Coronavirus thread

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Here's some unpleasant news in my county. Some posturing going on, but basically not good. It even appears farcical.

ULSTER COUNTY EXECUTIVE PAT RYAN OUTLINES VACCINE PRE-REGISTRATION AND PRIORITIZATION LIST 


List will allow residents to pre-register for the vaccine, prioritize residents based on health risk, and provide an estimated timeline for available vaccines


Starting Monday, Ulster County will have over 120,000 residents eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, but has only received 12,000 total doses from New York State


This week, Ulster County received 1,500 vaccines from NYS, a 20% reduction from last week 


KINGSTON, N.Y. - Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan today outlined a plan that establishes a pre-registration and prioritization list for all residents eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. With the announced expansion of the eligibility list from the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) this week to include those with comorbidities, the number of those eligible within Ulster County will expand significantly from 70,000 through Phases 1A and 1B, to 120,000 residents starting on February 15th. This means that over two-thirds of the county's residents are eligible for the vaccine, despite the very limited supply being allocated to the county by New York State.

This week, New York State allocated a total of 1,500 vaccines to Ulster County, split between Ulster County's Health Department, private pharmacies, and local health providers. This represents a reduction of over 20% from the week prior. Ulster County currently has the capacity to vaccinate up to 50,000 people a month but lacks the needed supply.

"Given the very limited supply of vaccine that we are receiving from New York State, it's critical that we prioritize those at greatest risk within our community. Implementing our pre-registration and prioritization list for the 120,000 residents now eligible for vaccination is an important step to both prioritize those most in need and to help all residents better understand when they will be able to receive a vaccine," Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan said. "I am hopeful that we will receive additional vaccine supply from the State and Federal government soon. We remain ready and able to scale up our distribution efforts immediately, administering up to 50,000 doses per month. I will continue to advocate to State and Federal representatives to ensure that we get the vaccines that we so urgently need."

The prioritization list, created by the Ulster County Department of Health based on CDC and New York State DOH guidance and in consultation with infectious control physicians and leaders in the region, outlines the following groups based on health risk:

Group Red - Residents over the age of 75 with a qualifying health condition, and 1B essential workers with an underlying condition

Estimated time for vaccination: April*

Group Orange - Residents ages 65 to 74 with an underlying health condition, and essential workers without an underlying health condition

Estimated time for vaccination: June*

Group Yellow - Adults (all ages) with a qualifying health condition, and 65 + without qualifying health condition

Estimated time for vaccination: October*

Group Green - Any other priority group as directed by the NYSDOH

Estimated time for vaccination: TBD

*Estimated times of vaccination are based on the current supply of vaccines.

Ugh!    I hope and pray that they will be able to up the supply of the vaccines everywhere and soon!

[DavidW]

My state's senate just passed a resolution to move teachers to 1A.  If it passes in the house I could be vaccinated in March.  If not, it looks like April now.

[MusicTurner]

- strange fact: we're in a global pandemic and fighting intensely world-wide against an enemy, whose total virus mass can be contained in ... half a can of coca-cola. It's true.

- not so appetizing perhaps, but authorities here in DK are working on a more comprehensive system of sewage sampling, to ensure a quicker discovery of local outbreaks and to fight them. Seems to be a gain in effectiveness.

- following 6 weeks of lock-down here, and infections being few in some areas, islands etc., the pressure is mounting for local normalization in certain sectors. Hospitals are also trying to get more ordinary work done.

[Que]

Very informative:

Can Covid-19 Vaccines Keep up with an Evolving Virus?

The good news is that it should be possible to create vaccines with a longer lasting effect against mutations.

The bad news is that the ones we have now ("1st generation"), are not it...

Q

[MusicTurner]

- government here in DK plans introducing corona passport for tourists within just a few weeks (likely based on vaccines), that will enable ordinary travels/visits here.

- also, more initiatives for opening up, but mainly hindered by the expected mutations. Current infection levels continue to go down, today is comparable to August.

- good news, if true: a plan for up to  400,000 vaccines per day, when the supply is there, by cooperating with the private sector. That's about 7% of the population and would quicken the process for all of us. Provided of course that they're available.

- Facebook deleted a Danish group advocating for rebellious opening up of small shops etc. on this Monday, that had gained 1000s of members. 

[Mandryka]

In the UK were hitting 400K vaccines a day regularly, often more. Part of it is that the supply side has been reasonably well managed so far.

The delivery seems to depend on volunteers - I had my vaccine yesterday from a first year medical student, you were shifted around the centre by bright eyed bushy tailed studenty looking people, an old lady who seemed to be clearly past working age asked me if I had COVID symptoms before I was allowed admission to the centre etc.


It was wonderful, cheerful good will everywhere, real Dad's Army and Women's Institute and Mothers Union feel - the only thing missing was the cup of tea and slice of Victoria sponge after you'd been stabbed -  only the Brits will know what I mean but the rest can use google.


It won't last of course, and if the whole population is going to need to be vaccinated even just once a year, a better way will have to be found.

(I'm going to go out now and buy some Victoria Sponge)

[Karl Henning]

I believe the Washington Post has the COVID articles generally available

Europe is using longer, stricter lockdowns to fight coronavirus variants. They show signs of working.

[Holden]

I can foresee a MASSIVE global shortage of asthma inhalers in the near future! What will happen to those with asthma? 

You're probably right but those people panic buying the common ventolin inhalers (salbutamol) are wasting their time and money as it's not a corticosteroid. The one mentioned would require a prescription I'd imagine. I think the article should have pointed this out.

[Mandryka]

I believe the Washington Post has the COVID articles generally available

Europe is using longer, stricter lockdowns to fight coronavirus variants. They show signs of working.

France is the interesting exception, I think they think they've found a better way, they think that curfews and intensive community testing in places where worrying variants are found, are sufficiently powerful without lockdowns. The next three or four weeks will be the real test of this, the English variant is growing fast.

[Que]

France is the interesting exception, I think they think they've found a better way, they think that curfews and intensive community testing in places where worrying variants are found, are sufficiently powerful without lockdowns. The next three or four weeks will be the real test of this, the English variant is growing fast.

In the Netherlands the UK variant has become dominant and the infection rate went up significantly.

Q

[Mandryka]

In the Netherlands the UK variant has become dominant and the infection rate went up significantly.

Q

It'll be OK because the vaccines work against it, though it's a shame that vaccine rollout is so slow in the EC. The elephant in the room is the Brazilian, if that takes hold in the UK we're well and truly fucked because our strategy relies on AZ. It has been found in the Moselle, which must mean it's in Germany and Luxembourg. I would be in favour of just closing the UK border with Europe for individuals, and having really tight controls on hauliers' contacts while they're over here.

[Que]

It'll be OK because the vaccines work against it, though it's a shame that vaccine rollout is so slow in the EC. The elephant in the room is the Brazilian, if that takes hold in the UK we're well and truly fucked because our strategy relies on AZ. It has been found in the Moselle, which must mean it's in Germany and Luxembourg. I would be in favour of just closing the UK border with Europe for individuals, and having really tight controls on hauliers' contacts while they're over here.

Yesterday I saw seen a news item from Brazil. Isolated areas that had reached herd immunity during the initial outbreak, are now experiencing a full blown 2nd wave. This would mean that previously naturally attained immunity doesn't protect against the new strain. Patients are also younger and more severly ill, and established treatements are less effective.

Very worrying news indeed... though some of the current vaccines might still be effective.

Q

[Mandryka]

Yesterday I saw seen a news item from Brazil. Isolated areas that had reached herd immunity during the initial outbreak, are now experiencing a full blown 2nd wave. This would mean that previously naturally attained immunity doesn't protect against the new strain. Patients are also younger and more severly ill, and established treatements are less effective.
Very worrying news indeed... though some of the current vaccines might still effective.

Q

Similar thing the other day from France with the SA variant, though a single case. A chap who had had covid last year in a mild form is now on a ventilator with the SA form - suggesting that the previous infection didn't give him any protection.

[MusicTurner]

Yesterday I saw seen a news item from Brazil. Isolated areas that had reached herd immunity during the initial outbreak, are now experiencing a full blown 2nd wave. This would mean that previously naturally attained immunity doesn't protect against the new strain. Patients are also younger and more severly ill, and established treatements are less effective.
Very worrying news indeed... though some of the current vaccines might still be effective.
Q

Yes, the Manaus story ...

(...)  I had my vaccine yesterday from a first year medical student, you were shifted around the centre by bright eyed bushy tailed studenty looking people, an old lady who seemed to be clearly past working age asked me if I had COVID symptoms before I was allowed admission to the centre etc.

It was wonderful, cheerful good will everywhere, real Dad's Army and Women's Institute and Mothers Union feel - the only thing missing was the cup of tea and slice of Victoria sponge after you'd been stabbed -  only the Brits will know what I mean but the rest can use google.
(...)

That's very good to hear, congratulations, it must be a relief.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

In the UK were hitting 400K vaccines a day regularly, often more. Part of it is that the supply side has been reasonably well managed so far.

The delivery seems to depend on volunteers - I had my vaccine yesterday from a first year medical student, you were shifted around the centre by bright eyed bushy tailed studenty looking people, an old lady who seemed to be clearly past working age asked me if I had COVID symptoms before I was allowed admission to the centre etc.


It was wonderful, cheerful good will everywhere, real Dad's Army and Women's Institute and Mothers Union feel - the only thing missing was the cup of tea and slice of Victoria sponge after you'd been stabbed -  only the Brits will know what I mean but the rest can use google.


It won't last of course, and if the whole population is going to need to be vaccinated even just once a year, a better way will have to be found.

(I'm going to go out now and buy some Victoria Sponge)

Glad that you were able to get vaccinated; do you have to go back for a second round?

PD

[Mandryka]

Glad that you were able to get vaccinated; do you have to go back for a second round?

PD

12 weeks time. In France they've decided only one vaccination is necessary for most people who've had covid last year, but not in the UK.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

12 weeks time. In France they've decided only one vaccination is necessary for most people who've had covid last year, but not in the UK.

Interesting about the news in France.

Hope that all goes smoothly again next time for you.

PD

[vandermolen]

Received my letter from the NHS this morning about the vaccination. They say that my local surgery should be calling me 'directly'. I could book a vaccine further away but the earliest appointment is the end of the month. I think I'll wait a few to see if the local surgery gets in touch.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Received my letter from the NHS this morning about the vaccination. They say that my local surgery should be calling me 'directly'. I could book a vaccine further away but the earliest appointment is the end of the month. I think I'll wait a few to see if the local surgery gets in touch.

Great news!

[vandermolen]

Great news!

Thank you PD! 
Also I'm having another ONS (Office for National Statistics) Covid Test tomorrow.