30 thoughts on “C-19 Chat Post – March 16 2021”

    1. Yesterday on WGBH TV, Dr. Vanessa Kerry (daughter of Sen. John Kerry I believe) during an interview said that if most of our population isn’t vaccinated soon, the variant will take over and render the current vaccines totally useless.

    2. I’m still a fan of keeping bars/restaurants closed, seriously limited capacities…that’s where most infections seem to happen, not schools like we originally thought. But I know they are seriously struggling too…vicious circles.

  4. New guidelines for schools for social distancing is now 3 feet.

    Joshua, will that recommended distance be for the general population eventually as well?

    1. Don’t know, but it’s a good question.

      On B117, Philip and Vicki, it’s definitely more transmissible (~40%) AND more lethal (also ~40%) – I’m averaging across all the peer-reviewed studies I’ve seen. But, the vaccines work well so far to ward off severe disease from B117.

      Numbers today out most of Europe don’t look good at all, and that even includes countries that have vaccinated close to 20% of the population (at least 1 dose). I’m perplexed by this, as our vaccination rate isn’t that much higher and yet we’re not seeing another surge. I don’t know about 2021 being much better than 2020. Here, yes. In the U.K., yes. In most of Asia, yes. In all of Oceania, yes. But I’m beginning to have my doubts about South America and Europe.

      1. You’re not seeing a surge yet here because spring break just started, and the weather isn’t warm enough yet. So wait 2 weeks for the spring break, and then again sometime in late June through to fall. This is why I think forever will just be rolling lockdowns of varying degrees.

      2. https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/16/health/us-coronavirus-tuesday/index.html

        “B.1.1.7 is projected to become the dominant variant in the US by the end of this month or early April, Walensky said Monday. Because it is highly contagious, it could cause a surge in cases, and vaccination levels are not high enough to stop such a spike, experts have said…. Research published last week suggested that the variant was associated with an estimated 64% higher risk of dying from Covid-19. Researchers have said current vaccines generally offer good protection against the B.1.1.7 variant.”

    2. Hahahahaha. My comment re cdc above was apparently timely. Three feet is a joke. It is basically back to where it has always been. And we have a new variant breathing down our necks. We have a president who has vowed to open schools. May…of may not….fit the scenario I mentioned. And we have an autocrat in charge of education in this state who has now taken control from school committees, superintendents and parents and of course communities…..one who is threatening to take remote hours away from qualifying for education hours. Where exactly does that leave kids who have a compromised immune system or who live with grandparents or the same for teachers.

      We repeatedly prove…. You cannot fix stupid.

      And please don’t interpret this as my saying kids should not be in school if it is safe for all. Just don’t make one size fit all.

  5. Amy, I just booked my flight to Britain for early August. Please note that officially the quarantine in the UK is 10 days, not 3, at least according to the statement I got from Delta after I booked my flight. I have a feeling that will change – I had heard 3 days from someone. Also, I think that with a vaccine you will be allowed to bypass quarantine altogether. I am gambling a bit on this, as I will be vaccinated by then (I’ll make sure of it somehow) and I do hope that will allow me to avoid quarantine once I arrive there.

    Massachusetts no longer has a quarantine as long as you have a negative test upon return. I think that a vaccination will suffice, too, but that hasn’t been inserted into the policy yet.

  6. Doing a thorough U.S. data check I now see that hospitalizations are increasing in a number of states. It’s not a dramatic spike, but they are increasing in a number of mostly Eastern states (not in NE). On balance, hospitalizations are decreasing slightly nationwide because of the still steady decrease in states like California. Average age of hospitalized patients has gone down everywhere (this also includes overseas) . This must be vaccine-related as the older folks are now more protected than younger ones.

    1. Awesome info. Thank you. I’m hoping the powers that be are also watching both the larger and smaller pictures

  8. Astra Zeneca will be conducting vaccine trials for children 6 months to 12 years. Or is it Moderna?

    1. We can’t add more groups until the people who need it most have been vaccinated. Adding teachers alone cost many older folks the chance to be vaccinated I don’t fault baker for the lack of supply. I just fault him for a horrific sign up system.

      Another disclaimer….I absolutely believe teachers need to be vaccinated before returning to school. But we need to do older and more at risk folks first. Guess what the solution to that is 😉

      1. Of course this state could open up a lot more vaccine sites, even if they are in parking lots. At least Biden set the May 1 deadline I suppose.

        1. Hopefully, he can pick up the number available. With the b117 the clock is ticking a whole lot faster

  11. I know I’m going to be very unpopular for this, and I’m not trying to start a fight. I HAVE thought about this and I’m not entirely comfortable with it…and I know I’m a bit biased in that my family was never close (and trauma filled), and both of my parents are dead. There’s more questions than answers…

    But…I have never seen the point of vaccinating the elderly first. Yes to the ones that still have jobs, are productive members of society, take care of kids, grandkids or useful in some way (what does it mean to be productive or useful? By whose reckoning, and who gets to decide that?).

    I always thought it should be : medical/frontline, police/fire, scientists, teachers, essential workers (pharmacists, grocery and food industry, etc). People we need to keep society running, as a whole. If those people get sick/die because elderly people get vaccinated first, there isn’t going to be anyone to take care of them to begin with. I don’t have any good answers…I just know we have lots of elderly, that current medicine and elder care type services are overwhelmed.

    Yes, we can make people live longer/better than at any other point in history, but healthcare, long term care services (often populated with underpaid workers) and the sandwich generation (people raising kids and taking care of their parents) are sadly lacking in funds and resources.

    I’m just trying to expand the discussion a bit, a different framework.

    1. As everyone on this blog knows I’m open to different opinions. You express yours well. I respectfully disagree on seniors, simply because the risk factor for severe illness is so much greater for them. When I say seniors I mean >65. But your points are well taken. The opportunity cost of prioritizing seniors is less vaccine (or none for a period of time) for others. It’s a really tough one. Israel has done the best job thus far in addressing the issue you raise as quickly and efficiently as possible. They prioritized seniors, but made sure there was sufficient supply for others. What this meant is almost from day one they opened some clinics to most adults who wanted a vaccine. In the U.S. Alaska and Connecticut come closest to this ideal, though it took Connecticut about 2 months to get to the point of opening clinics to those >16.

    2. I agree with Joshua. I respect all views. And you have stated yours very well

      I know first responders and the medical community were the first round and I agree. I am frustrated that front line workers such as grocery store folks and service folks such as electricians, plumbers, etc are not in first wave.

      Elderly I believe absolutely have to be a major consideration. We need to remember that many live in community settings. And many others live with family directly exposed. I am one of those.

      My view on teachers is they should not be in first round unless they absolutely need to be in class. Most do not. My view on why is very clear to anyone reading here for the past year. They can teach remotely. Some folks…those who work with SPED students, day care workers and staff, school staff that is needed for tech reasons etc absolutely need to be top of list. Funeral workers for Heaven sakes ….I don’t think they qualify anywhere

      My question to you is how you determine which at highest risk (elderly or with compromised immune systems) should receive the vaccine and how. Like you, I thought it might be relatively straight forward until….

      I had planned to wait because I hadn’t planned to go anywhere and family here either does not or has minimal exposure. The first vaccine appointment I found, I gave to a friend who is over 65 and one of the folks in the educator list I mentioned. When I found out I need fairly extensive gum surgery, I knew I could not wait. I had to rethink my initial plan

      I love love love that you started this discussion.

    3. This is one comment I don’t understand and would love clarification. “…….what does it mean to be productive or useful? By whose reckoning, and who gets to decide that?).”

      There is not a person on earth who is not useful and if we to the point of deciding who is useful, I’m a bit afraid of where we are headed. I’m thinking there is more to your comment than meets the eye

      1. I hate admitting all this, I do feel like a monster thinking this way, but I see that so far, people here seem interested, intelligent and willing to talk it through.
        And I should add, at 45 I am still so grateful to have 3 people in my life who at near or over 60 that are in my inner circle of dearest people to me. They are helping to change my templates.*
        What I meant was exactly that…I don’t know who should decide who is or isn’t useful or productive. And I don’t know who should decide what useful/productive means in the first place. Me: I never really saw elderly in a good light as a impressionable kid…they were scary, helpless beings who barely knew what was happening to them never mind anything else (one grandmother, the rest were gone by the time I was 12). My mother died at 49, dad at 67. They were both stubborn, bitter people who agonized their way to the end. No one I ever saw die were “with it” at the end, and I knew movies/tv were all fake happy. It’s a really strong template to overcome. *
        My dad hated being old…he was cranky/lovable but wanted nothing to do with others his age. Was happy being unsocial. I tend to follow that…cranky and have to be pulled into society.
        So when I see happy, vibrant sharp old people, I just have a hard time really believing they’re happy,..cognizant…people…and not just a burden or suffering. I see commercials with folks in communities exercising or doing social things and I just shudder to think I might end up this way, well into my 80s having to have others care for me.
        People think their pets are their children…and they put them to sleep to end the suffering, so…? (What gets in the way, again is who gets to make these decisions and ethical/religious/political considerations).
        Finally, thank you for being willing to discuss and not rant, rave, tell me I suck. 🙂

    4. Ugh. I was not clear. Teachers IMO absolutely have to be vaccinated before returning to in person. They just do not need to return until other front line workers who cannot work remotely are vaccinated

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