To Vaccinate or Not---The Rat Flu Odyssey Continues

[Cisco Kid]

At my pharmacy they are giving tests away like banks give away pens. My capitalist Insurance company pays the capitalist manufacturer who bills the socialist part of the govt and everyone except the rich pays for the invoice. Why do you hate Capitalism?

Anyway, the tests that Jerod ordered 2 years ago are finally here.

[leroy jenkins]

Call me fucking crazy, but its almost as if inflation was someones goal. Thats way too crazy though, its just good ol funneling of wealth to the already wealthy.

[Cisco Kid]

Ok, you're crazy.

[MagnificentUnicorn]

Call me fucking crazy, but its almost as if inflation was someones goal. Thats way too crazy though, its just good ol funneling of wealth to the already wealthy.

Inflation is good, slows spending and encourages saving. That sounds conservative doesn’t it?


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[old goat]

Call me fucking crazy, but its almost as if inflation was someones goal. Thats way too crazy though, its just good ol funneling of wealth to the already wealthy.

Not funneling. Shoveling my dear man. Shoveling.

[J. Barron DeJong]

Call me fucking crazy, but its almost as if inflation was someones goal. Thats way too crazy though, its just good ol funneling of wealth to the already wealthy.

I’m almost 100% certain inflation wasn’t ‘the goal’. A lot of very rich people also hold bonds, which unlike stocks, don’t adjust for changes in inflation, so when inflation comes in higher than expected, the bond holders lose.

Much more likely is that there was a lot of uncertainty about how the economy was going to be affected by Covid, and in trying to avoid under-stimulating the economy and enduring years of high unemployment - like the recovery from the Great Recession - they would play it safe and over-stimulate. Risk with overstimulating is inflation, but at least everyone is employed and producing.

Isn’t this the vaccine thread? Maybe we should get back to that.

[garyfromterrace]

Well count me into the infected column. 2.5 years of trying to do the right thing and bam. It seems rampant in my circle of friends and acquaintances lately. My day 2 was really shitty, sore all over, head stuffed, chest felt like a weight taped around it, sore throat, cough, snot aplenty, appreciable amounts of phlegm. Zero energy to do anything other than sleep, cough and sneeze.

This is day 3. Head stuffed, lots of snot, bit of a cough and moderate amounts of phlegm. Chest tightness gone thank allah. A bit more energy today and I could eat some solids. When I see that Colbert, his band leader and Mofro got it (sorry mate, hope you're feeling better now), I feel less like a Putz.

Thanks OG and Mofro and others who have contributed good info in this thread.

And, OG I had to laugh when you posted something like..."and a strain could come along and kill all human life in 6 weeks". How true, how true. Better bike and ski while we can!

[The SnowShow]

Hope you feel better soon. Seems like a lot of people/kids in my circle are getting it too. Some for the second time. I don’t think I’ve had it yet but who knows, I could have been asymptomatic.

[old goat]

Well count me into the infected column. 2.5 years of trying to do the right thing and bam. It seems rampant in my circle of friends and acquaintances lately. My day 2 was really shitty, sore all over, head stuffed, chest felt like a weight taped around it, sore throat, cough, snot aplenty, appreciable amounts of phlegm. Zero energy to do anything other than sleep, cough and sneeze.

This is day 3. Head stuffed, lots of snot, bit of a cough and moderate amounts of phlegm. Chest tightness gone thank allah. A bit more energy today and I could eat some solids. When I see that Colbert, his band leader and Mofro got it (sorry mate, hope you're feeling better now), I feel less like a Putz.

Thanks OG and Mofro and others who have contributed good info in this thread.

And, OG I had to laugh when you posted something like..."and a strain could come along and kill all human life in 6 weeks". How true, how true. Better bike and ski while we can!

Your welcome, but me and my half informed speculation don't belong in the same sentence as Mofro.

[XXX-er]

Call me fucking crazy, but its almost as if inflation was someones goal. Thats way too crazy though, its just good ol funneling of wealth to the already wealthy.

Would you rather be supid or crazy ? I'm good with either

[altacoup]

No doubt. Mofro has been providing some of the best info possible through out the whole pandemic. My father continues to be completely baffled when I tell him most of the really good info I’ve read on Covid has been on a internet ski forum.

[XXX-er]

Well count me into the infected column. 2.5 years of trying to do the right thing and bam. It seems rampant in my circle of friends and acquaintances lately. My day 2 was really shitty, sore all over, head stuffed, chest felt like a weight taped around it, sore throat, cough, snot aplenty, appreciable amounts of phlegm. Zero energy to do anything other than sleep, cough and sneeze.

This is day 3. Head stuffed, lots of snot, bit of a cough and moderate amounts of phlegm. Chest tightness gone thank allah. A bit more energy today and I could eat some solids. When I see that Colbert, his band leader and Mofro got it (sorry mate, hope you're feeling better now), I feel less like a Putz.

Thanks OG and Mofro and others who have contributed good info in this thread.

And, OG I had to laugh when you posted something like..."and a strain could come along and kill all human life in 6 weeks". How true, how true. Better bike and ski while we can!

yeah ever one of the non-idiots I know has had Covid,

I got covid end of april didnt feel up to/ missed shnai day & shussboomer

i don't laugh when OG sez it could mutate and kill us all ... cuz this is the reality

[Tri-Ungulate]

So, Moderna x2, Moderna boosted in late November, Covid in January. One of my docs says go for booster #2, her PA says don't.

Friend got some new double shot called Evushield, but it is because he is immunocompromised.

Boost or wait on the next wave?

Evusheld is for people who can't mount an immune response, since it's basically engineered long-acting SARS CoV2 antibodies. Some efficacy against omicron as well as the BA.2 variant.

I'm sure you realize your doc and your PA are giving disparate advice because in your particular situation, best clinical practice is completely unknown. And although your personal doc doesn't know, at least she knows your medical history and can use that to inform the decision.

I'm kinda in your boat, Pfizer x 3 then omicron (which was less severe than most flus or colds I'd had, likely due to prior vax).
Personally not planning on a booster at this point, but may change my mind if more compelling data comes out, especially as time goes on and antibodies wane.

My gut feeling (not based on data, just my rudimentary understanding of immunology) is that the T-cell response is more important at this point, and I'm sure I have plenty of T-cell memory, as well as ability to ramp up B-cell response at a moment's notice. Kinda wish I knew more about how Legoskier's team is coming re: T-cell repertoire following vax and/or infection.

[Harry]

Those tests also cost taxpayers like $60 each. Theres nothing free about them. Funny very few are talking about their cost, but we're pumping out tons of them. Some people are reporting on social media they are just testing every few days even without symptoms or possible exposure. I mean it makes sense, but inflation is also a thing.

Since everyone demands links and sources to say anything. https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news...25dc33979a664c


Wholesale cost is only $6-$7 a test. Talk about profiteering off an emergency. https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-tr...1e11bc65e13c6f

Where in your links does it say the government paid $60 per test ?


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[oldnew_guy]

Where in your links does it say the government paid $60 per test ?


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Remember this is the guy who was just wondering why people don’t take what he says at face value.

[leroy jenkins]

I’m almost 100% certain inflation wasn’t ‘the goal’. A lot of very rich people also hold bonds, which unlike stocks, don’t adjust for changes in inflation, so when inflation comes in higher than expected, the bond holders lose.

Much more likely is that there was a lot of uncertainty about how the economy was going to be affected by Covid, and in trying to avoid under-stimulating the economy and enduring years of high unemployment - like the recovery from the Great Recession - they would play it safe and over-stimulate. Risk with overstimulating is inflation, but at least everyone is employed and producing.

Isn’t this the vaccine thread? Maybe we should get back to that.

Huge inflation doesn't help the 'rich' or even the 'very rich' it only helps the ultrarich. Even for the very rich, uncertainty is a bad thing, debatably even for the ultra rich. I admit its a stretch, I don't think the people running our government want uncertainty and inflation, but I'm not sure I trust Bill Gates to give half a fuck about anyone but himself. Regardless, even if not some ulterior motive, many choices made in the past couple years have created this inflation, and contributed to it. At the very least, popularly supported things like ukraine aid and free tests are not unequivocally good. In fact, just about nothing ever is.

Get back to whatever you want. These things are all relevant to each other. The point of vaccines is to limit the virus so we can all enjoy safety and prosperity again. Destroying the economy to destroy the virus is a pyric victory, and not even that if it doesn't destroy the virus.

[leroy jenkins]

Where in your links does it say the government paid $60 per test ?


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So how much does the government pay per 'free' test?

I read the $60 figure somewhere else. I can't find that exact figure without spending more time than i want to looking, but it doens't invalidate my point at all to not include that. The fact that we all don't already know how much we're paying for those 'free' tests itself is worth thinking about. I think there was enough info in those two links to support my point even if its $40 per test.

The links I provided show lack of transparency, and lack of any attempt to limit huge amounts of profiteering contrary to the public good. I believe in the free market and all, but when it is obviously detrimental to the common good, national security, and predatory, well then shouldn't we be limiting it just a bit? Or at least creating transparency?

[leroy jenkins]

Remember this is the guy who was just wondering why people don’t take what he says at face value.

Nah not really. I actually expect anyone to not base what they think one a single link anyways. Most things I say to hear what others think about them, not to quibble about the details that do not undermine the basic point while skipping any discussion about the larger point. I rarely say anything to assert oh this is for sure true. The recent PTSD topic being an exception, because no PTSD is not psychosomatic.

That debate is funny, I was criticized for not proving my point with links and sources, but all I was arguing is it ISN"T psychosomatic. The guy claiming it was offered no proof to show that is psychosomatic. Theres a double standard there because you guys only make that demand of someone saying something you don't like or someone you don't like saying something.

[oldnew_guy]

So how much does the government pay per 'free' test?

I read the $60 figure somewhere else. I can't find that exact figure without spending more time than i want to looking, but it doens't invalidate my point at all to not include that. The fact that we all don't already know how much we're paying for those 'free' tests itself is worth thinking about. I think there was enough info in those two links to support my point even if its $40 per test.

Your link literally says they can’t determine the per test cost for the tests that were mailed via USPS.

Is that the same as the per test cost for the ones I buy at the grocery store for $10/test?

You are way way off base claiming $60 when everyone looks around and buys them in packs of 2 for $20-25.

[leroy jenkins]

Your link literally says they can’t determine the per test cost for the tests that were mailed via USPS.

Is that the same as the per test cost for the ones I buy at the grocery store for $10/test?

You are way way off base claiming $60 when everyone looks around and buys them in packs of 2 for $20-25.

Cool, I'll admit you may be righ tabout that since I can't find the source where I read $60.

Still, my basic point is valid. $6 wholesale for $25 retail. Yea capitalism needs a profit but at the detriment of the public good, and subsidized by the government during a time of increasing inflation and uncertainty? Wanna talk about that instead?\\

The governmetn often pays more than retail for things. Heres a link saying it should be easy to know how much the government is paying but it isnt. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...001/?gnt-cfr=1

Wanna talk about that, or just how I'm a dumb dumb doo do head? One seems relevant to all our lives, the other seems relevant to basically no one.

[jono]

FFS. According to KHN the Pentagon spent "nearly" $2B for 380M tests, or about $5 each on average, for those who own a calculator.

[CarlMega]

This is the ending we needed to this thread. The perfect complete arc. The claim. The confidence. The extrapolation and self-assured forecasting. And completely wrong.

[skiJ]

I believe this thread can continue to be useful -
the recent inquiries about childhood vaccination and boosters certainly have merit.

my thanks to those who offered insight and perspective, recently ; it is interesting, the broad perspectives that are drawn to these forums -
my ongoing sincere Thanks to those who offer expertise and Experience - Thank you.


Thank you. skiJ

[leroy jenkins]

FFS. According to KHN the Pentagon spent "nearly" $2B for 380M tests, or about $5 each on average, for those who own a calculator.

I can admit I'm wrong about something, but shouldn't you have to spoon feed me a source? Isn't that the way this works?

[jono]

I can admit I'm wrong about something, but shouldn't you have to spoon feed me a source? Isn't that the way this works?

I wanted to give you a chance to Google it for yourself first. But since you've had that and chosen not to do it (keyword hint: "KHN Pentagon cost at-home tests" would get you there)

https://khn.org/news/article/what-ar...ment-wont-say/

"The Defense Department organized the bidding and announced in mid-January, after a limited competitive process, that three companies were awarded contracts totaling nearly $2 billion for 380 million over-the-counter antigen tests, all to be delivered by March 14."

Looks like they're out of date now, since there are a few more providers at this point, but I think we can agree that given the spin in that article there's relatively little risk that the author is trying to underestimate the cost (or, indeed, estimate it at all, since apparently $5 goes against something or other.)