COVID-19 Thread [V2.0]

[igor67]

I watched Walz's announcement last night and I was very intrigued as they shared some of their data on where 'outbreaks' are happening and they were using that to make decisions on what to rollback. I think the patterns also tell something of an understandable story.

1) Retail was pretty low risk

2) Bars and restaurants were intermediate

3) Salons were low risk

4) Youth sports high risk

5) Schools were low to intermediate (not specifically addressed)

6) In person anything high

 

Salons in particular are a big test of masks because there is no significant social distancing possible. The bigger story though I think is one of compliance. Classrooms I think are able to be lower risk because schools are used to enforcing rules. Athletics though leads to a lot of breaks in those rules (and I have observed the inconsistency very directly). Salons again despite some close contact are able to really control the environment. Bars not so much and certainly the going maskless for periods of time contributes. My experience with the MN retail business and peoples behavior is that they do pretty good with combining social distance and masks. Wisconsin not so much, people have picked on Kwik Trip there is also a certain hardware store that spent the entire summer running obnoxious anti-mask adds.

 

Again it's not specifically about the masks its about being able to combine the layers of protection and follow the rules. I would imagine MN efforts would have worked even better if it wasn't literally surrounded by states where things were raging out of control.

[Fear The Chorizo]

Salons in particular are a big test of masks because there is no significant social distancing possible.

 

That could be the case presently, however I know of many small salon owners who got COVID this spring specifically in the twin cities area. In addition to my direct 10-11 salon owners/workers that I know, they indicated the majority of friends/colleagues they knew of in their field had gotten infected in that March-June timeframe earlier this year, too. At this point, businesses like salons and other small shops that can really control how many people are inside a space and really hone in on proper disinfection/air filtration, and who already have people working in the space that have some level of built up immunity due to a prior COVID infection aren't going to be infection vectors anymore - especially when compared to various in person activities that were largely curtailed or not happening in late winter/early spring at the start of this when weather dictated most in-person activity be held indoors.

[PeaveyFury]

that have some level of built up immunity due to a prior COVID infection aren't going to be infection vectors anymore

 

Though I agree with your larger point, doesn't this have to be asterisked with a disclaimer that we don't know yet how long that immunity will last? Those that I know personally that have been infected and recovered have reported that their doctors could only provide guidance that they were likely safe from possible re-infection for 3 months. Obviously, it's very possible that it's longer than that, but that's the current guidance, apparently.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Keep your distance from anyone outside of your household for a few more months. Give up one year of holidays. Deal with it or be selfish and do as you like. I am tired of all the people who think this is about freedom and don't care about other people. Don't get me wrong, I don't have a lot of empathy but holy cow, be decent human being. How hard is that?

 

Agreed ... but apparently it is very hard. But, then, everyone has different priorities.

 

They've been saying this since day 1. It's always a "few more months." There were ridiculous initial claims we could have a vaccine to people by September.

 

Give up one year of holidays.

 

We cancelled St. Patty's Day dinner because of Covid. My Mom died 2 days later, somewhat unexpectedly. She was sick, but nobody thought it was that imminent. I wish we'd just had the dinner, as does my entire family, because we still haven't had a funeral. I'm not going to fault any older people that let their families know they want to take the risk and see their grandkids. Not after 10 months.

 

Deal with it or be selfish and do as you like. I am tired of all the people who think this is about freedom and don't care about other people.

 

be decent human being.

 

And I'm tired of people like you whittling things down to black and white. Isolate = good, gather = bad. There are a whole bunch of variables that determine a person's actions. Some are just obnoxious and reckless. But there is a whole bunch of virtue signaling going on.

 

There is an actual cost to isolation that about half the population won't acknowledge, most of these people are introverted or homebodies and don't really care, so they feel no one else should either. The cost just rises with each passing week. People who are fairly young don't really consider it at all. If you're 78, punting on a year of holidays is a really big deal. Some will do it anyway for a multitude of reasons but suggesting it makes them a better class of human being is ridiculous.

[Fear The Chorizo]

One other thing I'll say on this fall's spike - it's undeniable that there is an alarming increase in rates of infection and hospitalizations/deaths across states and northern hemisphere countries as fall/winter sets in. But I also think the rate of spread hasn't sharply increased as much as the daily case count numbers show. What I mean by that is testing has obviously increased as the year has progressed, and while many states are seeing a surge in % positive results even with much higher testing totals, some of that could be correlated to seeing an increase in the rate of infections with higher viral loads that basically ensure a person gets tested due to obvious symptomatic response. In looking at the data, the midwest basically went from a perceived slow burn infection rate to uncontrollable spike once the calendar turned to October - that goes for all states no matter how they were managing it. For that to happen, there had to have been steady and undetected community spread occurring during temperate summer months that wasn't showing up in the number of cases, because viral loads were consistently low enough that many people didn't realize they got infected and had no reason to get tested absent symptoms. Kind of like the same thing that probably took place in the sunbelt states in Spring before hot temps drove them indoors in AC and their caseloads skyrocketed.

 

For most of this year, the rule of thumb has been to take the total number of confirmed cases via lab testing and multiply it by 10X - that factor tends to even out the spring timeframe when very little testing was done and now, when I think we are currently catching a higher percentage of cases as they spread. Sticking with that 10x factor for WI indicates close to 3.5 million residents have already been infected, ~2.5 million in MN. Big caveat in that these numbers are based on cumulative infections reported, at this point I'm still not clear how well each state weans out multiple positive tests for the same people (medical staff, people testing multiple times to get cleared to return working, etc). While I don't think getting infected in April prevents people from getting it again in November given the fact there's evidence pointing to COVID antibodies not staying in immune systems indefinitely, I do think we are much closer to this no longer being a novel coronavirus for people. From what I gather with limited information provided by vaccine studies to date, they're looking to determine how effective the vaccines are to limit symptomatic responses to COVID, not necessarily preventing people from being infected with coronavirus at all. Because of that, the actual number of COVID infections reported, even for their placebo groups, are actually very low in the studies because they only counted those with a positive PCR test and 1+ symptoms as a COVID infection.

 

Basically, the goal of the vaccine is not to eradicate the coronavirus whose infection causes COVID-19, but turn COVID-19 into a common cold or less in terms of immune system response....I think that's a very important thing for the general public to understand once a vaccine starts getting distributed in terms of how soon resuming "normal" activities should start taking place.

If in one year's time we reach the point where the elderly/most vulnerable people have as much medical risk getting COVID-19 as they do when getting a cold due to the combination of a vaccine and viral spread over a couple years, I'll be ecstatic.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

OldSchoolSnapper, I'm so sorry about your mom. That truly sucks. That type of situation is what is really terrible about this.

 

But how is wanting people to not get sick (or worse) "virtue signaling"? I literally said that everyone has different priorities. The issue here is that those priorities have the potential to not just affect you.

 

At the end of the day, people are gonna do what they are gonna do. My only hope is that they realize that no one is "canceling Thanksgiving" or "canceling Christmas". That idea is 100% hyperbole. The holidays are going to be (or at least should be) different this year. But everything has been different. You roll with it and make it work the best that you can. Smaller family gatherings. Maybe try to avoid the 30-person extended family gatherings. Meet virtually. Take a ton of pictures/videos. Yeah, it's different. Yeah, different sometimes sucks. But it is what it is.

[Fear The Chorizo]

that have some level of built up immunity due to a prior COVID infection aren't going to be infection vectors anymore

 

Though I agree with your larger point, doesn't this have to be asterisked with a disclaimer that we don't know yet how long that immunity will last? Those that I know personally that have been infected and recovered have reported that their doctors could only provide guidance that they were likely safe from possible re-infection for 3 months. Obviously, it's very possible that it's longer than that, but that's the current guidance, apparently.

 

Absolutely, which is why these salons still do as much cleaning/disinfecting and following other guidelines (including continued masking) as possible. Having already had the virus likely decreases an individual's immune system response with subsequent infections - so the worker in the Salon then poses a lower risk of transmitting it to customers at a viral load level that would lead to a symptomatic infection of a customer that sends them to get tested.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

OldSchoolSnapper, I'm so sorry about your mom. That truly sucks. That type of situation is what is really terrible about this.

 

But how is wanting people to not get sick (or worse) "virtue signaling"? I literally said that everyone has different priorities. The issue here is that those priorities have the potential to not just affect you.

 

At the end of the day, people are gonna do what they are gonna do. My only hope is that they realize that no one is "canceling Thanksgiving" or "canceling Christmas". That idea is 100% hyperbole. The holidays are going to be (or at least should be) different this year. But everything has been different. You roll with it and make it work the best that you can. Smaller family gatherings. Maybe try to avoid the 30-person extended family gatherings. Meet virtually. Take a ton of pictures/videos. Yeah, it's different. Yeah, different sometimes sucks. But it is what it is.

 

Saying things like "be a decent human being" is as virtue signaling as a thing gets. You're (not you, specifically) framing the topic in such a way that to oppose it suggests a person is indecent. Who can possibly argue with that? 

 

We are again isolating at Thanksgiving. I am by no means going out to bars and just throwing caution to the wind. I just have a problem with this kind of mentality.

 

What I am saying though is that if my Mom were still around and said "I know one of you could bring this to me, but this is my last Thanksgiving," I would be deferring to my elders and taking the chance.

[homer]

Speaking only for myself, if I went to a big family gathering (+15 people) and it turned into a superspreader event that would probably do more harm to my well-being than the boost I got from seeing my family.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

OldSchoolSnapper, I'm so sorry about your mom. That truly sucks. That type of situation is what is really terrible about this.

 

But how is wanting people to not get sick (or worse) "virtue signaling"? I literally said that everyone has different priorities. The issue here is that those priorities have the potential to not just affect you.

 

At the end of the day, people are gonna do what they are gonna do. My only hope is that they realize that no one is "canceling Thanksgiving" or "canceling Christmas". That idea is 100% hyperbole. The holidays are going to be (or at least should be) different this year. But everything has been different. You roll with it and make it work the best that you can. Smaller family gatherings. Maybe try to avoid the 30-person extended family gatherings. Meet virtually. Take a ton of pictures/videos. Yeah, it's different. Yeah, different sometimes sucks. But it is what it is.

 

Saying things like "be a decent human being" is as virtue signaling as a thing gets. You're (not you, specifically) framing the topic in such a way that to oppose it suggests a person is indecent. Who can possibly argue with that? 

 

We are again isolating at Thanksgiving. I am by no means going out to bars and just throwing caution to the wind. I just have a problem with this kind of mentality.

 

What I am saying though is that if my Mom were still around and said "I know one of you could bring this to me, but this is my last Thanksgiving," I would be deferring to my elders and taking the chance.

 

I get what you're saying. I think we're close to the same page on this. I know that there are still going to be families out there that get together in huge groups in the next 1 1/2 months. People have their traditions, and many aren't going to let anything stand in the way of them. But if I knew that this was going to be one of my parent's last holiday seasons seasons, I'd probably be much more apt to throw caution to the wind as well.

 

I agree with you that publicly scolding others for their choice to take few precautions is not the answer. At the same time, denying the seriousness of this virus, and the potential damage it can cause, while vowing that it isn't going to make you change your holiday plans (not you, OldSchool, but others in this thread) probably isn't the answer, either. All that does is create ugliness and judgement. I feel like I've gotten sucked into that trap a little too often lately, and I don't like it.

 

Every year for the last 30 years, I've gone hunting with my dad on opening weekend. But last night I got a contact trace call from the health department, and I and several of my children had a close COVID contact last Friday. I'm feeling fine, as are the kids. But I told my dad this morning that I'm not hunting opening weekend this year. He was disappointed, but we both agreed that it was the right decision. Hopefully nothing will come of this exposure, and I can take my son and meet up with my dad after Thanksgiving to hunt, but it still sucks that we're missing out on what has been a pretty special tradition. But, again, it is what it is.

[PeaveyFury]

Just to again highlight a point that LouisEly made earlier, there are ways to have a normal-ish Thanksgiving that is mostly safe AND in-person: Test/quarantine before & after. Some people will undoubtedly be seeing their families in this way, and there's dramatically less risk in doing so.

 

Without delving into the realm of 'virtue signaling' and the like, I think most people would agree that what people do for the holidays is a personal choice that can't/won't be policed in any way, but the problem is, that personal choice will undoubtedly, in many instances, lead to an effect on other people. It's already been discussed here, but when you exercise your personal choice to get together, then possibly get infected, then possibly spread that to, say, your co-workers the following Monday, you've no longer made a personal choice, you made a choice that infringed on others. That's how this all gets problematic. If you have the ability to keep your personal choice a choice that only effects you and your family that chooses to attend, I have zero issue with anyone choosing to have a gathering. Problem is, my assumption is that very few such gatherings will have such personal-only results.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Speaking only for myself, if I went to a big family gathering (+15 people) and it turned into a superspreader event that would probably do more harm to my well-being than the boost I got from seeing my family.

 

Family dinners are take it or leave it to me. Just another thing. I enjoy them, but just part of a schedule. For my mom that was hooked up to an oxygen tank, unable to drive, and in the last couple years could not walk, they were the entire reason she kept going.

 

There are a lot of people out there like that, and unfortunately they are the most likely to die from this. But many of them know they are not going to be here in 2022 anyway. So the sacrifice is something they aren't willing to make.

[PeaveyFury]

Too funny/relevant not to share:

 

https://local.theonion.com/mom-completely-understands-that-coming-to-thanksgiving-1845692901

[Machu Peach]

1) There just a ton of factually incorrect things being stated here.

 

2) Try to understand other points of view, particularly those of people you disagree with. They're very likely not terrible people so don't take the easy path and simply write them off as such.

 

3) While vaccine timelines were all over the map throughout the summer, y'all had an inkling of a feasible development timeline fairly early on.

If forced to guess (cannot stress enough that this is a guess), I would say that a vaccine that induces good protection will be out in some capacity sometime this winter. I think the duration of protection will largely be unknown (it could be just months or could be years) and that a a very sizable percentage of the population (in the 10-50% range) will not want to be vaccinated until it undergoes more testing.

[homer]

Ventilation!!!

 

https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/19/us/gym-ventilation-covid-trnd/index.html

[homer]

1) There just a ton of factually incorrect things being stated here.

 

Thanks for the heads up.

[tmwiese55]

 

 

In the government's defense (I know, I know), they have never once indicated that wearing a mask is a 100% foolproof way to avoid contracting and spreading COVID, and they were not marketed as the "get out of jail free" cards that you seem to be indicating here.

 

I would disagree with you but we might not be on the same wavelength in terms of government versus media. I agree that the government has been fairly consistent with stating that facemasks are just part of the equation, but I think more and more the isolation part of that message has been buried in the fine print. The thing that is still particular damning in relation to the government is when the state Department of Health completely removed the statement that many feel that masks could actually be counter-productive because it may encourage people to congregate more which could actually make the masks counter-productive. You look at what has happened in Wisconsin and that statement looks like it was right on the money. And picking this as the example is not to single out Evers. I'm sure if I could go back in time and look at DOH websites in states with Republican governors I'd see the exact same modification of the message.

 

But, that said, I would agree that for the most part the government has been consistent with distancing + facemasks + handwashing. But the media on the other hand. I can't tell you how many times, once it got into the summer months, I'd be sitting there watching CNN and there would be a reporter on the street and the camera would pan over to a group of 20-somethings sitting around without masks and the reporter would just go into the lecture about how they weren't wearing masks. It was easy to see the danger in this. Not wearing a mask is uncool...which morphs into wearing a mask is cool...which morphs into young people thinking they have the license to do anything if they have a mask on because it's cool. I think there was a TON of that from a big percentage of the media over the summer months. Maybe I'm wrong, obviously we all have different personal experiences. All I can say is that I'm in Madison and work with a bunch of 20-somethings and in the spring those people weren't running around like 20-somethings normally do, and by the fall that completely flipped to hearing the conversations of person 1 going to the brewery this weekend, person 2 hitting this bar on Friday night and that restaurant the following night, person 3 going to a party on Friday night, etc, etc, etc. Some folks, not knowing these people personally, could think they are correct in just saying that we are dealing with 20 year old's and they are simply too restless to stay home for 6 months in a row. But knowing these people, and knowing they are probably a really good representation of young college grads across the state, I feel pretty safe in flat out stating that the attitude is definitely more along the lines of "if I'm wearing a mask I am cool and following the rules and; therefore, anything that I decide to do is a good idea." And yeah, maybe not so much government but definitely the media has a lot to do with that IMO.

 

And a quick comment about homer's viral load post. That is a key part of the science that I think has been largely ignored or under-reported. I know that if people went back and looked at all my posts they would see what they think is a lot of flip-flopping. In this post I am critical of masks and argue that people need to keep distance, and in earlier posts I was very critical of the stay-at-home order (although not so much the concept, but the selective implementation of business one being essential by business two being non-essential). But the best way to explain it...I really don't have any concerns about catching COVID if I go to the grocery store because it's a big area and, for the most part, I keep moving which gives me a decent amount of confidence that if I am exposed that the exposure will be so limited that my immune system will be able to defeat what limited amount of virus that I am exposed to. But when I drive home from work on Friday night and go past a bunch of sit-down restaurants and those parking lots are just packed (two steakhouses where people will be in and won't be out for at least 90 minutes)...I look at that and just shake my head and just wonder what good any facemask mandate will do.

 

 

Generally agree with the overall points of it being too much "masks masks masks" which could be giving a false sense of security. And the overall that people seem to be a bit looser when wearing them, in my limited experience.

 

However, your premise that the push to masks has led to the people (especially the younger you mentioned) feeling like that gives them clearance to do a bunch more stuff might be off. It could be kind of the other way around. Govt/Medicals etc knew people were going to start doing stuff as they couldn't be locked in forever, so if that's going to be the case then try to get them to wear a mask. I mean, in WI and many other places you had people protesting to open up, politicians suing the govt to overturn lockdown, the president telling his people to open up and not listen, etc. Plus, for the economy we had to open up somehow, that couldn't go on forever. So the mask push comes from thinking "well, we can't stop the people and no way to enforce a lockdown, economy has to start moving, so I guess next best we can do is get as many to wear a mask when they're out". It's a bit of a chicken/egg thing. Also, I'm not saying it's for sure that way or that you're wrong. I'd lean to that being the more important factor and your points being a part of it too, but idk. It's just another way to think about or factor in case you didn't think of from that angle.

[stoutdude04]

Take with a grain of salt obviously, but a nurse friend just posted on her instagram that they are getting vaccinated in Florida in the coming weeks.

 

Seems weird to me since I haven't heard anything FDA related.

[PeaveyFury]

Take with a grain of salt obviously, but a nurse friend just posted on her instagram that they are getting vaccinated in Florida in the coming weeks.

 

Seems weird to me since I haven't heard anything FDA related.

 

Based on what I've seen on the news, some of the HCWs in Wisconsin have volunteered for some of the clinical trials for the vaccines. Perhaps she's electing to participate as well?

[stoutdude04]

Take with a grain of salt obviously, but a nurse friend just posted on her instagram that they are getting vaccinated in Florida in the coming weeks.

 

Seems weird to me since I haven't heard anything FDA related.

 

Based on what I've seen on the news, some of the HCWs in Wisconsin have volunteered for some of the clinical trials for the vaccines. Perhaps she's electing to participate as well?

 

That's a valid point. The wording made it seem like it was not trial based, but that makes the most sense.

 

And here is an article about it. It doesnt sound like a trial.

https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/south-florida-hospital-covid-vaccine/2326173/

[reillymcshane]

No matter what is all going on and what people feel about things, I just want to ask that people truly try and understand how difficult the COVID crisis is on our healthcare givers. It's not a joke. It's not a hoax. It IS a big deal.

 

I listened in on a talking session with some ICU nurses, and it was brutal.

 

The nurses are so tired. 8 days in a row. 16 hour days. COVID patients need a TON of care. Their symptoms shift constantly - such as who much air they need. Sometimes, someone is beside them almost 24/7. One nurse talked about how a patient will be fine one minute, and then 20 minutes later they are gasping for breath.

 

The nurses sit with the patients for days and weeks and even months. The patients are in pain. They are uncomfortable. They can't breath. And they are so lonely. And then they often die. One nurse watched five patients die in a 48 hour period. She talked about going home each day - getting in the shower to wash off the day - and just cry.

 

And these people are watching their friends and colleagues get the virus. You have pregnant nurse going into the ICU - terrified what could happen to them - but still doing it because they don't want to let down their colleagues. Same with nurses and doctors who live with someone who is at high risk. They could not do the job - but they they know how desperately their services are needed. And thus they do it - and put someone they love at a higher risk. Their stress and anxiety gets worse all the time.

 

And let's not forget, this is so horrible for the patients. A nurse with 35 years of experience said in all her life, she has never seen death so miserable. These people can't breath. They are suffering. Some are just asking to die it's so hard. And that's not even touching on the families - who have to watch this as well.

 

To top it all off, these people are so frustrated. They hear it all: It's just a bad flu. It's a hoax. It'll go away after the election. It's God or nature's way of culling the weak. It makes them furious to hear this stuff. And to SEE it. People posting photos of parties or packed bars - all without masks. Or the local chamber of council hosting after business mixers. There are a million other examples.

 

The nurses all said they are worried about the future of healthcare. People are leaving ICU care for a reason. They're like, "Who they hell would do this job after what we've been through?" And you are already seeing mental health issues with healthcare providers.

 

There is so much more I could share. Just brutal stories. Just know it's real. It can be very, very hard on those who get it. And it's very, very hard on the healthcare workers who have to oversee all that is happening.

 

Thanks.

[tmwiese55]

Plus 1 to Reilly. Well said.

[MrTPlush]

Take with a grain of salt obviously, but a nurse friend just posted on her instagram that they are getting vaccinated in Florida in the coming weeks.

 

Seems weird to me since I haven't heard anything FDA related.

 

Based on what I've seen on the news, some of the HCWs in Wisconsin have volunteered for some of the clinical trials for the vaccines. Perhaps she's electing to participate as well?

 

That's a valid point. The wording made it seem like it was not trial based, but that makes the most sense.

 

And here is an article about it. It doesnt sound like a trial.

https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/south-florida-hospital-covid-vaccine/2326173/

 

Doesn't really seem that shocking...I am guessing Pfizer would have all the dominos in place so vaccines are literally getting loaded onto trucks the second they get approval. Heck maybe it can even get shipped and be sitting at the hospitals waiting.

 

Better wording would probably be 'plan on getting vaccinated in mid-December' because obviously they don't quite have that final authorization...though I am sure they will get it.

[LouisEly]

No matter what is all going on and what people feel about things, I just want to ask that people truly try and understand how difficult the COVID crisis is on our healthcare givers. It's not a joke. It's not a hoax. It IS a big deal.

 

I listened in on a talking session with some ICU nurses, and it was brutal.

 

The nurses are so tired. 8 days in a row. 16 hour days. COVID patients need a TON of care. Their symptoms shift constantly - such as who much air they need. Sometimes, someone is beside them almost 24/7. One nurse talked about how a patient will be fine one minute, and then 20 minutes later they are gasping for breath.

 

The nurses sit with the patients for days and weeks and even months. The patients are in pain. They are uncomfortable. They can't breath. And they are so lonely. And then they often die. One nurse watched five patients die in a 48 hour period. She talked about going home each day - getting in the shower to wash off the day - and just cry.

 

And these people are watching their friends and colleagues get the virus. You have pregnant nurse going into the ICU - terrified what could happen to them - but still doing it because they don't want to let down their colleagues. Same with nurses and doctors who live with someone who is at high risk. They could not do the job - but they they know how desperately their services are needed. And thus they do it - and put someone they love at a higher risk. Their stress and anxiety gets worse all the time.

 

And let's not forget, this is so horrible for the patients. A nurse with 35 years of experience said in all her life, she has never seen death so miserable. These people can't breath. They are suffering. Some are just asking to die it's so hard. And that's not even touching on the families - who have to watch this as well.

 

To top it all off, these people are so frustrated. They hear it all: It's just a bad flu. It's a hoax. It'll go away after the election. It's God or nature's way of culling the weak. It makes them furious to hear this stuff. And to SEE it. People posting photos of parties or packed bars - all without masks. Or the local chamber of council hosting after business mixers. There are a million other examples.

 

The nurses all said they are worried about the future of healthcare. People are leaving ICU care for a reason. They're like, "Who they hell would do this job after what we've been through?" And you are already seeing mental health issues with healthcare providers.

 

There is so much more I could share. Just brutal stories. Just know it's real. It can be very, very hard on those who get it. And it's very, very hard on the healthcare workers who have to oversee all that is happening.

 

Thanks.

+2. I have a relative who is a nurse and who got transferred to the COVID floor two weeks ago. The other day she sent a text message to my sister that said basically the same thing.

 

Please, for the sake of our healthcare workers, wear a mask and think twice about attending gatherings.

[LouisEly]

Take with a grain of salt obviously, but a nurse friend just posted on her instagram that they are getting vaccinated in Florida in the coming weeks.

 

Seems weird to me since I haven't heard anything FDA related.

With the news this morning that Pfizer has applied for emergency use authorization, it makes sense. They have said that they are going to vaccinate health care workers first, and they have been planning the logistics of distribution for months.

 

This is common before drugs are approved. For the companies I have worked for, distribution is planned well in advance of FDA review and is ready to be sent to wholesalers prior to approval. I'm sure Pfizer has known for a while approximately when they would be ready to file, and had already prepared their distribution network.