COVID-19 treatment and vaccine update thread

[YellowKing]

My local movie theater I spoke about in my previous post made the pages of Variety!

https://variety.com/2021/film/features/ ... 234889712/

[Hrdina]

I just got an email from the State of New Jersey which can be paraphrased as "You are eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine; good luck finding any".

[Jeff V]

I just got an email from the State of New Jersey which can be paraphrased as "You are eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine; good luck finding any".

Sounds like a valid hunting permit to me...

[RunningMn9]

I just got an email from the State of New Jersey which can be paraphrased as "You are eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine; good luck finding any".

I got the same one. “You are eligible, but please don’t.”

[Smoove_B]

I just got an email from the State of New Jersey which can be paraphrased as "You are eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine; good luck finding any".

As someone with insider information, I'm just recently learning how much of a cluster F this entire thing is and the amount of skullduggery that's happening as line-jumpers coordinate the targeting of vaccination slots. Our state should be stepping in and acting as true gate keepers in this process, but instead it has turned into the vaccination equivalent of dealing with ticket scalpers. It's beyond shameful and I continue to be embarrassed for my profession.

[Jeff V]

My local movie theater I spoke about in my previous post made the pages of Variety!

https://variety.com/2021/film/features/ ... 234889712/

Heh, a couple of days ago, our police department (!) announced our local theater would be opening Friday (yesterday). I replied, "unless they are giving mass vaccinations there, it's a hard no."

After many more likes than those supporting it, they deleted my post.

[Daehawk]

Im not even sure our theater closed. its been showing older stuff mainly. I see Wonder Woman 1984 seems to be the newest. Old stuff right now is like Emperors New Groove, The Shining, and Austin Powers. Ive said forever I wish we had a theater that showed reruns of old movies. And when they do I refuse to go. 14 screens and a mega one and I am too chicken or smart to go.

[Daveman]

I just got an email from the State of New Jersey which can be paraphrased as "You are eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine; good luck finding any".

As someone with insider information, I'm just recently learning how much of a cluster F this entire thing is and the amount of skullduggery that's happening as line-jumpers coordinate the targeting of vaccination slots. Our state should be stepping in and acting as true gate keepers in this process, but instead it has turned into the vaccination equivalent of dealing with ticket scalpers. It's beyond shameful and I continue to be embarrassed for my profession.

I don't know what happened in a week but good grief. My wife and I put in our applications to the NJ state site within a day of each other whenever the site went up. She checked off that she's a teacher, I checked off that I work in a healthcare setting (IT for 2 hospitals in DE). In a day or so we got our confirmation that we would both be in 1A but to wait for a follow up email.

I got my email to schedule my shot on the 13th. My email had a single link to follow where I put in my address and a map with a list of available sites came up. Smaller sites were full but I had choices a week away at the Gloucester County mega site and a new Inspira hospital where we live in Mullica Hill. Got my shot on Wedneaday, all went well. I was expecting to have to validate my employment and was a little nervous about it as I'm a consultant and not technically an employee of the health care network. Suffice to say, no one asked for anything.

Thursday my wife got an email to schedule her shot, but hers doesn't link to an easy to use search engine and sign up form, but just pulls up a list of sites and links/phone numbers to each. It's on her to click through or call each one. Best she could get is sometime in April???

[Lorini]

Frankly I was lucky. Someone said on my LA county Supervisor's FB page that Pomona Fairplex had appointments available and they actually did.

[Daehawk]

The South African coronavirus mutation can infect multiple times, could hamper vaccine

A mutant strain of the novel coronavirus discovered in South Africa appears to be able to ward off antibodies from individuals who had previously recovered from COVID-19 — meaning if the new strain becomes widespread, we may see more people getting infected multiple times.

[Jeff V]

People are already getting infected multiple times. I haven't seen a study, but my wife says when her nursing home residents catch it a second time it's almost always fatal. And it's happened a lot.

[Daehawk]

We're all going to die.

Its like that episode of Star Trek called Miri where all the adults died to a plague. Or that show I used to watch called Jeremiah and starred Luke Perry where a virus wiped out everyone over puberty.

[Defiant]

We're all going to die.

Its like that episode of Star Trek called Miri where all the adults died to a plague. Or that show I used to watch called Jeremiah and starred Luke Perry where a virus wiped out everyone over puberty.

Or The DS9 episode The quickening. Or the tv show the Tribe

[Smoove_B]

I don't know what happened in a week but good grief.

I'll try not to swerve into R&P.

Basically, the states were urged to open their restrictions on eligibility with the understanding that additional vaccines were going to be released from the stockpile to help get more people vaccinated. There is genuine concern the next group of variants is going to really escalate spread so there's tremendous pressure now to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible.

However, like 3 days later it came out that whoops, the stockpile had already been used and that only the original allotment of vaccines would be provided - which for the record was also under what all states were told they were getting.

So (for example) here in NJ you had the pool of people eligible go from ~1 million to ~4 million but the number of vaccines being sent never actually changed. The delivery system is top notch - other than some early and random hiccups, the actual vaccination process is going great. Except only about 100K people can be vaccinated a week (based on doses received), which is not great. 4+ million people clamoring for 100K doses a week is madness and it's essentially a free-for-all right now with the people that need the vaccination the most getting bumped by people that can sit around and hit F5 all day.

[Daehawk]

Never heard of Tribe but I dont remember that DS9 ep. had to look it up. Nothing new though as I know I watched some series all the way through and eps wont even register at all on my memory.

[LawBeefaroni]

All over soreness from the second shot yesterday, feels like I spent 3 hours at the gym. Also had trouble sleeping but nothing major.

FWIW, my wife and MIL have both been vaccinated (both Pfizer) and had similar experiences. The first shot was similar to a flu shot for them--little soreness but nothing significant. 2nd shot knocked them both down pretty well--more soreness, general malaise, etc.

I just talked to a friend last night who had the same experience.

Ended up with a low grade fever (100.5) and headache in addition to the soreness at the end of the day. Went to bed early and woke up mostly fine.

[Kraken]

All over soreness from the second shot yesterday, feels like I spent 3 hours at the gym. Also had trouble sleeping but nothing major.

FWIW, my wife and MIL have both been vaccinated (both Pfizer) and had similar experiences. The first shot was similar to a flu shot for them--little soreness but nothing significant. 2nd shot knocked them both down pretty well--more soreness, general malaise, etc.

I just talked to a friend last night who had the same experience.

Ended up with a low grade fever (100.5) and headache in addition to the soreness at the end of the day. Went to bed early and woke up mostly fine.

The friend I was referring to (who happens to be a doctor) said that while the covid vaccine was not fun, it wasn't nearly as bad as Shingrix. Shingrix put me in bed for a day, and I was icing my arm for six months afterward. He said his arm was useless for a week. We both got our shots from pharmacists, who probably injected our shoulder joints -- a common rookie mistake that can screw you up for a long time. He never went back for his second Shingrix.

So if the covid vaccine isn't as bad as Shingrix, it's nothing to fear. I'm still holding out for the sugar cube version, though.

[Daehawk]

I'm still holding out for the sugar cube version, though.

Remember it was the Sabin sugar cube weakened virus Polio vaccine that paralyzed some with Polio. The Salk injection dead virus worked as well and didn't paralyze anyone.

[Kraken]

I'm still holding out for the sugar cube version, though.

Remember it was the Sabin sugar cube weakened virus Polio vaccine that paralyzed some with Polio. The Salk injection dead virus worked as well and didn't paralyze anyone.

It's a documented fact that a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.

[Daehawk]

I'm still holding out for the sugar cube version, though.

Remember it was the Sabin sugar cube weakened virus Polio vaccine that paralyzed some with Polio. The Salk injection dead virus worked as well and didn't paralyze anyone.

It's a documented fact that a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.

Im glad that one didn't go down and they shot me. Man I remember that day ugh. Also alcohol also helps go down.

[Lorini]

Started a political thread in R&P about Covid and the vaccinations.

[FishPants]

Odd that this hasn't gotten more press Quebec researchers say they have found an effective drug to fight COVID-19

[Lorini]

Odd that this hasn't gotten more press Quebec researchers say they have found an effective drug to fight COVID-19

Doesn’t look as it’s been peer reviewed, which it needs to be before anyone will take it seriously. Also claims of a found drug can easily lead to people acting unsafely so they need to look at this really hard before coming to a conclusion.

[Anonymous Bosch]

Odd that this hasn't gotten more press Quebec researchers say they have found an effective drug to fight COVID-19

Not really; as Jon Stewart put it, "The bias of the mainstream media is towards sensationalism, conflict and laziness."

The WSJ earlier mentioned that Eli Lilly has a seemingly effective antibody-based drug that reduced the risk of getting sick from COVID-19 in nursing homes, which could significantly boost faltering Covid-19 vaccination efforts and save lives. But I've seen little coverage of it elsewhere, because mainstream media tends to be more interested in clickbait Sturm und Drang than informing the public.

[Lorini]

The press has to make a buck somehow, but I still think it's because the study has not been peer reviewed. It's too sensationalist without some sort of backing by the scientific community, especially Dr. Fauci.

[LawBeefaroni]

I'm still holding out for the sugar cube version, though.

Remember it was the Sabin sugar cube weakened virus Polio vaccine that paralyzed some with Polio. The Salk injection dead virus worked as well and didn't paralyze anyone.

It's a documented fact that a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.

Indeed.

His dad asked him how his day was and Jeffrey told him that he and his classmates had received an oral polio vaccine that day.

"He goes, 'You let someone give you a shot at school? Did it hurt?' " recalled Jeffrey. "And I said, 'No, no, no. They took out this little cup and put a sugar cube in it and then dropped the medicine and you just ate it.' "

"And my dad looked at me and started shaking his head," he said.
...

The very next day, said Jeffrey, the two wrote the lyrics: A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.

His dad, he said, thanked him for that song.

"I think that the love of his family and each of us kids inspired different things all the time for him," said Jeffrey.

[Smoove_B]

Good news regarding Moderna:

https://twitter.com/moderna_tx/status/1 ... 3108353024

We just announced that the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine retains neutralizing activity against emerging variants first identified in the U.K. and the Republic of South Africa.

EDIT: For those that just like to read the news.

[Daehawk]

What about the one in South America?

[Ralph-Wiggum]

Per the Moderna statement, their vaccine is a good bit less effective against the South African variant (6-fold less effective), but still effective enough to offer some protection. I believe the South American variant is pretty similar to the South African one, so I would guess that the vaccine would have a similar, weaker but still impactful, effect.

[Paingod]

All over soreness from the second shot yesterday, feels like I spent 3 hours at the gym. Also had trouble sleeping but nothing major.

FWIW, my wife and MIL have both been vaccinated (both Pfizer) and had similar experiences. The first shot was similar to a flu shot for them--little soreness but nothing significant. 2nd shot knocked them both down pretty well--more soreness, general malaise, etc.

I just talked to a friend last night who had the same experience.

I work for a medical practice, and they seem keen on getting everyone - from billing to IT to floor techs to doctors - vaccinated. What we're getting is the Moderna version. When I had my first shot, my arm was sore for around 12 hours and then developed a striking 1.5" circular bruise where the injection was a day later.

I've got the second shot around Feb. 11th - and they said that one will likely give me some flu-like symptoms for a day or two... and then a week later, immunity.

Once I've been vaccinated and it's taken hold, is there any benefit to donating plasma or blood specifically related to having been vaccinated?

[Zaxxon]

Per the Moderna statement, their vaccine is a good bit less effective against the South African variant (6-fold less effective), but still effective enough to offer some protection. I believe the South American variant is pretty similar to the South African one, so I would guess that the vaccine would have a similar, weaker but still impactful, effect.

Also interesting (to me) is that they are studying an additional booster shot's effectiveness, plus two variant vaccines already:

The two-dose regimen of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine at the 100 µg dose is expected to be protective against emerging strains detected to date. Nonetheless, Moderna today announced its clinical strategy to proactively address the pandemic as the virus continues to evolve. First, the Company will test an additional booster dose of its COVID-19 Vaccine (mRNA-1273) to study the ability to further increase neutralizing titers against emerging strains beyond the existing primary vaccination series. Second, the Company is advancing an emerging variant booster candidate (mRNA-1273.351) against the B.1.351 variant first identified in the Republic of South Africa. The Company is advancing mRNA-1273.351 into preclinical studies and a Phase 1 study in the U.S. to evaluate the immunological benefit of boosting with strain-specific spike proteins. Moderna expects that its mRNA-based booster vaccine (whether mRNA-1273 or mRNA-1273.351) will be able to further boost neutralizing titers in combination with all of the leading vaccine candidates.

[Smoove_B]

Once I've been vaccinated and it's taken hold, is there any benefit to donating plasma or blood specifically related to having been vaccinated?

If you dig through the FAQ, you'll find:

Individuals who have received a COVID-19 vaccine are not eligible to donate convalescent plasma

For blood:

There is no deferral time for eligible blood donors who are vaccinated with an inactivated or RNA based COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by Moderna or Pfizer. Eligible blood donors who are vaccinated with a replication defective virus COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by AstraZeneca or Janssen/J&J must wait two weeks before giving blood. Eligible blood donors who do not know what type of COVID-19 vaccine they received must wait four weeks before giving blood.

[Paingod]

So, no. Shame. I was hoping that maybe some of whatever was in my blood might help someone laying in a hospital bed.

[Ralph-Wiggum]

Per the Moderna statement, their vaccine is a good bit less effective against the South African variant (6-fold less effective), but still effective enough to offer some protection. I believe the South American variant is pretty similar to the South African one, so I would guess that the vaccine would have a similar, weaker but still impactful, effect.

Also interesting (to me) is that they are studying an additional booster shot's effectiveness, plus two variant vaccines already:

The two-dose regimen of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine at the 100 µg dose is expected to be protective against emerging strains detected to date. Nonetheless, Moderna today announced its clinical strategy to proactively address the pandemic as the virus continues to evolve. First, the Company will test an additional booster dose of its COVID-19 Vaccine (mRNA-1273) to study the ability to further increase neutralizing titers against emerging strains beyond the existing primary vaccination series. Second, the Company is advancing an emerging variant booster candidate (mRNA-1273.351) against the B.1.351 variant first identified in the Republic of South Africa. The Company is advancing mRNA-1273.351 into preclinical studies and a Phase 1 study in the U.S. to evaluate the immunological benefit of boosting with strain-specific spike proteins. Moderna expects that its mRNA-based booster vaccine (whether mRNA-1273 or mRNA-1273.351) will be able to further boost neutralizing titers in combination with all of the leading vaccine candidates.

Does this (bolded, italicized, underlined) mean that they'll need to go through the full clinical trial phases for any variant vaccines? I would hope that since we know the general vaccine is safe, it could be sped up a bit. Otherwise, by the time it's approved I'm sure they'll be three more variants that need attention.

[Smoove_B]

Something for y'all to share with others - My Parents Will Be Vaccinated Long Before Me. Can They Come Visit?

To state the obvious, we are in a strange limbo state right now. The vaccines we’ve eagerly awaited for almost a year are here, and yet…nothing about our daily lives has really changed. Unfortunately, that’s going to be the case for a bit longer.

“The end is in sight,” says Dr. Colleen Kelley, a vaccine researcher and associate professor of infectious diseases at the Emory University School of Medicine in Georgia. “I just don’t know that it’s right now.”

Your loved ones getting vaccinated is unequivocally a step forward, Kelley says. It would certainly be safer to visit with your parents or in-laws after they’ve gotten both vaccine doses, but the safest plan is to wait until you and your husband are also vaccinated, she says.

Read this next part carefully (emphasis added):

Here’s the good news, though. Once you and your husband are fully vaccinated (along with more of the general population), Kelley says you can feel much better about spending time with other vaccinated people indoors and unmasked—even if your toddler isn’t yet vaccinated.

As you suggest, it may be a while before kids younger than 16 are eligible for COVID-19 vaccination, since pharmaceutical companies haven’t yet finished testing their shots on younger children. But “if the toddler is the only one who’s not vaccinated, I would say that’s a pretty darn safe scenario,” Kelley says.

It's also pretty specific to young kids.

[Lorini]

They are trying to avoid that by quickly (ha) vaccinating people. There seems to be a giant disconnect on availability from Moderna/Pfizer->federal government->states that needs to be fixed ASAP.

[Lorini]

Something for y'all to share with others - My Parents Will Be Vaccinated Long Before Me. Can They Come Visit?

To state the obvious, we are in a strange limbo state right now. The vaccines we’ve eagerly awaited for almost a year are here, and yet…nothing about our daily lives has really changed. Unfortunately, that’s going to be the case for a bit longer.

“The end is in sight,” says Dr. Colleen Kelley, a vaccine researcher and associate professor of infectious diseases at the Emory University School of Medicine in Georgia. “I just don’t know that it’s right now.”

Your loved ones getting vaccinated is unequivocally a step forward, Kelley says. It would certainly be safer to visit with your parents or in-laws after they’ve gotten both vaccine doses, but the safest plan is to wait until you and your husband are also vaccinated, she says.

Read this next part carefully (emphasis added):

Here’s the good news, though. Once you and your husband are fully vaccinated (along with more of the general population), Kelley says you can feel much better about spending time with other vaccinated people indoors and unmasked—even if your toddler isn’t yet vaccinated.

As you suggest, it may be a while before kids younger than 16 are eligible for COVID-19 vaccination, since pharmaceutical companies haven’t yet finished testing their shots on younger children. But “if the toddler is the only one who’s not vaccinated, I would say that’s a pretty darn safe scenario,” Kelley says.

It's also pretty specific to young kids.

Yeah if you hang out with vaccinated people but you aren't vaccinated, be sure to mask up!!!!!

[Smoove_B]

Yeah if you hang out with vaccinated people but you aren't vaccinated, be sure to mask up!!!!!

In addition to all the other recommendations - like not being in close contact indoors for a long period of time.

Some related news regarding the status of vaccine development for kids:

Vaccine companies are racing to gather vaccine data in kids. Pfizer/BioNTech, in their phase 3 trial, gave their vaccine to children ages 12 to 17, and data from this age group will continue to be gathered and analyzed. Moderna is enrolling youth in this same age group for a study.

While companies and regulators are working to have pediatric-approved vaccines ready before the next school year, it’s also crucial that the research in kids proceed carefully.

What do we do until we can vaccinate kids?

The CDC recommends children follow similar guidelines to adults. They should wash their hands frequently, avoid or limit contact with people outside their household, avoid those at high risk for the illness, wear a mask in public starting at age 2, have high-touch surfaces and toys disinfected frequently, and avoid unnecessary travel.

And because we don’t yet have solid information on how well the vaccines prevent virus transmission, people who have already gotten their two vaccine doses should still take precautions — like mask-wearing and distancing — around those who are unvaccinated. This includes grandparents who have gotten their shots and are considering spending time with children and grandchildren they haven’t been in social bubbles with. Although vaccinated older folks are at reduced risk of severe illness themselves, they might still be able to pass the virus to children or others in the household.

[dbt1949]

So. Get vaccinated and still wear your mask and stay away from everybody.
So why are we getting vaccinated?

[Isgrimnur]

So. Get vaccinated and still wear your mask and stay away from everybody.
So why are we getting vaccinated?

Not dying.