[marvin4242]

An interesting summary of why the Covid rates are starting to drop in case anyone is interested. As we start to come out of this the real tragedy is going to be the number of unnecessary deaths we (and some parts of the world) suffered simply because some people and some governments refused to accept reality and simply care more about the common good than their own.

COVID-19 Cases Are Dropping Fast. Why?
Four reasons: social distancing, seasonality, seroprevalence, and shots.

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/02/why-covid-19-cases-are-falling-so-fast/618041/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=atlantic-daily-newsletter&utm_content=20210217&silverid-ref=NjkzODAzNjU1MDI3S0

[readytofixmyselffirst]

Hello,

Very good article and it emphasizes some positive points. I think that if we can continue to be vigilant and wait until we hit a high percentage of people vaccinated, then we can mitigate the impact of this virus. It appears that we will have variants and need boosters for years to come, but it seems we may reach the point by fall that normal life as we know it shall return.

The only open variable is between March and May. If we let our guard down, we may be subjected to another surge that will once again overwhelm our health system again. So while we can celebrate our progress, we need to still follow CDC guidelines, encourage friends and family to get vaccinated when it is their turn, and be patient as we approach herd immunity.

Until then, I hope everyone is safe and well,

(((((Ready)))))

[marvin4242]

More good news and information from further studies. First it appears that the Pfizer vaccine is 85% effective after one shot in 15-28 days, which means a single dose offers most of the protection. This supports the idea of vaccinating more of the population faster with a single dose rather than holding back a second dose. This could really speed up the spread of vaccines to a larger population.

Second the Pfizer/Moderna vaccines (mRNA) can be stored for two weeks in stored at higher temperature for up to two weeks (below freezing, but at what is considered regular pharmaceutical storage freezers rather than specialized ones), making it easier for the storage/distribution chains.

Both of these may greatly speed up the rate of vaccinations in the general population.

Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine Is Highly Effective After One Dose and Can Be Stored in Normal Freezers, Data Shows

https://www.wsj.com/articles/single-dose-of-pfizer-vaccine-is-85-effective-israeli-study-shows-11613723218?mod=hp_lead_pos2

[xyzcf]

https://coronavirus.medium.com/do-you-really-need-two-vaccine-doses-if-you-already-had-covid-19-5a2df76bcbf7

[OldPilot]

https://coronavirus.medium.com/do-you-really-need-two-vaccine-doses-if-you-already-had-covid-19-5a2df76bcbf7

Good article and then the next question will be what happens next year?
With follow on vaccinations of all people that already either had the first vaccines or the virus.

[xyzcf]

the next question will be what happens next year?

I just watched President Biden's visit to Pfizer's plant.  He outlined the many things that have an impact on the distribution of the vaccine and how things like the latest bad weather can affect the delivery of the vaccine.

A reporter immediately asked him when we would be able to get back to being normal.

Instead of stating an actual date, he clearly and transparently answered that there is no way to state for sure.

New information today is that Pfizer's vaccine may not need to be kept at minus 70. Some researchers are asking if giving one vaccine instead of two would give some immunity to many more people.

Scientists are already working on changing the vaccine if need be to cover the variants. They are collecting data to determine how long immunity will last.

It may be that we will need to be vaccinated regularly as right now, the belief is that COVID is not going to be eradicated from our planet anytime soon if ever.

What we know, is that even though some businesses are opened, doesn't mean that those activities are "safe". So travel, eating indoors in a restaurant, going to the gym, getting together with others who you don't live with...just because these are "allowed" doesn't mean that they truly are safe.

My point.

It's not possible to "predict" what will happen next year regarding this virus and the vaccine. People want "answers" and some of that is normal curiosity but it's also not possible as the scientific research continues to accumulate and evaluate data. Science is looking at many, many facets of the virus, it's treatment, it's mutations and how effective the vaccine is. We really need to follow the guidelines from the CDC, get vaccinated if you are able to and do everything we can to prevent the spread going forward.

The data is going to change, sometimes day by day. That is the only thing that you can say for sure.

[Mitzpah]

I read the article, it interested me because I have already had covid, so I imagine that one shot could be enough for me.

My mum, who is 81 and practically confined to her house, is "hopping mad" because the vaccines stopped one day before her date for lack of vaccines. Here in Rio, they have stocked the booster dose for those who have had the first shot. So, we are waiting for a new shipment of the vaccines to restart the program. It has been promised for next week.

So, perhaps, if they can control the logistics, they could release the stock of vaccines they have held back...

At the same time, I have great confidence in the capacity of this country (Brazil) to produce the vaccines in due time. We have vaccinated almost 3% of an enormous population with all the difficulties that a third world country with a (currently) very inept government faces.

We have just been warned that here in Rio we have strains of the Manaus (Amazon)variety and UK too!

Mask up, wash hands and social distance, my dear friends!

Long Covid is a thing - I still have difficulty in taste/smell and the fatigue is, well, tiring...

[marvin4242]

https://coronavirus.medium.com/do-you-really-need-two-vaccine-doses-if-you-already-had-covid-19-5a2df76bcbf7

Good article and then the next question will be what happens next year?
With follow on vaccinations of all people that already either had the first vaccines or the virus.

There are two factors: first when everyone is vaccinated now we have a “base” level of protection against this novel virus. So now it becomes kind of like seasonal flu. We may start making “boosters” based on variants that pop up that are not covered by the current vaccine, and this may be annual or as needed (less common). Good part is with the data available a new booster won’t take as long, as it won’t have to go through safety, only efficacy, tests.

And keep in mind as more and more people are vaccinated the virus has a smaller and smaller pool in which to propagate and mutate, reducing odds of new variants.

[stillbaffled]

https://coronavirus.medium.com/do-you-really-need-two-vaccine-doses-if-you-already-had-covid-19-5a2df76bcbf7

Thanks for posting, XYZ. 

One shot could very well be enough for me. 

[xyzcf]

https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/getting-covid-vaccine-brought-me-relief-it-doesn-t-mean-ncna1258646