spec·i·men
/ˈspesəmən/
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noun
an individual animal, plant, piece of a mineral, etc., used as an example of its species or type for scientific study or display.
an example of something such as a product or piece of work, regarded as typical of its class or group.
a sample for medical testing, especially of urine.

You go girl!

Not tongue in cheek at all.

The OP always delivers half baked conspiracy theories, actually the headline thought has circulated on a few extreme websites.

OK. I'll go with the 20 virgins. Who wouldn't?

Well, not always. I don't mind reading 'out there' columns. I certainly don't entirely trust the government and am sorry if you do. How's this from one of his articles?

Corona is somewhat bad. In terms of mortality, it is the equivalent of a middle-of-the-road pandemic flu. Adjusting for age and obesity, it seems to be in the neighbourhood of the Hong Kong Flu of 1968/69. In other words, Corona is more deadly, but only because we have an older and fatter population.

Corona is dangerous, almost exclusively, to the old, the obese, and the already ill. Almost all deaths and serious cases happen in these very identifiable sub-populations. In children, Corona is less dangerous than influenza. The risk stratification of Corona is so extreme, that most people fail to understand their own risk. Almost everybody under 60 or 70 drastically overestimates the risk Corona poses to them.

Written before Delta took hold and sounds fairly accurate to me. Waiting for more data on Delta to see if it holds up.

Would u rather it keep going to endless wars?

I'm definitely a specimen, but I don't need to be a candidate for a vaccine trial for that!

I also was going to use the term "human guinea pig" but worried someone might think that was some kind of derogative.

and I'm ignoring the weekly "hysteric" posts about COVID. ..and the NYT? Zero credibility. They are a wholly-owned subsidiary of the DNC.

Without referencing ANY one poster. Real men don't need links - and that is meant as a joke!

Without referencing any one poster, I think you just insulted "him"

I am not easily insulted, but seems to me that “accepting as truth” with no links to support, in a venue that most posts are either made up or copy and pasted from “way out” websites, simply points that you are not here to discuss, but to pontificate. Of course I am speaking of those kind of subjects that are national and not Villages unique.

This forum was initially set up for discussion and we are told now that we must forgo the truth and accept whatever someone “says” is true, discussion cannot be held, at least not adult discussion. You are suggesting that DISINFORMATION become the norm……”I do not agree with that post”

First I never mentioned any names.
Second....no I'm not. Isn't it hypocritical to accept another's posts without links and accepting it as Gospel?

Case in point;
“accepting as truth” with no links to support, in a venue that most posts are either made up .............."

Again without mentioning any particular person, that is the norm and is accepted as fact, even to you

And now we have the mu variant waiting in the wings. The mu variant does not respond to the current vaccines. Peoples' trust in gov't (such as it is) gets eroded more and more every day. They must let us have access to all information. I understand they try to paint a pretty picture to increase the percentage of people getting the vaccine. When the public is told that the vaccine is the key to no masks, to concerts, public events. When we are told the effective rate is 97%, only to drop to 70 something, When we are told how breakthrough cases are very few (using June figures. July and August will show increased ineffectiveness). When we see that all of these statements had to be walked back, the people lose faith in what they are being told. On top of knowing that, everyone knows information from scientists and doctors are being censored. This has been handled poorly.

Kitchens, THAT is where they hide? It is important to sweat the small stuff. I remember hearing about Osama Bin Laden, after he was buried at sea. He opens his eyes (just go with it), looks around and sees many fish. Sturgeons. He smacks his head "I thought it was virgins"

When we want to believe in conspiracies we can find them.

"Disinformation" - false information which is intended to mislead, especially propaganda issued by a government organization to a rival power or the main media outlets.

How funny. The person who is always accusing others of lying or spreading misinformation makes a 100% wrong statement. :shocked:

And who acknowledged his error and apologized in post 69

Sorry, post not intended for you directly.

I knew you were responding to jimjmuser about me and my reply was not clear, although......

Start with the CDC website. They have a host of information that is not full of conspiracy theories. I trust them.

This deserves more than a hit on the LIKE button.

If folks would stay true to their word about becoming great, and respecting our own government instead of following and cheering for any crackpot theory that serves whatever doctrine they serve, we would be great.

This entire thing, from the get go was made into a P circus and for the last 18 months or so, elected officials, NOT FOLKS WHO HAVE SERVED THEIR LIFE IN THIS FIELD, led as if they have somehow concocted magical skills to determine the best route, with gain for the self’s as the main objective. We demonize folks who have given their life to the field, instead of cheering them on, and while they are not perfect or claim to be, we evidently still see P gain to be made.

Those who point out supposed errors are prepared to accept all the wrong doings from their elected officials…..that is ok…..but those who want to help sincerely are made a mockery off.

I do hope their is, in fact, Karma

The effective rate of the Pfizer vaccine WAS 97% (or around that and over 90%) AGAINST THE ALPHA VARIANT. The around (?) 70% effective rate has to do with the WHOLE NEW, different animal - the DELTA variant. So, the 97 % number has been rendered to be useful for modern Historical purposes only to discuss the early variants. Life changes and each year it changes MORE rapidly (I will not say exponentially). Imagine the year 2170, which many grandchildren will live to see (barring nuclear winter) - how fast that will change! Since the word conservative means "prefers things staying the way they are or were for long periods of time", How can anyone "conserve" at all (for longer than 1 day) when things will possibly change at an exponential (defined as 10 X) rate ?

That IS a good story (joke). I will try to remember it. Do you have a link to it?

I assume that we are talking Russian trolls and bots?

"boosters" is a misnomer. And that info about Moderna is TRUE. They must re-submit their long, long report. Still, many Doctors expect about ONLY a 2-week delay.

I trust them. I don't believe that The US
Government is basically BAD - the Russian Government may be (likely IS). I don't believe that anarchy or chaos IS a GOOD thing. I think that 95 % of Civil Servants are fine, upstanding, patriotic Americans! I have NO (zero) idea how the Proud Boys or similar groups can EVER RECRUIT EVEN one SINGLE American - that is WAY beyond me!!!!!!!!!!!!

Totally irrelevant. You can get the Moderna booster today and I know people who have. I would be going in today except it was recommended by my PCP to wait till December for my third shot.

I hit the like button for this post. I agree with the content.

Wow, you continue to be ignorant of even the most basic details. It is not an "effective rate", it is the efficacy. From the Phase 3 trials, it is the ratio of the number of breakthrough cases in the test group and the number of cases in the control group and represents a reduction in the probability of becoming infected if exposed. I am guessing you have no knowledge of basic statistics.

Exponential is not defined as 10x. Where do you get this nonsense from? An exponential function can be written as a^^x where "a" is the base, could be "e" or some other base, and "x" is the power. Seriously, if you don't know what you are talking about then don't say anything.

The "so-called booster" that people are getting today in TV Land IS REALLY just a repeat of the construction medically as the 2nd shot. Please read my post about Dr. Hotez of Baylor U. Just Google him. The vaccine shot to be given in Dec will likely be 100% the same as the 3rd shot (called by some a "BOOSTER" given TODAY. It is possible that by Dec that it could be 97% the same as today's 3rd shot with just a slight TWEEK for the Delta variant or maybe the Mu? Things can change quickly these days.

We all know that. A distinction without a difference.

According to information on fda.gov the EUA for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines was amended "to allow for the use of an additional dose in certain immunocompromised individuals."

If doctors are administering third shots to just anyone they are disregarding the EUA.

If patients are falsely declaring that they meet the conditions of the EUA then they are lying.

These things happen.

So, what else is new? Actually, I am pretty sure most people in The Villages can make a case that they are immunocompromised.

Yes, guilty as charged efficacy - not efficiency. MY Bad! I NEVER really cared what the exact definition of the 95% meant. To me, it meant that it worked the best ever of all developed vaccines. And the mRNA can form a BASIS for vaccines against other diseases - maybe even cancer!
And, actually, I took at least 2 statistics classes a long, long time ago in a far-away place.
And the 10 X was NEVER something that I really believed about the definition of exponential, which is just a greater than linear rise in the curve of a graph (or something like that). One poster (I forget who) yelled at me and got all-red-in-the-face because they said that "exponential" meant ten times (10 X). So, I was just continuing their ERROR, just for my personal amusement. I am surprised to be corrected, but I am glad and impressed!

"most" as in more than half? You really think the 130,000+ residents are truly that unwell?

"make a case" as in legitimately or more lying?

I would hope most people in The Villages are more honest than that (but I'm relatively new here).

Probably, depends on your definition of compromised - "most" is half plus 1. High blood pressure, diabetes, cancer survivor, bad cholesterol numbers, overweight, cardiac issues, breathing problems, etc. You get the picture. So, you are against people wanting to get an additional dose of the vaccine (assuming there is no medical reason for not getting the vaccine) prior to the inevitable FDA approval for a third dose ? Some people want to reduce their risk as much as possible because they are in the autumn of their lives. The vaccines are extremely effective at keeping you out of the hospital and alive. Don't be so judgmental of people you don't even know.

The EUA and the FDA have a rough definition of immunocompromised that likely doesn't include high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol numbers, overweight, or etc. These are health issues but are likely not conditions that render one immunocompromised. I use the word "likely" as I am not a doctor.

I am not against people wanting to get an additional dose, I am against people lying to get an additional dose.

Fine, you are against it. Anything else?

Ok. How do you explain these headlines from one that has served his life in the field.

Fauci Says End to Pandemic In Sight - 11/20/20 - Prognosis
Fauci Predicts US Could See Signs of Herd Immunity by Late March or Early April - 12/15/20 - NPR
Fauci Gives Sunnier Outlook For End of Pandemic: US Will See 'Big, Big Difference' By Summer or Early Fall - 3/11/21 - Forbes
Fauci Says No End to COVID Pandemic before Spring 2022 - At the Earliest - 8/25/21 - Seattle Times
Top Scientist On New Report About Research In Chinese Labs: It’s ‘Clear’ Fauci Was ‘Untruthful’ - 9/7/21 - Daily Wire

And you tell us we're supposed to trust the government with advice coming from a guy like this. Oh yes. Let's cheer him on. Open your eyes and give us a break. This is all about power and control.

Boosters - what is the situation now
 

Some posters seem to believe the booster is just another shot of the same vaccine. This is only certain now for those deemed to have compromised immunity. The booster when released for the rest of us might be the same, the same at a lower dose or one modified for the new variants. For those who want a link to the source just Google some of the text below.
——————————-
Is the booster just a third shot of the same vaccine?
We asked Johnson and Johnson, Moderna and Pfizer, the answer is both yes and no. That's because they have several boosters in the works.
Pfizer and Moderna are looking at offering a third dose, same as the first and second, while at the same time testing other ones engineered to specific variants.
Pfizer is currently evaluating a two-dose series separated by 21 days, and prototypes geared toward the Beta and Delta variants.
Moderna is evaluating their original formula given at different doses, specific variant options and a "multivalent platform, combining different variants into a single vaccine."
"The goal of the multivalent platform is to continue to try and stay ahead of where the virus is going by combining different antigens against emerging periods of concern," Moderna President Stephen Hoge said during an earnings call.