[Curiosity]

Great news about the home testing!

Ready, MIL and I were both able to get our first doses at one of those drive through mega sites, and we found them to be really well done. I had a Sunday morning appointment and was out in 40-45 minutes from when I arrived; it was just over an hour for MIL with a Saturday afternoon appointment. We were able to schedule the appointments for both the first and second doses at the same time, too. They seem to have a great system going, and I was heartened to see how many people were getting vaccinated - the appointment slots fill up quickly when released, and they run a lot of people through the sites.

It isn’t a return to normalcy, but it is an avenue of hope for something a little more connected to humanity than our current situation, even if that connection is still masked and is still a couple of months away.

[marvin4242]

A preliminary study that both shows significant reduction of spread after vaccination (not surprising but now backed up by data) AND showing this occurs after the FIRST DOSE only (10 days after inoculation). This is good because it supports the "one dose to as many people as possible first" approach (delaying the second dose) as being an effective strategy to reduce spread better than 2 doses to 1/2 the population. And reduces the concern about delaying the second dose if there are shortages.

The AstraZeneca vaccine is shown to drastically cut transmission of the virus.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/03/us/astrazeneca-coronavirus-vaccine.html

"The vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca not only protects people from serious illness and death but also substantially slows the transmission of the virus, according to a new study — a finding that underscores the importance of mass vaccination as a path out of the pandemic.

Researchers at the University of Oxford measured the impact on transmission by swabbing participants every week seeking to detect signs of the virus. If there is no virus present, even if someone is infected, it cannot be spread. And they found a 67 percent reduction in positive swabs among those vaccinated."

"The vaccine appeared more effective when the interval between the two shots was longer than the originally intended four-week gap, the Oxford and AstraZeneca researchers found. Among clinical trial participants who got two standard-strength doses at least three months apart, the vaccine was 82 percent effective, compared to 55 percent effective when the doses were given less than six weeks apart."

"The Oxford and AstraZeneca researchers also found that a single dose of the vaccine was 76 percent effective at preventing Covid-19. The data measured the three months after the first shot was given, not including an initial three-week period needed for protection to take effect."

[marvin4242]

This is also great but not surprising. FDA is considering guidelines for “tweaked” vaccines as new variants arise. The new variant vaccine won’t require the full set of data for revised vaccines, which means the new versions will be available much sooner if required. The safety is established, the new data would be for efficacy.

Tweaking COVID vaccines to fight variants won’t require big trials, FDA says

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/02/tweaking-covid-vaccines-to-fight-variants-wont-require-big-trials-fda-says/

[Thunder]

Marvin thank you for putting all that Covid information out there!   

[readytofixmyselffirst]

Hello,

The information is very good. I am hoping as we begin to mobilize our forces, we can begin to concentrate our efforts on getting the entire world vaccinated. While politics dominated the first 10 months of the pandemic, we are shifting to a more evidenced based approach to the virus. While we are observing a drop in California, I continue to remind others that we have gone from absolutely terrible to terrible. Our daily cases still exceed the summer surge and while ICU numbers are down, there is still no available space. With possible variants, it is imperative that we continue to wear masks, social distance, and maintain our bubbles as much as possible. And, when available, get vaccinated.  Johnson and Johnson should be available soon and Novavax is just around the corner. This is truly astounding as the experts opinions in June, 2020 was that on 11% of the vaccines would make it through stage 3.

I have been watching the vaccination numbers in Israel and it will be interesting to see how their numbers are in a couple of weeks as they are leaps and bounds ahead of everyone else in first dose vaccinations (37.5%) and overall both doses (20%). Initial data shows that those that have been vaccinated have had extremely low infection rates and no hospitalizations. If the vaccination rates continue, they hope to be at herd immunity by the end of March.

Also, we are seeing some progress in treatments as well. The science is understanding the disease and how to help our bodies react without overreacting.

Good news on many fronts and we may be turning the corner on this dangerous virus, but just as D-Day didn't mean the end of the war, we still have many more months or working together to save lives.

((((Ready))))

[marvin4242]

Ready there definitely is a huge shift in this country even in the past two weeks. Something as simple as coordinated efforts, sending aid to states and localities and actually tracking vaccine distributions. These things are no brained, and yet we are just starting unlike the rest of the world. Israel is a great canary in the coal mine for results, fingers crossed!

UK is also doing pretty well, and the scientists are trying to sort gains from lockdowns from early gains from vaccinations.

Now to convince people to NOT have Super Bowl parties in person and kick off another mini wave...

[marvin4242]

Data showing double masking in a tight fit provides 95% protection if worn properly. Now if we can get people to do it.

CDC: Double-masking helps reduce exposure to the coronavirus
Medical procedure masks don’t always provide robust protection alone because air can leak around their edges.

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/10/cdc-coronavirus-double-masking-468319

[readytofixmyselffirst]

Hello,

Super cool news. I've been double masking for over two weeks now. I don't like to because it really fogs my glasses up, but I had heard it may help against the UK and Ca variants.

People thought I was overreacting, but science saves the day!

(((((Ready))))

[Ready2Transform]

I started double masking on my last shopping trip, with a cloth mask over my surgical one. Got some weird looks (even from other maskers), and the glasses fogging up is not fun. But in the end, it will be worth it if it keeps everyone safer. Especially since my county has made it harder for seniors like my dad to get the vaccine by big procedural failure AND bumping out of state workers, regardless of age, ahead of him in the line. They're essential - it's teachers, food service workers, etc - but I think it should be based on where you LIVE, not where you WORK. /rant

[marvin4242]

Well contrast the basic sanity of this approach with a guy who was sitting at the restaurant tonight waiting for a takeout order with his mask on his chin. When my friend asked him to move back away so she could safely pick up her order, specially if he wasn't going to wear his mask properly, he laughed at her. But I think from her death stare he did move away.

I really wish we had not tolerated ignorance in trying to be "kind." They are not the same thing. Someone willfully endangers others due to their own issues (whether emotional, or prideful misinformation) really doesn't deserve to be treated "kindly."