Vaccine

[Anthony Mattia]

Just a heads up on the CVS/Walgreens front.  They will not be getting the Pfizer vaccine. They do not have the equipment to handle the cold temperatures it needs to be stored at.  Hopefully they will get the Moderna vaccine as it does not need to be stored as cold and is also am MRNA delivery where AstraZeneca is more like the traditional flu shot and will not be as effective as the other 2 mentioned above.  Thus information was given to me last night by the virulimmunologists that live across the street from me.  I will continue to pass on information that i get from people much smarter than me as I get it.  Stay safe everyone and happy new year.

 

[JohnnyFan]

Beast:

Thanks for your respnse, which I would imagine just narrowly qualifies as a non-political post. 

Regarding Pfizer, they got a $1.95 billion deal with the government’s Operation Warp Speed to deliver 100 million doses of the vaccine. The arrangement is an advance-purchase agreement, meaning that the company doesn’t get paid until/unless they deliver the vaccines. Pfizer did not accept federal funding to help develop or manufacture the vaccine, unlike front-runners Moderna and AstraZeneca. ([URL]https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/10/health/was-the-pfizer-vaccine-part-of-the-governments-operation-warp-speed.html[/URL]]NY Times -11/10/20[/url])

As far as vaccine distribution, this is the most significant health/economic crisis of our lifetimes.  The federal government took the lead on purchasing and now controls supply of the vaccine which is the most critical resource on the planet.  "Leaving it up to the states" has already proven to be a failed approach when it comes to pandemic response.  The federal government needs to execute with more urgency and, whether they like it or not, they do bare responsibility for this rollout.  If their strategy is "leaving it up to the states" and that fails, they are responsibile.  The governement's chief function is to protect it's people.

Yes, CTstorm read my post correctly, I was referring to AstraZeneca's trial reports (not Moderna).  But, considering your graduate course, I will defer to you on that.    

Staying in bounds is one of the basic rules in basketball.   The pandemic is all about governmental response and is worthy of discussion.

I am aware that Pfizer turned down investment money, but don't be mistaken in thinking that a $2 billion investment by the US in purchasing the vaccine from them didn't help fund their invest in R&D     They knew so long as it got approved, maybe among many companies with an approved vaccine, that they had a $2 billion customer.   Smart move by our government.

The federal government didn't simply take the lead on purchasing,but outright invested in R&D in return for finished product if drug companies won approval.   They took the risk away from failed research, which is incredibly bright and allowed the selected companies to move rapidly through phases by interleaving them at a research feasible point and not an econimically feasible point.  

We will have to disagree on distribution and the feds yielding responsibility to  states.    This is an age old argument, and many southerners still firmly believe that the civil war was primarily about state's rights and the federal government's ability to dictate to them.

Our leadership had a weekly call with all 50 governors invited and expected to attend to give updates and share opinions and ideas.   17 governors declined the invitiation, including our own here in NYS.    Many of those governors wanted autonomy in dealing with the pandemic.   One went so far as to appoint his own review panel to approve any vaccine, whic is absurd considering that I sincerely doubt his panel had any regulatory experience in the drug approval process.  

Poorly run states, and those who ascribe to good ol boy political favors are bungling distribution as they have bungled everything it seems.   

I can appreciate your displeasure and would agree with much of it.   Every single day I see photo ops of  people who should NOT be in phase one of vaccination getting vaccinated.    Last night I flipped when I saw a post of a maybe 35-40 year old CEO of a community health center who presumably is not patient facing, getting the vaccine and posting about it.    We know that politicians are doing the same.    These are the same people who shut down their states but are caught at restaurants in private dinners without PPE, tell people to stay home for the holidays, but are caught at airports, advising us to stay apart from our families but then celebrate with their elderly parents who live far away.   

Vaccinating 300 people is an unprecendented task.    I have zero confidence that our state or federal government can do it well.  In fact, government should largely stay the hell out of healthcare in my opinion.   They have little knowledge, no experience, drive up costs, and in general use anything at their disposal to line their pockets.    I guarantee that if a single payor system is implemented, anyone with sufficient means will opt out to get better healthcare.   

The best route possible is to get this done as throughly as possible, and look past the obvious hypocrisies and errors that are going to occur.

For six weeks, I listended to the feds talk about 20 million vaccinated before the end of December.  They were off by 18 million people.  What were they basing that estimate on?  If their plan was to leave it up to the states, did they vet the states ability to execute such an operation? 

I notice, in the absence of a last mile plan, a desparate desire to pass the buck.  I wonder if you, and alike, will continue to shoulder states with this responsibility after the transfer in power takes place (and despite the nonsense it will take place).

 

[Knight]

Bloomberg reporting 3.17 million vaccinations in the U.S.
[URL]https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/covid-vaccine-tracker-global-distribution/[/URL]
 

 

[ohiofan]

This thread has been restored after nearly 30 political comments were removed (both direct and indirect/disguised political comments). That is a lot of work for the moderators and we did not get all of them.

If there are any more posts which are even remotely political on this topic, the poster will be subject to immediate action, up to and including permanent banning. Consider this a warning.

 

[MarkRedman]

Very interesting to note that, in South Florida, we will not have a choice of vaccines
They are being allocated by county
In Palm Beach County, you will only be able to get the Moderna shot
In Broward County, you will be given the Pfizer vaccine

 

[ohiofan]

Very interesting to note that, in South Florida, we will not have a choice of vaccines
They are being allocated by county
In Palm Beach County, you will only be able to get the Moderna shot
In Broward County, you will be given the Pfizer vaccine

Let's just hope both vaccines are as effective as reported!

 

[fuchsia]

Very interesting to note that, in South Florida, we will not have a choice of vaccines
They are being allocated by county
In Palm Beach County, you will only be able to get the Moderna shot
In Broward County, you will be given the Pfizer vaccine

This is only after hip-checking a little old lady carrying an umbrella with a sharpened tip, out of line.

 

[mjmaherjr]

Very interesting to note that, in South Florida, we will not have a choice of vaccines
They are being allocated by county
In Palm Beach County, you will only be able to get the Moderna shot
In Broward County, you will be given the Pfizer vaccine

Let's just hope both vaccines are as effective as reported!


my cousin in Maryland just got Pfizer and her boss got moderna. Said very orderly there too

Jist throwing this out there and it's not a political statement just an idea but while I think the states should be in charge of their distributions maybe when larger amounts become available and we are vaccineimg en mass maybe the federal govt should have the military or whomever handle large drive thru facilities like stadiums etc anywhere where you can set up a drive thru. In a few months we are going to have a vaccine glut 

 

[BrooklynRed]

Anyone who has (or knows someone who has) "fillers" to take care of face wrinkles, should speak to their dermotologist who administered them as it is possible that one of the vaccines will not be compatible. I am going to check with my friend the immunologist regarding this and will get back.

 

[camz]

 I thought you'd be interested in this story 
 
 Alarming number of US health care workers are refusing COVID-19 vaccine 
 
 https://nypost.com/2021/01/01/alarming-number-of-us-health-care-workers-are-refusing-covid-19-vaccine/ 
 
 
 

 

[camz]

Nm, I removed it.

I didn't read the story until now.

Half way down it starts getting political.

 

[JohnnyFan]

Nm, I removed it.

I didn't read the story until now.

Half way down it starts getting political.

Well, you can't really discuss the pandemic response in this country and omit politics.  This thread will have to be limited to the science, saftey and efficacy of the vaccine.    

 

[beast of the east]

I really have a deep sense of thankfulness for the patient facing clinicians here and everywhere who have risked their own health and lives during this pandemic.   

I have very close friends who live in Syracuse.   In July,  a 28 year old OB-GYN medical resident from Syracuse contracted Covid while doing a rotation in the ER in Houston.  She got very sick and died 6 weeks later.

Because we still do not have enough vaccines to inoculate all health care workers, the first to be vaccinated are those who are primarily patient facing.    This of course, is right and prudent.   I have friends who are waiting to be vaccinated and although they are clinicians whose role in fighting this pandemic is vital, will not get the vaccine for a while.

I'm disappointed and angered by hospital and other healthcare executives who have created photo ops of themselves receiving the vaccine.   Their jobs put them no more at risk than those waiting for the vaccine in subsequent stages.

True leadership would be well advised to understand the scripture verses that read "The first shall be last. And the last shall be first."  Protecting those in your charge should come before self preservation.

 

[mjmaherjr]

I really have a deep sense of thankfulness for the patient facing clinicians here and everywhere who have risked their own health and lives during this pandemic.   

I have very close friends who live in Syracuse.   In July,  a 28 year old OB-GYN medical resident from Syracuse contracted Covid while doing a rotation in the ER in Houston.  She got very sick and died 6 weeks later.

Because we still do not have enough vaccines to inoculate all health care workers, the first to be vaccinated are those who are primarily patient facing.    This of course, is right and prudent.   I have friends who are waiting to be vaccinated and although they are clinicians whose role in fighting this pandemic is vital, will not get the vaccine for a while.

I'm disappointed and angered by hospital and other healthcare executives who have created photo ops of themselves receiving the vaccine.   Their jobs put them no more at risk than those waiting for the vaccine in subsequent stages.

True leadership would be well advised to understand the scripture verses that read "The first shall be last. And the last shall be first."  Protecting those in your charge should come before self preservation.


I wonder if each hospital has a different plan. I don't want to name the hospital but my buddy is an administrator at a very big well known nyc hospital. He got his first shot weeks ago and getting his second this week. He said at his hospital they were giving the shot initially to a certain amount of people in every dept they didn't want to give it to any entire dept at the same time. He said it's been smoothe at his hospital and now any worker who wants it can get it. So I totally understand and agree with your point about people who aren't patient facing shouldn't get it before others but at his hospital in particular they had a reason why they did it that way and their hospital got slammed with Corona patients the first time but now they are prepared even more
 

 

[Eric]

Being done the same way at my hospital as well.  In case of adverse reactions, they don't want to do everyone in a department the same day. My department went 6 people a day until all were done.  I'm scheduled for my second shot this Thursday.  Hopefully no issues and will let you all know how it goes.  

 

[mjmaherjr]

Being done the same way at my hospital as well.  In case of adverse reactions, they don't want to do everyone in a department the same day. My department went 6 people a day until all were done.  I'm scheduled for my second shot this Thursday.  Hopefully no issues and will let you all know how it goes.  



Ahh that's interesting he didn't explain to me why they were doing it thst way and I didn't ask. That makes sense your explanation 
 

 

[beast of the east]

Being done the same way at my hospital as well.  In case of adverse reactions, they don't want to do everyone in a department the same day. My department went 6 people a day until all were done.  I'm scheduled for my second shot this Thursday.  Hopefully no issues and will let you all know how it goes.  

Eric, in a very real way, you and millions of front line healthcare workers went into battle without a flackjacket, with minimal protective gear against a potentially deadly disease.   My niece was given a 7 day test instead of a same day result test in order to keep her working at Northwell (she tested positive, had all the classic moderate to severe symptoms, and kept working).   I asked my physician at NYU Langone about this, and he said that was pretty standard - the hospitals expected that patient facing clinicians in healthcare facilities would all pretty much get it sooner or later so keep working.

I'm really happy that you and other here will be protected imminetly via vaccination.   As a non-practicing pharmacist I will wait my turn in line, but you have my gratitude for accepting the challenges of being a front line healthcare professional even when it carries a potentially grave risk.   Good luck with the second vaccination!   THANK YOU.

 

[mjmaherjr]

Being done the same way at my hospital as well.  In case of adverse reactions, they don't want to do everyone in a department the same day. My department went 6 people a day until all were done.  I'm scheduled for my second shot this Thursday.  Hopefully no issues and will let you all know how it goes.  

Eric, in a very real way, you and millions of front line healthcare workers went into battle without a flackjacket, with minimal protective gear against a potentially deadly disease.   My niece was given a 7 day test instead of a same day result test in order to keep her working at Northwell (she tested positive, had all the classic moderate to severe symptoms, and kept working).   I asked my physician at NYU Langone about this, and he said that was pretty standard - the hospitals expected that patient facing clinicians in healthcare facilities would all pretty much get it sooner or later so keep working.

I'm really happy that you and other here will be protected imminetly via vaccination.   As a non-practicing pharmacist I will wait my turn in line, but you have my gratitude for accepting the challenges of being a front line healthcare professional even when it carries a potentially grave risk.   Good luck with the second vaccination!   THANK YOU.




EXCELLENT POST !


On a separate note just now on cnn on Tepper 2 great interviews by the Surgeon General and Mike Dewine governor of Ohio about vaccine and rollout. Worth taking a look at on the internet whenever they put the interviews up

 

[mjmaherjr]

My personal favorite commentator on the whole corona thing and vaccines this past year is Scott Gottlieb on CNBC every morning pretty much. He's ex head of the FDA I don't find him to be political at all and he sits on the board of Pfizer and another company. This article from Forbes and him just popped up in my Facebook feed just now.   [URL]https://www.forbes.com/sites/c...o-speed-rollout-as-new-virus-variant-spreads/[/URL]

 

[MainMan]

My personal favorite commentator on the whole corona thing and vaccines this past year is Scott Gottlieb on CNBC every morning pretty much. He's ex head of the FDA I don't find him to be political at all and he sits on the board of Pfizer and another company. This article from Forbes and him just popped up in my Facebook feed just now.   [URL]https://www.forbes.com/sites/c...o-speed-rollout-as-new-virus-variant-spreads/[/URL]


A couple of reasons why this may not work: 
1. Pharmacies may not be capable of storing the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines at ultra-cold temperatures. 
2. Walgreen and CVS are already contracted by the federal government to administer the vaccine at all nursing homes, assisted living facilities, etc nationwide. They may not have the manpower until that is over.