Non-computer Corona virus thread

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What follows is not meant as gloating, though I can see how it could be interpreted that way. It's meant as a "what's happening with the J&J vaccine rollout" data point.

Here in Virginia, the Department of Health set up a website to allow anyone who wishes to pre-register their information for a vaccine and to be notified when it's available in their area and to make an appointment when it is.

Since I am under 60 years old and have no underlying medical conditions, I am definitely not in any of the current groups that are officially a part of the vaccination rollout.

Well, imagine my surprise when I got a message the evening of March 4, telling me that I could register for an appointment for a vaccine the next day, which I did with all possible haste.

It turns out that somehow Augusta County, Virginia, was chosen as one of the initial sites for the rollout of the Jannsen/Johnson & Johnson single shot vaccine, and that the local hospital, which had been doing large scale vaccine clinics with the Pfizer 2-shot protocol, was chosen as an initial site, and got way more than was expected.

To say the least, there was a large turnout, but they have the process down there such that there are not crowds at any given moment, but a steady stream of individuals making their way from registration tables, to vaccination cubicles, to post-vaccination observation areas with social distancing at all times (along with mask wearing).

My partner went through the 2-shot Pfizer protocol finishing about a month ago. So now my household is vaccinated. I'll keep wearing my mask when out in public anyway, as there is still the need for modeling of this behavior and far too many in my area who are blithely ignoring the mask mandates. And Augusta County is currently considered an extremely high risk area by the CDC based on ongoing infection rates.
 
@Porthos If AZ is any indicator the lack of mask mandates won't change much. Neither of our states were enforcing the masks anyway, and at over a year into this mess... the people that are going to mask up, are going to do so. The idiots will never do so.

I'd rather our government be trying to find a way to incentivize good behavior THEN put a fine on it or something to enforce it. Carrot AND the stick... that's the only way stuff like this works. We've only had the stick for everything as long as I've been alive, and as a direct result... nothing works quite right.
 
Sky-Knight said:
Neither of our states were enforcing the masks anyway, and at over a year into this mess... the people that are going to mask up, are going to do so. The idiots will never do so.
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True but at least there were financial penalties for both the customer and the businesses.
All businesses can do now is ask them to leave and if they do not they can only be cited for trespassing. But to not drive away customers it won't happen.
 
Porthos said:
True but at least there were financial penalties for both the customer and the businesses.
All businesses can do now is ask them to leave and if they do not they can only be cited for trespassing. But to not drive away customers it won't happen.
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It wasn't happening already, there are exactly zero min wage earning people working the grocery stores kicking people out because they lack a mask. They'll punt you so hard you leave skid marks if you're smoking... but they won't do jack if you lack a mask.
 
Sky-Knight said:
there are exactly zero min wage earning people working the grocery stores kicking people out because they lack a mask.
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That really depends on the businesses themselves. Trader Joe's, nationwide as far as I know, will not permit anyone into their stores nor to remain in their stores if they are not wearing a mask. We have a number of local businesses here that are every bit as adamant about enforcement.

But, in the big picture, you're correct. Even when there are mask mandates in effect the big box stores, and most grocery stores, are not enforcing them. Our local Walmart actually did, for a while, but it didn't last all that long before they slacked off. What amazes me most, in regard to Walmart in particular, is they've closed all but one entrance for the store and have had someone stationed there with a counter to make sure that the store is not over capacity for months now. What good that does when you let as many people enter without a mask as wish to I do not know.

I'll still be wearing a mask, as modeling responsibility is something worth doing even after having been vaccinated until enough have been vaccinated to actually achieve herd immunity.
 
britechguy said:
What follows is not meant as gloating, though I can see how it could be interpreted that way. It's meant as a "what's happening with the J&J vaccine rollout" data point.

Here in Virginia, the Department of Health set up a website to allow anyone who wishes to pre-register their information for a vaccine and to be notified when it's available in their area and to make an appointment when it is.

Since I am under 60 years old and have no underlying medical conditions, I am definitely not in any of the current groups that are officially a part of the vaccination rollout.

Well, imagine my surprise when I got a message the evening of March 4, telling me that I could register for an appointment for a vaccine the next day, which I did with all possible haste.

It turns out that somehow Augusta County, Virginia, was chosen as one of the initial sites for the rollout of the Jannsen/Johnson & Johnson single shot vaccine, and that the local hospital, which had been doing large scale vaccine clinics with the Pfizer 2-shot protocol, was chosen as an initial site, and got way more than was expected.

To say the least, there was a large turnout, but they have the process down there such that there are not crowds at any given moment, but a steady stream of individuals making their way from registration tables, to vaccination cubicles, to post-vaccination observation areas with social distancing at all times (along with mask wearing).

My partner went through the 2-shot Pfizer protocol finishing about a month ago. So now my household is vaccinated. I'll keep wearing my mask when out in public anyway, as there is still the need for modeling of this behavior and far too many in my area who are blithely ignoring the mask mandates. And Augusta County is currently considered an extremely high risk area by the CDC based on ongoing infection rates.
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Have not all "the experts" mentioned several times, that the shot will not prevent acquiring covid? I believe so, so masks are still recommended.
 
britechguy said:
That really depends on the businesses themselves. Trader Joe's, nationwide as far as I know, will not permit anyone into their stores nor to remain in their stores if they are not wearing a mask. We have a number of local businesses here that are every bit as adamant about enforcement.

But, in the big picture, you're correct. Even when there are mask mandates in effect the big box stores, and most grocery stores, are not enforcing them. Our local Walmart actually did, for a while, but it didn't last all that long before they slacked off. What amazes me most, in regard to Walmart in particular, is they've closed all but one entrance for the store and have had someone stationed there with a counter to make sure that the store is not over capacity for months now. What good that does when you let as many people enter without a mask as wish to I do not know.

I'll still be wearing a mask, as modeling responsibility is something worth doing even after having been vaccinated until enough have been vaccinated to actually achieve herd immunity.
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Trader Joe's up the street from me never enforced the ban, regardless of corporate mandate AND the local mandate.

As for masks after vaccination, I'll continue to wear mine until we have data that shows the vaccine actually prevents spread. Time will give us that data as it's being worked on as we speak.
 
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Based on the CDC website, it is basically saying:
After vaccination, a person could still get covid, but the effects should not be as strong, as the immune system has already learned how to cope with it from the vaccine dose. Therefore, it would be an easier recovery. Or a person could become infected, but not have any effects (aka asymptomatic), because their immune system is strong enough.
www.cdc.gov

COVID-19 Vaccination

COVID-19 vaccines protect against COVID-19. Get safety info and more.
www.cdc.gov www.cdc.gov
 
Yes, keyword in that statement is "could". We don't have the same caveat associated with Measles now do we?

The vaccine might prevent the virus from getting strong enough for our bodies to be able to infect others. I think that's actually likely the case, however we have to wait for the evidence to backup that claim, because it might not actually be true.

Ergo the CDC's advice on the subject. The fact us we don't know... so err on the side of caution.
 
Sky-Knight said:
The vaccine might prevent the virus from getting strong enough for our bodies to be able to infect others. I think that's actually likely the case
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That's the thing, they are telling us those vaccines are not preventing covid from "entering the body", "getting sick", etc.
Once taking the vaccine, a person could still get sick, deal with it with less effects, or have no effects at all (e.g. asymptomatic), until the immune system kills the virus internally.
They are saying the vaccine is not a barrier, as it is commonly assumed by people, preventing people from getting sick at all.
 
Correct. The vaccines do not necessarily confer absolute immunity. Actually, at the population level, no vaccine confers absolute immunity to 100% of those receiving it.

And a vaccine that would render a Covid-19 infection into the class of "kinda like a common cold" for the vast majority of the recipients of same can be considered nothing short of a huge success.

For some, it will almost certainly confer immunity due to the way their immune system works, while for others it will confer resistance. The vaccine I received has a lower probability of actual immunity but has been tested in areas where some of the newer variants are active and has shown success in preventing those variants from becoming any more infectious than the original, and having the same effect on blunting the illness if one does become infected. If I were to somehow get infected, having taken something that, at least in the test subjects, has been 100% effective in preventing serious illness and hospitalization is just fine by me. My primary concerns are not dying, not becoming an asymptomatic spreader, and that the populace develop herd resistance if not true herd immunity. The goal is to stop this illness from spreading like wildfire and having the potential to be lethal for a significant (though still small, overall) portion of those infected. If we could only get to "not lethal" for everyone that's success.
 
Computer Bloke said:
You could say the same about condoms not completely preventing the spread of STDs, but they're still a very good idea.

Just what is your point?
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Point is covid-19 is here to stay and won`t disappear any time soon masks will be the norm as well as social distancing and quarantine for travel as well as lock downs.
 
Galdorf said:
Point is covid-19 is here to stay and won`t disappear any time soon masks will be the norm as well as social distancing and quarantine for travel as well as lock downs.
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Thank you.

Based on my experience in low-COVID New Zealand I suspect that masks will become acceptable but not required in public places, social distancing will become customary and there'll be more space between tables in restaurants, handshaking will become uncommon and hongi-ing (the Māori kunik) will die out. Quarantine will be required for the unvaccinated only, while the rest of us will have to prove our vaccination status when travelling internationally by antibody testing or health records linked to passports. Provision of location information via phone tracking will become normal and people who refuse to comply with that will be seen as dangerous kooks. And deaths from seasonal flu and other airborne diseases will plummet.

Otherwise, again based on my experience in largely COVID-free New Zealand, it'll be very much business as usual.
 
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Even "the end of 2022" isn't forever. And in areas where the vaccination rates reach herd immunity levels I doubt that mask wearing will continue much beyond when that is reached.

The only reason I will continue wearing my mask once my vaccine has had enough time to have conferred either resistance or immunity is because those of us who are, and have been, responsible members of the community throughout this pandemic still need to model in hopes that certain others will follow until vaccination rates are high enough.

But once they are, none of us are perpetually required to take steps to prevent any possibility, no matter how remote, of catching or carrying Covid-19. Vaccines are intended to prevent the need for perpetual hypervigilance, which is essential right now, and will remain essential for some months, at the very least, in the USA and likely much longer in various locations around the world. Were I to travel somewhere that mask wearing was still essential I'd be donning mine again while there, and not to protect myself, nor likely to protect anyone else, but to model behavior necessary to the protection of others in that society. When in Rome . . .
 
Computer Bloke said:
Still, it's better than being dead isn't it?
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It's not likely to kill me, or my wife. It will however knock us both out and put one of my kids at risk due to his already existing reality.

Which is a level of Hell I don't want to describe to be honest. I'm not complaining about the masks, I'm annoyed that we could be DONE with this by now, if people just screwed in their brains. Two weeks of proper lock down, and the pandemic is over.

But nope... instead we'll endure years of this BS because people can't be adults.

Also, I'd be nice if people would stop assuming I'm saying things I'm not. The CDC is recommending mask use until we achieve herd immunity. That assumes either enough vaccinations or recovered people to slow this thing down. If the vaccine isn't slowing the infection rate, then natural recovery isn't either and this virus will continue forever. Which means we're stuck wearing masks until most of the planet is vaccinated. I refuse to believe that's actually true, because it's never been true before. But I'll wait until we have actual evidence this is happening before I change any habits of my own.
 
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Sky-Knight said:
Two weeks of proper lock down, and the pandemic is over.
Click to expand...

Sorry, but I have to disagree with you there. The novel infectious vector is, literally, everywhere now, and things stagger as far as time of infection, being a contagious carrier, etc.

It would take a lot longer than 2 weeks.
 
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