Vaccine? Soon!

[poppyfields]

Here in the US, the buz is that several covid vaccines will be ready for release before the new year!  Clinical trials have been performed, and it's a go.

I have read there will be side effects for some, but it's only 2-5%, this is what I've read on CDC website and others.  

It's already been released in Europe?  Again, what I've been reading but I have learned to not trust US media. 

Beginning midnight tonight, CA is back to complete shut down in certain counties.  My county is one.  

Restaurants will only allow for take out, hair and beauty salons closed, movie theaters closed, curfew imposed, massive shut down once again, ugh.

Anyway, does anyone have any info on these vaccines being released?

Is there finally a light at the end of this extremely dark and ugly tunnel?   

 

[elaine567]

Vaccine has arrived in Scotland and first vaccinations to be carried out on Tuesday the 8th.
The first vaccinations will be given to priority groups ie care home residents and staff, the elderly and frontline health workers.
This is the Pfizer vaccine and it needs 2 doses.

[Ellener]

I'm in Texas, one of the states chosen for the US vaccine rollout...loads of retailers have been signed up to deliver the vaccinations and we are being told the second dose might make people feel a bit sick ( so take the day off ) also that it's important that the two doses must come from the same vaccine.

https://www.prevention.com/health/a34833921/coronavirus-covid-19-vaccine-side-effects/

 

 

[BC1980]

The hospitals in my area are getting vaccines in the next few weeks. I don't work in a hospital anymore, so I'm not sure when I'll be able to get the vaccine. 

[Ellener]

A colleague just contacted me asking me to do a contract for her, it's with seniors and people with autism, I will probably quaify to get vaccinated to work.

[Wiseman2]

Even if you or he or she or they get vaccinated, there will still be a pandemic going on for a while

We're all tired and weary and want hope and relief. The vaccine is that hope.

Unfortunately, it's not as simple as ok I got vaccinated because many people places and things will still be shut down.

It's surreal for sure. Almost what will this post apocalyptic world be like even when vaccinations have made enough of a dent.😕

[elaine567]

Our UK health minister today is saying the restrictions could be lifted by the end of March... SMH. Why do they always set themselves up to fail?
The time for that pronouncement is when  there are figures to back up that optimism, surely???
In reality not a single soul has been vaccinated yet and by the response on talk radio few young and old actually would take the vaccine at all, so I am not sure how that works?
Maybe the radio is skewed with anti vaxxers but all seem to be very worried about its safety as opposed to being anti vax in general.
The young feel they don't need it and won't get vaccinated for a long time anyway, even if they are happy to take it, and the old seem happy to take their chances with the virus as opposed to a "risky" vaccine.... Others are not taking it, as they refuse to be told what to do...
In order to achieve herd immunity and for us to actually get back to normal, then the vaccine take up needs to be at least 60% with some saying about 80-90% take up is necessary... If few take it then there will be virus cases, hospitalisations and deaths for years to come. Lock down after lockdown. 
I am just hoping that once many have had it with few side effects, then they may persuade others to take it.

[zouzd]

I have two questions about  what I red re the vaccine :

1) - if 44,000 got the 3 phases of the trial ; where 22,000 got a placeboo, then I red that 94 or so contracted the virus(out of the 44k) ; then it was declared that the vaccine is 95% effective .

I will assume that even it is 100% effective , and the the 94 cases or coming all from the 22k who didn't get the vaccine ; isn't weird that only 94 got covid-19  out of 22k  who got a placeboo?

how come ?

 

2)-It was also declared that those who get the vaccine could carry and trasport the virus while they will not have any symptom ! how that helps the 300 million to pass the pandemic ? who can guarantee fairness!

[Ellener]

1 hour ago, elaine567 said:

I am just hoping that once many have had it with few side effects, then they may persuade others to take it.

It's reported the Queen and Prince Philip will take it, and here several politicians have said they will do so on camera to encourage others.

I don't know if that will work! kudos to them for trying. But the bigger problem is likely the storage https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-54889084 -70 degrees. Going to need a lot of dry ice and special chillers.

That's the benefit of the Oxford vaccine, it can be kept in existing refrigiration units. And it's cheaper.

 

[elaine567]

They have fixed the storage problem. Ultra low freezers have been purchased and the vaccine will be stored at distribution centres.
The Oxford vaccine may not find it quite so easy to be approved due to some differing accounts (academics vs drug company) as to how the 90% effectiveness was achieved. I guess that is why the UK has forged ahead with the Pfizer vaccine instead of just waiting for the home grown one. 
https://in.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-astrazeneca-insigh/fortune-or-foresight-astrazeneca-and-oxfords-stories-clash-on-covid-19-vaccine-idINKBN28D2A3

[Happy Lemming]

"F.D.A. Clears Pfizer Vaccine, and Millions of Doses Will Be Shipped Right Away"

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/11/health/pfizer-vaccine-authorized.html

[Ellener]

Our big problem distributing the Covid vaccine will be coordinating it without a general health service.

On 12/6/2020 at 10:25 AM, elaine567 said:

They have fixed the storage problem.

Here there is no 'they'!

It's being shipped to hospitals which don't give access to all insurance plans, some of them don't take Medicare ( US senior health insurance ) If insurance doesn't cover it people are usually asked to pay, then if they have to go scrabbling around in their health insurance just to find a place to get it, it could be demotivating and confusing.

I was hoping a 'senior Covid vaccination team' would be established to go around to every nursing home etc and sign people up (or find out the level of dissension ) and make it easier on people and cheaper on the nation. 

 

[FMW]

I thought it was free?  Although I think that clinics/hospitals might be allowed to charge some kind of administrative fee.  

[Ellener]

1 hour ago, FMW said:

I thought it was free?  Although I think that clinics/hospitals might be allowed to charge some kind of administrative fee.  

You know what it means when it says free in the US, it's free asterisk-

*with insurance.

Even the insurance has many asterisks!

 

[introverted1]

The biggest problem with the vaccine is that there is no data on how long it is effective. The trial was 2 months.  It's possible the antibodies will only last 3 months.  No one knows.  Most hospitals in the US are not mandating the vaccine precisely because there is not enough known about efficacy, longevity and side effects.  Once all that becomes clear, hospitals will require staff to be vaccinated.  That's the first marker to look for, imo.

[QuietRiot]

19 hours ago, introverted1 said:

The biggest problem with the vaccine is that there is no data on how long it is effective. The trial was 2 months.  It's possible the antibodies will only last 3 months.  No one knows.  Most hospitals in the US are not mandating the vaccine precisely because there is not enough known about efficacy, longevity and side effects.  Once all that becomes clear, hospitals will require staff to be vaccinated.  That's the first marker to look for, imo.

Right, however, based on other types of Coronaviruses that exist (the non-Covid ones), if you draw a comparison there, immunity could last a few years. That was just a doctor's theory though. Some are basing their studies on already existing corona virus types.

[introverted1]

1 hour ago, QuietRiot said:

Right, however, based on other types of Coronaviruses that exist (the non-Covid ones), if you draw a comparison there, immunity could last a few years. That was just a doctor's theory though. Some are basing their studies on already existing corona virus types.

I hope so.  The data so far, based on antibody testing, is that covid antibodies produce a much shorter immunity. 

There is also the issue of side effects, with anaphylaxis being reported as the most serious one.  So far, only health care workers have been affected and since they are already in the hospital, they've been able to receive treatment in time.  But it's not clear how such a reaction could be handled on a population basis. The Pfizer vaccine is contraindicated in anyone who has had a reaction to another drug or allergy. Maybe the Moderna vaccine will be less problematic.

In any case, time will tell about all of this but, until then, I am not sure it makes sense to see a vaccine as a panacea.

[elaine567]

4 minutes ago, introverted1 said:

So far, only health care workers have been affected and since they are already in the hospital, they've been able to receive treatment in time. 

I heard both carried EpiPens normally, so were able to give themselves a shot as soon as they started feeling unwell

[introverted1]

3 minutes ago, elaine567 said:

I heard both carried EpiPens normally, so were able to give themselves a shot as soon as they started feeling unwell

Might be different people.  The one I just read about this morning was placed on an IV at the hospital where she works and she has been admitted.

As someone with an anaphylaxis-producing allergy, it makes me worried.

 

Edited December 18, 2020 by introverted1

[elaine567]

These were in the Uk last week. 
Severe allergy is seen as a contraindication to taking the vaccine in the UK now.

[elaine567]

Vaccines always cause some to have allergic reactions.
After the flu vaccine patients are usually asked to stick around for 5-10 minutes to exclude any problems
It is 15 minutes for the Coronavirus vaccine.

[QuietRiot]

52 minutes ago, introverted1 said:

I hope so.  The data so far, based on antibody testing, is that covid antibodies produce a much shorter immunity. 

There is also the issue of side effects, with anaphylaxis being reported as the most serious one.  So far, only health care workers have been affected and since they are already in the hospital, they've been able to receive treatment in time.  But it's not clear how such a reaction could be handled on a population basis. The Pfizer vaccine is contraindicated in anyone who has had a reaction to another drug or allergy. Maybe the Moderna vaccine will be less problematic.

In any case, time will tell about all of this but, until then, I am not sure it makes sense to see a vaccine as a panacea.

 

There's a video out with Fauci talking about those 2 cases that reacted to it, he does acknowledge they can happen, and if you're the type that's, well allergic to just about everything  (I have a friend that's like that) then to be mindful of that. 

Ever notice there's always that one person you know, that you ask, "HUH? You're allergic to what?!" In her case, it's potatoes (on top of peanuts and other stuff). Things that you never heard of that people can be allergic to

[QuietRiot]

45 minutes ago, elaine567 said:

Vaccines always cause some to have allergic reactions.
After the flu vaccine patients are usually asked to stick around for 5-10 minutes to exclude any problems
It is 15 minutes for the Coronavirus vaccine.

This is a handy hand-out given to people who have taken the vaccine:

It's on  the Pfizer-BioNTech websites...

https://www.cvdvaccine.com/

Go to the drop down where you're "not a health professional" and pick the country you're in, and you'll be guided to the hand out.

[BC1980]

49 minutes ago, elaine567 said:

Vaccines always cause some to have allergic reactions.
After the flu vaccine patients are usually asked to stick around for 5-10 minutes to exclude any problems
It is 15 minutes for the Coronavirus vaccine.

Yup, any vaccine can cause an anaphylactic reaction. So can a medication or anything really. We just don't ever think about it because it's so rare. My sister got Pizer the vaccine yesterday. She's a front line worker, so she was one of the first to get it at her hospital. 

[QuietRiot]

2 minutes ago, BC1980 said:

Yup, any vaccine can cause an anaphylactic reaction. So can a medication or anything really. We just don't ever think about it because it's so rare. My sister got Pizer the vaccine yesterday. She's a front line worker, so she was one of the first to get it at her hospital. 

I am curious, with all the social media posts of nurses, even your own friends in the medical community...pics of them getting the vaccine, would sway naysayers?