The COVID-2019 Thread

[harrybarracuda]

The FT with a startlingly accurate summation of how badly Vlad has fucked up and what an arsehole he is.

Dubiousness about vaccines partly reflects a distrust of state authorities dating back to pre-Soviet times. Hesitancy towards jabs was already rife pre-pandemic, with measles cases rising.

Rushing to roll out Sputnik jabs before large-scale clinical trials had been concluded further dented confidence.

The authorities have struggled to counter a belief among Russians who have had Covid that natural immunity now makes vaccination unnecessary.

Yet the sham democracy and slavishly propagandistic media of the Putin era have only heightened distrust and a tendency to believe in conspiracies. Levada polling found 61 per cent of respondents agreed coronavirus was a “new form of biological weapon”. Anyone who thinks the virus is man-made is unlikely to see vaccines as an answer.

The criticism of foreign-made vaccines by Putin and state media, intended to boost Sputnik, instead convinced many Russians that if international products were not much good, their own version was surely worse.

An EU report last month said a systematic disinformation campaign by Russian media to sow doubt about vaccines in the west, with materials on European websites in multiple languages including Russian, had backfired.

In doing so, Moscow has let down its own scientists who rallied to create a vaccine, quite apart from causing thousands of avoidable deaths. In a democracy, leaders responsible for such a situation would, sooner or later, pay a high price at the ballot box. Sadly, Putin’s Russia doesn’t work that way.

Subscribe to read | Financial Times

[misskit]

U.S. has no coherent plan to end COVID-19 pandemic: magazine

The path ahead is not just unclear; its nonexistent. We are meandering around the woods because we dont know where to go."

The United States is rendering an uncontrolled experiment with every strategy all at once, with COVID-19 policies differing wildly by state, county, university, workplace and school district, The Atlantic has reported.


"We're sleepwalking into policy because we're not setting goals," Joseph Allen, a Harvard professor of public health, was quoted as saying.


The goal of the country kept shifting, said the report, noting that the Biden administration floated booster doses for everyone to combat the pandemic, while an advisory panel of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) limited them to the elderly and immunocompromised most at risk for hospitalizations, and then the CDC director overruled the panel to include people with jobs that are at risk of infection.

Even if the Americans reach the so-called "endemicity," when nearly everyone has baseline immunity from either infection or vaccination, the country could be facing tens of millions of infections from the pandemic every year, thanks to the waning immunity and evolution of the virus, according to the report.


"The path ahead is not just unclear; it's nonexistent. We are meandering around the woods because we don't know where to go," it said, referring to a series of hard questions related to the pandemic facing the country.

U.S. has no coherent plan to end COVID-19 pandemic: magazine

[harrybarracuda]

Warning: Be cautious if you are a fragile pink



"Prepare for emergencies but there's no emergency" said the lying Mr. Shithole.

Hong Kong (CNN)China is scrambling to contain its most widespread Covid-19 outbreak since the first wave of infections that began in Wuhan in 2019.

Though subsequent flare-ups have seen higher total case numbers, this outbreak has spread the furthest, with 19 of China's 31 provinces -- more than half the country -- reporting cases since the outbreak began in mid-October, according to the National Health Commission (NHC).
On Wednesday, the NHC reported 93 new symptomatic cases -- the highest daily count in three months. About 500 cases have been reported nationwide since the outbreak began, according to state-run tabloid the Global Times.


The number may seem small compared to other countries in the West, many of which are still reporting tens of thousands of cases each day. But it's massive for China, which has stuck to its "zero-Covid" approach, including tight border controls and lengthy quarantines for international arrivals.

China doubles down on zero-Covid as it battles most widespread outbreak since Wuhan - CNN

[Joe 90]

UK leading the way again


The first pill designed to treat symptomatic Covid has been approved by the UK medicines regulator.

The tablet - molnupiravir - will be given twice a day to vulnerable patients recently diagnosed with the disease.

In clinical trials the pill, originally developed to treat flu, cut the risk of hospitalisation or death by about half.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the treatment was a "gamechanger" for the most frail and immunosuppressed.

In a statement he said: "Today is a historic day for our country, as the UK is now the first country in the world to approve an antiviral that can be taken at home for Covid."

First oral treatment
Molnupiravir, developed by the US drug companies Merck, Sharp and Dohme (MSD) and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, is the first antiviral medication for Covid which can be taken as a pill rather than injected or given intravenously.

The UK has agreed to purchase 480,000 courses with the first deliveries expected in November.

Initially it will be given to both vaccinated and unvaccinated patients through a national study, with extra data on its effectiveness collected before any decision to order more.

The drug needs to be given within five days of symptoms developing to be most effective.

It's not immediately clear how it will be distributed so quickly by the NHS. It's thought some care homes may be offered supplies while other elderly or vulnerable patients may be prescribed it by their GP after testing positive for Covid.

Lab Technician looking through microscope during clinical research testing.
IMAGE SOURCE,MSD
Image caption,
Molnupiravir, developed by scientists at Ridgeback Biotherapeutics and MSD, is the first of a number of oral antiviral treatments for Covid to report clinical trial results.
The new treatment targets an enzyme that the virus uses to make copies of itself, introducing errors into its genetic code. That should prevent it from multiplying, so keeping virus levels low in the body and reducing the severity of the disease.

Merck said that approach should make the treatment equally effective against new variants of the virus as it evolves in the future.

The UK regulator, the MHRA, said the tablet had been authorised for use in people who have mild to moderate Covid and at least one risk factor for developing severe illness such as obesity, old age, diabetes or heart disease.

The organisation's chief executive, June Raine, described it as "another therapeutic to add to our armoury against Covid-19".

"It is the world's first approved antiviral for this disease that can be taken by mouth rather than administered intravenously," she said.

"This is important, because it means it can be administered outside of a hospital setting, before Covid-19 has progressed to a severe stage."

England's deputy chief medical officer, Prof Jonathan Van-Tam, warned on Wednesday of some "hard months to come" in the pandemic.

He said that while Covid cases appeared to have stabilised, deaths were rising and there were signs infections were starting to "penetrate" older age groups.

The UK recorded 41,242 Covid cases on Thursday and 214 deaths within 28 days of a positive test.

First pill to treat Covid gets approval in UK - BBC News

[HermantheGerman]

UK leading the way again
....as the UK is now the first country in the world to approve an antiviral that can be taken at home for Covid."

Thank you UK for being our guinea pigs again. .
Open wide and say aahhhhh.

[malmomike77]

Thank you UK for being our guinea pigs again. .

Herman, you chaps have a history of letting, or should we say coercing victims into medical experiments. i see you are still a reluctant nation, we all remember your attempts at trashing a COVID vaccine, what a pathetic people

[misskit]

'Grave concern' over Covid in Europe as German cases soar

The World Health Organization expressed "grave concern" Thursday over the rising pace of coronavirus infections in Europe, as Germany registered its biggest daily increase since the start of the pandemic.


"We are, once again, at the epicentre," WHO Europe director Hans Kluge told a press conference.


He warned that according to "one reliable projection" the current trajectory would mean "another half a million Covid-19 deaths" by February.


Alarm bells were ringing especially in Germany, the European Union's most populous country, where the number of new cases over the past 24 hours soared to almost 34,000 on Thursday -- an all-time high, according to the Robert Koch Institute health agency.

MORE 'Grave concern' over Covid in Europe as German cases soar

[harrybarracuda]

There comes a point when you've thrown everything at it, let everyone get vaccinated two or even three times, and there are still 30M+ stupid squarehead twats that won't get vaccinated. Let the virus take them.

The UK has the same problem.

Mother nature needs a bit of a breather, so perhaps this bit of natural eugenics is a good thing. Plus it's taking the stupid ones.

[harrybarracuda]

Warning: Be cautious if you are a fragile pink


No doubt a large chunk of those will be appropriated for the generals and their families & hangers on.

Vientiane, 19 July 2021 – Today, Lao PDR received a new shipment of COVID-19 vaccines donated by the United States through the COVAX Facility – a partnership co-led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the World Health Organization (WHO), with UNICEF as key delivery partner – consisting of 1,008,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen (J&J/Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine. This is part of the United States’contribution to the ongoing global efforts to end the pandemic, and support for Lao PDR’s goal to vaccinate 50 percent of its population by the end of 2021.

United States Donates More than One Million COVID-19 Vaccines to Lao PDR Through the COVAX Facility - U.S. Embassy in Laos

[harrybarracuda]

That's quite a game changer if the trial data satisfies peer review.

Pfizer Inc. said its Covid-19 pill reduced hospitalizations and deaths in high-risk patients by 89%, a result that has the potential to upend how the disease caused by the coronavirus is treated and alter the course of the pandemic. The shares surged.
The drugmaker said in a statement on Friday that it was no longer taking new patients in a clinical trial of the treatment “due to the overwhelming efficacy” and planned to submit the findings to U.S. regulatory authorities for emergency authorization as soon as possible.
The results mean there are now two promising candidates for treating Covid-19 patients early in the course of the disease. Last month, Merck & Co. and partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics LP submitted their experimental pill to regulators after a study showed it slashed the risk of getting seriously ill or dying by half in patients with mild-to-moderate Covid-19.
“We’ve already secured millions of doses and the therapy would be another tool in our toolbox to protect people” from Covid’s worst effects, President Joe Biden said at the White House.

Pfizer (PFE) Covid-19 Pill Treatment Paxlovid 89% Effective on Hospitalization - Bloomberg

[harrybarracuda]

Living with long Covid: ‘Everything tastes bitter and smells like sweat or a fart’

Living with long Covid: ‘Everything tastes bitter and smells like sweat or a fart’ | Health24

[harrybarracuda]

Emergent BioSolutions, the Maryland-based contractor behind a mix-up that disrupted the global supply of Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine seven months ago, says a vaccine manufacturing deal with the Biden administration has been terminated. The deal was worth more than $650 million.

The company disclosed the development Thursday in a filing. Emergent later said in a statement that it plans to continue making Johnson & Johnson's vaccine under a separate deal with J&J.

"As we came to September 30, based on where we were at that point in time, we determined that it was no longer probable that we were going to collect 100% of the contract," Rich Lindahl, Emergent's chief financial officer, told investors on Thursday, claiming the "government had been behind on payments" related to their order.

Deal ended between Biden administration and Emergent BioSolutions, vaccine maker behind mix-up with J&J COVID shots - CBS News

[HermantheGerman]

Herman, you chaps have a history of letting, or should we say coercing victims into medical experiments. i see you are still a reluctant nation, we all remember your attempts at trashing a COVID vaccine, what a pathetic people

Did you forget that it was a German who has discovered your neurodegenerative disease that you are suffering from? So I guess its useless to discuss the German contribution towards COVID vaccine(s) and treatment(s). note: plural

Alois Alzheimer

[harrybarracuda]

Did you forget that it was a German who has discovered your neurodegenerative disease that you are suffering from? So I guess its useless to discuss the German contribution towards COVID vaccine(s) and treatment(s). note: plural

Alois Alzheimer

Yes Herman but you have to admit you have an excessive amount of idiots that won't get vaccinated, especially the 2-3 million suicidal ones over 60.

[HermantheGerman]

Yes Herman but you have to admit you have an excessive amount of idiots that won't get vaccinated, especially the 2-3 million suicidal ones over 60.

Over 60 2nd dose 85.4% in Germany.
U.K. ?

Coronavirus: Impfquote nach Altersgruppen 2021 | Statista

But no argument that we have an excessive amount of idiots that won't get vaccinated.


In the flesh

Are there any queers in the theater tonight?
Get them up against the wall!
There's one in the spotlight, he don't look right to me,
Get him up against the wall!
That one looks Jewish!
And that one′s a coon!
Who let all of this Anti-vaxxers into the room?
There′s one smoking a joint,
And another with spots!
If I had my way,
I'd have all of you shot!

[sabang]

Man dies two weeks after sharing video boasting about Covid-19 symptoms but saying virus wasn’t real



A Canadian man has died two weeks after he boasted about having Covid-19 symptoms while insisting the virus isn’t real in a livestreamed video.

Mak Parhar is seen in a Twitch livestream two weeks before his deathMak Parhar was found dead by paramedics at his home in New Westminster, British Columbia, on Thursday morning. His cause of death is still under investigation, Global News reported.

Mr Parhar, who was an outspoken opponent of Canada’s mask and vaccine mandates throughout the pandemic, dismissed the existence of Covid-19 — which he referred to as “convid” — in an October 21 Twitch livestream.

He reported experiencing several symptoms associated with the virus, including a cough, chills and fatigue, but said they were “not convid because convid doesn’t exist”.

In another video posted on Wednesday, just hours before his death, Mr Parhar said he was feeling better and revealed he had recently taken ivermectin, an anti-parasite medication that has been promoted in conservative circles as a treatment for Covid-19 despite a lack of conclusive evidence that it helps people with the virus.


At the time of his death, Mr Parhar was in the middle of a trial on three charges for violating Canada’s Quarantine Act by refusing to self-isolate after he attended a flat earth conference in the US in 2020, according to Global News.

Mr Parhar’s belief that Covid-19 isn’t real first landed him in hot water with Canadian authorities in March 2020, when his hot yoga studio was shut down after he encouraged customers to attend by falsely claiming that the heat would kill the virus.

The following month, Mr Parhar was investigated for posting a series of videos of himself entering healthcare facilities in search of the “truth” about the pandemic.
He also hosted several “Anti-covIDIOT” gatherings in defiance of social distancing and shared videos of them on YouTube.

Mr Parhar, who described himself as a “citizen journalist”, first gained notoriety on social media by spreading his belief that the earth is flat.

Man dies two weeks after sharing video boasting about Covid-19 symptoms but saying virus wasn’t real




I wonder what statistical correlation there is between being a Flat Earther, and also an anti-Vaxxer. It would be a fascinating study.
Other Loonies too, like Qanoners, Antifa, Doomers and so on. Maybe it's a good thing if they don't get vaxxed. I think Darwin would agree.

[Buckaroo Banzai]

There comes a point when you've thrown everything at it, let everyone get vaccinated two or even three times, and there are still 30M+ stupid squarehead twats that won't get vaccinated. Let the virus take them.

The UK has the same problem.

Mother nature needs a bit of a breather, so perhaps this bit of natural eugenics is a good thing. Plus it's taking the stupid ones.

I could not agree with you more.
Personally I would round them up, put them in a stadium, anf force vaccinate all of them.
Both of my grandfathers died during WW2 to defend their country .I never met them, My parents grew up orphants.
many of good men gave up their lives to defend our freedom, and these little pricks will not do the right thing because they might get a paper cut.
I am disgusted !! Thinking about it I make a sour face.
Seriously,this is not just a TD rant, this is how I feel. Thinking about them leaves a sour taste in my mouth, and I am what you might call a leftie. Enough is enough.

[harrybarracuda]

Over 60 2nd dose 85.4% in Germany.
U.K. ?

Coronavirus: Impfquote nach Altersgruppen 2021 | Statista

Maybe squarehead maths is different....

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is "very worried" about decreasing hospital capacity, according to German government spokesman Steffen Seibert at another press conference on Wednesday.

"What worries her just as much is that we continue to have more than 16 million unvaccinated adults in Germany, more than 3 million unvaccinated over the age of 60," he said.

Germany is experiencing a 'massive' pandemic of the unvaccinated, says health minister - CNN

[misskit]

Austria bans those unvaccinated against Covid-19 from cafés amid surge in new cases

Austria said on Friday it is barring those not fully vaccinated against Covid-19 from cafes, restaurants and hairdressers as infections approach the record set a year ago and the government struggles to convince holdouts to get the shot.


Roughly 64 percent of Austria’s population is fully vaccinated against Covid-19, in line with the European Union average but one of the lowest rates in western Europe. Many Austrians are sceptical about vaccines, as is the far-right Freedom Party, the third-biggest party in parliament.


New daily infections have been surging and on Friday rose to 9,388, close to the record of 9,586 set a year ago, when the second of three national lockdowns was introduced.

MORE Error 404 - Page not found - France 24

[harrybarracuda]

They should just have lockdowns for people who aren't vaccinated.

[HermantheGerman]

Maybe squarehead maths is different....

Jeezus Limey, which part of the math don't you get AGAIN?

85.4% ?
over 3 million ?
over 60 ?

Do we need another math lesson Harry?







How many millions of doses of vaccine has the U.K. ordered?

#1 BioNTech-Pfizer 135m





Does it hurt when that little german flag penetrates your skin?

[Little Chuchok]

Revelations of poor practices at a contract research company helping to carry out Pfizer’s pivotal covid-19 vaccine trial raise questions about data integrity and regulatory oversight. Paul D Thacker reports

In autumn 2020 Pfizer’s chairman and chief executive, Albert Bourla, released an open letter to the billions of people around the world who were investing their hopes in a safe and effective covid-19 vaccine to end the pandemic. “As I’ve said before, we are operating at the speed of science,” Bourla wrote, explaining to the public when they could expect a Pfizer vaccine to be authorised in the United States.1
But, for researchers who were testing Pfizer’s vaccine at several sites in Texas during that autumn, speed may have come at the cost of data integrity and patient safety. A regional director who was employed at the research organisation Ventavia Research Group has told The BMJ that the company falsified data, unblinded patients, employed inadequately trained vaccinators, and was slow to follow up on adverse events reported in Pfizer’s pivotal phase III trial. Staff who conducted quality control checks were overwhelmed by the volume of problems they were finding. After repeatedly notifying Ventavia of these problems, the regional director, Brook Jackson, emailed a complaint to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Ventavia fired her later the same day. Jackson has provided The BMJ with dozens of internal company documents, photos, audio recordings, and emails.


More below




Covid-19: Researcher blows the whistle on data integrity issues in Pfizer’s vaccine trial | The BMJ

[harrybarracuda]

Jeezus Limey, which part of the math don't you get AGAIN?

It's not my maths it's your fucking leader's you moron.

And what does it have to do with the UK, we vaccinated all the wrinklies first.

[harrybarracuda]

Revelations of poor practices at a contract research company helping to carry out Pfizer’s pivotal covid-19 vaccine trial raise questions about data integrity and regulatory oversight. Paul D Thacker reports

Hoohoo and the Russians keep trying to say this was Pfizer - it wasn't.

It's a big fat nothingburger dating back to 2020.

[Little Chuchok]

^ It was Ventavia, but Pfizer employed them. Buck stops somewhere.

I've been double jabbed with Pfizer, couldn't really give a fuck either way. I don't wear a tinfoil hat, but I also wouldn't trust those c unts to take short cuts or put pressure on their suppliers.