a biggie.

 

[10ofRods]

I’ve wondered about this. Do we know why they can’t be from two different manufacturers? I don’t know of any other vaccines where this is an issue at all, so it’s curious that it would be an issue with this one.

One reason is that there are different types of vaccines. They invoke different immune responses, and sometimes, there's cross-reactivity (rare, but why would anyone want to increase their risk?)

Even among similar vaccines (mRNA vaccines created in the lab, for example, as opposed to adenovirus vaccines created from other animals' cells), they are not exactly alike.

Why would we stress people's immune systems with some completely unknown application of vaccines?

Would we take tylenol and naproxone at the same time? Or aspirin and tylenol? I would hope not. I mean, certainly not as a recommendation from knowledgeable people.

These vaccines are not all alike. There are several different styles (of which 3 are approaching widespread acceptance - the AstraZenca, which is not like the Pfizer or the Moderna (which are not exactly like each other) is in a different group altogether. In fact, I see no evidence that a combo of AstraZenca + Moderna would work - they don't stimulate the immune system in the same way.

It's possible that 2 of them could work together - but I sure wouldn't want to be the test monkey for that experiment. I want certainty, because otherwise, what is the point? I can't go back to work based on some unproved application of vaccines.

 

[Midgie2]

From the above article I posted....
“Among other concerns, Yeadon and Wodart warn that some of the vaccines may prevent the safe development of placentas in pregnant women, resulting in “vaccinated women essentially becoming infertile.”
This would be awful!!!
A whole generation of infertility won’t be good.

 

[gngr~snap]

I think the infertility issue was debunked.
MOO
I'm not sure I'd get it while pregnant. In fact I would not.
(Not until it had been in use for quite sometime.)
That ship has sailed so, I will whenever it is available to me.
Health experts debunk rumor about Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine causing infertility in women | KXAN Austin

 

[nightowl1975]

One reason is that there are different types of vaccines. They invoke different immune responses, and sometimes, there's cross-reactivity (rare, but why would anyone want to increase their risk?)

Even among similar vaccines (mRNA vaccines created in the lab, for example, as opposed to adenovirus vaccines created from other animals' cells), they are not exactly alike.

Why would we stress people's immune systems with some completely unknown application of vaccines?

Would we take tylenol and naproxone at the same time? Or aspirin and tylenol? I would hope not. I mean, certainly not as a recommendation from knowledgeable people.

These vaccines are not all alike. There are several different styles (of which 3 are approaching widespread acceptance - the AstraZenca, which is not like the Pfizer or the Moderna (which are not exactly like each other) is in a different group altogether. In fact, I see no evidence that a combo of AstraZenca + Moderna would work - they don't stimulate the immune system in the same way.

It's possible that 2 of them could work together - but I sure wouldn't want to be the test monkey for that experiment. I want certainty, because otherwise, what is the point? I can't go back to work based on some unproved application of vaccines.

All of this makes perfect sense. I guess what I’m struggling to figure out is why it’s never once been even hinted at during all of my children’s vaccines over the years. They grew up with an active duty military dad, so their vaccines came from multiple military facilities, civilian docs, clinics, etc. I’ve never been asked, nor is it recorded on their vaccine records because I just looked out of curiosity, what manufacturer produced any of their vaccines. They’ve had 2-3-4-5 doses of different vaccines over their lifetime, and I cannot imagine all of them came from the same manufacturer. I know they couldn’t have possibly all been the same because the combinations of vaccines given in one shot weren’t even always the same.

Perplexing, but probably just a lack of knowledge on my part as to why this was ok for all of their childhood shots but not so much the covid vaccine. I could see not mixing the different types of vaccines, but two mRNA vaccines from different manufacturers doesn’t seem like it shirk be such a huge deal to me. That’s going to add one more wrinkle to this whole thing because I can’t imagine everyone keeping up with their vaccine info or remembering which one they had, etc. Will this also be an issue if we need yearly booster shots? What a mess.