The COVID-2019 Thread

[harrybarracuda]

Feb. 19 (UPI) -- Recipients of the COVID-19 vaccine report shot-related side effects at a rate of roughly one for every 2,000 doses, with more than 90% classified as "non-serious," according to data released Friday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Headaches were the most common side effect, followed by fatigue and dizziness, the data showed.

Although 113 deaths were reported following receipt of the vaccine, none were found to be related to the shot, the agency said. About 65% were among residents of nursing homes.

The findings are based on the first 13.8 million doses of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines administered in the United States between Dec. 14 and Jan. 13, according to the CDC.

Fewer than 7,000 side effects were reported with both vaccines, which require two doses and were approved for use in mid-December.

"Healthcare providers and vaccine recipients can be reassured about the safety of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines," the CDC researchers wrote.

"Counseling vaccine recipients to expect [non-serious] reactions might ease concerns and encourage completion of the two-dose vaccination series," they said.

Less than 10% of the side effects reported were considered serious or life-threatening, a figure that includes fewer than 100 cases of anaphylaxis, or a severe allergic reaction, reported with both vaccines, according to the CDC.

Of the non-serious side effects, 22% involved headaches, 17% were cases of fatigue and 17% included reports of dizziness, the CDC said.

A follow-up survey of more than 1.6 million vaccine recipients revealed that more than 70% experienced injection-site pain following administration of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna shots, the data showed.

Roughly one-third of recipients reported fever and 30% indicated they suffered headaches within seven days of receiving either vaccine, the CDC said.

Nearly 80% of the survey respondents said they experienced injection-site pain after receiving their second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, while 54% reported fatigue, 47% had muscle pain and 43% suffered from headaches.

These numbers were much higher following receipt of the second dose of the vaccine than the first, but all were considered non-serious, the CDC said.

Information on second-dose side effects for the Moderna vaccine was not available, as they had yet to be administered prior to the Jan. 13 close of the study period, according to the agency.

However, rates of side effects following administration of the first dose were similar for both vaccines, the data showed.

Doses of the Moderna vaccine are administered 28 days apart and the product was approved for use on Dec. 18, the agency said.

The two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which was approved on Dec. 11, are given 21 days apart

CDC: Few side effects reported with COVID-19 vaccines, and most 'non-serious' - UPI.com

[harrybarracuda]

(Reuters) - AstraZeneca and Oxford University’s COVID-19 vaccine is more effective when its second dose is given three months after the first, instead of six weeks, a peer-reviewed study published in The Lancet medical journal showed on Friday.

The study confirmed the Anglo-Swedish drugmaker’s findings from earlier this month that showed the vaccine had 76% efficacy against symptomatic coronavirus infection for three months after the first dose.

Efficacy was found to be at 81% with the longer interval of 12 weeks between the first and second dose, compared with 55% efficacy up to the six-week gap, according to the Lancet study, which backs British and WHO recommendations for longer intervals. (bit.ly/3bmLX25)

Faced with a resurgence in infections and new, highly transmissible variants of the virus, many countries are hoping to broaden immunization by giving some protection to as many people as possible with a first dose, while delaying subsequent shots.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-astrazeneca-idUSKBN2AJ1WZ?taid=60300f8118b9b200015b778d&utm_ca mpaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_medium=tru eAnthem&utm_source=twitter

[harrybarracuda]

PORTAGE, Mich. (Reuters) - Pfizer Inc Chief Executive Albert Bourla said on Friday that the drugmaker expects to be able to double the weekly number of doses of its COVID-19 vaccine it will supply to the United States in the next few weeks.

Bourla, speaking after U.S. President Joe Biden toured his company’s vaccine manufacturing facility in Michigan, said Pfizer was currently sending out an average of 5 million doses per week and expects to “more than double that number” in coming weeks.

“We have improved our processes to double the batch size and increase yield and we have deployed more efficient lab test methods to reduce release times,” Bourla said in his remarks.

He said those measures allowed the company to reduce the time it takes to make the vaccine from 110 days to 60 days.

Bourla said that by Feb. 17, Pfizer had supplied the United States with 40 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine it developed with German partner BioNTech SE.

The company has agreed to supply 300 million doses to the United States by the end of July.

Bourla said Biden had challenged the company to beat that target, and it would look for ways to improve its production.

Pfizer to double weekly U.S. output of vaccine in next few weeks - CEO | Reuters

[harrybarracuda]

The NSW government has called in debt collectors to chase $16.4 million owed by more than 7000 returning Australians for their stay in mandatory hotel quarantine in Sydney.

Revenue NSW figures as of Friday, February 19 show debt recovery orders have been issued for 5264 invoices covering 7214 travellers. These bills are more than two months overdue.

Coronavirus NSW: Debt collectors sent for overdue hotel quarantine bills

[Slick]

The NSW government has called in debt collectors to chase $16.4 million owed by more than 7000 returning Australians for their stay in mandatory hotel quarantine in Sydney.

Revenue NSW figures as of Friday, February 19 show debt recovery orders have been issued for 5264 invoices covering 7214 travellers. These bills are more than two months overdue.

Coronavirus NSW: Debt collectors sent for overdue hotel quarantine bills

Oz has and Kiwi Land have good covid numbers but they both did some pretty extreme things to get them that way.

Always seemed bonkers to me to place such extreme restrictions on your own citizen taxpayers trying to repatriate, and even more crazy that so many people support such crazy policy.

[Iceman123]

^
Yep, you’re right we should have followed the US example.

[Slick]

^Yep, you’re right we should have followed the US example.

No skin off my back, but forcing citizen taxpayers to pay for 2 weeks worth of expenses, limited flights, etc just to return home seems a hellacious overreach.

But like I said, a crazy number of people support it.

[harrybarracuda]

No skin off my back, but forcing citizen taxpayers to pay for 2 weeks worth of expenses, limited flights, etc just to return home seems a hellacious overreach.

But like I said, a crazy number of people support it.

I think it was a bit unfair loading those costs on to people already overseas.

If people travelled knowing it was going to be charged, fair enough.

[russellsimpson]

Nearly 80% of the survey respondents said they experienced injection-site pain after receiving their second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, while 54% reported fatigue, 47% had muscle pain and 43% suffered from headaches.

These numbers were much higher following receipt of the second dose of the vaccine than the first, but all were considered non-serious, the CDC said.

That's kind of of interesting. The side effect numbers much higher on the second dose. The percentages comes as a great surprise to me. I thought the numbers were way lower.

[russellsimpson]

Efficacy was found to be at 81% with the longer interval of 12 weeks between the first and second dose, compared with 55% efficacy up to the six-week gap, according to the Lancet study, which backs British and WHO recommendations for longer intervals. (bit.ly/3bmLX25)

How might "efficacy" be defined I wonder.

and then there's this,

Faced with a resurgence in infections and new, highly transmissible variants of the virus, many countries are hoping to broaden immunization by giving some protection to as many people as possible with a first dose, while delaying subsequent shots.

Well, we are being blessed indeed, extremely to be thankful that just as we are so desperate to extend confidence amoungst the common street plebe studies everywhere are concluding that less is more. Is there some media engineering at play I wonder? Maybe next they can take on black and white. A walk in the park.

[panama hat]

Always seemed bonkers to me to place such extreme restrictions on your own citizen taxpayers trying to repatriate, and even more crazy that so many people support such crazy policy.

What is crazy is allowing the virus to spread unabated and have a collapsing health system.

Returnees have had close to a year to get back

[Buckaroo Banzai]

So I am watching the news and they are reporting on a 111 year old lady getting vaccinated.
I get it that everyone wants to live , and I dont want to sound insensitive, which I am sure this does sound like
but in this environment of limited vaccine recourses, docent it feel a bit counterintuitive to be vaccinating someone who might not live long enough to receive the second vaccine?

[russellsimpson]

which I am sure this does sound like
but in this environment of limited vaccine recourses, docent it feel a bit counterintuitive to be vaccinating someone who might not live long enough to receive the second vaccine?

Not at all.

Some might call you an ungrateful ingrate. I won't.

[panama hat]

I think it was a bit unfair loading those costs on to people already overseas.

Not everyone is charged the fee:

If you are a NZ citizen or resident you will be liable for a charge if:

• You are currently overseas and return to NZ for a period of less than 90 days; or
• You leave NZ after the regulations came into effect (12.01am on 11 August 2020) and return at a later date. This includes people returning to New Zealand after travelling to Australia (including quarantine-free states and territories).

Charges for managed isolation | Managed isolation and quarantine

The most pertinent parts, however, are:

Who will not have to pay

New Zealanders who left New Zealand before 12:01am on 11 August 2020, will not have to pay if they return to stay in New Zealand for 90 days or longer.
Temporary visa holders who left New Zealand on or before 19 March 2020, and were ordinarily resident in New Zealand as of 19 March 2020 will not have to pay (unless they are entering under a critical worker border exception).
People who are exempt will not have to pay.
Exemptions from charges

• Partners, children and legal guardians who are isolating or travelling with someone who is exempt from paying charges (unless they are entering under a critical worker border exception)
• Someone in New Zealand who goes into managed isolation to care for a person who is exempt from charges
• Refugees, including claimants, protected persons and applicants under the special immigration category for victims of domestic violence, when they enter New Zealand for the first time
• Anyone entering New Zealand after a medical air transfer or rescue at sea
• Patients travelling as part of the Ministry of Health’s High Cost Treatment Pool or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s New Zealand Medical Treatment Scheme
• New Zealand citizens ordinarily resident in the Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau who are travelling to New Zealand for medical treatment
• New Zealand citizens ordinarily resident in the Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau, travelling from a third country through New Zealand (staying less than 90 days) in order to return to the Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau (staying at least 90 days)
• People being deported to New Zealand, defined as “returning offenders” in the Returning Offenders (Management and Information) Act 2015 and any New Zealand citizen deported from Australia
• Diplomats and consular staff, including their families, and official foreign government representatives will be exempt.

To demonstrate you are exempt, download and fill out the fee and waiver form and send it to the email provided on the form.
Managed Isolation and Quarantine: Fee and waiver form [PDF, 349 KB]
Waivers for charges

Applications to waive charges for managed isolation will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Waivers will be available in cases of undue financial hardship and other special circumstances. These special circumstances could include:

• A New Zealander entering managed isolation because they left New Zealand to accompany a person back to New Zealand who is disabled or cannot travel alone
• Someone needing to travel to or from New Zealand to receive medical treatment.
• Other compassionate grounds, including when a person has travelled to visit a seriously ill or dying close relative or attend a funeral or tangihanga (whether in New Zealand or overseas).

To apply for a waiver, download and fill out the fee and waiver form and send it to the email provided on the form. Ensure that you attach all of your supporting documents as outlined in the fee and waiver form:

• If you are entering NZ to attend a funeral or tangihanga, please provide us with a copy of the death certificate, a death notice or other a letter from a funeral director
• If you are entering NZ to visit a seriously ill or dying close relative, please provide us with a letter from doctor, hospital or hospice which supports your application on that basis
• If you are applying on grounds of financial hardship, you must complete the Statement of Financial Position on the Fee and Waiver form and also attach any other supporting documents which confirm your financial position such as bank statements or mortgage documents.

In percentage terms few are obliged to pay . . .

[Buckaroo Banzai]

Not at all.

Some might call you an ungrateful ingrate. I won't.

You know that ungrateful and ingrate mean the same thing right? If you don't believe me, ask one of those who would say such thing about me.
Of course they probably don't know that either because they must be pretty stupid to say such a thing about me.
Good thing it wasn't you.

[Slick]

What is crazy is allowing the virus to spread unabated and have a collapsing health system.

Returnees have had close to a year to get back

Unless im mistaken, I dont think any country has had a collapsing healthcare system. Even the USA which is the alleged "worst" hit country, never collapsed.

And I never said I wanted or desired the virus to spread unabated. There is a middle ground somewhere. Oz and NZ had some highly extreme measures in place to combat the virus, and those are the ones I take issue with. Such as putting barriers in place to return to your home country which you've (likely) paid taxes into.

Thailand barely did anything. People say there were "lockdowns" but for 99% of the country there wasn't and it was business as usual. No so for Oz & NZ.

[panama hat]

Unless im mistaken, I dont think any country has had a collapsing healthcare system. Even the USA which is the alleged "worst" hit country, never collapsed.

I'm not a teacher butthe 'ing' at the end of the word denotes a continuous activity . . . and the NZ health system couldn't handle it - how many other illnesses, operations etc... weren't taken on because of covid in the US?

Oz and NZ had some highly extreme measures in place to combat the virus, and those are the ones I take issue with

Nothing draconian about them - I had to spend 14 days in self-isolation when I returned from work - hardly an ordeal.

Such as putting barriers in place to return to your home country which you've (likely) paid taxes into.

Two issues here; your "likely" - irrelevant. As for barriers - safety issues which everyone has take on now. Why have a UK/US shitheap when it can be avoided.

No so for Oz & NZ.

In NZ it's been business as usual since April. Just today we went to a music and cultural festival - no social distancing/masks etc... Last weekend we went to the movies, out for meals, work, school . . . THAT is business as usual.

Want to see 'normal'? I have a thread that can illustrate it: Summer's here . . .

Similar to my other daughter in Brisbane . . .


There is absolutely zero comparison to the US - I am not fan of the PM here, but some actions have been very positive for the country and that's a good thing

[katie23]

Re: Oz and NZ, they are island nations & don't want the virus to spread in their country. IMO if someone wants to repatriate, then they must shoukder the cost (whether partly or in full). As I understand it, Oz sets a limit on returning residents / citizens.

For PI, it's also an archipelago & we're still in some form of quarantine. Inter-island/ regional travel is difficult - needs quarantine, tests or docs. That's ahy if not essential, ppl are not travelling. Filipinos coming from abroad (plus their spouse or kids) can enter, but must quarantine in a hotel at own expense for 7 days. OFWs get free accoms & test from govt, but accoms is basic. We don't have a good health system, so I'm in favor of the restrictions.

However, I also see the need to open the economy/ country safely, since many ppl have lost their jobs. It will be 1 year on March 15th since we've had restrictions.

[Slick]

I'm not a teacher butthe 'ing' at the end of the word denotes a continuous activity . . . and the NZ health system couldn't handle it - how many other illnesses, operations etc... weren't taken on because of covid in the US?

But it never got bad enough in NZ to even come close to stressing the system, so saying it couldn't handle it - is just a guess.

Nothing draconian about them - I had to spend 14 days in self-isolation when I returned from work - hardly an ordeal.

14 day self isolation is a far cry from mandatory 14 day hotel quarantine with all the associated costs and logistics involved.

Two issues here; your "likely" - irrelevant. As for barriers - safety issues which everyone has take on now. Why have a UK/US shitheap when it can be avoided.

To me, and probably most Americans, and even the Biden administration, blocking citizens from returning and placing undue burdens on the same is highly draconian. Spending your whole life paying taxes into a system that is gonna cockblock you from returning when it gets a little bad is not only draconian, but should be considered an insult.

In NZ it's been business as usual since April. Just today we went to a music and cultural festival - no social distancing/masks etc... Last weekend we went to the movies, out for meals, work, school . . . THAT is business as usual.

Want to see 'normal'? I have a thread that can illustrate it: Summer's here . . .

Similar to my other daughter in Brisbane . . .


There is absolutely zero comparison to the US - I am not fan of the PM here, but some actions have been very positive for the country and that's a good thing

You can do the same in most of the states too, where its not freezing at the moment. I dont like the PM either btw.

[harrybarracuda]

How might "efficacy" be defined I wonder.

The same way it has been since 1915 you chump.

[harrybarracuda]

Not everyone is charged the fee:

The article was about Australia, not NZ.

[PlanK]

But it never got bad enough in NZ to even come close to stressing the system, so saying it couldn't handle it - is just a guess.

It never got bad enough because, although the gubmint were slow out of the blocks, they did listen to the scientists and went hard & fast into a full lockdown. It may have been overkill but ATT the virus was an unknown entity. The results of the hard & fast lockdown were that NZ (apart from the tourism sector) has been BAU while other countries have been living in fear/lockdown. The kids I work with spent the summer going to music festivals, I went to beerfests, everyone enjoyed the Christmas/NY break. In contrast to other countries the gubmint didn't try to play politics, they got experts to explain the situation, and mostly everyone pulled together to make it work.

As Panama Karen points out, the gubmint may not be totally qualified to do many things, but they were at least smart enough to listen to expert opinion and the result was last year there was an election and they had a crushing victory.

[harrybarracuda]

the result was last year there was an election and they had a crushing victory.

Oh dear you are going to trigger him again.

[harrybarracuda]

The US has gone past 61m vaccinations.

The UK has gone past 17m vaccinations.

All good news.

[harrybarracuda]

Brazil is vaccinating an entire town as an experiment to see what effect it has on coronavirus transmission. The entire adult population of Serrana in the state of São Paulo, estimated to be 30,000, will be offered the CoronaVac vaccine made by China-based company Sinovac.

Covid-19 news: 95 per cent of over 70s in Great Britain given vaccine | New Scientist