Coronavirus in the United States - news and thoughts

Meanwhile, we are currently seeing the highest level of pediatric COVID hospitalizations ever in the US. More than 760 kids a day, and almost all unvaccinated.

And if long haul COVID isn't a thing at all, maybe you should tell the 44 hospitals and medical groups that have opened long haul COVID centers. I'm sure all their combined knowledge and years of expertise can't compare to a few posters on GC!

Meanwhile, here's more information about the efficacy of the vaccine from the NY Times. The NYT looked at recent infections, hospitalizations, and deaths from both New York City and Seattle, and while the vaccine is losing efficacy to fight against infection, and only offers now moderate protection, the data clearly shows how well the vaccine is doing against both hospitalization and death. Here's hospitalizations:



@gator95, I've been saying the argument about which is better, NI or vaccine immunity is moot now for months. Better to figure out the conditions and variables that show vaccine is better in some circumstances, and why in others, NI seems to work better. Is it variant? Time between infection/vaccination and study? Vaccine, as there are several on the market? Combination of things or another variable?

Arguing which is better is moot, especially when it comes to getting the vaccine. Everyone should get it, even if you have had a prior infection. All data has pointed to the best protection is the super immunity, which happens after a breakthrough case or when a previous infected person gets a vaccine, is the strongest out there. And current data is showing both NI and vaccine to have similar effects against Omicron. Less protection against infection, but any type of immunity seems to work well against serious complications.

 

Too funny. I'll take Revisionist History for $1,000 Alex.

 

Wow, good info, thanks. we’re seeing expected impact from holidays. Hopefully it peaks and fades quickly.

 

Jackson Health System tweet stats from today:

517 patients tested positive for COVID
243 of the 517 are admitted primarily for non-COVID reasons-a bit less than half--so 274 admitted for COVID.

Here's what drives me crazy

Of the 517, 112 are unvaccinated of whom 49 are immunocompromised transplant patients.

So those 49--those aren't vax deniers--that's a medical reason for not getting vaccinated.

So 63 of the 517 are unvaccinated-some still could be medical reasons, but even if you assume anit-vaxxers that's nowhere close to 90%.

It's possible those 63 are all part of the 274 admitted for COVID reasons-but unlikely-and that's still only 23% of your COVID patients being unvaxxed. That's probably right around or maybe lower than the community vaccination rate. But why not tell us the breakdown of in with COVID and vax v. unvaxxed. Even if you they are hiding nothing by reporting the numbers in this way, it just looks bad.

For instance if it turns out of those 63, half are admitted for non-Covid, then you've got 32 out of 274 unvaxxed in for COVID. Suddenly 12% of your COVID patients are unvaxxed by choice (for sake of argument). That doesn't make the vaccines look too good. You can't count the immunocompromised folks--maybe they are all anit-vaxxers, but one would have to assume the vast majority is getting medical advice not to get vaxxed.

 

I think what you are saying is more true about antibodies vs Tcells

T Cells Might Be Our Bodies’ Best Shot Against Omicron

But infection doesn’t always guarantee serious disease. And neutralizing antibodies are not the only defense that the immune system can muster. Immune responses are layered and redundant; where one squadron falters, another can swoop in to help. Killer Ts represent one such layer, and their violent modus operandi comes with serious perks: They home in on different aspects of the virus than antibodies do, and they are much harder to stump with mutations.


What We Actually Know About Waning Immunity

Populations of memory T cells, too, can hide out for many months or years in tissues, waiting to strike again. Although antibodies are very picky about what they attack, making them easy to stump with viral mutations, T cells are more flexible fighters that are great at recognizing variants.

Impact of SARS-CoV-2 variants on the total CD4+ and CD8+ T cell reactivity in infected or vaccinated individuals

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.08.23.457229v1

Moreover, the percent of variant cross-binding memory B cells was higher in vaccinees than individuals who recovered from mild COVID-19.

 

Then there is this guy. The CEO of Pfizer :



[01:35] “We know the two-dose vaccine offers very limited protection, if any. The three doses with a booster, offers reasonable protection against hospitalization and death.”

Then you have the interviewer say "we have so many parents waiting for the under 5 vaccine." WTF is wrong with these people. Did your hear the man earlier. This admission from the CEO of Pfizer should end all the COVID-19 rules, regulations and vaccination passport efforts.

Not done yet. To top if off CDC Director Rochelle Walensky made the admission, on a CBS morning broadcast, that 75% of those who are classified as dying from COVID had at least four underlying pre-conditions: “Over 75 percent had at least four comorbidities, so really these are people who were unwell to begin with.” Not 1, not 2, not 3 but 4. But we want you to get an emergency drug that the drug companies are immune to injury claims.

 

What I would like to see the comparison between covid patients being admitted to hospitals and those with the flu. If they’re about the same then is covid hospitalizations even newsworthy?

 

Walensky's interview was cut, and the four comorbidities statement refers to vaccinated people who die from COVID. Not unvaccinated. From the NY Times article, here's deaths in Seattle and NYC, comparing vaccinated and unvaccinated:



Now it's true that a portion of the unvaccinated deaths are from people who are immunocompromised and can't take the vaccine. But if you want to lower your odds of ending up in the hospital or dying from COVID, the best thing you can do is get vaccinated.

 

What makes you think they are comparable? Deaths have increased to about 1700 per day and are climbing. That is almost 12,000 in a week, which may be comparable to a very light flu season, for an entire year.

 

Truly fascinating how many can’t see reality.

Here we are having the ussc discuss whether the president can mandate people take two shots for a drug that does not work per the ceo of the drug maker.

Don’t worry though. They will have a omicron booster ready once it has run its course for this crowd.

 

Still lifting lies out of context to make political point about people's heath decisions. How disgusting.

 

Believe what you wish. The data is there. The ceo of Pfizer has said it. This is not hard…

Booster up if you want. I suggest you wait until omicron is on the decline and the they have a big tv push for the new omicron version.

 

Horse dewormer or monkey juice infusions. Such a choice!

 

How smoke and mirrors work in high places ...

 

The truly grotesque part of that interview was vaccinating children under the age of 5 with an emergency medicine that they do not need. Sickos.

 

No doubt!!!

Put new drugs in kids for a disease that is of little risk to them. And shut down their development and growth.

Some on here are all for it. I just do not get it.

 

So what he said was that 2 doses offer limited, if any, protection from getting Omicron. A booster offers more protection. We already knew this. Omicron is infecting vast numbers of people, whether they've been vaccinated or previously had a different covid variant. So what's the issue with what he said?

 

Maybe it's because the COVID hospitalization rate for kids under 5 has risen the last few weeks to record levels? This corresponds with a record number of pediatric COVID hospitalizations, with the overwhelming majority of the kids being unvaccinated. I don't know about you, but I like to keep my kids out of the hospital. It's why I make sure they wear a seat belt every time they get in a car. Won't prevent getting into an accident, but if we do, better chance of surviving and walking away.

And to anyone who says the vaccine isn't working, how to reconcile the hospitalization and death numbers comparing unvaccinated with the vaccinated? The vaccine doesn't protect as well against Omicron infection, but what does better at keeping people out of the hospital or worse than the vaccine? Drinking your own urine? Shoving UV lights up your behind? Horse paste? Drinking bleach?

 

X-Ray of Long Covid ...

 

Study Finds Two Pfizer Vaccine Doses Offer Less Protection Against Omicron Than Against Delta

This study showed 2 pfizer doses gave 70% hospitalization protection against Omicron. That's less than against Delta but still significant.