Pfizer and Biontech provide update on Omicron variant • Hacker News Board

Re: Pfizer and Biontech provide update on Omicron variant

#81

Post by unclebucknasty » Wed, Dec 08, 2021, 2:19 PM UTC

1cvmask wrote: post #2

This is the scientific meat of the press release where it claims a 25 times neutralizing antibody titers against the Omicron strain with a third dose of Pfizer-BionTech: The sera were collected from subjects 3 weeks after receiving the second dose or one month after receiving the third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Each serum was tested simultaneously for its neutralizing antibody titer against the wi…

The real question is how this translates to actual protection against serious disease. These increased responses sound impressive but, beyond some threshold, additional response offers only negligibly better protection.

Do we know what those thresholds are?

Re: Pfizer and Biontech provide update on Omicron variant

#82

Post by logicchains » Wed, Dec 08, 2021, 2:19 PM UTC

mwint wrote: post #55

eCa wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If they can show that the product helps to save lifes and at some point get back to a normalcy, and especially if there’s no other significantly better product available, I really don’t have an issue with that.

At this point, does anyone believe we’ll get back to normalcy? What’s the path?

Some places are already completely back to normalcy, like many red states. Normalcy comes from accepting the virus and going back to life as normal; there's not a single place that's achieved normalcy by bringing covid rates down to zero.

Re: Pfizer and Biontech provide update on Omicron variant

#83

Post by hammock » Wed, Dec 08, 2021, 2:19 PM UTC

marban wrote: post #42

tazjin wrote: post #3

Product manufacturer recommends use of its product. Surprise!

Perhaps differentiate a bit? This is not Tim Ferriss selling you a greens powder.

You're right. Pfizer, unlike Ferris, has a courts-affirmed history of illegally promoting its products.

Like the time they were handed the largest criminal fine and the largest healthcare fraud judgment in history. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-...

There are also smaller cases as well.

I haven't seen that with green powder yet.

Re: Pfizer and Biontech provide update on Omicron variant

#84

Post by silent_cal » Wed, Dec 08, 2021, 2:19 PM UTC

altacc wrote: post #71

silent_cal wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No they should not make recommendations to the public, because they aren't a public agency - they have a conflict of interest. It's like a hedge fund manager giving public advice on stock picks.

So you're saying no company ever should undertake any promotion of the benefits of their products? The advertising industry wants a word with you!

That's exactly the point I'm trying to make - it's just advertising, and you're all acting like it's an announcement from a public health authority.

Re: Pfizer and Biontech provide update on Omicron variant

#85

Post by boringg » Wed, Dec 08, 2021, 2:19 PM UTC

mwint wrote: post #55

eCa wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If they can show that the product helps to save lifes and at some point get back to a normalcy, and especially if there’s no other significantly better product available, I really don’t have an issue with that.

At this point, does anyone believe we’ll get back to normalcy? What’s the path?

Time, science and public awareness. Same thing has happened on all other pandemics. Pandemics peaks, ebbs and flows then life resumes. Just expand your time horizon.

Re: Pfizer and Biontech provide update on Omicron variant

#86

Post by tazjin » Wed, Dec 08, 2021, 2:19 PM UTC

mwint wrote: post #55

eCa wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If they can show that the product helps to save lifes and at some point get back to a normalcy, and especially if there’s no other significantly better product available, I really don’t have an issue with that.

At this point, does anyone believe we’ll get back to normalcy? What’s the path?

Plenty of places are pretty much normal. If you want normalcy, you need to go to it - it won't come to you at this point.

Re: Pfizer and Biontech provide update on Omicron variant

#87

Post by ls15 » Wed, Dec 08, 2021, 2:19 PM UTC

Arnt wrote: post #9

1cvmask wrote: post #2

This is the scientific meat of the press release where it claims a 25 times neutralizing antibody titers against the Omicron strain with a third dose of Pfizer-BionTech: The sera were collected from subjects 3 weeks after receiving the second dose or one month after receiving the third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Each serum was tested simultaneously for its neutralizing antibody titer against the wi…

IIRC Biontech distributes directly in some part of Europe that includes Turkey but I wouldn't bet on Kazakhstan and its neighbours. (Also, Pfizer does more than distribute, it also produces the stuff somewhere in the US, and contract manufacturers including Rentschler Biopharma produce for both of them.)

Mongolia got doses from Covax that are labeled with Pfizer. On the certificate it is labeled with both names.

Re: Pfizer and Biontech provide update on Omicron variant

#88

Post by marcinzm » Wed, Dec 08, 2021, 2:20 PM UTC

drewcon wrote: post #52

neither_color wrote: post #11

It's not deadly enough for me to consider a booster, I'll pass on this supplementary shot https://www.marketwatch.com/story/who-has-not-seen-any-repor...

I’m fascinated by this thinking. Do you really want to roll the dice on an infection and long term consequences including permanent loss of smell (and taste)? If this virus killed exactly no one but it just commonly removed one of your senses…is that not motivation enough to avoid it? Additionally, I just got over a two week adenovirus infection and it absolutely sucked. Not the sickest I’ve been, but the most sympto…

Yeah, death is not the only consequence. My friend could barely walk for 6 months after covid and I don't think he's fully recovered even now (1+ years later). Healthy and in his 30s. My mother had a severe cough for months after covid. Neither was severe enough during the infection to be hospitalized.

Re: Pfizer and Biontech provide update on Omicron variant

#89

Post by belval » Wed, Dec 08, 2021, 2:20 PM UTC

efficax wrote: post #44

neither_color wrote: post #11

It's not deadly enough for me to consider a booster, I'll pass on this supplementary shot https://www.marketwatch.com/story/who-has-not-seen-any-repor...

Omicron isn't the only variant or even the dominate one outside of South Africa. If you've already gotten the initial doses, why wouldn't you complete your vaccination? There's only upside to it at that point

The second dose I got had me unable to work or really do anything for 24 hours so if you aren't even willing to consider that I can be on the fence for legitimate reasons then I don't know what to tell you.

> why wouldn't you complete your vaccination?

There is no indication that this would be the final dose.

Re: Pfizer and Biontech provide update on Omicron variant

#90

Post by base698 » Wed, Dec 08, 2021, 2:20 PM UTC

disambiguation wrote: post #73

I have a few relatives in the medical field (all vaxxed and boosted) that have explained the booster shot is just more of the same stuff - they haven't had time to make a new recipe.. so isn't this just the same study all over again? i.e 2 shots had high protection in the beginning and waned over time. Can we expect the same from the booster shot?

Omicron the Pfizer marketing press release. Easy way to sell another 160 million doses.