COVID XBB boosters offer good protection against severe outcomes but less so against JN.1

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

 

 

The current COVID-19 boosters targeting the Omicron XBB.1.5 subvariant are still offering solid protection against infection, hospitalizations, and death, but are somewhat limited in efficacy against illnesses caused by the JN.1 subvariant, now the dominant strain in the United States, according to a research letter ... in the New England Journal of Medicine.

...

At 4 weeks after vaccination, the XBB.1.5 vaccines were 52.2% effective at preventing infection (95% confidence interval [CI], 44.6% to 58.7%). Efficacy against infection dropped at 10 weeks to 32.6% (95% CI, 28.1% to 36.8%), and at 20 weeks to 20.4% (95% CI, 6.2% to 32.5%).

 

The boosters were 66.8% effective at preventing hospitalization at 4 weeks (95% CI, 51.7% to 77.1%), and decreased to 57.1% (95% CI, 40.4% to 69.2%) after 10 weeks.

...

During that [JN.1] period, boosters provided 44.3% protection against infection at 4 weeks (95% CI, 33.5% to 53.4%) and 60.1% protection against hospitalization (95% CI, 30.9% to 77.0), which likewise waned over time. 

 

(more)

 

https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/current-covid-boosters-offer-good-protection-against-severe-outcomes-less-so-against-jn1

 

 

 

 

 

...

We collected individual-level data on the uptake of the three XBB.1.5 vaccines and the incidence of Covid-19 between September 11, 2023, and February 21, 2024, in a cohort of approximately 1.8 million persons by linking records from the Nebraska Electronic Disease Surveillance System and the Nebraska State Immunization Information System (NESIIS).

...

The vaccine effectiveness against infection reached a level of 52.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 44.6 to 58.7) after 4 weeks. It decreased to 32.6% (95% CI, 28.1 to 36.8) after 10 weeks and to 20.4% (95% CI, 6.2 to 32.5) after 20 weeks. The effectiveness against hospitalization reached a level of 66.8% (95% CI, 51.7 to 77.1) after 4 weeks and decreased to 57.1% (95% CI, 40.4 to 69.2) after 10 weeks.

...

Overall, the XBB.1.5 vaccines were effective against omicron subvariants, although less so against JN.1. The effectiveness was greater against hospitalization and death than against infection, and it waned moderately from its peak over time."

 

https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMc2402779#f1

 

[Robert Paulson]

Get your boosters everyone. Stay safe. Make sure to listen to the government at all times. They know what’s good for you and have your best interests at heart. 

[dutch boy]

Yawwwwwwn! I am so over this vaccine nonsense. Never again for me.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

People can look up all they want on supplement-selling websites and dodgy YT videos. But credible sources find no substantial evidence to support most of what you're citing above in terms of actually preventing or treating COVID:

 

U.S. National Institutes of Health - Dec. 2023:

Supplements

Vitamin D

• There is insufficient evidence for the Panel to recommend either for or against the use of vitamin D for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19.

Zinc

• There is insufficient evidence for the Panel to recommend either for or against the use of zinc for the treatment of COVID-19.
• The Panel recommends against using zinc supplementation above the recommended dietary allowance (i.e., zinc 11 mg daily for men, zinc 8 mg daily for nonpregnant women) for the prevention of COVID-19, except in a clinical trial"

https://www.covid19treatmentguidelines.nih.gov/therapies/supplements/summary-recommendations/

 

And as for ivermectin:

Recommendation

• The Panel recommends against the use of ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19

...

Trials have failed to find a clinical benefit of using ivermectin to treat COVID-19 in outpatients.

 

https://www.covid19treatmentguidelines.nih.gov/therapies/miscellaneous-drugs/ivermectin/

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

On the other hand, also from the U.S. NIH:

COVID-19 Vaccines 

Recommendation

• The Panel recommends COVID-19 vaccination for everyone who is eligible according to the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices

Rationale

Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent COVID-19...

 

https://www.covid19treatmentguidelines.nih.gov/overview/prevention-of-sars-cov-2/

 

[Robert Paulson]

25 minutes ago, jas007 said:

At this point, anyone taking booster shots against anything must surely have rocks in their head.  
 

Do some research first.  Make sure you look at the websites that aren’t censored and aren’t filled with propaganda. What you’ll find out may shock you. 

 

Vitamin D (sunshine every day), Zinc, and Quercetin (a Zinc ionophore).  That’s what I take.  
 

Also look up Ivermectin. 

The hardest thing to convince people of is the truth

[jas007]

15 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

People can look up all they want on supplement-selling websites and dodgy YT videos. But credible sources find no substantial evidence to support most of what you're citing above in terms of actually preventing or treating COVID:

 

U.S. National Institutes of Health - Dec. 2023:

Supplements

Vitamin D

• There is insufficient evidence for the Panel to recommend either for or against the use of vitamin D for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19.

Zinc

• There is insufficient evidence for the Panel to recommend either for or against the use of zinc for the treatment of COVID-19.
• The Panel recommends against using zinc supplementation above the recommended dietary allowance (i.e., zinc 11 mg daily for men, zinc 8 mg daily for nonpregnant women) for the prevention of COVID-19, except in a clinical trial"

https://www.covid19treatmentguidelines.nih.gov/therapies/supplements/summary-recommendations/

 

And as for ivermectin:

Recommendation

• The Panel recommends against the use of ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19

...

Trials have failed to find a clinical benefit of using ivermectin to treat COVID-19 in outpatients.

 

https://www.covid19treatmentguidelines.nih.gov/therapies/miscellaneous-drugs/ivermectin/

 

A few links on research:

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8970839/

 

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9137692/
 

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/fft2.207

 

 

 

[Amethyst]

A post showing a misleading news report headline not supported by the actual news report has been removed.

 

[Robert Paulson]

I knew someone who got a booster. He dies shortly after 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I know anti-vaxers who will do and say almost anything in hopes of preventing people from getting the COVID vaccines that substantially reduce their risk of serious illness and death from COVID -- as documented in the source study reported in this thread and elsewhere.

 

And meanwhile, here in Thailand, where the government hasn't had a national COVID vaccination campaign since 2022, we have this:

 

 

"The current level of new weekly COVID hospitalizations remains more than three times higher than at the start of the recent surge in mid-March.

 

The latest weekly tally of serious condition COVID hospitalized patients is Thailand's highest since late August 2022. The tally of those requiring ventilation to breathe is Thailand's highest since late December 2022."

 

 

Edited June 3 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[Robert Paulson]

It’s funny because I know of governments are pharma that say and do anything in their power to make people use their products

[anrcaccount]

On 6/3/2024 at 8:45 PM, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

meanwhile, here in Thailand, where the government hasn't had a national COVID vaccination campaign since 2022,

 

Here's their rationale: 

 

Source: https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/most-dont-need-latest-covid-19-booster-says-thai-virologist

 

Most people do not need a booster against the latest strain of Covid-19, except for vulnerable groups and the unvaccinated as symptoms are relatively mild, and the vaccine must be paid for, claimed a virologist.

 

 

When questioned on the distribution of covid vaccines, Yong mentioned that the National Health Security Office (NHSO) no longer receives a government subsidy to distribute them free of charge.

 

Due to its relatively high price, he highlights that getting booster shots for healthy individuals is not necessary, said Yong.

 

“Anyone wishing to be vaccinated must pay for it out of their own pocket, and the vaccine is expensive.

“The demand for the vaccine has dropped, so supplies are limited, driving up retail costs.”

[stoner]

4 hours ago, anrcaccount said:

 

Here's their rationale: 

 

Source: https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/most-dont-need-latest-covid-19-booster-says-thai-virologist

 

Most people do not need a booster against the latest strain of Covid-19, except for vulnerable groups and the unvaccinated as symptoms are relatively mild, and the vaccine must be paid for, claimed a virologist.

 

 

When questioned on the distribution of covid vaccines, Yong mentioned that the National Health Security Office (NHSO) no longer receives a government subsidy to distribute them free of charge.

 

Due to its relatively high price, he highlights that getting booster shots for healthy individuals is not necessary, said Yong.

 

“Anyone wishing to be vaccinated must pay for it out of their own pocket, and the vaccine is expensive.

“The demand for the vaccine has dropped, so supplies are limited, driving up retail costs.”

 

bkk post is running a similar story just now too. headline reads..... no need for covid boosters. this is now coming from one of the top virologists in the country. dr yong as noted in the thaiger.   

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

That's the public opinion one Thai doctor is expressing, after the Thai government has basically decided to cease spending any government funds to protect its citizens with COVID vaccinations.

 

And note what Yong actually said in The Thaiger report was not "no need" for COVID vaccines. But instead, it starts out saying: "Most people do not need a booster against the latest strain of Covid-19, except for vulnerable groups and the unvaccinated [emphasis added]. And the Post's report, despite its headline, also includes the exception "except for vulnerable groups and the unvaccinated."

What's the Thai government doing to protect the "vulnerable groups" from COVID -- the older folks, those with chronic health conditions (overweight, diabetes, respiratory problems, etc), pregnant women, etc... Right now, nothing at all.

 

The U.S. public health agencies still recommend the updated COVID boosters for almost everyone. The U.K. government continues to recommend and run government paid COVID booster vaccine programs for the elderly and others at higher risk. Singapore continues to recommend COVID boosters to its at-risk groups, etc.

 

Maybe Dr. Yong hasn't been reading the local news and Ministry of Public Health reports that show new weekly COVID hospitalizations here have more than tripled since mid-March, up above 1,800 per week right now. And serious condition COVID hospitalizations right now (738 as of last week) are at their highest level since fall 2022...

 

Perhaps he might want to reconsider his opinion, or at least start paying attention to what the Thai MoPH is actually reporting. If COVID is actually so mild for everyone, then who's filling up all the Thai hospital beds, as reported below?

 

 

Edited June 5 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[daveAustin]

I'm sure you're trying to do good, John, and possibly recommended for older folk, but I will not be having this or any other covid vaccine again... issues with previous jabs. Garbage. Had Delta and survived so will rely on my immune system.

[anrcaccount]

5 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

That's the public opinion one Thai doctor is expressing

 

Don't try and minimize his statement by calling it a public opinion of "one Thai doctor". 

 

He is the Thai government's Chief Medical Adviser on covid. He's the "top virologist" in Thailand, was in the news throughout the pandemic.