For you authors out there, I have a new book title for your use, based on the utter chaos in Texas with COVID and the electrical grid failure:
Don’t Mess with (The Failed State of) Texas
3 Likes
I say that all the time these days. When you really examine human behavior it’s a miracle we’ve made it this far. The stupid in America is now a united front called the GOP/Q Party. They’ve weaponized their stupidity and are using it to try and kill the rest of us. It’s a real battle in this country and I’m not certain that the smarter folks will prevail.
11 Likes
I’ve read the arguments for doing the trial, and they’re perfectly good ones. Here’s the more conservative argument: Despite the effective measures most of us evidently have taken, it’s possible to get infected really any time. People often say they were careful and they just don’t know how it happened. To do the trial potentially involves more weeks of that risk. I’m not telling you anything you don’t know. I actually didn’t rush to sign up, I said to myself I’ll let the geriatrics and kids bagging groceries all day get theirs first. But then I said hey stupid you can sign up now so sign up. You’d probably be safe enough even if you got the placebo. You might end up safer, with the real thing. But it could potentially increase your risk. We’re like short-timers in a war now. Me, I want to keep my head down, not volunteer for any extra patrols, and catch the plane home in one piece.
7 Likes
I personally would go for the sure thing. There will probably be booster vaccines available soon and with the infrastructure to produce vaccines in large quantities that is currently online, the turnover time and wait should both be reduced. However, if you are able to isolate and aren’t too concerned about getting exposed in the next month, then the clinical trial might be the best route. Oh, hell, flip a coin.
4 Likes
Part of my dilemma is that the Ensemble 2 is in phase 3 of clinical trials. That’s got to be a good thing, right? I’m assuming that means it provides better protection than the single dose J&J shot. Since the J&J shot also better protects against the variants, this could be a game changer all around. It’s a tough call!
8 Likes
“Gotta love the logic”
I know right?
Magats support a totalitarian because “freedumb”. They have no sense of irony at all.
3 Likes
The Republican governor in Texas is simply attempting to change the narrative away from his horrific problem of the energy structure in Texas as he assumes that the attention span of the citizens in his state is so short that he can get away with it by arguing it’s all about the economy. Mississippi is ranked at or near the bottom of every important heath metric for a reason - they don’t want to spend money to help people. Florida is just Florida - they are a joke. The sad thing is people will die, and these governors and the Republican Party in charge can’t/don’t get brought up on charges for their decisions that go against basic sense and facts. But then again, that is nothing new, so the citizens of these states just live through it again and nothing changes except a few more fatalities.
5 Likes
I would say it depends entirely on how much you are willing/able to self-isolate. If you get the placebo, of course your risk is increased. If your life is such that you are able to avoid much exposure, you could take one for the team, and help with the study.
For me, if I had been asked while I was still working in healthcare, it would have been “not on your Nelly”.
If I were asked now that I’m retired and living my best hermit life, I’d probably say yes.
4 Likes
Texas, as of last week, * Among those, 3,198,527 were first doses and 1,489,259 were second doses and this is out of a population of 29 million, quite a bit below percentage vaccinated in US as a whole.
3 Likes
It is 'bird in the hand time." Get the first proven shot you can get.
There is nothing wrong with the single shot J&J. Efficacy is around 72%. Could be higher. Pfizer and Moderna are higher, but keep in mind that any vaccine that exceeds 60% is powerful stuff. Flu vaccine generally is 40-50% but still keeps a significant population out of health danger.
I expect all to have a fall booster and then we will likely see annual boosters each year.
If your trial is the best opportunity over the next 60-days, then go with that.
But, with the push to see proven vaccines (J&J, Pfizer and Moderna) in pharmacy settings in April, I would recommend the first available shot. CVS is already doing Pfizer in some states for high risk and Walgreens is moving that way. Check their websites.
It is worth noting here that the Biden administration has, in less than six-weeks, turned the whole prospect of vaccines for all who want them by May/June, instead of the dark cloud that was hanging over us for the last 12 months. That is how government is supposed to work for the people. I no longer feel we are on our own!
Now, I have to deal with the outcomes of my stupid Governor. Sigh . . .
12 Likes
Harris county in my understanding has all the COVID mutants of concern circulating.
It is like the death cult dishing one last major shot of purple kool-aid before the antidote (vaccine) has a chance to take hold.
6 Likes
Beto’s interview last night said Texas is only 7.5% Their ranking is 49th.
11 Likes
According to the TV this morning Texas is 48th of the 50 states in vaccinations.
6 Likes
In Texas, anything for Abbot to stop being blamed for the power outage, no water, no heat DEEP FREEZE (it was he and his cronies who failed us for years), and get some good headlines from his deep right supporters.
Except the push back in many circles is ugly for him. Health professionals are generally furious, people are still saying they are going to wear masks, etc. The downside is the battles retailers will have with the ‘deplorable’s’ who want to fight about masks - again.
What an asshole!
16 Likes
48th, 49th, whatever it takes.
5 Likes
What did ours say when 12M people were without power or water during an ice storm for a week?
Humminahumminahummina
Can’t wait to see the him wheeled out of office next year.
7 Likes
Spring break 2020. What’s that about people who fail to learn from history?
https://twitter.com/statnews/status/1255799084683845637?lang=en
15 Likes
Well, why doesn’t Fauci listen to what a valued epidemiologist like Sen. Cornyn says? I mean, come on.
6 Likes
First chance is the best one. If you’ve got the opportunity and you’ll get the real one anyway in a few weeks just for participating, go for it. Just don’t go out partying until you know you’ve had the real one! J&J is likely to get a lot of traction as the default one anyways over time (significantly cheaper than the Pfizer/moderna ones), so waiting longer to get one of the others may end up with J&J anyways.
5 Likes
It’s also too soon to play this political card. He should have waited until it was closer to the next election if he wanted to waste Texans’ lives to shore up his job prospects.
He can’t even do craven politics right.
4 Likes