37 thoughts on “C-19 Chat Post – November 18 2021”

  1. Cases are clearly on the rise in Massachusetts. In fact they are at levels that had us shut down previously. Now with just as many cases floating around, everything is wide open.

    Basically, I think we have given up. We are armed with what we can do (ie vaccines and boosters), so go about your business and hope for the best.

    In a sense, I get that, but why don’t officials come and out
    and just tell the TRUTH! Lay it all out there so that everyone
    understands what is going on and what the risks are.

    1. We are indeed in denial. We have to be. Other counties are taking steps that we should be taking. But sadly, the bottom line is that as long as we give this thing hosts, it may well keep mutating and perfecting itself.

      1. I just don’t want these boosters giving us false hope.
        I hope they really work as advertised, because we were sold a bill of goods with the first 2 doses.

        Regardless, it sure is looking like an annual booster for all with continuing cases probably forever, much like the flu
        only far more severe.

  2. Israeli data show that boosters provide longer protection than the prior 2 shots. I think we must hope and pray that this is indeed the case. I share some of JPD’s skepticism, however. I’m also skeptical about the pills. Thus far, our toolkit of vaccines and treatments has certainly helped, but nothing has performed as advertised: From remdesivir (more or less a total failure after a promising start) to the vaccines (still provide very good protection against severe disease, but very little against infection and have to be reinforced) to treatments (not worth very much if we don’t have rapid and affordable access to tests).

    The German state of Saxony is preparing for a possible “total lockdown” in the month of December. This would mean that all non-essential stores would close, schools, too, and there would be strict travel rules (also for domestic travelers).

    1. This is just not looking good. it’s almost like the black plague of the dark ages. No matter what steps we take, it comes roaring back and it keeps killing and killing and killing.

      This may now be old data, but I saw that the average age
      of death from this virus is 73. When you are at that age, then
      you have even a greater appreciation for the severity of this
      virus.

      1. Agree. But we are not taking the steps needed. Just band aides for the most part. And when we do take positive steps, the uneducated folks scream loudly and many are ended. An example …..towns who instituted indoor masks for all a month or so ago are lifting the ban. Now.

        1. ARGHHHH (@!&#&!@*(#*(!@^(#&^!@(&#^(*!@&#*(!&@*(#&!(*@&#(*!&@#*(!&@*#&!*(&#*(!@&#*(&!*(@#&*(!@&#*(&!@&#*!@&*#&!*(@&#*(!@&#*!&@*#&!@*#&*@#*!*!@*#&

    2. Israel is seeing 8-10 months. So far they have been right. Let’s hope. Maybe if we actually focus it will give time to develop other options

  3. I try to stay positive. The Israeli data on boosters – which Vicki referred to – are encouraging.

    But, there isn’t much other data or information to be encouraged about.

    The average age of death has dropped significantly, as JPD pointed out. This has been a troubling development for many months now.

    As I’ve said before (as far back as mid September), something is going in in Europe with the AY. variants. We in the U.S. aren’t sequencing much at all, so we’re mostly unaware. But, where we do sequence, it’s clear that the parent variant – B.1.617.2 – is becoming less and less relevant. It’s the AY. sub-lineages that are outcompeting, and more transmissible. And, who knows what else is going on?

    1. Absolutely frightening!

      It’s like a runaway freight train that is virtually unstoppable.

      My fear is that the next mutation evades the boosters.

    2. I try to stay positive. I also have a tendency to hide my head in the sand when it comes to new variants. It is a toss up; but I think, more than variants, I am Frustrated with the view that we are back to normal by so many. Oddly, they seem to also bd the folks speaking the loudest about unvaccinated when they are also responsible to a degree

  4. Interesting. I’d blame mismanagement but ok

    Boston Globe….

    “ CVS to close 900 stores over three years
    CVS Health announced Thursday morning that the company plans to close 900 stores nationwide over the next three years because of what executives described as changes in consumer shopping behavior, population, and the future of health care needs.

    Closures are set to begin in the spring of 2022.”

  5. My wife and I got Moderna boosters yesterday morning. We both had our strongest reaction of the three doses (my wife had Pfizer for her first two.)

    Twelve hours after the booster, I was getting ready for bed and started shivering. I was able to get warmed up in bed and slept in the weird way that I sleep when I have a fever. This morning I awoke with a headache and minor body aches. Then about 24 hours after the booster, I started to feel much better. I just did some work out in the yard and feel almost normal. So, it was a fairly strong reaction lasting from 12 to 24 hours after the booster.

      1. Thanks Vicki.

        I would say that both of us had the same experience of no noticeable reaction to #1, a very minor reaction to #2 and then a moderate but manageable reaction to #3.

        1. I don’t understand why some go through this 24 hour “phase” after getting vaccinated. Thankfully so far my experience with vaccines have been uneventful. I take enough time off as it is just for routine follow-up visits.

          1. Because we don’t all have identical immune systems. And even within ourselves our responses can vary due to the fact we’re biological, not mechanical. Read Vicki’s link below.

  6. Does anyone know if Boston will hold First Night this year? I believe NYC will have the Times Square ball drop but for fully vaccinated folks only.

    1. Yes on Times Square. Not that it matters if they are fully vaccinated., but I think masks may be required. Boston? Why not? We are doing everything

  7. SClarke, glad you’re feeling better. But, I’m sorry to hear you had a reaction. Seems to often occur right around the time someone goes to bed.

  8. Philip, Vicki answered your question on why it is that some react to vaccines with fevers, chills, aches, nausea. I’ll add that immune system responses are what produce fevers and chills in a normal cold or flu, too. These last longer than what occurs after a vaccination. But still the principle is the same. There’s also the issue of inflammation. Vaccines, but also normal everyday colds and flus, produce inflammation. This is another cause of malaise.

  9. The Salzburg region in Austria will go into full lockdown – both unvaccinated and vaccinated. I think more regions will follow.

    France has been noticeably less impacted thus far. Perhaps this is the result of France’s vaccination campaign that was reinforced in August when Macron issued decrees on getting vaccinated. Nevertheless, even France is seeing big spikes, and what’s yellow on the map could turn red overnight, practically.

    Even Portugal – with a very high vaccination rate, approaching 88%, by some estimates – is seeing spikes in Madeira and a few other regions.

    Surge is beginning to swell in New York state. It won’t just stay there, obviously.

    I’m pinning all my hopes on a booster campaign plus mitigation. Am I realistic to think the U.S. can pull either of these two policies off? Not really

  10. Newspaper headline in Salzburg (“coronavirus out of control”). See tweet below. Keep in mind, Austrians and Germans – well, people from the Teutonic regions of Europe – tend to be graphic and blunt. So, they display images in newspapers that we usually shy away from. For example, I remember during the height of the AIDS crisis (mid to late 80s) seeing images of very thin and sick patients in hospital on the front pages of Dutch newspapers. https://twitter.com/krone_salzburg/status/1461197475499417606/photo/1

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