General Coronavirus chit chat thread - non-travel specific

Jenya said:
Is there anyone who were able to get igG antibody test to determine how much antibodies you still have few month after second dose?
In some countries it is very easy to just self request in any pathology nearby. But I haven't heard anyone doing this in Australia.
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Someone did post the other day a link to order your own pathology tests but Medicare wouldn't pay (and I can't find the link now). I would be quite interested in knowing what my titre was
 
Pushka said:
Me. 😄. Your cost.
Executive Health Services & Workplace Flu Vaccinations
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Thank you! that at least something.
But looks like they don't offer any tests related to COVID and igG antibody test in particular.
Not sure why such a simple thing so hard to get in Australia.
I certainly don't want to go overseas without knowing that I definitely got some protection 5 month on following second dose.
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VPS said:
Medicare wouldn't pay
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Yes surely I am prepared to pay myself for that
 
Jenya said:
Thank you! that at least something.
But looks like they don't offer any tests related to COVID and igG antibody test in particular.
Not sure why such a simple thing so hard to get in Australia.
I certainly don't want to go overseas without knowing that I definitely got some protection 5 month on following second dose.
Post automatically merged:


Yes surely I am prepared to pay myself for that
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They did a couple of months ago but you need to go digging through the search function. A possible email to check:
Chris @imedical.com.au
 
Pushka said:
They did a couple of months ago
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thank you @Pushka
They did for me yesterday as well. Here is the link for particular test request page Covid testing: Private blood & hormone testing

But unfortunately result came as just negative/positive

What I am after is actually quantitative test in Bau/ml as per WHO scale, not just negative/positive.
Quality test should include Btu/ml number as it is only way to understand just how much positive you are and extend of antibodies protection for COVID you still have.

Chris from Imedical Chris @imedical.com.au replied "This is how all the labs do the test. They don’t provide quantitative results unfortunately. This is how it is."

Sigh. For some reason its so hard for such simple things to get done here :(
 

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Interesting BBC interview today with the boss of AstraZeneca, Pascal Soriot.

"says that while the UK - where there was widespread use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine - saw a big peak of Covid infections, there were "not so many [Covid-related] hospitalisations relative to Europe" where other coronavirus vaccines were more widely used.

He claims that while more data is needed for analysis, AstraZeneca's jab has "been shown to stimulate T-cells [part of the immune system which defends the body against specific infections] to a higher degree in older people" and so Covid hospitalisations in the UK have been limited."

Obviously pushing his own vaccine but certainly very interesting if AZ is proving more effective longer term, the UK certainly seems to be avoiding the worst of the current wave in Europe.
 
www.dw.com

S. Africa's new COVID variant a 'serious concern' – DW – 11/25/2021

South Africa's health minister has said a newly identified variant is a "major threat" to efforts to curb COVID." Scientists said the variant, which has spread fast among young people, could be behind a spike in cases.
www.dw.com www.dw.com

"Last week, South Africa saw about 200 new confirmed coronavirus infections per day, then daily new cases increased to more than 1,200 on Wednesday and climbed to 2,465 on Thursday."

Lets hope the new variant doesn't take-off, still very early days. Normally the UK isnt trigger happy with travel restrictions so surprising to see them act so fast on this one.
 
Mrmaxwell said:
Now reported cases in Brussels, Hong Kong and Israel...and the US stock market has tanked! Pass the popcorn...
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The latter two countries will knock it on the head pronto. Europe? All over. US citizens are travelling all over Europe right now. At least they are vaccinated but Europe, not so much.
 
And we've all got a new Greek letter to learn - Omicron (15th letter in Greek alphabet)

The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated the B.1.1.529 variant as Omicron,
 
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Let's hope the feds don't do a Gladys on this B.1.1.529 variant for Christmas!
 
The WHO has today classified SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.529 (Omicron) as a variant of concern with over 30 mutations, 10 of which affect the spike protein which could potentially lead to immune escape.

A handful of countries have stopped travel to and from southern African countries, however it's highly unlikely that this will have much of an effect on the spread, if it does turn out to be particularly transmissable (which is likely given the nature of the mutations and observations of the spread so far in Africa). Australia has not instituted any changes to travel policy.

Here's an interesting video from Dr John Campbell. Unfortunately I share his pessimism about what this variant means for all of us - could range anywhere from nothing to significant impact. Fingers crossed that he's wrong, but this variant has already apparently overtaken Delta as the dominant strain in South Africa - if the vaccines remain effective against the strain we are in a good position (however 10 mutations of the spike protein targeted by those vaccines is a concern), if they are not, we have a problem. Early indications appear to suggest that the immune memory from vaccination remains effective, but to what level, across which vaccines and for what period of time would be considerations as well.


 
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Pushka said:
The latter two countries will knock it on the head pronto. Europe? All over. US citizens are travelling all over Europe right now. At least they are vaccinated but Europe, not so much.
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Please no....I have my European trip in 4 weeks 😬
 
On the positive side of the news treatment for covid infections has changed markedly for the better with earlier treatments and prophylaxis with very good results.
insightplus.mja.com.au

Attacking COVID-19 earlier: what treatments work? - InSight+

Any person with obesity, any pregnant woman, or anyone with underlying health conditions is at higher risk of severe COVID-19 if they become infected, but monoclonal antibodies such as sotrovimab can make a difference when administered early
insightplus.mja.com.au

First oral antiviral for COVID-19 approved by UK's MHRA

Molnupiravir (Lagevrio) is safe and effective at reducing the risk of hospitalisation and death in people with mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who are at increased risk of developing severe disease, the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)...
dgalerts.docguide.com dgalerts.docguide.com
 
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