NJ&Ozzie

18 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Where are you looking to cruise from / to in April?

rhapsody - panama to FLL, then FLL to san juan - april

58 minutes ago, SG65CB said:

If your cruise is canceled due to a worldwide event your money will be refunded. 

 

Book the cruise and prepare the same as you would for any vacation. 

Guess we're more concerned about what if we are stuck on the ship or in a foreign country.  

Hey All,

Looking to book a couple of back to back cruises in mid-April with some friends from Canada. There is so much talk in the news about things going on in the world right now (any number of possible scenarios).  There is concern about what would happen in the case of a sudden "event" outside of our control.

If we go ahead and book - how can we prepare?  Should we even be concerned?  

Appreciate any thoughts.  Thanks!

3 hours ago, Jimbo said:

You will get whatever you paid, for taxes and Port Fees back to you in cash or the form you paid it in ( credit Card).................FCC value is just for what the CruiseFare you paid will be worth.

Ok - thanks for reply!   FCC only applies to my final payment - so if I cancel, then in effect have lost the value of the FCC?

NJ 

Hi all,

We have the Harmony crossing booked - applied an FCC (received from issue on a previous sailing). 

Does anyone know - if we cancel before final payment - would that FCC amount be re-issued as well as the deposit/tax?

Thanks!

NJ 

Off for evening cocktails now but found one more bit of news.  Guess prices going up since annual booster shots will be required?

Hope everyone has a great weekend!   

NJ 

Amid the high-stakes fight against COVID-19, a company at the forefront of the vaccine effort is laying plans to hike prices after the crisis. A top Pfizer exec said the drugmaker aims to charge more after the "pandemic pricing environment," and an influential analyst says the company could be eying prices 3 to 4 times higher.

On an earnings call earlier this month, Chief Financial Officer Frank D’Amelio said that “obviously,” the company is “going to get more on price” after the “pandemic pricing environment." He was speaking in response to Bank of America Merrill Lynch analyst Jason Zemansky, who asked the management team about how profit margins for the program could change over time.

In short, D’Amelio explained that Pfizer expects its COVID vaccine margins to improve. Under one pandemic supply deal, Pfizer is charging the U.S. $19.50 per dose, D'Amelio said, which is “not a normal price like we typically get for a vaccine—$150, $175 per dose. So, pandemic pricing.”

Despite the purported 95% effectiveness of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla announced Thursday that the vaccine maker is testing a third dose of its vaccine in anticipation of annual booster shots.

Wall Street analysts are projecting Pfizer and Moderna will generate $32 billion in Covid-19 vaccine revenue -- next year alone.

Looks like this will be an annual thing.  Pharma is making lots of $$ with no liability costs?

NJ

Good stuff from Moderna's website.  Interestingly, Moderna describes its technology as the “software of life,” not a vaccine.  These therapies do not prevent infection, merely reduction in one or more symptoms.

So sounds like it's an app that will be used for other diseases?

NJ

Our Operating System

Recognizing the broad potential of mRNA science, we set out to create an mRNA technology platform that functions very much like an operating system on a computer. It is designed so that it can plug and play interchangeably with different programs. In our case, the "program” or “app” is our mRNA drug - the unique mRNA sequence that codes for a protein.

Our mRNA Medicines – The ‘Software of Life’

When we have a concept for a new mRNA medicine and begin research, fundamental components are already in place.

Generally, the only thing that changes from one potential mRNA medicine to another is the coding region – the actual genetic code that instructs ribosomes to make protein. Utilizing these instruction sets gives our investigational mRNA medicines a software-like quality. We also have the ability to combine different mRNA sequences encoding for different proteins in a single mRNA investigational medicine.

We are leveraging the flexibility afforded by our platform and the fundamental role mRNA plays in protein synthesis to pursue mRNA medicines for a broad spectrum of diseases.

35 minutes ago, lizzius said:

I guess it depends on what you mean by experimental... The efficacy trials are over. All they're collecting now is safety data, and monitoring for infection. The placebo group is effectively gone in both trials.

 

They'll need 6 months of safety data to obtain full approval, which both will hit in April-ish. I would expect the vaccine to come off of EUA and instead be authorized conventionally around then. 

Isn't the vaccine experimental until the trials are complete?  

NJ

Someone on this forum asked when the experimental phase of the vaccines would end. 

NJ 

Found this:

The estimated completion date for Pfizer/BioNtech trials is Jan 31, 2023. The estimate completion date for Moderna trials is October 27, 2022.

Here's Fauci's views on getting back to normal after vaccines.  What does he mean - is he saying back to normal or more recommendations?

NJ 

(439) Word salad: Fauci waffles about when people with full immunizations can go back to normal life? - YouTube

8 minutes ago, boscobeans said:

Sorry just showing what I have found.

Take it for what it is worth.

About one documented case per year.

 

 

Agree - who knows what it means.  But wonder why CDC specifically says PEG on their website with regards to allergic reactions???  Wish we could ask someone at CDC!

NJ

15 minutes ago, boscobeans said:

They are just covering all contingencies.. Never see allergy warnings on Ice Cream for it or bread products.

 

ps. Immunizers are trained and prepared for allergic reactions should they occur and many sites have EMTs on hand as well.

But ice cream doesn't get injected into your cells.  Maybe the difference is that if you are allergic then the reaction will be stronger since it's injected into your cells?

NJ

Thanks for the info!   Interesting stuff.  So this is what's on CDC's website (below) under Covid-19 Allergic Reactions.  Wonder why they included this?

NJ

If you have had an allergic reaction to polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polysorbate

These recommendations include allergic reactions to PEG and polysorbate. Polysorbate is not an ingredient in either mRNA COVID-19 vaccine but is closely related to PEG, which is in the vaccines. People who are allergic to PEG or polysorbate should not get an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

1 minute ago, boscobeans said:

Google the ingredients...  Not too many products that people are allergic to that I can see..  

Almost all of them are in common usage in most foods and beverages. 

The list is there and if you have doubts AS ALWAYS consult your doctor. 

 

Ok, did some checking out of curiosity.  The protein stabilizer used in mRNA is called PEG (Polysorbate).   It is only used in mRNA & not regular vaccines.  PEG is normally used in products (food, lotions, etc.).   May cause allergic reactions - might want to check with your doc about this if you are known to have allergic reaction issues.   Also latex on the vial itself.

NJ 

Worldometer - real time world statistics (worldometers.info)

click on "coronvirus", then graphs or your country for stats.

NJ 

2. THE OFFICIAL PHASE III SAFETY TRIALS WILL NOT BE COMPLETED UNTIL 2023

Section 1 of the medical guidance clearly states that this vaccine guidance refers specifically to the “Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine BNT162b2 concentrate for solution for injection.” On 2 December 2020, the MHRA became the first medicines regulator in history to approve an mRNA vaccine for human use, granting emergency authorisation for BioNTech and Pfizer’s BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine for widespread use only a week after its first Phase III eight-week trial had finished. However, the Phase III trials for BNT162b2 will not actually be fully completed until January 2023 meaning that, if you’re ready to take the vaccine now, then you should be informed that the safety trials for these experimental vaccines have at least two more years before the results are in. Regardless of that fact, Raine told reporters “no corners have been cut in approving it” and that “the benefits outweigh any risk”.

This is from the article link I posted earlier.

NJ 

3. WILL YOU BE TRULY “PROTECTED” FROM COVID-19?

The official guidance clearly states that individuals may not be protected until at least 7 days after their second dose of the vaccine. This fact has again been ignored by various reckless pro-vax media campaigns where powerful elites such as Tony Blair have contradicted this specific recommendation, suggesting recently in an interview that people should only be given a single dose of any vaccine. Mr Blair told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that “Does the first dose give you substantial immunity, and by that I mean over 50 percent effectiveness? If it does, there is a very strong case for not, as it were, holding back doses of the vaccine.” Blair, writing in the Independent, stated that the current vaccination strategy needed to be “altered and radically accelerated”. In responding to Blair’s call for radical acceleration, Professor Wendy Barclay, chair of virology at Imperial College London and member of the UK government’s NERVTAG, said: “I think that the issue with [Mr Blair’s suggestion] is that the vaccine is on the basis of being given in two doses, and the efficacy is on that basis.” Barclay went on to point out that “To change at that point, one would have to see a lot more analysis coming out from perhaps the clinical trial data.”

It is very important to pay attention to the wording of Reg 174 because the Pfizer vaccine purportedly boosts the immune system, rather than stopping the transmission of the virus. This would suggest that you will not be fully “protected” from COVID-19 and that you will still be able to catch the virus and could still suffer complications. The official guidance also states that “Immunocompromised persons, including individuals receiving immunosuppressant therapy, may have a diminished immune response to the vaccine,” with the guidance admitting “No data are available about concomitant use of Immunosuppressants.”

Reg 174 goes on to make this most pertinent of points when it states:  “As with any vaccine, vaccination with COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine BNT162b2 may not protect all vaccine recipients.” The guidance also states clearly that “administration of COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine BNT162b2 should be postponed in individuals suffering from acute severe febrile illness and that individuals receiving anticoagulant therapy or those with a bleeding disorder that would contraindicate intramuscular injection, should not be given the vaccine unless the potential benefit clearly outweighs the risk.”

8 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

I would be surprised if for all the thousands of people involved in those trials that none were taking any other medications at the time.

So you didn't read the article?

NJ

Very good article for those interested in facts about Pfizer vaccine.   Would be curious to know people's reactions.

No. 10 point is particularly interesting - whether the vaccine is compatible with other medications someone may be taking.

NJ 

10 Facts From the UK Government Pfizer Vaccine Guidance that Promote “Vaccine Hesitancy” (blacklistednews.com)

We live in a condo building.  Our indoor pool & gym have now been closed for months.  Covid rules have been implemented, eg. only three people on an elevator at one time.  Was just chatting with our next door neighbour at the elevator landing on our floor while he's waiting (the gentleman is in his 60's).   Elevator door opens - there are two women.  They will not allow him on the elevator saying there are already two.  Everyone is wearing a mask.  But they are that afraid.

NJ

Letlow had a heart attack.  Article says he was undergoing a procedure for covid at the time.  Any idea what procedure/operation is done for covid? 

NJ 

Congressman-elect Luke Letlow suffered a heart attack following operation (nypost.com)