mimbecky

On the morning news today, they said 3 cruise ships (2 Holland and 1 Princess) will be in port this week so that one of our Medical groups (Sharp Healthcare) can administer vaccines to crew members.  Pretty cool!

Follow up article

 Sharp HealthCare to vaccinate cruise ship staff Wednesday and Thursday (10news.com)

11 hours ago, markeb said:

What I would expect the industry to propose is that while diners are actively involved in eating in the dining room or other dining venue, separated by at least 6 feet of distance, masks will not be required.

We are a party of 2 that enjoy spending dinner with other people.  Usually we request being at a table of 6-8.  Guess that isn't going to be likely.  

M

On 5/6/2021 at 3:37 PM, HaveWeMetYet said:

Saw this today.

 

https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/health-safety/finance-minister-simon-birmingham-says-no-overseas-travel-until-later-in-2022/news-story/8098512c990408a8643fe8f404f05a1c

 

I doubt New Zealand will open any sooner.

Looks like leisure travel from NZ/AUS will not open until 2023 other than between the two.

Leisure travel/cruising for international visitors to NZ/AUS looking more like mid 2023 or later.

One of my friends forwarded the same article to me.  Sad.  

I had hoped maybe for a lift and shift to 2023 but a similar cruise to what we booked isn't in one of their itineraries.

15 hours ago, K.T.B. said:

 

Here's the thing though, on most ships, 5% of the passengers is about 100 people approximately.  Sounds to me they're taking the kids under 16 into account.  I might be wrong, it's just how it looks to me.

Just an FYI, Pfizer is hoping to have its vaccine EU approved for 12yrs  and up in June

Pfizer Requests Authorization to Use Vaccine in Young Teens - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

9 hours ago, nocl said:

Basically the cruise lines could get that done and be able to start in July

Awesome news, but so many other questions....masks/no masks.....what countries will take us.....will we be able to wander ports on our own or with individual tours......etc.  I'll tell you though, right now I think I'd take a cruise to nowhere!

57 minutes ago, TeeRick said:

  Fully vaccinated people are worried needlessly right now that they will come up to a year and will need another shot before travelling.  Based on what?

Based on nothing other than being a worrier. Specifically regarding availability and logistics dovetailing with potential cruise and land tour. 🥴

1 hour ago, TeeRick said:

mimbecky,

Here is an article that speaks to the issue of side effects after the vaccine shot.  Many people do not get anything at all but perhaps a sore arm.  Some are worried if they don't get side effects!

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/04/27/990992425/you-dont-have-to-suffer-to-benefit-from-covid-vaccination-but-some-prefer-it

Thanks.  Still no speculation on response to a booster.  If first shot nothing, second shot a lot, what will happen with a third? M

6 hours ago, kearney said:

It may have been a one off... I got mixed feed back... one group I contacted out of Australia.. felt it was not related...but someone I talked to at American Red Cross thought it was likely related to vaccine... Odd thing... they test every time I donate. This time I got the vaccine less than 2 weeks before donating.. I assume that back in early Feb there were likely few people who had the vaccine and then made a donation so close to the shot... What is sad is that I am AB+ universal donor for plasma and platelets... I reached out because it is costly for Red Cross to needlessly knock out people from the donor rolls. I may appeal later and see what they say....  

Interesting.  My husband donates platelets every 3 weeks.  His first time after being fully vaccinated was a few weeks ago.  Nothing unusual (but he did have antibodies this time).  Will report if something like this pops up on him.  Strange indeed.

2 hours ago, 4774Papa said:

I was just going to post the same article.  Hopefully, our Italy trip in October and TA cruise home is still on.

Hopeful for you too.  Also hopeful that the Australian's get a bit hungry for tourism and follow suit. We want to cruise in Feb and right now they are closed at least through 2021 to everyone....vaxed or not.

Regarding possible booster....

I had Moderna and was one who had fever (100.9) and just about every other side effect with the second vaccine. Curious if a booster would give even worse side effects with this third shot than the second.  🤢

Any educated guesses?

Thanks,

Miriam

1 hour ago, TeeRick said:

I will try to watch the episode and comment back. 

 

By the way, an overlooked and less known fact.   The mRNA vaccine technology was initially developed by two professors at the University Of Pennsylvania with discoveries dating back to 2005. In fact both Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech have licensed the mRNA technology from this university.  These two professors deserved to be mentioned here.   Drew Weissman, MD, PhD, and Katalin Karikó, PhD  and Dr. Kariko is now at BioNTech.  It is believed that both are in the running for a Nobel Prize in medicine or related scientific field.

 

See this short article for more information on these heroes.

 

https://www.pennmedicine.org/news/news-releases/2020/december/penn-mrna-biology-pioneers-receive-covid19-vaccine-enabled-by-their-foundational-research

 

I heard a short informational while driving about Jennifer Doudna and her work with mRna.  I found it fascinating and picked up the book "Code Breaker" by Walter Isaacson. Given that I don't have any sort of science background, it is a tough read but not dry at all and seriously cool.

9 hours ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

there will have to be a way of ensuring vaccination records are legitimate

 I don't think there is a chance of this ever happening.  Too huge of an undertaking especially now when just getting everyone vaccinated is task enough. Of course unless the government contracts this out, but then others will find a way to falsify.  I think other then the UK, this will be the same for the EU in the coming year- borders will remain closed for the most part.  Possibly even Canada. Dummy me, I believed in an immediate recovery.

Sad if the season doesn't open up.  Hurried up to get vaccinated and still can't go anywhere.  You would think both NZ and Australia would open to vaccinated people since it is looking more like the chance of transmission from a vaccinated person is rare. Lack of tourism has to hurt.

Oh well, glad we are doing well in the US.  Our state is opening 100 percent in 2 months.  I hadn't wanted to explore home until we were too old to explore outside of home.  Guess we will do it now.  

Tombstone this month, Sedona in May and Vegas in June.  Although I won't cancel until I know more at final payment, I am glad that the US is big and there are places to explore here for now.

15 hours ago, casofilia said:

Don't expect anything useful for a while.

I'm surprised you received an answer at all! 😮

I am reading this forum with interest as we are on a cruise (with another line) in Feb 2022 with a follow up trip in NZ.  So many different thoughts from conversations elsewhere.  An Australian on another board said there is no way everyone there will be vaccinated by end of year which is not good news. On the other hand, speaking to an Air NZ rep, he said they anticipate full vaccination by end of July and are hopeful to open by year end. Who knows...

My only additional thought is that maybe ships are listed "currently unavailable" in order to keep ships below full capacity in anticipation that they won't be allowed to sail at 100 percent?

4 hours ago, hcat said:

Read an article  today about lost cards or those who do not have proof. 

My friends mother claimed she never got a card 🥴. When she took her in for her second shot, the staff were able to look up information somehow and wrote out a new card (Florida).  I told her to take a picture and email it to herself so they will at least have the lot numbers in the future.

4 hours ago, cruiserchuck said:

If there are still a significant number of COVID cases in the US by then, I doubt that Australia/NZ will allow tourists, vaccine or not.

I know they are now closed through the end of 2021. Fortunately we have an Australian on our forum who will keep us updated. In speaking with an Air NZ rep I was told they expect to all be vaccinated by end of July and hope to open early.  I don't know about that but keeping fingers crossed.

2 hours ago, cangelmd said:

TeeRick and Markeb beat me to the punch, but don’t fret too much over this report.

 I do think it is likely that almost everyone will get one booster, both to cover variants and as a booster because we can’t easily measure cellular immunity.

We, all of us, occasionally lose sight of the fact that other vaccines had years of observation before being released, and often had more years of tweaking of dosing after being in widespread use. Optimizing the dosing schedule later, or adding or dropping a booster shot doesn’t mean the vaccine is unsafe or doesn’t work well or was rushed - it just means that only time will give us answers to some of these questions, no good substitute for observation over time.

I think my selfish concern is that my one year mark exactly coincides with our trip to Australia/NZ.  If we need a booster to travel, I hope I can get one. 

Well this article is a little disappointing. After hearing about Pfizer being a 91% affective after six months I was hopeful that Moderna would be the same. Maybe I’m not understanding this but it looks like boosters are definitely in the future for us older folks who received the Moderna vaccine

https://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/covid19vaccine/91954?xid=nl_covidupdate_2021-04-07&eun=g1620394d0r&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyUpdate_040721&utm_term=NL_Gen_Int_Daily_News_Update_active

1 hour ago, terrydtx said:

So right on, the reality will be for the next few years, get stuck or stay stuck at home, which I am just fine with. I have zero sympathy for the anit-vaxxers when it comes to travel.

In less than 2 weeks California is opening to indoor concerts, performances and large gatherings with a number of limitations.  One being you need to have proof of vaccination (yay) or a negative test.  I was thinking if you aren't vaccinated either you stay at home or spend a lot of time (or money for rapid tests) running around to get tested every time you want to attend an event. 

California Will Allow Indoor Concerts to Resume Beginning April 15 (yahoo.com)

M

20 hours ago, zitsky said:

I was just looking at an article about entry rules for different countries.  I'm watching Spain and Portugal.  Neither is letting US citizens in.  Hope it changes by August (final payment) or November (cruise).  Whoops!

Australia and New Zealand closed through end of year! I am still hopeful for Feb 2022! 🤞🏼🤞🏼

4 minutes ago, mimbecky said:

I don't see the link

Never mind, found my state.  No such luck.  In last 3 years all done at Rite Aid so I will take my card over to see if they will update.

11 hours ago, Charles4515 said:

Here is the CDC link to state databases. Your state will be listed but they may or may not have a database you can access. 

I don't see the link

12 minutes ago, Charles4515 said:

 I found the link to that from hated CDC website which has links to every state.  

Can you share?

Thanks....

5 hours ago, nocl said:

When the time comes check the web sites for Albertson's, CVS, etc a couple of times each day.  SLO county went to age 50 on Monday.  On the 3rd time I checked Albertson's web site at 10:15 pm I got an appointment for the next day.  They also differentiate between the two dose vaccines and the single dose.

Thanks.  I have been vaccinated but trying now for family members.  We all have tried those sites as well as Walgreens and all the county sites multiple times a day.  Even in the middle of the night.  There has been nothing in our county for about a week.  Another superstation has been closed for 4 days of the last week.