COVID-19 Update: Friday, February 5th, 2021

I thought I would end the week with some good, odd, and fun news.

1. Johnson & Johnson's, vaccine should be available soon - it has been submitted for review. As soon as I have the raw data I will review that and share it with you. Don't let the 66% effectiveness rating worry you too much. Remember, they included the SA variant in their work which brought down the overall effectiveness. When you remove that factor it jumps up to about 85% give or take. (I can give you a stronger number once I get the raw data). And it works against the SA variant (a real plus) and it's only 1 shot - so for those of us who aren't great about getting back for that second dose - it is a good option. Storage requirements are also much less stringent than the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. More to come on this.

2. Astra-Zeneca and J&J are both selling their vaccine at cost. They have decided not to make a profit until the pandemic ends. So The AZ vaccine will cost you about $8 for both shots and J&J will be around $10.

3. India is buying vaccines for some of its neighbors who can't afford them. Countries like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan who are struggling to get vaccines. In fact, India has committed to providing them with 20 million doses. Not to be outdone in generosity, New Zealand has committed $53 million toward providing vaccines for their pacific-island neighbors who can't otherwise afford the vaccine.

4. The Moderna vaccine works just fine against the UK strain and provides some protection against the SA strain. So if you got the Moderna vaccine you are a-ok. They are actively working on a booster should it be needed for future variants. (i.e. they get it mostly ready and then make tweaks based on the variant.)

5. Just a thought or two on needing boosters. You may recall last week (I think it was last week) we discussed vaccine resistance (not hesitance - which is human, but resistance which is the virus). The virus can become resistant to a vaccine just as bacteria have become resistant to antibiotics. This is not common but it is normal. The longer we take to reach herd immunity the more likely this is to happen because we have people partially vaccinated (one of two doses) and we have people with natural immunity to some variants but not all, and we have some still completely vulnerable. It gives the virus time to adapt and mutate. Mutations may require a booster shot. Resistance will require new versions of vaccines. This is just something to be aware of as a possibility.

6. The major of a town in SC saved the day by calling, Chick-fil-A to the rescue. The scheduling computer went down at their vaccine drive-thru and cars were backed up in hour(s) long waits. The major called in an expert - and Chick-fil-A was able to assess the situation, create a solution and get the line moving. Wait times dropped to only 15 minutes and 1,000 people were vaccinated thanks to some quick thinking by the major.

7. A group of women in Alaska is traveling to remote areas via snowmobile to deliver vaccines.

8. Vaccine hesitance is down.

9. People around the country are giving out "joints for jabs" in places where such things are legal. It looks a bit different everywhere but basically, they are giving out free joints to those who get the vaccine. Strange but true.

10. And if you haven't heard about the Sisterhood of the Traveling Wine - well where were you in 2020, quarantine?? There are FB groups dedicated to dressing up as fairies and leaving wine around their communities for neighbors who could use it.

11. Lots of really wonderful things are happening and that is easy to forget amid all the darkness. If you need more positivity, go here https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/50-good-news-stories-from-2020/

FINAL THOUGHTS: I have just one small bit of advice for today. Remember, it is not wise to cut one's own bangs with no formal training and without at least one cup of coffee first. It is not as easy as it looks. Just say no to such impulses. Trust me on this one. Have a great weekend and I hope your team wins the Superbowl - or at least that your snacks are good.

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