Vaccine/Antibody updates

[MU82]

I was a bit embarrassed by the President's proclamation on the USA ending the pandemic with "their" vaccine.

This vaccine is jointly developed by Pfizer (US) and BioNtech (German). BioNtech has the specific expertise in mRNA technology, development, and production. They are essential to this vaccine.

It is more an example of how international collaboration can lead to major breakthroughs. Instead of celebrating international collaboration, he decided to make it political, and about us being better than others. It honestly is a sign of why we can't have nice things. Ego, and privilege "trumping," cooperation and equality.

It's only the 73,552th time he has humiliated our democratic republic and the Office of the Presidency.

[tower912]

I am probably going to defer getting the shot until spring.   I am not anti-vaxx.  But there are a limited number of initial doses and I have the antibodies.   I can't morally or ethically justify staying at the front of the line.    When the vaccine is available to all, I will get it then.

[GooooMarquette]

From the snippet of an interview I heard, BioN really did the majority of the science, but they needed a much larger partner in order to get through all the steps to get it to market. They did not have the resources to get it through Phase III and so used Pfizer for all their infrastructure.

Correct. This is verified by Pfizer's press release announcing the collaboration.

https://investors.pfizer.com/investor-news/press-release-details/2020/Pfizer-and-BioNTech-to-Co-Develop-Potential-COVID-19-Vaccine/default.aspx

The collaboration aims to accelerate development of BioNTech's potential first-in-class COVID-19 mRNA vaccine program, BNT162, which is expected to enter clinical testing by the end of April 2020. The rapid advancement of this collaboration builds on the research and development collaboration into which Pfizer and BioNTech entered in 2018 to develop mRNA-based vaccines for prevention of influenza.

"We are proud that our ongoing, successful relationship with BioNTech gives our companies the resiliency to mobilize our collective resources with extraordinary speed in the face of this worldwide challenge," said Mikael Dolsten, Chief Scientific Officer and President, Worldwide Research, Development & Medical, Pfizer. "We believe that by pairing Pfizer's development, regulatory and commercial capabilities with BioNTech's mRNA vaccine technology and expertise as one of the industry leaders, we are reinforcing our commitment to do everything we can to combat this escalating pandemic, as quickly as possible."

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

These vaccines are a product of globalism.  Efficiencies of scale plus innovation in startups. Plus a chip for both capitalism and socialism and how they can interact. 

But bad, I guess. 

[rocket surgeon]

I am probably going to defer getting the shot until spring.   I am not anti-vaxx.  But there are a limited number of initial doses and I have the antibodies.   I can't morally or ethically justify staying at the front of the line.    When the vaccine is available to all, I will get it then.

good points tower.  i'm going to get tested for antibodies first.  i have been seeing patients since may 1st.  i don't even want to guess how many people i have been in contact with since then...a few thousand??  if i had covid, it had to have been a very mild form because i never noted any of the symptoms i've been reading of.  i haven't missed a day of work due to any illness for multiple years.  i know i am not invincible, and i thank the good Lord every day for my good health...today.  i owe it to one who may need it more than i   

[The Sultan]

good points tower.  i'm going to get tested for antibodies first.  i have been seeing patients since may 1st.  i don't even want to guess how many people i have been in contact with since then...a few thousand??  if i had covid, it had to have been a very mild form because i never noted any of the symptoms i've been reading of.  i haven't missed a day of work due to any illness for multiple years.  i know i am not invincible, and i thank the good Lord every day for my good health...today.  i owe it to one who may need it more than i   

Many locations are hurting for blood donors.  If you donate through the Red Cross, they will do an antibody test for free and it just takes a couple of days.

[Hards Alumni]

Many locations are hurting for blood donors.  If you donate through the Red Cross, they will do an antibody test for free and it just takes a couple of days.

This is exactly how my parents found out they had antibodies.

[shoothoops]

Chief of Critical Care at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, said more than 50% of his nursing staff does not want to get the Coronavirus vaccine. When he asked them why, the reasons were political:
It's towards the end of the 6 minutes.
https://twitter.com/BrandyZadrozny/status/1339182966082310144?s=19

[tower912]

My mother, who has been in the hospital for the last 2+ months for stuff other than COVID, told me that she wasn't going to get the vaccine as long as Trump was in office.     I yelled at her.    Told her that was one of the dumbest things she had ever said and that if she didn't take the vaccine when offered she was a damn fool.   

Obviously, I am past the point of worrying about my parent's feelings.

[MUfan12]

I feel for ya, Tower. My parents apparently get their medical news from right-wing Catholic sources who ran with the "made with real aborted fetus!" story about the vaccine, and now they refuse to take it.

Oh, and dad's a immunocompromised transplant recipient.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

I feel for ya, Tower. My parents apparently get their medical news from right-wing Catholic sources who ran with the "made with real aborted fetus!" story about the vaccine, and now they refuse to take it.

Oh, and dad's a immunocompromised transplant recipient.

Everything happens so fast today.  I can see it in business just over the 20 years I have been involved in economic cycles, etc.  I wonder if some of this is a symptom of people just trying to keep up.  In some ways its easier to believe false-hoods than wrap your mind around the amazing progress that has occurred.

[injuryBug]

At home tests now approved results in 20 minutes.  I know the accuracy will not be 100% but I think this is what we have needed.  Sure some will feel sick take a test and it is negative and then go about their business. 

[The Sultan]

At home tests now approved results in 20 minutes.  I know the accuracy will not be 100% but I think this is what we have needed.  Sure some will feel sick take a test and it is negative and then go about their business. 

Which isn't a very good idea right now.  If you feel sick, call your doctor, and get tested. 

People shouldn't be "going about their business" if they are sick anyway, regardless of Covid or not.

[tower912]

Last Friday, my 14 year old woke up with a sore throat.    Poop.     At our airport, they opened a quick test drive through, ostensibly for anyone who wants to fly.    Went out there, got the test (paid $75 out of my pocket), by the time we got back home, the e-mail had arrived saying he was negative.    Called the school, told them what we had done, and asked if they minded if he came in with a sore throat.    They said no and he was at school by 9:30.

[warriorchick]

Chief of Critical Care at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, said more than 50% of his nursing staff does not want to get the Coronavirus vaccine. When he asked them why, the reasons were political:
It's towards the end of the 6 minutes.
https://twitter.com/BrandyZadrozny/status/1339182966082310144?s=19

Nurses are often required to get other vaccines, including an annual flu shot.

I don't know why they would make an exception for the Covid vaccine.  I think a hospital would be perfectly within their rights to suspend nurses and other medical personnel pending proof of vaccination.

[Warrior2008]

The insanity of letting politics of either persuasion stopping people from getting vaccinated boggles my mind.  Perhaps there is a lesson in this for everyone going forward about the long term ramifications of political tribalism, but I fear it's a message people don't want to hear.

I'm in healthcare and have routinely explained to patients, family, friends, whoever that this only ends when enough people have immunity, albeit natural or acquired.  So if you want to get out of this dystopian universe quicker, when it's your turn, get the vaccine.  It's the simplest way to put it.

[injuryBug]

Which isn't a very good idea right now.  If you feel sick, call your doctor, and get tested. 

People shouldn't be "going about their business" if they are sick anyway, regardless of Covid or not.

exactly, it will be interesting the impact at home testing has on things going forward.  How does it impact quarantine for close contact? 

[Skatastrophy]

The insanity of letting politics of either persuasion stopping people from getting vaccinated boggles my mind.  Perhaps there is a lesson in this for everyone going forward about the long term ramifications of political tribalism, but I fear it's a message people don't want to hear.

I'm in healthcare and have routinely explained to patients, family, friends, whoever that this only ends when enough people have immunity, albeit natural or acquired.  So if you want to get out of this dystopian universe quicker, when it's your turn, get the vaccine.  It's the simplest way to put it.

I feel that the attempted regulatory capture of the CDC led to valid concerns about whether a vaccine would be approved too early. If politicians had stayed out of the CDC then the anti-vax movement would be the only people concerned about getting vaccinated.

[tower912]

The insanity of letting politics of either persuasion stopping people from getting vaccinated boggles my mind.  Perhaps there is a lesson in this for everyone going forward about the long term ramifications of political tribalism, but I fear it's a message people don't want to hear.

I'm in healthcare and have routinely explained to patients, family, friends, whoever that this only ends when enough people have immunity, albeit natural or acquired.  So if you want to get out of this dystopian universe quicker, when it's your turn, get the vaccine.  It's the simplest way to put it.

Completely agree.   The internet is not always your friend.   Seems like doubling down on dumb.

[jesmu84]

Nurses are often required to get other vaccines, including an annual flu shot.

I don't know why they would make an exception for the Covid vaccine.  I think a hospital would be perfectly within their rights to suspend nurses and other medical personnel pending proof of vaccination.

Not exactly. Nothing is "required" pending your reason for exemption.

[jesmu84]

So, does anyone have any concerns about long-term safety of this vaccine? Either version?

[tower912]

No.  You should definitely fear the virus more.

[Galway Eagle]

So, does anyone have any concerns about long-term safety of this vaccine? Either version?

The physician that licenses my mom's medispa has said there could be some concern regarding infertility in women from Pfizer's something about synthesizing some natural protein always has the potential of causing issues. That being said we've seen enough physicians look foolish during this that is take it will a grain of salt

[Warriors4ever]

I'm 66. I'll take my chances with a long-term effect versus getting Covid.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

So, does anyone have any concerns about long-term safety of this vaccine? Either version?

No