1 hour ago, Bkk Brian said:

You're unaware of the UK government giving out free Vitamin D and advising everyone to take supplements then?

If you read the official Covid-19 rapid guidelines on Vitamin D from the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, part of the DHSS, you will see that it specifically states: "Do not offer a vitamin D supplement to people solely to prevent COVID-19, except as part of a clinical trial." Vitamin D was employed to counteract lack of sunlight, for the winter months only. (Recommendation 1.2, page 7).

 

 

6 minutes ago, Eleftheros said:

If you read the official Covid-19 rapid guidelines on Vitamin D from the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, part of the DHSS, you will see that it specifically states: "Do not offer a vitamin D supplement to people solely to prevent COVID-19, except as part of a clinical trial." Vitamin D was employed to counteract lack of sunlight, for the winter months only. (Recommendation 1.2, page 7).

 

 

Why would they offer it solely for covid 19? Here is what I said

1 hour ago, Bkk Brian said:

You're unaware of the UK government giving out free Vitamin D and advising everyone to take supplements then?

Here is the proof

 

During the autumn and winter months everyone in the UK is advised to take a supplement of vitamin D every day to support general health.

This advice is particularly important for people who have been shielding this year due to coronavirus (COVID-19), or who are living in care homes, because they are more likely to have been indoors over the spring and summer and so may not have been able to obtain enough vitamin D from sunlight.

 

Women and children who qualify for the Healthy Start scheme can get free supplements containing vitamin D.

 

Currently in the UK, free supplements of folic acid, vitamin C and D are available to low-income new or expecting parents as part of the UK’s Healthy Start scheme – a program similar to the UK Welfare Food Scheme, but for young families. 

 

 

The continued discussion of vitamins / supplements in regard to COVID here in this thread is going off-topic. And their use specifically to prevent or treat COVID is not recognized by the various major public health agencies. Therefore, time to move on and remain on-topic....

 

So does Favipiravir, Molnupiravir, and Paxlovid (soon to be availabe OTC in the Thai pharmacies) with more therapeutics for Covid in the pipeline. 

7 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Not me, I haven't had Covid...

I'm not sure if I had it or not.  May have had it in August 2020 as almost everyone in the Tambon had bad upper respiratory infections.  I may go to a lab to get a antibody test to see if I've been exposed now that a positive antibody test (not an antigen test - different test) won't flag you for an unwanted stay in a Covid ward.

11 minutes ago, connda said:

So does Favipiravir, Molnupiravir, and Paxlovid (soon to be availabe OTC in the Thai pharmacies) with more therapeutics for Covid in the pipeline. 

 

Favipiravir is approved for use and used in Thailand with COVID patients.

 

However, it's NOT approved as a COVID treatment in most other major countries in the world, including the U.S. and the UK....

 

And the scientific evidence of its actual effectiveness is lacking.

 

What it is, though, is a relatively cheap drug that Thailand acquired the rights to produce domestically without having to buy from foreign drug companies.

 

 

AND

 

 

 

My concern is that the Covid shots are being marketed now as a therapeutic prophylaxis in the treatment of symptomatic Covid as opposed to a vaccine that inoculates you from contracting and transmitting the virus.  We were told straight out by world leaders and their experts that "If you get the shot, you'll be immune to Covid."  That proved to not be true.  Sadly.
The FDA can say 'safe and effective' until the cows come home, but the fact is that a large number of people who get the shots get Covid.  Even the CDC is recognizing the fact.  To gauge how effective they are at stopping contagion, just look at how many world leaders and their staff who have been vaccinated and multiple boosted have come down with Covid. It's pretty much an everyday occurrence if you watch the news.

Personally now that their are therapeutic antivirals available to control the severity of a Covid infection, I don't see the point to the shots - imho.  In my opinion however, do whatever you need to do to feel safe.

5 minutes ago, connda said:

Personally now that their are therapeutic antivirals available to control the severity of a Covid infection, I don't see the point to the shots - imho.  In my opinion however, do whatever you need to do to feel safe.

If you were an executive at Big Pharma, you'd see the point. There is an all brand-new vaccine with the catchy name of Bivalent coming out soon, and if everyone felt like you it could be a flop.

The original COVID vaccines were very effective at preventing transmission of the original version of the coronavirus, as advertised.... Then in latter months, the virus mutated to different forms...

 

The latter versions of the virus were able to escape the transmission protections of the vaccines to a larger extent. But the vaccines still even today significantly protect against serious illness and death from COVID.

 

From my perspective, it's better to largely prevent having serious illness from COVID in the first place via easily obtainable and free COVID vaccines vs. having to pay for the various imported anti-virals that have more limitations, more drug interaction concerns, and not any greater effectiveness than vaccines.

 

The antivirals are best being used as a treatment in the instances of so-called breakthrough COVID infections in the already vaccinated, and not as a substitute or replacement for COVID vaccines.

 

 

New COVID Antivirals Do Not Replace the Need to Vaccinate

 

...

"The most valuable asset we have in the fight against COVID-19 is still unequivocally vaccination, and the presence of effective drugs doesn’t change that."

 

"COVID antivirals, like monoclonal antibodies before them, are not a substitute for vaccinations. They are a complement to vaccines, and they serve an important function."

 

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-covid-antivirals-do-not-replace-the-need-to-vaccinate/

 

"As Thailand enters a post-pandemic era, with the virus being reclassified as communicable disease under watch..."

So have they classified Covid as a communicable disease under watch yet, or is that in still being discussed?

8 minutes ago, connda said:

"As Thailand enters a post-pandemic era, with the virus being reclassified as communicable disease under watch..."

So have they classified Covid as a communicable disease under watch yet, or is that in still being discussed?

Slated for October, I believe, if nothing else changes in the meantime.

 

A post with unsourced and unsubstantiated claims has been removed.

 

34 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

The original COVID vaccines were very effective at preventing transmission of the original version of the coronavirus, as advertised.... Then in latter months, the virus mutated to different forms...

 

The latter versions of the virus were able to escape the transmission protections of the vaccines to a larger extent. But the vaccines still even today significantly protect against serious illness and death from COVID.

 

From my perspective, it's better to largely prevent having serious illness from COVID in the first place via easily obtainable and free COVID vaccines vs. having to pay for the various imported anti-virals that have more limitations, more drug interaction concerns, and not any greater effectiveness than vaccines.

 

The antivirals are best being used as a treatment in the instances of so-called breakthrough COVID infections in the already vaccinated, and not as a substitute or replacement for COVID vaccines.

 

 

New COVID Antivirals Do Not Replace the Need to Vaccinate

 

...

"The most valuable asset we have in the fight against COVID-19 is still unequivocally vaccination, and the presence of effective drugs doesn’t change that."

 

"COVID antivirals, like monoclonal antibodies before them, are not a substitute for vaccinations. They are a complement to vaccines, and they serve an important function."

 

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-covid-antivirals-do-not-replace-the-need-to-vaccinate/

 

tHE vAccIneS sToP tRansMisSion

 

 

On 9/2/2022 at 2:00 PM, Golden Triangle said:

Me & the mrs haven't, so where are you getting your info ??

No idea...but I would say only about 1/10 of my students have had diagnosed covid - that is, perhaps 2-3 students per class. Byt they test each Sunday by atk and wear masks at school. 

On 9/2/2022 at 12:34 PM, Kevin Taylor said:

How do they come up with these numbers ? Everyone has had covid now so who are they comparing the data against.

Not everyone  has had  Covid-19  yet

On 9/2/2022 at 12:34 PM, Kevin Taylor said:

How do they come up with these numbers ? Everyone has had covid now so who are they comparing the data against.

I haven't, nor has Mrs. T, though someone on here said I have but didn't know it..................????

To the statistical experts here: I have had zero Covid shots. What are my chances of being seriously ill and dying? Presumably very high, right?

Just wondering how dangerously I am living.

Depends hugely on how old you are, what sex you are, and whether you have co-morbidities such as obesity, diabetes, dementia, previous heart or respiratory conditions.

 

So you don't need to reveal anything you don't want to, the UK Office of National Statistics is one of the world's better resources.

 

Just now, Eleftheros said:

Depends hugely on how old you are, what sex you are, and whether you have co-morbities such as obesity, diabetes, dementia, previous heart or respiratory conditions.

Yes there are a lot of them inluding asthma, HIV, cancer, kidney desease, its a very long list

On 9/2/2022 at 3:50 PM, Eleftheros said:

So does that mean that in six months we can expect to be reading the same story, but about the 5th dose?

Hopefully they'll have the newer vaccines available.

If not maybe the 5th.

 

You make it sound like you're being inconvenienced.  Be thankful that they even have vaccines for the pandemic.

 

If you're to bothered to take the few minutes for a vaccine that may save your life then stay home.

 

 

1 hour ago, ed strong said:

tHE vAccIneS sToP tRansMisSion

 

 

No.

 

But they'll hopefully keep you off a ventilator and multi million dollar hospital bill. 

3 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

Favipiravir is approved for use and used in Thailand with COVID patients.

 

However, it's NOT approved as a COVID treatment in most other major countries in the world, including the U.S. and the UK....

 

And the scientific evidence of its actual effectiveness is lacking.

 

What it is, though, is a relatively cheap drug that Thailand acquired the rights to produce domestically without having to buy from foreign drug companies.

 

 

AND

 

 

 

It's been reported that it's very difficult to get antiviral medication,

 

The government as usual is gumming things up most likely to make some side money.

 

"COVID patients caught in crossfire of battle over drug monopoly"

 

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/covid-patients-caught-in-crossfire-of-battle-over-drug-monopoly/

1 hour ago, MrJ2U said:

Hopefully they'll have the newer vaccines available.

If not maybe the 5th.

 

You make it sound like you're being inconvenienced.  Be thankful that they even have vaccines for the pandemic.

 

If you're to bothered to take the few minutes for a vaccine that may save your life then stay home.

 

 

You are making several completely fact-free assumptions about what I think and about my vaccination status.

Related news, but no update for Thailand as yet AFAIK:

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Eleftheros said:

Depends hugely on how old you are, what sex you are, and whether you have co-morbidities such as obesity, diabetes, dementia, previous heart or respiratory conditions.

 

So you don't need to reveal anything you don't want to, the UK Office of National Statistics is one of the world's better resources.

 

Thanks! (I assume you were replying to my question above).

 

Early 40s, male, normal weight, no health problems and hardly ever take medication, not even a paracetamol. I get enough sleep and vitamin D, drink plenty of water, eat lots of fruit and veg and hardly any gluten.

 

One of the problems is the vast disparity in data between different countries - is it really plausible that Nigeria, population 100m+, has only suffered 3,148 deaths from Covid?

 

According to the respected journal The Lancet, the 40-49 age group had an infection fatality rate in the Delta phase of about 1 in 700. But many of those dying in that age group would have had one or more comorbidities.

 

With Omicron, obviously, the risk is significantly lower and as you say you're in good health and at the younger end of the age group, the fatality rate would be much lower than that.

 

Let me stress that I am not giving you medical advice, I am not a doctor, and I don't doubt that there are other research studies with somewhat different results.

 

But the data I have given seems to be in the general ballpark of other research, and The Lancet is regarded as generally reliable.

2 hours ago, rattlesnake said:

To the statistical experts here: I have had zero Covid shots. What are my chances of being seriously ill and dying? Presumably very high, right?

Just wondering how dangerously I am living.

Much higher than people who have been vaccinated.  

 

"People who don’t get vaccinated against COVID-19 are putting themselves in danger and also are creating a “disproportionate” threat to the health of vaccinated people, even in places with high vaccination rates, says a study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal."

 

https://www.webmd.com/vaccines/covid-19-vaccine/news/20220427/unvaccinated-people-create-higher-risk-for-vaccinated-study-says

 

 

1 hour ago, MrJ2U said:

No.

 

But they'll hopefully keep you off a ventilator and multi million dollar hospital bill. 

'Hopefully' is exactly the correct word.

5 hours ago, Eleftheros said:

catchy name of Bivalent

It's named that precisely because it's Bivalent.

 

The "Big Pharma" name used by antivaxx people is about as original as calling Bangkok "the Big Mango".

 

Here's the definition so that you'll better understand  about second generation vaccines. 

 

 

 

"stimulating an immune response against two different antigens"

 

https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/bivalent-vaccine

8 minutes ago, MrJ2U said:

The "Big Pharma" name used by antivaxx people is about as original as calling Bangkok "the Big Mango".

It's a term used a lot more widely than by "antivaxx" people, as widely as the terms Big Oil and Big Tobacco.

 

Not only is it a convenient shorthand used by the press, but it's also in the dictionary .