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12-19-2020, 08:12 AM
#161
Re: Coronavirus and GPA
Knowledge is power! Wisdom is using it to make good decisions!
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12-20-2020, 04:25 AM
#162
Re: Coronavirus and GPA
For those concerned about the speed of vaccine development—hope this helps.
Dr. Pat Winokur, infectious disease specialist at the University of Iowa, gave this explanation as to why they have been able to develop a vaccine so quickly:
One of the things that we’ve had going for the past decade is a lot of interest in developing these more novel platforms for vaccines that allow us to create them faster. A lot of the thanks goes to the fact that we’re using cancer vaccines as a very promising therapy for helping control metastatic spread of cancer.
Because there’s been so much work over the past decade on creating these platforms of vaccines, we’ve been able to get the right proteins into these vaccine platforms to get them tested. There were a lot of tests that have been done in humans for these platforms to show that they’re safe.
The other thing that’s really helpful is the work that some of our scientists here on campus did with SARS and MERS. They were starting to understand what proteins are in these viruses that are very similar to the coronavirus that is now spreading across the globe. They found the most important proteins that stimulated an immune response, and because of that work, we were able to pick the right proteins and put them into these vaccine platforms.
So, a lot of the thanks goes to some very attentive scientists that have been working diligently for many, many years. That’s great insight, and I think it’s also important to note that this is kind of what happens when we have a global pandemic. The whole world is searching for this vaccine, so it’s not just a handful of researchers doing this work. It’s really kind of all-hands-on-deck right now.
A pandemic is a different kind of world view of science, and we know here on campus, all around the country and the world scientists have put aside their other research to really try and understand this coronavirus. They’re trying to understand the immune responses and other things that are causing some of the serious illness. That’s been exciting, and it is why we’re pushing the vaccine development so quickly.
A pandemic is a special time We have a need to get this vaccine out so people can start getting back to their normal lives, which I think most people would like to do sooner rather than later.
Excerpt was copied from here. Contains information about vaccine safety as well. Dated October 29, 2020.
https://uihc.org/news/covid-19-vacci...opment-updates
Last edited by Susan B; 12-20-2020 at 04:27 AM.
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12-20-2020, 08:55 AM
#163
Re: Coronavirus and GPA
One article indicated that because of the prior research they had the knowledge a week after the virus was identified to make the vaccine for it. If they had rushed into production then and distribution it could have saved over a million lives. But no one was willing to risk pushing a vaccine without the clinical trials to establish safety and effectiveness. Clinical trials began 9 months ago so the vaccine was available then. So some argue that given the seriousness of the pandemic we should not have been so cautious and by- passed the usual clinical trials. The emergency authorizations is because they shortened the usual long term evaluation of the production process to make sure it was all standardized everywhere.
Knowledge is power! Wisdom is using it to make good decisions!
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12-23-2020, 07:15 AM
#164
Re: Coronavirus and GPA
As best I can determine, Rituximab and biosimilars are manufactured around the world and in the US.
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12-23-2020, 04:42 PM
#165
Re: Coronavirus and GPA
Originally Posted by
John S
Now I’m seeing reports that Rituximab patients can get the vaccine. I sure hope that they make up their minds in the next month.
Yep, just posted the articles in the other thread. Just Google covid vaccine Rituxan and lots of hits. Some very good write-ups, within the past several weeks. Posted links in other thread.
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12-25-2020, 02:40 PM
#166
Re: Coronavirus and GPA
I agree with drz-universal precautions, always. I am a frontline ER nurse, working with Covid patients everyday. I have been picking up time at our new temporary Bam infusions for Covid positive pts. It's a lab created antibody to help keep positive patients out of the hospital. I am still on prednisone, Cellcept and Bactrim (3 x weekly) so far I am fine, but how do we really know? We all have so many aches and pains, lethargy, sinus and lung issues, the only way we would know if we had the Vid is by getting tested, and the tests are only as reliable as the ones doing the swabbing. Stay safe.
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12-25-2020, 02:44 PM
#167
Re: Coronavirus and GPA
You are blessed! Stay safe.
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12-25-2020, 02:51 PM
#168
Re: Coronavirus and GPA
Thanks for this info- I was really on the fence about this vaccine, I did receive it the 2nd day it arrived at OSU in Ohio, still uncertain but being in the frontlines, I feel I needed to get it, Dr Allen who is a pulmonologist at OSU and is involved with distribution of the vaccine talked in length with me about it. Did I make the wrong decision? Time will tell, maybe I will grow another eye, that wont have double vision peripherally like both do now.
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12-28-2020, 07:48 AM
#169
Re: Coronavirus and GPA
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drz liked this post
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12-29-2020, 04:40 AM
#170
Re: Coronavirus and GPA
My local internist told me to get the vaccination when it becomes available. He estimates it will be at least two or three months for me even though I am on three high priority lists, age, health issues, and living in a congregate care facility. He said they don't even have enough vaccine now to vaccinate all the medical staff caring for Covid-19 patients. One editorial said if we can't even vaccinate all the medical staff treating Covid-19 patients what are the prospects for successful widespread vaccination of general public? Things should get better though as more vaccines become available.
He said it will be safe for me (mRNA type) and most likely be more effective than my annual flu shot.
Knowledge is power! Wisdom is using it to make good decisions!
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