Coronavirus 2019

@irwin posted:

Saw a story about a study in “Nature” magazine saying that persons who got Covid frequently have a loss of 2% of their brain mass, memory issues and so forth.

1) I wonder if there is any evidence that such was the case with other viruses?  If not, what is it about Covid that causes this association?

2) I wonder if this is progressive, that is, if one studied the same population in another year, might it be 3%?

Most of these studies are pre-Omicron and show general correlation to disease severity. Half the people I know started re-engaging the world once they were fully vaccinated and boosted. Most of them got Omicron despite being boosted over the holidays. But everyone had only mild symptoms on account of being triple vaccinated. Hopefully, this won’t become an issue down the line…

First in person deposition in over 2 years today - was very strange dealing with paper again

New spikes in covid in Europe and China.   Are we going to experience another spike here? Good grief.

@irwin posted:

New spikes in covid in Europe and China.   Are we going to experience another spike here? Good grief.

Yes.  I give it roughly 3 weeks before we hit the height of the next surge here.

Seems like a potential new wave is forming, and federal Covid funds have dried up.  I suspect this wave will basically be a "shrug and go back to doing what you were doing" wave.

@wineismylife posted:

Yes.  I give it roughly 3 weeks before we hit the height of the next surge here.

It's BA.2, a sub-variant of Omicron, for those keeping track.

Hong Kong is bad and earlier this week Austria re-introduced its mask mandate.

The FDA has authorized a second booster for people aged 50 and up.  I wish that the booster wasn't based on the original Covid strain, but was designed against the more current variants out there.

Still, I will probably go and get a 4th shot.

I plan on waiting a bit myself.  I go to Germany in September so planning on getting my fourth around August 1st.  That should be close to "wave time" as well as my trip.

My booster was 11/1/21.  I'll get my next one in May, I guess.  Or, maybe June.  Have a trip to France in October.

Don’t plan on getting anymore boosters unless/until there is a new formula and then will take a wait and see approach.  Have had 3 of the shots based on the original strain (three different brands) and feel like I’ve had COVID at least once, though due to an absence of tests, it wasn’t ever confirmed.

@csm posted:

Don’t plan on getting anymore boosters unless/until there is a new formula and then will take a wait and see approach.  Have had 3 of the shots based on the original strain (three different brands) and feel like I’ve had COVID at least once, though due to an absence of tests, it wasn’t ever confirmed.

There's actually an antibody test that will tell you if you have the antibodies from having had the disease, as opposed to the antibodies from having taken the vaccine.  It costs about $175 down here.  I've been tempted to take it, just out of curiosity.

Also, from reading up on this, it sounds like it is likely that in the fall a new Omicron based vaccine booster will be coming out, as opposed to the current boosters which are based on the original virus strain.  And so people that take a second booster now will probably still need to get a new booster shot in the fall.

Obviously, the concern is that Covid may come roaring back in the fall, like the flu.

@Rothko posted:

There's actually an antibody test that will tell you if you have the antibodies from having had the disease, as opposed to the antibodies from having taken the vaccine.  It costs about $175 down here.  I've been tempted to take it, just out of curiosity.

Is your governor selling those to fund gay conversion therapy camps?

@Rothko posted:

Also, from reading up on this, it sounds like it is likely that in the fall a new Omicron based vaccine booster will be coming out, as opposed to the current boosters which are based on the original virus strain.  And so people that take a second booster now will probably still need to get a new booster shot in the fall.

Obviously, the concern is that Covid may come roaring back in the fall, like the flu.

Unless Ab test gives a magnitude [titer strength], since minimal is marginally better than none, what does it matter? The Omicron variant BA2 is similar to BA1 from this past November -January Winter. This is now the dominant strain.  We know boosters won't prevent illness but will prevent serious illness.  Summer and fall too far away to predict what new variant will circulate then, or if any booster at that time will be any more effective. I suspect it will be packaged with a flu vaccine. So, no need to wait.

DR T are you saying that there is benefit in a 4th shot based on the same formulation? I only ask because half of my dr friends didn’t even get a 3rd, and most have no intention of getting a 4th (all under 50 so we’re clear), so I’m curious.  It’s based on their actions/thoughts and discussions we’ve had that is precluding me from getting another booster.  That at I think given how Ontario has used my body as a science experiment it’ll be the Chinese or Russian one!

My feeling is that a 4th shot (another booster) for me (I'm >65) is certainly in order. It causes about 1/2 second of arm pain. Maybe not that much.  It enhances the protection against serious illness.  I see essentially zero harm in getting another shot and potential benefit.

By the way, there is an article floating about which says that in large study (in Brazil) Ivermectin was shown to be ineffective against Covid.  To quote Gomer Pyle, "Surprise, surprise, surprise!"

See also, https://news.yahoo.com/israeli...l?fr=sycsrp_catchall

And while I'm on, many, many thanks to Dr. Tannin for providing us intelligent and professional advice.

@irwin posted:

My feeling is that a 4th shot (another booster) for me (I'm >65) is certainly in order. It causes about 1/2 second of arm pain. Maybe not that much.  It enhances the protection against serious illness.  I see essentially zero harm in getting another shot and potential benefit.

By the way, here is an article which says that in large study Ivermectin was shown to be ineffective against Covid.  To quote Gomer Pyle, "Surprise, surprise, surprise!"

I cannot understand people who refuse to take a simple shot that offers further protection against a disease that has killed millions and continues to do so. Where's the downside? 

@bman posted:

I cannot understand people who refuse to take a simple shot that offers further protection against a disease that has killed millions and continues to do so. Where's the downside?

Adverse reactions?

@wineismylife posted:

Adverse reactions?

Super rare, notwithstanding cable news a nd online nonsense to the contrary, and nowhere near the risk of Covid both in terms of death and long Covid. According to the actual experts I've seen and read, at least.

Dang it! Horse de-wormer doesn't work, either.

@csm posted:

DR T are you saying that there is benefit in a 4th shot based on the same formulation? I only ask because half of my dr friends didn’t even get a 3rd, and most have no intention of getting a 4th (all under 50 so we’re clear), so I’m curious.  It’s based on their actions/thoughts and discussions we’ve had that is precluding me from getting another booster.  That at I think given how Ontario has used my body as a science experiment it’ll be the Chinese or Russian one!

It's all about probabilities. Think of it like insurance. The benefits depend on 1- your age and health, especially risks for severe disease if COVID infected 2- the degree of circulating virus in your area, including community, work, lifestyle. The US has a horrific record of vaccination, infections, hospitalizations, and deaths, that is shameful for a top shelf world power, for a number of reasons. There are essentially no risks.   Nonscientific bias aside, the presence of antibodies against the virus, while transient, acts to shorten the interval where the virus successfully infects and proliferates. This is noteworthy since longer times lead to spread of disease to others,  new mutations, and thereby viral persistence [population concerns], a host of economic disasters our country will undergo the next decade from debt, to loss of health care personnel, to political and more widespread mistrust of science. On a personal level, this leads to severe responses that lead to Cytokine Storm, myocarditis, clotting and other disorders and death. If you have had omicron and a recent booster, are young, healthy, and work from home, and don't live with grandma, there is less need for another booster.  Yes the vaccines are made to respond to older viral versions, but there is still benefit And, unlike most insurance, the vaccine is free. So there is benefit for most of us.

@billhike posted:

Is your governor selling those to fund gay conversion therapy camps?

This is why I don't contribute  any longer here (ridiculous response welcome)...you likely have never read the entire Bill.  And if you did and you still think it is ok to teach gender identity to a Kindergarten - 3rd grade  student, you are an absolute moron and lucky that you don't have children.  If you cannot get people to agree to this basic concept there is no hope for society.  Nice try at trying to be relevant and a progressive douche...success on your part.  What makes you think you are a little bit witty or remotely intelligent?  You were afraid of co-workers around your cubicle during Covid.  Tried to stay away...but that was a sad post.

Serious discussion welcome on why it is necessary to broach the topic of gender with Kindergarteners. 

Got my booster shot today.  Easy peasy...

@napacat posted:

This is why I don't contribute  any longer here

You were never a contributor.

@drtannin 2 posted:

It's all about probabilities. Think of it like insurance. The benefits depend on 1- your age and health, especially risks for severe disease if COVID infected 2- the degree of circulating virus in your area, including community, work, lifestyle. The US has a horrific record of vaccination, infections, hospitalizations, and deaths, that is shameful for a top shelf world power, for a number of reasons. There are essentially no risks.   Nonscientific bias aside, the presence of antibodies against the virus, while transient, acts to shorten the interval where the virus successfully infects and proliferates. This is noteworthy since longer times lead to spread of disease to others,  new mutations, and thereby viral persistence [population concerns], a host of economic disasters our country will undergo the next decade from debt, to loss of health care personnel, to political and more widespread mistrust of science. On a personal level, this leads to severe responses that lead to Cytokine Storm, myocarditis, clotting and other disorders and death. If you have had omicron and a recent booster, are young, healthy, and work from home, and don't live with grandma, there is less need for another booster.  Yes the vaccines are made to respond to older viral versions, but there is still benefit And, unlike most insurance, the vaccine is free. So there is benefit for most of us.

Thank you for the thorough and detailed response. 

@billhike posted:

You were never a contributor.

Nice reply.  Avoid all the pertinent points.  Have you read the entire Bill?  Doubtful...just another headline reader taking their points from outside interest groups.  There is nothing wrong with that Bill.

@napacat posted:

This is why I don't contribute  any longer here (ridiculous response welcome)...you likely have never read the entire Bill.  And if you did and you still think it is ok to teach gender identity to a Kindergarten - 3rd grade  student, you are an absolute moron and lucky that you don't have children.  If you cannot get people to agree to this basic concept there is no hope for society.  Nice try at trying to be relevant and a progressive douche...success on your part.  What makes you think you are a little bit witty or remotely intelligent?  You were afraid of co-workers around your cubicle during Covid.  Tried to stay away...but that was a sad post.

Serious discussion welcome on why it is necessary to broach the topic of gender with Kindergarteners.

It is not just about gender identity.  If a student has two mothers or two fathers (or if a teacher is in a same sex relationship) that cannot be discussed either.  It is attempting to normalize an only heterosexual world, when the reality is, that isn't the 'norm'.    It's just another way to marginalize people and make them feel less than. 

@napacat posted:

Nice reply.  Avoid all the pertinent points.  Have you read the entire Bill?  Doubtful...just another headline reader taking their points from outside interest groups.  There is nothing wrong with that Bill.

Reading was never in your skill set.

more covid news:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/67-...ile-d-144807416.html

Fortunately, the cases are mild.  But it is reminiscent of the event relating to the nomination of Justice Barrett at the White House, when numerous persons contracted the virus.

I suppose there is still risk in getting together with large groups of people. The virus (irrespective of which strain, which variant, which subvariant) spreads quite easily.

Three guys in my department who I had dinner with last Wednesday tested positive over the weekend with mild symptoms. I’ve felt fine the whole time and tested negative today.

Philadelphia is reinstituting mask mandates.  5 states have significant increases in infections and hospitalizations.  With Passover and Easter gatherings, we are likely to see a surge.  Fortunately, this current variant seems somewhat less deadly than prior ones.

At least we won't have mandates here.  Thanks Ron

@billhike posted:

Three guys in my department who I had dinner with last Wednesday tested positive over the weekend with mild symptoms. I’ve felt fine the whole time and tested negative today.

So strange who gets infected and how.  I've been to several sporting events sans mask and have yet to be knowingly infected, including one last week where 2 of the 4 guys I spent the entire night with tested positive 2 days later (only one had any symptoms).  The other guy and I were and remain negative and symptom free a week later.

@csm posted:

So strange who gets infected and how.  I've been to several sporting events sans mask and have yet to be knowingly infected, including one last week where 2 of the 4 guys I spent the entire night with tested positive 2 days later (only one had any symptoms).  The other guy and I were and remain negative and symptom free a week later.

Yep. Been to a few concerts in recent months surrounded by people head banging and screaming. So far so good.

@patespo1 posted:

It is not just about gender identity.  If a student has two mothers or two fathers (or if a teacher is in a same sex relationship) that cannot be discussed either.  It is attempting to normalize an only heterosexual world, when the reality is, that isn't the 'norm'.    It's just another way to marginalize people and make them feel less than.

This is an issue you teach at home.  If a student has two mothers or two fathers or whatever, it is the parents responsibility to address and discuss.  Not a teacher.  And kids in Kindergarten to third grade are just not ready for gender studies.

@flwino posted:

Reading was never in your skill set.

Great reply...you're probably all the  rage on twitter.

@flwino posted:

At least we won't have mandates here.  Thanks Ron

Wear 15 masks when you go out.  You don't need a governor to mandate that.

@napacat posted:

This is an issue you teach at home.  If a student has two mothers or two fathers or whatever, it is the parents responsibility to address and discuss.  Not a teacher.  And kids in Kindergarten to third grade are just not ready for gender studies.

It's not 'an issue' until people make it one, like Desantis and the GOP are doing.  If children are not ready for gender studies, then let's not use the terms 'boy' and 'girl', 'mom' and 'dad', etc.  Or is it just the terms that you don't want to talk about, that people shouldn't use?