Viruses / Vaccines 2

mrussel1 said:

cincybearcat said:

It’s good to know it’s not just MAGA that is trying to tear down our institutions and governance. 

Like everything, there are people involved. So I’m sure some unethical behavior from time to time. 

And I hope y’all are aware that FDA plays in a much bigger space then just prescription meds. They do a lot of good … and even, dare I say it… can be too strict at times with manufacturers.

For example, they went too far with the baby formula issue with that manufacturer in the midwest.  

I feel like this is less to do with the FDA overreaching than it is to do with lack of competition and closed markets in the baby formula market in the US.  There are a handful of companies and my understanding is that each state negotiates a deal for it's WIC program and the winner of that contract basically becomes the dominant force in that state/region because the other companies don't want to invest in the extra infrastructure to make a few sales if they don't get that huge state contract. 

There are of course other interrelated issues like households having to have dual incomes which leaves the mother with less time to do motherly things like breastfeeding, or in the case of single mothers, not having much time to do anything but work.  

The FDA shutting down a company that is making a potentially toxic product, until it has been proven that there is no more contamination, that will be fed to children is largely a good thing.  The larger issue is why is there such a small number of producers of a product that has become essential in the current incarnation of global winner take all capitalism and why if any one of them is to shut down are we immediately thrown into crisis?

dankind said:

static111 said:

mrussel1 said:

cincybearcat said:

It’s good to know it’s not just MAGA that is trying to tear down our institutions and governance. 

Like everything, there are people involved. So I’m sure some unethical behavior from time to time. 

And I hope y’all are aware that FDA plays in a much bigger space then just prescription meds. They do a lot of good … and even, dare I say it… can be too strict at times with manufacturers.

For example, they went too far with the baby formula issue with that manufacturer in the midwest.  

I feel like this is less to do with the FDA overreaching than it is to do with lack of competition and closed markets in the baby formula market in the US.  There are a handful of companies and my understanding is that each state negotiates a deal for it's WIC program and the winner of that contract basically becomes the dominant force in that state/region because the other companies don't want to invest in the extra infrastructure to make a few sales if they don't get that huge state contract. 

There are of course other interrelated issues like households having to have dual incomes which leaves the mother with less time to do motherly things like breastfeeding, or in the case of single mothers, not having much time to do anything but work.  

The FDA shutting down a company that is making a potentially toxic product, until it has been proven that there is no more contamination, that will be fed to children is largely a good thing.  The larger issue is why is there such a small number of producers of a product that has become essential in the current incarnation of global winner take all capitalism and why if any one of them is to shut down are we immediately thrown into crisis?

Ooh! I know this one!

tempo_n_groove said:

Is anyone getting a booster?  I'm still on the fence about it.

I'm thinking of waiting till they come out with the Omicron specific boosters in the fall to get shot #4.

The booster wont do much against these  new strains. Unless they  change  the vaccine  i see no point. 350.000 a day are catching  newest covid here and no rise  in deaths. Its a booster  for an old  genetic code that doesnt exist anymore. 

All the  people here are triple vax and still all getting  new strain. The  vaccine is for an old genetic code. Its changed too much now that people  who had delta and omicron  and are vaxxed  are still getting it at the  same rate.  Its just whats happening here

Lerxst1992 said:

lastexitlondon said:

The booster wont do much against these  new strains. Unless they  change  the vaccine  i see no point. 350.000 a day are catching  newest covid here and no rise  in deaths. Its a booster  for an old  genetic code that doesnt exist anymore. 

Difficult to judge by case numbers as so many are self testing. Here in US, hospitalizations are up nearly triple from the April low point and deaths are rising about 10%. Vaccine protection is declining, from a high 10x protection vs unvaccinated in the winter to 6x now. Is that due to fewer getting the booster, or a decline in efficacy? Difficult to say but looks to still be helping. I’ll probably get another  booster in the mid fall for the expected winter peak, and enough time to fine tune to new variants.

This is my plan too.  I know the vaccines aren't super effective, but if they help reduce symptoms while sick, well that's good enough for me to go.  But I am hoping to hold out until around Sept before getting boosted.  Definitely doing it though. 

tempo_n_groove said:

Is anyone getting a booster?  I'm still on the fence about it.