Tag Archives: Vaccine

The Emerging Infectious Disease branch of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research

THis afternoon.

Via military minded mag Defense One

Within weeks, scientists at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research expect to announce that they have developed a vaccine that is effective against COVID-19 and all its variants, even Omicron, as well as from previous SARS-origin viruses that have killed millions of people worldwide.

The achievement is the result of almost two years of work on the virus. The Army lab received its first DNA sequencing of the COVID-19 virus in early 2020. Very early on, Walter Reed’s infectious diseases branch decided to focus on making a vaccine that would work against not just the existing strain but all of its potential variants as well.

Unlike existing vaccines, Walter Reed’s SpFN uses a soccer ball-shaped protein with 24 faces for its vaccine, which allows scientists to attach the spikes of multiple coronavirus strains on different faces of the protein.

*makes theatrical kicking motion*

Back of the net.

US Army Creates Single Vaccine Against All COVID & SARS Variants, Researchers Say (Defense One)

A Rabbi gets vaccinated in Tel Aviv, Israel last year

Last night/this morning.

Via Washington Post:

In what it’s calling a global first, Israel’s Health Ministry announced that it will offer a fourth coronavirus vaccine shot to citizens 60 and older and other at-risk groups as concerns about the omicron variant proliferate.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said he ordered the government to immediately prepare for distributing fourth doses.

“As we did with the booster in the delta surge, we intend to be active and groundbreaking, and do everything to win,” he tweeted. “The world will follow us.”

Israel says it will become first nation to offer fourth coronavirus vaccine dose: ‘The world will follow us’ (Washington Post)

AP

Meanwhile….

German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach has said that a fourth vaccination will be necessary in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic due to the more contagious Omicron variant.

He said that Germany has ordered 80 million doses of a vaccine made by Biontech specifically targeting Omicron and should arrive in April or May.

Germany has also ordered four million doses of the newly approved vaccine Novavax – seen as more acceptable to vaccine sceptics – and 11 million doses of the new Valneva shot, which is waiting for marketing authorisation, Mr Lauterbach said.

Fourth Covid-19 jab needed – German health minister (RTÉ)

Meanwhile…

Chief Medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said there is “a substantial job to do” to issue a third vaccine to those over 40 who are at risk of severe infection and he asked them to come forward.

He said that “vaccines really work, particularly when boosted, in preventing infection from becoming severe infection and we expect that to be the case with Omicron”.

“Don’t put off the opportunity to be vaccinated if it comes your way,” he added.

Rapid rise in Covid cases in 16-34 age group – Holohan (RTE)

Based on total population

This morning.

….via RTE News:

Speaking on Newstalk, taoiseach Micheál Martin said that reducing socialisation by around 20% to 30%, following public health advice, and continuing momentum with the booster campaign could mean that the Omicron situation could be managed.

He also said it was his view that vaccination should be voluntary and this system has worked very well in Ireland.

The Taoiseach said he accepted that the unvaccinated took up a disproportionate element of the health service, particularly in terms of intensive care, but, he said, on balance the voluntary approach should continue.

Country facing ‘challenging’ January – Taoiseach (RTE)

Via Ireland Vaccine Progress

Meanwhile…

Nine danke.

Um.

Strašne vesti: Mladi fudbaler se srušio na treningu, lekari se bore za njegov život (Telegraf)

Yesterday: Beautiful Games

Pic via Telegraf

This afternoon.

“There are no plans to tighten restrictions further. The restrictions that come into effect today will last until the 30th of January. Of course we can’t rule out easing of restrictions earlier or having to tighten them if there was a sudden deterioration or major deterioration in terms of the picture in our hospitals for example.

“What was announced last week and what comes into effect today is there to apply until the end of January. There is no secret plan for any additional restrictions before Christmas, before the new year or in January.

“But of course the caveat is it’s not possible to rule anything out in this pandemic and I think people appreciate the extent to which the virus has surprised us on a number of occasions, including with the emergence of the omicron variant which is so much more transmissible and has vaccine escape properties.”

Tanaiste Leo Varadkar.

Anyone?

Record Covid numbers expected in days to come – Tánaiste (RTÉ)

Thanks Jimmy Jones

Oh.

This afternoon.

Wembley, London, England.

Meanwhile…

 

Ah now.

Thanks KN

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Saturday: Mist Appointment

Gulp.

This morning.

Meanwhile…

….via Football 365:

‘…It puzzles and angers many that in England so many footballers won’t get the jabs. While male footballers may not be massively different in numbers to any other young men in their 20s and 30s in their hesitancy to get vaccinated, with roughly 25% not interested, they are, in other ways, very different to us and this explains their anti-social choice.

….The body fascism that has berated and bullied women for not being the right shape and size since the dawn of time now also bullies men into being more well-built, more well-hung. Thicker, longer, harder, bigger. It is a mentality only endorsed and amplified by pornography. The internet generation has been raised with these values totally absorbed into their cultural DNA.

So every male footballer, having grown up with this hyper-physicality as part of their self-identity, is not divorceable from being a body-conscious physical specimen and this is what makes them susceptible to rumour and half-baked notion about vaccines making you impotent (why not ask someone who’s had it if they can still get hard?), or infertile (why not ask someone who’s had a kid in the last 18 months?), or grow an extra head (hey, actually that could be useful at defending near-post corners).

They’ll take any pill or needle if it facilitates better performance on the pitch (and is legal, obviously). So refusing one which will stop you being ill, or being as ill and helps stop others being ill too, shouldn’t be a great leap of understanding. But it is for some. It is, literally, mental.

The only thing impotent about anti-vaxxers is their naivety (John Nicholson, Football 365)

Meanwhile…

Meanwhile…

Referee, Trevor Moloney, abandoned the match in Hibernian Park, Burt, at half-time.

The Finn Valley side’s star forward had been having an outstanding game for his team, and had scored 1-3, when he appeared to go to the ground.

The young man was unable to get up and was attended to by officials and medical personnel before being helped to the sideline.

He remained there for about 15 minutes before an ambulance arrived.

Breaking: U21 hurling final abandoned after player becomes ill (Donegal Daily)

‘sup?

Saturday.

Dublin city centre.

Protesters marching from the Department of Education to Smithfield Square via Henry Street against covid restrictions and measures, including the vaccination of children.

Sam Boal/RollingNews

Meanwhile…

Latest vaccine uptake. Figures based on entire population

This morning/afternoon.

Via Ireland Vaccine progress

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Hardcore.

Meanwhile…

Ah here.

Bethesda Children’s Hospital in Budapest, Hungary this morning

This afternoon.

Via AFP:

Several European nations started vaccinating children aged five to 11 against Covid-19 on Wednesday in an effort to contain a raging pandemic and keep schools open

Croatia, Germany, Spain, Greece and Hungary were among those opening up their inoculation drives to younger kids, with other nations [including Ireland] still weighing their approach.

“As soon as we offered the vaccine appointments, they were pretty much all snapped up,” said Jakob Maske, a Berlin-based doctor and spokesman for Germany’s association of paediatricians.

But he downplayed expectations. “Five to 11-year-olds only make up around three percent of the German population,” he told AFP, describing the immunisation impact as “a small cog” in the effort.

Europe Ramps Up Vaccine Drive For Children (Yahoo News)

Reuters