Apocalyptic Virus Or Not?

[Fallon]

Originally Posted by alexora

She was 'responsible for the clinical trials' (of course she would have been, since it was her company), but did not create that vaccine.

Jesus Lord.

The development of this first mRNA based vaccine in such a fast time was only possible due to her groundbreaking basic research with mRNA technology she did for two decades. Neither you nor me were in the labs, but it's more than obvious that she plays a major role the development of this vaccine.

But since you seem to know everything and even the opposite and are unable to admit you were wrong, even when it's as blatant as it is here, i'm going to end this discussion with you. Good night.

[HiTrack99]

At the end of the day, it's silly and a bit demeaning to Sarah really.

[SynchroDub]

Originally Posted by HiTrack99

In the UK they have dropped all mandates for masks and social distancing, it is up to "personal preference" now.

It was the same, here in Italy as well, up till a couple of weeks ago.

Originally Posted by RedMage

Yesterday I got my hair cut and while they continued practicing social distancing there was no policy posted on the entrance. When I asked I was informed masks are optional and I wore mine as much as I could and the lady cutting my hair also wore one even though I didn't ask her to.

Received an e-mail confirmation for my eye appointment for today and they're still taking every precaution.

One of my family members sent me a text that because of the Delta Variant they're wearing masks in stores again.

It feels like we're going backwards instead of forwards in seeing the end to the pandemic.

The European agency has already advised the use of masks as well social distancing, EVEN for people who are vaccinated.
And the WHO is also evaluating the possibility of a 3rd dose.

Meanwhile, I heard there are 2 more other potent variants than the Delta one, which may or may not arrive in our countries (we'll have to wait for Autumn/Winter and see). One is the Lambda

http://infectioncontroltoday.com/view/lambda-variant-of-covid-19-might-be-resistant-to-vaccines

And the other one has elements of the MERS-CoV virus, which is the most fatal one.

I'm getting my first shot next Tuesday. Then I will evaluate if I will do a 3rd dose (aka booster) or not.
It was already a pain in the ass filling documents for the vaccine, getting a certificate from my GP doctor, etc.
Don't want to go through all of that, again.

Originally Posted by HiTrack99

Masks are mandatory in hospitals in the UK.

They're becoming mandatory here in Italy, as well, even if you're vaccinated.
Yep, that sucks.

Just dropping in to see if y'all are still scared shitless?!?

seems to be the case, enjoy.

Originally Posted by Fallon

.. BioNTech, the company which developed the most successful Covid vaccine.

Just curious, by what metric is it the most successful?

[mental]

Let's see...

We are having to wear masks again.

There is talk of further restrictions and rumors of a second round of shutdowns/lockdowns.

People are dying in large numbers again.

They say the lambda variant from Peru is in my country now, and like the delta variant lab studies show it has mutations that resist vaccine-induced antibodies.

There's also another variant from Colombia in my country now, Mostly in Florida so far, the B.1.621 variant, they have not given it a Greek-letter designation yet, another variant that carries several key mutations that have been linked with increased transmissibility and reduced immune protection.

Every time someone new gets infected, the virus gets a chance to mutate into something worse and because of that the next variant after delta is due to pop up any day now.

Now they are saying that the current vaccines block severe disease but do not prevent infection and we will likely require a new generation of vaccines that also block transmission.

And on top of all that they say the vaccine begins to wear off starting about 6 months after the second shot and I was vaccinated 6 months ago, so what protection I had is getting weaker.

They say we may need a third booster shot in the fall, If so i will be first in line, I did not go through all this crap for the past year and a half to die now.

Yep, I'm still worried.

[chokes999]

Originally Posted by BrewerJ

Just dropping in to see if y'all are still scared shitless?!?

seems to be the case, enjoy.

Nope, no problems, everything is just going along swimmingly:-

911 LONE STAR: APPEAL FOR OUT OF STATE COVID HELP
AUSTIN WARNS 'CATASTROPHE'
Arkansas reports new record for hospitalizations...
Schools go against DeSantis, require masks... State Races to Find Open Beds...
Delta vanquishes all rivals...
World 'nowhere near end of pandemic'...
White House grapples with resurgence...
Pediatrician warns: 'Not your grandfather's Covid'...
Church reeling after six members die in 10 days...
Vaccine enthusiasts getting EXTRA shots without FDA approval...
Status Has Americans Picking Sides...
Pentagon to require for all troops by Sept. 15...
NFL tensions rise over rules...
Pharmaceutical firms rake in billions...

Tried to get my 2nd shot of AZ brought forward from 01 Sept but they said no.

[HiTrack99]

What gets me is they want to re-introduce US visitors, when we know well that there's problems over there - we can't have a new variant we're just managing with Delta.

[SynchroDub]

Originally Posted by mental

They say we may need a third booster shot in the fall, If so i will be first in line, I did not go through all this crap for the past year and a half to die now.

Yep, I'm still worried.

The third shot is something even Italy and other EU countries are taking into consideration, as well.
But only for people in their late 60s, or people that have serious ailments or a weaker immune system.
Whether they will also extend this to people in their late 30s-early 40s, is still unknown.
Guess, like always, we should just wait and see.

I got my first shot of the Pfizer, this morning.
I don't really feel anything out of the ordinary, tbh.
Just a minor headache and that's about it.
Didn't even felt any pain when the doctor gave me the shot. Nothing at all.
All good.

[Reclaimed08]

@SynchroDub: What you said about a post-apocalyptic world was eerily prophetic. In my Midwestern State instead of the State issuing guidelines and mandates it's now individual cities and one of those just did and the term is indefinite until the City Council votes to rescind it.

Also for my eye appointment just like the place where I got my haircut masks were optional, there was no temperature check, no social distancing and I wore my mask as much as I could to complete my appointment.

I'm not surprised that businesses have taken the 'optional' stance even as the pandemic worsens in other places of the country people have been beaten or shot for being asked to wear masks and my guess is they want to avoid that.

Today I attended a physical appointment, my clinic sent the paperwork ahead of the appointment and they continued to have their mask mandate, social distancing and sanitation practices in effect. I did share with my doctor my suspicion of having contracted COVID and it's long-term affects; he was sympathetic and agreed with the timing and that the antibody test I took could've produced a false-negative though he also conceded that not a lot is still known about the virus or it's long-term affects so couldn't say that I was in fact a 'long-hauler.' He was supportive of my efforts to reverse the affects (or something else that could be happening) by making lifestyle choices.

@Mental: I'm with you in being first in line to get a booster shot if one becomes available because coming so far just to die now would suck great big donkey dick.