The vaccines and COVID and the Texas Democrats
Quite a few of the Democrats fleeing the Texas legislature seem to have gotten COVID for their troubles. And yet they were all fully vaccinated.
To me, this demonstrates two things about the vaccine and COVID. The first is that – as was always said – the vaccines are not 100% effective and some vaccinated people will be getting COVID. But what does “getting COVID” mean in this context? Most – actually all, so far – of this group have no symptoms or what’s described as mild symptoms. So the second thing it seems to demonstrate is that even when the vaccine doesn’t prevent COVID, it reduces its more serious effects.
There’s been a lot of brouhaha about the fact that the fleeing Texan Democrats didn’t wear masks on the plane. I think that matters only in that it shows their hypocrisy and rules-flouting, because masks are mandatory on planes. I assume they’re mandatory even on chartered flights, but I’m not sure. At any rate, I think masks are only mildly protective, and even with masks quite a few of these people might have gotten COVID anyway.
I think the Dems in question are flouting the rules, not flaunting them.
Certain people seem to be losing their minds over the infamous “delta variant”. They’re getting more and more aggressive with regards to the unvaccinated to the point they’re just short of outright demanding that vaccination become absolutely manditory for all American citizens.
Ars Technica currently has a story about Biden “blast[ing] social media after Facebook stonewalls admin over vaccine misinformation”. The comment section is a little bit eye opening and scary. Many commenters appear to be completely on board with the government forcing the social media companies to straight up censor dreaded “misinformation” (truthfully I’m actually a little shocked that Facebook has actually seemed to have put up a fight).
I also noticed this amazing piece of pretzel logic:
The Republicans attempting to compel speech on platforms by making moderation of political speech illegal is censorship (or restraint of the speech inherent in moderation decisions). That attempt is ongoing.
Good grief. Sadly that had more up votes than down.
Check out a graph of the UK. The link between cases and hospitalizations/deaths has been broken. Their ‘cases’ have gone up a lot but their hospitalizations and deaths have barely ticked up.
https://twitter.com/covid_clarity/status/1414635163342966791
PA Cat:
Fixed, thanks.
RE masks, you’re free to think whatever you like (for now) on their efficacy, and also free to draw conclusions from a charter flight, but nearly all research on the subject* suggests they do not help a bit with viral infection.
*with the notable exception of mainstream research between 1/1/2020 thru 11/3/2020, all of which strangely found that masks were super-double-mega effective.
Why did they run away to DC, anyhow? Were they looking for reinforcements from the Praetorian Guard to bring back? Or was it supposed to be some kind of weird reenactment of that time that Trump invited the Michigan Senate there? Texas might be well advised to arm up.
“Fleebaggers” is a fun term, I think.
At this time in Albany County, home of the great three-ring circus, there is apparently one person hospitalized due to The Bug, out of about 1,340 beds. Will be interesting to see what happens with the stats between now and Labor Day.
Would be fantastic to see random sample of average people tested so as to assess the validity of the tests themselves.
I suggest Costco shoppers. Simple anonymous test upon entry or exit. Easy way to get a couple thousand samples.
Athletes are tested as requirement in order to compete and positives are without any symptoms.
@Griffen, According the the CDC even here in the US we’ve only seen a very minor uptick in deaths despite a more substantial increase in daily cases over the past 3 weeks or so. The moving 7 day average cases have gone from like 11.5k to like just under 30k as of last Friday. The 7 day average deaths went from a low of 159 to a 235 as of last Friday.
So due to vaccinations essentially the net effect is that the virus is becoming far less deadly despite being arguably more contagious.
Masks which are not rated N95 are useless-USELESS- in preventing virus transmission.
They are instruments of oppression which also serve to identify those of us who are frightened sheep, to be herded by Democrats.
The TX Dem legislators fled to DC in order to a) deprive a quorum for legislation they opposed but would lose in a vote, and b) to congregate with DC weasels like Kamala, and plot and connive.
Gov. Abbott will have them all arrested upon their eventual return. Good!
Nonapod, that 159 reading was artificial- it came from the long July 4th weekend when 2/3 of the states reported essentially no new cases or deaths for a five day stretch.
How do we know they were vaccinated?
Stop testing people for no damn reason. That was arguably stupid all along but at this point it is beyond ridiculous. We have no clue what we will find in in people that have no symptoms because we have never done this on a large scale basis yet these idiots act like they know what this means.
This is just another reason why this will never totally end.
Your assumption is correct. The same mask rules apply to charter flights as to airliners.
This article includes a link to the original CDC order.
This is not a comment on whether the rule makes sense, nor on whether the CDC should be issuing orders as opposed to recommendations.
Yancey, I’m sure your right. I visit that CDC site almost daily and there have certainly been some wierd “adjustments” from time to time. I seem to recall noticing a series of very low numbers over the weekend of the 4th that were adjusted upwards a bit later.
And we’ve all heard stories of the death numbers being inflated for various reasons, like someone testing positive for Covid at some point, recovering, then dying from something totally unrelated later on but still being counted as a Covid death. So it’s certainly possible (and maybe even likely) that the CDC numbers are inflated. I certainly don’t take the CDC numbers as gospel truth.
But either way we’re not really seeing much in the way of deaths anymore.
According to Power Line Blog consultant Kevin Roche, the fleebaggers might not actually be infected:
See, https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2021/07/two-more-texas-dems-down.php
I suspect that these Dem idiots said that they got the vaccine but didn’t. Somebody should get them to produce proof of vaccination. On the chance that they did get vaccinated, these are likely false positives. We’ve been suffering from Covid-like symptoms too. It’s called hayfever.
Some years ago, the WI Dems also fled their state to prevent Repubs from enacting legislation. They hung out in IL at the The Tilted Kilt, a girlie bar, as I recall.
And apparently Repubs in some state did this in the past too because I’ve seen memes comparing headlines between the two events. I forget which state though.
(truthfully I’m actually a little shocked that Facebook has actually seemed to have put up a fight [against Biden censorship]). — Nonapod
Over recent years, I’ve wanted to believe that Zuckerberg would eventually come to his senses and keep Facebook out of the swamp. In the runup to the 2020 election, at one point he said that he would allow any and all political advertisements. In the end, the Chan-Zuckerberg foundation put approx. $400M towards corrupt local election boards facilitating fraud, as well as censoring political voices on Facebook pre election.
You could be correct about your above comment, but I highly doubt it. My guess is that it is legally smart for Facebook to mount a faux pushback against the Biden admin’s censorship move, only to cave in after a couple counter threats.
Jack Dorsey has claimed that Twitter has censored people by mistake so many times now that it has become a joke.
“So it’s certainly possible (and maybe even likely) that the CDC numbers are inflated.”
Yes, they’ll inflate the numbers for political reasons (e.g., to destroy Trump or to ramp up control of the population through fear)…
And they’ll deflate the numbers for political reasons (e.g., show that “Biden”—and by extension, “his” party—is really on top of “his” COVID game and that “his” policies are helping to save American lives)…
And they’ll again inflate the numbers for political reasons (e.g., to keep the people scared and in panic mode).
All depending on which way the wind blows.
This “flexibility” will most likely continue through the next two election cycles—or the until the HR.1 is rammed through (thus rendering all future elections unwinnable for any true Conservative opposition).
Which raises the question: Why believe them about anything?
I was only asking about the mass flight to DC by the Texas legislators because I was wondering why DC in particular; I had that example of Wisconsin in mind at the time, which JimNorCal also remembers. It seemed to me that these Texas people could have just gone one or two states over – surely it must have something to do with the imperial overlords being found in DC and not in other places. But it is still strange. And as someone on another site (Instapundit?) asked, who paid for that charter flight?
Regarding Zuckerberg, I suspect he took to heart all those myriad accusations by Hillary supporters that it was FB that enabled Trump’s victory in 2016 (not that anyone would want to take any credit away from Putin, certainly—Hillary, of course, being an expert at blaming anyone but herself…).
And since deep down we all “just want to be loved”, it stands to reason that Zuckerberg vowed that he would redeem himself in 2020.
Which he proceeded to do. (Never mind what he said. He’s just another Liberal weasel. Billionaire Liberal weasel.)
And yes, this “contretemps” with “Biden” is pure theater.
Nonetheless, although “Biden” will continue to exploit Z.’s, um, generous gifts, Zuckerberg should understand (and understand well) that should it become necessary, “Biden” will squash him like a bug.
But I’m not sure that he does understand this. After all (refrain), we “just want to be loved”…
My thinking the run to DC and Propagandize their hurrah on the big stage.
Barry – I doubt Zuckerberg thinks that at all, he knows conservatives have no shot at getting any messages out as they have been cutting them off at the knees long before 2016. He is all for Sundowner having him be the gate keeper of information and propaganda.
The issue of the Democrats maskless on the plane is the hypocrisy. As for the flight being the spread of Covid is a bit moot, since the Democrats rode to the airport on a bus, which does not have the same level of air filtration as commercial aircraft.
On the vaccination issue, if they want to sell people that the vaccine limits the harm of Covid, then be honest and sell that aspect only. But the tale is that the vaccine prevents people from getting the disease, and the other part of the tale, that makes no sense at all, is that everyone, including those that successfully fought the disease previously, should get the vaccine. The tale seems bogus at face value and doesn’t sell most people on getting a vaccine. The Democrat gamemanship on voting rights have just given the proof that they previously denied that the vaccine fails to work as described.
If they are going to continue the insane levels of testing then there needs to be an honest discussion about the fact that testing positive doesn’t necessarily mean you are sick or infectious or most importantly did something wrong worthy of shame because this will never end otherwise.
I understand that entire last paragraph was a pipedream but one can hope.
I think many states now feel that the daily tracking is useless and give their staff the weekends off. For my state (OK), I just check the daily hospitalizations in my county (OK and 84 today) and the hospitals here will also get the most severe cases from the rural areas.
I just keep my Vit D and zinc numbers up, which can be verified by blood testing.
Liz,
I think you’re right many states including Florida I believe have stopped daily updates which is why the fear porn people have now shifted to using 7 day moving averages.
On both sides, both lists grow. Exponentially.
Whose moving finger writes is yet to be determined.
— or —
to put in another way:
“Everyone Has a Plan Until They Get Punched in the Mouth”
the fear porn people have now shifted to using 7 day moving averages.
The 7-day moving average option has been available on Worldometers since the spring of 2020. It actually gives you a more digestible picture of what’s going on.
Art Deco,
Yes, I’m aware of that but for a long time that wasn’t the measurement used by most MSM. Would see this every Tuesday and Wednesday when the numbers would inevitably be higher after weekend catchup but wouldn’t often hear that as reason.
“Gov. Abbott will have them all arrested upon their eventual return.” Cicero
Pardon my skepticism but I’ll believe that when I see them led away in handcuffs.
If they are going to continue the insane levels of testing then there needs to be an honest discussion…” Griffin
Good luck with getting anyone on the left to agree to that.
GvdL:
Probably want to kick it off before Bezos-grade big data, logistics and (ahem) Automated Fulfillment Facilities scale out much further.
Eventually, someone will just walk up to you and slap a Return Shipping Label between your shoulder blades. After that, the System handles everything seamlessly.
How do you know those Democrats were vaccinated?
Vaccinated and got Covid? Lying about vaccinated I think.
I suspect there are two reasons why the “delta variant” has not been associated with a rise in deaths. One it is less dangerous. Two, the frail elderly have been pretty much killed off by Cuomo and Whitmer, among other ghouls.
Also, I am convinced that flu deaths were included in the numbers last winter and flu season is over.
As for the efficacy of the injection. I heard this morning that Israel, thoroughly injected, is seeing an upswing in ChiVi.
Now I hear it’s the Delta Variant (I shudder in fear).
But the injections were good against the DV.
Are they making it up as they go along?
@Edward+R+Bonderenka:
Too early to say. Wait and count the bodies. There’s too much rubbish ‘science’ and click baiting and incestuous grifting for pharma kickbacks to take any fresh Covid news at face value.
Jahaziel+Maqqebet on July 19, 2021 at 9:09 pm said:
Vaccinated and got Covid? Lying about vaccinated I think.
“Our trial will not demonstrate prevention of transmission,” Zaks said…” (Chief Medical Officer at Moderna)
Out the gate and right up front. Full article:
https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4037
If there is one piece of information that should be gathered it would be the true numbers of hospitalized FROM Covid vs hospitalized WITH Covid.
I heard Carl Heneghan from Oxford mention this again today in the UK for the coming fall and the same is true here.
This is maybe the most important number because if it is a great percentage WITH Covid (as many suspect and a few drips have reported) then that clarifies the hospital situation greatly.
That we have such a sketchy idea of this 18 months in is ridiculous.
” And as someone on another site (Instapundit?) asked, who paid for that charter flight?” – Philip
Don’t they know that every plane contributes to Climate Change and the End of the Universe as We Know It?
But then, Democrat fossil fuel use has no effect on CC, just like leftist protests are not Covid vectors.
PS – on vacation this week, so will be reading & commenting sporadically.
We did have to get a (useless) Covid test before coming to our semi-paranoid venue, a college in Pennsylvania that hosts conventions in the summer.
No masks outdoors or in our private rooms, but have to wear them in buildings otherwise. The main reason is to “set a good example” for all the MS-HS students doing “events” in the same buildings.
So stupid to have all those children in masks!
I hope Abbot does arrest them all for dereliction of duty, or at least dock their pay.
}}} I assume they’re mandatory even on chartered flights, but I’m not sure.
I could easily be wrong, but that’s not the way I’d bet….
Making the wealthy and celebrities wear masks? NAHhhhh.
}}} The same mask rules apply to charter flights as to airliners.
This article includes a link to the original CDC order.
This assumes people pay attention on charter flights
}}} I visit that CDC site almost daily and there have certainly been some wierd “adjustments” from time to time. I seem to recall noticing a series of very low numbers over the weekend of the 4th that were adjusted upwards a bit later.
THEORETICALLY that can, and “should” be updated over time. Not everyone sends in their records on the same schedule, nor are they processed on the same timeline… Moreover, they may have a patient that MIGHT be positive, but for some reason there is a delay in the official lab results, which causes it to be delayed a week or more.
I don’t really trust the POLITICAL arm of the CDC, but I think there is a MEDICAL arm that is devoted to Reality, The Concept.
}}} the true numbers of hospitalized FROM Covid vs hospitalized WITH Covid.
Where the heck are you getting consistently updated info on hospitalizations connected to covid at all? The death counts are easy to find, I’ve yet to see a sight with actual hospitalization numbers.
And let’s not forget this:
n May, the CDC revised its system for reporting breakthrough cases, stating it would count only those cases that result in hospitalization or death.
A far cry from the lead-up to the vaccine where PCR testing of the healthy inflated numbers significantly.
PA+Cat,
‘Flouting/flaunting’
Years ago, I read an op-ed by a celebrated writer who twice referred to GW Bush as ‘an illiterate frat boy’. She wrapped up her rant by pointing out he also flaunted international law.
The Covid vaccine, like any vaccine, does not imbue immunity by itself. Vaccines mitigate the effects of a disease. The individual’s natural immune system determines the degree of mitigation, how much immunity the individual develops. Vaccines will initiate varying degrees of immunity in every person who gets vaccinated. They are not absolute. A vaccinated person can become infected, fight it off, developed mild symptoms, or produce so few antibodies leading to death.
Three things:
1) In most regular uses (i.e. not medical staff or others who have special masks and procedures), Masks are NOT for self-protection (though it has some minor benefit of such), but are largely for preventing one from unknowingly spreading the virus (one is contagious up to 48 hours before any symptoms show, some only ever have minor symptoms), if they happen to be infected.
2) The Delta variant is 1.6x (60% more) transmissible than Alpha, which is 1.5x more transmissible than the original Wuhan strain. That nets out to 2.4x or 240%.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/the-delta-variant-is-serious-heres-why-its-on-the-rise
https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2021/06/16/the-delta-variant-is-the-most-dangerous-sars-cov-2-mutation-yet
3) Though Delta seems to only be about as deadly as prior variants.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/15/briefing/delta-variant-spread-contagious.html
It rather shows how much more contagious Delta is, if a group of fully vaccinated people fly on a smallish plane, and don’t wear masks.
This will be with us for some time, so long as a large percentage of our population (and, as we open up international travel, of the world) are unvaccinated. Variants will continue to develop (remember, the virus has several billion more chances to test what “works better”) and there is a good chance that the vaccines we have now become obsolete.
Mask mandates and closures may be in our future as our political leaders hope to avoid overloading our medical facilities. Right now we are a long way from that, and hopefully we can avoid it.
We each can have a hand in avoiding that outcome. Simply take the vaccine.
For the first time in world history, individuals who display zero symptoms are declared “ill.”
What BS.
Test methods today are so sensitive they can detect stuff within parts per billion.
If they tested every person in the USA for some bizarre disease, say ebola, given the sensitivity of modern testing technology, I would not be surprised if over 1% or 2% of those tested, would test positive for ebola; yet manifest zero symptoms.
And apparently, the test for the corona virus requires that any snippet of virus detected, no matter how small, be replicated 20 to 30 times within the test apparatus, so as to determine who is “ill.”
And let’s not forget what that lying SOB, Fauci, said early on; that there was no need to wear masks or delay your vacation or travel plans or even worry about the virus.
Apparently, depending upon the day of the week and who is the president, his utterances will change.
Just another reason why the federal bureaucracy needs to be eliminated.
Jared:
Others and I don’t assume that the masks are adequate for prevention of spread; size of virus vs pore size of mask. It seems that it offers little more than a face placebo or a shame marker. Why buy the lie? Such as the motives of the politicians and health care aparachtiks.
If “there is a good chance that the vaccines we now have may become obsolete” what does “Simply take(ing) the vaccine.” accomplish?
I am already vaccinated (since late March 2021) but do not believe the media or the Delta strain panic mongers.
3) Though Delta seems to only be about as deadly as prior variants.
You’re not looking at the actual data.
I keep reading that the Democrats that have fled Texas to prevent legislation from progressing are in DC to try to get the filibuster removed from the Senate.
Isn’t the tactic they are using just another form of filibuster?
UK Health
0.1% unvaccinated deaths
0.6% fully vaccinated deaths
the Democrats that have fled Texas to prevent legislation
Insurrection.
insurrection (n.)
“an uprising against civil authority,” early 15c., insurreccion, from Old French insurreccion or directly from Late Latin insurrectionem (nominative insurrectio) “a rising up,” noun of action from past participle stem of insurgere “to rise up”
Maybe they have a good excuse. Perhaps a note from the doctor…
Please excuse Igor and Natasha, Mau and Chinle, they are vaccinated, and are at six times greater risk of progressive viability, and likely infectious.
n.n.:
So what?
The vaccine is only between 90% and 95% effective, and the percentage of older people among the vaccinated is very very high. They are also most susceptible to getting serious COVID and dying from it, and also to having serious co-morbidities. So those stats would be about as expected.
Martin:
Consistency is not their strong suit. Nor do their constituents seem to demand it.
The only thing a paper mask offers is, if worn tightly, is that it catches expelled droplets of the mask wearer and so somewhat prevents them from traveling out a few feet where someone nearby could breathe them in. Cloth ones likely don’t even do that much.
They are designed to help keep others from being infected by an infected mask wearer. N95 is different and then only works if properly fitted, worn once, and disposed of.
What has happened in the world over masking is insanity but then it’s done by the Left for power in which they are insane too.
Jared: That person who would get a blood clot or have a heart attack or a pulmonary thrombosis (All VA documented results).
You insist they should just get the vaccine?
You’d take the responsibility for their death or damage?
Who the hell are you to give medical advice?
Someone I know personally has posited glee over the prospect of those in rural areas refusing to vaccinate, getting COVID and dying. He is a retired state assistant attorney general.
Is it still funny now?