Viruses / Vaccines 2

RunIntoTheRain said:

You can again order free at home Covid tests.  This time you get double the amount. Mine arrived in 3 days!

https://www.covid.gov/tests

static111 said:

brianlux said:

I am sighing big sighs this morning.  For quite a  few years, we have known a woman who is a renowned herbalist, and for the last several years I have been purchasing an herbal tincture that she makes and I take for anxiety.  I wouldn't say the herbs have cured my anxiety, but they do help some and any help is good.

So anyway, I found out recently that she is anti-masking, very likely anti-vaccination, and refers to the pandemic as "the plandemic".  Finding out that someone who I believe to be quite intelligence actually  believes the disease is a conspiracy is just flat out depressing.  I'm beginning to think the bigger disease is ignorance. 

~sigh, sigh, sigh~

Brian.  Unfortunately many people that are otherwise very sane but are into the natural health/wellness movement have been taken in by the conspiracy theories.  In fact there is definitely information out there that specifically taylored conspiracy narratives are coming out with the specific goal of taking otherwise left leaning people and open them to other conspiracies.  I have some in my life, I try to explain that just because western medicine works it doesn't mean that herbalism, eating healthy mindfullness etc is at risk, but to them it is all a con. It is really sad and though most of these people are not ignorant in other aspects, they have taken a zealous almost religious stance on the issue and refuse to see any contrary evidence.  Sorry to hear about your friend.

bootlegger10 said:

A government conspiracy is silly, but I won’t be too upset at people skeptical of the pharma industry and political pressure on the FDA and CDC.  

mickeyrat said:

https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-government-and-politics-12bd2b46042fa91afad3201ebf5b834a

 

COVID-19 Government and politics

Pfizer says tweaked COVID-19 shots boost omicron protection

By LAURAN NEERGAARD

Today

Pfizer announced Saturday that tweaking its COVID-19 vaccine to better target the omicron variant is safe and works — just days before regulators debate whether to offer Americans updated booster shots this fall.

The vaccines currently used in the U.S. still offer strong protection against severe COVID-19 disease and death -- especially if people have gotten a booster dose. But those vaccines target the original coronavirus strain and their effectiveness against any infection dropped markedly when the super-contagious omicron mutant emerged.

Now with omicron’s even more transmissible relatives spreading widely, the Food and Drug Administration is considering ordering a recipe change for the vaccines made by both Pfizer and rival Moderna in hopes that modified boosters could better protect against another COVID-19 surge expected this fall and winter.

Pfizer and its partner BioNTech studied two different ways of updating their shots -- targeting just omicron, or a combination booster that adds omicron protection to the original vaccine. They also tested whether to keep today’s standard dosage -- 30 micrograms -- or to double the shots’ strength.

In a study of more than 1,200 middle-aged and older adults who’d already had three vaccine doses, Pfizer said both booster approaches spurred a substantial jump in omicron-fighting antibodies.

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“Based on these data, we believe we have two very strong omicron-adapted candidates,” Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said in a statement.

Pfizer’s omicron-only booster sparked the strongest immune response against that variant.

But many experts say combination shots may be the best approach because they would retain the proven benefits of the original COVID-19 vaccine while adding new protection against omicron. And Pfizer said a month after people received its combo shot, they had a 9 to 11-fold increase in omicron-fighting antibodies. That’s more than 1.5 times better than another dose of the original vaccine.

And importantly, preliminary lab studies show the tweaked shots also produce antibodies capable of fighting omicron’s genetically distinct relatives named BA.4 and BA.5, although those levels weren’t nearly as high.

Moderna recently announced similar results from tests of its combination shot, what scientists call a “bivalent” vaccine.

The studies weren’t designed to track how well updated boosters prevented COVID-19 cases. Nor is it clear how long any added protection would last.

continues....

cblock4life said:

mickeyrat said:

2nd booster on board monday. pfizer again. all 4 shots. not having had any side effects that were debilitating,  I went into work that night. about 17 hours post shot I start feeling like shit. chills, aches and a screaming headache. All while driving a truck....

now I have swollen lymph nodes on that side. Wasnt aware it was a thing.

so for those considering booster #2 (immuno compromised and those 50+), go into with eyes open having read up on the additional side effects possible.

It’s been a few days….hope you’re feeling better.