Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #89

[pocketaccent]

This needs to be done. But don't wait until January. Do it now. Starting this Monday! There's no time to waste. IMO


Coalition calls for strict 4-week LA County lockdown to control COVID-19 surge

...
In light of such numbers, the coalition of more than a dozen healthcare, labor and community groups sent a letter to the county Board of Supervisors on Wednesday asking for the implementation of a "circuit breaker,'' a strict four-week lockdown that would include curfews and the forced closure of all nonessential businesses.
...
"We urge you to immediately call for state and federal funds to allow L.A. county to have a true lockdown, one that prioritizes the lives of everyone -- particularly essential workers and working families -- over comfort and convenience,'' according to the group's letter.
...

 

[acutename]

Upthread I stated I had never heard of such..that the government would compensate for getting the shot as a bad precedent..... but with this post made me think again. My carrier at this time... BCBS HMO through Obamacare will give me a $30 gift certificate if I get my girly girl check up.

a lot of insurance plans offer gift cards for doing a variety of health promoting things; some subsidize gym memberships, offer discounts on supplements, etc.
so this is not so far afield.... IMO weird that some of the population would give their eye teeth to get a vaccine and others are not willing to get it.

 

[acutename]

Leslie Odom Jr. Is 'Quarantining' from Pregnant Wife and Daughter After Ellen Show Appearance — People

“We’re getting our tests every day for the next 10 days, and quarantining from each other," Odom said.”

Huh? Daily tests? For 10 days?
Rapid tests?
Why not quarantine for 14 days and then test?

maybe he plans on getting advanced treatments the same day he gets a positive test, if he does get one....

 

[margarita25]

More Moderna links:

Covid-19 Live Updates: F.D.A. Authorizes Moderna Vaccine for Emergency Use, Adding Millions of Doses to U.S. Arsenal

FDA approves second Covid vaccine for emergency use as it clears Moderna's for U.S. distribution

F.D.A. OKs the Moderna Covid Vaccine, Adding Millions More Doses to the U.S. Supply

US Coronavirus: FDA authorizes a second vaccine as average daily cases and deaths hit records - CNN

FDA grants emergency authorization to Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine

 

[Midgie2]

The couple across from us left for Vegas today.They are in their mid 60s.
Then another family across the street is having a party, 8-10 cars in the drive.
Two weeks ago, our daughter was deployed to help out at the hospital overwhelmed from Covid.
Not looking forward to not seeing our kids and grandkids for weeks at a time this winter. Also not not looking forward to being cooped up all winter. But it’s the prudent thing to do.
I feel like I’m living in the Twilight Zone.

 

[margarita25]

United Airlines:

United Airlines Works With Health Officials Following Possible Covid-19 Death
Aim is to contact passengers on flight that was diverted Monday for medical emergency

Man Who Didn't Disclose COVID-19 Symptoms Has Heart Attack Mid-Flight and Later Dies in Hospital

United Airlines flight COVID-19 case: Passenger who died had symptoms

—

2nd and 3rd allergic reactions:

2nd reported severe reaction to COVID-19 vaccine

Third Alaskan health care worker has allergic reaction to Covid-19 vaccine - CNN

—

Pence Vaccinated:

'I Didn't Feel A Thing:' Pence Gets COVID-19 Vaccine In Public Event

Vice President Pence and Surgeon General Adams receive Covid-19 vaccine - CNN Video

Pence receives Covid vaccine in televised appearance, hails 'medical miracle'

—

California:

California activates 'mass fatality' program as Covid cases climb

Overwhelmed
Covid patients are treated in parking lots, hallways and lobbies of a California hospital that, like the nation, is struggling to keep pace with the pandemic / video:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/national/california-hospital-covid-capacity/

Re: California, I saw on the news an “ambulance traffic jam”, all these ambulances in front of the hospital...waiting...

eta:
'I've never seen so many code blues.' Doctor describes saving 10 COVID-19 patients in 1 shift

“SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. -- Stretchers upon stretchers jam the ER hallways at Providence St. Mary Medical Center in Apple Valley, California. Outside, you can see a traffic jam of ambulances that delivered those stretchers.“

[...]

“"We were successfully able to get them back, but it's critical right now. This is kind of like being in war. I've never seen so many code blues, all in one shift," he said.

Hickey said patient care is beginning to suffer. There are too many patients and not enough nurses. She said this is happening right now at every unit of the hospital. Heroically, Providence St. Mary Medical has not turned away a single patient.
Health officials are concerned that Americans will spend the holidays with their family members outside of their immediate household, mistakenly thinking that the vaccine gives them a green light to do so. Staff at Providence St. Mary Medical warn, that the darkest days are ahead.“

Holidays could intensify COVID surge, force LA County medical facilities to 'go under'

Orange County COVID-19 ICU Capacity Hits Zero, Health Officials Suspend Ambulance Diversion

 

[margarita25]

New study examines deadly toll of COVID-19 on young adults

 

[SouthAussie]

Sydney's Northern Beaches area has just gone into hard lockdown. It is a pretty big area.

No reasons but essential services, work, compassionate grounds, and (non-gym) exercise as a reason to leave home. Everything non-essential is closed. Fortunately, schools have already stopped for the long summer break now.

The Hoteliers Association (union) actually offered to help get all pubs closed ... everyone is understanding that there is no point in fighting it. Get it over with, get the virus quelled, then the sooner life can get back to normal. With (hopefully) no more deaths.

Sydney itself has gone into soft lockdown, which is sort of a "please do not travel, do wear masks, no non-essential activites". They are trying to not put the whole of Sydney into hard lockdown and close everything down, but will see how they go.

13 more cases today - I think that means 51 cases now. More cases expected tomorrow with the mass testing that is going on. State borders are tightening up, though not closed yet.

Source: Ch24 News Channel

Sounds ridiculous with what other countries are going through, and the crazy case numbers and deaths everywhere. But we all approve here, it is how we are getting through this pandemic.

 

[SouthAussie]

United Airlines:

United Airlines Works With Health Officials Following Possible Covid-19 Death
Aim is to contact passengers on flight that was diverted Monday for medical emergency

Man Who Didn't Disclose COVID-19 Symptoms Has Heart Attack Mid-Flight and Later Dies in Hospital

United Airlines flight COVID-19 case: Passenger who died had symptoms

When the heck are these infected people going to stop getting on airplanes?? Probably never.

 

[Cool Cats]

Photos show how the first doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine got from Michigan into the arms of healthcare workers

Workers in Kalamazoo Michigan spent the weekend preparing for the first shipments, which departed on Sunday.

United had overcome one of the largest limitations to flying Pfizer's vaccine, its excessive dry ice requirements, with the help of the Federal Aviation Administration. by receiving authorization to carry five times the normal amount of dry ice that the airline could normally.

Dry ice is considered a dangerous good in aviation as it sublimates into carbon dioxide, which can incapacitate the crew if not properly managed.

Each shipment is packed with over 20 kilograms of dry ice to keep the vaccine at its ideal storage temperature of -94 degrees Fahrenheit.

Any higher and the vaccine can become ineffective and every dose counts towards ending the pandemic.
Its temperature requirement is among the largest hurdles in transporting the Pfizer vaccine, with competing vaccines from Moderna and Johnson & Johnson having less strict requirements.

The first step of the transportation process is then loading the shipments onto refrigerated trucks.

Some trucks will go to the nearby airport while others will travel across the country. Trucks have a higher tolerance for dry ice shipments since the truck is separate from the trailer.

Then, it's time to finally hit the road!

In just a few hours, these vaccines will travel across the US in preparation for the
first inoculations the next day.

US Marshals provided escorts for the vaccine while on the road.
The vaccine is a huge target for theft due to the drug's high importance.

But the first convoy encountered no issues along the route to Lansing's Capital Region International Airport and Grand Rapids' Gerald R. Ford International Airport where aircraft awaited to take the vaccine onwards.

Kalamazoo has its own airport but those in Lansing and Grand Rapids are the closest with service from the large cargo airlines like UPS Airlines and FedEx Express.

US Marshals were also on hand at the airport as the massive containers were loaded onto the Boeing 757-200F, alongside standard boxes.

UPS Airlines alone has a fleet of over 275 aircraft, with the largest being the Boeing 747-8F.

But while flying with iPhone orders and Amazon purchases, airlines have stated they'll give the vaccine priority.

Vaccines and other pharma products are already given priority due to their perishable natures.

 

[Colorado303]

Today I got a call from her Memory Care center that my 92 year old Mother has tested positive for COVID. She is asymptomatic so far but it’s early. The positive test was done Tuesday and she tested negative just last Friday. Aside from the typical cognitive struggles of late-stage Alzheimers she’s in remarkable physical health so we’re hopeful she’ll stay asymptomatic.

They’ve had 10+ residents and 15 staff test positive over the last 3-4 weeks but despite being elderly so far no one has gotten extremely ill or died, even those w/significant underlying health issues. I’m wondering if perhaps it’s some kind of weaker strain. Is that possible?

 

[SouthAussie]

Today I got a call from her Memory Care center that my 92 year old Mother has tested positive for COVID. She is asymptomatic so far but it’s early. The positive test was done Tuesday and she tested negative just last Friday. Aside from the typical cognitive struggles of late-stage Alzheimers she’s in remarkable physical health so we’re hopeful she’ll stay asymptomatic.

They’ve had 10+ residents and 15 staff test positive over the last 3-4 weeks but despite being elderly so far no one has gotten extremely ill or died, even those w/significant underlying health issues. I’m wondering if perhaps it’s some kind of weaker strain. Is that possible?

I hope it is a weaker strain, Colorado. My very best wishes for your mum.

 

[HongKongPhooey]

Today I got a call from her Memory Care center that my 92 year old Mother has tested positive for COVID. She is asymptomatic so far but it’s early. The positive test was done Tuesday and she tested negative just last Friday. Aside from the typical cognitive struggles of late-stage Alzheimers she’s in remarkable physical health so we’re hopeful she’ll stay asymptomatic.

They’ve had 10+ residents and 15 staff test positive over the last 3-4 weeks but despite being elderly so far no one has gotten extremely ill or died, even those w/significant underlying health issues. I’m wondering if perhaps it’s some kind of weaker strain. Is that possible?

Sorry to hear this Colorado. Wishing your mum all the best.

 

[SouthAussie]

Photos show how the first doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine got from Michigan into the arms of healthcare workers

Workers in Kalamazoo Michigan spent the weekend preparing for the first shipments, which departed on Sunday.

United had overcome one of the largest limitations to flying Pfizer's vaccine, its excessive dry ice requirements, with the help of the Federal Aviation Administration. by receiving authorization to carry five times the normal amount of dry ice that the airline could normally.

Dry ice is considered a dangerous good in aviation as it sublimates into carbon dioxide, which can incapacitate the crew if not properly managed.

Each shipment is packed with over 20 kilograms of dry ice to keep the vaccine at its ideal storage temperature of -94 degrees Fahrenheit.

Any higher and the vaccine can become ineffective and every dose counts towards ending the pandemic.
Its temperature requirement is among the largest hurdles in transporting the Pfizer vaccine, with competing vaccines from Moderna and Johnson & Johnson having less strict requirements.

The first step of the transportation process is then loading the shipments onto refrigerated trucks.

Some trucks will go to the nearby airport while others will travel across the country. Trucks have a higher tolerance for dry ice shipments since the truck is separate from the trailer.

Then, it's time to finally hit the road!

In just a few hours, these vaccines will travel across the US in preparation for the
first inoculations the next day.

US Marshals provided escorts for the vaccine while on the road.
The vaccine is a huge target for theft due to the drug's high importance.

But the first convoy encountered no issues along the route to Lansing's Capital Region International Airport and Grand Rapids' Gerald R. Ford International Airport where aircraft awaited to take the vaccine onwards.

Kalamazoo has its own airport but those in Lansing and Grand Rapids are the closest with service from the large cargo airlines like UPS Airlines and FedEx Express.

US Marshals were also on hand at the airport as the massive containers were loaded onto the Boeing 757-200F, alongside standard boxes.

UPS Airlines alone has a fleet of over 275 aircraft, with the largest being the Boeing 747-8F.

But while flying with iPhone orders and Amazon purchases, airlines have stated they'll give the vaccine priority.

Vaccines and other pharma products are already given priority due to their perishable natures.

Mike Pence: ".... we are poised to have vaccine for 20 million Americans before the end of summer"

Population of the US at the start of 2020: 331 million people

US covid cases to date: 17,888,353
US covid deaths to date: 320,845

That leaves a long, long way still to go for herd immunity.


Vice President Mike Pence speaks after receiving the Covid-19 vaccine: 'I didn't feel a thing'
3 ways that the U.S. population will change over the next decade.
United States Coronavirus: 17,888,353 Cases and 320,845 Deaths - Worldometer

 

[Cool Cats]

Mike Pence ".... we are poised to have vaccine for 20 million Americans before the end of summer"

Population of the US at the start of 2020: 331 million people

US covid cases to date: 17,888,353

That leaves a long, long way still to go for herd immunity.


Vice President Mike Pence speaks after receiving the Covid-19 vaccine: 'I didn't feel a thing'
3 ways that the U.S. population will change over the next decade.
United States Coronavirus: 17,888,353 Cases and 320,845 Deaths - Worldometer

Some people desperate to get COVID-19 vaccine now

$$$ Some offer concierge physicians top dollar to skip line $$$

SAN DIEGO (KGTV)-- Reports show some people are so desperate to get the new COVID-19 vaccine that they are offering boutique physicians thousands of dollars to jump the line — but doctors say that is not an option.

Dr. Ni owns San Diego Concierge Medicine, a concierge (boutique) private practice offering medical and aesthetic services, alot of the outpatient services are actually delivered at the patient's home. She says her clients are getting curious.

"They ask, 'How can I make sure I have plasma antibodies? How can I make sure I get Remdesivir? Do I qualify for Regeneron?'" Dr. Ni said.

Some reports show the rich and famous in Los Angeles are getting antsy, asking their concierge doctors to administer the vaccine now. Some are even offering thousands of dollars in donations to jump the line. But Dr. Ni says that is not possible.

"It is only to the hospitals, to the front lines, and none of my members are going to be able to get that," Ni said. "Pfizer is highly controlled by the government right now, so we just tell the clients to wait a little."

What they are doing now is preparing and connecting clients who fall in the second tier to hospitals with the vaccine.

"We want to make sure that our clients are one of the first in the second tiers," The timeline for Tier Two patients has not been announced.

 

[SouthAussie]

Some people desperate to get COVID-19 vaccine now

Some offer concierge physicians top dollar to skip line

SAN DIEGO (KGTV)-- Reports show some people are so desperate to get the new COVID-19 vaccine that they are offering boutique physicians thousands of dollars to jump the line — but doctors say that is not an option.

Money can certainly get you perks: personalized care, treatment, even at-home COVID tests.

"Concierge clients definitely get privileges," Dr. Donna Ni said. "They really don't want to go to the doctor's office. They want to be seen at home. So a lot of the outpatient services are actually delivered at the patient's home."

Dr. Ni owns San Diego Concierge Medicine, a boutique private practice offering medical and aesthetic services. With another surge in COVID-19 cases and the new vaccine roll-out, she says her clients are getting curious.

"They ask, 'How can I make sure I have plasma antibodies? How can I make sure I get Remdesivir? Do I qualify for Regeneron?'" Dr. Ni said.

Some reports show the rich and famous in Los Angeles are getting antsy, asking their concierge doctors to administer the vaccine now. Some are even offering thousands of dollars in donations to jump the line. But Dr. Ni says that is not possible.

"It is only to the hospitals, to the front lines, and none of my members are going to be able to get that," Ni said. "Pfizer is highly controlled by the government right now, so we just tell the clients to wait a little."

What they are doing now is preparing and connecting clients who fall in the second tier to hospitals with the vaccine.

"We want to make sure that our clients are one of the first in the second tiers," Ni said.

While there are no jumping tiers or skipping the line, Dr. Ni says concierge clients do get perks, a doctor personally advocating on their behalf to get care quickly.

"We are not trying to get them to a different priority group," Ni said. "We just want to make sure that when that priority group hits, they are eligible for care."

The only people who are eligible to receive the first wave of COVID-19 vaccines are hospital and emergency staff, as well as people at long-term care facilities. The timeline for Tier Two patients has not been announced.

So, essentially, the rich will be at the very top of their vaccine tier groups.

And with only 20 million Americans to be vaccinated by the end of summer ....

Let's hope that the President Elect can get things turned around, with the vaccine numbers. Although, the whole world needs the vaccines, so it might be a hard slog for a long time.

 

[Cool Cats]

So, essentially, the rich will be at the very top of their vaccine tier groups.

And with only 20 million Americans to be vaccinated by the end of summer ....

Let's hope that the President Elect can get things turned around, with the vaccine numbers. Although, the whole world needs the vaccines, so it might be a hard slog for a long time.

For some reason it has been reported that we - US - can expect to get vaccinated this spring and summer but if there is only enough vaccines for 20 million people by September 2021, and the US has 331 million people, seems most will wait much much longer.

Not sure what is going on?

Hope you in Australia can get the vaccine sooner. Appears to be a very long wait here....



It Can Be a LONG Wait at the Pharmacy...

 

[Lilibet]

Mike Pence: ".... we are poised to have vaccine for 20 million Americans before the end of summer"

According to this information, Pence, misspoke...

If Moderna’s vaccine is authorized, officials estimate the initial allocation will be about 12.5 million, which may also be sent in separate shipments to accommodate the second injection.

Including that initial supply, federal officials have estimated there would be enough doses to vaccinate 20 million Americans in December.

How many doses will be available next year?
Federal officials have estimated there could be enough to vaccinate about 30 million people in the U.S. in January and then about 50 million in February, with more in the months following. Globally, Pfizer expects to produce up to 1.3 billion doses in 2021 and Moderna expects up to 1 billion.

The Covid-19 Vaccine: When Will It Be Available for You?

 

[SouthAussie]

For some reason it has been reported that we - US - can expect to get vaccinated this spring and summer but if there is only enough vaccines for 20 million people by September 2021, and the US has 320 million people, seems most will wait much much longer.

Not sure what is going on?

Hope you in Australia can get the vaccine sooner. Appears to be a very long wait here....



It Can Be a LONG Wait at the Pharmacy...

We are not even going to start vaccinating until March. The Prime Minister refuses to move his preplanned schedule. Nobody seems to be kicking up a fuss about that though.

Myself, I will be vaccinated really late in the schedule. Probably late next year - at a guess.


Federal acting chief medical officer Paul Kelly has welcomed the approval of coronavirus vaccine Moderna in the US but will not commit to rolling out doses faster in Australia, saying emergency use of the jab is currently not necessary.

"In terms of timing they do of course need to get through the regulatory approvals here in Australia," Professor Kelly said, adding the local independent Therapeutic Goods Administration is in "constant" discussions with the FDA and other international groups.

"We’ve said all along we’re aiming for March. That will be on the back of the TGA giving their full approval. We’re not going to rush that," he said on Saturday. "Safety is our first priority."

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...on-t-rush-local-roll-out-20201219-p56oxj.html

 

[dixiegirl1035]

So, essentially, the rich will be at the very top of their vaccine tier groups.

And with only 20 million Americans to be vaccinated by the end of summer ....

Let's hope that the President Elect can get things turned around, with the vaccine numbers. Although, the whole world needs the vaccines, so it might be a hard slog for a long time.

I'm confused as of last week, it was 20 million by the end of the year. Did someone mis speak?

ETA: Catching up, yes, it appears that someone misspoke and MSM did not catch/correct it and put it out.