Early impact of COVID-19 vaccines in Stockholm, Sweden https://www.news-medical.net/news/2...of-COVID-19-vaccines-in-Stockholm-Sweden.aspx An epidemiological study from Sweden shows that early programmatic effects of vaccinating individuals older than 80 years of age, long-term care facility (LTCF) residents, and those receiving home care can successfully reduce infection and mortality rates caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The paper is currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server while it undergoes peer review. Introduction Vaccination programs against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Sweden prioritize those most at risk of severe disease from SARS-CoV-2 infection, with the end goal of safeguarding the most vulnerable and, in turn, the healthcare system as a whole. There are four overarching phases introduced in Sweden since the start of the program. In the first phase, all adults living in LTCF, those receiving home care and their household contacts, and healthcare staff working with them have been prioritized to receive the vaccine. Then, the program covered adults older than 65 years, transplant recipients, and those on dialysis in the second phase. The third phase covered adults with other risk factors, and then finally, adults without risk factors over 18 years of age were a part of phase four. In Stockholm, vaccination in phase one began on December 27, 2020, while phase two began on March 8, 2021, inviting adults older than 80 years of age. On March 29, 2021, adults older than 75 years of age were also invited. In this study, researchers wanted to assess the exact early impact of the vaccination program that has been introduced in Stockholm. A population-based approach This retrospective, population-based study aimed to appraise the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 and subsequent deaths within thirty days of a PCR-confirmed diagnosis in the cohorts targeted for vaccination and then compare the findings with a control group not targeted for vaccination. Three mutually exclusive groups have been defined for this study: those in LTCF or receiving home care, those aged 80 or older (80+), and a composite control of those aged between 18 and 79 years of age. Data has been extracted from the Swedish VAL database, containing information from more than ten other healthcare-related databases in the Stockholm region. The analyses in this study have been restricted to a period between August 31, 2020, to May 2, 2021, to cover both the second and third waves of COVID-19 in Stockholm. Conversely, data from the first wave were not included due to the lack of widely available testing when the pandemic just started. A significant drop in infections and deaths The highest number of infections with SARS-CoV-2 was recorded in the control group (182,695). On the other hand, there were more infections in the LTCF/home care group (5232 pre-vaccination and 1537 post-vaccination) compared to the 80+ group (2276 pre- 186 post-vaccination). The study has estimated that vaccination could prevent 2873 infections in the LTCF/home care group and 239 in the 80+ group, while the estimated number of prevented deaths was 808 for the LTCF/home care and 46 for the 80+ group. During the study period, more deaths were recorded in the LTCF/home care group within thirty days of a positive SARS-CoV-2 test. Furthermore, the incidence rate ratio (IRR) for fatal outcomes within 30 days of a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test dropped from 179 before vaccination to 45 after vaccination for the LTCF/home care group, as well as from 20 before vaccination to 9 after vaccination for the 80+ group, in comparison to the composite control. Preventing the third wave The authors of this suggest that the vaccination of the LTCF/home care and 80+ groups were successful in preventing a third wave in these groups of the same size as the control group. Nonetheless, the study has certain limitations. It could not link individual-level vaccine data akin to recent studies from Israel, and vaccine coverage data has been primarily based on LTCF and age. In conclusion, the early programmatic effects of vaccinating two of the most vulnerable groups in Sweden successfully reduced infection rates with SARS-CoV-2 and deaths. Albeit encouraging, further research on this topic will shed more light on the optimal approach. *Important notice medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.
Swedish regions roll out booster shots of Covid-19 vaccine The first regions in Sweden have begun administering third doses of the Covid-19 vaccine to some risk groups. https://www.thelocal.se/20210909/swedish-regions-roll-out-booster-shots-of-covid-19-vaccine/ More than half of Sweden’s regions have started offering third doses of the Covid-19 vaccine to people with severely lowered immune systems, according to broadcaster TV4 Nyheterna. These include, among others, Västra Götaland, Örebro, Jämtland/Härjedalen, Jönköping, Kalmar and Västerbotten. People with certain autoimmune diseases and transplant recipients were first in line after it was shown that a large proportion of this group lack antibodies even after double doses, reported radio broadcaster P4 Göteborg after Gothenburg began its rollout of booster shots. Everyone who is eligible for a third dose will receive a letter from their doctor. A third booster shot of the Covid-19 vaccine won’t be offered to the entire general population of Sweden for the time being, but the Public Health Agency has said that the third jab could be rolled out to more groups in 2022, based on the order of priority (which means other risk groups and elderly people would be first in line). This stage of the vaccination programme has not yet been confirmed. More than 80 percent of people aged over 16 in Sweden have received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, and more than 70 percent have received their second dose. Sweden has not yet rolled out the vaccine to 12-15-year-olds, unless they have an underlying health condition such as chronic lung disease or heart failure.
Vaccines and boosters should be given to those who are in high risk groups. If I were in a high risk group, I'd be first in line. Another win for Sweden.
Norway as well... Norway Bans All American Tourists https://www.traveloffpath.com/norway-bans-all-american-tourists/
Do you support closing borders? Should the US close our borders? I do... Maybe Biden could have kept out MU if he closed the border.
Actually I support policies of closing borders for periods of time and not allowing travelers from locations with high disease levels. Of course with vaccinations and widespread, easily-available testing -- these policies can be tailored to exclude the unvaccinated --- as many countries are doing now. And still require testing to confirm there are no breakthrough cases on incoming aircraft so incoming people will not have to quarantine. It should be noted that more airlines are requiring passengers be vaccinated for international travel. Qantas to ban unvaccinated travelers from international flights https://www.axios.com/covid-qantas-...ban-67a271b6-1f85-4f66-b894-7ba9171b72ce.html
Those not vaccinated in the United States do not understand the ripple impact of their decisions because Scandinavian countries clearly do understand the rising / surging Covid numbers in the United States and whom are responsible for that increase...those that are not vaccinated. It's a small loss in the Scandinavian tourism economy but these are countries I think are now willing to do what it takes to protect their way of life from the Covidiots out there in other countries. As for closing borders...it needs to be all around and that includes the airlines (airports) because the airports have been a route for those that are wealthy to get around border closures... Some were exempt from Covid testing in 2020 under the Trump administration and I will assume it's the same here in 2021 now that we have vaccination passports under the Biden administration. Too many stories about the wealthy traveling back n forth between the United States and Europe for leisure at a time when the borders were closed. Same problem with Canada too. wrbtrader
The question you are actually asking is -- Would I support Biden following the European policy of closing our borders (air-travel) from countries with high levels of Covid for periods of time in order to protect American society. I also believe -- at this point -- all adult travelers coming to the U.S. via air should be vaccinated -- as well as Covid tests being required prior entry. We should note that Biden has already closed our borders for periods of time -- including land borders. One example is not allowing Canadians to travel to the U.S. The Trump method of "closing" the borders where tens of thousands of travelers came from China & Europe with no testing and no quarantines in 2020 -- was ridiculous. Trump's "border closings" did not make us safer or stop Covid from being imported into the U.S. If you are going to allow citizens/residents to return to the U.S. in 2020 then the policy should have been a requirement to be tested prior travel and 14 day quarantine after travel -- like many other countries did.