Coronavirus in Massachusetts (Boston, Framingham, Revere: credit, shop, guidelines)

[OutdoorLover]

Originally Posted by wolfgang239

https://www.timesofisrael.com/livebl...inated-people/

This article claims a study found "the vaccine is as effective in people over 70 as it is in younger individuals"

In its clinical trials done for the FDA, the Moderna vaccine was found to be 95.6% effective for those aged 18-65, and 86.4% effective for those above age 65.
See "Efficacy and Safety of the mRNA-1273 SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine", February 4, 2021 N Engl J Med 2021; 384:403-416:
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2035389

Some dropoff is to be expected, as it's well known that the immune system doesn't function as well in older people. This was actually an excellent performance.
The following list of effects of aging was taken from the Merck Manual:
https://www.merckmanuals.com/profess...-immune-system
Geriatrics Essentials - With aging, the immune system becomes less effective in the following ways:

• The immune system becomes less able to distinguish self from nonself, making autoimmune disorders more common.
• Macrophages destroy bacteria, cancer cells, and other antigens more slowly, possibly contributing to the increased incidence of cancer among older adults.
• T cells respond less quickly to antigens.
• There are fewer lymphocytes that can respond to new antigens.
• The aging body produces less complement in response to bacterial infections.
• Although overall antibody concentration does not decline significantly, the binding affinity of antibody to antigen is decreased, possibly contributing to the increased incidence of pneumonia, influenza, infective endocarditis, and tetanus and the increased risk of death due to these disorders among older adults. These changes may also partly explain why vaccines are less effective in older adults.

[OutdoorLover]

The WHO carried out a large scale trial of 4 different anti-viral drug treatments for Covid-19. Unfortunately, the findings were that "These remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir, and interferon regimens had little or no effect on hospitalized patients with Covid-19, as indicated by overall mortality, initiation of ventilation, and duration of hospital stay."

See:
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.105...bbon_article_1

[in_newengland]

Originally Posted by OutdoorLover

The WHO carried out a large scale trial of 4 different anti-viral drug treatments for Covid-19. Unfortunately, the findings were that "These remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir, and interferon regimens had little or no effect on hospitalized patients with Covid-19, as indicated by overall mortality, initiation of ventilation, and duration of hospital stay."

See:
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.105...bbon_article_1

I'm pinning my hopes on that Israeli treatment. They are in trials now and it sounds good. We need a treatment as well as a vaccine.

[CaseyB]

in_newengland, were you able to sign up for a vaccine appointment yet?

[OutdoorLover]

Originally Posted by in_newengland

I'm pinning my hopes on that Israeli treatment. They are in trials now and it sounds good. We need a treatment as well as a vaccine.

Yep, there is progress, but we're definitely far from out of the woods...

[in_newengland]

Originally Posted by CaseyB

in_newengland, were you able to sign up for a vaccine appointment yet?

Yes! It's going to be Feb 25th for the first shot. Getting it at the hospital and hopefully they will have enough vaccine by then.

Talked to a friend in Easthampton today. She and her man have both had shot #1 already. Their Council on Aging called them and set up the appointment. CT should have done something like that instead of telling 90 yr olds to go online.

[CaseyB]

Originally Posted by in_newengland

Yes! It's going to be Feb 25th for the first shot. Getting it at the hospital and hopefully they will have enough vaccine by then.

Talked to a friend in Easthampton today. She and her man have both had shot #1 already. Their Council on Aging called them and set up the appointment. CT should have done something like that instead of telling 90 yr olds to go online.

I'm glad you are finally getting it!

[OutdoorLover]

Check out that itty-bitty 4th bar on this chart, and you'll understand just how low confirmed influenza cases have been this past flu-season. This is primarily a side-effect of the mask-wearing and social-distancing for Covid-19. While not a simple proportion, this also helps you to understand what the Covid-19 cases would be like if we weren't using public health measures.

See: https://www.vox.com/science-and-heal...t-does-it-mean

[BostonMike7]

Originally Posted by OutdoorLover

Check out that itty-bitty 4th bar on this chart, and you'll understand just how low confirmed influenza cases have been this past flu-season. This is primarily a side-effect of the mask-wearing and social-distancing for Covid-19. While not a simple proportion, this also helps you to understand what the Covid-19 cases would be like if we weren't using public health measures.

See: https://www.vox.com/science-and-heal...t-does-it-mean

That’s actually amazing when you think of it.


Calculate out the ratio of flu to covid cases for a specific region, now scale up flu cases to an average season and multiple that by the ratio and you would get an approx value of covid cases and deaths if no social distancing measures were in place. This assumes flu/covid ratio would be proportional.


I’d do it, but I’m typing on a smart phone and multitasking

[yesmaybe]

Originally Posted by OutdoorLover

Check out that itty-bitty 4th bar on this chart, and you'll understand just how low confirmed influenza cases have been this past flu-season. This is primarily a side-effect of the mask-wearing and social-distancing for Covid-19.

Yet that didn't stop the second wave from happening (or ending, as it is now)