Coronavirus vaccine news

[basilio]

The Biden administration has moved very quickly to vaccinate around 50% of the population. Interesting to see how Joe Biden is making a huge public push to have a Month of Action that will see 70% of the population vaccinated before summer.

Incentives for getting a shot, he said, include tax credits for employers and paid time off to get vaccines, free childcare for parents and caregivers to do so, and free beer and complimentary rides to and from vaccination appointments.

“It’s going to take everyone, the federal government to state governments, local, tribal and territorial governments, and private sector, and most importantly the American people, to get to the 70% mark,” he said.

“America is headed into the summer dramatically different from last year, a summer of freedom, a summer of joy, a summer of get togethers and celebrations, an all-American summer that this country deserves. You might even be invited to visit us at the White House in July to celebrate Independence together,” he added.

Biden announces ‘month of action’ to get 70% of Americans vaccinated

President dangles promise of a ‘summer of freedom’ to reluctant Americans and lays out plan to achieve Fourth of July target

www.theguardian.com

 

[rederob]

Australia still has a long way to go to match many countries with vaccine access:

However, it's a massive improvement over the past week.

 

[rederob]

Herd immunity is often touted as +70% of the population.
As you can see from this chart of randomly selected nations, only one nation is close to that number:

Surprisingly New Zealand is well ahead of Australia.

 

[sptrawler]

Pfizer vaccine to be cleared for use on children soon.

Australia tipped to approve Pfizer vaccine for children this year

But Australian children and adolescents may not be asked to roll up their sleeves for many months after the expected approval.

www.theage.com.au

 

[rederob]

Another random selection of nations, this time for those who have been jabbed at least once.
This time notice how rapidly Canada has been vaccinating of late, and also Japan, albeit belatedly given they will soon be holding the olympics:

What is encouraging is that greater quantities of vaccines are now being produced and distributed, so the slow start for most countries usually increases rapidly. An exception to this is for nations that simply cannot afford vaccines and have relied on irregular charitable donations or the Covax facility to date.

 

[sptrawler]

The Novavax appears to be getting good results against the variants of the virus, also the company is interested in building a production facility in Australia, similar to Moderna.

Novavax COVID-19 shot shows 90 per cent efficacy, large study finds

The Australian government has ordered 51 million doses of Novavax’s product, which is easy to store and transport.

www.theage.com.au

From the article:
Vaccine maker Novavax has said that its shot demonstrates high efficacy against COVID-19 and also protects against variants in a large, late-stage study in the US and Mexico.
Novavax’s study involved nearly 30,000 people aged 18 and over in the US and Mexico. Two-thirds received two doses of the vaccine, three weeks apart, and the rest got dummy shots.

There were 77 cases of COVID-19 — 14 in the group that got the vaccine and the rest were in volunteers who received placebo shots. None in the vaccine group had moderate or severe disease, compared to 14 in the placebo group.

The vaccine was efficacious against several variants, including the one first detected in the UK, which is dominant in the US, and in high-risk populations including the elderly and people with other health problems.

The study showed about 90 per cent efficacy overall, with preliminary data showing it was safe, the company said on Monday.
The Australian government has ordered 51 million doses of Novavax’s product. In May, the company outlined plans to make doses of its coronavirus vaccine in Australia after revealing it is searching for a manufacturing partner to produce its protein-based jab onshore.

The US company’s plans to explore setting up shop in Australia come one week after fellow US biotech Moderna said it was in talks with the federal government about local manufacturing opportunities.

 

[Knobby22]

The Novavax appears to be getting good results against the variants of the virus, also the company is interested in building a production facility in Australia, similar to Moderna.

Novavax COVID-19 shot shows 90 per cent efficacy, large study finds

The Australian government has ordered 51 million doses of Novavax’s product, which is easy to store and transport.

www.theage.com.au

From the article:
Vaccine maker Novavax has said that its shot demonstrates high efficacy against COVID-19 and also protects against variants in a large, late-stage study in the US and Mexico.
Novavax’s study involved nearly 30,000 people aged 18 and over in the US and Mexico. Two-thirds received two doses of the vaccine, three weeks apart, and the rest got dummy shots.

There were 77 cases of COVID-19 — 14 in the group that got the vaccine and the rest were in volunteers who received placebo shots. None in the vaccine group had moderate or severe disease, compared to 14 in the placebo group.

The vaccine was efficacious against several variants, including the one first detected in the UK, which is dominant in the US, and in high-risk populations including the elderly and people with other health problems.

The study showed about 90 per cent efficacy overall, with preliminary data showing it was safe, the company said on Monday.
The Australian government has ordered 51 million doses of Novavax’s product. In May, the company outlined plans to make doses of its coronavirus vaccine in Australia after revealing it is searching for a manufacturing partner to produce its protein-based jab onshore.

The US company’s plans to explore setting up shop in Australia come one week after fellow US biotech Moderna said it was in talks with the federal government about local manufacturing opportunities.

Hope we are smart and make them compete for a deal.

 

[ghotib]

For those who are interested in personal stories of vaccination, my husbank and I had our 2nd AstraZeneca jabs today. No issues beyond a slight ache at the jab site today; closest thing to a problem rom the 1st shot was a headache, which might have had nothing to do with the jab and went away without so much as a paracetamol tablet. Very boring stories, but when it comes to matters medical, boring is good.

 

[SirRumpole]

For those who are interested in personal stories of vaccination, my husbank and I had our 2nd AstraZeneca jabs today. No issues beyond a slight ache at the jab site today; closest thing to a problem rom the 1st shot was a headache, which might have had nothing to do with the jab and went away without so much as a paracetamol tablet. Very boring stories, but when it comes to matters medical, boring is good.

If it's not impertinent, may I ask how old you and your husband are ?

 

[SirRumpole]

Anti viral pills under developement.

What if treating COVID was as simple as taking a pill? The US wants to make it happen

The United States is devoting $US3.2 billion ($4.2 billion) to speed development of antiviral pills to treat COVID-19 and other dangerous viruses that could turn into pandemics.

www.abc.net.au

 

[moXJO]

I'm getting the pfizer vaccination next month second dose a month after that. Signed up on the app.

 

[wayneL]

I have no plans to have any of the vaccines until I am convinced they are safe...

Risk Vs reward - I see that my risk of actually contracting the virus is extremely low. Given my robust health, I doubt that if I contracted the virus that it would be a serious problem (and *may have already had it, dunno).

Long-term effects of any of these vaxes are unknown and... I've done my travelling, not interested in going anywhere from now on. In fact I would be quite happy to live as a hermit and shut this crazy world out altogether for a while. (Apart from the occasional sojourn to "The Woodie" when there are $6 pints of Guinness and all the local Irishmen and women turn up with their instruments).

I'm not saying I would never get vaxed, but for now, all you lot can go first.

 

[macca]

Anti viral pills under developement.

What if treating COVID was as simple as taking a pill? The US wants to make it happen

The United States is devoting $US3.2 billion ($4.2 billion) to speed development of antiviral pills to treat COVID-19 and other dangerous viruses that could turn into pandemics.

www.abc.net.au

Many Doctors are adamant that we already have at least two treatments that work, no one seems to care, all rather weird.

No wonder conspiracy theories gain traction

 

[Humid]

The way its going with the Astra Vaccine it will be suitable for people 90+

 

[Humid]

I have no plans to have any of the vaccines until I am convinced they are safe...

Risk Vs reward - I see that my risk of actually contracting the virus is extremely low. Given my robust health, I doubt that if I contracted the virus that it would be a serious problem (and *may have already had it, dunno).

Long-term effects of any of these vaxes are unknown and... I've done my travelling, not interested in going anywhere from now on. In fact I would be quite happy to live as a hermit and shut this crazy world out altogether for a while. (Apart from the occasional sojourn to "The Woodie" when there are $6 pints of Guinness and all the local Irishmen and women turn up with their instruments).

I'm not saying I would never get vaxed, but for now, all you lot can go first.

Pretty fair comment welcome to WA wayneL
Rose and crown is a cool pub too

 

[sptrawler]

The way its going with the Astra Vaccine it will be suitable for people 90+

It is obviously o.k for those who feel they really do need to get vaccinated, I have met quite a few, they are a bit scary when they ask "HAVE YOU BEEN VACCINATED"?, with piercing eyes.
I kind of avoid the question and change the subject, like say "oh by the way, which incontinence pad have you found the most effective", that normally throws them off their train of thought.?

 

[sptrawler]

I remember in the early days of the covid safe apps, I said people were scared of the 'Australia' card because of privacy concerns, yet the same people become the covid app police and say "have you checked in"?
Many said I was just being a dick, well now we see what i was talking about. ?

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06...law-change-after-police-access-data/100201340

OMG, Sp you nailed it, at last.?

 

[wayneL]

Pretty fair comment welcome to WA wayneL
Rose and crown is a cool pub too

Thanks Humid

I like the Rose and Crown too. Top spot.

 

[ghotib]

If it's not impertinent, may I ask how old you and your husband are ?

Early seventies, so we didn't give much thought to which vaccine. We also didn't think much about whether to get vaccinated at all, partly because our ages mean we're at high risk from the virus, but also because we wanted to do our bit for community immunity.

We've been lucky in that the jab was offered and available locally and we went through the whole process early with barely a hiccup (worst problem was roadworks on the way to the 2nd jab). Obviously there are problems with the rollout and many people are worried and uncertain about vaccination, but I thought it was worth posting our experience as a reminder that stuffups are not the only story.

 

[sptrawler]

Thanks Humid

I like the Rose and Crown too. Top spot.

# get a room. Lol