COVID-19

At least this way we get rid of the unrestricted opening hours for colmados and bars through December and we can all sleep better.

And probably a big drop in deaths on roads and hopefully a drop in the December robberies and muggings too.

I do agree that to keep controls and a curfew in place is more likely to keep the lid on the virus spread in DR which is something many other countries have not done and now have to take drastic actions again.

I see that the USA set yet another record yesterday at 132,797 new cases and Europe is no better. This is now a much bigger concern for DR and maybe more airport checks are now needed?

To live with covid19 there must be controls. Anyone saying otherwise is ignoring reality and the economic damage will be longer term.

A different slant to the story on controls for the festive season from Listin Diario......

Abinader says they study measures to take during December holidays

https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2 … -diciembre

When asked whether the Government will maintain curfew measures during the December holidays, President Luis Abinader reiterated that the coronavirus pandemic is under control in the country.

He pointed out that the decision has been made to gradually relax the measures to avoid the outbreaks that have been registered in other countries where the total opening has been opted for.

Similarly, he indicated that they have not yet determined the restrictions during the holidays .

“Other countries that have fully opened you have seen how they have had a regrowth. This has not been the case for us due to the gradualness with which we have dealt with the issue and it has paid off. Anyway, that is the opinion of the technicians of the Ministry of Health and the commission that are working with the cabinet under the coordination of our vice president.

He expressed that "day by day" they study the decision on what measures they will take in the face of the December holidays.

"It is good to underline that the government has made the correct decisions in this regard and this is indicated by the statistics that we have a controlled Covid," he said.

Pfizer and BioNTech Announce Vaccine Candidate Against COVID-19 Achieved Success in First Interim Analysis from Phase 3 Study
Monday, November 09, 2020 - 06:45am

    Vaccine candidate was found to be more than 90% effective in preventing COVID-19 in participants without evidence of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection in the first interim efficacy analysis
    Analysis evaluated 94 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in trial participants
    Study enrolled 43,538 participants, with 42% having diverse backgrounds, and no serious safety concerns have been observed; Safety and additional efficacy data continue to be collected
    Submission for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) planned for soon after the required safety milestone is achieved, which is currently expected to occur in the third week of November
    Clinical trial to continue through to final analysis at 164 confirmed cases in order to collect further data and characterize the vaccine candidate’s performance against other study endpoints

The authorities do not contemplate giving in at Christmas  Curfew to continue.

https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2 … en-navidad

President Luis Abinader and the Minister of Public Health, Plutarco Arias, expressed yesterday that the quarantine cannot be lifted despite the control of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Abinader said that the government is the most interested in normalizing activities, but that the risk of a re-emergence as has occurred in Europe and other nations.

While Arias, speaking separately, considered that the current curfew should be maintained during the Christmas period, as a measure to avoid considerable outbreaks due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Arias said they have a proposal, which is not yet official, to declare December 24 and 31 as non-working days so that people can stay sharing at home. He said you could keep the curfew at 9:00 or put it at 10:00 at night.

"So that people have lunch instead of dinner," suggested the minister when interviewed on a television program, which is broadcast every day by Color Visón.

“The famous curfew we understand that we have to maintain it. You have seen more advanced countries than us that have had to close again, ”said the minister, citing that European countries and some cities in the United States have had to return to closure periods to stop the advance of the disease.

The official pointed out that the changes in those countries and cities have been quite abrupt.

President Abinader maintains that the Government is the most interested in normalizing activities, since there are many benefits that are obtained, but that the health of the population comes first.

There has been a slight uptick in positivity in DR over the last few days with close to 1000 cases yesterday. Mainly in the capital but places like POP still high. so it comes as no surprise that the government has no plans to stop the curfew over the holiday period.

After all in Europe and the USA (181,194 yesterday) cases are very high indeed.

One wonders if the government will impose new restrictions on entry? I doubt it because of the importance of tourism, but perhaps better testing is now needed at airports?

This is interesting.

Bulletin #240

A poor trend continues with upward daily positivity to 15.49% with 671 new cases yesterday (918 Thursday) and increases to hospital bed occupation, ICU and ventilator use.

301 cases in the capital, 97 La Vega, 53 Monsenr Noeul, 40 Duarte, 39 Santiago, 34 Puerto Plata, 28 MTS and 24 La altagracia to list a few of the larger numbers.

Curfew through to New Year looks increasingly likely with perhaps a later start on some days to 10pm as earlier comment by Minister and President- that is if things improve.

DR is doing much better than Europe!

This is the vaccine DR is running with.......expected to be available here in March

JAB FAB Tens of millions of Covid vaccines will be ready by Christmas, professor reveals

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/13199654/ … christmas/

TENS of millions of British-made Covid-19 vaccines are ready to roll into production by the end of the year, it has been revealed.

Professor Andrew Pollard, who led the Oxford University and AstraZeneca-backed trial, said they are on track and “optimistic” to get the green light on the jab by Christmas.

He said his team’s work was a “miracle” done at “record speed”.

And their anti-viral will be easier to deliver and ten times cheaper than the Pfizer version, which needs two injections weeks apart and must be stored below -109F (-78C).

Professor Pollard says: “Ours are stored at fridge temperature.”

He said the pioneering vaccine is on the cusp of demonstrating “efficacy” — an important medical test to prove a drug’s success, which German drug-firm Pfizer proved on its own vaccine just last Monday.

Pfizer and BioNTech were last week the first to announce their vaccine had been 90 per cent successful.

Hundreds of vaccines are being trialled around the world.

Prof Pollard — director of the pioneering Oxford Vaccine Group — said: “We’re optimistic we’ll be able to demonstrate efficacy by the end of the year.

"We have been working tirelessly all year and can’t wait to see the results in the months ahead.

“We are a small academic team in Oxford. It is a miracle that we have been able to conduct large scale trials in record speed.

“Our partner AZ will deliver the vaccine on a not-for-profit basis.”

They are believed to cost £2.23 per dose, while the Pfizer version ­— which the Government has ordered 40million doses of — is thought to cost £29.47 for both jabs.[/i]

Wow so  they have not proven the efficacy yet but still are pushing its better than the other. I hope they are right. It should not be a competition  though! 

We need it fast.
We need it to work!

I think we have to be realistic here in DR in that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines just will not be pratical to distribute here.

Yes preliminary results show thet have high levels of efficiay but there are not yet enough resulst for older people. And the Russsian vaccine is stated to have 95% efficacy too!

DR's best hope is the AZ/Oxford vaccine which has been tested large scale on all age groups. Their preliminary results will be announced soon.

Anyhow the issue with distribution (not to mention public confidence and nursing shortages) of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines is well summed up in an article in the The Guardian today:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/16/us-coronavirus-vaccine-distribution-challenges

Extreme storage requirements

As public health authorities work to regain public trust, they must also tackle the unprecedented cold storage requirements of the leading vaccine candidate from Pfizer and German company BioNTech.

This vaccine uses technology called a messenger RNA platform, which uses the genetic material of Covid-19 to invoke an immune response. The vaccine leads the pack because it is the quickest to manufacture.

But speed of manufacture is offset by complicated delivery. Pfizer’s vaccine needs to be stored at an unprecedented -94C (-137.2F) a temperature met only with the coldest deep freezers.

Pharmacies do not have freezers this cold, because no approved drug has ever needed to be held at this temperature. Only large medical centers, universities and perhaps some public health departments will probably have such deep freezers.

To get around this, Pfizer has developed a reusable, suitcase-sized shipping container where 975 doses of the vaccine are kept on dry ice. The vaccine is stable for 10 days from the point of departure in this case. If more dry ice can be secured, then the vaccine can be kept in the case for another 15 days.

“The clock starts well before you actually receive the product,” said Soumi Saha, an attorney, pharmacist and vice-president of advocacy at the healthcare logistics company Premier Inc.

Dry ice is considered a hazardous material, so it cannot be shipped by air or sea. It must be transported by ground, posing potentially serious challenges for rural areas where several days of vaccine viability could be lost in transit.

During this time, the case can only be opened twice a day for one minute per opening. Healthcare workers will need to take out an appropriate amount of vaccine only twice a day, meaning carefully calibrating between taking out too little and risk sending patients home, and taking out too much and risk wasting very limited doses.

These vaccines aren't for DR nor most developing nations.

March is when DR is expected to start receiving it's 10 million doses of AZ/Oxford vacccines:

https://eldia.com.do/ops-asesora-salud-para-recibo-vacuna-covid-19-en-marzo/

Following the fact that the pharmaceutical company that negotiated with the country 10 million vaccines against Covid-19 reported that it started production, the Ministry of Public Health receives the advice of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

This in order to develop the logistics that will be implemented when the vaccine begins to be received, which is expected to be in March 2021.

The pharmaceutical AstraZeneca, with which the country reached an agreement, announced that it will begin its advanced distribution at the end of March 2021.

According to the Vice Minister of Collective Health, Ivelisse Acosta, the Essential Medicines Program (Promese) will be the entity that will conserve and store the product, due to its connection with massive quantities of medicines.

The official clarified that logistics is still being developed and has not reached its conclusion.

Countries and international organizations have secured millions of doses of vaccine, among them the European Union, which ordered 300 million; Australia set aside 50 million, Argentina has required 22 million and the Dominican Republic, 10 million, among many other countries.

The manufacture of the vaccine against Covid-19 will be the fastest in the history of mankind, due to the speed with which it was made.

Great info.  Thanks for sharing.

Anyone have current info on COVID testing and treatment in Cabarete area?

My bonus daughter is living in Cabarete and I'm looking for info on where she could get tested and treated, if needed.

Good news for DR!

Oxford vaccine produces strong immune response in older adults, early results show

https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-oxf … w-12135926


The COVID-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University produces a strong immune response in older adults, data from early trials has shown.

The phase one and phase two results suggest that one of the groups most at risk of death or serious illness from COVID-19 may be able to build immunity, according to data published in The Lancet medical journal.

It comes a day after Pfizer announced its coronavirus vaccine was 94% effective among adults over 65 in its final efficacy results, and that it would be seeking authorisation over the next few days.

According to the authors of the Oxford vaccine findings, "volunteers in the trial demonstrate similar neutralising antibody titres, and T cell responses across all three age groups (18-55, 56-79, and 70+)".

Around 560 healthy adult volunteers took part in the phase two trials, where they were given two doses of the vaccine candidate, or a placebo.

No adverse health problems were reported during the trials, the report adds.

The University of Oxford says that across most vaccines, older adults tend not to be as well protected as younger adults, with antibodies induced by a vaccine often showing a lower protective capacity.

Dr Maheshi Ramasamy, an investigator at the Oxford Vaccine Group and consultant physician, said: "Older adults are a priority group for COVID-19 vaccination, because they are at increased risk of severe disease, but we know that they tend to have poorer vaccine responses.

"We were pleased to see that our vaccine was not only well tolerated in older adults; it also stimulated similar immune responses to those seen in younger volunteers. The next step will be to see if this translates into protection from the disease itself."

Phase three trials of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab, which will determine the vaccine's efficacy, are still ongoing, with results expected over the coming weeks.

Professor Andrew Pollard, the head of Oxford's vaccine trial team, said he is "absolutely delighted" with the latest results.

"The other thing that we found which I think is really important is the vaccine is really well tolerated in those who are over 55," he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.

"We do know with these vaccines that adults tend to feel a bit ropey the day after they have been vaccinated... but that was very, very much less, particularly in those who are over 70. And that's absolutely great news because if it's well tolerated that's going to really help with roll-out should we be able to show that the vaccine actually works."

Studies suggest the Oxford jab would not need to be kept at temperatures as low as those made by Pfizer and Moderna.

Prof Pollard said there is "no competition" between different vaccines because "we need multiple vaccines to be successful... because we've got a lot of people to protect all around the globe".

He added: "We're still at the bottom of that mountain, in some ways, but we've done the route into the bottom of the mountain - the long trek to get to the start.

"Now we've got to get the data about the vaccines in front of regulators for them to scrutinise it and approve the first vaccines, and then we've got that huge effort to climb up to the top where we've got a vast majority of those who are at risk vaccinated and protected, so that the most vulnerable are no longer at risk, and we can start to get back to normal."

Dr Tildesley, a member of the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Modelling (SPI-M) group, told BBC Breakfast the vaccine's strong immune response in older adults is "the really key thing" for preventing deaths.

One Oxford vaccine trial volunteer said she did not experience any adverse side effects, adding: "I was so surprised."

Sarah Hurst, 47, from Oxfordshire, said she signed up because she "wanted a vaccine as quickly as possible so we can live our lives again".

She said she hoped the jab would prove to be as effective as the other two.

That is excellent news.

Ive heard the trst are kind of like the ones that Elon Musk got too........he got 4 of them...2 positive...2 negative.

Personally I find it odd they can't find cure for cancer or the flu but with Covid more than one company can in less than a year.

They CAN cure some types of cancer. And the supposed vaccines so far are CLAIMS, not cures for the china flu. Remember how ages ago Russians also claimed a vaccine?...so you would think everybody could just produce that one......didnt happen.

Malaria stands out to me as the infection that could have been controlled with the right investment by drug companies. But there is no money in it! It affects the poorer nations.

The investment for covid19 came because it affected the richer nations. Yes Russia and China invested too but their aim was more domestic than internationally other than for supportive countries.

Both Pfizer and Moderna are in the covid19 race for big bucks with sales to western countries that will pay.

Look at what happened with Ebola. Nothing until there was a threat to richer nations.

Big pharma stinks imo.

Bulletin #245:

The recent rise in cases and positivity is growing. Bad news.

Yesterday there was 1026 cases with a day positivity up to 17.46%. Active cases has increased to 22,355. Hospital bed and ICU occupation is up so is ventilator use.

Santo Domingo greater had a total of 529 new cases. La Altagracia 59, POP 32 making a total of 102 in two days. Probelams in the Cibao in Bonao, SFM and La Vega.

Perhaps some tightening of controls is coming?

Lennox, nobody stopping anybody who wants to invest in drugs to donate to poor countries.   Most of our countries got rid of malaria before they were rich.

NOne of us are scientists. 

In terms of pharmaceutical companies they are in it for the money. No one invests in cures, meds or vaccines that cannot be profitable.  Simple.

Oxford Covid scientists: no rush to get vaccine results by Christmas

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/ … 1605809664

I think that is what most of us want. A thorough evaluation of final results, peer reviewed and properly assessed by regulators.

It is not a race with others. Astra Zeneca are providing the 3 billion doses of their vaccine without profit in the pandemic stage of this global emergency at much less cost than Pfizer or Moderna who are doing this for big profits and want to grab market share and boost share price.

March was the date stated for DR to start getting AZ vaccines. That is still looking posdible.

It is more traditional vaccine technology stored in normal fridges. Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are new vaccine technology never used before on humans which needs storage at lower temperatures. Pfizer should be available earliest. Moderna at same time as AZ.

You're still doing much better than Europe

I understand the Oxford trials will only require one jab as opposed to 2

Strange no one is talking about the Russian & Chinese vaccines.  They are allegedly way ahead of the others with thousands already vaccinated.

I talked about it above.  So far they are only CLAIMS.  If they were established truth, everybody would just copy them, instead of of trying to reinvent the wheel in every country.

The Russian vaccine like Astra Zeneca has been peer reviewed in The Lancet and has shown promising results - 92% eficiacy after Stage 2 trials.

This is an important step on the way to be recognized by authorizing agencies.

Patience is needed and the whole process of approval should be open and transparent and verified by the scientific community before going to regulators otherwise people will lack confidence in the vaccines.

We await the full proper process of disclosure of full test results and peer review and regulation assessment in a transparent way for all the vaccines after Phase 3 trials are complete and not just press releases for commercial and political reasons and an unhealthy rush.

But there is hope now and that is the real positive for all of us. And it would not have happened if this were not a massive global crisis and many companies in many countries made efforts to find a vaccine. With billions of people to be vaccinated going forward it is too big for one company or country alone, and that is also a good thing to suppress costs and find the best long term solution.

Thanks for telling us it's not an actual vaccine that works... ..but only "promising".     And this is why the whole world isnt making it/using it.

The Russian vaccine is being used for front line staff in hospitals in Russia.

Chinas vaccine is in use domestically and more than one million have been vaccinated.

None of the vaccines developed by Pfizer, Moderna nor Astra Zenenca, and there are others in stage 3 trials, have had their stege 3 results publicised peer reviewed and approved by regulators. They are all promising .

Pfizer has applied to regulators in the USA today for emergency use of its vaccine.

Rememeber each country has it's own regulatory bodies. It will take time for promising vaccines to get approved widescale.

Anyhow, it doesn't matter because the DR government is running with the promising Astra Zeneca/Oxford vaccine due early next year.

Tocilizumab: Arthritis drug may treat severe Covid

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-55002339

DR has been using this drug for some time treating severe cases and may be a factor in lower death rates here.

The Minister of Public Health, Dr. Rafael Sánchez Cárdenas recommended that the drug tocilizumab (TCZ) continue to be used, due to the positive results obtained in patients with COVID-19 in the country.

Dr. Sánchez Cárdenas said that from the reports received from the specialists who have applied the drug, "they have certified that surviving patients have responded successfully to it," he indicated.

https://www.msp.gob.do/web/?p=8066

Unfortunately Remdesevir looks iffy for severe cases despite the CMD approval (one wonders if there was poltical pressure?)  - and is very expensive.

[i]Covid-19: What now for remdesivir?

https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4457[/i]

An expensive red herring which may help in the early stages but still to be researched.

Before you said...."promising".   But no problem if you think the Rissians have a vaccine that works......one that no other country wants to use, but instead spend billions , over long periods of time, to develop their own.

Right Lennox

The fat is in the fire

RD has committed to the Oxford vaccine - over & out
no more to debate there.... 10M jabs

Bulletin #247

We are on the slippery slope.

986 new cases with day positivity at 15.40 and 4 week rolling positivity creeping back up to near 11%.

The hospital occupation is up as is ventilator use.

Greater Santo Domingo accounts for 410 cases and in the Cibao there are problems in La Vega, Cotui ( I was there this morning and mask use and other measures are reasonable generally) and Bonao with Santiago reporting 105 new cases too. POP still registers high numbers daily and another 50 yesterday.

This is not going in the right direction for the Christmas and New Year festivities which traditionally start at the beginning of December. I suspect they will be restricted by curfew.

Agreed.

DRs' main vaccine will be coming and be effective:

Oxford vaccine is up to 90% effective in preventing coronavirus, tests show

https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-oxf … w-12134940

The results are now going to be presented for peer review in medical journals and will also go to the regulators. The lower first dose appears to be producing a higher eficiacy and that is also good news meaning more doses will become available. it looks good at preventing severe infections and reacts well in older people.

The protocol used to determine the eficiacy is different in the AZ/Oxford case:

Vaccine news briefing: Is it less effective than the other vaccines?

The headline figure of up to 90% effectiveness is less than the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

Professor Andrew Pollard takes this question. "It's critical to understand what everyone is measuring.

"What counts as COVID disease varies between different protocols. If you are only counting hospitalisations then we would have bigger efficacy.

"We count mild disease and that is much harder to protect against."


The big plus for this vaccine is the much lower cost and being much easier to store.

Great news for DR and much of the Caribbean.

WE also need to understand how this will roll out.   As I understand it will come in  batches,  with the first going to frontline workers and health care workers, then the most  vulnerable.   I expect  that this will include those wealthy enough to get to the front of the line!   

For the largest group of the population this will come significantly later!   

We cannot  rely on this, we must  maintain and encourage mask use and social distancing.

I am sure we have all seen the videos of the  fiasco on the Malecon in Puerto Plata  yesterday.  Thousands of people, no mask etc  partying like there is no tomorrow. Sadly for some that may be true.

The part that seriously bothers me is this was apparently widely publicized. So, the question then becomes, why was it allowed???

Lets say you're the captain of 1000 cops, while there are 10000 partyers,  how would you stop them exactly? Be specific.    In fact do we know how many cops they can muster, pay overtime , in PoP?

While this potential vaccine is 90% effective, it requires two doses to be given about 30 days apart. Logistically, this is going to be very difficult to manage. I hope the National Health Department is working on a effective distribution program.