Octopus Overlords

Max Peck wrote: Wed Aug 04, 2021 11:23 am My understanding is that full approval will remove some legal barriers to vaccine mandates (e.g. once it is fully approved the US military can make vaccination mandatory, whereas they are legally prohibited from doing so while it is still under the emergency authorization). I expect that the anti-vax crowd will simply adjust their talking points to say that the experimental vaccine has been approved due to political pressure and carry as they have been so far.

Max Peck wrote: Wed Aug 04, 2021 11:23 am My understanding is that full approval will remove some legal barriers to vaccine mandates (e.g. once it is fully approved the US military can make vaccination mandatory, whereas they are legally prohibited from doing so while it is still under the emergency authorization). I expect that the anti-vax crowd will simply adjust their talking points to say that the experimental vaccine has been approved due to political pressure and carry as they have been so far.

Zarathud wrote:My former black paralegal

Moderna says lab studies show a booster w half the dose of its #covid19 vaccine increases antibody levels against delta by 42-fold

Research into boosters remains an essential part of the pandemic response because if protection from existing Covid-19 vaccines does eventually start to wane or new variants emerge that are more resistant to vaccines, then boosters could potentially offer enhanced protection.

But both these scenarios will become self-fulfilling prophecies if countries with high Covid vaccine coverage start making boosters available now, and to all citizens, because it will delay efforts to protect more people. The sooner we start using boosters, the more likely we’ll need them.

By far the best way to avoid both these scenarios is to focus efforts and resources on stopping the spread of the virus now. That means making more efficient use of the vaccines we have by protecting people most at risk in all corners of the world, which will help to avoid the emergence of new variants.

Smoove_B wrote: Thu Aug 05, 2021 12:12 pm Another perspective:

Research into boosters remains an essential part of the pandemic response because if protection from existing Covid-19 vaccines does eventually start to wane or new variants emerge that are more resistant to vaccines, then boosters could potentially offer enhanced protection.

But both these scenarios will become self-fulfilling prophecies if countries with high Covid vaccine coverage start making boosters available now, and to all citizens, because it will delay efforts to protect more people. The sooner we start using boosters, the more likely we’ll need them.

By far the best way to avoid both these scenarios is to focus efforts and resources on stopping the spread of the virus now. That means making more efficient use of the vaccines we have by protecting people most at risk in all corners of the world, which will help to avoid the emergence of new variants.

Some wealthy countries have vaccinated about two-thirds of their population against the coronavirus, while just 1.1 per cent of people in low-income countries have received their first jab.

Smoove_B wrote: Thu Aug 05, 2021 12:12 pm Another perspective:

Research into boosters remains an essential part of the pandemic response because if protection from existing Covid-19 vaccines does eventually start to wane or new variants emerge that are more resistant to vaccines, then boosters could potentially offer enhanced protection.

But both these scenarios will become self-fulfilling prophecies if countries with high Covid vaccine coverage start making boosters available now, and to all citizens, because it will delay efforts to protect more people. The sooner we start using boosters, the more likely we’ll need them.

By far the best way to avoid both these scenarios is to focus efforts and resources on stopping the spread of the virus now. That means making more efficient use of the vaccines we have by protecting people most at risk in all corners of the world, which will help to avoid the emergence of new variants.

Smoove_B wrote: Thu Aug 05, 2021 12:24 pm The actual answer is start making sure that people who are repeatedly outright refusing vaccinations start to pay a literal and figurative price as part of their existence in polite society.

Smoove_B wrote: Thu Aug 05, 2021 12:24 pm The actual answer is start making sure that people who are repeatedly outright refusing vaccinations start to pay a literal and figurative price as part of their existence in polite society.

I'm not a betting man, but I would put money on the virus right now to figure this out if we don't start getting more people vaccinated globally.

Some wealthy countries have vaccinated about two-thirds of their population against the coronavirus, while just 1.1 per cent of people in low-income countries have received their first jab.

That is a recipe for disaster. We can offer boosters for high risk people, but as a broad policy in the U.S.? I'm with the group saying it's problematic. I also acknowledge this isn't an easy decision by any means. But I do personally think we need to elevate global vaccination levels as a priority.

Lorini wrote: Thu Aug 05, 2021 1:54 pm

Smoove_B wrote: Thu Aug 05, 2021 12:24 pm The actual answer is start making sure that people who are repeatedly outright refusing vaccinations start to pay a literal and figurative price as part of their existence in polite society.

I'm not a betting man, but I would put money on the virus right now to figure this out if we don't start getting more people vaccinated globally.

Some wealthy countries have vaccinated about two-thirds of their population against the coronavirus, while just 1.1 per cent of people in low-income countries have received their first jab.

That is a recipe for disaster. We can offer boosters for high risk people, but as a broad policy in the U.S.? I'm with the group saying it's problematic. I also acknowledge this isn't an easy decision by any means. But I do personally think we need to elevate global vaccination levels as a priority.

The unvaccinated aren't going to start getting boosters because they are there. Providing boosters does little to fix the actual problem which is too many unvaccinated people.

Blackhawk wrote: Thu Aug 05, 2021 1:28 pm

Smoove_B wrote: Thu Aug 05, 2021 12:24 pm The actual answer is start making sure that people who are repeatedly outright refusing vaccinations start to pay a literal and figurative price as part of their existence in polite society.

That can't be the actual answer, as there is no avenue to it happening. That may be the ideal answer, it may be a hypothetical solution, but it is outside of reality.

So I suppose the questions I would ask: Are the doses going to waste? And can we actually get them somewhere that they'll actually be pumped into flesh as opposed to just going bad in a different warehouse while people refuse?

If the answers are 'no' and 'yes', then yeah. Get it moving. Anything else and it's just an exercise.

More than 110,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine have been destroyed in Georgia since December 2020, when vaccines were first administered in the state, Georgia health officials said.

Georgia Department of Health spokesperson Nancy Nydam told CNN that 110,079 doses were destroyed because they were not being used.
There are various reason for vaccines to go unused, according to Nydam, including doses not being needed after being prepared, parent or child refusal, damaged vials, syringe leaks and apparent contamination.

Lorini wrote: Wed Aug 04, 2021 4:56 pm

Max Peck wrote: Wed Aug 04, 2021 11:23 am My understanding is that full approval will remove some legal barriers to vaccine mandates (e.g. once it is fully approved the US military can make vaccination mandatory, whereas they are legally prohibited from doing so while it is still under the emergency authorization). I expect that the anti-vax crowd will simply adjust their talking points to say that the experimental vaccine has been approved due to political pressure and carry as they have been so far.

In the US, many marginalized people are not getting the vaccinations and it's not because they are anti-vaxxers or right wingers. Black and Latino people have been treated badly by public health and health care in general and they don't trust the information they are getting. Let me put it this way, 80% of Black people voted against Trump but only 40% are vaccinated. There is more to the issue with vaccinations than simply shaking fists at anti-vaxxers.

Smoove_B wrote: Thu Aug 05, 2021 12:24 pm But I do personally think we need to elevate global vaccination levels as a priority.

Alefroth wrote: Thu Aug 05, 2021 6:08 pm Do you know what the biggest barrier to global vaccination is?

Smoove_B wrote: Thu Aug 05, 2021 6:36 pm

Alefroth wrote: Thu Aug 05, 2021 6:08 pm Do you know what the biggest barrier to global vaccination is?

Development of doses and then logistics. Rich nations are holding all the cards; same as it ever was.

Smoove_B wrote: Thu Aug 05, 2021 6:36 pm

Alefroth wrote: Thu Aug 05, 2021 6:08 pm Do you know what the biggest barrier to global vaccination is?

Development of doses and then logistics. Rich nations are holding all the cards; same as it ever was.

hitbyambulance wrote: Thu Aug 05, 2021 8:52 pm

what further % of the 'already contracted C19 and still living' US population can be added to that 'fully vaccinated' number? the surviving Delta-infected are going to be pretty robust, one would think.

stessier wrote: Fri Aug 06, 2021 10:40 am Daughter turned 12 today and got the shot at 9:45. It's a good day.

stessier wrote: Fri Aug 06, 2021 10:40 am Daughter turned 12 today and got the shot at 9:45. It's a good day.

stessier wrote: Fri Aug 06, 2021 10:40 am Daughter turned 12 today and got the shot at 9:45. It's a good day.

stessier wrote: Fri Aug 06, 2021 10:40 am Daughter turned 12 today and got the shot at 9:45. It's a good day.

US news network CNN has sacked three employees for going into an office without having been vaccinated against Covid, US media say.

It is one of the first examples of a US firm firing staff for breaching a company vaccination mandate.

It is legal in the US for firms to require employees to be vaccinated.

Many large firms - including Facebook and Google - say they will require employees to be vaccinated when offices fully re-open in the months ahead.

CNN chief Jeff Zucker mentioned the dismissal in a company memo sent on Thursday and seen by several US media outlets.

Vaccination is mandatory for anyone reporting in the field, working with any other employees or going into an office, he is quoted as saying in the memo.

"Let me be clear - we have a zero-tolerance policy on this," Mr Zucker, chairman of news and sports for WarnerMedia, is quoted as saying.

stessier wrote: Fri Aug 06, 2021 10:40 am Daughter turned 12 today and got the shot at 9:45. It's a good day.

I’ve been vocal about my frustration that some schools are giving up covid control measures. But if you’re a parent with kids in school, you’ve probably got to work with what you’ve got. Here is news you can use. 1/7

Smoove_B wrote: Sun Aug 08, 2021 12:55 pm Yes, it's been an issue nationwide for 2+ decades, mainly with the annual influenza shots. And it's also an issue in continuing care facilities where you have paraprofessionals that have direct patient contact (senior centers, outpatient therapy) - patients that are high risk - that refuse to vaccinate themselves.

The medical establishment at large needs to clamp down on it and states need to make sure they have regulations on the books to prod them along.