1 hour ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Totally agree and encourage everyone to get vaccinated.

I'm not so confident of us ever beating this.  Even if we get to 90% at some point we need to open borders.  Even with the best quarantine centres we know the virus gets out before and after quarantine. 

And our nearest neighbours:  Indonesia, PNG and Fiji are in a world of hurt with covid.  We need to help them and fortunately we are helping a little bit, altho some folks may not like us diverting our vaccines to them.  It is essential we support them as a good neighbour and support ours and the regions long-term interests.

Sadly, my view it can't be beaten until the whole region is safe from it so we will need to learn to live with it. 

I understood that we have manufacturing capacity of AZ far greater than demand. I assume we are shipping some of that over there?

Still with a combined population of nearly 300 million in those countries alone, even sending them a spare 1 or 2 million jabs a month is ineffective help. I guess it all adds up.

6 minutes ago, deanox said:

even sending them a spare 1 or 2 million jabs a month is ineffective help. I guess it all adds up.

Help is never ineffective. Even that 1-2 mil jabs a month would translate to possibly hundreds, if not thousands, of lives saved. Yes, it certainly does add up.

5 minutes ago, hardtack said:

Help is never ineffective. Even that 1-2 mil jabs a month would translate to possibly hundreds, if not thousands, of lives saved. Yes, it certainly does add up.

The PNG people dont have 2 bob to rub together. They need help and we can afford to give it.  No brainer.

 

Would be interested  to know if they are as AZ averse as we seem to be. Nice to see many of our younger demographic racing in to get the AZ jab.  Proud of them, as every jab helps the overall fight.

 

 

1 hour ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

I'm not so confident of us ever beating this.

In strict biological terms, we can’t Luci, so we manage it. Like the seasonal flu - we all get yearly (or whatever is recommended) boosters. Treatments will also improve - specific anti-virals, advanced medication cocktails (that doesn’t mean Hydroxychloroquine or Ivermectin!). It’s here forever, we just need to use science and education to consolidate understanding and create compliance. None of this reality is being delivered to the public, however. The majority are still under the illusion that COVID will ‘go away’, or die. It will not. Ever. 

19 minutes ago, Webber said:

In strict biological terms, we can’t Luci, so we manage it. Like the seasonal flu - we all get yearly (or whatever is recommended) boosters. Treatments will also improve - specific anti-virals, advanced medication cocktails (that doesn’t mean Hydroxychloroquine or Ivermectin!). It’s here forever, we just need to use science and education to consolidate understanding and create compliance. None of this reality is being delivered to the public, however. The majority are still under the illusion that COVID will ‘go away’, or die. It will not. Ever. 

Yes Weber a lot appear to be living in fairyland Pubic policy failures on all levels and to put it simply "They cant handle the truth"

51 minutes ago, deanox said:

I understood that we have manufacturing capacity of AZ far greater than demand. I assume we are shipping some of that over there?

Still with a combined population of nearly 300 million in those countries alone, even sending them a spare 1 or 2 million jabs a month is ineffective help. I guess it all adds up.

The initial lot were in March 21 when we couldn't get a supply for ourselves:  australia-to-send-covid-vaccines-to-virus-hit-papua-new-guinea  Yes, then and now it is AZ; pfizer isn't practical because it needs to be stored at -70c (AZ at -2 to -8c) and lack of electricity for its is an issue in those countries so it is more feasible but still challenging to distribute AZ.

I think CSL is producing 'excess' so that it can go to our neighbours.  I would be happy to give as much as we can.  They need it.    

Edited August 8, 20213 yr by Lucifer's Hero

13 hours ago, Stiff Arm said:

As Peter Doherty said, if you choose not to get vaccinated, you are on the side of the virus.

 

 

Blaming people - particularly under 60s and especially with such a crude binary comparison - who wish to wait for the ATAGI preferred Pfizer, or who are nervous about the speed at which the vaccines gained emergency approval, especially the new mRNA ones. That’s entirely understandable. 

Edited August 8, 20213 yr by Superunknown

35 minutes ago, Webber said:

In strict biological terms, we can’t Luci, so we manage it. Like the seasonal flu - we all get yearly (or whatever is recommended) boosters. Treatments will also improve - specific anti-virals, advanced medication cocktails (that doesn’t mean Hydroxychloroquine or Ivermectin!). It’s here forever, we just need to use science and education to consolidate understanding and create compliance. None of this reality is being delivered to the public, however. The majority are still under the illusion that COVID will ‘go away’, or die. It will not. Ever. 

Unfortunately, all governments and health authorities run the narrative around 'zero cases', % vaccination targets etc as if all will be dandy.  No one seems to want to face up to the reality that we will have to live with it and their will be outbreaks.  At some point all governments and health authorities need to wind back the fear that has been attached to an outbreak.  Unfortunately, atm there seems to be little attention to shifting the public mindset (as you say educate) back to a new normal.  

Edited August 8, 20213 yr by Lucifer's Hero

22 hours ago, Jara said:

Good points, Binman. 

Most telling stat I've heard about our Federal leaders lately: Morrison made around 55 calls to world leaders trying to get Cormann a job with the OECD but not a single one to the head of Pfizer trying to get more vaccines. 

I was dismayed by Morrison's complete lack of moral support for Victorians during last year's outbreak. Barely a syllable: just send in the attack dogs. 

Not that I had very high expectations of Morrison anyway. I'm a CFA volunteer; while we were out getting overwhelmed by those monstrous fires in The Black Summer, he was swanning around Hawaii. His Churchillian war-cry? I don't hold a hose, mate.

 

Morrison doesn't care, he probably thinks its a sign of the end times and welcomes Jesus' imminent return.

Only thing he cares about is the effect on the hip pockets of himself, his mates and his donors.

2 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

700k at a biker rally in Sturgis South Dakota.

What could possibly go wrong.

https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-health-coronavirus-pandemic-south-dakota-sd-state-wire-b729c1e92cb7e0f74c12343c483f9474

 The Black Hills of South Dakota roared with motorcycles and crowds Friday as the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally kicked off, with mostly mask-less rallygoers packed shoulder-to-shoulder at bars and rock shows, despite a rise in COVID-19 cases in the state.

Organizers expect at least 700,000 people during the 10-day event that is a rendezvous for bikers, who connect over their love for motorcycles. For some, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime goal to make it to Sturgis; others faithfully make the pilgrimage year after year.

“It’s just a great big family atmosphere, everybody’s out here for the same purpose — we all love motorcycles,” said Aaron Harper. “If you’re a motorcyclist, you have to see it at least once in your life.”

Hmm 🤔 , doing their damndest to make it a 'once in a lifetime' experience?

1 hour ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Unfortunately, the government and health narrative is still around 'zero cases', % vaccination targets etc as if all will be dandy.  No one seems to want to face up to the reality that we will have to live with it and their will be outbreaks.  At some point all governments and health authorities need to wind back the fear that has been attached to an outbreak.  Unfortunately, atm there seems to be little attention to shifting the public mindset (as you say educate) back to a new normal.  

I think one major break though LH is the antiviral nanoparticle treatment that has been developed by QLD researches, notably Professor Kevin Morris and American scientists. In trials earlier this year with animals the treatment killed 99.99% of the virus instantly. It works by attacking the virus genome directly which stops the virus from replicating. It will work on all betacoronaviruses including Sars-CoV-1 & 2 and any new variants that may arise in the future. The nanoparticles are stable at 4C for 12 months or room temperature for 1 month indicating that their use in lower resourced countries can be implemented.

This may be available to patients who either have CoVid or were recently exposed, by as early as 2023 if the next phase clinical trial results are successful.

19 minutes ago, Wadda We Sing said:

I think one major break though LH is the antiviral nanoparticle treatment that has been developed by QLD researches, notably Professor Kevin Morris and American scientists. In trials earlier this year with animals the treatment killed 99.99% of the virus instantly. It works by attacking the virus genome directly which stops the virus from replicating. It will work on all betacoronaviruses including Sars-CoV-1 & 2 and any new variants that may arise in the future. The nanoparticles are stable at 4C for 12 months or room temperature for 1 month indicating that their use in lower resourced countries can be implemented.

This may be available to patients who either have CoVid or were recently exposed, by as early as 2023 if the next phase clinical trial results are successful.

Sounds very promising. Haven't heard of this before. Do you have a link to an article or review?

32 minutes ago, Wadda We Sing said:

I think one major break though LH is the antiviral nanoparticle treatment that has been developed by QLD researches, notably Professor Kevin Morris and American scientists. In trials earlier this year with animals the treatment killed 99.99% of the virus instantly. It works by attacking the virus genome directly which stops the virus from replicating. It will work on all betacoronaviruses including Sars-CoV-1 & 2 and any new variants that may arise in the future. The nanoparticles are stable at 4C for 12 months or room temperature for 1 month indicating that their use in lower resourced countries can be implemented.

This may be available to patients who either have CoVid or were recently exposed, by as early as 2023 if the next phase clinical trial results are successful.

Australian of the year.

 

Love our researchers. They do an amazing job. Oh to be this brilliant at anything. Stamp licking, shoelace tying, anything.

36 minutes ago, faultydet said:

Australian of the year.

Really? 

I also like @Wadda We Singbut I’m not sure he’s Australian of the Year material. 

Edited August 8, 20213 yr by Grapeviney

8 minutes ago, Grapeviney said:

Really? 

I also like @Wadda We Singbut I’m not sure he’s Australian of the Year material. 

Everyone deserves a turn Grape.

 

Even the common people.....

2 hours ago, Superunknown said:

Blaming people - particularly under 60s and especially with such a crude binary comparison - who wish to wait for the ATAGI preferred Pfizer, or who are nervous about the speed at which the vaccines gained emergency approval, especially the new mRNA ones. That’s entirely understandable. 

1st world privilege problems

2 hours ago, BDA said:

Sounds very promising. Haven't heard of this before. Do you have a link to an article or review?

Its been well publicized. Quick google search you should find several articles published around May

4 hours ago, Superunknown said:

Blaming people - particularly under 60s and especially with such a crude binary comparison - who wish to wait for the ATAGI preferred Pfizer, or who are nervous about the speed at which the vaccines gained emergency approval, especially the new mRNA ones. That’s entirely understandable. 

It's not black/white.

If you are over 60 and you have chosen not to be vaccinated despite all the AZ available, you are part of the problem.

If you are over 40 and you have chosen not to be vaccinated despite Pfizer being made available to you nearly three months ago, you are part of the problem.

Of course, if you have not been able to access Pfizer, that is a different story.

And on the issue of "emergency approval", there is no such thing. See here: https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/covid-19-vaccines/is-it-true/is-it-true-were-covid-19-vaccines-rushed-through-approvals-or-given-emergency-use-authorisations-in-australia

And on the issue of the safety of the vaccines, there is no real issue. See here: https://www.smh.com.au/national/how-do-we-know-vaccines-won-t-have-long-term-safety-risks-20210803-p58fc7.html

Key point on safety is this: if there was a problem, it is highly likely we would know about it by now.

6 hours ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Morrison doesn't care, he probably thinks its a sign of the end times and welcomes Jesus' imminent return.

Only thing he cares about is the effect on the hip pockets of himself, his mates and his donors.

You Dr Know seem  nothing about how the political world works 

Perhaps your political development has been stunted by the ABC who really knows what the challenges have been for the government

You must be much smarter than the rest of us because you seem to know

4 hours ago, faultydet said:

Australian of the year.

 

Love our researchers. They do an amazing job. Oh to be this brilliant at anything. Stamp licking, shoelace tying, anything.

Maybe this guy is Governor material after Janette Young

Surely we can put the fanciful idea of a month long hub in Perth to bed.

You could have Port, Geelong, Sydney and Brisbane hosting week 1 finals. I know nothing is fair in this pandemic, but that’s genuinely unfair for those teams who have the right to host a final.

1 hour ago, titan_uranus said:

It's not black/white.

If you are over 60 and you have chosen not to be vaccinated despite all the AZ available, you are part of the problem.

If you are over 40 and you have chosen not to be vaccinated despite Pfizer being made available to you nearly three months ago, you are part of the problem.

Of course, if you have not been able to access Pfizer, that is a different story.

And on the issue of "emergency approval", there is no such thing. See here: https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/covid-19-vaccines/is-it-true/is-it-true-were-covid-19-vaccines-rushed-through-approvals-or-given-emergency-use-authorisations-in-australia

And on the issue of the safety of the vaccines, there is no real issue. See here: https://www.smh.com.au/national/how-do-we-know-vaccines-won-t-have-long-term-safety-risks-20210803-p58fc7.html

Key point on safety is this: if there was a problem, it is highly likely we would know about it by now.

You seem to be assuming Pfizer is widely available - it is not. That - perhaps not made clear enough - is my point.

There is no real issue - that we know about, yet (remember thalidomide?) I personally wouldn’t take my vaccine safety advice from the MSM. 

Fwiw, I’ve had both AZ shots btw and am under 45.

As the mods say - back on topic .

Edited August 8, 20213 yr by Superunknown

2 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

It's not black/white.

If you are over 60 and you have chosen not to be vaccinated despite all the AZ available, you are part of the problem.

If you are over 40 and you have chosen not to be vaccinated despite Pfizer being made available to you nearly three months ago, you are part of the problem.

Of course, if you have not been able to access Pfizer, that is a different story.

And on the issue of "emergency approval", there is no such thing. See here: https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/covid-19-vaccines/is-it-true/is-it-true-were-covid-19-vaccines-rushed-through-approvals-or-given-emergency-use-authorisations-in-australia

And on the issue of the safety of the vaccines, there is no real issue. See here: https://www.smh.com.au/national/how-do-we-know-vaccines-won-t-have-long-term-safety-risks-20210803-p58fc7.html

Key point on safety is this: if there was a problem, it is highly likely we would know about it by now.

Rubbish. If people over 60 have some sort of issue causing them concern getting the AZ, they should be entitled to the Pfizer. Otherwise, there should be no judging them on waiting for the Pfizer. My parents are in that camp.

58 minutes ago, Superunknown said:

You seem to be assuming Pfizer is widely available - it is not. That - perhaps not made clear enough - is my point.

There is no real issue - that we know about, yet (remember thalidomide?) I personally wouldn’t take my vaccine safety advice from the MSM. 

Fwiw, I’ve had both AZ shots btw and am under 45.

As the mods say - back on topic .

I literally said "Of course, if you have not been able to access Pfizer, that is a different story."

If you have chosen not to be vaccinated, you are part of the problem.

31 minutes ago, Northern Summer said:

Rubbish. If people over 60 have some sort of issue causing them concern getting the AZ, they should be entitled to the Pfizer. Otherwise, there should be no judging them on waiting for the Pfizer. My parents are in that camp.

What is the basis for someone over 60 having "some sort of issue causing them concern getting the AZ"?

I submit there isn't one.

9 hours ago, Superunknown said:

Blaming people - particularly under 60s and especially with such a crude binary comparison - who wish to wait for the ATAGI preferred Pfizer, or who are nervous about the speed at which the vaccines gained emergency approval, especially the new mRNA ones. That’s entirely understandable. 

ATAGI in the Australian science community is considered bullet proof from political influence / persuasion also.  At least until Scomo decided to take to them with a baseball bat recently.

They apparently leave no stone unturned and will not let anything pass the approval stage without full assessment and scrutiny.

Obviously i would be going to my GP as first port of call but ATAGI guidance (aside from the variation issued post Scomo badgering) is also a solid reference point.

Edited August 8, 20213 yr by Rusty Nails