On Topic Discussion 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2)

[KaraBulut]

For the past couple of years, the US Federal Government has been picking up a lot of the costs of the pandemic. First, they took on the cost of testing. Then they took on the cost of monoclonal antibody treatments. Then they picked up the cost of the vaccines.

Congress has let the funding expire. By April, if you do not have insurance, you will be expected to pay 100% of the cost of tests, treatments and vaccines.

The timing could not be worse. The FDA has just recommended a second booster for people over age 50 and for people who have certain immune conditions. For the people who qualify the second booster will be 4 or more months after your booster. This makes the schedule:

• First prime
• Second prime - 21 to 28 days after the first prime
• Third dose - for immunocompromised people, 28 days after dose 2
• Booster - at least 5 months after the previous dose
• Second booster - at least 4 months after the booster

FDA authorizes second booster shots for adults age 50 and older [CNN]

The US Food and Drug Administration has expanded the emergency use authorization of the Pfizer and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines to allow adults age 50 and older to get a second booster as early as four months after their first booster dose of any Covid-19 vaccine.

The move extends the availability of additional boosters to healthy older adults. The FDA had previously allowed additional shots for anyone 12 years of age or older who was severely immune deficient. This group of people can now receive a three-dose primary series and two boosters -- a total of five doses.

Implications of the Lapse in Federal COVID-19 Funding on Access to COVID-19 Testing, Treatment, and Vaccines [KFF]

A current impasse in Congress threatens continued funding for COVID-19 testing, treatment, and vaccines. The White House asked Congress for an additional $22.5 billion to support domestic and global COVID-19 efforts. During the recent negotiations to fund the federal government for FY 2022, Congress reduced this amount to $15.6 billion and it was subsequently stripped from the final bill. Without additional resources, the White House has said that several programs will need to be discontinued, including the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) COVID-19 Uninsured Program, established to reimburse health care providers for the costs of delivering COVID-19 testing and treatment services and administering vaccines to those who are uninsured. HRSA has announced that due to lack of funding, the program stopped accepting reimbursement claims for COVID-19 testing and treatment services on March 22, 2022 and will stop accepting claims for vaccine administration on April 5, 2022. In addition, the federal government has said it does not have funding to purchase additional COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines once current supplies run out, and that it does not currently have a sufficient supply for vaccines to cover fourth doses if they are eventually recommended (also the subject of a recent KFF analysis). The lack of additional COVID-19 funding has broad implications for access to these services, particularly for people who are uninsured, and could undermine efforts to ensure equitable access to these resources.

 

[cityboy-stl]

^ That's crazy.

So what is your thought? It's been five months already since the third shot. Other than being old, I have no other health co-factors. What is realistically the best timing? Get another booster now, get it if another variant shows up, or wait until fall when I get the flu shot?

 

[m1thousand]

Tv special

24 Months that Changed the World
- Wednesday on ABC, 2 hour special

 

[KaraBulut]

^ That's crazy.

So what is your thought? It's been five months already since the third shot. Other than being old, I have no other health co-factors. What is realistically the best timing? Get another booster now, get it if another variant shows up, or wait until fall when I get the flu shot?

The CDC recommendation was based upon some studies from Israel. I read the studies and I would say that the urgency to get the second booster would be based upon the person's risk factors.

The general assumption is that antibody levels begin to drop around 4-5 months after the last shot.

One small study of younger people who received a 4th dose showed that it reduced omicron infections by about 30%. For those who did get infections, symptoms were lessened in about 40% of the cases. The majority of the people in the study who got infected with omicron - whether or not they received the 4th dose- were asymptomatic. In this younger, healthier group there was not as much benefit since their infections were largely asymptomatic.

Another large study in Israel involved over 500,000 people age 60 to 100. They received a second booster. Compared to people who received only 1 booster, their chances of getting COVID-19 were lowered by about 50%. During the study period about 250 people who didn't receive the second booster died but less than 100 people who received the second booster died. Note that the death rate for both groups was low but the group that received the second booster did have both lower infection rates and lower death rates.

Based upon the studies, I would say that people who have risk factors - over age 60, immuncompromised or with multiple risk factors should get the 2nd booster to keep their antibody levels high. For everyone else, there is not as much urgency as it appears that younger people are less likely to get severe COVID-19 if they received the recommended 3 doses.

What all of these studies are point to is that the design of the mRNA vaccines- which focus upon the "S" spike protein- may not prevent SARS-CoV-2 infections but they prevent the most severe COVID-19 complications that cause severe illness. For young, healthy people who received the recommended 3 doses of the vaccines, COVID-19 is a cold-like illness that is significantly less likely to result in hospitalization or death. The higher risk populations- older people, people with weakened immune systems or who have risk factors like diabetes are the ones who benefit from the second booster.

 

[Kulindahr]

I'm worn out and feeling brain dead from planting trees today, so I'm not tracking very well.

If I understand the last few posts right, I should ask for a second booster and it will still be free at this point?

 

[cityboy-stl]

Our oblivious, dick-wad, Mr. Haney governor says Covid is over. Yep, the crisis is over. Everybody return to what you were doing. It's all over just because I say so. Moving on.

Be sure the virus gets the memo, Mike. ..

What? What iceberg?

Parson declares ‘COVID-19 crisis is over’ in Missouri

Gov. Mike Parson said on Wednesday the state is ending its emergency response to COVID-19. “We will transition to an endemic recovery phase and begin responding to COVID like we do other viruses,” Parson said. “The state’s transition will become effective on Friday.”

 

[KaraBulut]

...If I understand the last few posts right, I should ask for a second booster and it will still be free at this point?

A second booster is recommended for certain people. There should be no out-of-pocket if you are insured. If you are uninsured, it will only be free if you get the booster now because the government funding is about to run out.

If your first dose was Pfizer or Moderna, the eligibility criteria is:

• It must be at least 4 months since your booster AND
• You are over age 65 OR
• You are over age 50 and you have a condition that weakens your immune system.

If your first dose was J&J, the eligibility criteria is:

• It must be at least 4 months since your booster.

 

[KaraBulut]

...What? What iceberg?

This cartoon came out last week. It summarizes how a lot of people are feeling.

 

[belamyi]

 

[ruggerladirish]

So, just got over the worse sore throat ever. For five days it felt like swallowing glass dipped in acid.

Also, ever sweated under the duvet, but stick your feet out but end up with the chills? Horrible. Took three Antigens, but all were negative over 4 days. But GP (over the phone) advised a PCR, but I simply couldn't muster up the energy to drive my car

Anyway, now there's talk of a fourth shot (second booster) for certain categories. Soon as its available, I'm in there!!

 

[cityboy-stl]

So, just got over the worse sore throat ever. For five days it felt like swallowing glass dipped in acid.

Also, ever sweated under the duvet, but stick your feet out but end up with the chills? Horrible. Took three Antigens, but all were negative over 4 days. But GP (over the phone) advised a PCR, but I simply couldn't muster up the energy to drive my car

Anyway, now there's talk of a fourth shot (second booster) for certain categories. Soon as its available, I'm in there!!

I'm so sorry to hear you were feeling so awful. It sounds terrible. It is good to hear are getting better. Get Well Soon.

 

[KaraBulut]

So, just got over the worse sore throat ever. For five days it felt like swallowing glass dipped in acid.

Also, ever sweated under the duvet, but stick your feet out but end up with the chills? Horrible. Took three Antigens, but all were negative over 4 days. But GP (over the phone) advised a PCR, but I simply couldn't muster up the energy to drive my car

Anyway, now there's talk of a fourth shot (second booster) for certain categories. Soon as its available, I'm in there!!

You should get someone to drive you. BA.2 doesn't always show up on the rapid tests (which is why they're referring to it as "stealth omicron"). You should also be screened for flu, strep and the usual suspects (which are treatable).

 

[Kulindahr]

A second booster is recommended for certain people. There should be no out-of-pocket if you are insured. If you are uninsured, it will only be free if you get the booster now because the government funding is about to run out.

If your first dose was Pfizer or Moderna, the eligibility criteria is:

• It must be at least 4 months since your booster AND
• You are over age 65 OR
• You are over age 50 and you have a condition that weakens your immune system.

If your first dose was J&J, the eligibility criteria is:

• It must be at least 4 months since your booster.

I decided to run an errand before heading for the clinic -- and got to the clinic three minutes after they closed till Monday!

Talk about annoying.

 

[ruggerladirish]

I'm so sorry to hear you were feeling so awful. It sounds terrible. It is good to hear are getting better. Get Well Soon.

Thanks. Much better. Symptom-free. Can eat and drink again without pain..

 

[ruggerladirish]

You should get someone to drive you. BA.2 doesn't always show up on the rapid tests (which is why they're referring to it as "stealth omicron"). You should also be screened for flu, strep and the usual suspects (which are treatable).

Thanks. I didn't want anyone to drive me for a PCR in case I infected them. We had our top immunologist on the main News last evening, making the very sane point you make re stealth Omicron.

I had heard of false negatives (and of course false positives) but I did not think three antigens could be wrong. In any event, I am feeling fine and was fortunate enough to leave Dublin and stay in my little place down the country which is very much isolated, and had groceries delivered.

 

[KaraBulut]

...I had heard of false negatives (and of course false positives) but I did not think three antigens could be wrong.

The issue is that there are several manufacturers producing the home tests (officially called a "rapid lateral flow test"). The manufacturers have not been adjusting the tests for new variants and until BA.2, the tests have been producing more false positives than false negatives (which is how home tests are usually calibrated).

...In any event, I am feeling fine and was fortunate enough to leave Dublin and stay in my little place down the country which is very much isolated, and had groceries delivered.

It's good that you are feeling better. The symptoms that you described could be any viral infection. Given what we know of people who are boosted, we would be more inclined to suspect it is not COVID-19 when the symptoms are more typically "flu-like". But the variants are creating just enough uncertainty to make it so that we can't be 100% sure without a PCR.

I'm not sure what the protocol for Ireland's health service is but in a case like this where there has been multiple negative home tests, I would be inclined to run a broader respiratory panel test.

 

[KaraBulut]

Week ending 02-Apr-2022:

Global COVID-19 Weekly Mortality/Morbidity

• Global Cases reported: 490,825,132 (up from 480,227,551 / 2.2%) - *‬*10,597,581 new cases this week
• Global Deaths: 6,151,961 (up from 6,121,999) - **29,962 people died this week

US COVID-19 Weekly Mortality/Morbidity

• Cases reported in the US - 80,150,811 (up from 79,947,322 / 0.3%), 203,489 new cases, 1.9% of world's new cases were in the US
• Deaths reported in the US - 982,533 deaths, 5,873 deaths this week , 19.6% of the world's reported deaths this week were in the US
• Hospitalizations reported in the US - 10,817 new hospitalizations (up from 4,972 last week) - 4,595,308 Americans have been hospitalized for COVID-19 since Jan, 2020

US Vaccination Weekly Stats

• Approx number of US doses distributed - 705,215,245 (up from 701,242,465 / +3,972,780) - 79.6% US doses have been administered
  
  Total US residents vaccinated
• 1st dose: - 255,654,273 (up from 255,221,135 / +433,138) - 77.5% of US population
• 2nd dose: - 217,774,183 (up from 217,381,416 / +392,767) - 66.0% of US population
• 3rd dose: - 97,904,975 (up from 97,204,363 / +700,612) - 29.7% of US population
  
  US residents over age 5 vaccinated
• 1st dose: - 255,560,063 (up from 255,130,998 / +429,065) - 81.8% of US population > 5 yo
• 2nd dose: - 217,736,192 (up from 217,346,679 / +389,513) - 69.7% of US population > 5 yo
  
  US residents over age 12 vaccinated
• 1st dose: - 245,657,857 (up from 245,298,141 / +359,716) - 86.6% of US population > 12 yo
• 2nd dose: - 209,757,923 (up from 209,452,854 / +305,069) - 74.0% of US population > 12 yo
• 3rd dose: - 97,879,766 (up from 97,180,835 / +698,931) - 46.7% of US population > 12 yo
  
  US residents over age 65 vaccinated
• 1st dose: - 56,252,057 (up from 56,197,961 / +54,096) - 95.0% of US population >65 yo
• 2nd dose: - 48,811,302 (up from 48,754,417 / +56,885) - 89.1% of US population >65 yo
• 3rd dose: - 32,909,862 (up from 32,746,584 / +163,278) - 67.4% of US population >65 yo

Coronavirus weekly cases/deaths in active countries (preference to countries with JUB members):

• Germany: 21,665,200 (up from 19,492,672 / +2,172,528 / 11.1%) - 130,029 deaths (+2,430) - avg daily: cases (+310,361) / deaths (+347)
• South Korea: 13,874,216 (up from 11,815,841 / +2,058,375 / 17.4%) - 17,235 deaths (+2,336) - avg daily: cases (+294,054) / deaths (+334)
• France: 26,084,340 (up from 25,106,739 / +977,601 / 3.9%) - 143,509 deaths (+845) - avg daily: cases (+139,657) / deaths (+121)
  [*]UK: 21,379,545 (up from 20,848,913 / +530,632 / 2.5%) - 166,168 deaths (+1,122) - avg daily: cases (+75,805) / deaths (+160)
• Italy: 14,790,806 (up from 14,304,111 / +486,695 / 3.4%) - 159,666 deaths (+966) - avg daily: cases (+69,528) / deaths (+138)
• Australia: 4,680,972 (up from 4,279,337 / +401,635 / 9.4%) - 6,384 deaths (+493) - avg daily: cases (+57,376) / deaths (+70)
• Japan: 6,653,408 (up from 6,333,104 / +320,304 / 5.1%) - 28,253 deaths (+538) - avg daily: cases (+45,758) / deaths (+77)
  [*]US: 80,150,811 (up from 79,947,322 / +203,489 / 0.3%) - 982,533 deaths (+5,873) - avg daily: cases (+29,070 ) / deaths (+839)
• China: 1,429,495 (up from 1,271,829 / +157,666 / 12.4%) - 12,810 deaths (+920) - avg daily: cases (+22,524) / deaths (+131)
• Netherlands: 8,087,488 (up from 7,929,961 / +157,527 / 2.0%) - 22,632 deaths (+117) - avg daily: cases (+22,504) / deaths (+17)
• Brazil: 29,995,575 (up from 29,839,103 / +156,472 / 0.5%) - 660,371 deaths (+1,325) - avg daily: cases (+22,353) / deaths (+189)
• Russia: 17,636,019 (up from 17,504,537 / +131,482 / 0.8%) - 362,304 deaths (+2,283) - avg daily: cases (+18,783) / deaths (+326)
• Spain: 11,551,574 (up from 11,451,676 / +99,898 / 0.9%) - 102,541 deaths (+149) - avg daily: cases (+14,271) / deaths (+21)
• New Zealand: 695,515 (up from 599,140 / +96,375 / 16.1%) - 350 deaths (+127) - avg daily: cases (+13,768) / deaths (+18)
• Turkey: 14,885,710 (up from 14,789,483 / +96,227 / 0.7%) - 98,119 deaths (+383) - avg daily: cases (+13,747) / deaths (+55)
• Switzerland: 3,507,309 (up from 3,419,549 / +87,760 / 2.6%) - 13,573 deaths (+66) - avg daily: cases (+12,537) / deaths (+9)
• Israel: 3,938,752 (up from 3,853,081 / +85,671 / 2.2%) - 10,518 deaths (+54) - avg daily: cases (+12,239) / deaths (+8)
• Belgium: 3,851,048 (up from 3,782,085 / +68,963 / 1.8%) - 30,826 deaths (+140) - avg daily: cases (+9,852) / deaths (+20)
• Canada: 3,506,282 (up from 3,449,778 / +56,504 / 1.6%) - 37,728 deaths (+252) - avg daily: cases (+8,072) / deaths (+36)
• Ireland: 1,465,150 (up from 1,422,945 / +42,205 / 3.0%) - 6,786 deaths (+76) - avg daily: cases (+6,029) / deaths (+11)
• Poland: 5,969,621 (up from 5,943,227 / +26,394 / 0.4%) - 115,345 deaths (+517) - avg daily: cases (+3,771) / deaths (+74)
• Romania: 2,860,094 (up from 2,840,788 / +19,306 / 0.7%) - 65,090 deaths (+185) - avg daily: cases (+2,758) / deaths (+26)
• Mexico: 5,665,376 (up from 5,647,041 / +18,335 / 0.3%) - 323,212 deaths (+578) - avg daily: cases (+2,619) / deaths (+83)
• Iran: 7,167,646 (up from 7,151,088 / +16,558 / 0.2%) - 140,315 deaths (+294) - avg daily: cases (+2,365) / deaths (+42)
• Argentina: 9,040,640 (up from 9,025,257 / +15,383 / 0.2%) - 128,059 deaths (+155) - avg daily: cases (+2,198) / deaths (+22)
• India: 43,028,131 (up from 43,019,453 / +8,678 / 0.0%) - 521,345 deaths (+341) - avg daily: cases (+1,240) / deaths (+49)
• South Africa: 3,718,953 (up from 3,712,263 / +6,690 / 0.2%) - 100,032 deaths (+67) - avg daily: cases (+956) / deaths (+10)
• Sweden: 2,487,852 (up from 2,481,736 / +6,116 / 0.2%) - 18,365 deaths (+176) - avg daily: cases (+874) / deaths (+25)
• Columbia: 6,085,618 (up from 6,083,291 / +2,327 / 0.0%) - 139,650 deaths (+92) - avg daily: cases (+332) / deaths (+13)
• Lebanon: 1,092,807 (up from 1,090,498 / +2,309 / 0.2%) - 10,312 deaths (+34) - avg daily: cases (+330) / deaths (+5)
• Ukraine: 5,040,518 (up from 5,040,518 / +0 / 0.0%) - 112,459 deaths (+0) - avg daily: cases (+0) / deaths (+0) - unable to report

 

[belamyi]

- - - Updated - - -

https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/loc...hybrid-strain-first-identified-in-uk/2798743/

 

[cityboy-stl]

^ Not surprising, nor unexpected, that another variant is appearing. Hopefully, there won't be another surge. But if there is, just wait for the cries "How could we have seen this coming?".

Another reason to keep wearing your mask.

 

[Kulindahr]

I got my second booster yesterday late afternoon.

When I woke up this morning I was got and cold at the same time, both shoulders felt like I'd been kicked by a cow, and I was so weak I couldn't grasp my cellphone.

Now only the shoulder that got the injection hurts, I'm either hot or cold but not both at once, I'm nauseous and can't concentrate. Every time I drink something I feel like I'm going to vomit.

I haven't felt this miserable for years.