Good Virus News

[1hooper]

Published in The New England Journal of Medicine this afternoon.  www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2022483

CONCLUSIONS
The mRNA-1273 vaccine induced anti–SARS-CoV-2 immune responses in all participants, and no trial-limiting safety concerns were identified. These findings support further development of this vaccine. (Funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and others; mRNA-1273 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04283461. opens in new tab).

[1hooper]

The preliminary results of a clinical trial suggest a new treatment for Covid-19 reduces the number of patients needing intensive care, according to the UK company that developed it.
The treatment from Southampton-based biotech Synairgen uses a protein called interferon beta which the body produces when it gets a viral infection.
The protein is inhaled directly into the lungs of patients with coronavirus, using a nebuliser, in the hope that it will stimulate an immune response.
The initial findings suggest the treatment cut the odds of a Covid-19 patient in hospital developing severe disease - such as requiring ventilation - by 79%.
www.bbc.com/news/health-53467022

[shoes]

That sounds very promising!

[spanky]

cool...

[1hooper]

Rapid testing,results in hours. No swab up to your eyeballs. www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29667299/fda-allowing-saliva-based-test-funded-nba

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency authorization on Saturday allowing public use of a saliva-based test for the coronavirus developed at Yale University and funded by the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association.
The test, known as SalivaDirect, is designed for widespread public screening. The cost per sample could be as low as about $4, though the cost to consumers will likely be higher than that -- perhaps around $15 or $20 in some cases, according to expert sources.

[spiderjohn]

[Badactor]

Simple minded sloganeering set to music... certainly not helpful.

[tc]

i think the good virus news (the thread title) is that the NO POLITICS campaign finally has a new song that they can play at their virus spreading rallies. It would certainly beat that Back Street Boys garbage that they currently play. 2 days left in the NO POLITICS presidency so that is good news as well.

Whatever we believe about the virus and/or politics I think we can all agree that this is not Van's best work. I'm a fan so am a bit disappointed in this one. Guess they cannot all be gems.

"No more celebrities telling us how to feel" is the most comical/ironic line in a song entitled, No More Lockdown.

[spanky]

tick,tock,tick,tock....

Never listened to much of Morrisons music. Take it or leave it I suppose. But the countdown has started. The country will likely look different in a couple of weeks.

[bobtailnag]

Regardless of your party affiliation, if true, it's great news for EVERYONE!

[1hooper]

I'm not sure why Spider would resurrect a thread that is 16 weeks old but I'll play along.
I would love to hear about the restrictive lockdowns that Spider has experienced in Ohio and Florida since July 14 by his governors Mike DeWine and Ron DeSantis.
Hopefully we'll get to meet up at Saratoga in 2021 and enjoy a Richard Thompson concert at SPAC.
We all have more in common than not. We should celebrate that and not the small slices of things we disagree about.
Cheers,
Hooper

[PonyGirlJCM]

It is sad that the “No politics” rule is being violated here..... some of you just can’t help yourselves....
Thank you Hooper for your closing statement...

[spiderjohn]

virus is only political if you make it so....just looked for a virus-linked thread here after being sent the Morrison link. Just a song and opinion----no one has to love it hate it, agree disagree.

hoop---its getting strange in Ohio again. places are opening--places are closing--no alcohol served publicly after 10pm---masks in stores/restaurants, bars not so much so we stay out(nbd my way). Local red hot trio had a Halloween party in a large country barn Saturday evening(very good time--will post a video if one shows up). Outside of costumes pretty much maskless. Virus testing and count is up---serious illnesses/deaths way down by %.
In Ohio I work animal rescue feeding/watering/sheltering every morning. No human contact. We go to grocery and a few select safe restaurants. Still operating a golf course/restaurant under mandated standards. Golf is slowing(seasonal/time change/temp) and grill room is shaky--
No virus in family but know some who have caught it--it is real and dangerous--more so for some

Just flew back from FL----my building is very cautionary--rentals allowed as of 11/1, masks in common areas, elevators limited, pool and exercise room open but regulated. Beach wide open, world famous Tiki Bar re-opened. Downtown restaurants open for 100% capacity if they choose. Most wear masks in public. I was the only person on my floor and my neighbor below same on his floor. Hooked up a very cool Bluesound music streamer in my place---ethernet into my router for direct connection and plugged in to my Focal Bird sound system. App on phone, ipod and computers. Streaming hi-res from Qobuz(current favorite) and Tidal(probably dropping) + Itunes access. Very convenient--no cd player or cds just streaming whatever I want(everything new/old available).

I turn 70 soon--plenty of health issues coming on--Covid not one of them yet. I wear a mask, wash hands constantly + use best judgement on where we go and what we do. Taking care of a 91yo very fragile mother recovering from brain surgery related to a bad fall, so protecting her is important. I have recently had flu and shingles shots and daily take a cocktail of echinacea/golden seal, 3 kinds of garlic and an occasional aspirin(have done this for 20 years to keep away flus and viruses from decades of contact with 1-2 million customers annually--and it seems to work very well so far).

Lockdowns can be as damaging as the virus--in some cases worse. Economic impact does matter, especially if you are operating a small/mid-sized business. Unfortunately the people in charge are making drastic decisions based on ever-changing conditions that even the most informed/knowledgeable seem unsure. We all want to do the right thing to keep everyone as safe as possible. This is a global situation with many seemingly in control now not so much in control. I don't pretend to have any answers, however I am going to live my life as normally as possible. I have dodged many bullets(even real) in my lifetime---not fearful, though confident and cautious. You do it your way--I'll do it my way...

Would love to see Toga again, add in a good Thompson show(really enjoy his electric trio) and re-meet a lot of uicers(it has always gone well prior). Sadly don't know if we will ever visit Belmont/Manhattan again. Let's simply all work together to nail this weekend. I am getting good info from overseas, with a few friends tied in on runners shipping over. Also reserved for the DEJulio info and webinars(most highly recommended). So I will be extremely well-informed as I lose my $$ this weekend.

[spiderjohn]

Basic that I understand:
We are equally divided in to a left-leaning urban constituancy and a right-leaning more rural/small town environment. Uniting them after tomorrow would go a long way. Someone is going to have to accept not getting everything that they want. Probably no one will get anything that they want. Life will go on......

[spanky]

Ponygirl...I just don't recall this much friction in the Clinton or Obama years. Or even the Bush years. All Presidents have dealt with major issues, some more catastrophic than others. Some on this forum like to discuss politics and others have no interest in the subject. Seems to me the Sports and Entertainment forum has been evolving on a variety of issues or subjects. But we're still here! Point is, some have moved on and some have hung in there. The other sections on UIC are about horses. The "Basement"...well, it kinda just is what it is. Where have I heard that before? lol.

[tc]

Here is another Van Morrison song that may also be right for this thread:

[1hooper]

Today's good news. Early 90% efficacy.

Pfizer and partner BioNTech said Monday that their vaccine against Covid-19 was strongly effective, exceeding expectations with results that are likely to be met with cautious excitement — and relief — in the face of the global pandemic.

The vaccine is the first to be tested in the United States to generate late-stage data. The companies said an early analysis of the results showed that individuals who received two injections of the vaccine three weeks apart experienced more than 90% fewer cases of symptomatic Covid-19 than those who received a placebo. For months, researchers have cautioned that a vaccine that might only be 60% or 70% effective.

The Phase 3 study is ongoing and additional data could affect results.

In keeping with guidance from the Food and Drug Administration, the companies will not file for an emergency use authorization to distribute the vaccine until they reach another milestone: when half of the patients in their study have been observed for any safety issues for at least two months following their second dose. Pfizer expects to cross that threshold in the third week of November.

“I’ve been in vaccine development for 35 years,” William Gruber, Pfizer’s senior vice president of vaccine clinical research and development, told STAT. “I’ve seen some really good things. This is extraordinary.” He later added: “This really bodes well for us being able to get a handle on the epidemic and get us out of this situation.”

[1hooper]

From BBC. Another early stage success, this time by Moderna.

A new vaccine that protects against Covid-19 is nearly 95% effective, early data from US company Moderna shows.
The results come hot on the heels of similar results from Pfizer, and add to growing confidence that vaccines can help end the pandemic.
Both companies used a highly innovative and experimental approach to designing their vaccines.
Moderna says it is a "great day" and they plan to apply for approval to use the vaccine in the next few weeks.
However, this is still early data and key questions remain unanswered.
How good is it?
The trial involved 30,000 people in the US with half being given two doses of the vaccine, four weeks apart. The rest had dummy injections.
The analysis was based on the first 95 to develop Covid-19 symptoms.
Only five of the Covid cases were in people given the vaccine, 90 were in those given the dummy treatment. The company says the vaccine is protecting 94.5%.
The data also shows there were 11 cases of severe Covid in the trial, but none happened in people who were immunised.

[1hooper]

More clinical trial good news released today about the Moderna vaccine. Last sentence was promising. The Moderna vaccine for the US is being produced in New Hampshire and the Pfizer vaccine is being produced in Massachusetts,Michigan and Missouri. Good for the New England area.
Hooper

On Monday, Moderna released updated efficacy data for its Phase 3 clinical trial.
Starting in July, Moderna gave either its vaccine or a placebo -- a shot of saline that does nothing -- to some 30,000 people in the United States. With high rates of coronavirus throughout the country over the next following months, many of those study subjects developed Covid-19.
But there was a big difference between the group that got the vaccine and the group that got the placebo.
Among the approximately 15,000 people who received the vaccine, 11 developed Covid-19.
Among the approximately 15,000 people who received the placebo, 185 developed Covid-19.
That amounts to a 94.1% efficacy for Moderna's vaccine.
None of the 11 people who received the vaccine became severely ill, but 30 of the 185 who received the placebo became severely ill, and one of them died.

[PonyGirlJCM]

I do not want a vaccination....
I have been working since day one...taking my chances and doing the right thing since it started....I manage a convenience store so I get lots of contact with people... some who refuse to wear masks.....
I will continue to do as I have been doing.......and hope that it is enough.....

[spanky]

My brother contracted the virus and is self quarantining. Only he and I live here so it's been interesting keeping apart but he has only experienced cough and extreme fatigue. Masking and sanitizing has worked so far. And no company. Bummer but necessary since I have pre-existing conditions. Pony Girl...I strongly suggest you get tested and take this virus seriously, if not for you, then others including loved ones. I do agree with not taking the vaccination and will need to see more proof before I inject anything. We were told by a certain dude it was a hoax. I assure you it is not. 250k people are dead and no real end in sight. Texas is one of the leading states with cases soaring. JUST SAYIN'...

[PonyGirlJCM]

Nov 30, 2020 18:58:03 GMT -5 spanky said:

My brother contracted the virus and is self quarantining. Only he and I live here so it's been interesting keeping apart but he has only experienced cough and extreme fatigue. Masking and sanitizing has worked so far. And no company. Bummer but necessary since I have pre-existing conditions. Pony Girl...I strongly suggest you get tested and take this virus seriously, if not for you, then others including loved ones. I do agree with not taking the vaccination and will need to see more proof before I inject anything. We were told by a certain dude it was a hoax. I assure you it is not. 250k people are dead and no real end in sight. Texas is one of the leading states with cases soaring. JUST SAYIN'...

As I said.....have been doing the right thing.... got tested once before I went to visit a friend ...came back negative ...but unless you can stay home there is no way you can test and be sure you won’t contract while waiting for results when they take four to five days to come back.....

[UpInClass]

FDA: Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine
safe and effective after one dose.
The new information comes ahead of a
planned meeting at the FDA to consider
emergency use of the vaccine.