Corona Virus Now Spreading

[denice]

These shortages seem to be very regional in nature. The only thing I have noticed here is the disinfectants and cleaners which has been a continuous issue since this started. They have put the limit back on paper products but they must have done that before their stock got cleaned out.

The first batch of vaccine arrived at Chicago Airport. United Airlines transported it and they had to get a waiver on the amount of dry ice that they could carry. That sub-zero storage requirement is going to make distribution of these first two vaccines a nightmare. It won't be a problem in urban areas with large hospitals and medical schools, it will be a problem beyond those areas.

 

[Mia6]

The first batch of vaccine arrived at Chicago Airport. United Airlines transported it and they had to get a waiver on the amount of dry ice that they could carry

Which vaccine?

 

[denice]

It's the one from Pfizer. They haven't gotten approval from the FDA but the government preordered and paid for I believe 50 million doses. I don't know how many doses was in this first shipment. United is also providing charter flights for distribution.

 

[Mia6]

It's the one from Pfizer. They haven't gotten approval from the FDA but the government preordered and paid for I believe 50 million doses. I don't know how many doses was in this first shipment. United is also providing charter flights for distribution.

Will you get the vaccine?

 

[denice]

I will be far enough down in priority so I will get it when it is available. That will be several months from now, if there are issues with it they will probably have surfaced by then. There is still a question of how long the immunity from these vaccines last. I don't understand the particulars of it but the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine work differently from traditional vaccine, the Oxford vaccine works the way traditional vaccines work.

 

[Mia6]

I will be far enough down in priority so I will get it when it is available. That will be several months from now, if there are issues with it they will probably have surfaced by then. There is still a question of how long the immunity from these vaccines last. I don't understand the particulars of it but the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine work differently from traditional vaccine, the Oxford vaccine works the way traditional vaccines work.

Maybe I'll get the Oxford

 

[maggiedemi]

I'll take the vaccine. I never get the flu shot, but this seems a lot more serious than the flu! So I'll get it. Then maybe life can get back to normal.

 

[Katie M]

I'll be getting the vaccine.

 

[denice]

I'll take the vaccine. I never get the flu shot, but this seems a lot more serious than the flu! So I'll get it. Then maybe life can get back to normal.

Yes, I am really really tired of this now. I am wondering how long the immunity lasts. If it is only a few months then we will constantly be vaccinating and at some point the government will quit paying for this vaccine.

 

[artiemom]

I will be far enough down in priority so I will get it when it is available. That will be several months from now, if there are issues with it they will probably have surfaced by then. There is still a question of how long the immunity from these vaccines last. I don't understand the particulars of it but the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine work differently from traditional vaccine, the Oxford vaccine works the way traditional vaccines work.

From what I understand, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which are kept at the super cold temperatures, are modified mRNA cells which are introduced into your system to attack the virus.. They are modified cells.. not a live virus. I think thee modified cells then attack any Covid cells, which may invade you...

The Oxford vaccine, is a modified Covid Virus... a live Virus.. Just like the flu Vaccines~~ These can be kept at the regular temps for any of the other vaccines we have received.
These introduce the virus, into our systems, a tiny amount, so we can develop an immunity to it.. Our immune system takes over...This is why so many people get a reaction to these vaccines.. It works on our immunity..

Whereas, the mRNA ones are different.. modified versions of the virus itself, with the DNA modified to not produce issues, when exposed to it..

I forget my genetics.. so when it gets into DNA and mRNA, I get confused..
I do remember Messenger RNA, mRNA, does tell the cells what to do.. so it you can adjust, modify that.. then you are conceivable capable of modify the disease, itself...

Also, think of all the future capabilities of modifying mRNA can have!! diseases!.. possibly cancer!

 

[artiemom]

Will you get the vaccine?

I think, because I am over 65, and live in a senior independent housing, with quite a few tenants not being independent; I may be on the list for earlier vaccination.

If Dr Fauci recommends it, and takes it himself, I will... Even Biden.. if they take it, I will..

I expect the building to provide more testing in here.. soon... They do not want to completely shut it down, again.. I have had 3 Covid tests in here... one was an research study with the saliva test..

I did hear that the Head fo the parent company, a physician, is affiliated with Harvard Medical School... so, we may be able to get more testing.. They want to nip it in the bud...

 

[Lari]

I won't be in the first wave, so I won't have to worry about it for the next month/during pregnancy, and then I'll have to see what the recommendation is for breastfeeding mothers (assuming breastfeeding works out), but at some point I'll definitely get it!

 

[molly92]

If anyone would like an overview of the science involved:

In a normal human cell, your DNA is inside the nucleus and it has to stay there, but the structures that assemble proteins and everything in and around the cell are outside the nucleus. Since the DNA doesn't travel out to these structures, mRNA does instead. It copies a piece of DNA in the nucleus, travels outside the nucleus, and gives the instructions to structures that make proteins from it. That's why it's called messenger RNA.

The coronavirus takes advantage of this setup by carrying around pieces of mRNA and injecting them into human cells. The structures of the cell just know that it's mRNA, and that proteins are made from mRNA. They can't tell that these pieces of mRNA didn't come from the cell's own DNA. So they follow the instructions, which are actually instructions to make more viruses and that's how viral infection occurs.

The mRNA vaccine uses this trick against the virus. Instead of injecting all of the pieces of mRNA that a virus would into the cell, though, they just inject one piece. That piece isn't enough to make a whole virus, just a portion of it that floats aimlessly about and can't do any damage. If we can trick our own cells into making enough of these viral pieces, then soon we'll have harmless viral pieces floating around and coming into contact with immune cells. The immune cells recognize it as something different, and make antibodies against it, creating immunity. Now, when the actual virus does come into that person's body, the immune cells will notice that piece that they saw before and have antibodies ready to go.

It takes two shots to ensure that your cells have made enough of this protein that immune cells can recognize it.

Traditional, non-mRNA vaccines also work by showing the immune system something similar enough to the virus that they'll recognize it if infected with the real virus. But, the difference is those vaccines inject actual pieces of the virus directly, whereas with mRNA, we're injecting instructions for those pieces and then letting our cells actually make the pieces from that. So it's an extra step for our cells to do, but it means way fewer steps for the lab and scientists to do, which is why this vaccine was made so fast and why everyone thought mRNA was going to be the first method to be successful. It's always easier to let cellular machinery do the work for you if you can!

The drawback is that RNA is such an unstable molecule because in the cell, it's meant to be temporary. It gets made quickly and destroyed quickly. DNA has two backbones but RNA only has one. And also, because RNA viruses are everywhere in nature, living things make tons of RNAses which are enzymes designed to destroy RNA as a defense. RNAses are everywhere and very, very hard to remove from the environment, so RNA is always at risk of being destroyed by RNAses. RNAses don't work well at cold temperatures and RNA is less likely to break apart if it's frozen very solid, so ultra cold temperatures preserve it. They can also make modifications and add molecules that help protect RNA, but it's so fragile that ultra cold temperatures are usually used as a precaution. Pfizer says theirs has to be kept at -80 C (ultra cold) while Moderna says theirs can be kept at -20 C (standard freezers). Why there is a difference comes down to the formulation and molecules they add to protect it, but the details they're going to keep secret because they don't want anyone else copying their trade secrets.

Also, think of all the future capabilities of modifying mRNA can have!! diseases!.. possibly cancer!

If you're referring to making any permanent alterations to our cells, it has to be done to DNA, not mRNA, since the mRNA is a temporary messenger. Once its instructions are "read," it's broken up and reused for parts.

But, you're touching on a very interesting different area of biotechnology that is focused on modifying actual DNA, which would make permanent changes and be able to fix many diseases! The technology for this is called CRISPR-cas9, which you may have heard of. The scientists behind it just won the Nobel Prize this year. There possibilities are infinite, and there is a lot of research going on right now to figure out how to use it effectively.

 

[molly92]

I'll take the vaccine. I never get the flu shot, but this seems a lot more serious than the flu! So I'll get it. Then maybe life can get back to normal.

Please get your flu shot!

 

[denice]

I didn't use to get the flu shot except when I was in the military and didn't have a choice. As I have gotten older I have been getting it, this year was the third one in a row that I have gotten it. This year it is extra important. A bad flu season on top of this virus would completely overwhelm a health system that is already close to being overwhelmed.

 

[ZombieTiger]

I haven't been sick from the flu in years and normally kept to myself a lot before the pandemic anyway, but I was planning on getting the flu shot, and the pharmacy and doctor's office were both out last time I asked. Apparently a lot more people are taking it this year.

I'll probably get the covid vaccine, but I have to admit I'm a little bit sceptical.

 

[maggiedemi]

Please get your flu shot!

I don't need it. I almost never get the flu, and when I do, I have my secret herbs that busts the flu in no time.

 

[ZombieTiger]

I don't need it. I almost never get the flu, and when I do, I have my secret herbs that busts the flu in no time.

I can't tell if you're being serious or not.

 

[maggiedemi]

I can't tell if you're being serious or not.

Yes.

 

[denice]

I haven't been sick from the flu in years and normally kept to myself a lot before the pandemic anyway, but I was planning on getting the flu shot, and the pharmacy and doctor's office were both out last time I asked. Apparently a lot more people are taking it this year.

I'll probably get the covid vaccine, but I have to admit I'm a little bit sceptical.

I got mine in October. I will be 65 in February so I am borderline for the stronger shot. I first went to the Little Clinic in Kroger and they were out of the stronger shot. The pharmacy wasn't open yet so I hung around until the pharmacy opened and they had the stronger one. Yes I think more people are getting it this year and they weren't ready for the extra demand.