It was starting to seem that all of the studies demonstrating efficacy against COVID variants were promoting the mRNA vaccines.

Here's one for the "classic" vaccine camp:

[www.nature.com]

These data show that neutralizing antibody responses induced by Ad26.COV2.S were reduced against the B.1.351 and P.1 variants, but functional non-neutralizing antibody responses and T cell responses were largely preserved against SARS-CoV-2 variants.

[www.biospace.com]

T-MAP COVID was used in the Nature study to measure the T-cell immune response elicited by the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine in the context of multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2, including B 1.351 and B.1.1.7. The study provides further evidence that the T-cell response may contribute to protection from COVID-19.

...participants given Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine experienced similar efficacy against the B.1.351 variant. To understand the mechanism of protection, the COV1001 phase 1/2 trial analyzed blood samples from 20 vaccinated individuals to measure antibody immune response (humoral immune response) and T-cell response (cellular immune response) against the original SARS-CoV-2 strain WA1/2020 as well as against the B.1.1.7, CAL.20C, P.1., and B.1.351 variants. Post-vaccination, results showed that the levels of neutralizing antibodies were diminished against the variants, but that the T-cell immune response was preserved, suggesting T cells may provide protection against these emerging strains.

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The important bits of information that everyone should know is that vaccination is not a magical safety shield. Masking and social distancing are still helpful.

I hope (but don't expect) that these habits will last with the people of the world and reduce future pandemics.. the annual influenza pandemic, etc..

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cbelt3
The important bits of information that everyone should know is that vaccination is not a magical safety shield. Masking and social distancing are still helpful.

I hope (but don't expect) that these habits will last with the people of the world and reduce future pandemics.. the annual influenza pandemic, etc..

Therein lies the problem. The majority of the public (at least, those who've been vaccinated) has been convinced that it IS a magical safety shield, because the vaccination push has repeatedly used the "if you're vaccinated, you're protected" mantra/messaging. On the one hand, I don't think it was wrong of them to use this messaging-- since we do need to get as many vaccinated as possible--, but on the other hand, it causes problems both in terms of credibility and actual human behavior ... mostly due to a lack of understanding on the public's part, in turn owing to a very poor education in science and scientific/rational thinking.

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Freya says, 'Hello from NOLA, baby!' (Laissez bon temps rouler!)

Daughter (with me in attendance) had a video appointment today with her infectious disease doc who said she has little to worry about because she is 25+ years post-transplant. The only problems they are seeing is with new organ recipients on high dose immunosuppressants, mostly within six months of transplant. The doc said there is no reason for her to mask but simply to take normal precautions like she did before COVID45 like appropriate hand washing.

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Saint Cloud, Minnesota, where the weather is wonderful even when it isn't.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/09/2021 10:19AM by Speedy.

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PeterB

Quote
cbelt3
The important bits of information that everyone should know is that vaccination is not a magical safety shield. Masking and social distancing are still helpful.

I hope (but don't expect) that these habits will last with the people of the world and reduce future pandemics.. the annual influenza pandemic, etc..

Therein lies the problem. The majority of the public (at least, those who've been vaccinated) has been convinced that it IS a magical safety shield, because the vaccination push has repeatedly used the "if you're vaccinated, you're protected" mantra/messaging. On the one hand, I don't think it was wrong of them to use this messaging-- since we do need to get as many vaccinated as possible--, but on the other hand, it causes problems both in terms of credibility and actual human behavior ... mostly due to a lack of understanding on the public's part, in turn owing to a very poor education in science and scientific/rational thinking.

Even scientific/rational thinking has an emotional component -- an ability to tolerate uncertainty and ambiguity, and a willingness to change one's mind based on evidence. This is a challenging attitude to cultivate, even for scientists.

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Janit

Quote
PeterB

Quote
cbelt3
The important bits of information that everyone should know is that vaccination is not a magical safety shield. Masking and social distancing are still helpful.

I hope (but don't expect) that these habits will last with the people of the world and reduce future pandemics.. the annual influenza pandemic, etc..

Therein lies the problem. The majority of the public (at least, those who've been vaccinated) has been convinced that it IS a magical safety shield, because the vaccination push has repeatedly used the "if you're vaccinated, you're protected" mantra/messaging. On the one hand, I don't think it was wrong of them to use this messaging-- since we do need to get as many vaccinated as possible--, but on the other hand, it causes problems both in terms of credibility and actual human behavior ... mostly due to a lack of understanding on the public's part, in turn owing to a very poor education in science and scientific/rational thinking.

Even scientific/rational thinking has an emotional component -- an ability to tolerate uncertainty and ambiguity, and a willingness to change one's mind based on evidence. This is a challenging attitude to cultivate, even for scientists.

True, scientists are obviously people, with their own biases and preconceptions. However, usually they're also a bit more open to the possibility that some new evidence might arise to cause them to reconsider even firmly established beliefs... that's the whole point of science, that it's self-correcting, and concepts of how things work can change based on evidence and verification.

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Freya says, 'Hello from NOLA, baby!' (Laissez bon temps rouler!)