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01-01-2022, 02:25 AM
(This post was last modified: 01-01-2022, 02:28 AM by Mav.)
Do we need a reminder that flu shots are seasonal? If we had to pay $1,000 a shot for a Covid booster, we'd need to crunch the numbers whether another shot is worth it. But when they're free (disregarding that we all pay indirectly for government expenditure), then where's the problem?
The search for the holy grail will continue: a vaccine that targets part of the virus that doesn't mutate. There was an article a little while ago that covered Australian scientists who had been developing computer technology to determine stable parts of cancer cells to target. They had broadened their research to cover Covid. A rare disease or illness only attracts limited research money and man-hours, but a global pandemic draws much more resources. Cynics will claim that Big Pharma may already have formulated such a universal vaccine but, like the Saudis supposedly hoarding all manner of petrol-replacing products, they're sitting on it so they can keep the vaccine dollars coming in. But no doubt there's a few scientists out there who'd quite like a Nobel prize for bringing the pandemic to an end. Until that happens, I'm happy to take the boosters (or new vaccines to combat new strains) from time to time.
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Looks like ScoMo doesnt want to foot the bill anymore for bulk testing and what has to give in return is the increase in the number of hospital admissions so that becomes a problem for the States...
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Late I know but just read a report that a Swedish tech start up, DSruptive Subdermals has developed a microchip device that can be implanted under the skin, similar to those used for pets. Apparently it would cost 100 euros and could carry a persons medical history and vaccination status, all easily scannable. Conspiracy theory?
Reality always wins in the end.
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From the time it takes from getting tested to getting a result means some folks are on the road to recovery or in a bit of strife by the time they get their results. Rapid tests are being scalped so they're in short supply. I've just come from the shops and it's probably more noticeable than ever that folks are nervous about close contact. So much for being 'freed up' with high vaccination rates. Groups are now doing their own contact risk tracing through things like facebook and rightly or wrongly many people are probably as concerned as at any time during the pandemic. I suspect there's an element of loss of faith and many are feeling an uncertainty about things we're being told.
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01-03-2022, 03:18 AM
(This post was last modified: 01-03-2022, 03:25 AM by Mav.)
High vaccination rates have helped avoid high hospitalisations & ICU admissions. And those who've been double-jabbed are in a position to receive boosters which should help even more. Gotta put that in the win column.
AFAIK, there was never any promise made that vaccinations would kill off Covid. Maybe Scotty from Marketing might have insinuated that, but none of the epidemiologists or infectious disease doctors made that claim. It was true and remains true that vaccinations were pretty much the only hope of returning to normal but that hope was dependent on Covid doing the right thing.
If there are halfwits out there who believed there was a guarantee that vaccinations = party time, then more the fool them. If they can't see that Omicron has moved the goalposts, then they're showing their stupidity.
