4 minutes ago, we_gotta_believe said:

The WHO will declare an end to the pandemic by year's end, I will bet large sums of money on it.

And they will still want everyone to social Distance and wear 3 masks, and the virus will still be around, that's not the life i want.

6 minutes ago, Joe Shades 73 said:

Are you traveling through the heartland, you know, the real America? Maybe because most of my friends and family are Trump lovers that makes me pessimistic. I truly believe dark days are ahead, it really saddens me .I would love for someone to give me real reasons to hope for the best

I am in the exact opposite part of the country. 
 

I am sitting in a hotel room in San Francisco. 

Just now, Joe Shades 73 said:

And they will still want everyone to social Distance and wear 3 masks, and the virus will still be around, thats not the life i want

Never Ending. There are about 70 million children in this country, They won't get a vaccine until at least the fall , Herd Immunity is not happening soon if ever . 70 million plus the millions that will refuse to get it.

https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2021/01/28/covid-vaccines-children-colorado-doctor-dave-hnida-timeline/

58 minutes ago, we_gotta_believe said:

The WHO will declare an end to the pandemic by year's end, I will bet large sums of money on it.

Still want to bet large sums of money ?

https://www.docwirenews.com/docwire-pick/hem-onc-picks/covid-19-update-who-says-herd-immunity-wont-happen-in-2021-moderna-says-vaccine-should-protect-people-for-at-least-a-year-and-more/

 

Herd Immunity Out the Question in 2021, Even with Vaccines

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that social distancing measures will need to remain in place "for the rest of the year,” even with vaccination rollouts underway, simply because it takes time to build up herd immunity. WHO’s Chief Scientist Dr. Soumya Swaminathan said herd immunity won’t be achieved this year. "Because even as vaccines start protecting the most vulnerable, we are not going to achieve any level of population immunity, or herd immunity in 2021 and even if it happens in a couple of pockets in a few countries, it’s not going to protect people across the world.”

 

"it’s really important to remind people, both governments as well as individuals, on the responsibilities and the measures that we continue to need to practice... for the next... well for the rest of this year at least," she said."

"Swaminathan added that until herd immunity is achieved, public health measures such as masks and social distancing will need to remain in place. "

In other words forever 

6 hours ago, Kz! said:

Wow, who would have guessed this would have serious consequences on children?

 

5 hours ago, Dave Moss said:

Yeah, we’ve been saying that the whole thread, doofus.

 

Meh, should have worn masks.

3 hours ago, DrPhilly said:

 

 

Meh, should have worn masks.

Kids going to in-person school are wearing masks.  At least in the U.S.  Of course in Sweden they’re probably coughing all over each other.

Yeah,  I think herd immunity by the end of this year is extremely optimistic. Early-mid 2022 seems more realistic in my mind.

10 hours ago, Kz! said:

Wow, who would have guessed this would have serious consequences on children?

Sure, it's predictable. I mean, it's just following an ongoing trend, albeit with maybe a more dramatic dip than we're used to seeing. Our standardized testing has tracked a consistent downturn in reading scores for decades, and the South has typically seen the most significant dropoff in that time period. We've been losing ground for a long with with kids IN school, so it's obviously going to exacerbate the situation having them OUT of school.

You know what could've helped reduce the impact of this, though (and what certainly would've helped mitigate this trend over the long-term)? If parents actually read to their kids anymore (obviously, this isn't really feasible for immigrant families, though).

On a related note, we've cancelled the PSSAs this year; VA should've done the same with their state assessments.

I wonder if the right will have a newfound respect for teachers after this ordeal and teach their kids to value education?

LOL.

27 minutes ago, Dave Moss said:

Kids going to in-person school are wearing masks.  At least in the U.S.  Of course in Sweden they’re probably coughing all over each other.

Ahh so the masks didn’t work? 

7 hours ago, Joe Shades 73 said:

Still want to bet large sums of money ?

https://www.docwirenews.com/docwire-pick/hem-onc-picks/covid-19-update-who-says-herd-immunity-wont-happen-in-2021-moderna-says-vaccine-should-protect-people-for-at-least-a-year-and-more/

 

Herd Immunity Out the Question in 2021, Even with Vaccines

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that social distancing measures will need to remain in place "for the rest of the year,” even with vaccination rollouts underway, simply because it takes time to build up herd immunity. WHO’s Chief Scientist Dr. Soumya Swaminathan said herd immunity won’t be achieved this year. "Because even as vaccines start protecting the most vulnerable, we are not going to achieve any level of population immunity, or herd immunity in 2021 and even if it happens in a couple of pockets in a few countries, it’s not going to protect people across the world.”

 

"it’s really important to remind people, both governments as well as individuals, on the responsibilities and the measures that we continue to need to practice... for the next... well for the rest of this year at least," she said."

"Swaminathan added that until herd immunity is achieved, public health measures such as masks and social distancing will need to remain in place. "

In other words forever 

Yes, because I understand the definition of words and the difference between herd immunity and the declaration of the end of the pandemic. The H1N1 pandemic didn't end because we achieved herd immunity, it ended because globalized community spread was blunted, and outbreaks became regional.

34 minutes ago, DrPhilly said:

Ahh so the masks didn’t work? 

Teens have access to condoms and somehow still get pregnant. I guess condoms don't work. 

5 minutes ago, we_gotta_believe said:

Teens have access to condoms and somehow still get pregnant. I guess condoms don't work. 

I figured that was a sarcastic comment from Doc. I've been casually in and out of this thread. Is he actually pushing the "masks don't work" narrative?

6 minutes ago, we_gotta_believe said:

Teens have access to condoms and somehow still get pregnant. I guess condoms don't work. 

The guys should have worn 2 rubbers instead of one.  Tsk tsk

4 minutes ago, EaglesRocker97 said:

I figured that was a sarcastic comment from Doc. I've been casually in and out of this thread. Is he actually pushing the "masks don't work" narrative?

He routinely defends Sweden's reluctance to impose mask mandates, so who knows. When directly asked, he responds cryptically and refuses to give straight answers as usual. He recently said there's "some" evidence to show masks "likely" help, as if to frame it like there was some sort of debate over the issue and that scientists are struggling to understand the mechanistic effects of droplet spread.

1 minute ago, EaglesRocker97 said:

I figured that was a sarcastic comment from Doc. I've been casually in and out of this thread. Is he actually pushing the "masks don't work" narrative?

He’s being sarcastic, but also pretending masks don’t work that well.

Quote

Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine is 66% effective in global trial, but 85% effective against severe disease, company says

https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/29/health/johnson-coronavirus-vaccine-results/index.html

I really don't want this vaccine if the others have an ~30% higher efficacy rate.

Yeah J&J looks not so good.

Bet their stock is tanking. Probably next up for WSB.....

9 minutes ago, EaglesRocker97 said:

I really don't want this vaccine if the others have an ~30% higher efficacy rate.

Not unexpected considering what we had seen from AZ/Oxford's candidate which was also a viral vector, but still disappointing to see the confirmation none the less. In any case though, the J&J candidate is better than nothing for those at high exposure or disease risk. If nothing else, it can help add some supply to meet that demand.

5 hours ago, DrPhilly said:

Meh, should have worn masks.

If this is all you add to the conversation, why bother?

/end Dr. Philly

6 minutes ago, we_gotta_believe said:

Not unexpected considering what we had seen from AZ/Oxford's candidate which was also a viral vector, but still disappointing to see the confirmation none the less. In any case though, the J&J candidate is better than nothing for those at high exposure or disease risk. If nothing else, it can help add some supply to meet that demand.

Sure, but no one's gonna want to be the guy getting the significantly less effective vaccine. If there's one thing I've never done, it's settled for low-quality drugs. Give me the good sh**, lol.

2 minutes ago, EaglesRocker97 said:

Sure, but no one's gonna want to be the guy getting the significantly less effective vaccine. If there's one thing I've never done, it's settled for low-quality drugs. Give me the good sh**, lol.

I agree with you 100%. Unfortunately, it'll likely be a case of Hobson's choice for the vast majority of people. This would be deployed to regions where there are shortages of the mRNA vaccines. Meaning if you live in that area, your choice is to take it, or wait and hope for shipments of the others which may not come for months.

Just now, we_gotta_believe said:

I agree with you 1005. Unfortunately, it'll likely be a case of Hobson's choice for the vast majority of people. This would be deployed to regions where there are shortages of the mRNA vaccines. Meaning if you live in that area, your choice is to take it, or wait and hope for shipments of the others which may not come for months.

Yeah, I get it. Not much we can do about the situation, but it's a little bit of a bummer.

2 minutes ago, EaglesRocker97 said:

Yeah, I get it. Not much we can do about the situation, but it's a little bit of a bummer.

All I ask is that the providers readily disclose which vaccine it is prior to scheduling and then confirm it prior to injection. If I'm determined to get an mRNA vaccine, I want to know exactly what's going in my arm.

aaaaaaaaand one of my co-workers who i deal with every day is out because her son's gf has tested positive & is always at her house.