The COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Australia has begun

[drron]

Today one of our new admissions had been taking high dose Vitamin D to prevent Covid.Her Vitamin D level was twice the upper limits of normal and had high calcium levels with major symptoms including psychiatric problems.

 

[mviy]

The take home message is Omicron is mild for most, much milder than Delta. So let it rip is not so bad. Meanwhile my friend are hunkering down at home, afraid to go out, not spending any money at the shops or Hardware box stores.

Maybe not let it rip, but when I needed to travel back in mid-2020 I had come to the view that we should be moving to personal responsibility and letting people judge for themselves what risks they should take. I was prepared to travel unvaccinated at that point. 18 months on with high vaccination rates, getting closer to let it rip is probably the right approach. We may not really have much of a choice at this point. If we wanted to avoid let it rip, we probably needed to go back into a hard lockdown to try to limit the omicron spread.

Seems everyone and their dog wants 3rd booster shot currently. No chance of a walk in appointment 125 kms around Canberra.

I am happy with my decision to get a walk-in Pfizer booster in the UK before flying back to MEL. In a few days it'll be a week since I had my booster so it should be starting to have an effect and even more so from a week later.

Only if boosters become a requirement to travel will I then need to rush to try to get my overseas booster recognised here or have a second booster.

 

[ethernet]

Today one of our new admissions had been taking high dose Vitamin D to prevent Covid.Her Vitamin D level was twice the upper limits of normal and had high calcium levels with major symptoms including psychiatric problems.

Vitamin D: What's the

...

www.health.harvard.edu

and K2 and Zinc, and everything in moderation.

 

[Seat0B]

Seems everyone and their dog wants 3rd booster shot currently. No chance of a walk in appointment 125 kms around Canberra. Left my number for ACT AIS appointment at 7am and no callback as yet. I wish they could just say you are number 8372nd in the queue or whatever. I conclude there is a supply shortage. I suspect it was first come first served for those that went with the program.

Meanwhile John Campbell of Covid talkies - I pharaphrase - dont take Paracetamol if you catch it - let the fever amplify its purpose, and 4000 I.U of vit D was debated. I do not know if any Australian hospitals are whacking new arrivals with high levels of Calcerfotrol , as did some in Spain. It reduced demand, ICU beds. Imagine that. NT and WA should consider that idea, given that elimination is now assured of going ballistic, with high breakthrough rates. I don't feel sorry for the fence-sitters by-choice.

The take home message is Omicron is mild for most, much milder than Delta. So let it rip is not so bad. Meanwhile my friend are hunkering down at home, afraid to go out, not spending any money at the shops or Hardware box stores.

I just made a booking at a local ACT pharmac_ in Lanyon for Moderna boosters for Mr Seat0A and me for next week. They had heaps of appointment times available.

 

[Must...Fly!]

I just made a booking at a local ACT pharmac_ in Lanyon for Moderna boosters for Mr Seat0A and me for next week. They had heaps of appointment times available.

Yes pharmac_ is the way to go for bookings I think.

 

[Quickstatus]

Her Vitamin D level was twice the upper limits of normal and had high calcium levels with major symptoms including psychiatric problems.\

What @drron is saying is that Vit D is important in the absorption of Calcium from the gut.
Which is why calcium supplements are often combined with Vitamin D. In fact without vitamin D, calcium absorption is poor

Too much vitamin D can therefore lead to higher calcium.

That patient must have been taking excess Vitamin D for weeks
@drron was that person also taking calcium supplements, antacids?. PTH?

The scary thing about psychosis from this is that the usual antipsychotics may be ineffective.

 

[drron]

Only seen for the first time this morning.Only other medication is one antihypertensive and a statin.No calcium but a very high dose of Vitamin D. PTH has been ordered.

One patient I remember really well had been in a psychiatric institution for nearl 20 years diagnosed with bi polar disorder which wasn't controlled with the usual agents. Unfortunately no one had noticed her high calcium levels. She had a parathyroid tumour which after resection returned her calcium levels to normal and cured her psychosis so she was able to go and live with her daughter.

 

[ethernet]

I just made a booking at a local ACT pharmac_ in Lanyon for Moderna boosters for Mr Seat0A and me for next week. They had heaps of appointment times available.

Update: When you press 2 for a callback. I got a callback at 3PM the day after. And my second call, just a moment ago- so still 1.8 day wait for a callback. The phone recording is now much improved, but is silent on the >1.5 day delay.

I managed to get 3rd booster vaccinated after being turned away from AIS stadium (again nothing about this on the day on their website), and the Chemist close to JB hifi in Belconnen Mall has no wait walk-ins. I asked for Aspiration, drawback, confirmed the assistant understood, but just got jabbed without aspiration anyway. Hardly any reaction after AZ, just slightly sore.
I seem to recall any vaccine taste in your mouth is a good sign of leakage, and speculation that the risk is 1:14000 or thereabouts. Denmark has higher standards.

The Dr's surgery above told me they had 'supply' issues on the 5th. And predicted the 10th.
By then, knowing Canberra, back to school will soak up appointment slots.

Per my earlier predictions, Omicron is unstoppable, did boom after NYD, and it will find the unvaccinated reservoirs . One the news, they seem to be not saying if these new cases are mostly unvaccinated, I suspect QLD , teachers, and essential persons have some priority.

 

[Quickstatus]

will find the unvaccinated reservoirs

Which is basically everyone not previously affected by Omicron-bring-it-on

 

[drron]

Per my earlier predictions, Omicron is unstoppable, did boom after NYD, and it will find the unvaccinated reservoirs . One the news, they seem to be not saying if these new cases are mostly unvaccinated, I suspect QLD , teachers, and essential persons have some priority.

A new Danish study has found it is more likely to find it's reservoir in the vaccinated.

Unvaccinated prospective secondary cases had similar attack rates in households with the Omicron and Delta VOCs at 29% and 28%, respectively. However, fully vaccinated individuals had SAR of 32% in households with the Omicron and 19% in households with the Delta VOC. Meanwhile, Omicron rendered a SAR of 25% in booster-vaccinated individuals, whereas Delta correlated to a SAR of only 11% in this cohort.

Study findings suggest spread of Omicron can be ascribed to immune evasiveness rather than an increase in transmissibility

Researchers investigate the household transmission of the Omicron VOC and increased immune evasiveness of both the Omicron and Delta variants

www.news-medical.net

SAR = Secondary attack rate.So vaccinated folks more likely to pick it up from a household contact that an unvaccinated household member. Not a huge reduction with a booster dose.
Yet another reason to relax restrictions and testing.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

A new Danish study has found it is more likely to find it's reservoir in the vaccinated.

Study findings suggest spread of Omicron can be ascribed to immune evasiveness rather than an increase in transmissibility

Researchers investigate the household transmission of the Omicron VOC and increased immune evasiveness of both the Omicron and Delta variants

www.news-medical.net

SAR = Secondary attack rate.So vaccinated folks more likely to pick it up from a household contact that an unvaccinated household member. Not a huge reduction with a booster dose.
Yet another reason to relax restrictions and testing.

Does this mean 2 or 3 dose doesn't have much impact on Omicron's transmissibility/immune evasiveness?

Edit: maybe 3 dose has some impact on Omicron (32%-25%)/32% = 21%...

 

[Lynda2475]

Anecdotally, those who have had boosters appear to be doing better locally:

I was unable to catch up with a friend in Melbourne over the past few days because her hubby (early 40s, double vaxed with AZ, no booster yet) tested positive to Covid on NYE; and she and the kids were still waiting on their day 7 PCR results (swab taken on Thursday) which finally came through negative on Sunday. My friend was double vaxed plus boosted with Pfizer. and didn't get covid despite sharing house with her hubby and 3 unvaxed kids under 11, although hubby was not permitted to leave the master bedroom/en suite for 7 days,

On a work call this morning, one of the extended team reported getting a positive result in Sydney on 30th Dec, asked what symptoms were like and he admitted man-flu, as his wife who was also positive reported only a scratchy throat and being a bit tired, whilst he said he had joint aches and massive headache - but all symptoms fully resolved in 5 days less than the 7 day iso period. He and wife both double vaxed and had put off their booster as are travelling in Feb. His mother in her 60s who lives with them, had her booster in early December, remained negative.

Another colleague (in 50s) said his double AZ vaxed flat mate tested positive on 19th Dec, he had his booster in early Dec (2 AZ + Pfizer) and didn't catch covid despite sharing a bathroom and kitchen.

YMMV of course.

 

[Pushka]

Son, triple vaxxed with Pfizer, tested positive Saturday on RAT after feeling scratchy throat etc after flying from UK. Was PCR tested and isolated, but when he felt more like flu, tested with RAT that was strongly positive. His wife double vaxxed with AZ and booster with Pfizer is presumably testing negative along with infant son who both travelled with him but now isolating. But none of their PCR have returned yet so testing with RAT. Son is much better today and is WFH but said he did have a couple of breathless episodes that he found quite frightening.

Our EA tested positive this morning, triple vaxxed with Pfizer after developing it from friends from Qld, one of whom is quite poorly. Don't know her vaxxed history. EA reports feeling quite unwell but she does get many colds a year and has been tested multiple times since Covid started. Her 5 year old is so far testing negative.

Colleague in Sydney positive from his kids. All are doing ok, just the usual cold stuff. Adults were all double vaxxed but not quite at the time of boosters when they developed it. Likely all Pfizer as they are in that age group.

 

[drron]

Does this mean 2 or 3 dose doesn't have much impact on Omicron's transmissibility/immune evasiveness?

Edit: maybe 3 dose has some impact on Omicron (32%-25%)/32% = 21%...

The study suggests that Omicron might not be more infectious but spreads quickly due to the fact it evades previous immunity whether that is from vaccination or previous infection.
Yes the SAR for double vaxxed is 32% and for triple 25%. But could that be because the booster is a more recent jab.I have seen one report that a Pfizer booster has a dramatic drop in efficacy after 2 months presumably due to Omicron.

The problem is that we are used to the figures from Delta. Individual case reports are meaningless now unless you know which variant you are exposed to. If Omicron the type of jab is hardly relevant. Even prior infection is not a guarantee with Omicron.
PS @Pushka a scratchy throat usually means Omicron.

 

[Lynda2475]

Just finished chatting with another Sydney friend, all 5 aged 47, 46, 21 (Pfizer) and 17, 15 (Moderna) of family diagnosed on 31/12, all double vaxed and not boosted, symptoms no worse than a minor cold. Released now and holidaying happily on the south coast.

Pretty sure all cases are Omicron, given its dominant in NSW and the mildness of illness all round. No fever, no runny nose, no cough. Scratchy throats, tiredness and some joint ache.

Vaccination is definitely helping with preventing serious illness. Nurse friend at Concord Hospital says that bulk of ICU are still Delta and unvaxed or underlying conditions.

 

[oznflfan]

Just finished chatting with another Sydney friend, all 5 aged 47, 46, 21 (Pfizer) and 17, 15 (Moderna) of family diagnosed on 31/12, all double vaxed and not boosted, symptoms no worse than a minor cold. Released now and holidaying happily on the south coast.

Pretty sure all cases are Omicron, given its dominant in NSW and the mildness of illness all round. No fever, no runny nose, no cough. Scratchy throats, tiredness and some joint ache.

Vaccination is definitely helping with preventing serious illness. Nurse friend at Concord Hospital says that bulk of ICU are still Delta and unvaxed or underlying conditions.

We have to wait until Omicron wipes out Delta, then ICU rates should decrease. Even then onus back on unvaccinated. We where all looking so good mid November last year, then WHACK. Hopefully by Easter (2022) we are back confident Australia wide.

 

[MooTime]

Son is much better today and is WFH but said he did have a couple of breathless episodes that he found quite frightening.

I can only imagine how being breathless for even couple seconds would be bloody scary.

Have a family link that had covid & was breathless just going upstairs in their home, said was a terrible feeling (double AZ).

Of all symptoms I've heard/read about this breathlessness is most/well only symptom that's scary for me.
It reminds me of people on their death bed, moments before they die, they have a grasp of air......

 

[Pushka]

SA Health released some hospital statistics tonight.

SA Health data shows more than two-thirds of hospital patients in ICU are unvaccinated.

123 patients out of a total 367 cases admitted to the RAH since borders reopened on November 23 were unvaccinated. More than 90 per cent had Omicron.

The data shows also shows that as of Sunday two-thirds of the 35 ICU patients had not had a Covid jab.

Medicos have treated 13 babies and seven children younger than 12, most of whom were ineligible for a vaccine.

The data, which excludes cases in hospital for less than a day, shows the highest number of patients have been older than 80, followed by those in their 60s and people in their 70s.

A further six teenagers were hospitalised, 27 in their 20s, 45 in their 30s, while 71 patients were in their 40s or 50s, according to figures that include acute mental health cases.

 

[jakeseven7]

SA Health released some hospital statistics tonight.

SA Health data shows more than two-thirds of hospital patients in ICU are unvaccinated.

123 patients out of a total 367 cases admitted to the RAH since borders reopened on November 23 were unvaccinated. More than 90 per cent had Omicron.

The data shows also shows that as of Sunday two-thirds of the 35 ICU patients had not had a Covid jab.

Medicos have treated 13 babies and seven children younger than 12, most of whom were ineligible for a vaccine.

The data, which excludes cases in hospital for less than a day, shows the highest number of patients have been older than 80, followed by those in their 60s and people in their 70s.

A further six teenagers were hospitalised, 27 in their 20s, 45 in their 30s, while 71 patients were in their 40s or 50s, according to figures that include acute mental health cases.

Just chiming in with our personal experience - a lot of the people
we seem to be passing on to either elevated at home monitoring or acute care are obese/overweight. I guess some of these people could well be undiagnosed prediabetic / perhaps even T2… Of course if you have other underlyings and are also overweight it’s a double whammy.

The younger people we are passing on are almost all carrying an unhealthy amount of weight….

So people before you reach for the extra serving of pasta tonight maybe think twice

(Anyone unvaccinated of course is immediately also an elevated risk)

 

[kyle]

Just chiming in with our personal experience - a lot of the people
we seem to be passing on to either elevated at home monitoring or acute care are obese/overweight. I guess some of these people could well be undiagnosed prediabetic / perhaps even T2… Of course if you have other underlyings and are also overweight it’s a double whammy.

The younger people we are passing on are almost all carrying an unhealthy amount of weight….

So people before you reach for the extra serving of pasta tonight maybe think twice

(Anyone unvaccinated of course is immediately also an elevated risk)

The overweight bit was being talked about in the early days of covid, but there seems to be no more emphasis of this recently. Maybe it's upsetting a fair number of the population?