General COVID-19 Vaccine Discussion

[Pushka]

Of the 100 people in NSW ICU, 87 were not vaccinated and the rest had only received one jab. This should be the headline and not buried in the story.

 

[mviy]

Of the 100 people in NSW ICU, 87 were not vaccinated and the rest had only received one jab. This should be the headline and not buried in the story.

Smaller numbers, but in Victoria not even one of the 9 people currently in ICU has been vaccinated: Live Breaking News: Victoria covid lockdown updates and Melbourne cases

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Of the 100 people in NSW ICU, 87 were not vaccinated and the rest had only received one jab. This should be the headline and not buried in the story.

Yes vaccination has been the story in NSW since i) only fully vaccinated participants at the West Hoxton party avoided being covid-positive ii) NSW declared a national emergency or an emergency of national significance and came up with the vaccinate now strategy (just needed time to get ATAGI to modify, and get more doses)

 

[ethernet]

Not happy with the drip feed news releases, nor WA unilaterally hinting they will stay closed and require a full vaccination passport chop. Someone will not be happy about critical hospital staff being furloughed in quarantine either. ACT being very sensible about wanting a definition about effective vaccination. While NSW hopes all will be happy to let rip when the immunisation rate hits some number, 'to free up' which is not comparable to UK's Freedom day. NSW is softening up the other states for a let it rip strategy, although I think the hard practical level will be when Hospital and ICU are sufficiently overloaded. Therefore time to look how other countries are performing.

Singapore is nearly 80% vaccinated. It too is having breakouts. It has created a thing called 'Travel Paths'. Singapore trades Covid-Zero for ‘Covid Resilience’. How will it work?

Why is Australia at odds over the Doherty report and what does it say about opening up the country?

PM repeatedly cites the institute’s modelling of 70-80% Covid vaccination rates as Australia’s path to freedom. But what do those numbers really mean?

www.theguardian.com

Bottom line is Australia is wasting time, with ineffective vaccine commercials, and the easy fence sitters now motivated to get the jab but not all. Most countries in ABC's charting the jab tend to flatten out at 60%. Just sayin. It is my belief that the Doherty Instute will NOT be asked to produce a 'worst case' based on present NSW numbers report. I forsee a PCR test driven travel future.

 

[hydrabyss]

So Pfizer has finally gained FDA approval in the US. What will be the next reason for those who are hesitant.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Virological characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine breakthrough infections in health care workers

Background SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are highly effective at preventing COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality. As no vaccine is 100% effective, breakthrough infections are expected to occur. Methods We analyzed the virological characteristics of 161 vaccine breakthrough infections in a population...

www.medrxiv.org

Conclusions We conclude that rare vaccine breakthrough infections occur, but infectious virus shedding is reduced in these cases.

Not peer reviewed but some good news if verified.

 

[moa999]

So Pfizer has finally gained FDA approval in the US. What will be the next reason for those who are hesitant.

Those that were waiting for Pfizer are now waiting for Moderna.
Next it will be waiting for the booster variant that better protects etc.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Those that were waiting for Pfizer are now waiting for Moderna.
Next it will be waiting for the booster variant that better protects etc.

I guess in this hesitant segment, everyone has different reasons - some will now go Pfizer - eg FDA final approval been in circulation longer, some Moderna - eg arguably better protection, less side effects, some Astra Zeneca - eg old technology.

 

[OZDUCK]

I find it puzzling that in the UK, to quote the NY Times - "The government’s policy on vaccinating younger teenagers is in flux, with no decision yet on whether to go ahead with a campaign to jab those 12 to 15, though Britain’s medical regulator has authorized a vaccine for this age group." This despite a huge jump in infections after schools re-opened in Scotland and with schools also just about to re-open in England.

Plus - "Hospitalizations are rising, however, as is the fatality rate. Admissions last week were up 6.7 percent over the previous seven-day period, while deaths were up 12.3 percent, totaling 133 people on Saturday. With a backlog of patients with other illnesses, doctors say the National Health Service has little slack to cope with another influx of Covid victims."

Britons, Unfazed by High Covid Rates, Weigh Their ‘Price of Freedom’

Britain is reporting more than 30,000 new coronavirus cases a day, but the public seems to have moved on. Experts say this could be a glimpse into the future for other countries.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Flashback]

I find it puzzling that in the UK, to quote the NY Times - "The government’s policy on vaccinating younger teenagers is in flux, with no decision yet on whether to go ahead with a campaign to jab those 12 to 15, though Britain’s medical regulator has authorized a vaccine for this age group." This despite a huge jump in infections after schools re-opened in Scotland and with schools also just about to re-open in England.

Plus - "Hospitalizations are rising, however, as is the fatality rate. Admissions last week were up 6.7 percent over the previous seven-day period, while deaths were up 12.3 percent, totaling 133 people on Saturday. With a backlog of patients with other illnesses, doctors say the National Health Service has little slack to cope with another influx of Covid victims."

Britons, Unfazed by High Covid Rates, Weigh Their ‘Price of Freedom’

Britain is reporting more than 30,000 new coronavirus cases a day, but the public seems to have moved on. Experts say this could be a glimpse into the future for other countries.

www.nytimes.com

Huh? 12-15 has been authorised and is commencing imminently.....

I wish I had COVID, at least then I'd have a reason to depart.

 

[OZDUCK]

Huh? 12-15 has been authorised and is commencing imminently.....

I wish I had COVID, at least then I'd have a reason to depart.

I am obviously not all that familiar with the UK vaccination plans but this report from Reuters 3 days ago also indicates that no plan had yet been developed. That NY Times report and other reports I can find on the net all seem to say that yes the vaccine has been approved by 'the regulator' but no vaccination plan has as yet been prepared. I may well be reading these reports wrong but it does seem that the rollout will not commence until planning has been completed.

"Aug 25 (Reuters) - Britain's Health Department said it has not made any decision on COVID-19 vaccines for 12 to 15 year olds after the Telegraph reported the National Health Service (NHS) planned vaccinations from the first week children return to school in September."

And, from the Financial Times one day ago also saying that no plan had apparently been prepared in advance for the vaccine rollout to that cadre of the population.

"Ministers have asked the NHS to start preparing for the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines to all children aged 12 to 15 from September, pending approval from the government’s scientific advisers."

 

[ethernet]

Some really interesting non vaccine treatments revisited.

Dr Bean also has some lengthy analysis of Israel numbers. It is far to early to tell, but it looks like a 3rd booster dose slashes the fully vaccinated from becoming asymptotic spreaders which is as good as it gets - so WA had better accept this as the new gold standard.

 

[jase05]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1431972367719411718

 

[JB expat]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1431972367719411718

If this approach is advised (I haven't had time to read up on this myself - not for me to pretend to be a medical expert, I am not even close - but meaning if this is the general consensus of epidemiologists and other qualified experts), I do hope that Australia "races" to procure enough vaccines for a third dose. I don't want to hear the government waffle on that they have to study it themselves if other countries' data show the future.

 

[mviy]

The Australian government has already ordered more than enough Novavax to do the whole population, more than enough Pfizer to do the whole population and a considerable amount of Moderna boosters all of which could be used for boosters.

Vaccines not used for the first two doses by anti-vaxxers or excess for other reasons could also be considered for use for booster shots.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I do hope that Australia "races" to procure enough vaccines for a third dose. I don't want to hear the government waffle on that they have to study it themselves if other countries' data show the future.

They have already ordered doses of Pfizer and Moderna for use through till 2023.

Plus Novavax on top of that, though that is still going through the trial and approval process. Though has already been seen it is good to not have all your eggs in the one basket.


It is though a shame that AZ was so stigmatised by some, mainly by non-medical people, as recent reports seem now to be suggesting that retains effectiveness for longer ( assuming 10-12 weeks for the second dose), and may also now be slighter better than Pfizer. Though both vaccines and Moderna are all very good vaccines.

 

[JB expat]

I posted this in another thread, but realized it probably belongs in this discussion group.

Fantasizing about a return to travel for both business and pleasure, got me thinking about the duty of care placed on employers - esp in countries with safe workplace type laws. I wonder if companies will start to require that employees fly only on airlines with vaccine mandates for staff and passengers (or at least staff). While it may take a while, I think that capitalism will drive behavior in the direction I am hoping for. Yes, I'd prefer faster action by legislation, but if that doesn't happen, I think things will sort themselves out. There are way more people who want to mitigate the risk of catching covid than who are fighting for their right not to vaccinate. I know that vaccination is not perfection in terms of protection - but it is a risk mitigation factor.

 

[ethernet]

New Zealand woman dies after receiving Pfizer vaccine

Officials say she also had other medical issues which could have contributed to her death.

www.bbc.com

NZ reports first suspected Pfizer vaccine related death. Another country is chasing up two leads.

 

[MARTINE]

CHECK YOUR COVID VACCINE MEDICARE CERTIFICATE:

Hi AFF family.

I am fully vaccinated and happily downloaded my Covid vaccination proof but found month of my birthday out by one month

….so went into myGov and found medicare had my date of birth similarly one month out.. how? For how long? Given I’ve used it the card for years ++++ and it has always functioned .. ???

now the fun begins .. you cannot change it online ..must ring Medicare … I rang Medicare repeatedly (but ‘we are not taking calls due to volume abd cuts out’)… having been ‘in the profession’ a call to the doctors line of Immunisation Register revealed they can’t do it or even put me through to a section of Medicare that can (but kudos to the operator who did try but computer said no) ..she did reveal many calls about thiS very problem…..

so….every call to Medicare still no luck…incorrect vax proof even though I am fully vaccinated … wrong Medicare DOB …

I am raising this so that the group check this has not also happened to you
…. And it’s my lockdown project to get it fixed before we get to travel overseas where the date of birth on vax proof matching your passport will be critical

Any ideas would be appreciated - next step if another week of not getting through to Medicare - will be letter to fed member…

Have a feeling it will take as long to fix as it will to get on a plane for overseas holiday

Happy to report full resolution to incorrect Medicare date of birth issue and now ready to fly with international vax passport

Just realised latter half of comment irrelevant

 

[JB expat]

Happy to report full resolution to incorrect Medicare date of birth issue and now ready to fly with international vax passport

Just realised latter half of comment irrelevant

It is definitely important to check. My first dose wasn't recorded - was a pretty easy fix as I had the AZ jab at a GP clinic so I could actually talk to someone responsible. I have a friend who had a similar error but she had her vax at one of the vaccine hubs - she fixed it, but it took days and many, many phone calls.