Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #98

[weepingangel]

State does not plan to track COVID cases in schools this year, but districts can still offer weekly testing

Massachusetts
Unlike last school year, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has said it does not currently have plans to track positive COVID-19cases in schools during the upcoming academic year.

 

[Sundog]

How long will your COVID-19 vaccine last? And will you need a booster?

Dr Fauci said

"We do not believe that others, elderly or non-elderly, who are not
immunocompromised, need a vaccine [booster] right at this moment."

"We are evaluating this on a day-by-day, week-by-week, month-by-month basis," Fauci added. "So, if the data shows us that, in fact, we do need to do that, we'll be very ready to do it and do it expeditiously."

"We believe sooner or later you will need a booster for durability of protection,"

Moderna and Pfizer both reported positive data from their ongoing phase 3 trials, which have continued to monitor volunteers at least six months after their initial shots. Moderna has said its vaccine remains more 93% effective against symptomatic illness after six months,

while Pfizer reported a dip in efficacy to 84%, though both studies were conducted with slightly different criteria and prior to the emergence of the delta variant.

We need to hear from scientific studies on whether or not the over 65 and elderly need a booster shot, not just from Fauci and the CDC, but from others like Scott Gottlieb, Mike Osterholm, etc. and then hope that the FDA will make a decision based on the science. Unfortunately, there are politics involved with the CDC and Fauci in relation to the booster shots, so I prefer to hear the opinion of those who are not government employees, as additional perspectives.

 

[Cool Cats]

We need to hear from scientific studies on whether or not the over 65 and elderly need a booster shot, not just from Fauci and the CDC, but from others like Scott Gottlieb, Mike Osterholm, etc. and then hope that the FDA will make a decision based on the science. Unfortunately, there are politics involved with the CDC and Fauci in relation to the booster shots, so I prefer to hear the opinion of those who are not government employees, as additional perspectives.

I would like to see some links for scientists who know more detailed info.

Scott Gottlieb, Mike Osterholm are these guys scientists?

 

[TootsieFootsie]

I searched on Scott Gottleib and in January 2020, he said that the pandemic would "run it's course in 6 to 8 weeks before any benefit from Vaccine early approval.

Wrong, it didn't run it's course in 6 to 8 weeks, did it

Log into Facebook

 

[Sundog]

I would like to see some links for scientists who know more detailed info.

Scott Gottlieb, Mike Osterholm are these guys scientists?

Gottlieb and Osterholm follow the science closely, as I am sure Fauci does as well, but Fauci's job is to be a government spokesperson, and others are free to report on the scientific studies without balancing the government's interests. There are others, of course, and I think we should review all of their opinions on the booster shots before just taking at face value what government representatives are saying.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Michael Thomas Osterholm (born March 10, 1953) is an American epidemiologist, Regents Professor, and Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota.[2][3]

Michael Osterholm - Wikipedia

 

[anneg]

I searched on Scott Gottleib and in January 2020, he said that the pandemic would "run it's course in 6 to 8 weeks before any benefit from Vaccine early approval.

Wrong, it didn't run it's course in 6 to 8 weeks, did it

Log into Facebook

Looks like he said that in November 2020, not January. Even so... it sure didn't.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Looks like he said that in November 2020, not January. Even so... it sure didn't.

Oh you're right, it is November. I think he was thinking at the time that it seemed it was starting to turn around and would run it's course in another 6 to 8 weeks.

Probably time I went to bed, it's 3.22 am here

 

[anneg]

I may have missed it, but I don't think this Mayo Clinic study has been posted here:

Comparison of two highly-effective mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 during periods of Alpha and Delta variant prevalence

https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.08.06.21261707v1.full.pdf

This is a non peer-reviewed preprint. It found that Moderna vaccine is more effective than the Pfizer vaccine against delta; 76% vs 42%. This is similar to recent findings for Pfizer in Israel. (Israeli Data Suggests Possible Waning in Effectiveness of Pfizer Vaccine)

From the Abstract (BBM):

[...] Here we compare the effectiveness of two full-length Spike protein-encoding mRNA vaccines from Moderna (mRNA-1273) and Pfizer/BioNTech (BNT162b2) in the Mayo Clinic Health System over time from January to July 2021, during which either the Alpha or Delta variant was highly prevalent. We defined cohorts of vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals from Minnesota (n = 25,589 each) matched on age, sex, race, history of prior SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing, and date of full vaccination. Both vaccines were highly effective during this study period against SARS-CoV-2 infection (mRNA-1273: 86%, 95%CI: 81-90.6%; BNT162b2: 76%, 95%CI: 69-81%) and COVID-19 associated hospitalization (mRNA-1273: 91.6%, 95% CI: 81-97%; BNT162b2: 85%, 95% CI: 73-93%). However, in July, the effectiveness against infection was considerably lower for mRNA-1273 (76%, 95% CI: 58-87%) with an even more pronounced reduction in effectiveness for BNT162b2 (42%, 95% CI: 13-62%).

[...]
Our observational study highlights that while both mRNA COVID-19 vaccines strongly protect against infection and severe disease, further evaluation of mechanisms underlying differences in their effectiveness such as dosing regimens and vaccine composition are warranted.

ETA: quote from NY Times article linked above:

If a vaccine has an effectiveness of 39 percent that does not mean that 61 percent of people who got vaccinated were infected by the coronavirus. Instead, it means the risk of getting infected is 39 percent less among vaccinated people compared to unvaccinated. So even at that lower percentage, the data shows that vaccinated people have significantly less risk of getting infected than unvaccinated people.

 

[ilovewings]

I am trying to figure out why Florida has so many more cases than anywhere else in the United States. Their vaccine rate is about the same as Michigan (almost 50% fully vaccinated and around 60% at least one dose). So why the difference in number of cases, hospitalizations and deaths? My take is this: DeSantis opened up Florida for many months prior to the appearance of the Delta variant. It seemed that Florida was doing remarkably well given that everything was open: But then the Delta variant came along and changed all of that. All of that openness- no masks and lots of non-vaccinated people crowding together in bars and restaurants resulted in the huge increase in cases.
Does anyone have other ideas about why Florida has become a disaster?

Today went to Costco and to the grocery store (here in a suburb of Detroit) and very few people were masked (my husband and I were masked). I don't get it.

 

[mickey2942]

@anneg that is very interesting about Pfizer vs. Moderna re: Delta variant. And confirms my belief that my "cold" in the beginning of June really was a variant case. Because I was sicker than I have been in years, and did remind me of the short bout of "mini flu" I had after my 2nd Covid vaccine.

My husband had Moderna, and was not affected at all by my "cold". I was sucking down Mucinex, and Robutissin all of the time. And felt horrible. Tons of mucus.

 

[anneg]

Michael Thomas Osterholm (born March 10, 1953) is an American epidemiologist, Regents Professor, and Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota.[2][3]

Michael Osterholm - Wikipedia

Dr. Osterholm has a new podcast available:
Episode 64: Straight Talk

There is a transcript available (yay!)--I just downloaded it. All earlier episodes have transcripts too.

Osterholm Update: COVID-19
Episode 64: Straight Talk
August 12, 2021
In this episode, Dr. Osterholm and host Chris Dall discuss major topics our listeners have been asking about, including vaccine effectiveness, herd immunity, masking, risks to children, and mandates.

Here is a YouTube link to it.

 

[anneg]

@anneg that is very interesting about Pfizer vs. Moderna re: Delta variant. And confirms my belief that my "cold" in the beginning of June really was a variant case. Because I was sicker than I have been in years, and did remind me of the short bout of "mini flu" I had after my 2nd Covid vaccine.

My husband had Moderna, and was not affected at all by my "cold". I was sucking down Mucinex, and Robutissin all of the time. And felt horrible. Tons of mucus.

So interesting. I wondered when you wrote about it before how he could have avoided catching whatever you had. So maybe the Moderna vaccine kept him well.

 

[ilovewings]

So interesting. I wondered when you wrote about it before how he could have avoided catching whatever you had. So maybe the Moderna vaccine kept him well.

I have read that the 2nd Moderna shot had a larger dose than Pfizer 2nd
shot--could that make Moderna more effective?

 

[SouthAussie]

4 Broward educators with COVID die within 2 days as school year nears

These unvaccinated teachers were not very old. And were teachers of young unvaccinated children, elementary school age. Although school is not started again yet (I don't think) this demonstrates some of the exposure these children may face.


"One was identified as 48-year-old ... elementary school teacher at Pinewood Elementary in North Lauderdale."

"They were ages 48 and 49 .... from Dillard Elementary School in Fort Lauderdale."

" .... the fourth person she had referenced was a female Broward County Public Schools graduate with close ties to the school district through her job."

 

[SouthAussie]

One of our states (Western Australia) is implementing covid 'passports' to enter their state, as of next week.
This digital proof of vaccination will be required for people who want to enter from covid hotspots - which is primarily NSW at the moment.

A negative covid test will also be required.

Our country's Prime Minister supports their plan. (Non-political support, Mark McGowan (WA) and ScoMo are not of the same political party.)

McGowan’s vaccine passport likely to be legally sound

 

[MimosaMornings]

440 students quarantined 2 days after school starts — ABC News

“A total of 440 students have been quarantined in Palm Beach County, Florida, due to COVID-19, just two days after the start of the school year, the Palm Beach County School District told ABC News.

The district kicked off the school year with in-person classes on Tuesday for the first time since last March.

The district requires facial coverings inside schools and buses for all students, unless their parent opts out of the requirement, as well as staff.”

 

[CoverMeCagney]

440 students quarantined 2 days after school starts — ABC News

“A total of 440 students have been quarantined in Palm Beach County, Florida, due to COVID-19, just two days after the start of the school year, the Palm Beach County School District told ABC News.

The district kicked off the school year with in-person classes on Tuesday for the first time since last March.

The district requires facial coverings inside schools and buses for all students, unless their parent opts out of the requirement, as well as staff.”

What are the rules, Mims? If a pupil or teacher tests positive do the whole class have to isolate?

 

[CoverMeCagney]

One of our states (Western Australia) is implementing covid 'passports' to enter their state, as of next week.
This digital proof of vaccination will be required for people who want to enter from covid hotspots - which is primarily NSW at the moment.

A negative covid test will also be required.

Our country's Prime Minister supports their plan. (Non-political support, Mark McGowan (WA) and ScoMo are not of the same political party.)

McGowan’s vaccine passport likely to be legally sound

I understand they can monitor that via airport arrivals, but what about roads? WA is the biggest state isn’t it?

 

[MimosaMornings]

What are the rules, Mims? If a pupil or teacher tests positive do the whole class have to isolate?

The rules vary so much from state to state, county to county, school district to school district, public versus private.

Hundreds of students in Palm Beach County forced to quarantine because of COVID days after school starts

“Not all of those in quarantine are infected with COVID-19. Guidance from the Florida Department of Health says anyone in K-12 schools who is symptomatic or tested positive, or who is a close contact to someone who has, should be immediately excluded from facilities. Anyone who has COVID cannot return for at least 10 days. Those exposed can return after a 14-day quarantine from the date of last exposure, or after seven days if they get a negative test.”

https://www.palmbeachschools.org//UserFiles/Servers/Server_270532/File/School Board/Policy 5.326.pdf

Close contact - within six feet for more than 15 minutes whether in classroom, school bus or extracurricular activities.

https://www.palmbeachschools.org/UserFiles/Servers/Server_270532/File/About Us/Back to School/FAQ_For_COVID_Policies.pdf