Coronavirus (NO POLITICAL OR SOCIAL COMMENTARY PLEASE)

[LordoftheRings]

CORONAVIRUS
WHO, Partners to deliver 2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines
WHO and its key partners approximate that about $18.1 billion will be needed to execute the plan.

The World Health Organization and key partners unveiled a plan Friday to purchase 2 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines for the highest risk populations of the world.

The plan anticipates that by the end of 2021, the doses could be delivered to countries to vaccinate high risk individuals, likely including health care workers, people over the age of 65, and other adults who suffer from conditions like diabetes.

The WHO and its partners — the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance — estimate it will cost $18.1 billion to deliver on the plan. The effort is one pillar of the WHO’s effort to ensure all countries have access to Covid-19 vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics, called the ACT Accelerator, short for Access to Covid-19 Tools.

In addition to the funding — $11.3 billion of which must be raised in the next six months — the project would also need commitments from high- and upper-middle income countries to purchase up to 950 million doses of vaccine.

Countries will be offered “shares” of the nine candidate vaccines that CEPI is supporting, as well as other vaccines the consortium may end up purchasing. The idea is that because it is not known which vaccines will be successful, purchasing shares in a pool — to be called the Covax facility — will broaden a country’s chances of having access to vaccines. It is expected that charitable donors will help support shares for low- and middle-income countries.

Individual countries that can afford to do so are negotiating advance direct purchase agreements with various manufacturers — and are even helping to pay upfront for the cost of making vaccine before it has been shown to be effective. But should a country make a big investment in one vaccine, only to see it fail, it could find itself with limited alternatives in the early days of vaccine availability, when demand will be huge and supply scarce.

“It’s risky for them to do that and it’s also not ethically the right approach, because it leaves the rest of the world without vaccine doses,” said Soumya Swaminathan, WHO’s chief scientist.

That risk is real. Vaccines are difficult to make and historically more vaccine projects fail than succeed. Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, said about 7% of vaccines make it through preclinical development, and maybe 15% to 20% that enter the clinic are successful.

“The vast majority will fail, but by having a large portfolio this will move forward,” Berkley said. He noted the facility has signed a memorandum of understanding for 300 million doses with AstraZeneca, which is partnering with Oxford University on a vaccine that has already begun a Phase 3 clinical trial.

Richard Hatchett, CEPI’s chief executive officer, said production support of a number of vaccine candidates gives Covax a right of first refusal to vaccine doses where the program has provided financial support for the manufacturing of the vaccine.

“The advantage of the facility is that it is the ‘first customer in line’ for those projects where access agreements exist but it can also go out to the market and buy any vaccine. And the large volume guarantees will be very attractive to companies,” Hatchett said.

According to the WHO, there are currently 16 Covid-19 vaccines in clinical trials already, and at least another 125 in earlier stages of development.

⚕ STAT -> https://www.statnews.com/2020/06/26/...k-populations/

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by rocknblues81

Didn’t this guy put “recovering” covid patients in nursing homes though?

Not sure he can afford to be too snarky.

It's one of those things that gets thrown around without much context. Specifically, the health department put guidelines that said patient shouldn't be turned away from being able to go back to their nursing homes (or long-term facilities, etc..) if they had COVID, and were granted release by hospitals to return to their residence. Those guidelines were put into an executive order. This was based on CDC guidelines, and it also stated that if those facilities couldn't properly isolate those patients, that they should not take them back.

NY is not the only state to have done this. I believe Michigan, Pennsylvania, and others had the same guidelines in place. Part of the reason for this was because patients were being turned away from returning to their homes, which obviously puts a lot of stress on those patients, and their families. it also put strain on the hospitals, which couldn't very well keep all of these patients in beds for extended times during the height of this crisis. So the most practical thing to have done is to create isolation areas in the facilities to house them.

Unfortunately, a lot of nursing homes are also at fault here by not being forthcoming about their lack of preparedness for handling such patients. They stood to get desperately needed extra funding if they were willing to accept COVID patients, even if they probably knew all too well that they couldn't properly isolate them from the rest of the non-Covid residents.

Not that any of this has to do with telling people to wear a mask or anything...You make a lot of decisions as a leader. It's only in hindsight that you can see what you maybe should have done differently. There's a myriad of decisions like that for any leader.

[MifuneFan]

Also, FYI, it's still the CDC's guidelines to return these patients to nursing homes/long-term facilities...

Responding to Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Nursing Homes

Considerations for new admissions or readmissions to the facility

• Newly admitted and readmitted residents with confirmed COVID-19 who have not met criteria for discontinuation of Transmission-Based Precautions should go to the designated COVID-19 care unit.
• Newly admitted and readmitted residents with COVID-19 who have met criteria for discontinuation of Transmission-Based Precautions can go to a regular unit.

If Transmission-Based Precautions have been discontinued, but the resident with COVID-19 remains symptomatic (i.e., persistent symptoms or chronic symptoms above baseline), they can be housed on a regular unit but should remain in a private room until symptoms resolve or return to baseline. These individuals should remain in their rooms to the extent possible during this time period. If they must leave their rooms, facilities should reinforce adherence to universal source control policies and social distancing [e.g., perform frequent hand hygiene, have the resident wear a cloth face covering or facemask (if tolerated) and remain at least 6 feet away from others when outside of their room].

[rocknblues81]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

It's one of those things that gets thrown around without much context. Specifically, the health department put guidelines that said patient shouldn't be turned away from being able to go back to their nursing homes (or long-term facilities, etc..) if they had COVID, and were granted release by hospitals to return to their residence. Those guidelines were put into an executive order. This was based on CDC guidelines, and it also stated that if those facilities couldn't properly isolate those patients, that they should not take them back.

NY is not the only state to have done this. I believe Michigan, Pennsylvania, and others had the same guidelines in place. Part of the reason for this was because patients were being turned away from returning to their homes, which obviously puts a lot of stress on those patients, and their families. it also put strain on the hospitals, which couldn't very well keep all of these patients in beds for extended times during the height of this crisis. So the most practical thing to have done is to create isolation areas in the facilities to house them.

Unfortunately, a lot of nursing homes are also at fault here by not being forthcoming about their lack of preparedness for handling such patients. They stood to get desperately needed extra funding if they were willing to accept COVID patients, even if they probably knew all too well that they couldn't properly isolate them from the rest of the non-Covid residents.

Not that any of this has to do with telling people to wear a mask or anything...You make a lot of decisions as a leader. It's only in hindsight that you can see what you maybe should have done differently. There's a myriad of decisions like that for any leader.

Understood. Another reason to be skeptical of the CDC.

What a mess. It doesn’t feel like like much of anyone has made the best decisions.

[MrHT]

Originally Posted by Batman1980

If you leave your house wear a mask. It's really that simple.

I know I’ve said that countless time in this thread and got attacked for it. Maybe people here have more respect for you and will listen to you.

[LordoftheRings]

People always listen to Batman.

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

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

I count on you for food and alcoholic beverage recommendations.

Where’s Wabo?
Hey, given the pandemic, I learned to make banana bread this afternoon after my ride. It’s now cooking in the oven. Not sure how it will taste, but it sure smells good.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by rocknblues81

I fully expect to get the virus at some point as it will stick around probably for along the time. Masks (at best) will postpone the inevitable. IMO.

I don’t understand - “ Masks (at best)”, so you don’t believe in wearing one?

Rather than being so fatalistic, I'd take a more proactive approach as the more you can make a concerted attempt to stay safe by following good public health guidelines (mask wearing, physical distancing, hand washing, etc.), the longer you give scientists and clinicians time to come up with additional effective therapeutics in their arsenal to fight the disease, e.g. https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...l#post17749247

And thusly, if you do get very ill, the better your chances for a positive outcome.

[AeroK]

Line for testing in Houston...yikes.
https://mobile.twitter.com/alexdstuc...53523636273152

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by rocknblues81

According to the health experts, I needed to be taking two 500 mg of Metformin... Plus insulin shots, but I refused and changed my eating and I’m now in the 87-103 range 2-3 hours after a meal. Without the medication.

Good job as to the successful adjustment in eating habits (much harder than wearing a mask), I presume you also made a lifestyle change with regards to more physical activity too? You seem to know a lot about your condition. From the time you were diagnosed to the time you got your blood glucose to a normal level with only diet (and maybe exercise), do you have sequential, at least semi-annual, A1c lab results, e.g. -



As an aside, last month, a global registry regarding COVID-19 and diabetes was created - http://covidiab.e-dendrite.com/

[LordoftheRings]

Wearing a mask is like . . . having a better vision ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-W7D...ature=youtu.be

We all need a better vision during this pandemic, no exception...IMHO

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by LordoftheRings

We all need a better vision during this pandemic, no exception...IMHO

hey, whatever happened with your acute eye problem?

[rocknblues81]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Good job as to the successful adjustment in eating habits (much harder than wearing a mask), I presume you also made a lifestyle change with regards to more physical activity too? You seem to know a lot about your condition. From the time you were diagnosed to the time you got your blood glucose to a normal level with only diet (and maybe exercise), do you have sequential, at least semi-annual, A1c lab results, e.g. -



As an aside, last month, a global registry regarding COVID-19 and diabetes was created - http://covidiab.e-dendrite.com/

More physical activity? Not really. Not as much as one would expect considering my weight loss. That’s the thing... I used to believe that I had to make a big commitment to the gym to lose weight and improve my health.

I don’t go for jogs, work a lot harder or anything like that.

I am physically capable of doing more. My endurance had got so bad that I couldn’t walk up a few stairs without breathing heavily. It was so bad that I’m embarrassed by it. Inflammation was so bad.

A1C tests are only worthwhile every 3 months or so. I’ve one since September.

I went from a 7.1 A1C to 12.4 in half a year. It’s like something just broke and I quickly crossed into dangerous levels really quick. Soda being the biggest issue.

I was told in Sept that I was 6 months or less away from dying at the rate I was going at the time.

[LordoftheRings]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

hey, whatever happened with your acute eye problem?

The dark purple/red coloring under my left eye started to recede yesterday.
It still has some light tinting (purple) right now and some swelling as well.
It's not as irritating as it was say a week ago or so.

Both my eyes are very sensitive and they both have cataracts.
It's a long story with age part of it.

But I can say this: I don't sleep as good as I used to.
This pandemic is sure taking a real toll on my psyche.
I am not invincible, to the exact contrary; if I get infected with my heart condition and blood pressure I'm gone. It's not that I'm afraid to die, it's just that I love life.

I'm not the only one ...

P.S. I'll post some photos someday of the beauty surrounding me.
Today is simply marvelous. Life is worth living, not dying. And if we respect that for all others as we respect for ourselves we are already living in a better world, and wearing masks.

Each and every single day that we're still alive is a good day.
For the ones who are gone ... my deepest thoughts of love.
For my father, for my sister, for all my dear friends who didn't experience what we all of us are living today ...

[Waboman]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

YouTube

Your problem is you're listening to Fauci. You need Dr. Zauis.

YouTube

[y2jman]

Originally Posted by LordoftheRings

They also have masks that attach behind the neck and the head.
Those don't fall out.

* I have a bunch of masks that I can't wear because like you they just keep falling, detaching from my ears. It's not so easy to shop for the right masks. No one has the same facial/head proportions. And our ears vary too.

Anyway the ones I got first were simply too small. I perfectly relate to what you just said.
I'm waiting for more masks to come...in the next delivery.

yeah did have some reusable face mask then saw news them might tested pesticides threw away I wore few times couldn't handle it

I know that wwe mask are from rock em socks again i'm hoping i can handle the over the ears due to adjustable ear loops thing

heck i freakin paid 47.17 for them 2 day shipping they better work sure taking a long time to be shipped out since did it last Friday

i got the Mustafa ali and now black and white they claim to be comfortable to breath in

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Waboman

Your problem is you're listening to Fauci. You need Dr. Zauis.

YouTube

hardly, as he’s not published anything - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/?term=Zauis
tell Zauis - mask good -

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Cutting edge info for live HDR productions - As opposed to using fixed transforms like with past BBC HDR/SDR productions and the like, innovative engineers are working on adaptive conversions (in real time) of which there are two types:

Per frame -


Within the frame –


Conclusions as to the benefits of adaptive conversions –

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

There was an initial attempt to dissuade the public from wearing masks only because the CDC was worried about people hoarding a limited supply of N95 masks. That was a questionable move, but they needed to make sure medical personnel would have protection....

Correct.
Since doby made this comment as part of his response today –

Originally Posted by dobyblue

...a certain candidate for POTUS in a CBS interview last week talked about mandating masks in the US at the federal level while his mask was falling down his face.

I’m assuming there is no double standard and the following will not get deleted as I think it's important to set the record straight and the man is not here to defend himself - if rocknblues81 is referring to Tony (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/?term=Anthony+Fauci) –

listen -
https://www.cnn.com/videos/health/20...estion-vpx.cnn

and in regards to the consequence of what I've bolded, check out what the lack of health care providers (due to them becoming sick and incapacited) has resulted in the quality of medical care in small towns in Russia

[rocknblues81]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

There was an initial attempt to dissuade the public from wearing masks only because the CDC was worried about people hoarding a limited supply of N95 masks. That was a questionable move, but they needed to make sure medical personnel would have protection.

Also, the more recent figures show that the virus is increasingly killing younger (under 45) people, so it's not just a problem in the nursing homes.

We cannot eliminate the virus as long as so many people continue making it possible for it to spread like wildfire.

The virus isn't likely to be elimited (especially with international travel) unless we get lucky and it burns itself out by running out of hosts.

Even if every single person wears a mask it probably will not die out. Unless we stop international travel also.

As for me, like I said... I'm a homebody anyway. I've been out twice in the last two months. So any concern of me spreading the virus is not really justified.

[LordoftheRings]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZ85...ature=youtu.be