Covid virus in phoenix (increased, foreign, valid)

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by JGMotorsport64

I’m a little concerned about the E484k variant in South Africa and Brazil which is apparently not stopped by vaccine. I don’t think it’s made it’s way here yet, but I’m not convinced we’re getting back to normal even with the vaccine

Fingers crossed on the E484k variant (with more to follow)! Here is what a dozen experts currently think https://www.sciencemediacentre.org/e...-kent-variant/ .


The following words resonated with me. “It remains to be seen if the Pfizer vaccine will protect against other variants as some mutations are more significant than others. And the final test will be whether it prevents symptomatic disease in vaccinated people. There will be lots of mutations coming up – the more the virus is allowed to circulate in the population, the more mutations it will accumulate. That’s why it’s important to lower the spread as much as possible especially now that we have a vaccine and the end of the pandemic is in sight.”

In other words, we are not out of the woods yet.

From March to September, I barely knew anyone who got COVID. Recently, I can count a few dozens! Just here in PHX metro, my new next-door neighbor, a couple of friends in Surprise have it now, 4 friends in Peoria are getting over it, etc etc. To date, and if I include people I know in MN, only one ended up in the hospital. And many are males (2X the risk) and over 65 (even more of a risk).

Actually, the only person I personally know who ended up in the hospital was my wife's sister. She got COVID in the hospital. She had lung cancer, is over 70, has Lupus, was on chemo, and had a stroke. They operated on her brain and she got COVID while recovering. She got through it without a problem and she is at home as we speak. I've known a dozen obese, 60+-year-old out of shape people who came out unscathed as well. But we all read about the 35-year-old runner who died. The reporting isn't balanced.

Certainly, COVID has been exaggerated. But based on the quoted words, people who are going about their merry way and not taking precautions are part of the (potential) deeper problem. If you agree with the quoted words above, wearing a crappy mask all crammed in Costco is behavior that is part of the problem. Especially with the new variant and because of the ultra-high infection rates. Also, non-technical people who think your DNA is going to be modified and refuse to vaccinate are part of the problem. Conclusion: the more technical a person is, the more they understand that the vaccine is safe. It's why 50% of the LPN's at a nursing home (not the brightest technical minds) are punting on the vaccine. Dumb!

Anecdotally speaking, I know of three COVID friends who got had their antibodies tested. All three no longer are protected. The guy who installed my garage shelving got COVID in May. Even a friend in MN who got it in October no longer has any antibodies. A lot of people who got COVID assume that they are automatically protected. The data suggests otherwise.

[corydon]

Originally Posted by autism360

Is the mortality rate 2% in the USA or worldwide that makes a difference, we have much better access to medical care here in the USA .

There are a few good hospitals in the US. 99% is just average.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by corydon

There are a few good hospitals in the US. 99% is just average.

You do realize that the mortality rate was initially higher. Plus doctors have learned a lot. If you land up in the ICU, it's an art form. It's why you don't want to land up in a crowded ICU. It's one reason why deaths are spiking: the fill in docs and nurses are amateurs. As I said, it's a tricky art that takes a long time to master. You don't want just any doc in that department. Next, if you hide/protect the most vulnerable, by definition, the mortality rate will drop.

I will say that with COVID, if you are healthy and younger, the mortality rate is (basically) non-existent. Hell, if you get Polio, there is less than 1% chance of permanent paralysis of the arms, legs or breathing muscles. Unless you are a child and the odds skyrocket. Even then, less than 10% of the 1% who get it will die. For 99% of the other people who got Polio, it was flue-like symptoms. Does this sound familiar (COVID)?
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/...s%20of%20polio'.

[Ponderosa]

It looks like we might be lining up for boosters once the first round of vaccines is done. Moderna came out with a pre-print study today reporting that their vaccine is still just as effective against the UK strain but drops 6 fold against the South African one. Not to worry too much though as it still gets antibody levels above the level of protection. In any case, Moderna is already on course to produce a booster for the SA variants. That's the nice thing about mRNA. It can be modified and in production in weeks. Just leave those tents up at State Farm! For those who can get at NYT:

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/01...19-coronavirus

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

For those who can get at NYT:

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/01...19-coronavirus

IMO the NYT's is well worth the money.

From the article. Dr. Tal Zaks, Moderna’s chief medical officer, said in an interview: “We’re doing it today to be ahead of the curve should we need to. I think of it as an insurance policy.”

He added, “I don’t know if we need it, and I hope we don’t.”

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by MN-Born-n-Raised

IMO the NYT's is well worth the money. ...

Amen. Best $30 that I spend every month. Superb in every way with opinion writers across the spectrum. Pretty good recipe section too if one is really into cooking. Their COVID reporting is probably the best in the nation and IIRC a lot of that is free to anyone given the urgency of the topic.

I'm one week out from my first vax shot; late next Monday night (01 FEB) at State Farm Stadium (SFS).

With the variants running around out there we're hunkering harder, even cancelled some routine doctor appointments to avoid going into any building that I don't have to until we have both vax shots.

FWIW: One person I knew up here in Vistancia has passed of covid, there may be others, we have our share of mask-deniers blowing smoke about their 'freedom' to worship no matter what.

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by Mike from back east

With the variants running around out there we're hunkering harder, even cancelled some routine doctor appointments to avoid going into any building that I don't have to until we have both vax shots.

You have to do what you believe is best, but canceling routine appointments isn't a good idea in the big picture. Too many people are neglecting their health issues and canceling their regular screenings & exams over the fear of COVID. By not getting these routine exams, we're allowing other health issues to worsen, then we could have another crisis on our hands. And please don't say this is what "telemedicine" or "virtual medical care" is for. It's not the same thing as actually being physically examined by a specialist, which is a critical part of health care.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

It looks like we might be lining up for boosters once the first round of vaccines is done. Moderna came out with a pre-print study today reporting that their vaccine is still just as effective against the UK strain but drops 6 fold against the South African one. Not to worry too much though as it still gets antibody levels above the level of protection. In any case, Moderna is already on course to produce a booster for the SA variants. That's the nice thing about mRNA. It can be modified and in production in weeks. Just leave those tents up at State Farm! For those who can get at NYT:

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/01...19-coronavirus

Here is an up-to-date article (in laymen's terms) that describes "antigenic drift" and the potential need for a booster. Read https://www.the-scientist.com/news-o...variants-68387 It's worth reading for people who want to understand what is going on behind the scenes. Even if someone thinks COVID is overblown, antigenic drift may impact the economy, their pending vacations etc. After reading this, I'm cautiously optimistic. By the same token, there have been various cases with past COVID patients that are getting these new variants. Considering how many anti-vaxxers are walking the planet plus the slow rollout all around the world, I bet antigenic drift will eventually stray too far away from the current virus warranting an eventual new vaccine. Time will tell...

[wase4711]

I'm no doctor, but you can save this post for future reference..

just like the flu, this will morph into a slightly different variant every year, so expect to need some sort of booster/new shot every year for a long time
whether its driven by greed of the drug companies, or medical fact, it wont matter.

Covid, or what ever we call it as we go down the road, isnt going away anytime soon, and the vaccines wont be a "one and done"

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by wase4711

I'm no doctor, but you can save this post for future reference..

just like the flu, this will morph into a slightly different variant every year, so expect to need some sort of booster/new shot every year for a long time
whether its driven by greed of the drug companies, or medical fact, it wont matter.

Covid, or what ever we call it as we go down the road, isnt going away anytime soon, and the vaccines wont be a "one and done"

So what? Go to Safeway, get a shot and ten bucks off on your grocery bill. One and done would be nice, but I just don't see the problem here. My dog gets shots every year. I can too.