Tracker

The double-vaccinated are barely protected from omicron — but those with boosters are in good shape= A UK study into omicron has alarming findings for the double-vaxxed — and good news for the triple-vaxxed Since the omicron variant was first discovered in the United States last month, many scientists have been fearful that the variants' many unique mutations compared to its peer variants (including delta) might make omicron more adept at evading existing vaccines. A new study validates those worries, but also provides a splash of hope for those who have received their booster shots. In the article in question, researchers from the Imperial College London COVID-19 response team found that vaccine effectiveness against omicron is between zero and 20 percent for those who have been fully vaccinated with two doses of vaccine. That effectiveness range, zero to 20 percent, may sound dismal. But for those who also received a booster shot, the findings for vaccine effectiveness against omicron were much, much rosier. Specifically, those who had received three shots — meaning the two-dose vaccination plus a booster shot — saw a vaccine effectiveness of between 55 percent and 80 percent against the omicron variant. The vast gulf between the two ranges suggests that a booster shot is crucial to protection against the omicron variant. The findings also reinforce the public statements of some public health experts, including former FDA commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb, who have stated that they believe the COVID-19 vaccine should be a three-dose, not a two-dose shot. Certainly, three-dose vaccines are not unusual; Cuba's COVID-19 vaccine, which has 92.4% efficacy, and the HPV vaccine, are both three-dose vaccines. The double-vaccinated are barely protected from omicron — but those with boosters are in good shape | Salon.com

You cannot challenge an emotional decision with logic. Its like using architecture to explain dance.

They could always go after Todd Krennbrink

Yup. An island, moments of sanity and familiarity in an otherwise often chaotic and threatening world.

Sounds like a child moving away to college.

You HAD to ruin it, didn't you?

A helpful tip I learned as a first responder in rural areas: If you are about to hit a deer, or other wildlife while you are driving, do NOT EVER try to miss it. The natural reflexive movement is to crank the steering wheel over and then you are heading into the ditch at high speed with your front wheels turned sharply to the right. As your front wheels dig into the ditch, your momentum will cause the vehicle to barrel-roll or, worse yet do an endo. Your survival chances are much, much better if you hit the unfortunate creature dead center. If you have no option but to go into the ditch, point your front wheels straight ahead. And remember, ANYTHING, ANYTHING is preferable to a head-on collision. Saved my bacon a couple of times.

That's why moats were created. We already have Duff's ditch, so we are halfway there aleady.

'A major milestone': Pfizer's COVID pill is a huge step forward — but it will be 'scarce' at first The United States on Wednesday authorized Pfizer Inc’s antiviral COVID-19 pill for at-risk people aged 12 and above, making it the first oral treatment and which can be taken at home, providing a potentially important tool in the fight against the fast-spreading Omicron variant. Pfizer’s antiviral regimen, Paxlovid, was nearly 90 percent effective in preventing hospitalizations and deaths in patients at high risk of severe illness, according to data from the company’s clinical trial. Recent lab data suggests the drug retains its effectiveness against Omicron, Pfizer said. “We’re talking about a staggering number of lives saved and hospitalizations prevented. And of course, if you deploy this quickly after infection, we are likely to reduce transmission dramatically,” Pfizer Chief Scientific Officer Mikael Dolsten said, calling it “a stunning outcome.” Pfizer raised its 2022 production projections to 120 million courses of treatment from 80 million and said it was ready to start immediate delivery in the United States. The treatment’s two-drug regimen includes a new medicine and a second older antiviral called ritonavir. READ: Trump is rapidly moving toward a confession about his high crimes against America “Paxlovid’s approval is a major milestone that marks another step towards making COVID-19 a much more manageable infection,” said Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Institute for Health Security. “There are two key issues, however, that remain: It will be scarce in the coming weeks and its optimal use requires prompt diagnosis, which can be difficult with the continual testing problems that plague us,” Adalja added.

Now our premier doesn't need to answer any embarrassing questions.

Staying close to home with a very limited gathering of family and friends. This sucks, but if this is the price for both staying safe (wife is immuno-compromised) and keeping others safe, so be it.

Everyone always makes generalizations. All the time.

Poop.

Apparently a free box of N95 masks with each purchase

If you stop by an MLCC store, you can get another.

Trivia: the misnamed "Spanish Flu" was traced back to a US army base mess cook in Kansas who passed it along to all of the soldiers who then deployed to Europe, the first ones arriving in Spain.

All the commitment of Donald Trump to all of his wives.

With six teams out of nine making the playoffs, that is not too high a bar.

A match made in Heaven.

Agreed. He is the exact opposite of what the Elks need, so we ought to get ready for a tumultuous season of drama there.

Would love to see him arrested in the middle of this farce.

Shoppers irked mask rule not enforced in Winkler amid Omicron threat - Winnipeg Free Press

The biggest problem in the US currently is the timidity of the Biden administration and the way the GOP has gamed the judicial system. This has led people like Trump, Stone, Miller and Flynn to believe that they are untouchable.