Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #98

[otto]

87% of the breakthrough cases were people who are 60 and over.

What I understood from the article is that in December 2020, in Israel, older adults and adults with other health issues were vaccinated first. By April, most Israelis over the age of 12 were fully vaccinated.

The vaccine is good for 6-8 months after the second shot. I'm assuming this means first and second shot were delivered as recommended, not 4 months apart. What Israel is experiencing, from my understanding, is that those who were vaccinated first (in this case older adults) were the first to experience "breakthrough" cases: 60% of covid breakthrough hospitalizations are double vaccinated. That is, older and vulnerable adults who received two vaccines in December are the first to have "breakthrough" cases in July/August. Theoretically, in 6 months, everyone who had the second vaccine in June will be vulnerable to the "breakthrough" between December and February.

The article questions whether "breakthrough" is the correct term; whether breakthrough is inevitable for all double vaccinated people after 6-8 months. Further, the question is how to do better with a vaccine.

I don't think it's a good idea to return to the idea that it only happens to old people. That's what they said at the beginning of the pandemic, and today hospitals are filling with children and young adults.

A grim warning from Israel: Vaccination blunts, but does not defeat Delta

 

[WichitaFalls]

I can't help but wonder how many people he infected prior to the positive test due to the lack of his wearing a mask........ It's so sad.

There are a couple of guys that I hope he gave heartfelt hugs to in the last 24 hours (Ted Cruz, Dan Patrick, Ken Paxton, George P. Bush) pretty odious officials. Just saying

 

[musicaljoke]

What I understood from the article is that in December 2020, in Israel, older adults and adults with other health issues were vaccinated first. By April, most Israelis over the age of 12 were fully vaccinated.

The vaccine is good for 6-8 months after the second shot. I'm assuming this means first and second shot were delivered as recommended, not 4 months apart. What Israel is experiencing, from my understanding, is that those who were vaccinated first (in this case older adults) were the first to experience "breakthrough" cases: 60% of covid breakthrough hospitalizations are double vaccinated. That is, older and vulnerable adults who received two vaccines in December are the first to have "breakthrough" cases in July/August. Theoretically, in 6 months, everyone who had the second vaccine in June will be vulnerable to the "breakthrough" between December and February.

The article questions whether "breakthrough" is the correct term; whether breakthrough is inevitable for all double vaccinated people after 6-8 months. Further, the question is how to do better with a vaccine.

I don't think it's a good idea to return to the idea that it only happens to old people. That's what they said at the beginning of the pandemic, and today hospitals are filling with children and young adults.

A grim warning from Israel: Vaccination blunts, but does not defeat Delta

It will be interesting to see if the Canadian approach of waiting four months between vaccinations will result in a longer period of good resistance before we see breakthroughs.

I believe it has always been a concern that the elderly might not developed robust antibodies, and that breakthroughs would happen.

 

[mickey2942]

Bad news, they are hiring back Contact Tracers in my county. I quit in March, because there just wasn't any work. And, got an email today...hiring is on.

 

[WichitaFalls]

About 20,000 Mississippi students in quarantine for COVID-19 exposure, health official says

JACKSON — A top Mississippi health official said Tuesday that about 20,000 students are currently quarantined for COVID-19 exposure in the state — 4.5% of the public school population, according to the state's latest enrollment figures.

The data comes from reports made by 800 schools to the Mississippi State Department of Health last week, Mississippi State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers said during a call with state pediatricians.

“These disruptions ... are going to continue for a while," Byers said to members of the Mississippi Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

COVID in Mississippi schools: About 20,000 students in quarantine

 

[Sundog]

There are a couple of guys that I hope he gave heartfelt hugs to in the last 24 hours (Ted Cruz, Dan Patrick, Ken Paxton, George P. Bush) pretty odious officials. Just saying

Actually these are some of my favorite officials. And I think they have all been vaccinated, grateful for that.

 

[WildOrchid]

Pasco County officials: Do not call 911 unless it's life-or-death

What is it going to take for a mask mandate?

 

[otto]

We have been trying hard to get vaccines since November last year.
Our first small receipt of vaccines was at the end of Feb this year. For our first responders.


Covid: Italy blocks AstraZeneca vaccine shipment to Australia
5 March 2021


In November 2020, the Australian Government announced an agreement to secure 10 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.
In February 2021, Australia purchased an extra 10 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.
In April 2021, the Australian Government announced purchase of a further 20 million doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines.
(We received our first million a few weeks back, we have been getting very small batches here and there to try to do our first responders.)

The first 300,000 doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine arrived in Australia on 28 February 2021.
(We are now manufacturing our own AZ, for us and to help supply South Pacific countries. I don't think we have a huge manufacturing capacity, one small facility in Melbourne.)

The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is the second mRNA vaccine that the Australian Government has committed to through an advance purchase agreement. This agreement will provide access to the current Moderna vaccine (available in the second half of 2021)
Moderna will supply 25 million doses from late 2021.

Novavax is developing a vaccine for Coronavirus (COVID-19). If it is proven safe and effective and is approved for use, it will be available in Australia in the second half of 2021. It is anticipated that 51 million doses will be available, which will supply enough doses to cover Australia’s whole population.

Australia’s vaccine agreements

Thank you! That's the difference there. Assuming I'm not missing anything ...

Canada purchases Pfizer and Moderna vaccines pending approval: Aug 5, 2020
Moderna vaccine released globally for approval: Oct 12, 2020
Australia purchases Pfizer vaccines: November 2020
Canada approve Pfizer : Dec 9, 2020
Canada approve Moderna: Dec 23, 2020
Australia approve Pfizer: Jan 24, 2020

Could the delay in Australians receiving vaccine supply be related to purchasing and approval dates for the vaccine? By the time Australia put in a bid, was it well behind bids from many other countries. Other countries that have a surplus today (e.g.: U.K.) have donated some of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines to Australia, but every country will fulfill its' own need first.

AstraZeneca has more side effects and is less effective than Moderna and Pfizer. It is now banned in Canada. AstraZeneca vaccine is probably flooding third world countries with warning labels today - just like Canada in the beginning. Hopefully, providing a <modsnip - no link> to higher risk populations during the dicey Delta variant spread will not result in a more dangerous variant.

"Canada now has deals in place with pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and U.S.-based biotech firm Moderna to secure millions of doses of their experimental COVID-19 vaccines, in case either of the candidates is approved for wide-scale use."​

August 5, 2020
Canada signs deals with Moderna, Pfizer for millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses

"The [Canadian] federal government has given the green light to the Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine, a key step toward launching the largest inoculation campaign in Canada's history."​

Dec 9, 2020
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/vaccine-rollout-plan-phac-1.5833912

"December 23, 2020
Ottawa, ON
Health Canada

Today, Health Canada authorized the second COVID-19 vaccine in Canada, manufactured by Moderna.

Health Canada received Moderna’s submission on October 12, 2020, and after a thorough, independent review of the evidence, it has determined that the Moderna vaccine meets the Department’s stringent safety, efficacy and quality requirements."
​

Health Canada authorizes Moderna COVID-19 vaccine - Canada.ca

"[Australia’s] medical regulator was one of the first in the world to complete a comprehensive approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine ...
​

Jan 24, 2021
Australia approves Pfizer vaccine, warns of limited global AstraZeneca supply

 

[anneg]

87% of the breakthrough cases were people who are 60 and over.

Yes, c'est moi...

 

[ilovewings]

Op-Ed: As a doctor, I'm out of compassion for unvaccinated people - Los Angeles Times (latimes.com)

A really good article from a physician who treats Covid patients daily in the hospital and has lost his sympathy for his patients who are not vaccinated. He has lost his patience with them and their multi-excuses. It is an article worth reading and you can feel his exasperation.

 

[musicaljoke]

We broke down the hospitalization risk of going unvaccinated in Ontario. Here’s what the numbers say

Unvaccinated Ontarians are ending up in hospital with COVID-19 nearly 20 times more often than fully vaccinated individuals and in the last week have been about 70 times more likely to end up in intensive care, a Star analysis of provincial data has found.

 

[musicaljoke]

Op-Ed: As a doctor, I'm out of compassion for unvaccinated people - Los Angeles Times (latimes.com)

A really good article from a physician who treats Covid patients daily in the hospital and has lost his sympathy for his patients who are not vaccinated. He has lost his patience with them and their multi-excuses. It is an article worth reading and you can feel his exasperation.

From the article ...

“Well, I’m not an anti-vaxxer or anything. I was just waiting for the FDA to approve the vaccine first. I didn’t want to take anything experimental. I didn’t want to be the government’s guinea pig, and I don’t trust that it’s safe,” he said.

“Well,” I said, “I can pretty much guarantee we would have never met had you gotten vaccinated because you would have never been hospitalized. All of our COVID units are full and every single patient in them is unvaccinated. Numbers don’t lie. The vaccines work.”

[...]
My patient died nine days later from a fatal stroke. We, the care team, reconciled this loss by telling ourselves: He made a personal choice not to get vaccinated, not to protect himself or his family. We did everything we could with what we had to save him. This year, this tragedy, this unnecessary, entirely preventable loss, was on him.

 

[musicaljoke]

Op-Ed: As a doctor, I'm out of compassion for unvaccinated people - Los Angeles Times (latimes.com)

A really good article from a physician who treats Covid patients daily in the hospital and has lost his sympathy for his patients who are not vaccinated. He has lost his patience with them and their multi-excuses. It is an article worth reading and you can feel his exasperation.

From the article...

If you believe the pandemic is almost over and you can ride it out, without getting vaccinated, you could not be more wrong. This virus will find you.

If you believe I’ll just wait until the FDA approves the vaccine first, you may not live to see the day.

If you believe if I get infected I’ll just go to the hospital and get treated, there is no guarantee we can save your life, nor even a promise we’ll have a bed for you.

If you believe I’m pregnant and I don’t want the vaccine to affect me, my baby or my future fertility, it matters little if you’re not alive to see your newborn.

If you believe I won’t get my children vaccinated because I don’t know what the long-term effects will be, it matters little if they don’t live long enough for you to find out.

If you believe I’ll just let everyone else get vaccinated around me so I don’t have to, there are 93 million eligible, unvaccinated people in the “herd” who think the same way you do and are getting in the way of ending this pandemic.

If you believe vaccinated people are getting infected anyway so what’s the point?, the vaccine was built to prevent hospitalizations and deaths from severe illness. Instead of fatal pneumonia, those with breakthrough infections have a short, bad cold, so the vaccine has already proved itself. The vaccinated are not dying from COVID-19.

 

[Lilibet]

If you believe the pandemic is almost over and you can ride it out, without getting vaccinated, you could not be more wrong. This virus will find you.

BBM

Yes, the virus will find you! As many here know, despite our taking every possible precaution, the virus found my husband and me in late January…two weeks before it was our turn for the vaccine (ages 75 and 76). I spent six days in the hospital on oxygen. Thanks to my proactive husband calling 911 and excellent care (all the drugs Trump got) I survived. But I was very sick.

Now that we are vaccinated, our lives and precautions are still the same thanks to the Delta variant. It can still find us. So anyone currently unvaccinated is playing Russian roulette IMO, even if they wear masks, etc. If you’re on the fence about the vax still, please consider at least increasing your odds of a good outcome by getting vaxxed.
JMO

 

[anneg]

From the article...

If you believe the pandemic is almost over and you can ride it out, without getting vaccinated, you could not be more wrong. This virus will find you.

If you believe I’ll just wait until the FDA approves the vaccine first, you may not live to see the day.

If you believe if I get infected I’ll just go to the hospital and get treated, there is no guarantee we can save your life, nor even a promise we’ll have a bed for you.

If you believe I’m pregnant and I don’t want the vaccine to affect me, my baby or my future fertility, it matters little if you’re not alive to see your newborn.

If you believe I won’t get my children vaccinated because I don’t know what the long-term effects will be, it matters little if they don’t live long enough for you to find out.

If you believe I’ll just let everyone else get vaccinated around me so I don’t have to, there are 93 million eligible, unvaccinated people in the “herd” who think the same way you do and are getting in the way of ending this pandemic.

If you believe vaccinated people are getting infected anyway so what’s the point?, the vaccine was built to prevent hospitalizations and deaths from severe illness. Instead of fatal pneumonia, those with breakthrough infections have a short, bad cold, so the vaccine has already proved itself. The vaccinated are not dying from COVID-19.

But sadly, some vaccinated people are dying... Usually those who die are elderly with underlying conditions (like me).

In a Handful of States, Early Data Hint at a Rise in Breakthrough Infections

Since Americans first began rolling up their sleeves for coronavirus vaccines, health officials have said that those who are immunized are very unlikely to become infected, or to suffer serious illness or death. But preliminary data from seven states hint that the arrival of the Delta variant in July may have altered the calculus.

Breakthrough infections in vaccinated people accounted for at least one in five newly diagnosed cases in six of these states and higher percentages of total hospitalizations and deaths than had been previously observed in all of them, according to figures gathered by The New York Times.

The absolute numbers remain very low, however, and there is little doubt that the vaccines remain powerfully protective....

Still, the rise indicates a change in how vaccinated Americans might regard their risks.

[...]

A vast majority of vaccinated people who are hospitalized for Covid-19 are likely to be older adults or those who have weakened immune systems for other reasons. C.D.C. data show that 74 percent of breakthrough cases are among adults 65 or older.

Most states do not compile the numbers by age, sex or the presence of other conditions. But in Oregon, which does, the median age for a breakthrough-associated death is 83 years.

The numbers suggest that people who are at higher risk for complications from Covid-19, and anyone who lives with someone in that group, “really needs to seriously consider the risks that they’re taking now,” said Dr. Dean Sidelinger, a state epidemiologist and state health officer for Oregon.

Especially for high-risk groups, “the most important message is that if you do get Covid, then take it seriously,” Dr. Dryden-Petersen said. “Don’t assume that it’s going to be mild. And seek out therapies like monoclonal antibodies if you’re high-risk, to try to prevent the need for hospitalization.”

(more at link)

 

[LaborDayRN]

Vaccine Refusers Risk Compassion Fatigue

Health-care workers have suffered through a terrible year and a half—a period first defined by a lack of masks and gloves, and throughout by the very real fear of personal sickness and death. We have been afraid of bringing the disease home, of infecting our spouses, of leaving our children parentless. For about three months, I didn’t kiss my children.

Finally, in the depths of winter, during the week of my birthday, I received my first vaccine shot. Science had brought us a solution, and we could finally see the end of all those months of fear, exhaustion, and sacrifice.

But that’s not what happened. COVID-19 hasn’t ended. Instead, infection rates are going up. The Delta variant has taken hold, and hospitals are filling up again. But this time the suffering seems different, because it is avoidable. Optional. A choice.
More at link.....

 

[ilovewings]

But sadly, some vaccinated people are dying... Usually those who die are elderly with underlying conditions (like me).

In a Handful of States, Early Data Hint at a Rise in Breakthrough Infections

Since Americans first began rolling up their sleeves for coronavirus vaccines, health officials have said that those who are immunized are very unlikely to become infected, or to suffer serious illness or death. But preliminary data from seven states hint that the arrival of the Delta variant in July may have altered the calculus.

Breakthrough infections in vaccinated people accounted for at least one in five newly diagnosed cases in six of these states and higher percentages of total hospitalizations and deaths than had been previously observed in all of them, according to figures gathered by The New York Times.

The absolute numbers remain very low, however, and there is little doubt that the vaccines remain powerfully protective....

Still, the rise indicates a change in how vaccinated Americans might regard their risks.

[...]

A vast majority of vaccinated people who are hospitalized for Covid-19 are likely to be older adults or those who have weakened immune systems for other reasons. C.D.C. data show that 74 percent of breakthrough cases are among adults 65 or older.

Most states do not compile the numbers by age, sex or the presence of other conditions. But in Oregon, which does, the median age for a breakthrough-associated death is 83 years.

The numbers suggest that people who are at higher risk for complications from Covid-19, and anyone who lives with someone in that group, “really needs to seriously consider the risks that they’re taking now,” said Dr. Dean Sidelinger, a state epidemiologist and state health officer for Oregon.

Especially for high-risk groups, “the most important message is that if you do get Covid, then take it seriously,” Dr. Dryden-Petersen said. “Don’t assume that it’s going to be mild. And seek out therapies like monoclonal antibodies if you’re high-risk, to try to prevent the need for hospitalization.”

(more at link)

It is so disheartening--this Delta variant-- I remember just a few months ago
as an elderly person, getting the vaccine and feeling so protected--then a few
months !ater this hideous evil variant reveals itself and we learn we are
not as protected as we thought we were--the fact is that especially in older
people this variant can break through and still cause serious illness
and even death-it is just terribly depressing

 

[SouthAussie]

Thank you! That's the difference there. Assuming I'm not missing anything ...

Canada purchases Pfizer and Moderna vaccines pending approval: Aug 5, 2020
Moderna vaccine released globally for approval: Oct 12, 2020
Australia purchases Pfizer vaccines: November 2020
Canada approve Pfizer : Dec 9, 2020
Canada approve Moderna: Dec 23, 2020
Australia approve Pfizer: Jan 24, 2020

Could the delay in Australians receiving vaccine supply be related to purchasing and approval dates for the vaccine? By the time Australia put in a bid, was it well behind bids from many other countries. Other countries that have a surplus today (e.g.: U.K.) have donated some of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines to Australia, but every country will fulfill its' own need first.

AstraZeneca has more side effects and is less effective than Moderna and Pfizer. It is now banned in Canada. AstraZeneca vaccine is probably flooding third world countries with warning labels today - just like Canada in the beginning. Hopefully, providing a <modsnip - no link> to higher risk populations during the dicey Delta variant spread will not result in a more dangerous variant.

"Canada now has deals in place with pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and U.S.-based biotech firm Moderna to secure millions of doses of their experimental COVID-19 vaccines, in case either of the candidates is approved for wide-scale use."​

August 5, 2020
Canada signs deals with Moderna, Pfizer for millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses

"The [Canadian] federal government has given the green light to the Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine, a key step toward launching the largest inoculation campaign in Canada's history."​

Dec 9, 2020
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/vaccine-rollout-plan-phac-1.5833912

"December 23, 2020
Ottawa, ON
Health Canada

Today, Health Canada authorized the second COVID-19 vaccine in Canada, manufactured by Moderna.

Health Canada received Moderna’s submission on October 12, 2020, and after a thorough, independent review of the evidence, it has determined that the Moderna vaccine meets the Department’s stringent safety, efficacy and quality requirements."
​

Health Canada authorizes Moderna COVID-19 vaccine - Canada.ca

"[Australia’s] medical regulator was one of the first in the world to complete a comprehensive approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine ...
​

Jan 24, 2021
Australia approves Pfizer vaccine, warns of limited global AstraZeneca supply

There is no mystery here. No timeline to work out.
We don't approve a vaccine until we have it in our hands, so it can go through our own TGA's testing.

I think I posted for you (with relevant quotes) on the vaccine thread a little while ago, we were held up because Australia and NZ were put to the back of the vaccine queue because "we were doing so well".

It was our reward for locking down, not travelling, and trying so hard.

If we got the vaccines we ordered and paid for shortly after we ordered and paid for them - and at least when other countries got their orders - we likely would not be in the position that we are in now.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

I think there was a little bit of envy at play there

It was our reward for locking down, not travelling, and trying so hard

 

[TootsieFootsie]

More positives here in my Central West NSW town.

Tradies working on our courthouse renovations, courthouse was deep cleaned but they're still working on the outside as I saw when I walked past yesterday.
Also a positive at a local hardware store, Mitre 10. More Covid traces in the sewage system.

A positive at Subway a week or so ago. And possibly at Rydges.

Might be behind a paywall for some
Court house upgrade put on hold after worker tests positive to COVID

'Please get tested': More traces of COVID-19 in Bathurst sewage