Be sure to check this post for places to call to put your name on a list to receive the currently available vaccines.
Viral mutations and available vaccines
The Moderna vaccine is effective against some of the new strains, but not all. They are preparing a booster for the strains not readily covered in their first vaccine.
No word from Pfizer about their coverage of the new strains of the SARS-CoV2 virus.
AstraZeneca vaccine
News from two German news sources said this vaccine was not effective in those over age 65. AstraZeneca denied the claim that their vaccine was only 10% effective as “completely incorrect.” Clarification of these claims will be needed.
Merck vaccines withdrawn
Merck had two vaccine candidates under study but found their results to be inferior to expectations, and they have ceased further investigation.
It is okay to wait longer to get the second Pfizer and Moderna vaccines
One strategy to allow more people to get at least one vaccine is to delay the second one for those who have received the first one. Current protocols recommend getting the second Pfizer 3 weeks after the first and the Moderna one 4 weeks after.
The CDC recently said it was okay to get the second vaccine of both up to 6 weeks after the first one for both vaccines.
Pfizer and Moderna vaccine effectiveness continues to rise
IF you do not get COVID-19 two weeks after the second Moderna vaccine, then you have a 99+% chance of protection going forward.
IF you do not get COVID-19 8 days after the second Pfizer vaccine, then you have a 99+% chance of protection going forward.
These are quite astounding results and have set a pretty high standard for the other vaccine types.
Again how long the immunity lasts has yet to be determined.
Long term immunity from having COVID-19
“Long term” is a bit of an oxymoron when speaking of COVID-19, since it has only been around for about a year. However further analysis of peoples’ immune systems after COVID-19 shows 6 or more months of protection with the induction of a high number of immune “memory” cells.
This helps explain the very low likelihood of getting COVID-19 again. This does not deny that some have had a second illness. It just supports the observation that it is not the norm.
Unfortunately, the link in Week 45 for UC Health goes to Univ. of Cincinnati. The one for Colorado’s UC Health ends in “.org” instead. Here’s the link to the actual vaccine page: https://www.uchealth.org/services/infectious-diseases/coronavirus-covid-19/covid-19-vaccine/
Thank You for continuing your communications into this year. I look forward to them. And your evolving photographic art. I like the intimacy of “winter water”, thanks for the glimpse of it’s nature.
Reen