Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) Updates
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sevenseals\" post_id=\"2026486\" time=\"1623152991\" user_id=\"124401:
Hi sevenseals,
Unfortunately, your quote is from New England Journals of Medicines. NEJM is just a publisher and not a medical authority. Their quote on FDA has not been updated.
I believe that you mixed up the role of the academia research and that of a health authorities.
The role of the academia research is to study and perform research and trial on their topic of interest. The medical trial results will be published in a reputable medical journal like “The New England Journal of Medicines”, “Lancet” etc where fellow academia will peer review their methods and point out possible bias or give approval for the way the trial is conducted, hence diminishing/lending credibility and confidence to the trial outcome. The outcome do not change unless it has been superceded by a similar experiment studying the same topic with methods that are similarly peer reviewed that delivered a contrasting outcome and shown the earlier findings to be unrepresentative due to certain factors. Hence findings from research that have been peer reviewed are rigorous and how the research trial is conducted is what define how the outcome should be interpreted.
Health authorities will set regulations and/or make recommendation based on the findings from research outcomes that have been peer reviewed by the academia. Sometimes health authorities may also make regulation/recommendations based on experts' consensus and this type of regulations are obviously less rigorous in their scientific basis. Notwithstanding in both processes, health authorities may also be influence by politicians’ request/views that have nearly zero scientific basis. Because of this, definitions issued by health authorities may changed over time.
As such, the scientific definition of efficacy for covid-19 vaccine has never been changed. It has always been how the manufacturer (Pfizer and Moderna) defined it during conduct of the vaccine trial, that is “efficacy against symptomatic infection”.
As for the updates from FDA, you notice that they also introduced the word “effectiveness” in order to describe the observations from real world data.
To further add on, using information from Lancet (reference 32 in your attached FDA link), titled \"Impact and effectiveness of mRNA BNT162b2 vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19 cases, hospitalisations, and deaths following a nationwide vaccination campaign in Israel: an observational study using national surveillance data\", we will find under the heading \"Methods\" in page 1821 that describe how samples for the study are obtained. I quote from the journal:
\"SARS-CoV-2 testing is free-of-charge and widely available
in Israel. Testing is required for people returning from
travel abroad, in close contact with an infected person,
or with suggestive symptoms such as fever or acute
respiratory illness.\"
Based on this sampling methodology, you already get the impression that sampling bias likely existed in this study. The reason is people do not lived in silo and close contacts within the same circle tends towards sharing common beliefs, like whether to vaccinate or not vaccinate. Hence given that Pfizer vaccine is efficacious against \"symptomatic infection\", you will expected to see only 5% (95% efficacy) of fully vaccinated people turning up with symptoms at clinics while a much larger samples of unvaccinated population will turn up with symptoms at clinics. This sampling bias (due to efficacy of Pfizer vaccine against symptomatic infection) is transferred to the \"effectiveness\" studies because you sampled a larger proportion of the close contacts of unvaccinated population versus vaccinated population. The study is done using the data available and this sampling bias is inherent in the data and not due to fault of the authors of the paper. -
pirate\" post_id=\"2026512\" time=\"1623174061\" user_id=\"66252:How would the govt know whose children may not be medically eligible for Pfizer?
https://www.moh.gov.sg/news-highlights/details/ec19v-continues-to-endorse-the-effectiveness-of-the-mrna-covid-19-vaccines.
The SMS that had been sent out yesterday were for those who've been medically proven to have anaphylaxis. After the experts have reviewed it, guess they think it's safe for the 30,000 anaphylaxis patients to https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/moh-lifts-covid-19-mrna-vaccine-restrictions-on-those-with-allergies-to-food-or.
The second group should be the 2,000 who had already gone for their 1st dose and found to be unsuitable for mRNA. Their records are with MOH.
As for the rest with no medical proof and who just want to make an appt to take the 3rd brand, they have to be above 18 years old.
Remember what I told you?.zeit\" post_id=\"2026175\" time=\"1622780460\" user_id=\"171271:[quote=.zeit post_id=2026175 time=1622780460 user_id=171271]Only for WHO's Emergency Use for >= 18 years like I alr said. We don't have the chance to even contemplate this brand for our minors.
8 Sinovac has been qualified by WHO under its Emergency Use Listing (EUL) Procedure for use only in persons aged 18 years and above. WHO does not recommend it for use in persons below age 18 years. As such, it is currently not an option for children and adolescents globally nor in Singapore under the Special Access Route (SAR).
The 2,000 persons above age 18 should be notified once selected private clinics are cleared for offering Sinovac.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/covid-19-vaccine-anaphylaxis-invite-register-moh-sms-14972596 -
As of 7Jun, Singapore’s vaccination rate is
43.9% Received at least First Dose (was 40% on 31May)
33.1% Completed Full Vaccination Regimen (was 31% on 31May) -
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pirate\" post_id=\"2026511\" time=\"1623171971\" user_id=\"66252:
Actually I look more to Israel as a ''reference customer'' than the US and EU. I tend to trust the Israelis' judgement and choice of vaccine, because if Pfizer isn't safe & efficacious, would their scientists rush to recommend it for almost their entire eligible population as 'guinea pigs' in the name of science, before everyone else dared take the plunge? If Moderna sucks, why would they want to attract https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/medison-pharma-to-commercialize-moderna-covid-19-vaccine-across-central-eastern-europefor long-term vaccine security?
Welcome to the wonderful world of American word games. Unfortunately, virus don't read English.
Incidentally, MINDSville is now what? 30 out of 33? That's literally 0%, with rounding. 1 more and we may be in negative territory. :siam:
I really wish our govt would stop regurgitating the bs from the US and UK health authorities. The past year has shown that they really don't know nuts about the virus. Just give it to us straight. Vaccination may not protect against infection, but so far it is very effective protection against getting seriously ill from the virus if one does get infected. Serious short term contraindications are very rare for all vaccines. Everything else is up in the air.
Seriously. If people want choices and you want to get the vaccination rate up, give them the choice. And don't put bs obstacles in the way.
Above all, would they endanger and risk exterminating their own precious people by any-o-how picking a bad vaccine? :scratchhead:
So effective it has been for Israel's population that the Taiwan media had to quip, ''以色列打完疫苗后打仗''
Anyway, they have already reached 80% herd immunity and don't really need to jab the 12-15yo actually, but they still open up with an abundance of caution on Monday, which saw some 10,000 bookings so far, out of 600,000 eligible teens.
The vaccine for minors in Singapore is not compulsory. You can walk away from it or postpone it until more data's released by various countries, like the US, Canada, Israel. UK will only start jabbing year-end. HK is probably watching and waiting for Singapore's data. The problem with Singapore leaders is that they have been brainwashed by our founding fathers that for a small nation to be exceptional, we have to do everything faster and earlier than the rest of the region or the world. -
tankee\" post_id=\"2026526\" time=\"1623207902\" user_id=\"6927:
In addition to a 4th new graph last night, MOH also released more details re the dominant variants found in our community + imported cases thru sequencing.
As of 7Jun, Singapore's vaccination rate is
43.9% Received at least First Dose (was 40% on 31May)
33.1% Completed Full Vaccination Regimen (was 31% on 31May)
https://postimg.cc/6209W7Jw -
Malaysia's Khairy has decided to https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/malaysia-to-procure-128-million-more-doses-of-pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccines, despite taking Sinovac himself and signing the Fill-and-Finish contract with Sinovac. The procurement brings the total amount of doses secured from the US and German drugmakers to 44.8 million, enough to cover 70 per cent of Malaysia's population, Mr Khairy said.
EU also did that earlier with an additional 1.8 billion doses of Pfizer BNT, and in fact they have even 'choped' future vaccine adapted to the variants.
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_21_2548
Am sure many of you have read the https://www.dw.com/zh/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD%E7%96%BE%E6%8E%A7%E4%B8%AD%E5%BF%83%E5%BD%93%E5%89%8D%E5%9B%BD%E4%BA%A7%E7%96%AB%E8%8B%97%E4%BF%9D%E6%8A%A4%E7%8E%87%E4%B8%8D%E9%AB%98/a-57160916 Gao Fu 吃了‘’诚实豆沙包‘’。
中国疾控中心：当前国产疫苗保护率不高
在4月10日的一场演讲中，中国疾控中心主任高福呼吁各界关注mRNA疫苗技术。作为官方代表，他还罕见地指出“要考虑解决现有疫苗保护率不高的路径”，提出了几种不同技术疫苗交替接种的建议。不过中国官媒立刻回应强调不要“误读”。
But I guess after China's going start https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3132834/fosun-pharma-unit-biontech-form-joint-venture-make-1-billion, they no longer see the need slam this guy for praising mRNA. Even the most hawkish Global Times no longer criticised the cutting-edge mRNA tech.
http://www.takungpao.com/news/232108/2021/0605/593414.html
中国科学院院士、中国疾控中心主任高福在浦江创新论坛的疫苗与全球健康论坛上表示，新冠疫情之下生物产业孕育着巨大的机会，在关注“卡脖子”问题的时候，更应该关注“卡脑子”的问题，“mRNA疫苗的研发成功让我们有无限遐想的空间，也给了中国在全世界疫苗学领域弯道超车的机会。”
高福认为，中国科学家应该紧跟生物技术前沿。在他看来，“卡脖子”问题是中国与世界科技强国相比，遇到的关键核心技术瓶颈；而“卡脑子”的问题，则是包括发达国家在内的全人类共同的、对颠覆性科技变革的欠缺所需要面对的问题。
If it ain't efficacious enough, why is China also quietly moving towards mRNA as an option?
https://covid19.trackvaccines.org/country/china/
https://postimg.cc/kB5hh2T8 -
.zeit\" post_id=\"2026525\" time=\"1623207887\" user_id=\"171271:
I was wondering about those whose medical records of the relevant conditions are with MOH. For example those children under IMH treatment for depression or anxiety.
How would the govt know whose children may not be medically eligible for Pfizer?pirate\" post_id=\"2026512\" time=\"1623174061\" user_id=\"66252:
Does anybody know if parents of children who may not be medically eligible for the Pfizer vaccine get the love letter SMS from MOE?
Yah. For the moment only Pfizer is approved here for under 18s. So it's simply a take, don't take or wait decision.
It doesn't matter where the data comes from. Nobody knows what potential long term side effects for any of these vaccines are. We have to wait 10-30 years to find out. Vaccinate or not vaccinate, it's all a calculated risk. People have to do their own calculations. Even our gov says it is still \"voluntary\".
At the moment, it seems that an unconfirmed risk of an increased urge to jump off a building for a very small group of children is not one our gov is willing to take yet.
But logically why should there even be such a link? We have to be humble enough to accept that there is still much we don't know, especially when the experts say \"we don't know yet.\" -
pirate\" post_id=\"2026535\" time=\"1623212256\" user_id=\"66252:
Yes, then don't take lah, if you don't feel good or right about it. Or have you taken already?
How would the govt know whose children may not be medically eligible for Pfizer?
I was wondering about those whose medical records of the relevant conditions are with MOH. For example those children under IMH treatment for depression or anxiety.
Yah. For the moment only Pfizer is approved here for under 18s. So it's simply a take, don't take or wait decision.
It doesn't matter where the data comes from. Nobody knows what potential long term side effects for any of these vaccines are. We have to wait 10-30 years to find out. Vaccinate or not vaccinate, it's all a calculated risk. People have to do their own calculations. Even our gov says it is still \"voluntary\".
At the moment, it seems that an unconfirmed risk of an increased urge to jump off a building for a very small group of children is not one our gov is willing to take yet.
But logically why should there even be such a link? We have to be humble enough to accept that there is still much we don't know, especially when the experts say \"we don't know yet.\" -
I urge MSF to come clean on the MINDSville@Napiri cluster.
I understand some of the special needs patients had a meltdown during testing. Since special needs residents have special needs, did the staff at MINDSville therefore allow the 91% fully vaccinated residents to take off their masks inside the building?
From the website and FB photos, I see that it's a https://www.minds.org.sg/for-adults/residential-services/. Therefore, I'm pretty sure at some point during meal-times, shower, sleeping, classroom activity/interactive time, the residents had to remove their masks?
And because the media had reported that special needs people respond better in familiar environments, I cannot help but suspect the staff/caregivers were not masked up or togged up in PPE over the past 4 months either, so as not to frighten their residents who may not be able to recognise them visually?
Did the job placement & support program stop during this period? They have to mix with the community for training.
If they weren't donning masks, of course staff, befrienders and family visitors who live outside in the community may risk bringing in the virus. If they were, what level of filtration do their masks provide? Was there social distancing inside like there is in normal schools, and if not, is it cos social distancing with their caregivers might affect their mood?
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