Coronavirus: Discussion and Information

[Oreo]

As an adult with autism, I can say that Andrew Wakefield and the other anti-vaxxer ringleaders are the closest thing to pure evil you will find in the world, and have not had enough vicious hate directed their way. This is not a both-sides issue.

This was more for our members, where things are less heated, but still exist. I respect the right of someone not wanting a vaccine, but to resort to hatred seems counter productive to me. I am doing my best to tune out the extremes from both sides because they make a mess of me physically if I try to wade through the vitriol. Anxiety flares and stuff. The propaganda out there is mind blowing.

[elone]

Long but moving

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buElhoXmIOU&t=36s

[Skynet]

The population of Alabama has shrunk for the first time in recorded history due to the pandemic.

[Azuresun]

Talk with anti-vaxxers for any amount of time, and it's easy to feel like the world's gone crazy. But it's nice to see the forces of good pushing back.

[Oreo]

Talk with anti-vaxxers for any amount of time, and it's easy to feel like the world's gone crazy. But it's nice to see the forces of good pushing back.

That is a beautiful show of humanity!

[CopperLily]

For our American posters, the FDA has approved boosters for Moderna for:
65 years of age and older
18 through 64 years of age at high risk of severe COVID-19
18 through 64 years of age with frequent institutional or occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2

6 months after completion of your first course for Moderna.

The use of a single booster dose of the Janssen (Johnson and Johnson) COVID-19 Vaccine may be administered at least 2 months after completion of the single-dose primary regimen to individuals 18 years of age and older.

They're also approving mix-and-match boosters, meaning you don't have to have Pfizer-Pfizer, Moderna-Moderna etc.

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-takes-additional-actions-use-booster-dose-covid-19-vaccines

[TheGlyphstone]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOTcneqxG3E


So much for 'protect and serve'?

[CopperLily]

This was more for our members, where things are less heated, but still exist. I respect the right of someone not wanting a vaccine, but to resort to hatred seems counter productive to me.

I think part of the issue is that one side is expected to accept ever shifting goal posts with unending grace, patience and dignity, while the other side carries on as if nothing is happening, their actions can't effect others, and that once again we're in a place where we're losing at least 7,000 people a day worldwide, and over 1,000 of them in the United States.

While relatives send me "What do you think of this?" articles that outright call colleagues of mine, people who have devoted their lives and careers to helping others monsters putting the lives of children at risk for sitting on a vaccine advisory panel. When nearly every female colleague of mine has received death and/or rape threats if they have an significant social media presence. When people I look up to as mentors and friends managed to turn decades of studying in relative obscurity to producing a nigh miraculously effective vaccine, only to have half our population go "No thanks, I'll pass."

I've had four "Sob uncontrollably in the stairwell" breakdowns over the course of this pandemic (well, technically one was in a closet, since the new place doesn't have a stairwell). More 20 hour workdays on no sleep than I've had since I finished my dissertation. And I'm lucky, because I don't work in a clinical environment. All while I have to hear the people around me explain how it's really not that big a deal while the local hospital begs them because they're about to be overwhelmed and if we need to take you to another ER, the nearest one with room is far enough away that if you had the temerity to get in a car accident, or have your pregnancy go wrong, or have a stroke, you probably won't make it there.

I'd like to believe I'm an empathetic person, but in the last 20 months I've had that burned away.

Do I like the person that probably makes me? No.

But I don't have the energy to maintain anything beyond a basic professional veneer anymore.

[Skynet]

For what it's worth, I may not truly know or understand what you're going through CopperLily, but you have my utmost sympathies.

[CopperLily]

For what it's worth, I may not truly know or understand what you're going through CopperLily, but you have my utmost sympathies.

<3

[elone]

Got my Moderna booster at the doctors office a couple days ago. Had some light reaction, aches etc, but to me that just means it is working. I am one who has no sympathy for the anti vaxer's. Do these people get measles, polio, smallpox, or the whole host of other vaccines? In the army we were vaccinated for everything imaginable. I got measles when I was 13, I remember polio and iron lungs. It was devastating and drove a spike of fear through your heart. I still remember lines down the block to get a polio sugar cube.  I was really young but everyone was so happy to end the scourge. We could save a lot of lives if people just sucked it up. So far Moderna or Pfizer have caused no deaths as far as I can tell. 3 deaths from Johnson and Johnson from clotting or something like that.  It has been fixed. I live in a conservative Republican area. I have written 4 letters to the editor about the benefit of vaccines and taking on the anti- vax crowd. All published. Makes me feel go to do what I can. If you don't want a vaccine stay home, mask up, keep your virus to yourself.

https://www.genesishealth.com/today/covid-19/global-vaccine-mobilization-is-not-new/?ignore=True

[Oreo]

I still remember the sugar cube too, Elone. I think it was first grade because I was still at the Academy school. I remember getting the smallpox vaccine first, followed by the sugar cube. It seems like a lot of folks don't get 'the greater good'...or never saw Spock at the glass.

[Azy]

I saw an interview recently where someone said that if Trump had never made this political we would not be where we are today.  I don't remember who it was, but they are probably right.  There has been a group of anti-vax people for a little over a decade now at least.  The chicken pox vaccine came out when I was in high school think, and there was some push back on requiring it for school, but nothing on this level.  We've had SARS, bird flu, swine flu, ebola, all sorts of diseases come into this country, and things were scary, but people listened to the CDC and did what they needed to do and it was all handled.  At the beginning of this I wasn't expecting anything different. 

I too am getting really annoyed with those who refuse the vaccine.  I've been refusing to wear a mask.  The anti-vaxxers aren't.  I hate the damn things.  I'm sick of the damn things.  It's usually not too bad if I'm sitting or standing still, but if I'm up and moving around and my oxygen needs increase I do feel suffocated.  It might sound mean, but if my mask is protecting people who don't care, then I no longer care either.  They aren't protecting me, and I got my booster last week, so I should be good for a while.  That's not usually my attitude either, but I've got one nerve left, and these ignorant people are on it. 

And yeah, part of it is should I have more kidney stone issues, what am I going to do?  Me, who wore the mask for a long time, took the vaccine, should something happen where I need medical care and admitted to the hospital I'm screwed because there isn't a single hospital bed open in my entire county, or any nearby because non vaccinated Covid patients.... 

[Azuresun]

Got my Moderna booster at the doctors office a couple days ago. Had some light reaction, aches etc, but to me that just means it is working. I am one who has no sympathy for the anti vaxer's. Do these people get measles, polio, smallpox, or the whole host of other vaccines?

Some of them don't, because "I have an immune system.", ignoring that most things their immune system can't handle have been bought under control by vaccinations and what they take for their super-duper immune system beating everything with no need for those wimpy handouts is actually herd immunity protecting them.

Others claim it wasn't vaccines that defeated polio, it was personal hygeiene and clean water. You'd think that this would reduce the incidence of every disease at once, but apparently it reduced them one at a time--and every time, it just happened to coincide with large-scale vaccination campaigns for that particular disease. One heck of a coincidence, right?

[Oreo]

Some of them don't, because "I have an immune system.", ignoring that most things their immune system can't handle have been bought under control by vaccinations and what they take for their super-duper immune system beating everything with no need for those wimpy handouts is actually herd immunity protecting them.

Others claim it wasn't vaccines that defeated polio, it was personal hygeiene and clean water. You'd think that this would reduce the incidence of every disease at once, but apparently it reduced them one at a time--and every time, it just happened to coincide with large-scale vaccination campaigns for that particular disease. One heck of a coincidence, right?

Also coincidence that I haven't gotten the flu since I started getting flu vaccines? I was finally eligible for them when I got my disability diagnosis. Been nice having no flu since joining E. I used to get it at least once every year. Along with bronchitis for the winter season.

[elone]

Also coincidence that I haven't gotten the flu since I started getting flu vaccines? I was finally eligible for them when I got my disability diagnosis. Been nice having no flu since joining E. I used to get it at least once every year. Along with bronchitis for the winter season.

Also have not had flu.  They say flu shots are not that effective but I have not had it since I started getting the vaccines for flu.  Last year was apparently a light flu season.  I think it was due to Covid precautions and distancing, masking, and no school.  The only benefit from Covid.

I notice that in the stores, less and less people are masked around here. I still put one on anyway.  I can grocery shop with one on. They do offer some protection for yourself and not just for others. Does piss me off when people wear them during a crisis but get rid of them as soon as things are better.  I hate wearing them, but at least it is just for a short time for me. Would hate to have to wear one all day. Only a little more than half have had vaccines here so I know they are not safe.

[Oreo]

Also have not had flu.  They say flu shots are not that effective but I have not had it since I started getting the vaccines for flu.  Last year was apparently a light flu season.  I think it was due to Covid precautions and distancing, masking, and no school.  The only benefit from Covid.

I notice that in the stores, less and less people are masked around here. I still put one on anyway.  I can grocery shop with one on. They do offer some protection for yourself and not just for others. Does piss me off when people wear them during a crisis but get rid of them as soon as things are better.  I hate wearing them, but at least it is just for a short time for me. Would hate to have to wear one all day. Only a little more than half have had vaccines here so I know they are not safe.

I still wear my mask in town, for myself. It is one of the full face filter style used for chemical fumes so is also covid preventive. It is actually easier to breathe through than the masks. >.<

[Azy]

I thought about something the other day.  People make the argument that their own immune systems will protect them.  I'm guessing they don't understand how vaccines work.  A vaccine introduces the pathogen that has had the teeth taken out into your system, though your immune system still reacts as if the the threat was real.  Your immune system attacks and destroys the pathogen, and then develops antibodies, just as it would if you had gotten the disease, but without the risk of actually getting sick.  From what I've heard, the Covid vaccines are a little different in that instead of the whole virus, it's just the spike protein that the virus uses to attach to and invade your cells. 

Since I've been getting the flu shot for the last several years I rarely even get a cold.  What I do have is pretty nasty allergies because my immune system didn't know what to do with itself and started freaking out over pollen. 

[TheGlyphstone]

They believe their immune system is just that badass, they don't need the 'training' that the vaccine provides.

[Pumpkin Seeds]

Well the COVID vaccines are neat in that they basically hand the defense plans to the immune system without needing the actual pathogen. Its really interesting and opens up so many possibilities for future treatments.

[Oniya]

From what I've heard, the Covid vaccines are a little different in that instead of the whole virus, it's just the spike protein that the virus uses to attach to and invade your cells. 

Well the COVID vaccines are neat in that they basically hand the defense plans to the immune system

*looks at image of virus*

So, what you're saying is that there's this exhaust port...

[Pumpkin Seeds]

Kind of actually.

[Azy]

I was only given a basic understanding in high school biology, and now of course TV shows which have been trying to educate people about the vaccine and how it works.  One expert I saw interviewed said (wish I could remember who and when but I'm lucky if I can remember what I ate for lunch yesterday) that some people are a little iffy about it because this is the first vaccine to use pathogen RNA instead of the pathogen itself.  I'm guessing this is where theories like it changes your DNA came from.  But it is cool. 

[Oniya]

I remember way back in The Day how they used to model the immune system antibody action like little jigsaw pieces, latching onto the pathogen to attract the white blood cells - or in the case of viral antibodies, to prevent the pathogen from interacting with cells.  It used to mean putting an inactivated form of the pathogen into people so that those 'jigsaw pieces' could be designed by the person themself. 

With the new vaccines, rather than using the inactivated pathogen, it uses a bit of the cellular coding system (messenger RNA) to bypass that step.  Instead of making the cells design the antibody from scratch, it hands them the plans.

But the slight resemblance of the virus to a certain battlestation was too good an opportunity to miss.

[Sara Nilsson]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eR0ihew6wVs

someone made a cute animation explaining it :)