posted by queencitybuckeye

There have been cases, albeit a small number, of people getting it twice.

likely false positive testing is more likely the reason for those.

That was a serious question and something I've been wondering regularly.

Reason I ask is, friend was sick in March....early COVID. Never got actual COVID test.

Tested positive for antibodies in around May. His "levels" were high. Not sure on the exact terminology there. 

He just tested again for antibodies 2 weeks ago and his level were significantly lower. What does that mean? If anything? 

Also, I know antibody tests can be inaccurate. Just a topic to discuss. 

posted by Automatik

He just tested again for antibodies 2 weeks ago and his level were significantly lower. What does that mean? If anything?

From what I've seen, they believe immunity lasts at least 4 months, but probably more than 6.  If I had it in March, I'd assume I could get it (and spread it) again.

But immunity to SARS and MERS is longer than 12 months, possibly years.  Other cold viruses immunity can last for years.

It's not just when antibodies disappear.  Your body also enlists T-cells in defense, and I think that's how it remembers to produce antibodies, also (but probably wrong there).

Anyway, officially the guidance is immunity lasts 4-6 months.  That would be one hell of a thing if everyone had to get vaccinated again in 6 months.  But it appears likely that immunity will last longer than 12 months.

Maybe your friends immune system sucks.  Maybe their diet sucks.  

I'm leaning towards we don't know shit....for sure.

posted by Spock

Maybe your friends immune system sucks.  Maybe their diet sucks.  

I'd say over half the population of the united states is metabolically unhealthy, so there is that so the reason to put small businesses out of business.  It is okay to go to McDonalds, but not to a gym 

posted by Spock

Sitting at home on day 3 of not being able to taste or smell.  Headaches and mild flu like symptoms.  

Kind of hoping this is it.....no vaccine for me!!!!!!

Should have worn a mask

posted by gut

The big question to be decided is how long before we return to normal?  Because the more austere and draconian leaders seem to be signaling 6-9 months or longer...while I'm thinking 100M vaccinated by the end of February is basically pandemic over in the US.  A lot of people could still get it at that point, but their mortality rate would be virtually 0.

posted by Spock

Sitting at home on day 3 of not being able to taste or smell.  Headaches and mild flu like symptoms.  

Kind of hoping this is it.....no vaccine for me!!!!!!

Have you tried the TikTok trend with the Orange. People are saying it works to restore your sense of taste and smell. 

posted by friendfromlowry

Should have worn a mask

Should of worn a mask

Fify

Just heard my cousin got vaccinated today. She works in at Cleveland as a CVICU nurse. I'm happy for her, has to be a somewhat feeling of relief. She's seen some horrible shit throughout this pandemic.

posted by friendfromlowry

Should have worn a mask

*should of

Dangit... wildcasts beat me.  Derp

Bill Hemmer interviewing Fauci and asks "only 1.5% of cases in NY are linked to bars and restaurants - was it a mistake to shut them down?".

And Fauci just dodges and goes to "well, you've got to provide financial relief for them".

Whether bars and restaurants might actually reduce private gatherings (where 75% of cases are spreading), or increase them with people "continuing the party at Bob's"....I'm not sure how much difference that makes if you can't and won't enforce curfews and restrictions on private gatherings.

posted by gut

Bill Hemmer interviewing Fauci and asks "only 1.5% of cases in NY are linked to bars and restaurants - was it a mistake to shut them down?".

And Fauci just dodges and goes to "well, you've got to provide financial relief for them".

Whether bars and restaurants might actually reduce private gatherings (where 75% of cases are spreading), or increase them with people "continuing the party at Bob's"....I'm not sure how much difference that makes if you can't and won't enforce curfews and restrictions on private gatherings.

So the follow up question was not..."relief for who?  you think the staff can survive on government handouts in NYC?"

Starting Monday my daughter gets to give the vaccine to nursing home patients in Scioto Co

The hospitalizations - especially the ICU numbers - should really start dropping the more they can get the nursing home residents vaccinated. Hopefully, anyways. 

posted by friendfromlowry

The hospitalizations - especially the ICU numbers - should really start dropping the more they can get the nursing home residents vaccinated. Hopefully, anyways. 

The precautions seem over the top but Thry are the most susept

posted by Verbal Kint

So the follow up question was not..."relief for who?  you think the staff can survive on government handouts in NYC?"

Good point - Covid relief was based on salaries, and restaurant/bar workers are paid mainly in tips.

Of course, they'd get more unemployment benefit if they declared all their tip income on their tax returns...but most probably report only about 20%.

posted by friendfromlowry

The hospitalizations - especially the ICU numbers - should really start dropping the more they can get the nursing home residents vaccinated. Hopefully, anyways. 

Whats the % of nursing home or nursing home age patients in ICU for this?  90%??

posted by Spock

Whats the % of nursing home or nursing home age patients in ICU for this?  90%??

I don't know if it's that high, but the burden on the hospitals is very real.

I had a cousin, with multiple comorbidities (not in a nursing home, but over 65), turned away twice after testing positive.  She ended-up being life-flighted and intubated in an induced coma for 2 weeks.  She's been in a nursing home for a few weeks recovering, finally.  Her husband became quite miserably sick, but was also refused admittance.

It seems the main criteria to be admitted now is when your oxygen drops to dangerous levels.  And, unfortunately, most of the therapeutics available require some sort of hospitalization and administration of the drugs early in the course. Most of us can't access those treatments because we don't have the money or connections to be given a bed over sicker people.

posted by Spock

Whats the % of nursing home or nursing home age patients in ICU for this?  90%??

Idk if it’s as high as 90% but definitely a majority. It’s hard to predict. It always seems the obese are in more trouble than the elderly. People ages 50s - 70s with a high BMI seemed to have worse outlooks. Just my experience. 

It should be a wake up call for older, out of shape people. Time to get rid of the belly. 

So in typical "orange man bad" fashion, the latest is how the govt is withholding the vaccine or that Pfizer doesn't know where to send millions of doses.

The reality is they've apparently decided to guarantee a supply of the second dose.  Note, the first dose provides some efficacy but you really do need the second dose.

I don't really understand this approach, either.  But it's not "incompetence" deserving criticism.  Fair to debate, though, if it's a bad decision because it's overly conservative. 

Seems a no-brainer to vaccinate as many people as you can, and have confidence Pfizer and Moderna aren't going to have major production disruptions.  Easy to say, until a disaster hits.  The Pfizer second dose is 3 weeks later, so it's not like you're going to accumulate this massive backlog.  And they probably aren't even withholding that much, maybe just a few days or a week to ensure any supply disruptions don't prevent someone getting their second dose.

My guess is that certain people are wanting the Moderna vaccine to take the led here.  Follow the money.

Looks like Moderna just got approved too. Almost 6M doses next week. Quite the scientific feat. 

posted by iclfan2

Looks like Moderna just got approved too. Almost 6M doses next week. Quite the scientific feat. 

There's a little over 40M people aged 65 and older - in theory, they all could have their 2nd dose by the time Biden is inaugurated.

Except I have no idea how many doses are going to low-risk healthcare workers and first responders.  I think we might be prioritizing tens of millions of people who shouldn't be.  There's a lot of people in healthcare who probably don't have any more risk of exposure than other essential workers in food, for example.

And then on top of that, you're delaying the rollout because you're setting aside second doses that could be giving millions of people their first doses today.