The coronavirus vaccines have shattered expectations

[DonViejo]

4 hours ago - Health

Sam Baker

No matter how hard you squint, or what angle you look at it from, the coronavirus vaccines are a triumph. They are saving lives today; they will help end this pandemic eventually; and they will pay scientific dividends for generations.

The big picture: The pandemic isn’t over. There are still big threats ahead of us and big problems to solve. But for all the things that have gone wrong over the past year, the vaccines themselves have shattered even the most ambitious expectations.

The vaccines represent a “stunning scientific achievement for the world … unprecedented in the history of vaccinology,” said Dan Barouch, an expert on virology and vaccines at Harvard, who worked on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Details: Developing a vaccine takes an average of 10 years — if it works at all. Despite years of well-funded research, there are still no vaccines for HIV or malaria, for example.

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axios.com/coronavirus-vaccines-safe-effective-science-immunity-aaa8b39e-1840-482a-a099-050c31529d1c.html

[BlueSky3]

1. mRNA vaccines

I think the advent of mRNA vaccines has played a part in this. I was wondering about how quickly they developed the vaccines until I watched this video:

[link:

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It's an interview with an immunologist about the development of mRNA vaccines and how they work in the human body. By the way, I've had the first vaccine dose and had minimal reactions: just some fatigue and a sore arm for a few days.

[frazzled]

2. If only one could get one

Still waiting patiently.

[Initech]

6. My doctor said they wouldn't be available until at least end of March.

[davekriss]

8. My doctors

I say “my doctors” because there is a team of them keeping me alive. My doctors pretty much tell me I’m on my own and I should register with as many potential providers as I can.

[moonscape]

16. It's a vaccine madhouse. I'm on chemo and

have a zillion specialists, but vaccine availability and differing requirements conspired to there not being a spot for me. Then last week, truly out of the blue, I got an outreach email from a medical group I’ve not used for over 15 years. It said the link was good for 48 hours to make an appt for vaccine. Jumped on it and got the first moderna Saturday.

My oncology office is hoping to get the vaccine end of this month, and pharmacies will be getting them soon, so it’s happening but so frustrating.

Hang tight. Good suggestion to connect with every medical group you’ve visited in the last few years. Signing up via their patient portals is the quickest way around here. But, I didn’t get it based on health risk but on age.

Hope the window opens for you soon.

[frazzled]

9. All my relatives in other states have gotten them

which depresses me more. And many people have posted about their vaccines here. I wouldn’t feel so anxious if I didn’t feel like we were the only ones (I know we aren’t, but some days it feels like it). It’s the not knowing that is anxiety producing. Of all the places I am signed up (city, county, our own hospital, and two pharmacy chains), there is no communication, and no availability.

End of pity party. I know my turn will come eventually.

[davekriss]

7. Me too. Very frustrating.

I’m phase 1B tier 2 in my state and there’s no vaccine for me. Scary that I’m more likely to die from COVID than get the vaccine at this point.

[OLDMDDEM]

3. I'm complaining

My wife is getting her first shot tomorrow. She is in the 1B category. I am in the 1C category and cannot get an appointment. I have tried to get one and all I get is that there is no vaccine available. WTF!!! I am up early everyday and look at the same websites the state of Maryland says to use and there are no appointments available.

We live in Prince Georges County which is predominantly African American. I am beginning to believe that is why no appointments are coming available. This has not been handled well.

[frazzled]

4. Don't complain ... we're in 1b and can't get one

[OLDMDDEM]

10. I do understand but

I have diabetes and heart trouble and am a little nervous about even leaving the house.

[frazzled]

12. Don't despair!

I've been wondering if I'd ever be contacted ... but guess what! Just an hour and a half after our post-exchange here, I got an email from my hospital, saying I was now eligible to schedule an appointment for the vaccine. I get to go on Wednesday!

Alas, my husband (who is in cancer remission) has not gotten his notice yet, and he was the one I wanted to get it most. But at least now we can expect it will be soon. As I am understanding, at this particular hospital, they are progressing downward in age to 65. Since he is two years younger, it will probably be next week.

So have heart, just when you least expect it, you will get the call if you are in the eligible group.

[OLDMDDEM]

14. Thank you

I'm glad to hear you are set up. Hopefully both of you will be taken care of soon. I will wait for the contact. I registered at Prince Georges Hospital and Doctors Hospital.

[OLDMDDEM]

26. I finally got my appointment. nt.

[frazzled]

27. Hooray!

I hope your appointment and shot goes as easily as mine did.

[OLDMDDEM]

28. Great to hear

My wife had her shot last Tuesday and it was a breeze.

Thank you.

[genxlib]

5. The most remarkable thing I heard about the vaccines

Is that they were developed in just a couple of days after the genetic sequence was known. The rest was all just testing and approvals.

Man, I love Science.

[TheBlackAdder]

11. My Pro-Trump, non-masking neighbors, jumped the line and got their first shot several weeks ago.

.

They were both saying this was a hoax, but he told me yesterday that they didn't have an appointment and crashed the line at the county college and got their first shoot weeks ago. They just got their second show two days ago, because once you get your first shot, you get a card for the second one.

He told me they were calling day after day to get on the list, multiple shot sites and could not get scheduled.

So they did what every Republican does, take shit from others who happened to show up a few minutes late for their appointment.


===


They were saying it was a hoax to get Biden elected. Yet, they frantically tried to get the vaccine.

I asked if he got the Moderna one. He said it was Pfizer's and they didn't care which one as long as they got it.

.

[BusyBeingBest]

15. My husband worked alongside several Trumpian assholes all last year who

breathed maskless on him in a small construction trailer for 12 hour shifts, took trips, went to restaurants, had parties, and called the whole thing a hoax. Suddenly in December/Jan for some reason they all decided it WASN'T a hoax and signed up for the vaccine at work when appointments were announced. They were practically the first in line (my husband got his first shot this weekend as an essential worker). Trumphumpers and GOPers will always look out for themselves, no matter how hypocritical they appear.

[roamer65]

17. I'm sorry you have such horrible neighbors.

They sound like very foul people.

[TheBlackAdder]

19. My kids don't like them, because they are self-affecting. They don't make waves and narc people out.

.

That's the good kind. They can be Trumper or not, but neighbors who start shit or rat out others are horrible.

We mutually respect each other's viewpoints, and don't get too engaged in politics, because there is no reasoning with them, and it's their way or the highway. So we operate on a mutual assistance and casual friendship level, and help each other out. But, my kids think the wife is not nice. She's the kind that will talk to you when she has something to say, but shuts down the conversation when she decides it's over and goes in the house.

.

[RobinA]

13. Well, It's Shattered

my expectations. I'm fully vaccinated and have been since the beginning of January.

So far I'm told it can't keep me from getting COVID, it can't keep me from passing COVID, I still have to wear my mask. I got it so I didn't have to worry about passing it and secondarily so I didn't have to worry about getting it. A nice bonus would have been I can finally get rid of this hell mask. So you see why I'm not all that impressed. Essentially it does me no good at all. Oh, and I STILL can't travel. Thank god I didn't pay for this.

Of course, I really don't believe the above, I think they are manipulating us. But I still have to act like I do.

[mnhtnbb]

21. Well, now you can expect not to die--or maybe even not need to be hospitalized--based on

reports of those who have been vaccinated.

What the vaccine does is prevent morbidity and mortality. Definitely worth it, IMO.

[GusBob]

18. We are down to 5 active cases in our community of about 3,000

They started vacs here around 12/20.

The active cases are under 18, the only group that has not received a shot

[roamer65]

23. It's gonna ravage schools when they all go back to in person classes.

Michigan is aiming for March.

[GusBob]

24. Maybe, maybe not

When there are fewer active cases, there are fewer people to catch it from
It's also easier to trace and isolate

For example 4 of our active cases have recovered, 0 new cases today

Only 1 active case in our community.

If the authorities had practiced such mitigation protocol a year ago ......

It feels so exciting almost being free from the contagion that haunted us for a year.

A mix between a dream and a miracle

[roamer65]

25. B.1.1.7

[mnhtnbb]

20. I got a phone call this morning from a county clinic where I was on a wait list

and they scheduled me for March 9th. I'm 1B here in NC (65 and over). My birthday is the next day, so I guess I'm getting a birthday present.

I put myself on about 4-5 wait lists on-line. This one is two counties away and it will be a 45 minute drive to get there, but the scheduler didn't turn me down when I gave her my address.

[likesmountains 52]

22. I am a volunteer vaccine mixer

at our local county health department's weekly vaccine clinic. We receive the Pfizer vaccine, which has to be meticulously reconstituted and 6 tiny (0.3 ml) individual doses drawn up. We generally get 6 doses per vial, but depending on the supplies we receive ,that can go down to only 5 doses per vial if we only have 1 1/2 inch needles > 25 gauge. So, you can see why it is hard to predict exactly how many people to register for each week. So much access to the vaccine depends on good timing and luck. Hang in there, it will happen!