Coronavirus and Walt Disney World general discussion

[MisterPenguin]

I would think natural immunity and vaccinations are the only way out. I’m not entirely sure it ends any other way, certainly doesn’t look like vaccinations only will do it. (Got my vaccination debating the booster currently.)

Let's be clear about "natural immunity." I know it is often uses as a shorthand for "getting infected with a virus and surviving due to the body's immunological system."

But that natural immune response of the body is also the very same natural immune response from a vaccine. A vaccine causes a "natural" immune response.

Yes, the vaccine isn't "natural." But neither are most medications or surgeries. Getting monoclonal antibody infusions or anti-viral medications ain't natural either. In the end, the body needs to respond "naturally" to get better.

And it's a heck of a lot better to create that natural immune response from a vaccine, which has a minuscule risk, than having a virus replicating in your body, destroying cells and organs, and giving one good odds of being hospitalized or dying.

And the "natural immune response" from catching the virus can wane over time, just it can from the vaccine. The only way to boost the immune system "the natural way" from getting infected *again* is to risk serious illness or death over and over again. With the vaccine, that is accomplished with a booster shot and avoiding possible death.

And so... the plan to rely on both vaccinations and actually getting infected is a bad idea compared to everyone getting vaccinated. Because then you avoid all the stays in ICU and the pile up of dead human beings.

 

[maui2k7]

It’s normal for you because others are carrying the burden.

Other's are carrying the burden? I am vaccinated and boosted as is my wife who works in L&D at a hospital caring for COVID mom's. Our kids are both vaccinated as well.

 

[mmascari]

To be quite honest, here in TX life has been back to normal for a long time and has not changed in any meaningful way with Omicron.

I will admit to not following TX very directly. However, didn't the governor ask for a bunch of federal help to deal with COVID in just the last week? If things are back to normal, why is the help needed?

Not a debate on him, his prior actions, or federal actions, as none of that matters for how we got to here and now. But, "we need federal help" and "everything is normal" don't sound like the same thing. Which makes me think everything is not normal.

 

[maui2k7]

There are so many ways this conversation can go to get ugly, so why not leave politicians, political views and views on mandates off of the Disney boards.

 

[sullyinMT]

While I agree that we aren't putting this one back in the box, and that some member along this viral family tree will be with us ongoing or for a very long time, does that mean we have to deal with the uncertainties in social, economic, and healthcare well being, also? Or should businesses and governments be doing everything in their respective power to squeeze every last vaccination possible out of people? In my opinion, that answer is yes. If we could get to a point where the guidance changed to "only test if symptomatic," and healthcare systems weren't at risk of being overrun, then we could care as little as the virus does. Currently, our only options are a return to blunt force lockdowns and all of that disruption or a further tightening of the screws on the unvaccinated. Not because it will eliminate the virus, but because we want the decoupling of cases and hospitalization/death that seems possible with this variant. Heck, it would have been possible even with the more violent Delta if we would have had another 20% of people vaccinated before each region's respective wave (based on the huge disparity of vaxxed/unvaxxed hospitalizations).

 

[maui2k7]

Currently, our only options are a return to blunt force lockdowns and all of that disruption or a further tightening of the screws on the unvaccinated. Not because it will eliminate the virus, but because we want the decoupling of cases and hospitalization/death that seems possible with this variant. Heck, it would have been possible even with the more violent Delta if we would have had another 20% of people vaccinated before each region's respective wave (based on the huge disparity of vaxxed/unvaxxed hospitalizations).

Omicron Cases Are Hitting Highs, But New Data Put End in Sight​

Data suggest hospitalizations are now decoupled from case numbers, and the variant causes less severe disease

Bloomberg Article

 

[matt9112]

Quality stuff. Great to hear an intelligent field report from the front lines. We really gotta get testing sorted out so people aren't going to the friggin ER for a covid test. What a travesty.

This article to me just says what i think we already knew...covid is everywhere...if you get sick stay home and get well and only specific groups of people actually need to be in the ER. Stop clogging that place up. Drink alot of water and get some rest.

 

[DisneyCane]

Omicron Cases Are Hitting Highs, But New Data Put End in Sight​

Data suggest hospitalizations are now decoupled from case numbers, and the variant causes less severe disease

Bloomberg - End in sight

Something is wrong with the link

 

[Polkadotdress]

If we could get to a point where the guidance changed to "only test if symptomatic," and healthcare systems weren't at risk of being overrun, then we could care as little as the virus does.

Well, our FL Surgeon General was just at a presser yesterday touting this very idea, that we will soon be "testing for treatment" to reduce the volume of testing and demand for tests (likely because it's nearly impossible to find a test/test site).

 

[maui2k7]

Something is wrong with the link

Bloomberg Article

 

[Andrew C]

I will admit to not following TX very directly. However, didn't the governor ask for a bunch of federal help to deal with COVID in just the last week? If things are back to normal, why is the help needed?

Not a debate on him, his prior actions, or federal actions, as none of that matters for how we got to here and now. But, "we need federal help" and "everything is normal" don't sound like the same thing. Which makes me think everything is not normal.

He asked for help with testing and treatment....like so many other states. One, testing shortage nationwide. Two, treatment allocation in many cases are controlled by the feds. The "everything is normal" point is probably in regards to no mitigation mandates by the state beyond the vaccine and recommendations/suggestions.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

Unfortunately some do listen to what he says even when he stood defiant in regards to vaccine mandates.

Who are they listening to?

Governor Abbott is fully vaccinated and has said vaccines are the best way out of this.

“I will never ask any Texan to do something that I'm not willing to do myself," Abbott said moments before the injection. Once it was all over, Abbott added, "didn't feel a thing," and thanked the nurse who administered the shot.

You can be anti-mandate and still pro-vax.

Even Trump is vaccinated and tells people to get vaccinated. I’m not sure who people are listening to but it’s obviously not politicians.

 

[Lilofan]

Who are they listening to?

Governor Abbott is fully vaccinated and has said vaccines are the best way out of this.

“I will never ask any Texan to do something that I'm not willing to do myself," Abbott said moments before the injection. Once it was all over, Abbott added, "didn't feel a thing," and thanked the nurse who administered the shot.

You can be anti-mandate and still pro-vax.

Even Trump is vaccinated and tells people to get vaccinated. I’m not sure who people are listening to but it’s obviously not politicians.

It seemed apparent it is falling on some mislead and guillible deaf ears and even one you mentioned was met with catcalls, hisses, and boos. Mandate it and get them vaccinated.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

It seemed apparent it is falling on some mislead and guillible deaf ears and even one you mentioned was met with catcalls, hisses, and boos. Mandate it and get them vaccinated.

There’s a bunch of media hacks making bank off misinformation but I don’t think a state can stop that.

States have a historical precedence to enact vaccine mandates, have any?

Many states have state employee mandates, health care employee mandates, etc but I can’t think of a single state that’s actually enacted a statewide Covid vaccine mandate. Not even New York (who’ve gone the furthest with passports) has enacted a statewide mandate.

This isn’t a red state blue state thing, no one’s done a mandate, a few states have banned mandates but none have enacted one. If it was so easy a mandate could end this why haven’t any done it yet?

 

[Andrew C]

But, Texas (and FL) have both been outwardly anti-vax mandate, making them illegal. So, it seems that one shouldn't be so blatantly "not listening to the federal experts" and then also cry for help.

The outcome/situation would have been the same whether the state supported federal vaccine mandates or not. I see treatment and testing as a separate issue.

And I fully support any state who wants to mandate vaccines for all of their citizens...but no one has...I guess they all see the consequences of doing so too great?

 

[Andrew C]

Stating that there aren't enough tests because the feds haven't sent them. Same with the monoclonal antibodies.

This is accurate. Shortage of testing nationwide and the feds seem to want to control the monoclonal antibody treatments rather closely. I think they paused sending them out for a bit if I am not mistaken?

 

[Lilofan]

This is accurate. Shortage of testing nationwide and the feds seem to want to control the monoclonal antibody treatments rather closely. I think they paused sending them out for a bit if I am not mistaken?

Just like pretty much every product out there - supply chain constraints , you probably heard of that affects shipments.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Bloomberg Article

Unsurprisingly for a Bloomberg article on health issues, the very text of the article that says this...

“When your denominator is very large because many, many people are getting infected, you still wind up having many people going to the hospital who need care,” Justman said. Higher case numbers will also still create disruption in work, travel and schooling​

Contradicts their clickbait byline...

Data suggest hospitalizations are now decoupled from case numbers, and the variant causes less severe disease​

There is zero "decoupling" of cases v. hospitalization. They are very much *coupled*. Hospitalizations are spiking everywhere precisely because of Omicron. The good news is that Omicron leads to hospitalization less often (but not *decoupled*). The bad news is that Omicron is many times more infectious, leading to new record highs in hospitalization... due to that pesky "coupling."

 

[LittleBuford]

(Got my vaccination debating the booster currently.)

Can I ask what reservations you have about the booster?

 

[MisterPenguin]

Helper immune cells key to helping Pfizer's mRNA COVID-19 vaccine stave off death

As the world grapples with yet another variant of concern in the global COVID-19 pandemic, a new study shows how Pfizer-BioNTech's messenger RNA vaccine helps the immune system remember pathogens a | A type of helper immune cell is key to the Pfizer vaccine's delivery of a long-lasting punch...

www.fiercebiotech.com

Novavax Submits Final Data Packages to U.S. FDA as Prerequisite to Emergency Use Authorization Application Request for COVID-19 Vaccine - Dec 31, 2021

Novavax, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVAX), a biotechnology company dedicated to developing and commercializing next-generation vaccines for serious infectious diseases, today announced that it has completed...

ir.novavax.com

A formal request for EUA should be happening in a month.