Today was the 3rd straight day the number of new cases nationally went down.  Tomorrow:  250K when the labs catch up

12 hours ago, bobeph said:

If you believe that one man can cure/control COVID, then you are an idiot.

Don’t sell yourself short, I think with a few more claws in ya you totally could 

co-workers aunt died of covid...so did the grandmother of a kid in my son's grade.   

Baby born with antibodies in Singapore

First ‘mass air shipment’ of Pfizer’s Covid vaccine arrives as airlines prepare for more

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/30/first-mass-air-shipment-of-pfizers-covid-vaccine-arrives-as-airlines-prepare-for-more.html

Right into my veins, Pfizer! No, I mean it literally this time

Mink farm outbreak in Oregon. That isn't good.

44 minutes ago, EaglesRocker97 said:

Mink farm outbreak in Oregon. That isn't good.

Daily reminder that dems are complete and utter scum:

 

Lots of mink culling going on in Europe.  Denmark, Poland, Netherlands... ++

The UKs largest department store is set to close. 

Town and city centres are going to look very different. 

Weekly COVID-19 Update from the Doc

There has been a dramatic drop in the number of articles related to Covid-19 in the medical literature in the last two weeks. For the first time in months, conversations with Dr. Howard Bauchner, Editor in Chief of JAMA , was not about Covid-19.  I wish the number of infections would mirror the drop in articles.

 

REINFECTION WITH COVID-19

Akiko Iwasaki, MD

Professor of Immunobiology, Yale University

October 12, 2020

 

Adaptive immunity after inoculation with the Covid virus usually takes approximately two weeks.  Lymphocytes (white blood cells) recognize part of the virus and mount a specific immune response mediated by both T cells and B cells.  Once these cells are activated they migrate to the site of infection and clear the infectious agent and kill infected cells.

 

Four cases of documented re-infection with Covid-19 were reviewed.  The clinical severity of the second infection varied as compared to the first infection.  One case was milder and one case was more severe.

 

The explanation for a second infection;

1.  There was an insufficient immune response to the first infection

2.  Immunity may wane overtime

3.  There was a lack of IgG antibodies at the time of second infection

 

At this time, there is no reason to suspect that the clinical spectrum for re-infection will differ from that of the first infection.  It is therefore reasonable to believe that many re-infected patients will be totally asymptomatic.

 

DECLINE IN SARS-COV-2 ANTIBODIES AFTER MILD INFECTION AMONG FRONTLINE HEALTH CARE PERSONNEL IN A MULTISTATE HOSPITAL NETWORK;  12- STATES, APRIL - AUGUST 2020

WMMR

November 27, 2020

W. Self MD.

 

Among 156 frontline Health Care Personnel with positive SARS-CoV-2  antibody test results in 2020, 94% experienced a decline at repeat testing 60 days after the first antibody assay, and 28% were below the threshold of positivity.

 

Therefore negative antibody tests do not exclude prior infection.  

 

Whether this means that these patients are susceptible to reinfection remains unknown.  It should be noted that in the first study summarized today, three of four re-infected individuals did not have measurable antibody.

 

SAARS-CoV-2, SARS CoV, AND MERS-CoV VIRAL LOAD DYNAMICS, DURATION OF VIRAL SHEDDING AND INFECTIOUSNESS

A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS

Lancet Microbe  11/19/2020

M. Cevik, MRCP

 

SARS-CoV-2, 79 studies, 5340 individuals

SARS CoV, 8 studies, 1858 individuals

MERS CoV, 11 studies, 799 individuals

 

RNA shedding ranged from 14.6 days in respiratory secretions to 146 days in stool.

 

However, NO STUDY detected live virus beyond nine days of infection, despite persistently high viral loads.

 

It was reported earlier this week that the CDC might be reconsidering guidelines for quarantine after exposure to Covid-19.  The rumor is that it might be reduced to seven to ten days with testing.  As of Saturday, the CDC has nothing printed on their website.

 

VACCINE

 

The Pfizer vaccine should get EUA in the next seven to 10 days.  The Moderna vaccine should not be far behind. (both mRNA vaccines)  I have seen no authoritative plan for distribution but I have read that it might be possible to have our most vulnerable in society and front line healthcare workers vaccinated by the end of January.  One of the vector vaccines (about 70% effective) may receive EUA sometime in January.  With the Russian vaccine and one from China, there should be adequate supply of vaccine to protect the worldwide population by the end of next year.

 

NUMBERS

 

Deaths - 266,074

 

Hospital bed utilization - 91,635, up about 10% from last week.  Some states are struggling with the increase in bed utilization.  For the first time ever, I received requests  this week from recruiters to cover intensive care units as opposed to covering anesthesia operations. 

 

New weekly cases-  up about 9.67% this week. Experts are expecting to see an increase in numbers in around 10 days, we should should similar increases in numbers in the same time frame after Christmas and New Years.  The worst will hopefully be over by mid January and by then we should be into distribution of vaccine.

 

On this past Thanksgiving Day, I was particularly grateful to the brilliant men and women who have worked so diligently to bring us an effective  vaccine in such a short period of time.  I did not forget those whose work did not end fruitfully but never the less worked very hard to benefit society.  There is hope, and it is right around the corner.

Enjoy the day

Live safer

Glimpse into our future:

 

My wife brought up an interesting point about the vaccine. Since this has been rushed through have they done any studies on the vaccines potential for causing birth defects? Is it safe for children to take? Has it been tested on children? Wondering if @ToastJenkins has any thoughts or insights on this.

1 minute ago, Gannan said:

My wife brought up an interesting point about the vaccine. Since this has been rushed through have they done any studies on the vaccines potential for causing birth defects? Is it safe for children to take? Has it been tested on children? Wondering if @ToastJenkins has any thoughts or insights on this.

in a situation like this i highly doubt they have studies pregnant women - thus the emergency authorizations. probably only tested in adults.

its complicated because we know classical vaccines are safe in these populations, however our epi data on RNA vaccines is going to be pretty sparse...

my guess is clinically they will avoid the preggos for now, as they dont seem to be a particularly at-risk population for covid, until we have more data. Children i doubt they go below 12yo at first and walk it back at they get more info.

2 minutes ago, Gannan said:

My wife brought up an interesting point about the vaccine. Since this has been rushed through have they done any studies on the vaccines potential for causing birth defects? Is it safe for children to take? Has it been tested on children? Wondering if @ToastJenkins has any thoughts or insights on this.

Pfizer's trial enrolled children as young as 12. None of the trials have enrolled pregnant women as far as I recall. My guess is that it will not be recommended for pregnant women, but DEagle7's wife is pregnant and he mentioned her colleagues in the medical field have indicated it might be more of a judgment call for the patient in certain cases where pregnant women are considered high risk due to their job.

1 minute ago, ToastJenkins said:

in a situation like this i highly doubt they have studies pregnant women - thus the emergency authorizations. probably only tested in adults.

its complicated because we know classical vaccines are safe in these populations, however our epi data on RNA vaccines is going to be pretty sparse...

my guess is clinically they will avoid the preggos for now, as they dont seem to be a particularly at-risk population for covid, until we have more data. Children i doubt they go below 12yo at first and walk it back at they get more info.

Moderna enrolled 16 year olds, and Pfizer enrolled 12 year olds, I'm pretty sure.

As for pregnant women, see my comment about DEagle and his wife still working while pregnant, which would put her very much in the at-risk population.

Interesting video about the different vaccines and how they work

https://youtu.be/KMc3vL_MIeo

1 hour ago, Gannan said:

My wife brought up an interesting point about the vaccine. Since this has been rushed through have they done any studies on the vaccines potential for causing birth defects? Is it safe for children to take? Has it been tested on children? Wondering if @ToastJenkins has any thoughts or insights on this.

1 hour ago, ToastJenkins said:

in a situation like this i highly doubt they have studies pregnant women - thus the emergency authorizations. probably only tested in adults.

its complicated because we know classical vaccines are safe in these populations, however our epi data on RNA vaccines is going to be pretty sparse...

my guess is clinically they will avoid the preggos for now, as they dont seem to be a particularly at-risk population for covid, until we have more data. Children i doubt they go below 12yo at first and walk it back at they get more info.

1 hour ago, we_gotta_believe said:

Pfizer's trial enrolled children as young as 12. None of the trials have enrolled pregnant women as far as I recall. My guess is that it will not be recommended for pregnant women, but DEagle7's wife is pregnant and he mentioned her colleagues in the medical field have indicated it might be more of a judgment call for the patient in certain cases where pregnant women are considered high risk due to their job.

Unfortunately this is correct.  As of right now I don't know any studies that have included pregnancy women or really young children meaning these populations are going to have a delay to vaccines. Fortunately young kids can handle pretty much any vaccine adults can so I'm hoping we get over that hump relatively quickly with some cohort studies.  Pregnant women are trickier because of the (mostly theoretical) risk of live vaccines in these women.  An mRNA vaccine shouldn't have the same theoretical risk but pregnant women are arguably the most protected patient population when it comes to testing out new things so gathering data is going to be a bish.  

I imagine they'll hold off on pregnant women but pregnant front line workers is going to be really tricky.  As you can imagine pregnant women can get really sick with COVID.

6 minutes ago, DEagle7 said:

Unfortunately this is correct.  As of right now I don't know any studies that have included pregnancy women or really young children meaning these populations are going to have a delay to vaccines. Fortunately young kids can handle pretty much any vaccine adults can so I'm hoping we get over that hump relatively quickly with some cohort studies.  Pregnant women are trickier because of the (mostly theoretical) risk of live vaccines in these women.  An mRNA vaccine shouldn't have the same theoretical risk but pregnant women are arguably the most protected patient population when it comes to testing out new things so gathering data is going to be a bish.  

I imagine they'll hold off on pregnant women but pregnant front line workers is going to be really tricky.  As you can imagine pregnant women can get really sick with COVID.

I've read that in the past, certain vaccines were approved for expectant mothers only after enough women were administered the vaccine without knowing they were even pregnant, and then monitored after the fact for health of the mother and child. Seems like that would normally take several years to get enough data on these "accidental inoculations" but might only take a year or two now with millions of women in that age range getting poked (heh) for this one.

6 minutes ago, we_gotta_believe said:

I've read that in the past, certain vaccines were approved for expectant mothers only after enough women were administered the vaccine without knowing they were even pregnant, and then monitored after the fact for health of the mother and child. Seems like that would normally take several years to get enough data on these "accidental inoculations" but might only take a year or two now with millions of women in that age range getting poked (heh) for this one.

Also (based on anecdotal evidence) a lot more people getting pregnant right now.  She's booking out a lot more prenatal visits than this time last year. 

Turns out people got bored and starting Fing in quarantine. Whodve guessed?!

I'm just hoping we get some central guidance from ACOG/AAP/CDC etc instead of this "every office/hospital system figure it out for themselves" crap they did with testing early on. 

16 minutes ago, DEagle7 said:

Unfortunately this is correct.  As of right now I don't know any studies that have included pregnancy women or really young children meaning these populations are going to have a delay to vaccines. Fortunately young kids can handle pretty much any vaccine adults can so I'm hoping we get over that hump relatively quickly with some cohort studies.  Pregnant women are trickier because of the (mostly theoretical) risk of live vaccines in these women.  An mRNA vaccine shouldn't have the same theoretical risk but pregnant women are arguably the most protected patient population when it comes to testing out new things so gathering data is going to be a bish.  

I imagine they'll hold off on pregnant women but pregnant front line workers is going to be really tricky.  As you can imagine pregnant women can get really sick with COVID.

My wife is going to be an early recipient and will be required to get it. Her concern was that if she wanted to have another kid at some point (but in reality we are both a bit too old for that). 

so, i thought trumpers said this virus would disappear on nov 4th if biden won. 

 

 

what happened ? 

People will die because of the the vaccine, the odds are just too good in a population of 380 million people. No different if we gave everyone aspirin or peanut butter, deaths gonna happen, but we can't stop the vaccination because of this 

6 minutes ago, Gannan said:

My wife is going to be an early recipient and will be required to get it. Her concern was that if she wanted to have another kid at some point (but in reality we are both a bit too old for that). 

I'm far from an immunology expert but I can't think of a physiological reason why it should affect a future pregnancy.  And as WGB pointed out we'll have a not-insignificant number of accidental case studies within the next year to get some data at least.  

Would be interested to also know since kids vaccines are spaced out over their childhood, what about that in regards to a covid19 vaccine,  and even adults who maybe due for other vaccines like tetanus, shingles?  Is it Ok to give these with the other flu and pneumonia vaccines too?