Coronavirus in the United States - news and thoughts

Santa better damn well be triple vaxxed or Christmas is off!

 

The two-dose protocol came from what was learned in clinical trials. Data on the initial dosage showed a weaker than expected immune system response (not "nothing") but the second dose vastly improved the response. As we now know from further data, there is some waning of the protection, so a third *booster* is functionally serving the same purpose as a second dose. I can understand why it might appear not to make sense at first glance, but to me the second and third doses are logical, evidence-based responses to what the data show.

 

I would suggest that all unvaxxed who could have been vaxxed but did not, and who subsequently died were not healthy skeptics to begin with, and the still alive ones are increasingly less so as time as gone on and they remain skeptical...that is until they get sick and die.

The real travesty in all this is still the absurd misinformation and disinformation campaign, mainly from the right but some from the left (think RFK Jr.). People have lost their minds over vaccines, with many clinging to unproven treatments or that "god" will save them. No shortage of others influencing this really bad, no good, suicidal thinking. And if that sounds harsh, so be it. A lot of foolish Americans.

 

It is a valid point that will hit a wall at some point. I got the two, but had not jumped on the booster yet.
Maybe a better more potent vax will show up.

 

Speaking for myself, I get a flu vaccine every year and wouldn't have an issue with a once a year covid shot but when all of a sudden we need multiples with no end in sight...

 

Until they find a vax that targets a robust tcell/bcell response with the antibodies...

we will be dealing with many cases regardless of vaccination status. Like the flu. This is headed endemic. Hopefully the variants become less severe. That is what the data shows at this point.

Everyone should begin to focus on lifestyle changes if they are unhealthy as the number one way to fight Covid. That does not mean people should not take vaccines or new drugs. It means that is the way to provide someone with the best outcome if they unfortunately get Covid. The drugs we have created along the way will absolutely help.

The public health officials have been an abject disaster on this. The trust that has been destroyed is going to be extremely damaging. Really is unfortunate.

 

I fear we are going to see far fewer vaccines being taken because of the way our idiot public health officials handled this. Not just the flu vaccine either. I personally do not get the flu shot. My parents get the flu shot but they are still unvaccinated for Covid. Granted they got Covid late July early August of 2020. Still have antibodies. Had they not gotten Covid they probably would have gotten the shot. Though the way it has played out I think they would have had buyers remorse if went that way. They were going to get it anyways for travel purposes. But then the data and ignoring of natural immunity as they continue to give blook for antibodies (mom can't for some weird reason of having another anitbody present but she still has the Covid antibodies) has ended their trust in these new drugs.

I am far more concerned for my in-laws who are vaccinated compared to my parents based on the data when it comes to getting Covid and having a bad outcome.

That said none of us are going to miss creating memories with family and the kids/grandkids over this. Diseases are part of life. They are terrible. I really feel for the people who live in complete fear now because of this and have allowed it affect their time with family and friends.

 

Anyone with a functioning brain was pretty sure this was going to be a virus we just have to live with like any other. Data supports this, symptoms and risk by demographics fits this, as does the fact that it is becoming less severe (a virus doesn't have the end goal of killing, and definitely not quickly).

The real problem over the last 2 years has been governments shutting down economies and treating this like it is the black death when the best reaction would have been business as usual combined with a big positive campaign for masks, vaccines and the like. As anyone who has dealt with people in real life knows a bit of encouragement goes a hell of a lot farther than punitive punishments. They've shifted the goal posts from deaths to hospital beds taken and now to cases (we going to shut down for common cold cases next? flu cases?) and it's time to realize this isn't working.

I saw an article that governments are now trying to blame inflation on covid rather than poorly thought out monetary policy and self imposed economic sanctions. They've turned an average virus into some big boogeyman. It has become similar to Trump's big lie of election fraud, but instead it is a big lie that this is even remotely dangerous to the vast, vast majority of the population. It isn't and never has been. Gonna be real fun when a virus that is actually a threat shows up and people remember the great covid scam.

FWIW I did the double dose vaccine thing but I'll be damned if I'm getting a third shot of something that doesn't work. I'm healthy and 35, would rather get a mild sickness for 2 weeks than die of myocarditis or risk some unknown side effect years later. No thanks.

 

The vaccine hasn't even come close to working like they originally thought, they continue to keep moving the goal post. When you guys are on your 10th booster, I'll still be protected by my natural immunity

 

Well said! We botched this thing big time. It should have been push the drugs hard for those who are high risk. Keep the low risk groups in studies as the thing evolves. With that there should have been a much bigger emphasis on therapeutics. Now we have the largest uncontrolled group ever thrown in with therapeutics as they need them as well for drugs that are a new technology and linear focused.

The good news is...if you are healthy. There is very little to worry about.

Just wish our public health officials would say it!

 

The sad reality is these drugs really are good for many. But instead of creating a smart implementation strategy...take them. Take the booster. Do not question anything. Healthy and low risk...you have covid until you take the drug and cannot safely do anything (that is the messaging though not what they say).

So much damage has been done by these public health idiots!

 

If this is an average virus, why did you bother with the vaccination?

 

Yep, should be like the flu shot, highly suggested for people who are elderly and/or poor health, available for others. If you want to make people feel good about taking the shot be my guest. It's a virus that is almost completely harmless, time to treat it like that.

 

Completely disagree. We narrowly escaped overwhelming our healthcare system both locally and at times statewide. The limited shutdowns, the hygiene theater and the rushing out of vaccines were all justified in the light of trying to protect our hospitals and healthcare workers. In retrospect, some of it now seems obsurd. Other parts of the strategy were both prudent and timely. The problem is that we have not continued to evolve our response to the on-going pandemic as the virus has evolved. In part due to gross ignorance in the public, in part due to gross ignorance by public health officials. At this point, picking a side to blame is a waste of time and effort and prolongs the negative impacts of the pandemic.

 

Over 800K Americans say: "thanks, thinking of you as well" SMH.

 

People die. It's sad. The average age of death from covid in California (measured from the beginning to September 2021), for example, was 73. This is trending a bit downwards but is still only about 8 years short of life expectancy (ie... when you're expected to die anyway).

Seems to me that the smart thing would be to, again, do what we already do with the flu shot - push it heavily on the elderly and unhealthy and greatly encourage it for others. 51.8% of people 6 months and older got the flu shot this year, without threat of losing their job or being arrested in a restaurant.

I'm sorry but you're not going to get my support for telling me and my very healthy family that we can't go to a concert or publix without 3 shots for a virus that isn't dangerous to us or anyone we come into contact with regularly - and if it is dangerous for you stay the hell home if you want.

 

Trump reveals he got COVID-19 booster shot; crowd boos him

 

I agree with your point about picking a side. We disagree on how it played out. From the beginning this thing has ravaged the elderly/obese/immune compromised. Nothing has changed. Sadly some who do not fall into those categories ended up with bad outcomes. But there was no reason for the overreaction.
Through this whole thing there is one visual of the system being overwhelmed. New York and the ship. Which at the end of the day was not even needed when you look back. And just think if their Governor did not send nursing home patients back…

It was not pretty in Florida this summer. But we made it through without destroying peoples livliehood. Without setting kids back in school again. It stinks what we are dealing with. But this thing has been botched. Ever single one of these public health officials should be fired yesterday who continue to push the vaccine only narrative. They are tunnel visioned and have done irreconcilable harm.

 

Sorry but any comparison made vs flu is bovine excrement. You're saying 39K annual deaths from flu is the same as Covid deaths? Just stop. As far as the heinous ask that you get a vax to save others that aren't as healthy, or as young as you just to save those others from dying 8 years early.... well that tells us about priorities I suppose.

 

Well if you see Fauci with coal in his stockings, you’ll know the answer