Vaccine 90 percent effective

Agreed that the vaccine does not prevent transmission but it does reduce the transmission rate and thus the effective R number. Without the vaccine, UK numbers would be as exponentially expanding as my lockdown waistline

Europe is now bracing for the third or fifth wave of covid19 pandemic.

The daily numbers of newer infections seems to be greater than the previous occurrences but the number of deaths is lower at those countries with the highest rate of vaccinated people. On the contrary, are Germany and Bulgaria with an huge number of daily deaths which contrast with the low percentage in vaccination in those countries.

Freedom day is over too. The closing down of social events, discotheques, and diminishing of restaurants clientele, or the obligatory use of masks at public places and the return to hold a vaccine certificate to enter in coffee shops, or when traveling, are now mandatory.

Some African countries where a new variant of the virus (observed in having more mutations than others) just appeared have been listed red and those arriving at the EU shores will have to show a negative PCR test for acceptance or will be turned back with a fine that can reach 20k euros to the carrier of such a person. In other words, vaccine certificates/passports are no more the tender document.

Pfizer is now working on a newer vaccine to cover the newer African variant. They are also testing a milder type of the present one to be given to children under 11 years old. According to the Portuguese health authorities, a higher percentage (65%) of the newer cases fall into the young between 12 and 19 years old. Hospitalization has been for guys between 39 and 49 and deaths for older above 75. About 15% of the total population have received already the booster vaccine third dose.

The African newer variant has been found in Israel and the UK but I believe it to be around the world already.

Let’s keep distancing, washing our hands and use the mask when with others. We PCa survivors are at high risk for a nasty infection.

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The portuguese vaccination program had a bad start with political figures heading the campaign. It should start by vaccinating the holder above 80 year-olds but some of these guys, county executives or mayors, decided to list their family members and friends at the top of vaccination. One of them even gave vaccines to the stuff of the coffee shop he used to frequent.

It all got right when  the president stepped in and nominated an admiral of the portuguese navy to head the campaign. He organized/created vaccination centers at every county and managed to vaccinate thousands every day. He started with a strong public information campaign and did pointing a finger on those failing the program regulations. His manners gave confidence on vaccine’s safety and benefits. 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/portugal-covid-vaccination-success/

Surely not all went well and many rejected or striked against vaccination. Though vaccination is not mandatory in Portugal, the NHS obliged the use of vaccine certificates and/or PCR tests at social events, public transportation and at restaurants which led many to consider to be vaccinated. 

Vaccines are free here to everyone (nationals and registered foreigners) but the task force had to vaccinate only 10 million, about 3% of US population. 

VG 

It's been a while since I commented here.

Tomorrow I have a meeting with the Physicians Research Group to determine my status. There has been little fanfare of late regarding monoclonal antibody treatments, especially since the FDA pulled Regeneron and Eli Lilly monoclonal antibodies off the market. Their reasoning? Supplies are too scarce.

In case you have not been skeptical of this whole pandemic response, that should do it. Hydroxychloquine and Ivermectin were prohibited as early treatments to allow Emergency Use Authorization for the mRNA vaccine and Remdesivir. They remain outside the recommendation of the medical establishment and anyone who traffics in them can be subject to penalties.

But now, an very effective treatment has been pulled that does not fall under the EUA prohibition. This is for me the smoking gun that something is going on that just IS NOT RIGHT. My son-in-law's grandparents lives were saved by monoclonal antibody treatment, and he and my daughter are absolutely incensed that this happened. And they are both fully vaccinated, but now have scorn for the CDC and FDA as well.

It doesn't take Sherlock Holmes to figure out the motives behind vaccine mandates and discouragement of all other successful treatments.

I heard on the news it was that the monoclonal anti-bodies weren't nearly as affective against Omicron variant which seems to be dominant now and why FDA pulled authorization.

FDA halts use of monoclonal antibodies that don't work against Omicron — and Florida pushes back - CBS News

https://www.fox13news.com/news/thousands-of-appointments-canceled-in-florida-after-fda-halts-use-of-covid-19-antibody-drugs

I get that... But neither effectiveness nor scarcity is hardly motive for pulling Mab treatments. Even the claim of "less effectiveness" is hardly justification.

I am afraid this has become a political pandemic more than a medical pandemic. And the FDA and CDC are federal agencies in the Biden administration... not independent researchers.

Canada is an excellent example of a pandemic turned political.

Imagine if you were not allowed to decide which prostate cancer treatment you wanted. Imagine if all prostatectomy operations were halted and you were told by your doctor that only radiation treatments were available. Or the other way around, you HAD to have your prostate removed because all radiation treatments were being prohibited because it's "not as effective".

Or worse imagine both were being prohibited in favor of pharmaceutical treatments like hormone therapy. This should be a decision between you and your doctor, not a federal agency 

Well, that is what's happening in the United States with the Covid pandemic.

Btw...

Today I tested positive for Covid. Who did I catch it from? My fully vaccinated wife tested positive five days ago. I was supposed to attend my 366 day appointment with the Physicians Research Group. Now it looks like I will be subjected to an entirely different protocol.

Admittedly I had a terrible night last night when it first hit, but a half dose of Tylenol and some Melatonin I was able to sleep. Today I feel nearly normal. My wife had similar symptoms earlier in the week but she was having respiratory symptoms which I do not... so far.

This may be premature, and I cannot say for sure, but SO FAR, assuming I am part of the experimental group, the preventative monoclonal antibody treatment is more effective in reducing symptoms than the vaccine. Although, it also could be a difference in the strength of our immune systems.

I fear the MAb preventative treatment will be downplayed or even prohibited in favor of the vaccine when it could be more effective... just like the Regeneron and Lilly therapeutic treatments. This is just wrong.