Will you take the vaccine

[Cantab]

Got the third booster a little over 2 weeks ago and made it to now without catching COVID but just got a positive test result for the Omicron variant after flying on airplanes with hundreds of new close friends for 11+ hours plus hanging in the airports.
Been sleeping a lot the last couple of days, mildly aching all over, chest cough, etc, but overall not doing bad at all and not worried.

The reason for sharing is to say that when I suspected getting the crud I went to the drive-through then came home and did two of the home PCR (quick) tests. The clinic test came back positive and both of the home tests came back negative.

Spoke with my scientist daughter who is involved with all this stuff and her response about the negative results was [literally] "Well Duhhh. Those test kits were never intended for the new variants and COVID changes fast enough they will never be able to keep up."

So what I'm trying to share is that while a positive result will always be positive, do not trust a negative result from one of the home PCR test kits as justification for going to a bar or otherwise out with people for a good time, especially if you've started getting symptoms.

We call those RAT tests (Rapid antigen test) the PCR tests down here involve going to docs and swab then send to the lab for testing, thought the 2 methods were different ? maybe they're the same ? (yes we swab nose for RATs)

 

[Sierra1]

When I caught Omicron, it was new enough that there wasn't a lot of concrete info on it. By the time they were puting out the new symptoms, I was recovering; 5 days. The two big "regular" covid symptoms, fever and loss of taste, are not associated with Omicron. But loss of appetite is along with a couple others is.

Since by now you've either been vaccinated, or not, it doesn't make sense (to me) to worry too much about testing. You're either sick, or you're not; treat the symptoms. And. . . . we're coming into flu season. They're predicting it to be a doozy too. Apparently, Australia got hit hard. While we were preventing covid, we prevented the flu. Covid being more transmissible, if it got prevented, so did the flu. But that led to lower natural resistance to the flu. Maybe what they refer to as "herd immunity".

 

[thughes317]

When I caught Omicron, it was new enough that there wasn't a lot of concrete info on it. By the time they were puting out the new symptoms, I was recovering; 5 days. The two big "regular" covid symptoms, fever and loss of taste, are not associated with Omicron. But loss of appetite is along with a couple others is.

Since by now you've either been vaccinated, or not, it doesn't make sense (to me) to worry too much about testing. You're either sick, or you're not; treat the symptoms. And. . . . we're coming into flu season. They're predicting it to be a doozy too. Apparently, Australia got hit hard. While we were preventing covid, we prevented the flu. Covid being more transmissible, if it got prevented, so did the flu. But that led to lower natural resistance to the flu. Maybe what they refer to as "herd immunity".

This^

I got sick twice this past summer (both times on moto trips, go figure) and didn't bother testing as I figured "why bother"?. Vax didn't prevent me from contracting it, appears ineffective at keeping me from carrying/transmitting it, and obviously doesn't prevent others from becoming infected. So, besides basic preventative measures (like not coughing on other people's food), I really didn't worry about quarantining, etc. (which really wasn't a possibility anyway).

Did I have the 'rona? Don't know, don't really care; I felt like crap but lived to tell about it. That said, I've decided not to participate in any further "boosters".

 

[fac191]

Perspective. We are all Individuals. What seperates Us from the Animal Kingdom
( but not all animals ) is Empathy.
Thats what enables Us to live in the huge groups we call Society. The People the Vaccine acually protects the most is the Very Old and People with Underlying Health Problems. They are the Most Vulnerable Group in our Societys to Covid.
Individuals can Afford to take Risks. Vulnerable Groups are at Their Mercy.
Covid ripped through our Nursing Homes in the UK, Covid has No Mercy.
It would have been more Human to send Paddy Mayne in there with a Machine Gun.
Humanity needs to think less as Individuals and have more Empathy.
Its very likely we will see another Virus in the Future. Whilst we are preparing for this by way of Scientific Research we also need to prepare Mentally as Individuals to Understand how Important each of our Roles play in this.

 

[Sierra1]

Don't get me wrong. I was/am boosted. Which is why I believe that it only lasted 5 days. When my wife caught it, she only had it 5 days. Both of us had relatively minor symptoms. Other family members that caught it were sick for 3-4 weeks, and were really sick. One of which was circling the bowl before beating it.

The only thing to me that doesn't make sense is the testing. Not against it, just don't see the point. Vaccinate or not, when sick there are things that you are supposed to do for yourself and others. Do them.

 

[Wallkeeper]

Don't get me wrong. I was/am boosted. Which is why I believe that it only lasted 5 days. When my wife caught it, she only had it 5 days. Both of us had relatively minor symptoms. Other family members that caught it were sick for 3-4 weeks, and were really sick. One of which was circling the bowl before beating it.

The only thing to me that doesn't make sense is the testing. Not against it, just don't see the point. Vaccinate or not, when sick there are things that you are supposed to do for yourself and others. Do them.

as far as why test? If they know it is COVID then the specific anti virals for it can be administered. If they dont know, they will not use the anti virals

 

[Checkswrecks]

The daughter I mentioned has a bad immune deficiency problem. When the vaccines came out her doc let her get the first one BUT it had to be at a clinic across from the ER and that turned out to be a wise move. She started having side effects right away and they moved her across the street. Fortunately, they didn't need to do anything further when it looked like she was going to crash but she never had boosters since and her doc feels that now we are 2 years later she probably has little immunity remaining and especially for the variants.

So as far as testing, I wasn't worried a bit for me and thought I just had another grand daughter daycare cold. I did it largely for my daughter and am glad I did.

 

[fac191]

Proper tests will contribute to the Data so as to see what strain is most active and therefore more dangerous. Over here in the UK testing the Water Supplies is a way of collecting good Data but i dont think they can determine the Strains that way. I may be wrong. There is also the Corporate Negligence fear of harming their Brands which drove alot of the testing of workers using unreliable kits which led to people isolating. Proper tests can only be a good thing.

 

[Squibb]

It concerns me that the Western World seems unable to move on from the horrors that were the Covid-19 Chinese bat virus, despite the current strains adopting a relatively mild form. How much longer will we find it necessary to test, test & test again I wonder. Didn't the POTUS declare Covid is over? yet the Chinese still have a zero Covid policy in place that creates all manner of crazy problems.

We now have various strains of coronavirus circulating in our communities, just as we have for probably thousands of years. Along with various rhinovirus strains, we always treated these as the common cold historically (c 20% CV - 80% RV)

There are several spike antibody tests on the market that can check individuals for potential resilience, but it seems these are rarely made available to those with immune system deficiencies here in the UK, neither have we invested in the latest antivirals, preferring to carry on with a vax programme that we know confers little long term protection to many of the most vulnerable.

A buddy of mine, who is very well connected in the corridors of power I might add, reckons our Governments have dug themselves into a hole so deep, it will take several more years before we can re-surface with confidence. We shall see - he is a cynical old beggar, but has Q2 2025 pencilled in for Covid to be firmly in the rear view mirror, by which time we shall be consumed by the Green Agenda vs Energy security it seems.

BTW, I don't intend these thoughts, from a concerned ancient biker, to be in any way politically motivated, just a statement of how I see it.

 

[Sierra1]

as far as why test? If they know it is COVID then the specific anti virals for it can be administered. If they dont know, they will not use the anti virals

But, if I'm vaccinated, there won't be a need for anti-virals. Right? Unless I get real sick from covid? It's my understanding that's why anti-virals are used for colds. We don't have a vaccine for colds, so we treat with the anti virals. Fortunately, colds aren't as deadly as the flu or covid.

 

[Berg_Donk]

I'm getting #5 this afternoon FWIW.

 

[thughes317]

Proper tests will contribute to the Data so as to see what strain is most active and therefore more dangerous. Over here in the UK testing the Water Supplies is a way of collecting good Data but i dont think they can determine the Strains that way. I may be wrong. There is also the Corporate Negligence fear of harming their Brands which drove alot of the testing of workers using unreliable kits which led to people isolating. Proper tests can only be a good thing.

I get that, but I'm an ugly stubborn American. If I did test it would be a home test and if it was positive I damn sure wouldn't be reporting my results to the authorities....none of their business. Obviously YMMV.

 

[WJBertrand]

Got the third booster a little over 2 weeks ago and made it to now without catching COVID but just got a positive test result for the Omicron variant after flying on airplanes with hundreds of new close friends for 11+ hours plus hanging in the airports.
Been sleeping a lot the last couple of days, mildly aching all over, chest cough, etc, but overall not doing bad at all and not worried.

The reason for sharing is to say that when I suspected getting the crud I went to the drive-through then came home and did two of the home PCR (quick) tests. The clinic test came back positive and both of the home tests came back negative.

Spoke with my scientist daughter who is involved with all this stuff and her response about the negative results was [literally] "Well Duhhh. Those test kits were never intended for the new variants and COVID changes fast enough they will never be able to keep up."

So what I'm trying to share is that while a positive result will always be positive, do not trust a negative result from one of the home PCR test kits as justification for going to a bar or otherwise out with people for a good time, especially if you've started getting symptoms.

Those instant home tests are antigen tests, not PCR. The PCR tests are the ones that most clinics do and take a day or two to get results. The PCR tests are the most accurate. The antigen tests can give both false negative and false positive tests at a higher rate than the PCR tests.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[pooh and xtine]

Covid vaccines don’t prevent infection or transmission and there is no proof that they reduce the severity of infection because you can’t tell how bad it would have been if you hadn’t been vaccinated. Sadly the Emperor’s got no clothes, but the world is too invested in the drugs to admit it.

 

[fac191]

I think the fact we are no longer asked to wear masks anymore should tell us where we are at.

Covid vaccines don’t prevent infection or transmission and there is no proof that they reduce the severity of infection because you can’t tell how bad it would have been if you hadn’t been vaccinated. Sadly the Emperor’s got no clothes, but the world is too invested in the drugs to admit it.

I take it you dont take any Medication whatsoever, you have never seen a Doctor or been to Hospital ever. Lucky Man.

 

[fac191]

Covid vaccines don’t prevent infection or transmission and there is no proof that they reduce the severity of infection because you can’t tell how bad it would have been if you hadn’t been vaccinated. Sadly the Emperor’s got no clothes, but the world is too invested in the drugs to admit it.

The Vaccine is free here.

 

[Wallkeeper]

Covid vaccines don’t prevent infection or transmission and there is no proof that they reduce the severity of infection because you can’t tell how bad it would have been if you hadn’t been vaccinated. Sadly the Emperor’s got no clothes, but the world is too invested in the drugs to admit it.

I believe the mortality differences between the vaccinated and unvaccinated populations does a good job of telling "how bad it would have been"

 

[Checkswrecks]

Covid vaccines don’t prevent infection or transmission and there is no proof that they reduce the severity of infection because you can’t tell how bad it would have been if you hadn’t been vaccinated. Sadly the Emperor’s got no clothes, but the world is too invested in the drugs to admit it.

As alluded to by Wallkeeper, this is long proven false.

 

[Sierra1]

Every person that I knew, that died from covid, was unvaccinated. By their choice.

 

[Squibb]

Personally I think we will need to unpick the statistics in detail before we draw too many conclusions guys.

Here in the UK, many who died already had several co-morbidities for their immune system to deal with, often, indeed too often sadly, this included significant obesity & diabetes, the curse of modern Western society. Thousands of frail patients were cleared from hospital wards in those early days, where they had acquired CV19, back into Care Homes or their community, only to spread the virus further. This has been likened to the 19th century Scutari issue, where it was found that the best breeding ground for infectious disease was within the Medicare apparatus itself.

This was all well before a vax was available here - nothing to do with choice for those folks.

Some experts have suggested Omicron, that emerged originally in RSA, was a blessing in disguise. Spreads way more easily that Wuhan or Alpha (UK), but with reduced severity of infection, which allows the fit/healthy immune system to cope & acquire the best possible response. Like I said before, I still can't understand why we refuse to use the spike AB test on anyone who may be considered vulnerable.