Corona Virus Now Spreading

Jem

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Don't get me wrong, I want people who are most at risk to get the vaccine. I'd even hold off a bit IF I was eligible. I'm 37 and healthy, so I don't worry as much about myself. In the "death care" industry, there are a lot of people who really should be getting it, but they aren't seen as high-risk and even though we were deemed as essential as hospital workers during the lockdowns, no one in this industry is eligible unless they hit the age requirements. We've already lost 2 funeral directors that I knew very well because of covid and other health complications, all because they weren't eligible.
Here in Ontario, Canada, our front line health care workers were vaccinated pretty well at the same time as long term care residents...age did not matter. Then they are moving onto the elderly (80 and over...I think?) and those at high risk due to health concerns. Then they'll move down the line in age groups. I'm not sure if they are going to include a specific group of people like essential workers before say...the 50 plus age group. All I know is unless my work setting makes me eligible sooner (I work in physical / massage therapy...so it's health care but not exactly "front line", even though I'm considered "essential"), I won't be getting the vaccine until probably late summer. Canada didn't the ball rolling on vaccines as quickly as other countries.
 

PMousse

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Here in Ontario, Canada, our front line health care workers were vaccinated pretty well at the same time as long term care residents...age did not matter. Then they are moving onto the elderly (80 and over...I think?) and those at high risk due to health concerns. Then they'll move down the line in age groups. I'm not sure if they are going to include a specific group of people like essential workers before say...the 50 plus age group. All I know is unless my work setting makes me eligible sooner (I work in physical / massage therapy...so it's health care but not exactly "front line", even though I'm considered "essential"), I won't be getting the vaccine until probably late summer. Canada didn't the ball rolling on vaccines as quickly as other countries.
Another Ontarian here :hithere: My neighbour who works at a long-term care facility got vaccinated as early as December, and recently my nurse friends started getting their first shots. It sounds like our government was early in securing vaccines but then was met with delays in vaccine deliveries, and now is slow in getting them into arms. I think we'll be vaccinated much later than our American neighbours.
 
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artiemom

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I wanted to add that the pharmacist who gave me my shot said to be sure to take a photo of the CDC vaccine card to keep in case I lost the card.
I did that, and I made copies of the card. I put them in various area in the apartment; for safe keeping. I also sent a copy of the card to my PCP.. and emailed her about it.
 

Jem

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Another Ontarian here :hithere: My neighbour who works at a long-term care facility got vaccinated as early as December, and recently my nurse friends started getting their first shots. It sounds like our government was early in securing vaccines but then was met with delays in vaccine deliveries, and now is slow in getting them into arms. I think we'll be vaccinated much later than our American neighbours.
Yeah, with the delays in getting the vaccine, the roll out was slow. I'm in the north, so all the vaccines we got in December went to TO and surrounding areas first as they are much harder hit from the virus than we are. We finally started getting them a few weeks ago. I'm sure it'll get moving now that we are getting our vaccines from the manufacturers.
A client of mine, has her mother living with her, she's 89. They received a call early this week asking if they were going to have her vaccinated. They said they have her on the list now and they should probably get a call for an appointment in about a month...but it would be a bit longer for her to get the vaccine, depending on when her appointment ends up being made.
Our long term care residents have now been vaccinated and they are currently working on front line (hospital and long term care workers)
Are you still in Lockdown?
 

susanm9006

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Some people. I had to run to the Hardware store and there was a long line for checkout. The woman behind me was really close so I moved up, and then she moved up. I moved sideways and she moved sideways. Finally I turned around and reminded her of social distancing and if she could provide me with some. Her response was that she already had COVID so she couldn’t give it to anyone and was immune. I told her to give me some space anyway because I wasn’t immune.
 

Jem

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Her response was that she already had COVID so she couldn’t give it to anyone and was immune.
:rolleyes3: :doh:
We don't even know yet how long immunity lasts! Even with vaccinations it hasn't been confirmed...I wonder where she got her information.

On a positive note....
I have several movie theater gift cards that I need to use. We don't go very often, and I like to go when the movie is on it's way out so I don't have to sit with a crowd. Our theaters have opened and have a limit of how many can go. I think this is the perfect time for us to go see a movie....no one kicking my seat behind me, no one with a big head in front of me and no one taking up all the arm room next to me!!!! I'm going to look into which movies are playing. Who'd of thought that a pandemic would make movie going a pleasure!
 

denice

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The Pfizer CEO has said that in time this will be an annual shot like the flu shot. They will tweak it for what the virus is like. He said that in time, after we get through this the annual shots will be readily available like the flu shot.

Immunity to the original SARS coronavirus has been found to last as long as 17 years. Immunity to the coronaviruses that cause the common cold only last about 3 months. This one is somewhere in between but they don't know exactly where in the middle. It hasn't been among humans long enough to know.
 

Jem

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The roll out for vaccinations in my province has been announced (Ontario)...They are currently working on health care workers and then 80 plus.
Beginning on April 15, people between the ages of 75 and 79, followed by individuals between the ages of 70 and 74 on May 1, 65 and older will begin vaccination on June 1, and those 60 to 64 years old will begin on July 1.
It has not been finalized when essential workers will be worked into the schedule, and which essential workers will be prioritized, but it probably won't be until AT LEAST May until they start.
So I guess my first thought about not getting a vaccine until summer/end of summer is almost on point.
 

PMousse

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Jem Jem Yep we are still in lockdown :( I don't even know how long we've been in it! But even when the lockdown is lifted, life won't change too much for me.
 
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denice

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Cases have really dropped here in Ohio and I think across the country. I even heard a doctor on NBC say that maybe between the number of people who have had it which is more then the numbers show because of mild cases and the increasing numbers of people vaccinated that we may be seeing the beginnings of herd immunity.
 

Jem

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Has anyone come across a FULL list of the new variants of Covid? "They" only ever talk about the main three but many sources say there are "many" more, and I can't seem to find them. Perhaps those reporting are interchanging the terms "mutations" and "variants"...which is why they say there are "many more variants" when in fact they should say there are "several mutations"......The most I've been able to find are 6 variants.
Spain, UK, South Africa, 2 from Brazil and the one that they expect is not spreading that was found in minks (Denmark).
 

Jem

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I know a new variant is a mutation of the original strain, but my though process was that it was named a "variant" when and if the mutations change the way the virus "acts". This virus has been mutating since the beginning, many mutations don't affect the virus that much and some will lead to it's own demise. So in a way mutation and variant CAN be used interchangeably, but like I said, I though "variant" was to be used to describe a mutated strain that acts differently...either in severity, transmission, how infectious it is...etc.
 

denice

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I don't know the terminology. I know that the mutation/variant here in Columbus is more easily transmissible. It answered a question for me. At one point Columbus was the hottest spot in Ohio by far but we didn't have as much opposition to mitigating strategies as some other parts of Ohio. When I saw an article about the so called 'Columbus variant' that made sense. It sounds like the same thing found with others that are more transmissible, there are changes to the spikes on the virus making it easier to enter other cells.

I saw the latest vaccination numbers for Ohio. Close to half of those 65 and over have had at least one shot. Ten percent of the population have had both shots and close to 20% have had at least one shot.

Johnson and Johnson has shipped vaccine, I don't remember the number but it was several million doses. Paying these companies to go ahead and start production before approval, I think it was actually prepaying for doses, was one of the smartest things the government did.
 
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Jem

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The latest numbers for the J&J vaccine are much better than what was first reported. It's saying that it's 72% effective, (before it was only 65%?) and 100% effective at preventing death and severe illness requiring hospitalization. Also, zero cases of allergic reactions has been reported.
I know there have been many who scoff at the fact that it's not as effective as Pfizer and Moderna, but honestly, this one's pretty awesome....I would actually prefer this one over the others for myself, if I had a choice.
Only one shot, lower chance of allergic reaction (something I've been concerned about due to my existing allergies), and I actually don't mind that I may sill get sick. It's gives my body the opportunity to develop a secondary immune response and antibodies which may prove to be beneficial at giving longer immunity....but the chances of me being severely sick are almost nil....so, win win.
Considering how long we've been dealing with this and how much longer infection prevention measures will undoubtedly continue, I am concerned about the effects on our immune systems....Come spring I think I'm going to roll around in the dirt and maybe take a few bites! LOL!
 

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The latest numbers for the J&J vaccine are much better than what was first reported. It's saying that it's 72% effective, (before it was only 65%?) and 100% effective at preventing death and severe illness requiring hospitalization. Also, zero cases of allergic reactions has been reported.
I know there have been many who scoff at the fact that it's not as effective as Pfizer and Moderna, but honestly, this one's pretty awesome....I would actually prefer this one over the others for myself, if I had a choice.
Only one shot, lower chance of allergic reaction (something I've been concerned about due to my existing allergies), and I actually don't mind that I may sill get sick. It's gives my body the opportunity to develop a secondary immune response and antibodies which may prove to be beneficial at giving longer immunity....but the chances of me being severely sick are almost nil....so, win win.
Considering how long we've been dealing with this and how much longer infection prevention measures will undoubtedly continue, I am concerned about the effects on our immune systems....Come spring I think I'm going to roll around in the dirt and maybe take a few bites! LOL!
I'm not against the J & J shot on principle, and I'll happily take hospitalization and death off the table, but I've tried to look at what it says about breastfeeding and all I can find it that the mRNA vaccines shouldn't pass through breastmilk (though hopefully antibodies would) and are unlikely to be harmful, but nothing about the type of vaccine J&J is with that. Hopefully ACOG will come out and say that one's okay, too, otherwise, I feel like I'll have to hold out for pfizer or moderna (from my spot way in the back of the line, lol).
 

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The Astra-Zeneca vaccine is also a viral vector vaccine.

I'll gladly take the J&J vaccine if that's what's available. I don't care if I get a little sick as long as it doesn't get severe/fatal. I like that it's only one shot, and I hope it's available at pharmacies soon because I don't want to make a doctor's appointment.

I don't see why a viral vector vaccine would be worse than an mRNA vaccine for pregnancy/breastfeeding but I'm not a virologist. I hope they have some safety info soon!
 

Lari

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I don't necessarily see why it would be either, if it's not a live virus vaccine, I'll just feel better if one of the major pregnancy organizations says it's okay.

I'm nowhere near eligible yet, though, so I'm sure there will be info one way or another by the time I am.
 

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Considering how long we've been dealing with this and how much longer infection prevention measures will undoubtedly continue, I am concerned about the effects on our immune systems....Come spring I think I'm going to roll around in the dirt and maybe take a few bites! LOL!
I just read something last week, which of course I can't find now, about how all the hand washing and hand sanitizer and keeping distance from other people is causing the microbes and bacteria on our skin to change, especially with children. And that having pets in the house, is a good thing. So yay, cats!
 

denice

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I was grateful to get my appointments. I had the first dose of the Moderna this past week. Some people are even picky between Moderna and Pfizer, I didn't even know which one it was. I figured it would be Moderna because the appointments were 4 weeks apart. I don't have a history of allergic reactions though. I am also 65 so my childbearing and nursing time is well behind me.
 
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