3 x Articles from 'The Conversation'

[2greys]

Coronavirus might become endemic – here’s how.

Endemic viruses are those that have constant presence within a geographical area. Such viruses are all around us, though they vary by location. Examples in Europe and North America include the rhinovirus (a cause of the common cold) and influenza virus, while the dengue and chikungunya viruses are endemic in many Asian countries.

Endemic diseases are often milder, but it’s important to note that this isn’t always the case. Flu, for instance, is estimated to cause up to 810,000 hospitalisations and 61,000 deaths annually in the US.

There are currently four endemic coronaviruses that, for most people, just cause a cold. Whether SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, will join them will be down to two predominant factors that control how a virus behaves in a population: the virus’s biology and the immunity of the host population.

theconversation.com/coronav...

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Not recommending AstraZeneca vaccine for the elderly risks the lives of the most vulnerable.

Regulators in Europe are at odds over whether the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine should be given to the elderly. In the UK, the vaccine has been approved for use in adults aged 18 and up, but France, Germany, Sweden and Austria say the vaccine should be prioritised for those under the age of 65. Poland only recommends it for those younger than 60. Italy goes one step further and only recommends it for those 55 and younger.

It is only ethical to approve a vaccine if it is safe and effective. Crucially, the reluctance to approve the AstraZeneca vaccine in the elderly is grounded only in concerns about its efficacy.

The concern is not that there is data showing the vaccine to be ineffective in the elderly, it’s that there is not enough evidence to show that it is effective in this age group. The challenge is in how we manage the degree of uncertainty in the efficacy of the vaccine, given the available evidence.

theconversation.com/not-rec...

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" My comment"

A very stupid attitude, do they not know that that any protection is better than none and that they can still have another vaccine later if it is deemed necessary.

The mind boggles.

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What a squeezed rubber ducky suggests about the lingering effects of vaccine misinformation.

The mutations in the coronavirus indicate that the virus is working hard to survive, with transmissible COVID-19 variants being detected around the world. These mutations have increased the urgency of vaccinating hundreds of millions of people within a matter of months. While that work has been stymied by governmental missteps, vaccine resistance could ultimately be the biggest hurdle to reaching herd immunity.

And yet, we find hope in a rubber duck – or at least in the way a squeezed duck returns to its normal state. We have found that changing people’s beliefs about vaccines is going to take time, the way a deflated rubber duck springs back slowly after being squeezed. However much we’d love to cast Harry Potter’s “Reparo” charm and make vaccine hesitancy flick away instantly, we need to work hard at it.

theconversation.com/what-a-...

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More than likely covid will mutate and become endemic same as the flu.

[Oshgosh]

I agree with your comment,some protectionis better than none.

[katieoxo60]

Agreed some protection is better than none but how will we explain to those who have had the lesser protective jab why.? i.e my freind had the most expensive one with only an age factor risk while I at over 70 with a sheilded rating too has been given the cheaper none recommended one for over 65s. Luck of the draw I think it is called. Or a question for our local health authorities. But thank you for raising the topic.

[2greys in reply to katieoxo60]

Hi Katie, "the lesser protective jab"

Although I have no links to back me up, I have read an awful lot about Covid, immune systems, vaccinations et al over the past year. Perhaps future research will back up my take on this. I think that what may be going on here is due to the different arms of the immune system. Simply put, I believe that the antibodies generated by the vaccine do not work very well, but the T-cells do work. The caveat being that T-cells, both the memory and the natural killer cells take longer, you need to be infected first. So you experience the start of the symptoms by which time the T-cells are activated and kill off infected cells and instruct the B-cells to start producing the relevant antibodies to that strain. Killing off the infected cells stops the virus reproducing thus reducing the viral load as well. You end up only getting mild symptoms, but once you have had that strain of the virus you then have gained full immunity against it. I hope that makes sense.

[katieoxo60 in reply to 2greys]

Thanks for the reply 2greys, I understand what you are saying quite a few injections do work in that sort of way i.e your own bodies immunity cells build up a future resistence once you have been infected or injected. THink smallpox is one like that. This virus is different as it remains along with mutants in the community, so most vaccine will only serve to reduce symptoms if you get the virus at present. Its all very confusing even for medical staff now I understand why the doctor who did mine was a little unsure as news says one thing , while most deptments are just rushing to get as many vaccinated as possible. Have a good day.

[Jaybird19]

The trouble is that I find most people think the vaccine will stop them getting infected . The general understanding of the word vaccine is that it stops you getting infected or being infective to others. My understanding is that this will not be the case but will reduce the effect enough for you to recover and reduce the excessive pressure on hospitals. I don't understand the statement made about the SA mutant that the Astra Zeneca will not protect you against "mild disease". I must have this wrong somewhere.

[2greys in reply to Jaybird19]

There is no shield or barrier in a vaccine that stops you from being infected. You still get infected but specific antibodies for the strain kill it readily and quickly. The only way to stop being infected is to be in total isolation. Without specific antibodies, T-cells can be effective but it takes time to do their work, to kill infected cells and instruct the B-cells to manufacture effective antibodies, in that time it is still possible to get mild symptoms, which is where you could possibly be still infectious in that time.