Coronavirus Sars-CoV-2/Covid-19 Megathread

[Iormlund]

A most sensible approach, I'd say. I wish the EU had undertaken a similar path. Maybe then we would have finished vaccinating 80 year olds by now.

[Sheilbh]

Word from a doctor friend of a friend in Switzerland is they're throwing away loads of vaccine every night.
I recall this problem in the news in the UK not so long ago. This being Switzerland the rules are the rules and using the extras seems to be a difficult task

I've seen vaccine centres here launch social media campaigns for anyone in the area to get a dose if they're going to throw them away at the end of the night (probably another benefit of having centralised electronic healthcare records).

And in the most French covid news:

French authorities investigate 'clandestine' dinner parties in Paris

Ministers and wealthy guests allegedly ignored Covid rules to attend gastronomic events

UK health regulator may restrict AstraZeneca shot for younger people

https://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN2BS1QE?__twitter_impression=true

Interesting - under 30s aren't really being invited for vaccinations yet except for care home/healthcare workers. Although the actual Channel 4 report is a bit vague on sourcing (and at the minute- only Channel 4 have this story) - it talks about the regulator scrutinising the data and being "urged" to consider restricting use.

But it does make me wonder about the earlier report that the J&J vaccine would be the main one used for young people. It made sense to me from the perspective of supplies but this would also be an explanation of why that was being looked at.

[mongers]

My uncle (mother's brother) has been taken to hospital with covid. Due to his pre-existing conditions he went straight to ICU where he is on oxygen, but not intubated.

Eldest daughter of a good friend of my mum's (couple years older than me) has been there for a while now in a deteriorating condition, they are considering whether to intubate her.

Tamas, I hope things hang together for family and friend.

[MadBurgerMaker]

Woohoo!  Not getting laid off due to coronavirus losses!  My current job won't exist anymore and all, which sucks, but I got super lucky.  They had already told me I had 90 days before I was out, then a guy in another department decided to retire and dumb ol' me was selected to be his replacement.  No interview or anything, they just asked if I wanted to do it a day after saying I was getting shitcanned.  Whiplash.

[DGuller]

 

[MadBurgerMaker]

 

Also:  It's pretty messed up that they're doing this to people (others aren't going to have someone retiring so they can slide into that job) while at the same time dropping $400+ million on building a new hospital.  But hey, I guess hospitals make money or something?  Even when they're literally across the street from some of the best hospitals in the region?  Somehow I get to be involved in the development process for some of the new applications that are rolling out for that place too. 

[Sheilbh]

This was an issue/concern - so glad to see there's been a huge reduction in vaccine hesitancy/scepticisim among ethnic minorities in the last three months. It's very positive news:


Edit: Incidentally Valneva have had positive phase 1/2 data and I understand will be doing their phase 3 trials over the summer. So by the end of the year we may have as many as 10 vaccines in production globally, which is extraordinary. I really hope we look at this and learn for addressing climate - I feel like we should be considering what moonshot/technological ideas have been dismissed or put off.

[Sheilbh]

Update from the EMA:

DW Politics
@dw_politics
+++BREAKING+++

EMA official links #AstraZeneca vaccine and thrombosis.

"In my opinion, we can say it now, it is clear there is a link with the vaccine. But we still do not know what causes this reaction," EMA head of vaccines Marco Cavaleri told Italy's Il Messaggero newspaper.

This is apparently going to be reviewed by the EMA before being formally released. It feels a little sub-optimal that this is just a comment from someone senior in an interview with a paper before the meeting so there's no follow-up explanation or updated guidance or formal statement from the EMA. I've no doubt that'll follow very urgently now but it'd be nice to have details when releasing this sort of news.

Edit: Or maybe not - the EMA have issued a statement saying they've not reached a conclusion. They are reviewing all the data and will update later this week.

[Tamas]

In Slovakia the Russian vaccine triggered a coalition government crisis as many people got outraged the PM wanted to jab people with something not yet approved by the EMA.

So this might be an important bit of context, but the Slovakian approval agency has been unable to label Sputnik safe due to a lack of information. One issue they have faced, apparently, is that they have received as Sputnik V is not matching what the reviewers in the Lancet seem to have received.

[DGuller]

I guess it's just instinctive for Russians to switch up fluids they give to labs for analysis.

[jimmy olsen]

Brazil is on track to exceed the US

https://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN2BT1R5?__twitter_impression=true

[Sheilbh]

UK has received some Moderna at last - confirmed by Nicola Sturgeon and very good news.

[Sheilbh]

Australia and New Zealand are forming an international travel bubble.

New Zealand's tourism pitch to Aussies

[Valmy]

The truth in advertising people strike again.

[alfred russel]

The truth in advertising people strike again.

I'm trying to figure out honeymoon destinations...with restrictions looks like we may be going for Rwanda or Uganda.

Or at least that is what I want to do...my fiance wants to just throw in the towel and go to Hawaii.