The Vaccine Discussion Thread

[Intr3pid]

Some grim news on the vaccine front:

1. The UK variant has now apparently mutated further to include the problematic spike protein (E484K) found in the South Africa and Brazilian variants. Looks like the high number of cases are providing a test bed for the virus to eventually bring out its alpha variant everywhere. High chance that the UK variant circulating in the US could also mutate to a similar effect.

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/03/uk-targets-spread-of-south-africa-variant.html
2. Vaxart, looking into an oral vaccine (in tablet form), provided mixed results today. While the single dose did destroy 75% of the virus cells, it didn't leave behind enough antibodies to prevent future infections. I think it's looking more like a treatment than a vaccine. Let's see how the double dose fares.

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/03/cov...s-its-oral-vaccine-got-promising-results.html

 

[AZMermaid]

Got Pfizer #2 yesterday. Felt pretty much fine besides a very sore arm (much more than #1) until right about the 24 hour mark. Now I’m achey, slight headache and have a 101 fever. It’s not horrible, but not comfortable for sure.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Two US-Based River Cruise Lines to Require COVID-19 Vaccination (cruiseradio.net)

 

[nycdisneygal]

2nd dose (Moderna) was delayed a couple days. Had fever for a few days. This is 3rd day since dose. Hopefully wont have fever now. Thought yesterday I had no fever until dinner time. Friday at work was miserable. I was sweating so much under procedure gown I ended up having to put ice packs down my shirt. lol

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

2nd dose (Moderna) was delayed a couple days. Had fever for a few days. This is 3rd day since dose. Hopefully wont have fever now. Thought yesterday I had no fever until dinner time. Friday at work was miserable. I was sweating so much under procedure gown I ended up having to put ice packs down my shirt. lol

Sorry to say but once you start getting hot flashes, you will use ice packs even with no vaccine or procedure gown.

 

[Intr3pid]

Research has started to come out about the 'long haulers' - those who get infected and shake off the virus but never truly recover from the symptoms.
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/09/lon...young-people-texas-childrens-doctor-says.html
Highlights:
* About 20% of all COVID-19 patients become long haulers.
* Subsequent symptoms include serious fatigue, shortness of breath, digestive issues, 'brain fog' and a racing heart.
* Research unclear yet whether the symptoms linger for a few months or for the rest of the patient's life.
* 'Brain fog' - which sounds to me a bit like fibromyalgia - is particularly serious since that may prevent people from returning fully to work.
* Type 1 diabetes is also possible - though it's not clear why.

I think vaccination now becomes super important. We have been focusing on the death rates/CFRs, but we really have to expand the definition of the direct physical cost of these infections. Severe symptoms correlate strongly with the long hauls, and most of the vaccines can prevent severity even if they can't an infection.

 

[mevelandry]

Research has started to come out about the 'long haulers' - those who get infected and shake off the virus but never truly recover from the symptoms.
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/09/lon...young-people-texas-childrens-doctor-says.html
Highlights:
* About 20% of all COVID-19 patients become long haulers.
* Subsequent symptoms include serious fatigue, shortness of breath, digestive issues, 'brain fog' and a racing heart.
* Research unclear yet whether the symptoms linger for a few months or for the rest of the patient's life.
* 'Brain fog' - which sounds to me a bit like fibromyalgia - is particularly serious since that may prevent people from returning fully to work.
* Type 1 diabetes is also possible - though it's not clear why.

I think vaccination now becomes super important. We have been focusing on the death rates/CFRs, but we really have to expand the definition of the direct physical cost of these infections. Severe symptoms correlate strongly with the long hauls, and most of the vaccines can prevent severity even if they can't an infection.

This is what has always scared me about COVID, since the beginning... The people who suffer from strokes/heart attacks, long haulers. 20% is a lot of people.

 

[BadPinkTink]

This is what has always scared me about COVID, since the beginning... The people who suffer from strokes/heart attacks, long haulers. 20% is a lot of people.

This is what has scared me too. It drives me batty when people say oh but this percentage of people who get it dont even go to hospital, so I'm not afraid of catching it and don't agree with restrictions and I wont wear a mask and I just live my life , if I get it so what.

Well THIS is why you should worry, because the long haulers thought it was no big deal at first but months later they still have lingering effects.

 

[karen4546]

2nd dose of Moderna yesterday. Very sore arm and body aches this morning.

 

[ChicosWife]

Current situation in California, for those who are regular civilians, doses are only being given to those 70 and older. It's going to be a long wait for my family, it seems.

 

[brentm77]

It's the Daily Mail, so take it for what it is worth, but it is an interview with an expert (Professor Andrew Pollard, who is running the studies of the Oxford vaccine) and is still interesting to me on the positive news front. It's not really new information if you have been paying attention, but reiterates there is hope, even with the variants.

Although they might be less able to prevent transmission, current vaccines were still protecting people from hospitalisation even with mutated viruses, he said. Professor Pollard told MPs new jabs may not be needed if current ones stop severe disease.

His comments came after an alarming study over the weekend claimed Oxford's jab was not protecting young people from mild to moderate Covid infections in South Africa.

The variant, which has been detected almost 150 times in the UK, has mutated in a way that allows it to partially slip past both vaccine-triggered and natural immunity.

And there are fears the virus will keep mutating in this way as more people become immune, eventually rendering the vaccines less and less effective.

Professor Pollard told the All-Party Parliamentary Group on coronavirus: 'The most likely thing is that new versions of this virus will continue to be made to allow it to better transmit in the population. The question is does that matter?

'Are vaccines still going to be good enough to stop people going into hospital or dying? Because actually, if people have just got the sniffles I think our job is done.'

....

On BBC's Today programme this morning he had said the evolution of the virus and its impact on the vaccine was 'exactly what we would have expected'.

He hinted that Oxford's own trials in South Africa had shown the vaccine is effective at preventing hospitalisations and deaths.

Professor Pollard said: 'The really important point though is that all vaccines, everywhere in the world where they've been tested, are still preventing severe disease and death.

'And I think that is perhaps the clue to the future here, that we are going to see new variants arise and they will spread in the population, like most of the viruses that cause colds every winter.

'But, as long as we have enough immunity to prevent severe disease, hospitalisations and death, then we're going to be fine in the future in the pandemic.'

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...ad-scientist-Oxford-Covid-jab-trial-says.html

 

[brentm77]

Forgive me, but another positive article (even if from The Sun - I swear I don't read British tabloids all day):

"Covid vaccine offers two-thirds protection in just ONE jab and will lead to lockdown escape"

"Findings — due out in days — will show the Pfizer vaccine starts to work in as little as two weeks and is equally effective in OAPs as younger adults.
The Oxford/AstraZeneca jab offers similar protection."

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/14000732/covid-vaccine-protection-just-one-jab/

 

[DCLMP]

This is what has always scared me about COVID, since the beginning... The people who suffer from strokes/heart attacks, long haulers. 20% is a lot of people.

How could we possibly know the affects of a virus that's only been around a year and how would we know the other issues are related to Covid. It seems like more fear mongering to me.

 

[n2mm]

Due for #2 tomorrow, but stinking snowstorm is on the horizon tonight here in WV. Stressing me out. I just want to get my#2. Fingers crossed!

 

[Katiebird]

Current situation in California, for those who are regular civilians, doses are only being given to those 70 and older. It's going to be a long wait for my family, it seems.

California seems to be all over the place. In San Diego we're been at 65+ for about 3 weeks and seem to be close to opening up to 1b (teachers, law enforcement, and food services I think).

Hopefully production continues to ramp up.

 

[oakleycat]

California seems to be all over the place. In San Diego we're been at 65+ for about 3 weeks and seem to be close to opening up to 1b (teachers, law enforcement, and food services I think).

Hopefully production continues to ramp up.

Here in Riverside County we've been in 1B for a couple weeks. My first responder husband (got his in LA County) and teacher friends are all due for shot #2 next week. I'm sure it will still be months before they get to people like me who don't meet any of the special categories.

 

[tidefan]

California seems to be all over the place. In San Diego we're been at 65+ for about 3 weeks and seem to be close to opening up to 1b (teachers, law enforcement, and food services I think).

Hopefully production continues to ramp up.

In Alabama, we are open to 1b, which is 65+, education staff, grocery workers, postal employees, food workers, and the judiciary. If you look at the national numbers, we look like we are close to last, but they've been running on the news that that reporting is not so much a vaccine getting out issue as it is a Alabama Dept of Public Health reporting issue (they only report once per week), so we look behind. We opened 8 mass vaccination sites (in addition to the sites that were already running) across the state on Monday and expect numbers of vaccinations to be very high this week.

ETA: Our local hospital, DCH, is one of those sites and took this past weekend to vaccinate a majority of the entire city and county school system (and some surrounding counties). They did almost 1,800 education staff alone on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, so maybe supply is getting better...

https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/hundreds-of-tuscaloosa-teachers-receive-pfizer-vaccine/

 

[brentm77]

Utah's governor is reporting Utah will have enough vaccine for everyone who wants it by April or May. That is ahead of the original schedule of June or July. It is pretty impressive if true.

 

[Joe Brig]

How could we possibly know the affects of a virus that's only been around a year and how would we know the other issues are related to Covid. It seems like more fear mongering to me.

It's an obvious attempt at scaring people into getting the vaccine. Any death or allergic reaction from the vaccine is explained away. Any COVID case is amplified. It's hard to determine the truth today.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

How could we possibly know the affects of a virus that's only been around a year and how would we know the other issues are related to Covid. It seems like more fear mongering to me.

I understand you're going to believe what you want to believe, but I think it is more than a bit distressing to get sick and months later have lingering effects. I personally was out of work for 3 months from the Epstein-Barr virus. It affected the joints of my feet and ankles so badly I could barely walk, besides the weird rash all over my body. After about a month the joint pain finally got better but then the fatigue and brain fog kicked in which was awful. Just taking my son to the oral surgeon for a consult was enough to "overdo it" and the effect would hit me the next day: I could barely sit upright at the dinner table. This would keep happening every time I'd try to do something more than just lay around all day. The brain fog was so bad I struggled just to do simple banking online. Just transfer $ from savings to checking, then log into my cc bank and pay the bill from checking account was so difficult to follow along with what I was doing. It sounds crazy now trying to explain it and I know I probably would not even believe someone else if I didn't experience it for myself.
My rheumatologist signed me out of work for 1 year of disability but I knew my employer (same hospital as my rheumatologist works) would only hold my job for 3 months so I had to return and at least try to make it through a day. Our employee health dept suggested I return part time and gradually build my strength up endure a full day. It's not a desk job; we are constantly standing, lifting, walking, bending, twisting, etc with rarely even time to pee. It took about 6 weeks to gradually get back to working FT and even then I made no other plans except to get through work and rest at home.

I have a coworker in her late 20s who had covid last March and still has headaches and fatigue.
Also my BFF's adult son, mid-30s, is still very fatigued from having covid in November. He struggles to get through a full day of work and still be a father to 2 young children after work. What is still unknown is how long this will last and if there is long-lasting effects to other organs such as heart and lungs.

I have read that some covid survivors end up with pulmonary fibrosis which is a scarring of the lungs. That is a brutal disease to have; my mother died from it. I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

So, have you ever gotten sick and stayed sick for "only a year"?