Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[N860CR]

Yes, I agree. All people under 60 should avoid a 3rd jab based on that thinking (apart from my relatives and people I like).

The benefit does seem to be that it’s providing greater protection against infection. Anecdotally, perhaps nothing additional against illness.

In my circle, I’ve now got 12 friends and 4 family members who have been “infected” since Christmas. I’ve been around all of them prior to them testing positive (but we’re presumably infectious) and managed to escape it. So has our one mutual connection who is also triple vaccinated. Of the 16 who have gone down, two reported symptoms (that would have been ignored had they not known otherwise). All of them only double vaccinated.

 

[Quickstatus]

Where is the evidence that otherwise healthy people under 60 or 70 materially benefit from a third dose of vaccine?

Not strong evidence.

 

[clifford]

The benefit does seem to be that it’s providing greater protection against infection. Anecdotally, perhaps nothing additional against illness.

In my circle, I’ve now got 12 friends and 4 family members who have been “infected” since Christmas. I’ve been around all of them prior to them testing positive (but we’re presumably infectious) and managed to escape it. So has our one mutual connection who is also triple vaccinated. Of the 16 who have gone down, two reported symptoms (that would have been ignored had they not known otherwise). All of them only double vaccinated.

My daughter who is 7 months pregnant had her 3rd shot today.

She'd have been crazy not to. She isn't crazy BTW.

And she works for a medical research facility, so is well advised...

 

[Quickstatus]

Im sure frailty

Frailty is a definitely a risk factor - think of it as poor ability to tolerate any physiological stresses.

 

[oz_mark]

WA Health has reported two new local COVID-19 cases and one travel-related case

NB. Three more cases have been reported since the end of the last reporting period and will be in tomorrows numbers

And with that Perth/Peel is back to wearing masks indoors from tonight.

 

[Quickstatus]

people under 60 should avoid a 3rd jab

Probably diminishing returns.
Better to Focus on the high risk patients

providing greater protection against infection

Not sure:

Danish study showing secondary infection in households not significantly affected by Jab3



Kaiser University:
Note the vertical confidence interval. The actual data point could be anywhere along the vertical line

 

[N860CR]

My daughter who is 7 months pregnant had her 3rd shot today.

She'd have been crazy not to. She isn't crazy BTW.

And she works for a medical research facility, so is well advised...

Certainly, and nobody is suggesting otherwise.

There does, however, seem to be a totally misguided opinion setting in that 2 doses is insufficient. It still stops you from getting sick. In those under 50, even unvaccinated you’re in pretty good shape so two doses remains pretty damn close to full protection.

As I’ve said on another thread, I have a 60 year old family member who’s now locked up in a third world country and refused access to his country of citizenship. Two doses of a vaccination, not sick in the slightest and being offered zero support by their own country. Do we really think we’d be treating citizens like that if they were genuinely at risk of serious illness?

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Hostage to fortune maybe, but I feel much less likely to catch covid at work (N95+goggles for all and full PPE if known positive patient) than I do socially in Sydney

Yes that is what I am told too.

There are quite a few healthworkers positive at present.

From the ones I speak with they tend to think it is mainly via social contacts or just day to day things rather than from work exposure that has infected their colleagues.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Not strong evidence.

Not true.

ATAGI Statement on the Omicron variant and the timing of COVID-19 booster vaccination

A statement from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) about the COVID-19 Omicron variant and the timing of COVID-19 booster vaccination.

www.health.gov.au

newsGP - UK study shows surging efficacy after COVID-19 booster

The country’s first real-world study since its booster program began shows it is having a significant impact on protection for over-50s.

www1.racgp.org.au

 

[drron]

Though the Israelis have found that the efficacy against Omicron of the Pfizer booster falls off dramatically after 2 months. Previously posted.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Though the Israelis have found that the efficacy against Omicron of the Pfizer booster falls off dramatically after 2 months. Previously posted.

Pfizer isn’t doing well in the booster stakes it seems.

 

[jakeseven7]

Is there any point in QR checking any more given authorities seem to be overwhelmed?

WA said from the exposure sites they had, only about 20% of people were thought to be checking in… and that’s a state with low covid numbers. I suspect it’s still the same elsewhere.

 

[TheRealTMA]

WA said from the exposure sites they had, only about 20% of people were thought to be checking in… and that’s a state with low covid numbers. I suspect it’s still the same elsewhere.

In brisbane, very few check in anymore.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

NSW (342,838 active – 21,000 public hospital beds, 884 public/private ICU beds)
[previous peak hospital/ICU: 1268/242 - September 2021]
Certain elective surgery suspended/paused - announced 7/1

7/1 38,625 positives, 112k tests, 1738 hospital, 134 ICU
8/1 45,098 positives, 116k tests, 1795 hospital, 145 ICU
9/1 30,062 positives, 98k tests, 1927 hospital, 151 ICU
10/1 20,293 positives, 84k tests, 2030 hospital, 159 ICU
11/1 25,870 positives, 71k tests, 2186 hospital, 170 ICU
12/1 34,759 positives, 134k tests, 2242 hospital, 175 ICU
13/1 30,541* PCR+, 88k tests, 61,387 RAT+, 2383 hospital, 182 ICU *NSW Health media release
14/1 25,080 PCR+, 109k tests, 37,938 RAT+, 2525 hospital, 184 ICU
15/1 27,020 PCR+, 82k tests, 21,748 RAT+, 2576 hospital, 193 ICU
16/1 20,978 PCR+, 122k tests, 13,682 RAT+, 2650 hospital, 191 ICU

Victoria (237,559 active – 15,000 public hospital beds, 476 public/private ICU beds)
[previous peak hospital/ICU: 851/163 - October 2021]
Certain elective surgery suspended/paused - announced 6/1

7/1 21,728 positives, 68k tests, 644 hospital, 106 ICU active
8/1 24,928 PCR+, 89k tests, 5923/26,428 RAT+ (22%), 731* hospital, 109* ICU
9/1 22,104 PCR+, 83k tests, 40% of 22,051 RAT+, 752 hospital, 104 ICU
10/1 17,618 PCR+, 78k tests, 51% of 17,190 RAT+, 818 hospital, 118 ICU
11/1 19,491 PCR+, 59k tests, 51% of 18,503 RAT+, 861 hospital, 117 ICU
12/1 21,693 PCR+, 61k tests, 50% of 18,434 RAT+, 946 hospital, 112 ICU
13/1 20,326 PCR+, 62k tests, 55% of 16,843 RAT+, 953 hospital, 111 ICU
14/1 19,396 PCR+, 62k tests, 56% of 15,440 RAT+, 976 hospital, 112 ICU
15/1 12,669 PCR+, 59k tests, 60% of 12,857 RAT+, 1054 hospital, 115 ICU
16/1 17,791 PCR+, 59k tests, 60% of 10,337 RAT+, 1114 hospital, 122 ICU

Qld (203,657 active – 13,000 public hospital beds, 408 public/private ICU beds)
Certain elective surgery suspended/paused - announced 8/1

7/1 10,953 positives, 36k tests, 313 hospital, 14 ICU
8/1 11,174 positives, 33k tests, 349 hospital, 17 ICU
9/1 13,680 PCR+, 37k tests, 4320 RAT+, 380 hospital, 23 ICU
10/1 5867 PCR+, 21k tests, 3714 RAT+, 419 hospital, 21 ICU (*some non-reporting labs)
11/1 16,380 PCR+, 50k tests, 4186 RAT+, 502 hospital, 27 ICU (*includes non-reporting)
12/1 18,084 PCR+, 57k tests, 3985 RAT+, 525 hospital, 30 ICU
13/1 12,102 PCR+, 33k tests, 2812 RAT+, 530 hospital, 26 ICU
14/1 13,448 PCR+, 43k tests, 10,182 RAT+, 589 hospital, 41 ICU
15/1 13,622 PCR+, 42k tests, 6087 RAT+, 649 hospital, 46 ICU
16/1 12,830 PCR+, 42k tests, 4615 RAT+, 670 hospital, 49 ICU

SA (33,921 active – 4500 public hospital beds, 161 public/private ICU beds)
Certain elective surgery suspended/paused - announced 28/12

7/1 3707 positives, 20k tests, 144 hospital, 16 ICU
8/1 4274 positives, 24k tests, 164 hospital, 16 ICU
9/1 4506 positives, 23k tests, 176 hospital, 18 ICU
10/1 4024 positives, 21k tests, 188 hospital, 21 ICU
11/1 2921 positives, 18k tests, 211 hospital, 22 ICU
12/1 2978 PCR+, 19k tests, 737 RAT+, 190 hospital, 27 ICU
13/1 3669 positives, 20k tests, 225 hospital, 26 ICU
14/1 3932 PCR+, 24k tests, 1747 RAT+, 246 hospital, 20 ICU
15/1 3107 PCR+, 18k tests, 1242 RAT+, 236 hospital, 26 ICU
16/1 3450 positives, 17k tests, 220 hospital, 26 ICU

Tasmania (6485 active – 1500 public hospital beds, 38 public/private ICU beds)

7/1 1489 positives, 5.2k tests, 3/8 hospital
8/1 1051 PCR+, 4.4k tests, 1172 RAT+, 4/10 hospital
9/1 598 PCR+, 3.2k tests, 808 RAT+, 4/15 hospital
10/1 397 PCR+, 2.2k tests, 821 RAT+, 11/17 hospital
11/1 364 PCR+, 2.3k tests, 1015 RAT+, 7/18 hospital
12/1 736 PCR+, 2.6k tests, 847 RAT+, 8/22 hospital
13/1 253 PCR+, 2.4k tests, 847 RAT+, 10/23 hospital
14/1 349 PCR+, 2.0k tests, 852 RAT+, 10/24 hospital
15/1 255 PCR+, 2.1k tests, 884 RAT+, 10/22 hospital, 1 ICU
16/1 245 PCR+, 1.9k tests, 580 RAT+, 8/22 hospital (8 out of 22 being treated for covid), 1 ICU

ACT (3257 active – 1200 public hospital beds, 37 public/private ICU beds)
Certain elective surgery suspended/paused at 1 hospital - announced 7/1

7/1 1246 positives, 4.5k tests, 24 hospital, 3 ICU
8/1 1305 positives, 4.3k tests, 24 hospital, 5 ICU
9/1 1039 positives, 3.1k tests, 27 hospital, 4 ICU
10/1 938 positives, 5.2k tests, 25 hospital, 4 ICU
11/1 1508 positives, 5.9k tests, 28 hospital, 4 ICU
12/1 1078 positives, 3.6k tests, 23 hospital, 3 ICU
13/1 1020 positives, 4.7k tests, 24 hospital, 3 ICU *RAT+ will be reported from Friday
14/1 885 positives, 240/1178 RAT+, 27 hospital, 3 ICU
15/1 629 PCR+, 691 RAT+, 30 hospital, 3 ICU
16/1 716 PCR+, 600 RAT+, 41 hospital, 3 ICU

NT (4000 active – 1000 public hospital beds, 20 public/private ICU beds)

7/1 412 positives, 2.8k tests, 19 hospital, 2 ICU
8/1 594 positives, 3.0k tests, 17 hospital, 1 ICU
9/1 481 positives, 2.5k tests, 24 hospital, 1 ICU
10/1 403 positives, 2.5k tests, 26 hospital, 1/2 ICU
11/1 594 positives, 2.2k tests, 32 hospital, 1 ICU
12/1 352 positives, 2.4k tests, 28 hospital, 1/2 ICU
13/1 550 positives, 2.5k tests, 24 hospital, 1 ICU
14/1 546 positives, 1.6k tests, 27 hospital, 1 ICU
15/1 412 positives, 2.2k tests, 32 hospital, 0 ICU
16/1 327 positives, 1.7k tests, 44 hospital, 0 ICU

WA (112 active – 5900 public hospital beds, 179 public/private ICU bed)

7/1 0 local positives, 4.6k tests
8/1 1 local positive, 4.8k tests
9/1 1 local positive, 3.4k tests
10/1 3 local positives, 6.1k tests
11/1 4 local positives, 4.6k tests
12/1 2 local positives, 4.3k tests
13/1 2 local positives, 4.5k tests
14/1 1 local positive, 3.7k tests
15/1 2 local positive, 1.6k tests
16/1 2 local positives, 1.3k tests

 

[oz_mark]

WA said from the exposure sites they had, only about 20% of people were thought to be checking in… and that’s a state with low covid numbers. I suspect it’s still the same elsewhere.

Then throw in a place where the workers are basically casual, and possibly sailing close to the wind on visa and tax obligations, and it's all a barrel of laughs....

 

[Quickstatus]

Pfizer isn’t doing well in the booster stakes it seems

But yet you quoted a booster study which suggested that boosters had a difference - did you read that study? It used PZ as the booster.

The Study did say that booster resulted in a similar vaccine effectiveness compared to when 2 Jabs were fresh. It didn’t do a 2 group comparison looking at 2 jab no booster and 2 jab+booster groups at the same point in time. Also the Delta wave had just past conferring further immunity on large swathes of the population.

What it doesn’t say is how long that lasts for. Are we to have boosters every 5 months for the rest of our lives?

There are many limitations to that study
One, it was done in Sept 2021 after the Delta wave but before the Omicrom wave and the rest - see “limitations” section

The best intepretation is that boosters do return vaccine effectiveness to the peak levels of the 2 jabs but like the 2jabs (from other studies) will wane over time. From my point of view, I think boosters bang for buck lies in yearly pre winter jabs for the vulnerable. For the young, healthy, it would be diminishing returns .

 

[jase05]

In brisbane, very few check in anymore.

I’m in Palm Cove currently and check in strictly enforced at all venues aswell as vaccinations but mask wearing is very lax

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

I’m in Palm Cove currently and check in strictly enforced at all venues aswell as vaccinations but mask wearing is very lax

When you say mask wearing is very lax, do you mean a large proportion wears no mask, or chin-masking (or the like)?

 

[jase05]

When you say mask wearing is very lax, do you mean a large proportion wears no mask, or chin-masking (or the like)?

Masks not worn or enforced in a lot of areas but plenty of chin wearers too. Just noticed the difference up here straight away.
They are very hot on the green tick though and have seen some turned away from venues.
We went up on the Skyrail yesterday and despite getting several emails in the lead up warning us of vaccination requirements there were still people getting turned away yesterday for not being fully vaxxed

 

[Pushka]

In brisbane, very few check in anymore.

I just don't see the point because SA Health are no longer issuing alerts, in SA an individual can't see their history, just the latest check in, and we can't check out so we can't even see if we spent the required 15 minutes () in close contact with someone. Further they expect positives to tell their close contacts as SA Health tracers, if they even still exist, can't. So pointless waste of grabbing the phone. In most areas we don't use vaccination status. But mask wearing here is very good.