#41 ·
I'm getting goosebumps. Before that African Variant showed up, I actually thought we had a shot at seeing things normalize within a year and a half. Now? I've lost hope. 🙂
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Omicron variant
Omicron variant
Started by Samuel Turner2 · · 👁 10 views · 692 replies
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#42 ·
Linda Harris59 said:The explanation regarding how this latest mutation evolved is actually quite fascinating. In immunocompromised patients, the virus was essentially given an open runway to mutate until it finally hit upon a variant capable of effectively bypassing the immune system.
Some people are operating under the delusion that they possess "good immunity." Sure, they might for now, but that changes the moment a mutation emerges that their system isn't prepared to recognize.
Ultimately, we are seeing exactly what I predicted would happen back when I made my call four months ago.
Man, I just finished reading that prediction you dropped back four months ago... I’m really crossing my fingers that you're wrong on this one, because if you actually called it, we are all in for a seriously rough ride.
#43 ·
bluerider63 said:Bingo.
https://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index...nav_id=2063450
Hold on a second, weren't the pundits all insisting that the Mississippi Delta variant was ten times more infectious than Alpha? Now suddenly we're hearing this one is only three times as contagious? Something isn't adding up.
#44 ·
Linda Harris59 said:The explanation regarding how this latest mutation evolved is actually quite fascinating. In immunocompromised patients, the virus was essentially given an open runway to mutate until it finally hit upon a variant capable of effectively bypassing the immune system.
Some people are operating under the delusion that they possess "good immunity." Sure, they might for now, but that changes the moment a mutation emerges that their system isn't prepared to recognize.
Ultimately, we are seeing exactly what I predicted would happen back when I made my call four months ago.
I don't think that premise holds any water because there isn't a realistic scenario where you could roll out a vaccine to the entire global population that quickly. Besides, if Pfizer actually managed to develop a vaccine in record time, you have to wonder why they haven't already pivoted to address the dominant Delta variant.
#45 ·
I'm no biology expert or anything, but this makes total sense to me since it says "vaxxed" at the end...😬
Remember: vaccine-driven protection against severe disease is primarily driven by T-cell response. Upon vaccination, T-cells learn to recognize ~90 epitopes in the spike. Which means it’s REALLY hard for a variant to fully evade T-cell response and cause severe disease in a vaxxed
#46 ·
So, this Omicron situation in Hong Kong? They’ve already had two doses of Pfizer in them.
Just to give you some context here:
2 shots of Moderna gives you 200mcg of mRNA
3 shots of Pfizer only hits you with 90mcg of mRNA
Just to give you some context here:
2 shots of Moderna gives you 200mcg of mRNA
3 shots of Pfizer only hits you with 90mcg of mRNA
The speed at which these cases are blowing up is way higher than anything we've seen before. A disease modeling scientist named Weiland estimated that B.1.1.529 is actually 500% more transmissible than that original Chicago virus. (Remember, Mississippi was only 70% more transmissible). John Berline (the Chief data reporter over at The Wall Street Journal) also noted that B.1.1.529 is significantly more contagious than Mississippi.
#47 ·
Linda Lee4 said:I don't think that premise holds any water because there isn't a realistic scenario where you could roll out a vaccine to the entire global population that quickly. Besides, if Pfizer actually managed to develop a vaccine in record time, you have to wonder why they haven't already pivoted to address the dominant Delta variant.
Honestly, I’ve been digging around trying to find a real answer to this, but I’m coming up empty.
People try to give you these canned excuses like "it's too expensive" or "they have to go through the whole trial and FDA approval dance again." That just doesn't hold water for me. I mean, they already went through those exact same hoops to get approvals for younger age groups, so why can't they just tweak it for the Mississippi variant? It feels like a weak argument.
So, why is this actually happening? In my mind, there are two ways to look at it.
First off, maybe they just don't want to. Business is good as it is, and I wouldn't be surprised if they all had a little sit-down behind closed doors to agree that nobody should bother making a Mississippi version. Just imagine the chaos if, say, Moderna suddenly dropped a specialized Mississippi booster out of nowhere... it would mess up everyone else's market share.
The second theory leans more into the conspiracy side of things—the idea that it took them years to build the foundation of the vaccine, so they can't just pivot the tech overnight without breaking something.
I really wonder if we'll ever see a truly modified mRNA version. You know, something that hits multiple variants at once, has fewer side effects (both short and long term), and actually stops the spread better... but man, I'm getting ahead of myself. Total tangent.
#48 ·
Israel is already low-key gearing up for this new variant.
Getting a little twitchy here:
https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireSt...riant-81403245
☕
Getting a little twitchy here:
https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireSt...riant-81403245
☕
#49 ·
Samuel Doyle5 said:It is high time we put an end to COVID-19.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/news-updates-link-placeholder
#50 ·
Pfizer and Moderna have announced that if a variant emerges capable of evading current immunity, they expect to be able to develop and manufacture a tailored vaccine in roughly 100 days, pending regulatory approval.
If it turns out the current shots are useless against the Omicron variant, we have to face reality. Anyone currently vaccinated should be treated as unvaccinated. We'll need to return to strict lockdowns until those updated vaccines are ready, followed by another massive vaccination campaign. I don't see any other way forward.
If it turns out the current shots are useless against the Omicron variant, we have to face reality. Anyone currently vaccinated should be treated as unvaccinated. We'll need to return to strict lockdowns until those updated vaccines are ready, followed by another massive vaccination campaign. I don't see any other way forward.
#51 ·
Linda Lee4 said:Hold on a second, weren't the pundits all insisting that the Mississippi Delta variant was ten times more infectious than Alpha? Now suddenly we're hearing this one is only three times as contagious? Something isn't adding up.
If this thing were 3.14 times more contagious, they really should have just called it the Pi variant. 😁
Linda Lee4 said:I don't think that premise holds any water because there isn't a realistic scenario where you could roll out a vaccine to the entire global population that quickly. Besides, if Pfizer actually managed to develop a vaccine in record time, you have to wonder why they haven't already pivoted to address the dominant Delta variant.
By the time we actually got moving with the Alpha shots, the Delta variant had already started spreading like wildfire. And honestly? It doesn't even matter how many people we vaccinate at this point—Delta is going to tear through every single state regardless. It’s just going to circulate everywhere, period.
They really ought to be getting a head start on developing a vaccine for this version right now. If they play it smart, they'll have something ready by the end of summer so the high-risk folks can get jabbed before fall and winter hit. It’d be a total disaster if we ended up back at square one, shutting everything down just to start the whole grind all over again. 🤦
#52 ·
https://mobile.twitter.com/trvrb/sta...16217794695170
Did vaccines actually push the evolution of different SARS-CoV-2 variants—you know, the whole Alpha, Beta thing? It’s a valid scientific inquiry, I suppose, but after digging through some data, I'm leaning toward thinking that isn't really what happened. 1/19
#53 ·
Andrew Hill28 said:Pfizer and Moderna have announced that if a variant emerges capable of evading current immunity, they expect to be able to develop and manufacture a tailored vaccine in roughly 100 days, pending regulatory approval.
If it turns out the current shots are useless against the Omicron variant, we have to face reality. Anyone currently vaccinated should be treated as unvaccinated. We'll need to return to strict lockdowns until those updated vaccines are ready, followed by another massive vaccination campaign. I don't see any other way forward.
The vaccines might lose some punch, but they aren't useless. Omicron will spread easier than previous strains, sure, but symptoms seem mild so far. That definitely doesn't justify a lockdown.
From everything I've read, there's zero reason to panic.
#54 ·
fadedranger162 said:If this thing were 3.14 times more contagious, they really should have just called it the Pi variant. 😁
By the time we actually got moving with the Alpha shots, the Delta variant had already started spreading like wildfire. And honestly? It doesn't even matter how many people we vaccinate at this point—Delta is going to tear through every single state regardless. It’s just going to circulate everywhere, period.
They really ought to be getting a head start on developing a vaccine for this version right now. If they play it smart, they'll have something ready by the end of summer so the high-risk folks can get jabbed before fall and winter hit. It’d be a total disaster if we ended up back at square one, shutting everything down just to start the whole grind all over again. 🤦
The Mississippi Delta hit the US in June.
https://nextstrain.org/ncov/gisaid/e...smissions=show
You can't just whip up a new cocktail without months of testing first.
Developing new vaccines isn't even worth it anymore. Better to pivot to pills and oral options. The logistics for current vaccines are a total disaster.
#55 ·
The Greek letter nu didn't sound quite right, so we just skipped over it 😬
variant tree:
https://www.wsws.org/asset/18622bf9-...tion=image1280
If those red ones are actually an Omicron branch—which they look to be—then we’re looking at a massive headache for vaccines still stuck in the Alpha era. Who knows what kind of cocktail went through that African incubator to rack up this many mutations.
variant tree:
https://www.wsws.org/asset/18622bf9-...tion=image1280
If those red ones are actually an Omicron branch—which they look to be—then we’re looking at a massive headache for vaccines still stuck in the Alpha era. Who knows what kind of cocktail went through that African incubator to rack up this many mutations.
#56 ·
So, is everyone actually ready to line up for another booster shot? Lol.
Apparently, getting a COVID certification is just the easiest way to secure some decent cheese
Apparently, getting a COVID certification is just the easiest way to secure some decent cheese
#57 ·
Joseph Evans40 said:So, is everyone actually ready to line up for another booster shot? Lol.
Apparently, getting a COVID certification is just the easiest way to secure some decent cheese
The anti-vax crowd clearly isn't, considering you guys keep asking the same things over and over.
#58 ·
I honestly find it mind-blowing how people are just out here booking international flights like nothing happened. Look, I get it, they’ve had their shots, but seriously? Just chill on the travel frenzy for a year or so. You’ll have plenty of time to make up for lost trips later...
#59 ·
wiredseal7 said:The Greek letter nu didn't sound quite right, so we just skipped over it 😬
variant tree:
https://www.wsws.org/asset/18622bf9-...tion=image1280
If those red ones are actually an Omicron branch—which they look to be—then we’re looking at a massive headache for vaccines still stuck in the Alpha era. Who knows what kind of cocktail went through that African incubator to rack up this many mutations.
Explanation
https://covariants.org/
#60 ·
Kyle Nelson2 said:I honestly find it mind-blowing how people are just out here booking international flights like nothing happened. Look, I get it, they’ve had their shots, but seriously? Just chill on the travel frenzy for a year or so. You’ll have plenty of time to make up for lost trips later...
Would you be saying the same thing if you owned a hotel chain or an airline? As for taking a break, we already had 2020 for that.