Best letter to the editor I’ve seen lately. Via ?@nytimes? pic.twitter.com/ME8qDC14kT
— David Wessel (@davidmwessel) September 21, 2021
A CDC advisory panel recommended the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine booster shot for Americans aged 65 and older and some adults with underlying medical conditions. But it declined to recommend boosters for younger adults, including healthcare workers https://t.co/9njymuImMs pic.twitter.com/yYmEhj3DeK
— Reuters (@Reuters) September 24, 2021
I think today's ACIP is a good case study in the chaos that ensues when you are working w/ really inadequate data for key decisions (exception in older population) and are divided on why you would do something (are we boosting to prevent severe outcomes or simply any infection).
— Sarah Karlin-Smith (@SarahKarlin) September 23, 2021
The US timeline for boosters.
You'd have to work really hard to mess this up this badly and engender this much confusion. ? pic.twitter.com/KHNWEQJyLg— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) September 23, 2021
Preventing a single case of #COVID19 hospitalization w/3rd dose of #vaccine requires 19Xs more vaccinees in <25 yr olds compared to >65 yr olds. ACIP @CDCgov meeting, now live. pic.twitter.com/p8b1aQMmtj
— Laurie Garrett (@Laurie_Garrett) September 23, 2021
Here's the problem the @US_FDA advisors faced last week & ACIP @CDCgov is mulling now: Nearly all data on safety & efficacy of @pfizer #COVID19 3rd dose from the company is from use in their 2020 adult vaccine trials, tracking same populations over time. And, since..
MORE pic.twitter.com/5LUXqMz1lc— Laurie Garrett (@Laurie_Garrett) September 23, 2021
3/ It seems that @pfizer shot itself in the foot by doing its only FDA studies to support 3rd doses on that very white, very old 2020 study population. Nobody wants to approve youth access if there's no youth data.
And meanwhile, millions of Americans have had zero vax doses. pic.twitter.com/Z88GEPCxS5— Laurie Garrett (@Laurie_Garrett) September 23, 2021
======
Much of the world is still waiting but Moderna’s chief expects enough vaccines for everyone by next year https://t.co/VbymYRXEb5
— delthia ricks ? (@DelthiaRicks) September 24, 2021
African leaders denounced the inequity of vaccine distribution at the U.N., with Namibia president Hage Geingob calling it “vaccine apartheid.” The leaders want intellectual property rights waived so more countries can produce COVID-19 vaccines. https://t.co/9sR91NbNIP
— The Associated Press (@AP) September 23, 2021
U.S. Vice President Harris welcomes India's resuming COVID exports https://t.co/yAafajvH0o pic.twitter.com/3Yll8R4GHr
— Reuters (@Reuters) September 24, 2021
Sinovac's COVID-19 vaccine is highly effective against serious illness, although rival shots from Pfizer/BioNTech and AstraZeneca showed better protection rates, a large real world study from Malaysia showed https://t.co/MG549fYYq2 pic.twitter.com/580HzLOwHR
— Reuters (@Reuters) September 24, 2021
Singapore migrant workers are still living in Covid lockdown https://t.co/MWAiYrpiNc
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) September 24, 2021
S.Korea reports record daily COVID-19 cases; planning how to live with COVID-19 https://t.co/m67YdWZ8Gt pic.twitter.com/oKzzhvxTOm
— Reuters (@Reuters) September 24, 2021
Japan approaching end of COVID-19 emergency in most areas – health minister https://t.co/ybbkHySp8u pic.twitter.com/Ie5fcSbkP2
— Reuters (@Reuters) September 24, 2021
Sri Lankan shaman dies of Covid after touting potion which he said could protect people from the disease https://t.co/ZWVKatHZVc
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) September 23, 2021
More than half of Australia's adult population were fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of Friday, authorities said, as they step up inoculations in hopes of easing restrictions while cases linger near daily record levels in Victoria https://t.co/aYv0kgUAjX pic.twitter.com/MosPe74ncB
— Reuters (@Reuters) September 24, 2021
Today New Zealand had a total of 9 cases, the lowest since their outbreak started.
BTW they also donated a lot of vaccines today
???? pic.twitter.com/tGYudd6tEq— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) September 24, 2021
Russia reported 820 deaths from Covid-19 on Thursday, equalling its highest number of daily fatalitieshttps://t.co/T8UUxnFDM7
— The Moscow Times (@MoscowTimes) September 23, 2021
Dutch boy wins court battle for right to Covid jab so he can visit his dying grandmother, despite father's objections https://t.co/kSxbSjiDa1
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) September 23, 2021
Brazil approaches 600,000 COVID deaths in second-deadliest outbreak https://t.co/HFoqyJvn0x pic.twitter.com/QY6yqXdP9L
— Reuters (@Reuters) September 24, 2021
Brazil's Bolsonaro in isolation after top aide tested positive at UN assembly https://t.co/0uePvH3QU5 pic.twitter.com/PP0Xp7Yx9Z
— The Hill (@thehill) September 23, 2021
Using their own vaccines, Cuba expects to reach “full immunization” against Covid by Dec. 31. Cuba has extended vaccinations to all age groups from 2 up. Cuban scientists developed their own vaccines. Announced Thursday at UN Gen'l Assembly meeting in NYC https://t.co/7WHuDgicLD
— delthia ricks ? (@DelthiaRicks) September 23, 2021
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What are 'Crisis Standards of Care?' As #DeltaVariant continues to spread, public health officials have approved drastic rationing measures. Crisis standards allow doctors to allocate scarce resources—like ventilators—to patients most likely to survive https://t.co/pabA7EHzE1
— delthia ricks ? (@DelthiaRicks) September 23, 2021
Very well reasoned case here. This is such a complex problem and the analysis of the data is extremely difficult and subject to substantial confounding. Negative consequences may occur here from favoring precautionary principles too- boosters for all are not currently justified. https://t.co/3NFi3cJs5I
— Edward Nirenberg (@ENirenberg) September 23, 2021
4DMedical lung imagery sheds more light on 'long COVID' effects https://t.co/xsQYOWpisM pic.twitter.com/fxCoKDZM7M
— Reuters (@Reuters) September 24, 2021
======
Outbreak in Alaska may be late, but it is enormous. https://t.co/iTWlUGODio
— (((Howard Forman))) (@thehowie) September 22, 2021
Sad, terrifying and deeply reported ?@BuzzFeedNews? story on Idaho. Well worth your time to read.
“An Unprecedented Event In Modern Medicine”: What Happens When A State Fails To Flatten The COVID Curve https://t.co/zeePHYIw7t
— andrew kaczynski (@KFILE) September 23, 2021
More than 50 UGA faculty members announce plans to mandate masks in their classrooms https://t.co/H2axYt6VGC
— Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) September 23, 2021
Between this & yesterday’s report that the LDS now requires masking, sounds like Utah is taking the virus seriously:
VACCINE REQUIRED – The Utah National Guard announced Wednesday that members will be required to receive a COVID-19 vaccination and submit their vaccine card to officials. https://t.co/hjjwdktwWN
— FOX 13 News Utah (@fox13) September 23, 2021
I gotcha quarantine right here!…
I'm sorry but an unvaccinated Bolsonaro being denied entry into NYC restaurants and being forced to eat pizza outside is a gift from a very specific brand of New York comedy gods. https://t.co/SYS9Vypsjt
— Soo Youn (@lalasoo) September 22, 2021
raven
NotMax
Locally,
NeenerNeener
Monroe County, NY:
Monroe County web site: 183 new cases, 4.3% test positivity
NYSDOH says 203 new cases.
OzarkHillbilly
‘It’s awful. It’s exhausting’: Alaska rations care as it hits Covid nadir
OzarkHillbilly
US public health workers leaving ‘in droves’ amid pandemic burnout
OzarkHillbilly
I had to take Percy in for his yearly checkup and shots on Tuesday. All was well tho he was thoroughly discomfited by the anal probe (I warned him it was coming). As it was, it showed he had hookworms. The vet tech brings out some chewable deworming meds (got some for Billie Jean too) and as she hands them to me she says with a half grin on her face,
“These are for your dogs, not you.”
What a world, what a world.
The Thin Black Duke
These idiotic anti-vaxxers are gonna be extinct soon, right?
Baud
@OzarkHillbilly:
I thought you were the only sane person in your part of Missouri.
Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes
@OzarkHillbilly:
I’m glad to see I’m not the only one who explains veterinary procedures to the dog before going.
raven
@OzarkHillbilly: Artie got her new vet and health inusrance!!!
OzarkHillbilly
@Baud: No, I’m just the only loud and proud sane person in this part of Misery. It is not unusual to have someone sidle up to me and softly say how much they like my truck/hat/t-shirt.
OzarkHillbilly
@Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes: I talk to my dogs all the time, about all kinds of stuff. I don’t talk about my love life with them tho, that’s personal.
@raven: Good news! First thing we did with Billie Jean was take her in to meet the vet.
germy
Those dummies.
raven
@OzarkHillbilly: we not only talk to them we talk FOR them!!!
David C
@raven: Dr. Walensky doing the right thing. That’s why these committees only advise. Unfortunately, Eric Topol’s lack of understanding of the regulatory process is leading me to scroll past his tweets. We are all working in a world of limited data and the FDA is relying on what sponsors submit. They can’t approve or authorize based on press releases.
Whether we need a third Pfizer shot is an important issue. Topol doesn’t like it, but there is a process that was followed and we were able to evaluate in a relatively short time. Same with pediatric vaccination – the FDA can’t evaluate anything until the sponsor submits a package, with all of the data. I mean we are talking about the immune system here, and we can’t assume anything without data.
debbie
@germy:
Insurers need to step up the process of ending freebies for anything COVID-related. I don’t think anything else will stop the anti-vaxers.
Baud
@David C:
It’s seems to me that people are using the transparency of the process and the openness of the debate to argue that the messaging is muddled. It’s almost as if we’d prefer the Republican system where we don’t know what’s going on until the final decision is made.
NotMax
Found from last month, a curiosity (WaPo link).
Amir Khalid
Malaysia’s Ministry of Health reports 14,554 new Covid-19 cases today in its media statement, for a cumulative reported total of 2,171,232 cases. It also reports 116 new deaths as of midnight, for a cumulative total of 24,681 deaths – 1.14% of the cumulative reported total, 1.25% of resolved cases.
Based on cases reported yesterday, Malaysia’s nationwide Rt is at 0.90.
1,049 confirmed, suspected, and under-investigation cases are in ICU, 599 of them on ventilators. Meanwhile, 16,751 more patients have recovered, for a cumulative total of 1,950,487 patients recovered – 89.8% of the cumulative reported total.
20 new clusters were reported today, for a cumulative total of 5,389 clusters. 1,250 clusters are currently active; 4,139 clusters are now inactive.
14,545 new cases today are local infections. Sarawak reports 2,824 local cases: 202 in clusters, 987 close-contact screenings, and 1,635 other screenings. Selangor reports 2,239 local cases: 105 in clusters, 1,153 close-contact screenings, and 981 other screenings.
Johor reports 1,807 cases: 299 in clusters, 854 close-contact screenings, and 654 other screenings. Sabah reports 1,273 cases: eight in clusters, 784 close-contact screenings, and 481 other screenings. Penang reports 1,231 cases: 29 in clusters, 411 close-contact screenings, and 791 other screenings. Perak reports 1,144 cases: 158 in clusters, 444 close-contact screenings, and 542 other screenings.
Kelantan reports 910 cases: 17 in clusters, 595 close-contact screenings, and 298 other screenings. Kedah reports 908 cases: 540 close-contact screenings and 368 other screenings.
Terengganu reports 690 cases: 16 in clusters, 530 close-contact screenings, and 144 other screenings.
Pahang reports 597 local cases: 124 in clusters, 369 close-contact screenings, and 104 other screenings.
Melaka reports 401 cases: 88 in clusters, 162 close-contact screenings, and 151 other screenings.
Kuala Lumpur reports 269 local cases: six in clusters, 127 close-contact screenings, and 136 other screenings.
Negeri Sembilan reports 157 cases: 18 in clusters, 93 close-contact screenings, and 46 other screenings.
Perlis reports 65 cases: 25 close-contact screenings and 40 other screenings. Putrajaya reports 30 cases: 24 close-contact screenings and six other screenings. Labuan reports no new cases today.
Nine new cases today are imported: five in Selangor, two in Kuala Lumpur, one in Pahang, and one in Sarawak.
The National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK) administered 326,612 doses of vaccine on 23rd September: 132,562 first doses and 194,050 second doses. As of midnight yesterday, the cumulative total is 41,573,883 doses administered: 22,481,986 first doses and 19,180,397 second doses. 68.8% of the population have received their first dose, while 58.7% are now fully vaccinated.
OzarkHillbilly
@raven: Yep, all Billie Jean ever says is, “Rub my belly…. PLEASE????”
Cermet
Considering there have been like a billion Pfizer vaccinations in 18+ (and all reactions have been closely studied and extremely well understood) but there isn’t enough data to determine if its safe to administer a third dose for those age ranges? Really? All I can say is LOL.
Kay
@debbie:
The refundable tax credit for paid leave that went to employers when employees are quarantined expired so they’re now being told they have to quarantine but won’t get paid- hourly workers. It’s creating some resentment – the vaxxed employees are mad at the unvaxxed for the quarantines.
A lot of these problems for people were alleviated by the various federal subsidies so there was less resentment- as covid starts to hit them financially there will be more anger towards the people who are causing covid-related disruptions at work.
sab
I asked this in a thread yesterday afternoon.
Covid etiquette. My doctor has been really great and careful about Covid safety protocols. They moved to bigger offices with a much bigger waiting room. The chairs are well-spaced out. Masks are mandatory. They schedule so that there are few people there. The staff all wear masks and faceshields.
I went for a routine shot yesterday. Had to wait about 15 minutes.
A mother and youngish (probably too young for vax) son came in. She went in for her appointment and left him in the waiting room quietly reading his phone, with his mask down around his chin.
Should I have said something to him? Should I have said something to the receptionist who didn’t notice? Should I have sat there and quietly seethed (the choice I did make.)
What would you have done?
Matt McIrvin
@debbie:
That will mostly have the effect of making our anti-anti-anti-vax “left” get even more Republican. See, it’s all a Big Healthcare plot!
David C
@Baud: Yes! Also that we’re trying to get ahead of the curve a bit because we’re in a crisis. In the end, we got a reasonable decision. But conflict gets clicks, and the government and the processes are always convenient punching bags.
One thing that is puzzling is that some people (who should know better) don’t understand where the FDA has to maintain confidentiality (by law), such as when they are in negotiation with the sponsor. I’ve worked with the FDA a lot and guess I assume that experts in public health also know this stuff.
the pollyanna from hell
@Amir Khalid: It was painful to read your reports of things getting worse and worse. Now that things are getting better it’s shocking to remember that these numbers are still what I used to call bad.
Suzanne
@NotMax: That is hilarious. My vaccine selfie is one of those live photos you can do on the iPhone, and I happened to get the precise moment that the needle went into my arm. Would have been awesome to get it in my butt.
As for human/dog conversation, I remember reading that some huge percentage of dog owners will bang with the dog in the room. Seems so intrusive!
sab
@Suzanne: Dogs themselves do it out in public with dog gangs watching. I don’t see the problem.
YY_Sima Qian
On 9/23 China reported 30 new domestic confirmed cases & 0 new domestic asymptomatic cases.
Fujian Province reporter 15 new domestic confirmed cases. 8 domestic confirmed cases recovered. There currently are 445 active domestic confirmed cases & 3 active domestic asymptomatic cases.
Harbin in Heilongjiang Province reported 15 new domestic confirmed cases (1 mild & 14 moderate; all at Bayan County), all traced close contacts. There currently are 26 active domestic confirmed cases in the city. 1,300 F1 & 2,39 F2 close contacts have been traced & placed under quarantine. 2 residential compounds, 3 residential buildings & an office have been elevated to Medium Risk. 1 village & 1 residential compound have been elevated to Medium Risk. 3 residential buildings, 5 residential compounds, a village & an office are currently at Medium Risk.
Yunnan Province did not report any new domestic positive cases. There currently are 9 active domestic confirmed & 2 domestic asymptomatic cases remaining in the province, all at Ruili in Dehong Prefecture.
At Hunan Province there currently are 13 active domestic confirmed cases remaining, all at Zhangjiajie
At Henan Province there currently are 8 active domestic confirmed cases remaining, all at Shangqiu.
At Hubei Province the last domestic confirmed case recovered, at Jingmen.
At Shanghai Municipality 1 domestic confirmed case recovered. There currently is 1 active domestic confirmed case remaining in the city.
Imported Cases
On 9/23, China reported 24 new imported confirmed cases, 11 imported asymptomatic cases, 1 imported suspect case:
Overall in China, 35 confirmed cases recovered (23 imported), 11 asymptomatic cases were released from isolation (all imported) & none were reclassified as confirmed cases, & 481 individuals were released from quarantine. Currently, there are 1,009 active confirmed cases in the country (512 imported), 16 in serious condition (4 imported), 348 active asymptomatic cases (340 imported), 2 suspect cases (both imported). 17,685 traced contacts are currently under centralized quarantine.
As of 9/23, 2,190.792M vaccine doses have been injected in Mainland China, an increase of 4.209M doses in the past 24 hrs.
On 9/24, Hong Kong reported 7 new positive cases, all imported (from the Philippines, India & Ghana, 3 had been fully vaccinated & 3 had received 1 shot).
Percysowner
@debbie:
I’m pretty sure they are going to end them. Sadly, that will be a blanket decision, so people with breakthrough cases will get screwed too. The nurse at my doctor’s office had a vaccinated friend who died last week, because, sadly a 1% chance of dying after vaccination still means some people will die.
David C
@sab: Cats are trickier because they engage in staredowns and you could end up with cattus interruptus.
New Deal democrat
New COVID cases in US now down almost 25% from peak. Only 4 States in clear w/w uptrends: AK, IA, MT, and WI. Five others in slight or equivocal uptrends: MI, MN, PA, RI, and VT.
In particular, that cases in the Northeast as a whole have turned down slightly w/w is a very good sign that school openings have not seeded a new outbreak.
Additionally, w/w deaths just turned down slightly. We may have peaked at just over 2000/day.
Crossing fingers that the Delta wave continues to roll out as quickly as it rolled in. *If* it were to do so, by Halloween we could be back down to under 20,000/day.
On another topic, that of getting people to jabs, I saw another study the other day indicating that one of the big causes of reluctance in the non-anti-vaxx demographic is lack of insurance. Hammering home to those people that the jab is free could goose vaccinations by another 5%+.
Jay
@sab:
gently talked to the kid.
I save my anger for adults.
Zzyzx
Sooooooo…
5k venues, everyone having to be vaccinated, mask required, outdoor venues: I felt pretty good about my decision to see Billy Strings last weekend. However, unlike the Phish shows where I was very careful and stayed in the back, I figured these policies would suffice…
Guess who has a breakthrough case. I’ve been as sick as I can remember, but yesterday and today I woke up feeling better. I might have pushed myself a bit too much yesterday as I was miserable all night.
sab
@David C: Cats also won’t be shy about wandering over and sitting on someone. Cats should be put out in the hall.
sab
@Zzyzx: Yikes. So sorry for you.
sab
@Jay: Small sample size, but so far 100% agreement that quiet seething was wrong approach, and politeness to kid was apprpropriate.
Ken
I guess even Reuters has given up on copy editors.
Bostondreams
Meanwhile in Florida, a leading Republican state senator proposes looking at ending ALL vaccine mandates in the state, including polio, mumps, and rubella.
Ken
@Bostondreams: If you’re pining to go back to 1860, you want to re-create the whole experience.
The Moar You Know
@OzarkHillbilly: you are not alone in doing this. I talk to my little guy (90lbs) all the time.
Ten Bears
The writer is a campaign director for Oceana? Thought we were at war with Oceana …
Enhanced Voting Techniques
I thought Bolsonaro was so manly he punk slapped the virus General Patton style and told it grow up and not come back until it was a man virus. He can’t possibly be hiding from it like a girly man and all his blusters is just yet another old white guy in a mid life crises?
Citizen Scientist
Thanks again for doing this thread every day AL. And thanks to all who comment.
Just wanted to share that I may have made a bit of a breakthrough with a guy I supervise at work this week. He previously had Covid in February (along with his two daughters) and last week he called in with potential symptoms. Thankfully, his Test came back negative. He previously told me that he was immune since he already had it. At the time, I recommended that he consider getting vaxxed (dude is on the conservative side). Today I had to get some info from him to send to HR about last week and he actually asked me if the vaccine was better than relying on immunity from getting the virus previously. He actually listened when I told him that the vax was more likely to protect against other variants and may help minimize symptoms-if he got it again and/or prevent hospitalization/death. I reiterated that our employer would likely eventually require it (not sure what they’re waiting for!), after holding several vax events over the last several weeks.
So, I hope he’s seriously considering it now. He doesn’t seem to be a rabid anti-vaxxer, just maybe not informed enough and only hearing one side via Mark Levin or somebody.
Now to work on my anti-vax brother some more, who is reportedly attending a wedding this weekend.
Have a great weekend all! Stay safe (and frosty)!
Ten Bears
@Zzyzx: Yeah but, Billy Strings. The show I fear I’ll not catch will be Billy and the Kids.
My breakthrough came from, near as I can trace, was a pot-shop not too far form Providence. The mask mandate had been lifted, the place wide open and well-ventilated, I let down may guard.
The good news is he vaccine works. I was sick but nowhere near as sick as Dec ’19. Also how I now know, as both vaccine sick-effects and the Darwin variant mimicked what I had in Dec ’19, what I had in Dec ’19 was the Trump-Flu.
Matt McIrvin
@Enhanced Voting Techniques: The weird thing to me is that Brazil has less of a political antivaxxer problem than we do even though Bolsonaro is a full-on antivaxxer to a degree even Donald Trump never was.
Enhanced Voting Techniques
@Ken: then Florida needs to get it’s game face on and stop with the mosquito abatement and bring back malaria, bonebreak fever and yellow fever. Also, water treatment makes Republican voters sissys so end that.
Scout211
Jordan Klepper interviewed parents in North Carolina who were protesting mask mandates.
Enhanced Voting Techniques
@Matt McIrvin: That’s because the Brazilian anti-vaccers are already dead. Last year Brazil tried powering threw the pandemic and failed miserably. Now everyone there just wants the pain to end. That why I’ve been saying the Red State anti-vac bullshit won’t stop until enough of them end up crippled or dead.
Enhanced Voting Techniques
Reading that Idaho article I think there is a reasonable argument that someone who threatens or attempts violence on a medical worker during a crises should be denied medical services. If the doctors are being forced to decide who lives and die that is not the time for teenage boi chest thumping.
The Thin Black Duke
@Enhanced Voting Techniques:
Hey, whatever works.
Enhanced Voting Techniques
@The Thin Black Duke: What did Will Rogers say about pissing on an electric fence; some learn by reading, some by example some just have to piss on the fence?
Only problem is, those plague rats give the virus a chance to mutate in the mean time.
Robert Sneddon
Scotland — 3,667 new cases reported today. The test positivity rate is 8.5%. There were 50 new deaths reported overnight. ICU bed occupancy numbers are 79, down seven from yesterday while hospitalisations are 1,011, down 46.
There were about 4,000 vaccinations carried out in Scotland yesterday (Thursday) with over 55% of these being first vaccinations. 91.2% of 16+ adults are now vaccinated with their first dose and 84.0% are fully vaccinated. 70.1% of 16 and 17-year-olds have now received their first vaccination, up 0.1% from yesterday. It’s likely that most 16-17 year olds will be getting vaccinated at the weekends since they are generally at school Mon-Fri, ditto for the newly-accessioned 12-15 year old age group.
The Thin Black Duke
@Enhanced Voting Techniques: I bet during the Dawn of Man, there were Fred Flintstones of the “Anti-Evolution” party stirring up shit.
Eunicecycle
@Scout211: I love how he got some of the parents to admit they really DO “co-parent” with the government. And the lady who didn’t vote, and was nonplussed by the idea of science.
Zzyzx
@Ten Bears: I think I would roll the dice again if in the same situation, but I’d stay more in the back. Billy is the real deal.
Robert Sneddon
@Cermet:
There are two reasons to vaccinate an individual — the first is to protect them against an infectious disease and the second is to protect the population around that individual from the unconstrained spread of that disease. However like any medical procedure like vaccination has its own risk of harm to the individual that must be weighed against the expected benefits to them and to society at large.
The scientists who have done Science! in a scientific manner have studied the data and tortured it until it confessed and concluded that boosters for young healthy vaccinated people six months after complete initial vaccination don’t improve their protection against getting this disease and stop them spreading it to others. There is a small risk of unwanted effects from any vaccination which the scientists consider outweighs the minor benefits, if any.
Older folks, people with illnesses that put them at greater risk of bad outcomes if they fall ill or possess a poor immune system response, they’re more likely to benefit from a booster dose and that outweighs the possible personal harm from the shot, so that’s why it’s being recommended just for them.
The UK’s JCVI has come down just barely on the side of booster shots for all over 50s a minimum of six months after their last vaccination. It was a tight decision, they judged the benefits to be slightly greater than the possible risks. It was no slam-dunk like the initial emergency-use authorisation for the original vaccine program back in December last year once the initial trial data was in.
Matt McIrvin
@Robert Sneddon: From everything I’ve seen, boosters for 12+ or 16+ would be wasted effort, if nothing else. They’re not doing anything for healthy young people who are already fully vaccinated.
Peter Hotez has been arguing that 65+ is too high a cutoff age for boosters and it should be 40+. That’s a defensible position, certainly, speaking as a person right in the middle of that gray area. But the level of Monday morning quarterbacking going on right now seems immense.
Mart
Brazil’s Bolsonaro in isolation after top aide tested positive at UN assembly. So expect Fucker Carlson now understands why it is important that the unvaxxed stay out of restaurants to ensure everyone’s safety? Right?
Geo Wilcox
@Bostondreams: Does he own stock in iron lung manufacturers?
J R in WV
@Robert Sneddon:
The boss at the US CDC decided that public facing employees over 18 years of age should get boosters. This would probably include health care workers. She did not accept the advice of the advisory committee, which she is perfectly able to do.
I think this is admirable common sense to use during a plague.
Wife and I received our third Moderna shot (Pfizer was also being administered at the time) in late August when the Health Department in the neighboring county decided shots in arms was better than discarding vaccine that was nearing it’s expiration date.
They got some static because third “booster” shots were not yet approved by FDA/CDC — here too I think they showed admirable common sense. After hundreds of millions of people have had these shots with very few harmful side effects (I had what I would regard as a serious bout of muscle cramps for several days after 2nd shot last March, but I was still very glad to receive a 3rd shot with no side effects at all!) I think any random shot of vaccine is a good shot. Our 3rd shot did not prevent anyone from receiving a first or second shot.
Scout211
For California peeps aged 65 and over: https://myturn.ca.gov/ is now updated and ready to make appointments for the third Pfizer shot.
And also a third shot for others, under CDC guidelines.
Anoniminous
Odd the Guardian article doesn’t mention the 2 years of Republican stonewalling and lies.
Gravenstone
Expect us to see a bit more of a spike there in the next week or so. Thanks, Ryder Cup…
WaterGirl
@sab: I answered yesterday but I’m guessing you didn’t see it.
TKH
@David C: With you on that, Topol has jumped the shark. He is high on his own supply. Too bad, he was really good early in the pandemic on highlighting the relevant basic science.
sab
@WaterGirl: Yes I saw it. Sorry I didn’t acknowledge, because I thought you answer was a good one.
PaulB
Deja vu: Costco brings back purchase limits on toilet paper and cleaning products.
Percysowner
@PaulB: One more reason I’m glad I bought a bidet and a large pack of TP. I’m set for a long time.