Coronavirus 4

[clueliss]

There's a mass vaccine site - but no vaccine.

 

[Coconut Flan]

The administration has to get this totally not monitored supply chain organized and running properly.  I hope it doesn't take very long. 

[Coconut Flan]

Somewhat preaching to the choir, but I'm a mask pusher!

https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/coronavirus-two-masks-double-masking-health-experts-covid-19-strain-variant-st-lukes-hospital-doctor/277-fc57aee2-f9c6-414b-a5f2-3d0f054e0002

Double masking is a good thing.

[PreciousPantsofDoom]

As of last week, they finally put out the time line for vaccines in our Province.  They have almost finished the care homes (residents and workers,)  frontline hospital workers and EMTs etc.  They have decided to just go by age groups for everyone else, starting with the over 80 age group. My age group won't get it until July/August. 

I'm a substitute teacher, so this is very disappointing (especially since they mandate masks for every other public place, but NOT inside classrooms (only in the hallways and other shared spaces.) The Government insists that keeping the schools open is essential,then does next to nothing to protect us.  

You know who else hasn't been prioritized?  Dentists! WTF! Not only do they work up close in people's unmasked faces, but they use tools that spray out whatever germs their patients have into the surrounding air. It's crazy!  I had to get a broken tooth fixed before Christmas  (because all this stress led to grinding my teeth ) and it reminded me how very vulnerable they are,even in their layers of PPE.

I'm hoping that if the J&J vaccine gets approved soon, they will revamp the schedule and prioritize some more groups. Teachers, Dentists, bus drivers. I think police haven't been prioritized either, but not sure about that one.  

19 minutes ago, Coconut Flan said:

Double masking is a good thing.

It mentions in the article that you can also just add a filter into a double layer mask.  (So there layers total,with one layer being a non woven material.)  That is what I've been doing.  Plus just ordered some more masks with 3 layers this time.

[CTRLZero]

21 minutes ago, Coconut Flan said:

 

Double masking is a good thing.

My last few visits to a medical clinic, I’ve noticed almost all of the “roaming” staff was double masked.  By roaming, I mean the people who escort you from the waiting area to the exam room, the janitors, and the lobby volunteers.  These are probably the same staff that are potentially exposed to a variety of germs.  Thanks for the info! 

[Coconut Flan]

2 hours ago, PreciousPantsofDoom said:

It mentions in the article that you can also just add a filter into a double layer mask.  (So there layers total,with one layer being a non woven material.)  That is what I've been doing.  Plus just ordered some more masks with 3 layers this time.

Glad to hear that.  Sorry the priority system is leaving out so many people like dentists.  That one is scary.

 

[Ozlsn]

An article on the shortcomings in the UK Coronavirus response, written by the chair of global public health at the University of Edinburgh.

The short version is dithering, mixed messages, no long term strategies, and a couple of incredibly short sighted decisions (ceasing community testing in April being the one that left me most astounded).

This part though concerns me, because the UK is not alone in having made unfortunate choices:

Spoiler

A country as global and interconnected as Britain faces a particularly painful choice over borders and international travel. It would be a tragedy for the UK to vaccinate the majority of the population by the autumn only to then import a new variant or strain of Sars-CoV-2 that our vaccines can’t guard against. Vaccine companies would need to race to reformulate their jabs, and we would probably be caught in further restrictions to buy the time for that to happen. Let’s learn the lessons of the past year, and not wait for another 50,000 deaths to act.

I really, really hope not.

[WiseGirl]

My sister-in-law put my parents and her mom on a list in their state and my brother is searching for other places as well. Parents are 85+ and mom is a two time cancer survivor. 

I get to go back teaching hybrid style and teachers in my state have been tossed out of the1b category. Who knows when I will get to see my parents again. My dad kerps telling me he misses me but I will not risk their health especially when I go back to work.

 

[Ali]

I teach face to face and have started double masking. 

My state opened it up to teachers. Some of my friends that teach in different counties got their first does already. I was getting concerned about the minimal communication from my superintendent. It was stressed that it was not required. I wanted to hear more information about when I could get it.

I finally heard that they were still vaccinating frontline workers in the county where I work. I then was frustrated that counties were not getting adequate amounts distributed. Teachers should not be getting it elsewhere in the state if their are still frontline healthcare workers are still waiting their turn.

I heard also that I could try to get it though my doctor and I thought I would ask since I live in a different county than I work. He said it needs to go through my district.

I finally was able to fill out a Google Form yesterday that will hopefully lead to an appointment soon.

[clueliss]

And this happened.

 

[Alisamer]

My parents are getting their first doses Saturday morning! I'm relieved, because while they SAY they are being careful... they have also been hanging out with their friends who are "also being careful". Luckily not since early December, but they're going to want to start meeting again in February I bet. 

My brother-in-law's grandmother died of Covid a couple days ago, which I hope maybe brought things home a bit for them. We had only met her a couple times, and not in years, but so far I think it's the closest person to them who has died of it. It's tough for my BIL, since she was a state away and there'll be no real funeral I think.

[NotQuiteMotY]

My area has revised the guidelines so 65+ are eligible. My in-laws are signed up for vaccine notifications; I'm still working on my parents, who are leery of new vaccines. They are, of course, the ones who insist on going out and live with my essential-worker brother (fortunately not usually around others, but does travel). It's driving me nuts.

[clueliss]

Johnson & Johnson trial results on their single shot vaccine.  66% effective. 

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/29/covid-vaccine-jjs-one-shot-drug-is-72percent-in-the-us-but-less-effective-elsewhere.html

[Ali]

My MIL told my husband yesterday that she and her husband have lost their sense of smell and taste and they are congested. He told her that could be Covid-19. She has it in her head that it could not possibly be Covid -19 because she has no fever.

He called her again this morning and gently encouraged her to call her doctor's office and describe her symptoms. She seemed stressed that she might have to get tested today because she is getting ready for an overnight guest. All of her friends are probably high risk. I have lost all patience with her and I am losing patience with my husband's patience with his mom! 

[clueliss]

 

[Ali]

8 hours ago, clueliss said:

 

They really need to stress that it can cause erectile dysfunction.

 

I heard today that I am getting vaccinated next week!

[adidas]

This is a really interesting read, and as far as I’m concerned it couldn’t happen to nicer people than the fundies who don’t wear masks.

https://www.news.com.au/world/coronavirus/health/covid-can-leave-men-infertile-causing-inflamed-testicles-and-killing-sperm-experts-warn/news-story/8d82364ec82a8e6948488e64c56f1ca8

Edited January 30, 2021 by adidas

[ADoyle90815]

Anti-vaccine protests disrupted the vaccine site at Dodger Stadium in LA. It's one thing if people decide they don't want the vaccine for themselves, but they should allow others to get it.

 

[Destiny]

I got a have-to-use-this-or-it-will-expire vaccine yesterday. Y'all, I cried. 

I've been scared to death of getting COVID because of my already messed up asthmatic lungs, so the light at the end of the tunnel is amazing. I know it won't really be any good for weeks yet, but there's light!

[47of74]

The American Airlines Wine Lift

Quote

Airlines are still operating only a fraction of the number of flights they offered pre-pandemic, and alcohol is banned in many cabins to help thwart the spread of Covid-19. This is adding up to a lot of leftover booze. Now, American Airlines is hoping to sell and ship some of its excess wine directly to peoples' homes.

The company said Thursday that a new program — called American Airlines Flagship Cellars — will give customers a chance to buy wine by the bottle, in custom "curated" cases, or via a monthly subscription plan that costs $99 per month.

American Airlines' single-bottle wine offerings range in price from about $13 to $40, and the most expensive offering is a $300 three-pack of Champagne.

Purchasing the $99 monthly subscription gives customers access to discounted prices, a monthly shipment of three bottles of wines, and customers will rack up two AAdvantage Miles for every dollar spent.

 

[Born Skeptic]

On 1/19/2021 at 1:33 PM, Black Aliss said:

Also from our County Health Department: We have only managed to use 40% of our initial vaccine delivery. (Meaning all that Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine we got in December is no longer usable)

Properly stored (frozen) both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will last 6 months.  Once thawed, Pfizer's vaccine can be kept in the refrigerator up to five days.  Moderna's vaccine can be refrigerated 30 days.  There should be no reason that any vaccine from the initial shipments in December would no longer be usable.  Pfizer's vaccine must be kept frozen at -70 C - which is considerably colder than Moderna's recommended -20 C.  However, that is not terribly unusual in health care settings and places like hospitals already have that kind of cold storage capacity.

A lot of states and counties are reporting figures like you noted above.  On the face of it, it sounds bad - almost unbelievably incompetent.  However, many areas are setting aside a second dose for those who have received the first dose.  This is what the CDC recommends.  So, it may be that your county used 40% of its initial allotment, is holding bach 40%, and has a remaining 10% availability with 10% held for the second dose.  

[PreciousPantsofDoom]

A friend just emailed to say that his father died from Covid.  The father had dementia and was in a nursing home in Ontario. They succeeded in keeping Covid out of the place until just a few weeks ago. Then they had a resident with dementia who they had trouble keeping from wandering around spreading Covid . In all over 60 people caught it, literally a week before they were scheduled to be vaccinated. 
I find the saddest part of his death is that his family hasn’t been able to see him in person for a very long time.  My friend lives in Germany and last saw his dad in early March 2020, just before travel restrictions began.  His brother lives near the care home, but lockdowns meant that he too couldn't visit their dad.  Dementia patients don’t do so well with video calls, so both have said that they could see that their dad was deteriorating further from the lack of in person visits. 
They were lucky that a cousin of theirs worked in the hospital that their dad was taken to, so she helped make it possible for my friend in Germany to speak with his dad in his last hours. She got through to other family members too and she was able to be with him at the end. 

Part of my sadness for my friend is that he couldn’t be there for his dad at the end, but part of it is for all that the restrictions of Covid took away from all of them over the last year. All of us, my friend included, fully support all the effort that so many of have put in to try and keep Covid from getting to us and those we love, but his dad and his family have had to pay a high price for it.  I know I’m preaching to the choir, but keep wearing those masks,  following the rules and signing up for the vaccine asap until we get this stupid thing whipped! 

 

[clueliss]

Wisconsin Pharmacist who destroyed doses - is a flat earther

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/wisconsin-pharmacist-who-destroyed-more-than-500-vaccine-doses-believes-earth-is-flat-fbi-says/ar-BB1dhvnD?ocid=uxbndlbing

[Alisamer]

My boss got his first vaccine Friday morning at a local hospital, and my parents got theirs Saturday morning at the local NFL stadium. Both said it was fast and super well organized. Boss did a drive-thru version, my parents parked and walked in and said it took longer to park than to get through the line. My parents got Moderna, I'm not sure which one the boss got. They're both through the same healthcare system though so possibly his is the same.

From what I'm hearing, the county I (and my parents) live in (more rural, hosted a Trump rally just before the election, etc.) is not doing terribly well with vaccine distribution (appointments for people 65+ full up through April!), but since we live so close to a big city most people I know have been able to get appointments to go there and get them no problem. I'm sure the hospital systems planned for that, since if you're not giving birth (full term) or having a heart attack the county hospital is probably going to stabilize you and send you to the city for anything major anyway. 

There's one lady I know who keeps posting incredibly stupid stuff including anti-mask things on Facebook. I've refrained from blocking her because everyone who replies to her agrees and somebody needs to push back against her shit. 

This morning it was how it couldn't possibly snow when the air temperature at the ground was slightly above freezing, so even the weather is "fake news". I tried to be polite pointing out that snow forms in clouds, which are way up high, where it is very freaking cold and therefore it can snow even if it's not quite freezing on the ground, it just won't stick. And immediately after I posted that there was sleet outside, despite it being above freezing. 

I'm being very polite, but I'm sure at some point she'll unfriend or block me. Which is fine.

She's not smart. Which is OK, you are how you are. Everybody has different gifts to share. But not smart doesn't have to mean uninformed and aggressively sharing misinformation! Especially in the midst of a pandemic!

[47of74]

1 hour ago, clueliss said:

Wisconsin Pharmacist who destroyed doses - is a flat earther

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/wisconsin-pharmacist-who-destroyed-more-than-500-vaccine-doses-believes-earth-is-flat-fbi-says/ar-BB1dhvnD?ocid=uxbndlbing

Yeah I heard about that guy.  I hope he's going away for a while and that he gets his brain unscrambled while he's in the can.  He sounds like the kind of guy who should be kept far away from his wife and children. 

Quote

The coworker, identified in the document as pharmacy technician Sarah Sticker, told authorities that Brandenburg carried a .45-caliber handgun to work, which he said he needed “in case the military came to take him away.” Cops seized several firearms from Brandenburg’s home on New Year’s Eve.

Sticker, who is reportedly the one that discovered the vaccines Brandenburg removed from the refrigerator on Dec. 24 and Dec. 25, told investigators that Brandenburg tried to “guilt trip” her after learning she turned him in.

“If I lose this job, I lose my kids,” Brandenburg allegedly told Sticker, who said she feared Brandenburg was becoming “desperate” or “unhinged.”

According to divorce records reviewed by Milwaukee ABC News affiliate WISN, Brandenburg’s wife Gretchen told a judge that her husband was storing bulk food and guns in multiple rental units, fearing that the government was planning attacks on the electrical grid and the nation’s computer networks. She said she was so scared for her safety, and that of her children’s, that she left town.