Mon Tulfo admits getting inoculated with smuggled Sinopharm shots, eyes local distributorship | Philstar
New analyses show Johnson & Johnson’s one-dose vaccine works well. Feb. 24, 2021, 8:18 a.m. By Carl Zimmer, Noah Weiland and Sharon LaFraniere F.D.A. Analyses Find Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Works Well - The New York Times (nytimes.com) Jacqui Dallimore, a research nurse, delivering a shot to a volunteer in the Johnson & Johnson vaccine trial at the Desmond Tutu H.I.V. Foundation Youth Center in Masiphumelele, South Africa, in December.Credit...Joao Silva/The New York Times The one-shot coronavirus vaccine made by Johnson & Johnson provides strong protection against severe disease and death from Covid-19, and may reduce the spread of the virus by vaccinated people, according to new analyses posted online by the Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday. The vaccine had a 72 percent overall efficacy rate in the United States and 64 percent in South Africa, where a highly contagious variant emerged in the fall and is now driving most cases. The efficacy in South Africa was seven percentage points higher than earlier data released by the company. The vaccine also showed 86 percent efficacy against severe forms of Covid-19 in the United States, and 82 percent against severe disease in South Africa. That means that a vaccinated person has a far lower risk of being hospitalized or dying from Covid-19. The analyses confirmed that Americans are likely to benefit soon from a third effective coronavirus vaccine developed in under a year, as demand for inoculations greatly outstrips supply. The F.D.A. could authorize the vaccine as early as Saturday, depending on a vote by its vaccine advisory panel on Friday after it discusses the newly released documents. “With a J&J vaccine, we’ll be able to accelerate the vaccine rollout for our country and for the world,” said Dan Barouch, a virologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston who led much of the early research on the vaccine last year. Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine can be stored at normal refrigeration temperatures for at least three months, making its distribution considerably easier than the authorized vaccines made by Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech, which require two doses and must be stored at frigid temperatures. How the Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Works An adenovirus helps prime the immune system to fight the coronavirus. But access to the new vaccine could be severely limited at first. Dr. Richard Nettles, the vice president of U.S. medical affairs at Janssen Pharmaceuticals, the drug development arm of Johnson & Johnson, told lawmakers on Tuesday that nearly four million doses would be ready for shipment if the F.D.A. authorizes the vaccine, far below the 12 million it had originally pledged to give the federal government by the end of February. He said that a total of 20 million doses will be ready by the end of March, 17 million fewer doses than the firm’s federal contract envisioned. But he insisted that Johnson & Johnson will fulfill its promise of 100 million doses by the end of June. Asked about the shortfall on Wednesday, Jeffrey D. Zients, the White House coordinator of the pandemic response, said the Biden administration learned that Johnson & Johnson was behind on manufacturing and needed federal help for equipment and raw materials when it took office in January. It was disappointing when we arrived” he said, but “I think the progress is real.” Despite the delays, he said, “obviously the prospect of a potential third approved vaccine is very encouraging” because lack of supply remains the biggest obstacle to the nation’s vaccination effort. Mr. Zients said if the new vaccine is authorized, roughly two million of the initial four million or so doses would be added to the shipments from Moderna and Pfizer to the United States next week. The remainder would go to federal vaccination programs at pharmacies and community health centers, he said. Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine has a lower efficacy rate than the vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech, which are both around 95 percent. But in South Africa, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is so far the clear winner. Novavax’s shot had an efficacy of 49 percent in South Africa. And a small trial in South Africa of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine found that it did not offer much protection at all. The negative results led the South African government to abandon its plan of giving a million doses of AstraZeneca vaccines to health care workers. Last week, the government started giving Johnson & Johnson’s vaccines instead, and has so far administered more than 32,000. Image A lab technician worked on blood samples taken from participants in the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine trial at a lab in Groblersdal, South Africa, earlier this month.Credit...Jerome Delay/Associated Press The newly released documents, which include the F.D.A.’s first technical analysis of the company’s 45,000-person clinical trial, presented evidence that the vaccine was safe, with noticeably milder side effects than the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and without any reports of severe allergic reactions like anaphylaxis. The vaccine’s protection was consistent across Black, Hispanic and white volunteers, and also across different ages. The trial indicated a lower efficacy, of 42.3 percent, for people over 60 who had risk factors like heart disease or diabetes. But this figure came with a large amount of statistical uncertainty, the F.D.A. noted. Although several vaccines can protect people from getting sick with Covid-19, it is unclear whether the shots can also prevent people from getting infected and passing the virus to others, leading to a debate about how quickly society can return to normal after inoculations begin. Moderna’s trial found some hints that vaccinated people were less likely to develop an infection without symptoms. And AstraZeneca found that its vaccine reduced asymptomatic infections by about half. Johnson & Johnson looked for asymptomatic infections by checking for coronavirus antibodies 71 days after volunteers got a vaccine or a placebo. The new analyses estimate that the vaccine has an efficacy rate of 74 percent against asymptomatic infections. But that calculation was based on a relatively small number of volunteers, and the F.D.A. noted that “There is uncertainty about the interpretation of these data and definitive conclusions cannot be drawn at this time.” “I think it’s going to add to the growing evidence that the vaccines really do prevent infection as well as prevent disease,” Dr. Barouch said. Carl Zimmer writes the “Matter” column. He is the author of thirteen books, including “She Has Her Mother's Laugh: The Powers, Perversions, and Potential of Heredity.” @carlzimmer • Facebook Noah Weiland is a reporter in the Washington bureau, covering health care. He was raised in East Lansing, Mich., and graduated from the University of Chicago. @noahweiland Sharon LaFraniere is an investigative reporter. She was part of a team that won a Pulitzer Prize in 2018 for national reporting on Donald Trump’s connections with Russia. @SharonLNYT F.D.A. Analyses Find Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Works Well - The New York Times (nytimes.com)
What Men See When They Look at Boobs, According to Science Why Do Men Like Boobs? 5 Scientific Studies Explain The Answer | Fatherly Why do men like boobs? While the general allure of women’s breasts aren’t a huge mystery – they’ve provided sustenance for babies since the beginning of time – some men gravitate towards boobs more than others. Some are left in occasional awe while looking at boobs. There’s a science behind this and it shows that men’s attraction to them is more complicated than just keeping their eyes “up there.” While some guys might love and be turned on by staring at big boobs, most prefer breasts that are average size. What you find attractive may reveal surprising things about other parts of your life, from financial security to fatherhood. In fact, how you perceive female boobs could make the difference between you being poor, hungry, or healthy, research suggests. Like breasts, studies on how men relate to them come in all shapes and sizes. Some are more robust than others. But the following should at least give you something constructive to ogle as you ask yourself the very important question: But why do guys like boobs?
KN95 vs. N95 masks: Experts explain the differences By Sophie Cannon February 24, 2021 | 11:36am | Updated KN95 vs. N95 masks: Experts explain the differences (nypost.com) REUTERS NY Post may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and/or when you make a purchase. The bottom line: wear a mask. However, with so many to choose from, which one should you wear? While in the beginning of the pandemic, masks and face coverings were harder to find, now, almost one full year in, there have been both advances in our mask-knowledge as well as a restock at many retailers. One of those retailers that sells both the KN95 mask and the more commonly discussed N95 mask is WellBefore. Their online store has curated both varieties of the face masks, and is here to share what the difference between the two really is. “There is a misconception that N95 masks are not produced outside of the US. This is not the case, [as] there are plenty of companies that produce N95 masks in the US and around the world,” said Shaz Amin, co-founder of WellBefore. To simplify things, “N95 is the US standard and KN95 is the Chinese standard,” Amin said. But “both standards are very similar in performance when it comes to filtration performance.” Looking at the most effective masks in protecting against COVID-19 and the new strain, other experts have weighed in, such as Aaron Collins, a Minnesota-based mechanical engineer, who studied KF94s, KN95s and N95s. “N95s are obviously the best, because it seals to the face, but the disadvantage is that it is secured with a headband which can destroy your scalp,” he said. And, “the marketplace is still an issue. Scammers still have a massive amount of inventory out there.” Many of the other major differences are your personal preferences for fit, strap type, color and sizing. Lucky for us, we now have the luxury of choice with more and more masks on the market. WellBefore is one of the options to combat fakes when choosing your mask. See below for some options for both the N95 and the KN95 face masks, and be sure to browse the WellBefore site, as other styles and colors will be restocked periodically. N95 Masks WellBefore N95 V1 Medical Respirator Mask, $2.99 each WellBefore Sold for $2.99 per mask, these N95 are a good bet for a full-coverage mask. They start at a package of 10 and go up in 10-mask increments depending on your needs. They also come in a black color in addition to the classic white, sold for $3.09 per mask. No matter the color, they offer the same five layers of protection, two head straps for comfort and come individually sealed and packaged. BYD Care DE2322 N95 Respirator, $2.99 each WellBefore Don’t let the color fool you, you can wear this mask with or without the matching scrubs, as it is great for all settings, hospitals and grocery stores alike. The BYD Care mask is an N95 option that comes with adjustable head straps that firmly secure the mask around your nose and mouth. It is National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-approved and is made with three layers of polypropylene-spun bound non-woven fabric and hot air cotton. They are sold in quantities as low at two, and then increase in increments of five until you have as many as you need to protect yourself and your family in the cart. Respokare N95 Surgical Respirator Mask, $3.49 each WellBefore The Respokare N95 is back in stock, going for just $3.49 per mask for the anti-viral blue face covering. “N95 Anti-Viral Mask is a 4-Layer flat mask containing a hydrophilic plastic coating and citric acid on the outer layer, and an inner anti-viral (blue) layer impregnated with copper and zinc ions in the second layer,” explains the product page. All four layers of the mask serve as additional protective layers, while the two elastic straps secure firmly yet comfortably to your head. They are currently sold in a minimum order of two masks and in the medium size. Kimberly Clark (Kimtech™) 53358 N95 Pouch Respirator, $2.49 each WellBefore Another NIOSH-approved option, the white and blue mask is also an N95, sold on the WellBefore site. The masks come with a bright blue foam head strap, keeping your face and head comfortable should you need to wear the masks for long periods of time. The other stand-out feature is the pouch-like duck bill face covering, that give you ample room to breathe while also keeping a tight seal around your mouth and nose. They are sold for $2.49 per mask, in quantities as low at two and going up by fives from there. Aero Pro AP0018 N95 Surgical Mask Cup, $2.99 each WellBefore If a cup-like covering is what you’re after, look no further. The Aero Pro is an N95 with a cup-shaped mask, perfect for keeping your nose and mouth covered in a secure and sanitary way. The mask is another with two head straps as opposed to the less comfortable ear straps, and can also be purchased in bulk. Starting in quantities of two, then five and then in increments of five after that, the masks are just $2.99 per item, with orders of 30 or more shipping in the original box packaging. KN95 Masks KN95 — Individually Wrapped, $1.99 each WellBefore For a KN95 option, these disposable masks do the job. The masks come individually wrapped for safety and carrying ease, and are sold for just $1.99 per mask. They start as a 10-pack and then go up in quantity in increments of 10 to fit your needs. They are made of five layers, two of which are from premium quality melt blown layers to keep particles out and two elastic ear straps to keep the mask secure over your nose and mouth. Kids KN95 Adjustable Individually Wrapped Masks, $1.99 each WellBefore Perfect for the little ones or even those with smaller faces, these mini masks are a great solution to masks slipping down and being uncomfortable. Like the larger ones above, they come individually wrapped for ultimate sanitation, easy to pack in a school bag or have handy in the car. They are $1.99 per mask, and come in a minimum order of 10. As of now, the site carries two sizes of the smaller masks, including the regular suggested for ages nine to 12 and a smaller size recommended for ages five to eight. KN95 vs. N95 masks: Experts explain the differences (nypost.com)
China's Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine arrives in Singapore, but is not yet approved for use | The Straits Times
US approves Pfizer vaccine storage at normal freezer temperature Good news for countries like ours with warmer climate and no deep freeze facilities. But chances of a third world country like ours getting ample Pfizer or Moderna vaccines are about as good as getting a Rolex Daytona or a Patek Nautilus from the local stores.
AstraZeneca, Sputnik vaccines face hurdles if COVID shots become annual affair FILE PHOTO: Ampules with the Sputnik V coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine are seen in Podgorica By John Miller and Ludwig Burger Fri, February 26, 2021, 3:09 AM AstraZeneca, Sputnik vaccines face hurdles if COVID shots become annual affair (yahoo.com) ZURICH (Reuters) - Vaccines from AstraZeneca, Russia's Gamaleya Institute and Johnson & Johnson fight the coronavirus with another virus, leaving scientists concerned the shots may lose potency if annual inoculations become necessary to fight new variants. So-called viral vector shots - also used by several Chinese COVID-19 vaccine developers - use harmless modified viruses as vehicles, or vectors, to carry genetic information that helps the body build immunity against future infections. However, there is a risk that the body also develops immunity to the vector itself, recognising it as an intruder and trying to destroy it. Most vector-vaccine developers have opted to use an adenovirus, a harmless class of common-cold viruses."The experience with adenoviruses has been for many years that vectors can be intercepted by the immune system after repeat injections," said Bodo Plachter, deputy director of the Institute of Virology at Mainz University's teaching hospital. "There may be the same problem with other types of vectors. Only 'trial and error' will tell," he added. That potentially puts vector vaccines at a disadvantage to mRNA shots from Pfizer and Moderna, or vaccines using deactivated coronaviruses, like Sinovac's, or the coronavirus' surface spike proteins, an approach pursued by Novavax. Vector immunity is not a new issue but has come under renewed scrutiny as companies including J&J anticipate regular COVID-19 vaccinations, like annual influenza shots, may be needed to combat new variants of the coronavirus. Moderna as well as Pfizer and partner BioNTech said in separate statements this week they are studying additional booster shots that target new variants over time. Even without any evolution in the virus, it is not yet clear whether vaccine-induced immune memory will eventually wane, which would also require booster shots. Scientists who spoke with Reuters acknowledged no definitive conclusions can be drawn about vector immunity's ultimate impact. While it may prove surmountable in the end, health policymakers will still have to grapple with the question of which vaccines to deploy, and in what order, ahead of potential repeat inoculations. A major validation of vector technology was the approval of Merck & Co's Ervebo inoculation against Ebola in 2019 and its use - and that of similar experimental vaccines - during outbreaks in Africa in prior years. But vector immunity has been implicated in past failures, including when a 2004 Merck AIDS vaccine trial flopped in men previously exposed to the adenovirus used for the vaccine. AstraZeneca declined to comment. J&J and the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), which is responsible for marketing the Sputnik vaccine made by the Gamaleya Institute abroad, did not respond to a request for comment. MIX AND MATCH One approach could be to combine different shots, known as "mixing and matching". AstraZeneca and partner Oxford University's shot is being trialled with Russia's Sputnik V, and British scientists are testing Pfizer's mRNA shot with AstraZeneca's vaccine in a study funded by the British government, which says it is aware of the vector immunity issue. The main motive for the British combination trial was to give healthcare providers flexibility in case of limited supplies, but Matthew Snape, the Oxford vaccinologist leading the project, said the question of vector immunity "is one of the reasons this study is interesting". He added there were plans to test for any anti-vector reaction by seeing how well a viral vector performs versus an alternative vaccine when given as a third dose. Mainz University's Plachter is among those suggesting it may be more practical over the longer term to pivot to a class of vaccine that does not rely on vectors. "If after a while, you get to a standard immunization protocol, as with influenza, I would assume you would use other carriers," he said. AstraZeneca and the Gamaleya Institute have already sought to overcome vector immunity challenges under the standard COVID-19 two-shot regimen. The Russian lab employed two different viral vectors, seeking to prevent efficacy dropping from the primary dose to the booster shot, while AstraZeneca and Oxford use a chimpanzee virus vector to which humans would not previously have been exposed. But questions over a third or subsequent shot have yet to be addressed. "One of the big sells for (AstraZeneca) was that there can be no existing immunity," Ian Jones, a professor of virology at Reading University, said. "This will not be the case once the world has had the COVID vaccines." Since the vectors in the leading vaccines have been stripped of their ability to replicate, the antibody and T-cell responses they generate may, however, not be that strong. Moreover, only tiny vector volumes are needed for COVID-19 vaccines, in contrast with gene therapies where viral vectors serve as gene repair kits for diseased cells and vector immunity needs to be monitored closely because much larger quantities are injected. "The injected dose is so low that the induction of immunity to the capsid, or virus shell, remains low," said Luk Vandenberghe, a Harvard Medical School gene therapy expert working on a viral-vector COVID-19 vaccine. (Reporting by Ludwig Burger in Frankfurt, John Miller in Zurich, Kate Kelland and Alistair Smout in London and Michael Erman in New York; Editing by Josephine Mason and Kirsten Donovan) AstraZeneca, Sputnik vaccines face hurdles if COVID shots become annual affair (yahoo.com)
Always have hope “Never give up. Have hope. Expect only the best from life and take action to get it.” —Catherine Pulsifer.
Sinovac OKd for health workers | Inquirer *** IMO, looks like no one wants to use CoronaVac (based on what I've seen from local news) Gov't should just use them on MMDA/Police Officers then give them a badge (which states that they have been vaccinated) so everyone on the road can see that there's nothing wrong with the vaccine.
I'm not a health worker, "Personally" if Sinovac Vaccine is available for me today and i'm qualified to take it. I'll be more than happy to take it. Its just me I'm not convincing anybody to do the same.
Mm...personally, I am going for Moderna or Pfizer mRNA (does not contain weakened or inactivated virus) once private hospitals have them. Pfizer BioNtech already proven with large-scale innoculation in Israel. Millions have it with highly effective results.
