Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals Two-dose vaccines induce lower antibodies against Omicron, study finds Omicron coronavirus variant, British scientists found, indicating that increased infections in those previously infected or vaccinated may be likely. Researchers from the University of Oxford published results on Monday from a study yet to be peer-reviewed, where they analysed blood samples from participants who were given doses from AstraZeneca-Oxford (AZN.L) or Pfizer-BioNTech (PFE.N), (22UAy.DE) in a large study looking into mixing of vaccines. The results come a day after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned that two shots will not be enough to contain Omicron, following findings from the UK health agency last week that boosters significantly restore protection against the variant. The Oxford study said that there was no evidence yet that the lower level of infection-fighting antibodies against Omicron could lead to higher risk of severe disease, hospitalisation or death in those who have got two doses of approved vaccines. "These data are important but are only one part of the picture. They only look at neutralising antibodies after the second dose, but do not tell us about cellular immunity, and this will also be tested," said Matthew Snape, Oxford professor and co-author of the paper.
I’ve heard a series of ‘experts’ over the past year saying that your Bonio Fido surgical mask what you find in a hostipal would do a job, but these old bits of dirty gusset the majority of us stick over our faces in the real world do little. I think the only conclusion is that masks are either ineffective in themselves, but subconsciously help us distance etc., or they’re a means of imposing compliance. I know where I’m putting my money.
The fact that we are getting mutations is perfectly normal and is actually a positive sign. The last stage of such a pandemic involves it mutating into a form which is more contagious but less deadly - thus going the way of the Spanish influenza (or the Hong Kong and Asian variants), and blending into the general pattern of seasonal flu. A pandemic is considered over when the death rate has returned to so called acceptable levels ie. comparable to a normal flu epidemic.
You don't wear a mask to protect yourself but to protect those around you. It's a sign of respect - if someone stands before me not wearing one then it means he values his principles more than my health and that of my family which automatically makes him my enemy. The same applies to the anti vacc. brigade - it is not just that they are sceptical about vaccination but rather they have obstructed every measure designed to bring this mess to an end.
I dont agree with your last sentence. I know plenty of people who have not had the vaccine, some can be classed as anti vaxers some just choose not to want it. A prime example is my neighbours. The wife is fully vacinated, the husband doesnt think it necessary. Both had covid at the same time, both with mild to little symptoms. Having had covid, he feels his body has fought off the virus and feels no need for a vacination. He doesnt make a song and dance over it, he doesnt knock those who choose to be vacinated and he has certainly not obstructed anything in regarding bringing this mess to an end.
I agree that my last sentence was an over generalization. Things have radicalized a lot here in Germany and the anti vaxer group is larger here and more extreme - since the Pandemic began there have been a total of 550 physical attacks on vaccination and test centres here. Some medical staff here are becoming afraid to actually do their jobs as a result. These morons are the major reason we are still in this mess - it must be clear that we have a national and public emergency and that anyone who actively tries to sabotage all attempts to combat this is the enemy of all of us.
No surprise there. Enemy, huh? Does that include those that can’t wear masks or have the vaccine for medical reasons? What would you have done to your enemies?
To clear that one up - I can pick up the disease from a vaccinated person as well as a non vaccinated one - so at the point of contact it makes little difference to me. Other than that the non vaccinated are preventing us from achieving the herd immunity which we need as a society. I would really like to know how many people there are who genuinely can't wear masks for medical reasons - comparatively few I would guess. It's a matter of respect - even if I have a cold or a normal flu I avoid contact with others until it's over. Social distancing isn't just common to us humans - amongst African Wild Dogs if one of them has flees then they will voluntarily distance themselves from the others without having to be told to do so. When we have to learn the basics of social behaviour from African Wild Dogs then something has gone very badly wrong. Statistically I am more likely to pick up this diease from a person who either doesn't know they have it, or who thinks they only have a slight cold - but am almost certainly more likely to pick it up from an unmasked person. That being the case - the unmasked person (at least within four walls) can stay well away from me and my family if he wants to preserve a full set of teeth.
Again i have to pick you up on a point, that i may be entirely wrong on in all honesty but why are the non vacinated preventing us from gaining herd immunity? I personally know many people who have caught covid despite being double jabbed, my own niece has had it twice now. I wonder what protection having had covid when unvacinated, the body naturally produces. You seem to be falling into a trap that is being manufactured around the world. What would you say if a non mask wearer wanted to knock your teeth out for wearing a mask ffs
Violence? Interesting. Do you think the bits of fanny cloth available to the general public provide adequate protection? Why not just socially distance, which is a sensible thing to do under normal situations? I suspect we’d both choose to maintain distance between each other in any circumstance, particularly me as the threat of losing my teeth because I don’t share your position is enough to make me keep my distance!
I dont like wearing a mask, i think they are pointless but i do wear one as im following the rules that are enforced upon us. I would never threaten to knock someones teeth out because they think differently to me.
