Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #98

[musicaljoke]

Of any group, I would expect this group to be the least susceptible to conspiracy theories and among the most able to research and find the facts.

Maybe not...

People with PhDs Least Likely to Get the Covid Vaccine – Investment Watch

The link appears to be a blog, and doesn't look reliable. In any case, the trend appears to be that those who have higher levels of education are more likely to be vaccinated.

Education Is Now a Bigger Factor Than Race in Desire for COVID-19 Vaccine

Predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the UK household longitudinal study - ScienceDirect

A global survey of potential acceptance of a COVID-19 vaccine | Nature Medicine

 

[CoverMeCagney]

In a couple more weeks time we’ll have 90% of UK adults with one dose, 80% with two.

Hopefully, they’ll authorise it for high school kids soon.

https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/vaccinations

 

[ilovewings]

Yes, we know this is happening, and it did not need to be this way. The virus is going to attack unvaccinated people everywhere, causing serious illness and deaths, and wreaking havoc in overwhelmed health care systems. There will also be many breakthrough cases in unvaccinated people, mostly mild cases. All these cases of Covid will increase the chances of mutations that will be even more dangerous and transmissible.

Misinformation/disinformation about the virus and the vaccines is to blame for much of this mess. It's truly sickening to see this going on.

MOO

It is sickening and so disheartening and you are right- it didn't have to be this way-
the politicization of masks and vaccines are literally killing people and as you suggest, there is the real possibility of a variant that will evade vaccines --- then where will we be?

 

[ilovewings]

Yes, we know this is happening, and it did not need to be this way. The virus is going to attack unvaccinated people everywhere, causing serious illness and deaths, and wreaking havoc in overwhelmed health care systems. There will also be many breakthrough cases in unvaccinated people, mostly mild cases. All these cases of Covid will increase the chances of mutations that will be even more dangerous and transmissible.

Misinformation/disinformation about the virus and the vaccines is to blame for much of this mess. It's truly sickening to see this going on.

MOO

It is sickening and so disheartening and you are right- it didn't have to be this way-
the politicization of masks and vaccines are literally killing people and as you suggest, there is the real possibility of a variant that will evade vaccines --- then where will we be?

 

[MimosaMornings]

Florida Hospitals Are “Stacking Patients In Hallways” As The Delta Variant Surges — BuzzFeed News

“The calls came fast, first with a cardiac arrest case, next with multiple patients who were having trouble breathing, and all were suspected to have COVID. Usually, Stew Eubanks, a paramedic in Sumter County, Florida, deals with lots of minor emergencies, but now it’s mainly life-threatening cases. After a nonstop 24 hours, his Wednesday shift ended with another cardiac arrest.

“It’s bad right now,” Eubanks, 39, told BuzzFeed News. “We’re stacking patients in the hallways, stacking patients in the waiting room.”

“Of the 13 hospitals in the local area, eight had limitations on which patients they would accept, including a standalone ER that warned it did not have enough oxygen to admit more COVID patients. Eubanks said even patients who manage to get admitted are waiting over 12 hours to receive care and that hospitals no longer have the space to separate highly contagious COVID patients from other people requiring emergency medical attention.”

 

[musicaljoke]

I have a doctoral degree and have not been vaccinated and won't be.

Here's a link to the study from the Carnegie Mellon site and a quote:

Researchers Identify Groups Hesitant about COVID-19 Vaccine - Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences - Carnegie Mellon University

The largest decrease in hesitancy between January and May by education group was in those with a high school education or less. Hesitancy held constant in the most educated group (those with a PhD); by May PhD’s were the most hesitant group. While vaccine hesitancy decreased across virtually all racial groups, Black people and Pacific Islanders had the largest decreases, joining Hispanics and Asians at having lower vaccine hesitancy than white people in May.

Here is a link to the full text, rather than the news story.

Time trends and factors related to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy from January-May 2021 among US adults: Findings from a large-scale national survey

From the full text, I believe that the study was conducted using a Facebook survey to measure the change in hesitancy over time, in which respondents were asked several questions about their age, sex, race, education level, etc. and attitudes toward vaccinations.

It doesn't appear that the education level of PhD was one of the options. Instead, respondents could check a category called "Professional Degree", which is where the PhD would come in, along with MD, JD. etc but it's vague, so someone with certification in any profession might check this category. I dare say that the less education they have, the more likely they would be to misunderstand the category. So the reliability of this answer is in question.

It becomes much more suspect when you see the pattern of results shown in the other levels of education, and when you read other research articles which are consistently showing that the higher the level of education one has, the less likely one is vaccine hesitant. I linked just a few studies in a post above.

My nephew just completed a Masters Paper on this topic, using a Facebook survey very similar to the one in this article. His paper was rejected because the data could not be confirmed. Too many people use Facebook surveys to make statements, or give silly answers.

Even within the paper, the authors state, "we assume the survey was completed in good faith". But this is not likely to be true. Furthermore, if someone is lying on an anonymous Facebook survey, then wouldn't they claim to have the highest category of education? If any category is susceptible to fraud, it is the level of education.

For the results to be meaningful, there needs to be a better way of making sure the data is accurate. I will be surprised if this paper gets printed.

jmo

 

[nhmemorymaker]

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.

I think part of it IS that DeSantis said "come on down" to everyone. I have now heard two stories on NPR where families thought they were finally ok to take a trip and where did they go....to Florida. One said that Disneyworld felt like a free for all.... they wore masks the whole time except for dining.... and then drove HOME. This story was actually about how they all got it from their short visit, AND the father is really suffering from long covid now.... But it does accentuate the fact that there are so many who still caught the virus in Florida but went home...

I know this does not really answer your question (which i ask myself a lot too, as a resident of FL) but if he didn't advertise such an open game farm... the in-and-out-floods would not have been so strong.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

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

I never heard that... do you have links?
I had zero reaction to second dose of Moderna, but my son was so ill.... had to go to the ER multiple times.
I personally felt as if I had a bit of an adrenalin rush after the second shot....

 

[ringbearer]

Here is a link to the full text, rather than the news story.

Time trends and factors related to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy from January-May 2021 among US adults: Findings from a large-scale national survey

From the full text, I believe that the study was conducted using a Facebook survey to measure the change in hesitancy over time, in which respondents were asked several questions about their age, sex, race, education level, etc. and attitudes toward vaccinations.

It doesn't appear that the education level of PhD was one of the options. Instead, respondents could check a category called "Professional Degree", which is where the PhD would come in, along with MD, JD. etc but it's vague, so someone with certification in any profession might check this category. I dare say that the less education they have, the more likely they would be to misunderstand the category. So the reliability of this answer is in question.

It becomes much more suspect when you see the pattern of results shown in the other levels of education, and when you read other research articles which are consistently showing that the higher the level of education one has, the less likely one is vaccine hesitant. I linked just a few studies in a post above.

My nephew just completed a Masters Paper on this topic, using a Facebook survey very similar to the one in this article. His paper was rejected because the data could not be confirmed. Too many people use Facebook surveys to make statements, or give silly answers.

Even within the paper, the authors state, "we assume the survey was completed in good faith". But this is not likely to be true. Furthermore, if someone is lying on an anonymous Facebook survey, then wouldn't they claim to have the highest category of education? If any category is susceptible to fraud, it is the level of education.

For the results to be meaningful, there needs to be a better way of making sure the data is accurate. I will be surprised if this paper gets printed.

jmo

If you click the Supplemental Materials Links on the main page of the study, or cut and paste the link below into your browser, and then click the supplemental materials .pdf, you can see the questions that were asked.

Time trends and factors related to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy from January-May 2021 among US adults: Findings from a large-scale national survey

This is the question about respondents' level of education:

D8 What is the highest degree or level of school you have completed?

1. Less than high school
2. High school graduate or equivalent (GED)
3. Some college 4. 2 year degree
5. 4 year degree
6. Master’s degree
7. Professional degree (e.g. MD, JD, DVM)
8. Doctorate

Number 8 on the selection form is Doctorate Degree. So a non-professional doctoral degree, including any Ph.d. Number 7 is professional degrees, all of which also are doctoral degrees (medical doctorate, or MD, and juris doctorate, or JD, for example). So anyone who has completed a post-masters degree education would fall into either 7 or 8, even if the person with the doctoral degree was confused by the "professional" v. "doctoral" designation. Personally, I doubt that a person with a doctoral degree would be confused about whether they have one or not.

The study doesn't surprise me because I know there are plenty of well-educated people who aren't getting the shot and they, like myself, are almost certainly not going to change their minds. I also think, based on personal experience, that most of them would never, ever take a survey about it on Facebook, or answer truthfully if they did, given the social media climate on the issue and the fact that those with doctoral degrees could be expected to potentially have more to lose career-wise if they became a social media target. So I would expect just the opposite -- that the responses would skew to go along with the majority rather than vice versa. jmo

 

[WildOrchid]

Southwest Airlines flight attendant dies of COVID-19

fully vaxxed

 

[nhmemorymaker]

There could also be a difference in how cause of death is reported in Florida and Texas.

Report: Florida May Have Undercounted Its COVID-19 Deaths by Thousands

also...

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and other independent public health experts suggest that Florida’s total death toll from the pandemic is actually understated. Experts noted that Governor DeSantis’ administration has used a COVID-19 infection rate that gives “more weight to negative test” results, and thus skews the results. Governor DeSantis has used the skewed rate to justify reopening schools and businesses. In response to criticism, Mr. Piccolo denied that Governor was attempting to question the official death toll, stating “[n]o one in the administration is trying to cast doubt on the number of COVID deaths, we are trying to get to the facts.”

COVID-19 Data Misrepresented by Florida Governor | Sabin Center for Climate Change Law

This is very true. We know DeSantis was making these decisions on how to indicate deaths, with Covid as secondary. I do not know how deeply this is still going on. But overall, many many citizens feel we are not getting accurate information here. jmo

 

[nhmemorymaker]

So, the people who won't get vaccinated (because lord knows what could be in those vaccines) will be happy to be infused/injected with lab-made antibodies after they fall deathly ill with covid? Okay.

From what I understand, monoclonal antibody treatments are super expensive.
Vaccines much less expensive.
I wonder who is going to be paying for all of these monoclonal antibody treatments?

We, here in Florida are wondering as well. The irony of these experimental treatment is hilarious.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

Great outside of the box thinking by these guys.
I am ALL in for this.
Anything to stop this killing machine.

''

This is not really outside the box.... testing waste has been able to prove, answer questions of a multitude of issues.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

Respectfully snipped for focus. Testing should be free. If it's not, we're always going to have people who suffer at home and not bother going to get tested.

At this link, you'll see the flyer for the local hospital, which is the only place within about 13 miles that's offering testing for Covid--at a cost of $152.46. Plus, you need a doctor's order. Look at the small line of text just under the words...

"Important information for patients and visitors"

It reads..."As required by Section 3202(b) of the CARES Act, our cash charge for the COVID-19 diagnostic test is $152.46 with a physician order."

For those who have insurance, the cost is likely covered. Those who don't are just out of luck.

If we can't test efficiently, contact tracing means nothing.

This whole virus has been handled so poorly in the US from the get-go. The vaccine, masking, and social distancing are probably our best bets, but all the rest of the stuff..contact tracing, shutdowns, quarantines, all of that is a band-aid on a severed limb because there's no uniformity or consistency. What works in other nations will not work here because too many people resist. I'm not coming down on those who resist, they have their opinions and those opinions are just as valid as mine, but I'm disappointed in our leadership--both the old leadership and the new leadership.

I was originally so optimistic about the contact-tracing... I even wanten to sign up to volunteer. But when I saw how weird each state was doing it, and then hearing of @mickey's real experiences, I was just so depressed about it.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

Tragic pic of new mum with Covid

A tragic photo has captured the moment a mum held her newborn baby for the first and last time before she succumbed to Covid-19.

Kristen McMullen, from Florida in the US, briefly took off her mask and stared into her daughter’s face for the duration of two photos before she was wheeled away to a Covid-19 ICU ward.

Her daughter, named Summer Reign, was born on July 27.

Less than two weeks later, on July 8, Ms McMullen took her last breath.

She had only seen her daughter on that one occasion when she died.

Ms McMullen – who was only 30 – only got to hold her child for just “a few short minutes before she was rushed off to the ICU,” according to her aunt, Melissa Syverson.

This one really hit me... So sad. I know two young pregnant women right now and am 90% sure they are not vaccinated.... I don't dare ask...but I think about them every every day...

 

[MajorHoople]

Americans with PhDs are the most reluctant to get vaccinated against COVID, study finds | Daily Mail Online


"People with a PhD are the most hesitant when it comes to getting the Covid-19 vaccine, according to a paper by researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh.

Researchers surveyed just over five million US adults in an online survey, with 10,000 reporting that they were educated to PhD level.

The report showed a surprising U-shaped correlation between willingness to get a Covid vaccine and education level - with the highest hesitancy among those least and most educated.

Of those surveyed, 20.8 per cent with a high school education were reluctant to get the shot, and 23.9 per cent with a PhD were against it."

 

[nhmemorymaker]

All of this is your opinion. Please remember to add that to your posts. We all have opinions. Some people insist on voicing them more than others. And some people aren’t happy unless they have someone else to blame. I’m not one of those people. IMO if people take responsibility for themselves and quit trying to blame and persuade others to agree with them this world could start to heal. No one has the right to lash out at people who don’t agree with them. Of course All of this is my opinion only

Interesting how you state this. I never had blamed the people who did not want to get vaccines. But I have felt a gradual progressive feeling about this. I have local community social media pages... that are just totally full of misinformation, and quite honestly are blatant lies. I have gone from "live and let live" to .......... angry. This misinformation IS killing people. I am not sure where you live, but I am in the heavily hit Florida, and last week, my county was the number ONE county in the country for cases, and I lost another two acquaintances to Covid, who were unvaccinated, and truly truly believed misinformation (as seen so clearly on their own social media pages). I feel the need to lash out to people who would never believe me anyway is absolutely useless. But when it feels so personal........... I wish I had had the courage to at least try to persuade...... Two very good , previously vibrant, and caring people are dead...and they should still be here sharing their days with their families and those of us who cared for them very much.......

and of course this is my opinion....my opinion of pain and sorrow of lost souls.

 

[155etta]

I don't believe this. Everyone I know with advanced degrees have been vaccinated.

I clicked on the link and the tweet doesn't seem to be there any more.

Same.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

<modsnip>

Indeed. Pregnant women have been advised to get vaccinated since at least last February.
The COVID-19 Vaccine and Pregnancy: What You Need to Know

This is clearly the medical advice. Tis why I am so worried about the two younger pregnant women I know....but I am just not that close to them, and just cannot say anything to them. But I think about them every day.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

74 people in Martha's Vineyard have tested positive for Covid since Obama's 60th birthday bash | Daily Mail Online

geeez...

This is typical Daily Mail, right?????

'At this time we're not aware of any cases connected to the Obama party,' Tisbury health agent and boards of health spokesperson Maura Valley told DailyMail.com. 'It's a little too early and the only way we're going to know is through comprehensive contact tracing.'