CV and mad panic behaviour

[Mav]

The Delta variant is serious. Here’s why it's on the rise, National Geographic.

Good article. This observation is really interesting:

If a mutation gives a virus a fitness or reproductive advantage, that mutation tends to evolve independently around the world. Delta, its closely related variants, and the highly contagious Alpha variant all carry a mutation at position 681 of the spike protein, which is thought to be an evolutionary game changer that also makes it easier for SARS-CoV-2 to invade the host cell and spread. This mutation is fast becoming common in COVID-19 viruses around the globe.

I guess I’ve been assuming that we can keep the Delta variant out of Australia with proper border controls. But it seems that is only part of the answer. If any Covid strain flourishes in Australia, eventually we’ll end up with the Delta variant or worse. Learning to live with the virus as advocated by the “we have to open up and get on with business” crew means we’ll eventually end up with a virus that causes “breakthrough infections” in the fully vaccinated. We just have to hope new vaccines come out that will continue to give us an edge over Covid.

[Gointocarlton]

The Delta variant is serious. Here’s why it's on the rise, National Geographic.

Good article. This observation is really interesting:

I guess I’ve been assuming that we can keep the Delta variant out of Australia with proper border controls. But it seems that is only part of the answer. If any Covid strain flourishes in Australia, eventually we’ll end up with the Delta variant or worse. Learning to live with the virus as advocated by the “we have to open up and get on with business” crew means we’ll eventually end up with a virus that causes “breakthrough infections” in the fully vaccinated. We just have to hope new vaccines come out that will continue to give us an edge over Covid.

Surely keeping it out minimises the chances of it flourishing though Mav? The low case numbers thus far is also a plus I would guess.

[Mav]

For sure. If we allowed free entry to those coming from India without any quarantine or testing, we’d be overrun by the Delta variant within a few weeks. Keeping out the “foreign” Delta variant is critical. But the article points out that we can’t proceed on the assumption that we can allow less dangerous variants to circulate as eventually they’ll mutate into the Delta variant or worse. Therefore we have to get as close to elimination as possible as well as keeping the Delta variant out. The problem is that the armchair epidemiologists amongst us tend to assume that our success in wrangling the virus to date means we can assume we’re only going to get better at containment so we can relax our controls. The problem is Covid is also improving and it’ll be just like an arms race. We need to improve quarantine and vaccination rates to stay ahead in the race.

[madbluboy]

Astra Z only recommended for 60+ now.

[PaulP]

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/peop...581fa.html

[ElwoodBlues1]

Astra Z only recommended for 60+ now.

Should be scrapped... I believe insurance companies are concerned about long haul travel and increased claims for thrombosis, blood clots and will either up premiums or refuse to pay.
Why doesn't the govt bite the bullet and scrap the AstraZ, why continue this mass experiment on 60 plus lab rats..
Qld are giving over 50s the choice of Pfizer or AstraZ... Dan needs to do similar in Victoria.

[LP]

Should be scrapped...

What to replace it with?

I think this is just a sign of more political and bureaucratic interference.

The risk data doesn't indicate that any one vaccine is better or safer than the other, so I have to wonder if the bureaucrats are feathering the bed to avoid litigation, leave the choice up to the punter and the oldies could die of COVID-19 anyway!

Nobody wants to kill anybody, that is only natural.

The problem I see is that the latest data is pointing to long COVID-19 being much more serious than previously expected, even in the young.

[ElwoodBlues1]

What to replace it with?

Read my updated post above... Why should 60 plus citizens be put at risk..?
Its not the Soylent Green era yet...
Italy have just scrapped it for U60s too...
Why continue pushing the age back?.. Just end it now and scrap the AstraZ..

[LP]

Read my updated post above... Why should 60 plus citizens be put at risk..?
Its not the Soylent Green era yet...

Hmmm, the real world data suggests the complications from Pfizer are quite different but just as serious, I think PaulP or Mav have already pointed that out in this thread.

The truth is any vaccine in some very rare cases has unwanted side-effects, it may be a case of better the devil you know, especially now that researchers in Melbourne are saying they can early diagnose the treat AZ TTS side-effects.

We do not want to see our kids getting a mild dose of COVID-19, then dropping dead of a heart attack or stroke on the football pitch months later.

[Mav]

Should 50-60 year olds have priority access to Pfizer over 40-50 year olds or over 30-40 year olds who haven’t yet been eligible for any vaccine in Vic? What about under 30s? I’d think that those in the 50-60 year age group who have failed to get any vaccine over the last month or so should have no priority unless they’re otherwise in a vulnerable category. There’s insufficient supplies of Pfizer vaccine already and they should compete for spots.