BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: robomatic
Date: 17 Dec 20 - 12:33 PM

You may have heard of the Iditarod dog sled race. The basis of the race is a commemoration of a run via dogsled of serum. Via Wikipedia :

"The most famous event in the history of Alaskan mushing is the 1925 serum run to Nome, also known as the "Great Race of Mercy." It occurred when a large Diphtheria epidemic threatened Nome. Because Nome's supply of antitoxin had expired, Dr. Curtis Welch refused to use it and instead sent out telegrams seeking a fresh supply of antitoxin. The nearest antitoxin was found to be in Anchorage, nearly one thousand miles away. To get the antitoxin to Nome, sled dogs had to be used for part of the journey, as planes could not be used and ships would be too slow. Governor Scott Bone approved a safe route and the 20-pound (9.1 kg) cylinder of serum was sent by train 298 miles (480 km) from the southern port of Seward to Nenana, where just before midnight on January 27, it was passed to the first of twenty mushers and more than 100 dogs who relayed the package 674 miles (1,085 km) from Nenana to Nome. The dogs ran in relays an average of 31 miles (50 km) each, with no dog running over 100 miles (160 km)."


Listening to the radio this morning I've heard of vaccine being sent from Anchorage to Seward via delivery van and into another area via floatplane. That has to be somewhere in Southeast Alaska since all our other outdoor water is solid right now. It is not totally impossible that the vaccine might find its way onto a dogsled, and if I hear of that happenin, I'll be sure to mention it.

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: Mrrzy
Date: 17 Dec 20 - 01:43 PM

Great movie, Balto.

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 17 Dec 20 - 02:15 PM

Any movies about dogs made for adults or older children - count me in...

.. is trump a dog, cat, or animal cruelty, kinda guy...???

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 17 Dec 20 - 02:17 PM

.. even h1tler loved a dog...

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: The Sandman
Date: 17 Dec 20 - 05:15 PM

No plan for vaccine certificates to be used to restrict what people can access or do
Hiqa’s advice to NPHET comes after the government outlined its national vaccination strategy yesterday.
Wed 2:51 PM 16,135 Views 58 Comments
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Image: Shutterstock/PhotobyTawat

Updated Wed 4:29 PM

THERE IS NO plan that vaccine certificates will be used to restrict what people can access or do in Ireland in the coming months.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said yesterday that vaccine certificates which could prove who has received the Covid-19 injection are “under consideration” by the government.

As part of the vaccine roll out implementation plan, the high-level vaccine task force said the vaccine administration process could include the production of a vaccine certificate after someone has received their doses.

There has been speculation that those who do not get vaccinated could be restricted in what they can do, in terms of attending large events or travel.

However, a spokesperson for the minister today said:

“It is not envisaged at this stage that the vaccine certificate, which is a medical record used to keep track of which vaccine has been given to a person and on which dates, will be used for any other purpose, such as travel or restricting access.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) does not recommend countries issuing “immunity passports” for those who have recovered from Covid-19 but said it is looking at prospects of deploying e-vaccination certificates.

The task force report, published yesterday, states that ”the design of this certificate and the scope of how it will be delivered (eg. physically, digitally or both) is currently being progressed with a number of stakeholders, including the EU”.

Head of the task force, Professor Brian MacCraith said that whether a certificate would be physical or digital is under consideration, but added “the language being used is very careful.

“It’s a vaccination certificate of proof of vaccination, nothing else.

“There are also discussions at an EU level of perhaps a single model across the EU 27 for example, but it’s under consideration within the IT infrastructure discussions and as you might imagine it’s not a particularly challenging thing to create in its simplest configuration,” he said.

Hiqa advice

Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) has said trust, communication, and knowledge will be core tenets to help influence and improve the uptake of Covid-19 vaccinations in Ireland.

In advice issued to NPHET after reviewing international evidence, Hiqa said that the campaign to vaccinate Irish people should be largely based on consensus rather than penalties and enforcement.

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Hiqa also stressed in its advice that potential barriers to equitable access to vaccines should be minimised and said that, given the unique situation of Covid-19, evidence from other vaccines such as seasonal flu is likely to have limited applicability to the situation we’re in now in terms of uptake, preference and behaviours.

Yesterday, the government announced details of its National Covid-19 Vaccination Strategy.

It will see at-risk groups prioritised for the early rollout of Covid-19 vaccines, before it ramps up to groups within the wider population.

Dedicated mass vaccination hubs will be set up, while details around a person’s path from appointment to innoculation were also explained.

In considering its advice, Hiqa noted that concerns may be raised about how mRNA vaccines (such as those made by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna) work as well as the rigour of the approval process from the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

Presenting information clearly and accurately on these topics was said to be an important factor in building trust with the public on the safety and efficacy of these vaccines.

During a meeting of its Covid-19 expert advisory group, Hiqa said: “It was noted that the majority of individuals do not have an inherent bias for or against a vaccine, but need to be assured and informed in terms of the evidence for potential benefit or harm relevant to them or their family.

    There was agreement among [group] members that any policy aiming to maximise uptake of the Covid-19 vaccine needs to focus on trust, communication and knowledge. There is a need for communication to reassure the public of the process of vaccination approval by the EMA. While timelines have been shortened, processes have been carried out in parallel rather than sequentially and are robust. All vaccines, including the new Covid-19 vaccines, undergo the same rigorous evaluation process by regulatory authorities.

Hiqa’s advice also pinpointed the importance of healthcare workers in this process.

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It said that in advance of any vaccination programme, healthcare workers should be provided with the necessary information for them to make informed decisions for themselves and also act as a trusted source of information for others.

Key figures within local communities, such as GPs, pharmacists, and religious and sports leaders were also pinpointed as important to provide with evidence-based information to help with engagement with the community.

“Evidence in relation to the effectiveness and safety of Covid-19 vaccines obtained through ongoing surveillance should be made available in a proactive, open and accountable manner to maintain public trust,” Hiqa added.

With additional reporting by Christina Finn
TheJournal.ie's coronavirus newsletter cuts through the misinformation and noise with the clear facts you need to make informed choices. Sign up here:

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Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: Donuel
Date: 18 Dec 20 - 05:26 AM

A quarter million new infections a day doesn't matter to folks in Idaho. Demonstrators against a mask mandate carried signs of "99% survival is not an emergency". The mask mandate was withdrawn.
Way to go Idaho.

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: Mrrzy
Date: 19 Dec 20 - 10:56 PM

You guys, esp the UK folks, reading about Britain having a new variant that is more transmissible and mutates faster?

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 19 Dec 20 - 11:30 PM

boris is proud to make Britain the first in having a world beating virulent new variant...

take that johnny foreigner...!!!

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 20 Dec 20 - 04:45 AM

Keir Starmer consistently demands much harder and longer restrictions, while also slagging off the government for the associated economic damage. And the media are letting him get away with these contradictory statements entirely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: Donuel
Date: 20 Dec 20 - 06:55 AM

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-53325771

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 20 Dec 20 - 07:19 AM

We have a house full of presents for my lad's family who were coming for the five days at Christmas and we've bought in all the food. We haven't exactly seen a lot of them this year as it is. They have our one and only precious grandchild. But they are now in Tier 4 and they're 250 miles away. So that's stuffed that. We're not even allowed to drive to deliver presents. Don't talk to me about contradictory messages, Bonzo (though I agree about how bloody useless Starmer is) when your man said one thing last week then at point blank notice banned everything he said the next. Government by confounded buffoon.

And I do know that millions are in the same boat...

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 20 Dec 20 - 08:08 AM

Yes, Johnson does have a lot to answer for and he will always cover himself with his scientific advisor line. I never have liked the man, but I don't envy his position one bit!

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: Jos
Date: 20 Dec 20 - 09:12 AM

It seems we are not allowed to move into or out of Tier 4. But what about going through it without stopping? If you live south of Berkshire and you were planning to have Christmas dinner with a relative north of Berkshire, are you expected to make a much longer journey to go round it? Or hire a private helicopter?

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: Mrrzy
Date: 20 Dec 20 - 11:43 AM

I think the short answer is Just Stay Home. Life is more important than any holiday.

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: Allan Conn
Date: 20 Dec 20 - 12:44 PM

Depends what is meant by stay at home? We have been basically self isolating for a fortnight already and the in laws have been doing the same. They live within the same region so we can still drive and spend Xmas Dinner with them. Just can't sleep over now! Admittedly we are lucky in that all three in our household can work at home and we are in a low prevelance area. We haven't been in a pub for 8 months or a shop for about 6 weeks. Basically we are pretty safe to frm a one day bubble. So not a one size fits all situation

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 20 Dec 20 - 12:52 PM

You can drive through a Tier 4 area to get to a lower-tier place, Jos. When you get there, you have to obey the tier rules of that area, or, if you live in higher tier, the rules of your tier apply.

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: Mrrzy
Date: 21 Dec 20 - 12:25 PM

I just read that March 2020 was the first March without a school shooting [US] sinve 2002.
Thanks?

Subject: RE: BS: New rumors on the pandemic COVID-19
From: Donuel
Date: 21 Dec 20 - 01:48 PM

There are rumors that the mutated spikes of the Corona virus have mutated enough to make the mrna vaccine less effective - according to the reported rumors. How much less? Not even the rumors dare say.

A rumor yet to be rumored portends that this rumored varient will require a new shot every year like the flu.

Why this is a rumor is because I do not trust the Trump appointed US Surgeon General. Additionally I do not trust Donald, Steve, myself, Boris or Vladamir. :^/

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: Allan Conn
Date: 21 Dec 20 - 04:15 PM

The news being reported here by the scientists is that they believe the variant is more easily transmitted. They do not believe that the virus is any more dangerous to the individual. And as yet they say there is no evidence that the vaccine would not be effective against it.

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 21 Dec 20 - 04:19 PM

It 'just' means a lot more infected people ill and dying at the same time...

Thank you, any infected selfish twats fleeing London to the South West for xmas...

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: Jeri
Date: 21 Dec 20 - 04:33 PM

What Allan said. Rumors there are rumors about rumors are... the only time I've heard that shit is from Donuel.

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 21 Dec 20 - 04:49 PM

Let's stick to new news in this thread. "There's a rumour that..." is both scaremongering and weasel words, frankly.

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: Rain Dog
Date: 21 Dec 20 - 05:37 PM

Don't worry pfr. The new variant is on the way west,street by street. Look how it moved through Kent and is now moving through Sussex. Onward and westward.

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 22 Dec 20 - 09:28 AM

The term "new variant" is the latest instrument of control. See through it.

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: Rain Dog
Date: 22 Dec 20 - 09:35 AM

If only they could control it.Enjoy your freedom while you can. Tier 4 is coming for you.

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: Donuel
Date: 22 Dec 20 - 10:24 AM

I voiced my skepticism about the announcement by our Surgeon General and sarcasticly call it a rumor. If you want to call what he said 'news' about a mutated strain having less effectiveness in preventing disease from a vaccine - that is up to you.

Jeri, I don't trust you either. Why on Earth should I?

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: Donuel
Date: 22 Dec 20 - 10:39 AM

Come to think of it I consider most 'News' to be rumor.
The better we get the science on one side exact the better the economic side will become. The problem is the science can't always be exact. Today I heard Dr. Fauci outright lie but it was about
Santa so all is forgiven. I think people drift here but I don't see anyone deliberately lie to others except about themselves.

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: Rain Dog
Date: 22 Dec 20 - 11:42 AM

I see that some of the pubs in Herefordshire (tier 1 but for how long) are insisting that the local is for locals only.

"You're not from around here are you?"

Sky news just said that there has been a record number of new cases in today's figures.

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 22 Dec 20 - 11:46 AM

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 22 Dec 20 - 01:16 PM

Scientists now considering children as a main factor for spreading new variant..

Teacher's better start organising their funeral plans
for when boris insists on keeping schools open in the new year...

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: Donuel
Date: 22 Dec 20 - 03:57 PM

The experts I have heard, all say "We THINK the varient will respond to the existing vaccines". A few say "It may be slightly less effective".
Without enough time there is no settled science.

Being more contagious is better than being more harmful or deadly.
To counteract the varient the ball is in our court of our own behavior.

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: Rain Dog
Date: 22 Dec 20 - 04:14 PM

"Being more contagious is better than being more harmful or deadly."

Up to a point. Being more contagious means you end up with more people needing hospital care,which unfortunately means a number of those patients are going to die.

Here in Kent (the car park of England), the hospitals have been practically full since last Friday. Other operations and procedures have had to be cancelled.

Back in October,before the national 4 week lockdown, rates were low. In Dover they were in the low double figures. Then they started to rise. They continued to rise during the lockdown. After lockdown we moved to tier 3. The rates kept rising. Then on Saturday they moved us to tier 4. The rates are still on the rise.

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: mg
Date: 22 Dec 20 - 04:34 PM

some infectious disease scientists are asking us to do a daily sniff test to see if our sense of smell is working..it proves nothing one way or another but it is an indication, along with daily temperature taking. if your nose works fine with a sniff of something like lemon, pinesol, peppermint etc...you could be free of virus..or not. If all of a sudden you can not smell consider it a hint to get tested if possible. I personally have supplies on hand that follow the zelenko protocol for quercetin. Read up on ivermectin. Yes it is for deworming horses. Do what you want or not. Be abusive or not.

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 22 Dec 20 - 04:49 PM

"The experts I have heard, all say "We THINK the varient will respond to the existing vaccines". A few say "It may be slightly less effective".

Despite what you are being told, scaremongering is apparently in your blood. "The experts I have heard" is classic weasel words. Why don't you just read the news properly before you post. Maybe you just want to stand out from the crowd. Unfortunately, you stand out in the wrong way.

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 22 Dec 20 - 04:54 PM

.. seriously, been doing the sniff test several times a day for months..

Never thought the wife's farts would one day potentially save our lives...

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 22 Dec 20 - 05:01 PM

I have to do the sniff test every time I put a mask on. They make my nose itch like mad so I have to find a secluded spot somewhere near the fish counter so that I can scratch and sniff unobserved. This morning in the convenience store I had to suppress a sneeze by pinching hard the bridge of my nose just above the mask. Can't think that I was being strictly legal there....

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: Donuel
Date: 22 Dec 20 - 05:08 PM

Rain dog I know
mg I use cinnamon for a test

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: Jos
Date: 22 Dec 20 - 05:32 PM

In spite of many restrictions on our liberty, I don't think sneezing, or in your case, Steve, not sneezing, are illegal.

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 22 Dec 20 - 07:47 PM

Yebbut what's the protocol if you're in a shop with a mask on and you have an irresistible urge to sneeze? I just about managed to suppress it, but I'm an epic no-reason sneezer and it WILL happen again...

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 22 Dec 20 - 08:35 PM

Rather than attending to the Donuel/Mrrzy axis rumourmongering thing, read this eminently sane piece from the Guardian, contributed in very measured style by someone who is more than qualified to know what she's talking about. It was published today. As ever, sorry for my stupidity in being unable to do a proper link. You'll get there by googling well enough.

"Here's what we know about the new variant of coronavirus"

[Sharon Peacock]

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: robomatic
Date: 23 Dec 20 - 01:53 AM

So, in this part of Alaska, which is north and west of Ebbie, We've been delivered Moderna doses in addition to the Pfizer (I almost wrote it as "Pixar"). Vaccines are being administered to medical personnel and sent to the bush to take care of elements of our native population. And for the latest two days, numbers of brand new cases have gone down.

So, as well as can be expected.

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: The Sandman
Date: 23 Dec 20 - 02:15 AM

is it correct that the vaccine does not prevent the spread of the virus or stop you from getting it , but boosts the immune system to fight against it, if this is the case it is useless other than for people who have a weak immune system. so effectively it is not a proper vaccine?
please not these are questions.
vaccines as i understood the meaning of the word such as polio and tb prevented you getting the disease
is this more newspeak

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: The Sandman
Date: 23 Dec 20 - 02:18 AM

that should have read please note these are questions

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: Allan Conn
Date: 23 Dec 20 - 03:06 AM

The Pfizer vaccine seems to stop up to about 95% of people from becoming ill with the disease. They still don't really know if it stops you actually being infected or stops you being able to transmit the disease. That is seemingly because the trials were designed to look for symptomatic covid-19 and confirmed infection. I think likewise with the Oxford trials which seemed to show a bit less efficacy however no-one on the Oxford trials group of people became seriously ill or needed hospitalisation. So how good they are at stopping infection - or if they even do stop infection - will be known in time.

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 23 Dec 20 - 04:11 AM

A normal vaccine works by 'priming' your immune system. If I have this right the vaccine is a small dose of 'dead' virus and the immune system reacts to this by producing antibodies so that the body is ready for the 'live' virus. The new forms of vaccine work by introducing only part of the RNA of the virus. It's still your immune system that does the work.

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 23 Dec 20 - 06:02 AM

No vaccine can stop you from getting infected, if by that you mean stopping the germs getting into you (vaccines don't create a magic bubble round you). The virus may still get into your cells, but your immune system will prevent it from getting a foothold. The question that remains to be answered is whether there's a phase in which your antibodies are protecting you whilst at the same time you can still transmit viruses to other people. It's a question that must arise with all vaccines I should imagine. But, generally, vaccines work well, so let's be optimistic, eh? .

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 23 Dec 20 - 08:04 AM

Just found this https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=742521735347&set=pcb.742521830157

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: Jos
Date: 23 Dec 20 - 08:16 AM

That suggests that people who have had the virus, and recovered, don't need the vaccine.

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 23 Dec 20 - 09:11 AM

That's only as maybe. It's known that immune response memory is not the same for every infection. We haven't had the long time period as yet to know how long immunity lasts for coronavirus. An optimist might say for life, a pessimist might say for just a few months. Testing recovered people for antibodies would be a great way of finding out if only the antibody level in the blood stayed high, but it doesn't seem to, but that doesn't necessarily mean that immunity has been lost. The science is on a steep learning curve.

Subject: RE: BS: New news on the pandemic COVID-19
From: Rain Dog
Date: 23 Dec 20 - 12:57 PM

Further English counties / regions put into tier 4. Have to ask why the whole of Sussex was not tier 4 earlier.

Here in Dover they have not put us into tier 5 yet,we just have to put up with a large part of the town gridlocked. Any resident needing an ambulance will have a long wait.