Kurtf

On 4/23/2021 at 11:41 AM, cdemundo said:

You are correct in that some people interpret it that way.

I think this will always remain an open question, hard to settle a 100 year old puzzle.

I am not trying to be a little old man who can't be wrong, but that is not a very convincing explanation.

 

Estimates of total number infected would not be a sufficient fraction of the earth's population to reach herd immunity.

https://www.biospace.com/article/compare-1918-spanish-influenza-pandemic-versus-covid-19/

"At its worse, the Spanish flu infected 500 million people worldwide, which at the time was about a third of the Earth’s population. "

 

Because the number of people exposed would not be sufficient to accomplish herd immunity the following understanding exists.

 

https://time.com/5894403/how-the-1918-flu-pandemic-ended/

"The end of the 1918 pandemic wasn’t, however, just the result of so many people catching it that immunity became widespread. Social distancing was also key. Public health advice on curbing the spread of the virus was eerily similar to that of today: citizens were encouraged to stay healthy through campaigns promoting mask-wearing, frequent hand-washing, quarantining and isolating of patients, and the closure of schools, public spaces and non-essential businesses—all steps designed to cut off routes for the virus’ spread."

AND WHERE WAS THE VACCINE?

From my experience of having built a house to help my father-in-law, it is nice to own your own home and not have to make rent payments. However there is a huge downside. Someday you may decide you want to return to your home country. Be prepared to find out it is almost impossible to sell your house. Especially if it is built to farang standards which puts it out of the affordable range for most Thai people. So my advice would be...
DON'T DO IT.

On 4/19/2021 at 11:12 AM, cdemundo said:

If I am not mistaken, herd immunity to a communicable disease has never been achieved without a vaccine.

I would be interested to know if there is a historical example of this happening.

Have heard people cite SARS but this not true, SARS was eliminated by the "old timey" techniques of track, trace and isolate.

You are mistaken. Herd immunity was accomplished with the Spanish Flu in 1919. There was no vaccine.

On 4/21/2021 at 10:05 AM, WaveHunter said:

The thing that many opponents to vaccines seem to not take into account is that EVERY single drug on the market can have adverse effects in SOME people.  Over-the-counter Tylenol, for example has killed far more people than any of the vaccines have, ya know?

 

The pause that has occurred with the distribution of the J&J vaccine is ludicrous IMO!  Just eight people out of roughly 7.4 million who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine have developed a blood-clot complication. Only one person has died...just ONE!

 

 A causal relationship between the vaccine and these blood clots has not yet even been established!  Moreover, nearly all the adverse events are in women 18 to 48 years old.  Yet government officials all around the world have stopped all people, regardless of age or gender, from getting the J&J vaccine.

 

This makes no sense. We are in the midst of a public health emergency.  Demand for vaccines still far exceeds supply. There are no stockpiles of extra doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines sitting on refrigerated shelves in warehouses waiting to replace all the Johnson & Johnson doses the government has withheld. 

 

This is just INSANE!!!  It's just another example of emotional hysteria replacing rational and science-based reasoning in how we're dealing with Covid-19.  I think we deserve much better leadership from those in power right now...MUCH BETTER!

Quick Panic. The sky is falling. It's amazing to me that no one has died from the flu this past year. The only deaths are from Covid. Isn't that miraculous. Covid has cured influenza.

On 4/21/2021 at 12:10 PM, WaveHunter said:

I'd agree with everything in your post except the last sentence, "If you don't want the vaccine by all means don't get it."

 

Too many people look at the vaccine with a somewhat selfish mindset, like the vaccine is solely for their own protection, when IN FACT, by becoming vaccinated, you are protecting the population as a whole.  Every person should feel a sense of responsibility towards others when deciding whether or not to be vaccinated.  At least that's my take on it.

You can take your take and stick your take where the sun doesn't shine.

I may be in the minority but as for me, I'm going to depend on my own immune system to protect me. Wash my hands more times than usual and take vitamin supplements. I refuse to get ANY covid shots.. But that's just me. I have no problem with people doing differently. Wearing a mask is a waste of time and effort. They have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that masks are completely ineffective in stopping a virus. So why bother?

On 4/19/2021 at 12:43 AM, cdemundo said:

It is apparently true that Vitamin D, and zinc, and also Vitamin C are needed for immune system functioning.

Certainly if vitamin or mineral deficiencies exist, supplementation may be helpful.

I don't think it is true that "vitamin D and Zinc Supplements has proven to boost the effectiveness of a persons immune system", I think you are overstating the case for these supplements.

Apparently, the evidence for Vitamin D is strongest.

I have seen no convincing evidence that these measures make dramatic changes in immune function.

 

They may help but with respect to COVID, the best protection is from a vaccine.

Unless you are one of the many that has an adverse reaction to the vaccine. In which case you could end up DEAD.

When I taught at the local grammar school, the hardest thing for Thai kids to do was correct pronunciation of any word with "th" in it. Three, those, this, them, etc.

On 4/16/2021 at 8:58 AM, cdemundo said:

 

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-to-boost-your-immune-system

 

"For now, there are no scientifically proven direct links between lifestyle and enhanced immune function."

 

Common sense recommendations from the same article:

 

"Don't smoke.

Eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables.

Exercise regularly.

Maintain a healthy weight.

If you drink alcohol, drink only in moderation.

Get adequate sleep.

Take steps to avoid infection, such as washing your hands frequently and cooking meats thoroughly.

Try to minimize stress.

Keep current with all recommended vaccines. Vaccines prime your immune system to fight off infections before they take hold in your body."

 

A lot of health gurus blather on about "super charging" your immune system and such, but there really isn't a way to dramatically improve your overall immune system.

 

All these recommendations (with the exception of vaccines) are targeted at the innate (or general) immune system.

Vaccines are targeted at the adaptive (or specific) immune system which targets a specific pathogen that has been previously encountered.

The adaptive immune system targets the pathogen (virus in this case) much more effectively.

 

The most effective way to strengthen your immune system with respect to COVID is a vaccine.

That is beyond debate.

 

 

 

 

I beg to differ. Taking vitamin D and Zinc Supplements has proven to boost the effectiveness of a persons immune system. Ask any doctor and don't take the word of the WHO or The American CDC who are both pushing an agenda.

On 4/17/2021 at 12:32 PM, jackdd said:

Did you have a work permit or have you been working illegally? Most people don't want to risk getting deported.

The first year I and my wife taught at a HS we didn't have a work permit. Then we volunteered to teach at the local Tessaban. Again no work permit. Then we taught at a different grammar school. For that year I had a work permit. Then I was asked to work for a one month period at the Tessaban again and again with no work permit.

I feel as long as the officials at the school are asking , no permit would be needed. I might be wrong but I sincerely doubt that since I am doing them a favor they are going to deport me.

There are many qualified A/C repairmen in Thailand. Don't be such a cheapskate and find one.

For me it was easy. I went to the local government school and volunteered. They welcomed me with open arms. after one year I quit. the next year they begged me to come back and offered to pay me. Not exactly what I would call a living wage but it was something. About 20,000 baht per month.

Just now, Rookiescot said:

Which medical experts?

Got a link please?

I don't have a link. I just watched their presentation on a social media website.

On 4/12/2021 at 10:12 AM, bkksteve123 said:

 

50% less likely to catch the virus is still better than nothing. But vaccines also significantly reduce the risk of developing serious illness from COVID-19. This is what many people seem to be missing when talking about vaccine efficacy.

 

Vaccines have two jobs: 1) prevent vaccinated person from catching the virus, and 2) prevent serious illness in case of catching the virus.

 

By how much? Obviously it's still early to say and we need more data, but here's something from BBC "The PHS study found that, by the fourth week after the first dose of either the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccines, the risk of being admitted to hospital had been reduced by 81%." - so let's say 50% reduced risk of catching it and 80% reduced risk of serious illness.

 

Let's say 5% get a serious illness, then hypothetically it would look like this:

 

Group of 1000 people (not vaccinated)
Catch the virus: 1000 people
Serious illness (5%) = 50 people

 

Group of 1000 people (vaccinated)
Catch the virus: 500 people (50% less)
Serious illness (1%): 5 people (80% less i.e. 1% instead of 5%)

 

As you can see, even with 50% efficacy it does actually help a lot to get vaccinated, especially if everyone gets vaccinated.

 

You forgot to count the number of people that had reactions to the vaccine. Plus you have no idea how the MRNA type vaccine will affect people 1, 2, 5 years down the road. Will their immune system be compromised as has been said by some medical experts?

12 hours ago, foreverlomsak said:

SFO I understand to be San Francisco but where does RT refer to as it is not in IATA airport code. All codes are 3 digits, and if it's not in Thailand, what's the relevance to the original post.

RT means return. Duh.

Quick go get the covid shot. You might be a spreader and I'm 81 and don't want to lose my hair.

Portugal would be definitely on my list of places to retire to. Hard to imagine that the visa restrictions would be tougher than the ones imposed by Thailand.

What is with this rush to eat/try unknown fruits or veggies. Just go to the local market and spend 2 or 3 baht and buy what has proven to be safe to eat. Cheesh you cheap skates are ridiculous. eat it and die dummy.

Nope. Not a chance in hell. But not only Thailand but every other country as well in spite of draconian shutdown measures. The new normal is masks forever. LOL

Thanks. That would be five years for me. I'm really expecting inflation to kick in perhaps in two years. I believe it's already running above 4% in usd.

I believe you have answered your own question. I agree with you that inflation is going to devalue the dollar significantly in the not too distant future.

On 2/22/2021 at 5:27 PM, rwill said:

I would take the sinovac vaccine if it was the only option.  But if another one became available later I would take it too.  

I made one up out of my urine. When are you going to come by and get the injection?

1 hour ago, Kurtf said:

If and when Thailand makes that a prerequisite, they can then say goodbye to tourism forever because there are many like me that simply refuse to EVER get a covid vaccine shot.

 

So does that mean they are going to tackle me and force an injection into me? Because I am content to stay here. If a vaccination becomes mandatory, what are they going to do if I refuse? Because according to you they won't be able to deport me if they won't let me on the plane.