Coronavirus thread

[Karl Henning]

Coronavirus cases have skyrocketed in Finland since mid June due to delta variant which spreads a lot among 20-30 year olds.
Thanks to older people and risk groups being so well vaccinated hospitalizations/corona deaths have stayed pretty low.

Stay safe, Poju!

[Mirror Image]

The lack of mask wearing even for those who are vaccinated is mind-boggling. Everyone where I live and from what I've seen on the news is acting as if this virus has just magically disappeared. I haven't been vaccinated, the clinic I prefer to get the two doses of Pfizer isn't getting any back in until September, so I'll just wait it out. My own hesitance about getting the vaccine seems to have diminished now. I recognize that my inaction could be seen as 'reckless' to those who are vaccinated, but I needed more information before I made this kind of decision. Respect this or not, this was my choice. I'm not like a lot of people I know, I wear a mask religiously and I wash my hands as often as possible, especially after being around different kinds of people. Interestingly enough, I was originally going to get the Johnson & Johnson shot back in January, but I had a bad feeling about it and, in hindsight, I'm glad I didn't get it.

[Mandryka]

Light at end of tunnel?

Too soon to say. But it would be against all expectations!

[(poco) Sforzando]

After over a year of not travelling into New York City (from my home 50 miles east), I went in twice this past week - once to see the Julie Mehretu show at the Whitney (worth it), and once to see the Alice Neel show at the Met (not). I used the commuter railroad into Penn Station, but the bus rather than the subways to get around Manhattan. I was shocked and dismayed at how few people were wearing masks, except in the museums themselves where face coverings are required. I still wear a mask in public almost all the time. It's a wise precaution since you have no idea who you're encountering has had the shots. This thing is not over yet, not by a long shot (bad pun), and though I'm vaccinated I have several risk factors.

[Mirror Image]

After over a year of not travelling into New York City (from my home 50 miles east), I went in twice this past week - once to see the Julie Mehretu show at the Whitney (worth it), and once to see the Alice Neel show at the Met (not). I used the commuter railroad into Penn Station, but the bus rather than the subways to get around Manhattan. I was shocked and dismayed at how few people were wearing masks, except in the museums themselves where face coverings are required. I still wear a mask in public almost all the time. It's a wise precaution since you have no idea who you're encountering has had the shots. This thing is not over yet, not by a long shot (bad pun), and though I'm vaccinated I have several risk factors.

It is our civil duty to still wear masks. Like you said, it's not over yet and the way people are acting is incredibly selfish and these "people" (if you want to call them this at this juncture in time) are dangerous. I know it doesn't look 'cool' to wear a mask --- I totally get that, but, right now, making a fashion statement should be off the table. Some people aren't wearing a mask, because they don't like being told what they can/can't do and, honestly, these people are morons. I've been wearing a mask in public since March of last year. It isn't difficult to put the thing on. The key is actually putting it on in the first place. This has only reinforced my opinion about the US general public: it's full of narcissistic, cellphone-toting, brain-dead, ignorant, arrogant, self-righteous, moral-less neanderthals who would rather post another selfie than to keep themselves from sneezing or coughing on the 78 yr old lady in the checkout line in the grocery store. It makes me fucking sick.

[Spotted Horses]

The lack of mask wearing even for those who are vaccinated is mind-boggling. Everyone where I live and from what I've seen on the news is acting as if this virus has just magically disappeared. I haven't been vaccinated, the clinic I prefer to get the two doses of Pfizer isn't getting any back in until September, so I'll just wait it out. My own hesitance about getting the vaccine seems to have diminished now. I recognize that my inaction could be seen as 'reckless' to those who are vaccinated, but I needed more information before I made this kind of decision. Respect this or not, this was my choice. I'm not like a lot of people I know, I wear a mask religiously and I wash my hands as often as possible, especially after being around different kinds of people. Interestingly enough, I was originally going to get the Johnson & Johnson shot back in January, but I had a bad feeling about it and, in hindsight, I'm glad I didn't get it.

What's so magical about this clinic you prefer? Just go on the CVS web site and they will direct you to the nearest CVS location with appointments available. A mask reduces your risk by 50%. A vaccine reduces your risk by 95%.

[Mandryka]

A mask reduces your risk by 50%.

Blimey! What sort of mask?

[Holden]

Consider this:

• Fully vaccinated does not preclude you from getting Covid
  
  Fully vaccinated means that if you do get Covid the effects should be mild or asymptomatic if you are a reasonably healthy type
  
  Fully vaccinated means that if you do get Covid your transmission of the virus to others will be minimised considerably including not transmitting it at all
  
  Fully vaccinated means that your chances of catching covid are reduced to a very small chance, depending on the vaccine that was delivered to you.

So this is where the current UK approach makes a lot of sense to me. If you have been fully vaccinated and get Covid your body's ability to develop antibodies is quite strong so getting covid is going to further strengthen your immune system.

There are many new daily cases in the UK but what the public is not being told is the severity of any of these cases. The media are still using case numbers as their baseline instead of hospitalisation and death. On top of that I would want to know what percentage of the people with serious covid are unvaccinated.

The current outbreak in Sydney supposedly took the life of a 33 year old woman. Within hours of her unfortunate demise the media were saying that she had no comorbidities, indicating that the Delta (I still prefer Indian) variant will take the lives of young people. This is debatable and fear mongering by the media. Surely, the only way to accurately determine that she had no underlying issues is via autopsy and this would not have been done that quickly. This is also poor media coverage and possibly a rash or misquoted statement from someone in the NSW Dept of Health. Get the facts right before you publish them - oh, I forgot, facts don't sell newspapers or generate advertising revenue.

I get my second dose of Astrazeneca on August 14, twelve weeks after my initial shot. The twelve weeks in between both jabs takes Astrazeneca up to an effectiveness rate close to Pfizer and that will do me. I realise that I can still get Covid but the vaccine is highly likely to minimise the effects. I feel safe. As for mask wearing, that's another debate that I won't get in to.

[MusicTurner]

Hospitalizations in UK are not being that hidden. It's extremely easy to google results, it's close to 1000 daily these days.

But a headline in a Danish newspaper the other day mysteriously said that 1/4 of hospitalized in the UK were vaccinated, at least to some degree. I didn't do further research on it.

[Mandryka]

Hospitalizations in UK are not being that hidden. It's extremely easy to google results.

But a headline in a Danish newspaper the other day mysteriously said that 1/4 of hospitalized in the UK were vaccinated, at least to some degree.

You would expect a large number of hospitalisations to be vaccinated, since the great majority of people who get seriously ill are vaccinated! I'm surprised it's only 1/4.  When you have fully vaccinated the whole population, all the hospitalised people will be vaccinated - obvs!

[Mandryka]

On top of that I would want to know what percentage of the people with serious covid are unvaccinated.

I don't believe this information is available, it wasn't a couple of months ago.

[MusicTurner]

Vaccines generally soften symptoms. In Denmark, about 10% of those who got the sickness in spite of one or two vaccines were hospitalized. This in relation to the first half of 2021, and including a lot of the vulnerable senior groups. I'm pretty sure non-vaccinated constitute the bigger part of hospitalizations. Of course, when the proportion of vaccinated go up, the share will be bigger. The UK is no longer much ahead as regards vaccines, percentages are almost the same in some other countries, including DK.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

The lack of mask wearing even for those who are vaccinated is mind-boggling. Everyone where I live and from what I've seen on the news is acting as if this virus has just magically disappeared. I haven't been vaccinated, the clinic I prefer to get the two doses of Pfizer isn't getting any back in until September, so I'll just wait it out. My own hesitance about getting the vaccine seems to have diminished now. I recognize that my inaction could be seen as 'reckless' to those who are vaccinated, but I needed more information before I made this kind of decision. Respect this or not, this was my choice. I'm not like a lot of people I know, I wear a mask religiously and I wash my hands as often as possible, especially after being around different kinds of people. Interestingly enough, I was originally going to get the Johnson & Johnson shot back in January, but I had a bad feeling about it and, in hindsight, I'm glad I didn't get it.

Like you, I had hoped to get my shots at a preferred location (senior center in my town), but instead ended up getting it at a big box store with pharmacy just because they had an opening and I was tired of waiting.  The pharmacist was a very nice, professional, young woman who was very thorough in telling me about common reactions, where to get more info, answered any questions I had, etc.  They had several waiting chairs in the area which were carefully spaced apart and were wiped down between patients.  And also good about telling you how long you needed to wait there afterwards to make sure that you were o.k. to leave.  And they also scheduled your follow up appointment that day, etc.

I ended up receiving the Moderna vaccine and other than a sore arm for about a day and a half, felt fine.  Is there any particular reason why you want to only get the Pfizer John?

In any event, good for you for masking up and washing your hands.

PD

[Spotted Horses]

Like you, I had hoped to get my shots at a preferred location (senior center in my town), but instead ended up getting it at a big box store with pharmacy just because they had an opening and I was tired of waiting.  The pharmacist was a very nice, professional, young woman who was very thorough in telling me about common reactions, where to get more info, answered any questions I had, etc.  They had several waiting chairs in the area which were carefully spaced apart and were wiped down between patients.  And also good about telling you how long you needed to wait there afterwards to make sure that you were o.k. to leave.  And they also scheduled your follow up appointment that day, etc.

In my area I first signed up with the big public hospital for vaccination. I was notified that my turn came up to book an appointment, but I found out I would have to go to downtown Houston to get the vaccine. That sounded unattractive, since downtown Houston was a Covid-19 hotspot. "I'll get Covid waiting my turn for the shot," I thought. So I started checking the CVS website, and it took two weeks of daily visits, but I finally got an appointment. Had to drive half an hour to a neighboring town, but the experience was very smooth. Moderna vaccine. Side effect was a sore arm, and feeling a little fatigued the following day.

[Karl Henning]

In my area I first signed up with the big public hospital for vaccination. I was notified that my turn came up to book an appointment, but I found out I would have to go to downtown Houston to get the vaccine. That sounded unattractive, since downtown Houston was a Covid-19 hotspot. "I'll get Covid waiting my turn for the shot," I thought. So I started checking the CVS website, and it took two weeks of daily visits, but I finally got an appointment. Had to drive half an hour to a neighboring town, but the experience was very smooth. Moderna vaccine. Side effect was a sore arm, and feeling a little fatigued the following day.

Well done.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

In my area I first signed up with the big public hospital for vaccination. I was notified that my turn came up to book an appointment, but I found out I would have to go to downtown Houston to get the vaccine. That sounded unattractive, since downtown Houston was a Covid-19 hotspot. "I'll get Covid waiting my turn for the shot," I thought. So I started checking the CVS website, and it took two weeks of daily visits, but I finally got an appointment. Had to drive half an hour to a neighboring town, but the experience was very smooth. Moderna vaccine. Side effect was a sore arm, and feeling a little fatigued the following day.

I could certainly see you wanting to avoid hotspots.  And like you, I had to keep checking for openings, calling and visiting certain websites, but this was some time ago (first shot in mid-April).  These days, from everything that I've been reading anyway, it's so much easier to get a shot.  In my state, there are portable (bus) vaccination vehicles for example.  I'm guessing though, that this could vary in the US--particularly in very rural areas and, sadly, it's harder on low-income people, folks without transport or other mobility issues, etc.  I think that in some places, though there are organizations that offer free transportation to a vaccine site?  Believe that one can also get it at ones doctor's office too.

A p.s. to John (Mirror Image) to think about:  Last I knew, you were living with elderly parents?  Thinking about their health as well as your own, perhaps it would be in everyones best interest for you to get your first jab--of something--rather than waiting?  With *Moderna, there was something like a 28 day wait between shots and then it still takes about another two weeks after that for you to be considered fully vaccinated.  In this scenario, say if you received your first shot on September 1, you wouldn't be able to get your second until almost the end of September and then you wouldn't be fully vaccinated for about 10 days to 2 weeks afterward which means roughly mid-October.  Just something to think about.  And, you're right, it's your choice.  You might also consider talking to your health care provider if you have any concerns? 
*not certain what the wait-time between shots is with Pfizer.  You could also check to see if you could get the Pfizer elsewhere too?  Just some thoughts.  Want you to be around to chat with about Martinu, Janacek and other Czech composers! 
Best wishes,

PD

[71 dB]

Stay safe, Poju!

Thanks for your concern Karl.  0:)

As I am a very introverted person who spends most of the time alone while social circuits are very small, I have been pretty "safe" during this pandemic. Next Saturday I will be getting my 2nd Pfizer jab.

[Mirror Image]

What's so magical about this clinic you prefer? Just go on the CVS web site and they will direct you to the nearest CVS location with appointments available. A mask reduces your risk by 50%. A vaccine reduces your risk by 95%.

Well, I just prefer to go to my doctor to get it. I'm not comfortable with the idea of going to a pharmacy to have it done. My point about masks is that everybody should wear them and they should be mandated until we get this virus out of the country. You say a mask only protects you 50%, but if an entire population of people wore them, then the chances of getting COVID would be greatly decreased. Social distancing (something else people haven't done effectively enough) also helps.

[André]

Well done.

Yes, sir !

Regarding hospitalization and death rates among Covid patients, the unvaccinated account for over 95%.

https://healthfeedback.org/claimreview/unvaccinated-individuals-now-account-for-the-vast-majority-of-covid-19-hospitalizations-and-deaths-in-the-u-s-according-to-available-data/

[Mirror Image]

Like you, I had hoped to get my shots at a preferred location (senior center in my town), but instead ended up getting it at a big box store with pharmacy just because they had an opening and I was tired of waiting.  The pharmacist was a very nice, professional, young woman who was very thorough in telling me about common reactions, where to get more info, answered any questions I had, etc.  They had several waiting chairs in the area which were carefully spaced apart and were wiped down between patients.  And also good about telling you how long you needed to wait there afterwards to make sure that you were o.k. to leave.  And they also scheduled your follow up appointment that day, etc.

I ended up receiving the Moderna vaccine and other than a sore arm for about a day and a half, felt fine.  Is there any particular reason why you want to only get the Pfizer John?

In any event, good for you for masking up and washing your hands.

PD

A p.s. to John (Mirror Image) to think about:  Last I knew, you were living with elderly parents?  Thinking about their health as well as your own, perhaps it would be in everyones best interest for you to get your first jab--of something--rather than waiting?  With *Moderna, there was something like a 28 day wait between shots and then it still takes about another two weeks after that for you to be considered fully vaccinated.  In this scenario, say if you received your first shot on September 1, you wouldn't be able to get your second until almost the end of September and then you wouldn't be fully vaccinated for about 10 days to 2 weeks afterward which means roughly mid-October.  Just something to think about.  And, you're right, it's your choice.  You might also consider talking to your health care provider if you have any concerns? 
*not certain what the wait-time between shots is with Pfizer.  You could also check to see if you could get the Pfizer elsewhere too?  Just some thoughts.  Want you to be around to chat with about Martinu, Janacek and other Czech composers! 
Best wishes,

PD

My mom got the Pfizer doses earlier in the year, so she's fully vaccinated. My dad has his own concerns as he has an auto-immune disease, but he spoke with his doctor (who is, coincidently my doctor as well) and has been advised to get the vaccine, but she told my dad that it won't be until September before they'll get the Pfizer vaccine back in. I'm going to stick with Pfizer as my mom hasn't had any reactions to it other than an itchy arm. I did know one lady from work who was hospitalized for 4-5 days after getting her second dose of the Moderna. Of course, bad reactions are few and far between concerning the Pfizer and Moderna. The Johnson & Johnson, on the other hand, has had many problems, so I'm definitely not getting that one. One of the great things about the location I work in is there is very little foot traffic and I pretty much work in one area of the store. The only person I work with with any kind of closeness is an older Vietnamese man who got the Moderna earlier in the year and is full vaccinated. I talked with him a lot of about the vaccine and he said the only side effect he had was with the first dose it made him constantly thirsty and the second dose made him hungry all the time. He also complained of a sore arm, but that was only for a day. Anyway, I don't live in a heavily populated area, I don't go out much except to buy groceries or work, but that's it. I might end up calling the Georgia Department of Health and arranging an appointment if things get much worse around here. There's also the NE Georgia Physicians Group that is offering the vaccine that I'm actually looking into right now.