By the way, evidence that even reasonable compliance with public health works: DisCon3 had about 2,000 "warm bodies" in physical attendance (in addition to a virtual component). There were a total of two known positive antigen tests among the members, of which one was *not* confirmed by PCR testing. The PCR test results for the other were not available as of yesterday (the last word we members have received). According to the information sent to members, this person was not actually in the convention programming space except for one visit to one location. (For many people, Worldcon is mostly about being in the same place as old friends, and the actual events of the convention are secondary or less important.)
You'll find out. One of my fellow Winnipeg Bid Committee members just reported a positive test. So, yes, someone I spent a lot of time with over the convention. I'm currently fine (normal body temp, no symptoms). Another member of our committee has symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and will be tested tomorrow.
Where's Paxlovid when you need it, anyway?
Man, it's hard to find any tests right now, probably because of both the spike in cases (pun intended) and the advice to test before Christmas travel. First PCR appointment I could get was a week from today.
Oof, that's far from the only story like this I've heard. The convention really should be notifying people about these ASAP. The longer it goes the more people may not know to get tested and may be out there interacting with others unsafely.
Marah only notified DisCon like 3 hours ago (as I write). My followup email to them was even later. The convention people are probably still sleeping off the convention--it's *tiring* to run a Worldcon. I agree, obviously, that word should go out fast.
yeah, it looks like she posted in the Facebook group somewhat earlier than that, but it might have been a bit before she got back in touch with Claire to give further information as to when she might have been where. I'm not sure how useful it is just to know that someone came up positive after worldcon otherwise
Dunno who Claire is, but all the information DC3 sent out was what I told them. We're a pretty responsible group--one of my other teammates is skipping a planned stay with friends and driving on to home, where she can isolate.
oh no! I know of someone so far on Twitter yesterday and today someone posted in the FB group she tripped positive on the pre-travel for Canada test. The con reached out to her on the post.
Dunno your area; CVS seems harder to book than curative or the independents.
and thank you again for the masks. I gave the last two adult size to yesterday's maid and to an older guy who seemed to be a server.
Her name is on her Facebook post. That Canadian is Marah, who is on the Winnipeg Bid Committee. I spent a large part of the weekend with her. I reached out to the con on her behalf--and a little while ago, DC3 sent out an email update covering her case.
Curative doesn't operate in my state, or any of our neighboring ones. The only independent really near me is rapid-test only (and would thus cost money). I'm not symptomatic right now. I'm sure if I develop a high fever or something, I will get moved to the front of the queue. Waiting a week is OK, really--that will be 10 days after I was around Marah, so if I test negative I can end my isolation with a clear conscience. I work from home, so this is just going to be annoying and boring for me, since I'm reasonably sure I'm not ill.
Given the positive efficacy results in the 6mo-2yr range for Pfizer, why are they not going ahead with approval for that age range already, while waiting for a 3rd does trail for 2-5 year olds?
Generally regulators prefer that products move into age groups in descending order, on the logic that something that causes harm in a younger person is worse than something that causes harm in an older person. Also, trial data is not 100% reliable--sometimes random chance can impact results. A problem in 2-5 could signal a problem elsewhere, maybe in kids who are just under 2, that went undetected. FDA will be hesitant to approve this unless these problems are worked out.
my quite exasperated former PT wanted to know why not at least start the first two while testing the booster, but if it came out as too low a dose it came out as too low a dose
Man, that pediatric vaccine news was like a gut punch. The reality, though, is that even if it had been as successful as the 5-11 trial, it likely still wouldn't have been widely available in time for peak Omicron. It's also unclear to me that immunobridging data would've been sufficient to demonstrate probable efficacy in the context of this latest variant.
Notably, Moderna's trial for kids in this same age group is ongoing. I believe Moderna is administering a 25 microgram dose, which seems... kinda nuts, given the apparently increased risk of myocarditis with Moderna? Moderna's EUA for teens has been held up precisely because of the latter issue.
There's also Covaxin, whose EUA request for ages 2-18 we discussed previously. No sign yet that the FDA is moving on this request, but I wonder if the agency might reconsider given the lack of any other option for kids under 5. Still seems like an outside chance, but not impossible.
By the way, evidence that even reasonable compliance with public health works: DisCon3 had about 2,000 "warm bodies" in physical attendance (in addition to a virtual component). There were a total of two known positive antigen tests among the members, of which one was *not* confirmed by PCR testing. The PCR test results for the other were not available as of yesterday (the last word we members have received). According to the information sent to members, this person was not actually in the convention programming space except for one visit to one location. (For many people, Worldcon is mostly about being in the same place as old friends, and the actual events of the convention are secondary or less important.)
I think a couple more cases have been identified since. I am wondering if the convention will be sending follow-up to members about these.
You'll find out. One of my fellow Winnipeg Bid Committee members just reported a positive test. So, yes, someone I spent a lot of time with over the convention. I'm currently fine (normal body temp, no symptoms). Another member of our committee has symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and will be tested tomorrow.
Where's Paxlovid when you need it, anyway?
Man, it's hard to find any tests right now, probably because of both the spike in cases (pun intended) and the advice to test before Christmas travel. First PCR appointment I could get was a week from today.
Oof, that's far from the only story like this I've heard. The convention really should be notifying people about these ASAP. The longer it goes the more people may not know to get tested and may be out there interacting with others unsafely.
Marah only notified DisCon like 3 hours ago (as I write). My followup email to them was even later. The convention people are probably still sleeping off the convention--it's *tiring* to run a Worldcon. I agree, obviously, that word should go out fast.
yeah, it looks like she posted in the Facebook group somewhat earlier than that, but it might have been a bit before she got back in touch with Claire to give further information as to when she might have been where. I'm not sure how useful it is just to know that someone came up positive after worldcon otherwise
Dunno who Claire is, but all the information DC3 sent out was what I told them. We're a pretty responsible group--one of my other teammates is skipping a planned stay with friends and driving on to home, where she can isolate.
oh no! I know of someone so far on Twitter yesterday and today someone posted in the FB group she tripped positive on the pre-travel for Canada test. The con reached out to her on the post.
Dunno your area; CVS seems harder to book than curative or the independents.
and thank you again for the masks. I gave the last two adult size to yesterday's maid and to an older guy who seemed to be a server.
Her name is on her Facebook post. That Canadian is Marah, who is on the Winnipeg Bid Committee. I spent a large part of the weekend with her. I reached out to the con on her behalf--and a little while ago, DC3 sent out an email update covering her case.
Curative doesn't operate in my state, or any of our neighboring ones. The only independent really near me is rapid-test only (and would thus cost money). I'm not symptomatic right now. I'm sure if I develop a high fever or something, I will get moved to the front of the queue. Waiting a week is OK, really--that will be 10 days after I was around Marah, so if I test negative I can end my isolation with a clear conscience. I work from home, so this is just going to be annoying and boring for me, since I'm reasonably sure I'm not ill.
Thanks for the kind wishes.
Yeah that makes a lot of sense.
oh, oops I was looking at the wrong edress. Looks like I got the mail just before 1130p
surprised at the 'test in 5 to 7 days' advice- when my PT was a potential exposure, docs office told me Delta was speedy enough for 3-5.
Given the positive efficacy results in the 6mo-2yr range for Pfizer, why are they not going ahead with approval for that age range already, while waiting for a 3rd does trail for 2-5 year olds?
Generally regulators prefer that products move into age groups in descending order, on the logic that something that causes harm in a younger person is worse than something that causes harm in an older person. Also, trial data is not 100% reliable--sometimes random chance can impact results. A problem in 2-5 could signal a problem elsewhere, maybe in kids who are just under 2, that went undetected. FDA will be hesitant to approve this unless these problems are worked out.
my quite exasperated former PT wanted to know why not at least start the first two while testing the booster, but if it came out as too low a dose it came out as too low a dose
Man, that pediatric vaccine news was like a gut punch. The reality, though, is that even if it had been as successful as the 5-11 trial, it likely still wouldn't have been widely available in time for peak Omicron. It's also unclear to me that immunobridging data would've been sufficient to demonstrate probable efficacy in the context of this latest variant.
Notably, Moderna's trial for kids in this same age group is ongoing. I believe Moderna is administering a 25 microgram dose, which seems... kinda nuts, given the apparently increased risk of myocarditis with Moderna? Moderna's EUA for teens has been held up precisely because of the latter issue.
There's also Covaxin, whose EUA request for ages 2-18 we discussed previously. No sign yet that the FDA is moving on this request, but I wonder if the agency might reconsider given the lack of any other option for kids under 5. Still seems like an outside chance, but not impossible.
In the meantime, found KN95s for 2+ if anyone's interested: https://wellbefore.com/collections/kids/products/kids-kn95-fda-5-layers-individually-wrapped?variant=32916338049153
There are lots of KF94 and KF80 masks for kids available via importer Kollecte: https://kollecteusa.com/collections/kids
Some have printed patterns on the outer (support) layer that will appeal to certain kids, e. g. kitties, monkeys or are brightly-colored.
Thanks!