Why require booster shots?
Ong cited a UK study on the Pfizer/ BioNTech vaccine's effectiveness against the new Omicron variant.Two doses of the vaccine, Ong said, were about 90 per cent effective against Omicron infection one month after the second dose.
The effectiveness dropped to about 50 per cent after three months, however.
It dropped further to about 35 per cent, four months and beyond.
Ong said that the "erosion of protection is quite fast," but added that it was "encouraging" that effectiveness against Omicron infection "shot back up to 75 per cent" two weeks after a booster.
The above is from an article in the mothership.sg.
There are several things that I would want to ask.
1. The study is about the effectiveness of Pfizer/BioNTech on Omicron variant. Just because this study affects Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines, why is this also applicable to other vaccines especially the inactivated virus vaccines? Can so simply apply this finding to other vaccines meh? Don't you think it is scientifically required to do a study on Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines to determine their effectiveness instead of gasak buta, one vaccine like that, then other must also be like that? Can simply compare apple with oranges meh?
2. Is it normal for a vaccine's effectiveness to drop 50 per cent after 3 months and another 35 per cent after another 4 months? What happens to the 95% efficacy claim? Forgot to read the small prints?
3. Another new claim, after 3rd booster shot, the effectiveness against infection shot back to 75 per cent after 2 weeks. Ok, how long would this 75 per cent effectiveness stays? Another 3 months or 4 months, how long exactly? And how much would it drop?
4. If it drops like after the 2 shots, 50 + 35 percent over 6 to 7 months, does it mean there is a need for another booster shot after 6 to 7 months? When would this end? When is enough is enough?
5. Have they done a study on the effectiveness of the 3rd booster shot and how long will it become useless again? Is it important to know about this?
6. If the lifespan of the first 2 shots is only about 7 months, would the lifespan of the 3rd shot be about the same? Or it is the end, it will last forever or another year? Don't need to know meh?
7. The reasoning and the effectiveness of the vaccines are really very frightening. Why should the validity of different types of vaccines be based on one type of vaccines, ie, inactivated virus vaccines based on mRNA vaccines?
8. Oh, is the conclusion of the UK study on the effectiveness based on the level of antibodies present over time?
What do you think?
My suggestion, based on what this kind of vaccines are capable of doing, although now they dare not claim about prevention of infection, but prevention of serious illnesses and death, is for everyone to get infected and then get a natural immunity for life. Tiok boh? If not, every few months must get new booster shots how to afford? What kind of vaccine is this? Like drug addiction like dat.
SINGAPORE: Four Singapore swimmers have tested positive for COVID-19 in Abu Dhabi at the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) 2021, the Singapore Swimming Association (SSA) said on Thursday (Dec 16).
ReplyDeleteWith the rest of Singapore’s contingent in the United Arab Emirates regarded as close contacts of the positive cases, none of the team's swimmers will be able to compete in the meet.
What does this say of the infection in Singapore? How widespread is it despite the daily rate coming down from 5000 to 500?
Anyone who believes that a report based on a sample size of 25 is worth quoting as an authoritative piece worthy of serious consideration must have his head check and credibility questioned.
ReplyDeleteForum: Potential problem if Sinovac jab does not offer enough protection against Omicron
ReplyDeletehttps://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/forum/forum-potential-problem-if-sinovac-jab-does-not-offer-enough-protection-against
The Omicron variant is estimated to be more than four times more transmissible than the Delta variant. In the light of that, the precautions taken by Singapore's task force are helpful.
People are being encouraged to get vaccinated and to get a booster shot, hospital capacity is being boosted and vaccination-differentiated measures have been put in place.
The fast transmission rate would mean more cases of Covid-19 in a short time, and older and more vulnerable individuals with multiple medical conditions (even fully vaccinated) may come down with serious complications. Healthcare facilities would also be stretched to a breaking point.
A study in Hong Kong showed that insufficient antibodies were generated by the Sinovac and BioNTech vaccines to fend off Omicron, with none of the serum of 25 recipients of Sinovac's vaccine containing sufficient antibodies to neutralise the new variant (Hong Kong scientists urge third shot after study on new strain, Dec 16).
Also, researchers here have found that the Sinovac vaccine is less effective than the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines in preventing severe disease (Sinovac jabs not as effective in preventing severe disease: S'pore study, Dec 16).
In my medical practice, I've seen many individuals, excluding those with valid medical reasons, choose to get Sinovac shots instead of mRNA vaccines. After their third jab, they are considered fully vaccinated.
What topics and commentaries would you like to read more of?
If the Sinovac vaccine does not protect as well against the Omicron variant, should these individuals be considered fully vaccinated and be allowed to mingle with others who were vaccinated with mRNA vaccines? There is the potential for them to catch the Omicron variant and become reservoirs for its spread in the community.
I understand this is a sensitive issue but this potential problem should be pointed out before it is too late. May I request that the task force look into this issue?
Quek Koh Choon (Dr)
This Dr Quek sounds like a QUACK DOCTOR.
DeleteBy using a study from questionable scientists (two?) from HK, who could have easily been bought by Anti-China elements, using a tiny weeny sample of 25 subjects is tantamount to tarnishing his own reputation and objectiveness.
Any educated person would immediately disrehard such a study.
Anyone using such a fake or moped up study must be stupid or has ulterior motive. Does he not know that he is degrading his own reputation for doing such thing, thinking that others are stupid to fall into his influence?
Forum: Spare a thought before denying unvaccinated staff entry to workplace
ReplyDeletehttps://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/forum/forum-spare-a-thought-before-denying-unvaccinated-staff-entry-to-workplace
I refer to the announcement by the multi-ministry task force tackling Covid-19 that unvaccinated people may not be allowed back to the workplace despite having a negative Covid-19 test result (Unvaccinated people may not be allowed back to workplace despite negative test result: Wong, Dec 15).
If this concession is removed, unvaccinated employees denied entry to their workplaces will probably have to resign. This makes such workers unemployable in workplaces which need them to be on-site.
The family members of unvaccinated workers would also be affected by the loss of income.
Employers might also suffer as they would have to let go of unvaccinated employees who may be excellent workers. The loss of such workers might affect business operations and cause recruitment problems for employers in this challenging business landscape.
The unvaccinated already face restrictions, including denial of entry to shopping malls, having to take additional antigen rapid tests and the mandatory pre-event testing for entry into workplaces come Jan 1.
Placing restrictions to protect the unvaccinated is one thing, but making it difficult for unvaccinated people to earn a living is another. Not every unvaccinated person can work from home.
Benjamin Ng C.K.
Welcome to the blog Benjamin. Just pasted your article to the main board.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
Why would Dr Quek above place so much faith in a report based on 25 samples?
ReplyDeleteWhat is his agenda?
Any academic or professional would have a lot of questions about such a report with such a small sample size.
I asked 25 people if they like to eat beef kway teow. All said no. So can I conclude that everyone did not like to eat beef kway teow?
ReplyDeleteBut I continue to ask more people and the next 200 said they loved to eat beef kway teow. If I have jumped into conclusion with just 25 answers, I would have committed a grave error in my survey.
On further investigation, I found out that the 25 people first interviewed were Hindus, and they did not eat beef.
There are many basic and fundamental principles to abide by in making a survey. One very important point is the sample size.
Mdm Ho
ReplyDeleteKey pts:
By January or so, we may have data for vaccine trials for the 2-4 year olds, with vaccination available say in the March timeframe. Vaccination for even younger infants may available next.
So by June next year, vaccination could be available for all age groups.
This time next year, there will be no more excuses about vaccine shortages, to complete 2 shot full dose, plus boosters.
By March or so, we may have Omicron targetted vaccines available too.
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1922104577977367&id=100005335308340
By then, do we still need to wear mask. maintain social distance, WFH, can only eat in 5, can life be normal after such an extensive vaccination programme, free to travel etc etc or nothing change.
ReplyDeleteThe ministers are now "hantum buta" in their fire-fighting style of modus operandi in the Pandemic. They have no long-term solutions to the problem.
ReplyDeleteThey have no foresight and have shamelessly been openly telling all of us that they are depending on hindsight. Always say "we will monitor closely."
What does that mean? That is telling us that they will wait and see and then react there after. Waiting for the US CDC or FDA or the UN WHO to tell them what to do next. Then follow their advice to the T.
Such are the useless indecisive and clueless 4G leeders that Singaporeans are having.
This Pandemic has totally exposed their incompetence and ineffectiveness in handling a severe national crisis.
And the worst of the lot is that mindless, murderous and power-crazy OYK.
ReplyDelete@ Chua Chin Leng aka redbean December 17, 2021 10:05 am
ReplyDelete"I asked 25 people if they like to eat beef kway teow. All said no. So can I conclude that everyone did not
like to eat beef kway teow?
But I continue to ask more people and the next 200 said they loved to eat beef kway teow. If I have
jumped into conclusion with just 25 answers, I would have committed a grave error in my survey.
On further investigation, I found out that the 25 people first interviewed were Hindus, and they did not eat
beef.
There are many basic and fundamental principles to abide by in making a survey. One very important
point is the sample size."
镇龙叔叔您好，
If we apply concepts taught in basic Statistics courses such as ST1101-B (for beginners) in this case, the survey population may differ from the target population. Ideally the two should be the same but often or most of the time if not all they are not. The survey population could be the easiest group one can find and may not be the population of first choice to sample from.
For example, if we set out to find interest of people investing in cryptocurrency and we sample from people in a meme forum, that could offer vastly different result compared with the sampling representation from say across the entire society.
Hence, the definition or defining the survey or sample population is of paramount importance before any survey is conducted.
Secondly, a good survey should aim to minimise systematic bias as this would lead to persistent over or under-estimation.
Next, in a survey, we need to be clear what are the parameters used in the finding ...
Furthermore, another important factor in getting accurate results in a survey is the sampling methodology. Technically, the objective is to attain a representative sampling. What this means is that in a random sample, each unit in the survey population should have a selection probability of non-zero. Random sample can be classified under simple random sample and non-simple random sample. For the latter, commonly there are the stratified and cluster types. The main goal is to achieve randomisation to minimise biases (as it will lead to unintended errors or inaccuracies in the survey).
Cheers
Leo 81
NB: The above narrative is purely a neutral stance from an academic perspective to perhaps serve the purpose of hopefully providing some common knowledge in an important area for the gain of the readers including the oldies frequenting MSN. There is NO INTENTION to take side to agree or disagree. In this era, where many have contributed and selflessly shared their precious knowledge, likewise am doing a small part and hopefully this sharing could benefit some readers and oldies to achieve an outcome of universal gain …
Thanks Leo.
ReplyDeleteAnyone that had gone through higher education would know how treacherous statistics can be if not properly done or worse, done with a predetermined agenda in mind.
It is very sad that so many people are trying to con and misinform the masses with troublesome or questionable statistical data.
It is insane.
A small group with vested interests is trying very hard to deceive the masses and with very serious consequences if they are wrong.
ReplyDeleteWhat is this world becoming?
The chicken coming home to roost - cancer link published
ReplyDeleteOne of the first paper published in PUBMed Central show the causal link! (Published online 2021 Nov 25)
Rapid Progression of Angioimmunoblastic T Cell Lymphoma Following BNT162b2 mRNA Vaccine Booster Shot: A Case Report
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC8656165/
This government had been encouraging people who have cancer to take the vaccines to fight Covid-19. The risks far outweighs the benefit!
Covid-19 have a less than 2%? fatal outcome but cancer metastasis outcome??? Almost 100% fatal. Blood on their hands!
Many more papers will be published - but by that time the money grab were done, money in Big Pharma pockets and you cannot sue to recover. The contracts are ironclad completely lopdsided no risk to the Pharmas.
It is not the Covid-19 virus that caused so much hardships, sufferings and pains, and loss of jobs and businesses.
ReplyDeleteIt is the viciously power-crazy newbie ministers and pm and president that have caused the most sufferings, deaths, hardships, loss of jobs, loss of livelihoods and losses in so many medium and small businesses.
Yet, there are nasty, evil, greedy and unscrupulous people who aim and have profited from the sales of the fake vaccines and investments in these fake vaccines that have killed millions of people but covered up.
And there is one most heinous drug pusher criminal in Singapore, keep pushing this fake and poisonous vaccines drug everyday, trying to dominate the evil narrative everywhere, in every online forum available.
May the unseen Divine Power help us, the powerless commoners, bring justice to bear upon the evil doers!!!
A large study from Imperial College London finds:
ReplyDelete➡️ No evidence omicron less severe than delta
➡️ A previous Covid infection is little shield against omicron variant https://trib.al/JFBe2MN
https://www.facebook.com/154758931259107/posts/4499753003426323/