Coronavirus (NO POLITICAL OR SOCIAL COMMENTARY PLEASE)

[Penton-Man]

As a follow-up to a past conversation with Mavsfan from about a month ago -

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Oh, employers have the right to require employees to get a COVID-19 vaccine, keeping in mind the caveats I listed above. Unfortunately, in light of exemptions and the risk of meritless discrimination claimed by unscrupulous employees, some/many? employers may ultimately choose to take the easier path and simply encourage employees to take the COVID-19 vaccine rather than to mandate it.

regarding various methods of encouragement, scroll down here - https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/b...ccine/2479009/
Short of being fired, for the non-compliant employees, I like the idea of a long, thorough educational course concluding at the end with questions on a mandatory test requiring a passing grade, or else taking the whole course all over again along with daily temperature checks and screening.

For the more societal responsible employees, I like the idea of bonuses.

[MrHT]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

the amount of which depends on us, as a society - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59JBtVqUigc#t=1s

I don't have any known history getting any serious side effects from medication, animals or food nor have I gotten any reaction to the flu shot. So I have no problem taking the vaccine. The problem is, I'm 35 years old with no underlying health issues, so the vaccine won't be available to me until Spring, the earliest. My father is over 65, so it probably will be available to him first and he probably might take it since he has no history of any side effects. But I could be wrong and maybe he'll chicken out. But my mom, for sure, won't be taking it since she has a bad history of side effects (a couple of which almost killed her when she was young).

The thing is, they are advertising about how side effects could be a potential issue yet they want 70% or so people to take the vaccine?? We need to promote safety, not instill fear in people! I wouldn't count on many people feeling comfortable with the Pfizer vaccine. Hopefully, Moderna will show fewer side effects than Pfizer and more people will be comfortable with that. If not that, then there's still other vaccines on the way, so there's a lot of hope!

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by MrHT

The thing is, they are advertising about how side effects could be a potential issue yet they want 70% or so people to take the vaccine?? We need to promote safety, not instill fear in people!

It’s a fine balance, but yeah, informing folks of possible side effects is one thing, but blowing their prevalence and severity out of proportion is another. Sometimes I wonder if there had been analogous heavy media coverage emphasizing the side effects of the two dose Shingrix vaccine, nobody would have taken it…..despite the alternative of not receiving it and risking potential outcomes of shingles….https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/about/complications.html

I’m beginning to think we need PSAs showing 70, 80 and 90 years olds getting the vaccine, so the more apprehensive folks aren’t reluctant to come forward and get stuck.

[LordoftheRings]

In Peru they stopped that Chinese vaccine...due to someone's side effects.
In Canada they recommend to not take the Pfizer vaccine if you have some allergies to its ingredients.

You can Google it, and we're only @ the end of Fall 2020 (Winter doesn't start till December 21st). When the snow comes time to put the skis on ...

[Scarriere]

Originally Posted by Pondosinatra

The wife and I just got back from the pub for dinner. They shut everything down tonight at midnight.

Normally we don't eat out - and when we have this year, it was almost always on a patio. So we felt a bit apprehensive, and somewhat hypocritical having tut-tut'd neighbours who went out to eat in the past.

But we just basically said 'f*ck it'. Give the restaurant some business before they have to lay everyone off.

On the plus side the beer was cheap as they were basically giving away their tapped kegs...

I wanted to go out too but none of my sisters would come.
I was lucky to get a haircut and tipped well.

Speaking of tips, my daughter’s mom won big on the VLTs for her last night out and gave each staff that was there $100.

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by MrHT

I don't have any known history getting any serious side effects from medication, animals or food nor have I gotten any reaction to the flu shot. So I have no problem taking the vaccine. The problem is, I'm 35 years old with no underlying health issues, so the vaccine won't be available to me until Spring, the earliest. My father is over 65, so it probably will be available to him first and he probably might take it since he has no history of any side effects. But I could be wrong and maybe he'll chicken out. But my mom, for sure, won't be taking it since she has a bad history of side effects (a couple of which almost killed her when she was young).

The thing is, they are advertising about how side effects could be a potential issue yet they want 70% or so people to take the vaccine?? We need to promote safety, not instill fear in people! I wouldn't count on many people feeling comfortable with the Pfizer vaccine. Hopefully, Moderna will show fewer side effects than Pfizer and more people will be comfortable with that. If not that, then there's still other vaccines on the way, so there's a lot of hope!

I think everyone is on edge and impatient and that tends to blow things out of proportion (news needs to be too fast and people over react). But what is the alternative. Trying to hide the facts because people would over react can only make stuff worst because that would help insane conspiracy theories grow.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

we’ve had such continuously bad news (and subsequent personal loses by many) over the past year that I think this is a historic moment to pause and celebrate what scientists and doctors have accomplished....

also celebrating volunteers like The Great Owl who stepped forward to become a participant in the vaccine clinical trial -

Vaccine Emergency Use Authorization Marks Historic Achievement | NBC Nightly News - YouTube

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Anthony P

I think everyone is on edge and impatient and that tends to blow things out of proportion (news needs to be too fast and people over react). But what is the alternative. Trying to hide the facts because people would over react can only make stuff worst because that would help insane conspiracy theories grow.

yes, best is to educate folks, for instance even though the vaccine was developed and EUA approved in less than a year, you have to get the word out as to the particulars - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40EhQ5couoA#t=1m45s

The whole thing is complicated by local news outlets and social media cherry picking side effects to highlight without giving proportionate time to the facts of their incidence and severity as compared to the number of total recipients.

P.S.
Regarding the Bell’s Palsy myth, which my wife (who hopefully will receive the vaccine in the next few days, 'likely Wednesday', qualifying as a front-line worker) informs that there were 4 cases of Bell’s from over 20,000 recipients of the vaccine which is the normal rate in a background (non-vaccinated) population, so it was/is not considered to be associated with the Pfizer vaccine.

[Chaotic]

My family had no symptoms or mild symptoms so they think this thing is overblown. I’m sure that’s everyone who had no or mild symptoms.

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

yes, best is to educate folks, for instance even though the vaccine was developed and EUA approved in less than a year, you have to get the word out as to the particulars - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40EhQ5couoA#t=1m45s

The whole thing is complicated by local news outlets and social media cherry picking side effects to highlight without giving proportionate time to the facts of their incidence and severity as compared to the number of total recipients.

P.S.
Regarding the Bell’s Palsy myth, which my wife (who hopefully will receive the vaccine sometime in the next couple weeks qualifying as a front-line worker, if not sooner) informs that there were 4 cases of Bell’s from over 20,000 recipients of the vaccine which is the normal rate in a background (non-vaccinated) population, so it was/is not considered to be associated with the Pfizer vaccine.

I have to give Kudos to all the researchers that got us where we are today.

but I agree this idea of it is compromised because it is rushed thing is ridiculous. Every year the powers that bee look at the other side of the world, check what flue strain is going around there and most likely to hi us hard when it is our flue season, come up with a modified vaccine for that version of the flue, make tons of doses and then we get it a few months later.

[Penton-Man]

next up, another mRNA technology vaccine, this time from Moderna to be assessed in open session by VRBPAC scheduled for this coming Thursday –

Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee - 12/17/2020 - YouTube

[MrHT]

For those of you that don't want to hide your pretty little face, you no longer have an excuse not to wear a face mask...

https://www.volleypost.com/transparent-mask/

[Pondosinatra]

Even with vaccinations starting, you'l still need to wear a mask and socially distance...

https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/14/healt...-19/index.html

And of course that's leaving aside the anti-vax issue and whether or not these vaccines will even provide long term protection.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Dr. Fauci Pushes Back On Bankers Trying To Jump Line For Covid-19 Vaccine - YouTube

and, although not mentioned above ^ , equity includes no “jumping in line” as to receiving bamlanivimab or casirivimab/imdevimab, which are just as, or even more, precious than the vaccine....

“After Pfizer and BioNTech scored the FDA’s emergency use authorization for their mRNA-based Covid-19 shot late last week, hopes are high that one or more vaccines could turn the tide on the pandemic. But vaccines will take time to get into arms, and a former FDA head is calling on drugmakers to double down on making antibody therapies as a “Covid insurance policy” in the meantime.

In a Wall Street Journal column penned less than 48 hours after Pfizer-BioNTech’s EUA, former FDA commish Scott Gottlieb opined that manufacturers have not invested enough resources into stockpiling antibody therapies — especially from Regeneron and Eli Lilly, which have already received EUAs of their own — as a crucial backstop in the US pandemic response.

The solution? Contact biopharma manufacturing plants to switch gears and produce large quantities of the Regeneron and Lilly drugs. This, Gottlieb said, was always the best option in his mind to reduce the impact of the virus while a vaccine was slowly rolled out to the masses."
https://endpts.com/gottlieb-op-ed-ma...urance-policy/

In the meantime, at least one insightful action the federal government has done….https://www.marketwatch.com/story/us...rna-2020-12-11

[dublinbluray108]

1,000 new cases from more than 60 local authorities in the UK have been infected with a new strain of Coronavirus. It was found in Kent from last week.

According to health authorities there; It is currently spreading much faster than other strains of Covid in the UK. There is currently nothing to suggest that this strain of Covid would be resistant to the new Covid vaccines that are being rolled by Pfizer in the UK at the moment. The WHO has been notified. More detailed studies are being carried out by scientists in the UK to determine the cause of the new strain.

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-55308211

There are new restrictions to be put in place in London & the south east in the UK from midnight Wednesday UK time. London including most of Essex & some parts of Hertfordshire are to be placed on the highest tier of Covid restrictions meaning all entertainment venues are to close including professional sports venues which will continue to be played behind closed doors. Pubs & restaurants will be takeaway & delivery only.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-55306928

Let's hope that this strain of the virus is not more dangerous or the same than other strains of the virus that were found up to now. I do have some belief though that the new RNA Covid vaccines will slow down the spread of this new strain in the shortest time possible & let us get back to normal for those who can get it.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

a historic moment to pause and celebrate what scientists and doctors have accomplished for the benefit of all mankind and

of interest to gadget guys who tend to worship at the alter of inanimate objects – the Big Science Machine’s contribution to the vaccine development:

Inside the Lab That Invented the COVID-19 Vaccine - YouTube

with the mRNR vaccine platform specifically referenced at - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-92H...utu.be#t=9m35s

[Pondosinatra]

New mutated version of Covid found in S. England...

[LordoftheRings]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ve1F...ature=youtu.be

• https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-55281571

[LordoftheRings]

Masks and vaccines, vaccines and masks ...
• https://apnews.com/article/mask-wear...f1f3a42e4a24ef

[MrHT]

Originally Posted by Pondosinatra

Even with vaccinations starting, you'l still need to wear a mask and socially distance...

https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/14/healt...-19/index.html

And of course that's leaving aside the anti-vax issue and whether or not these vaccines will even provide long term protection.

And you can count on a lot of anti-vaxxers now that there's word about serious side effects going around. With anything, serious side effects are a possibility, even those Tylenol caplets that we pop in our mouths when we get a headache. So the over-hyping of the side effects was unnecessary and can scare people from taking the vaccine.