Coronavirus thread

[drogulus]

     As of today I qualify for the vaccine, as phase 2 begins in Massachusetts. I have an appointment for the first shot March 12 at my health care provider.

[vandermolen]

     As of today I qualify for the vaccine, as phase 2 begins in Massachusetts. I have an appointment for the first shot March 12 at my health care provider.

Good to know - hope it goes well. Getting my Shot No.1 this afternoon.

[71 dB]

     As of today I qualify for the vaccine, as phase 2 begins in Massachusetts. I have an appointment for the first shot March 12 at my health care provider.

That's good. In Finland people outside risk groups start getting vaccines in July they estimate now.
Almost 10 % of population could be vaccinated every week if we just got enough vaccines... 

[71 dB]

Good to know - hope it goes well. Getting my Shot No.1 this afternoon.

Good stuff!  0:)

[Irons]

I can go one better Lol. As the surgery hadn't yet contacted me I thought I'd try to book online, only to receive a message informing me that I'd missed my slot, although I'd never been given one! 

I phoned the surgery and they were v helpful, telling me that I hadn't missed my appointment and booking me in for a vaccination this Friday afternoon.

Great news, Jeffrey!

[Pohjolas Daughter]

     As of today I qualify for the vaccine, as phase 2 begins in Massachusetts. I have an appointment for the first shot March 12 at my health care provider.

Great news! 

Good to know - hope it goes well. Getting my Shot No.1 this afternoon.

Hope all goes smoothly Jeffrey. 

PD

[Biffo]

That's good. In Finland people outside risk groups start getting vaccines in July they estimate now.
Almost 10 % of population could be vaccinated every week if we just got enough vaccines... 

I hope all goes well for you. There is a report on Microsoft News saying a new 'Finnish' variant has been detected. It probably originated outside Finland but was first detected there. One of your top virologists has said that, as yet, it is 'not yet a major concern'. Let us hope it stays that way.

[71 dB]

I hope all goes well for you. There is a report on Microsoft News saying a new 'Finnish' variant has been detected. It probably originated outside Finland but was first detected there. One of your top virologists has said that, as yet, it is 'not yet a major concern'. Let us hope it stays that way.

Yes, they mentioned the variant in the news, but as of now not much is known about it. Here's the link to the English section of YLE, Finnish Broadcasting Company:

https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/new_coronavirus_variant_discovered_in_finland/11796958

[Biffo]

Yes, they mentioned the variant in the news, but as of now not much is known about it. Here's the link to the English section of YLE, Finnish Broadcasting Company:

https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/new_coronavirus_variant_discovered_in_finland/11796958

Thanks for the link. It looks like MSN got their information from FBC, much of it is identical, word for word.

[71 dB]

Thanks for the link. It looks like MSN got their information from FBC, much of it is identical, word for word.

Yeah, that's what I figured. Copy paste business... 

[MusicTurner]

Infections going up a little again here in Denmark, in spite of the lockdown. Though the rise is not really significant yet, it's possibly because of the aggressive UK mutation B117, now constituting about 50% of them, a development expected by experts. But we hope the level will remain relatively stable, so that we can open up a little and not just wait for vaccines/vaccine effects. The vaccines clearly do work in reducing the number of fatalities among the elderly, though. The daily fatalities have gone down a lot now.

Congratulations to those here who had the vaccine or are in the process of getting it!

[North Star]

I hope all goes well for you. There is a report on Microsoft News saying a new 'Finnish' variant has been detected. It probably originated outside Finland but was first detected there. One of your top virologists has said that, as yet, it is 'not yet a major concern'. Let us hope it stays that way.

Yes, they discovered a variant that wouldn't be detected in the tests based on recognizing the DNA of the virus, but the particular variant didn't seem noteworthy otherwise, except to show that other similarly undetectable variants are developing everywhere over time.

[vandermolen]

I had my vaccine shot no.1 yesterday afternoon (Oxford AZ vaccine). I felt a bit dopey for ten minutes afterwards, but that's arguably my normal state. Feel fine today. When I left the volunteers at the surgery door said 'See you for Round 2'.

[Que]

We have have little say in the matter, but personally I would not be very keen on getting the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Its 60% effectiveness is is just enough to create herd immunity, but quite meagre in term of individual protection.

And then there are doubts being raised about its effectiveness against new strains  (South African/Brazilian).

The EU has this week put in additional orders for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which use mRNA technology and show the highest level of effectiveness. No additional AZ has been ordered and a few countries, like Germany, have stopped using it.

Q

[vandermolen]

We have have little say in the matter, but personally I would not be very keen on getting the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Its 60% effectiveness is is just enough to create herd immunity, but quite meagre in term of individual protection.

And then there are doubts being raised about its effectiveness against new strains  (South African/Brazilian).

The EU has this week put in additional orders for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which use mRNA technology and show the highest level of effectiveness. No additional AZ has been ordered and a few countries, like Germany, have stopped using it.

Q

Yes, but as you say, we have little choice (over here at least) and I'd rather have some protection than none. Meanwhile I'm carrying on with the Vitamin D and C tablets.

[Mandryka]

Its 60% effectiveness is is just enough to create herd immunity

We don't know what effect these vaccines, any of them, have on transmission.

but quite meagre in term of individual protection.

Just to get this in perspective, the flu virus is about 30% effective. We don't know how effective any of the vaccines are at protecting people from the severe form of the disease

And then there are doubts being raised about its effectiveness against new strains  (South African/Brazilian).

All the vaccines are an unknown quantity against Brazil and SA

[Que]

Yes, but as you say, we have little choice (over here at least) and I'd rather have some protection than none. Meanwhile I'm carrying on with the Vitamin D and C tablets.

Absolutely true. And if herd immunity is reached, there is little chance to come in contact with the virus in the first place. Which is the point of herd immunity.

Here in the Netherlands they seem to reserve the Pfizer for the elderly and other risk categories.

So chances are that I will get the AZ as well. 

We don't know what effect these vaccines, any of them, have on transmission.

Yes, it is too early to tell. The research and the data isn't there to say for certain.
Decisions are therefore made on the assumption that protection against the virus on an individual level will sufficiently affect transmission.

Just to get this in perspective, the flu virus is about 30% effective. We don't know how effective any of the vaccines are at protecting people from the severe form of the disease

Not sure what you are trying to say here? I understand that effectiveness is measured in personal immunity.
The lower effectiveness of the flu vaccines is due to the risk of the occurrence of strains the annually designed vaccine does not offer protection against. Against the "right" strains included in a flu vaccine, it offers comparable succes rates as the AZ vaccine: 60-70%. Which is not surprising, since the AZ vaccine is a similar "classic" vaccine.

All the vaccines are an unknown quantity against Brazil and SA

We don't know anything for sure yet, true. For all we know, all current  vaccines might be ineffective against these new strains. But considering the fundamental differences in methods and technology behind the different vaccines,  it seems likely that they will respond differently to new strains. But more resistent "2nd generation" vaccines have yet to be produced: see the link I posted earlier.

Q

[Mandryka]

Yes, it is too early to tell. The research and the data isn't there to say for certain.
Decisions are therefore made on the assumption that protection against the virus on an individual level will sufficiently affect transmission.

This will be a serious issue for you when you have more of the population vaccinated, because long COVID could remain a major health problem if transmission is high. Not to mention all those people who won't be sufficiently protected by the vaccine to stop them needing an ICU bed.

[Que]

This will be a serious issue for you when you have more of the population vaccinated, because long COVID could remain a major health problem if transmission is high. Not to mention all those people who won't be sufficiently protected by the vaccine to stop them needing an ICU bed.

That is unfortunately a possible scenario. Let's hope it doesn't come true!

[Florestan]

Too many assumptions and ifs with these vaccines. Honestly, the whole thing looks more and more like a large-scale vaccinological experiment rather than something thoroughly researched and relatively safe. I have no intention to get the shot(s) anytime soon.

And lest I be accused of being an anti-vaxxer, I hasten to add that over the years I got my 7yo son vaccinated with all the mandatory vaccines plus several of the recommended, non-mandatory ones.