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COVID-19 weekly update

Dec 30, 2020 | Jennifer O'Hara | @jenohara | Comments (39)

Mayo-Clinic-Laboratories-researcher-checking-specimen-tubes-during-COVID-19-research-16x9-1-1024x576

2020 has been a year consumed by COVID-19, from first news of the virus in the U.S. in January to vaccines rolling out in December. Scientists, health care providers and the public have gained new knowledge and understanding of infectious diseases and virus transmission, and COVID-19 vaccines were developed in record time.

On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group, looks back at what has been learned in 2020, and forward to the possibility of controlling COVID-19 in 2021.

To practice safe social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, this interview was conducted using video conferencing. The sound and video quality are representative of the technology used. For the safety of its patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in an area not designated for patient care, where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.

Connect with others talking about the pandemic and supporting one another in the COVID-19 support group.

Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting. Due to the fluid nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientific understanding, along with guidelines and recommendations, may have changed since the original publication date.

For more information and all your COVID-19 coverage, go to the Mayo Clinic News Network and mayoclinic.org.

Dr. Poland has served as a consultant for Merck & Co. Inc., Medicago Inc., GlaxoSmithKline plc, Sanofi Pasteur, Emergent BioSolutions Inc., Dynavax Technologies Corp., Genentech Inc., Eli Lilly and Co., Kentucky BioProcessing Inc. and Genevant Sciences Corp., and Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. He is a paid scientific adviser for Johnson & Johnson. Honoraria: Elsevier.

 

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Sundance(RB) | @sundance6 | Jan 5, 2021

Elizebeth So True! I could get into a Political Statement about who and why what is happening in New Mexico, but that's not for Connect!
Bless you and keep up the good work!
From, The Land of Enchantment!
Sundance(RB)

REPLY
jeanne5009 | @jeanne5009 | Jan 5, 2021
In reply to @ess77 "Hi, jeanne5009. I don't understand why anyone would camp out overnight to wait in line for..." + (show)
@ess77

Hi, jeanne5009. I don't understand why anyone would camp out overnight to wait in line for a shot! Help me here. Aren't they given by appointment? I wouldn't ever consider waiting in a long line, much less overnight? That's amazing to me.....do you know where this is happening? If it's a single issue or?????? Perhaps this is a county issue? Computer, phones, work eventually or if we know which button to push......The elderly you're referring to must not live in an elderly community or nursing home. If we live on our own, it IS our responsibility to get information and be proactive in our health care. We can't depend on the government to be in charge of us. That's our responsibility. And, these folks live in Florida, the local gov't should be giving information out. I'm very thankful for Mayo.....again.

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This happened in Lee Co FL. They elected not to assign appts. Not sure how they are doing it now. Some of our counties did try to schedule appts but they were sold out in minutes. Our Govenor has announced today that our statewide grocery store Publix will start a trail distribution making appts on their websites. It is a good plan but again, seniors without computers are out of luck. It all centers around how much vaccine the Fed govt will give each state and when. Very complicated and I fear very political.
Mayo is good, they will let us know if we need to get it ASAP. I am sure they are giving their supply to the patients most in need.

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imallears | @imallears | Jan 5, 2021

I live in Pasco county in Florida and just heard of the Publix announcement today...at select locations...and to call for an appointment. We only have one major site where they are giving out the vaccine and they are booked solid ...no appointments until after January 8....drive through only. So what people have to do is keep checking the Evenbrite
site to see if any spots open up. CVS and Walgreens are suppose to be rolling them out soon. It’s early days yet. Like so many said you really need internet access to keep on top of it. I know the people in our assisted living facilities in this area are starting to get the vaccine....so many of the facilities are rampant with Covid, probably brought in by people from the outside or those who live in the facilities but do go out and have spent time with family over the holidays. Some of my friends are adopting a wait and see approach and others are starting to get anxious.
It will be interesting to see how each state is handling this.

FL Mary

REPLY
1 reply
ess77 - Elizabeth | @ess77 | Jan 5, 2021
In reply to @imallears "I live in Pasco county in Florida and just heard of the Publix announcement today...at select..." + (show)
@imallears

I live in Pasco county in Florida and just heard of the Publix announcement today...at select locations...and to call for an appointment. We only have one major site where they are giving out the vaccine and they are booked solid ...no appointments until after January 8....drive through only. So what people have to do is keep checking the Evenbrite
site to see if any spots open up. CVS and Walgreens are suppose to be rolling them out soon. It’s early days yet. Like so many said you really need internet access to keep on top of it. I know the people in our assisted living facilities in this area are starting to get the vaccine....so many of the facilities are rampant with Covid, probably brought in by people from the outside or those who live in the facilities but do go out and have spent time with family over the holidays. Some of my friends are adopting a wait and see approach and others are starting to get anxious.
It will be interesting to see how each state is handling this.

FL Mary

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I understand from the Gov. news conference that we'll here from Walmart soon as well. This is perking along for Fl, albeit slowly...but, they're getting there and figuring it all out. Are your county folks opening up more vaccine sites, from testing sites? That really makes sense to me.

I happpen to think this figuring should have been done months ago, just as our schools should have months ago had their plan and put into effect, long before the students would attend. Can't wait for them to get back in school. Saw a small child today w/parents getting back-pack, etc for school, real school in person. That's so good for the kids!!!! I worry about them with all this. Blessings to all. Elizabeth

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imallears | @imallears | Jan 5, 2021

@ess77
Pasco schools have been open in person since late August. Don’t know about testing sites being used for distribution of vaccine. My daughter ,who is a nurse practitioner and myself are getting the first shot on Monday at one of the facilities where her patients are...being administered by Walgreens. She gets tested every 2 weeks as mandated and has been doing self tests in between and running them up to the lab as well as testing all her patients. She is the one who tested me and family. She lives across the breezeway from me but is exposed to Covid every time she walks into a facility and I do work for her at home but see her most days. So it behooves me to get the vaccine ASAP.

Pasco has been open for business generally and you wouldn’t think there was a pandemic by the number of cars in the shopping area parking lots, even after the holidays. And in my particular area there are a lot of seniors. I did go back to the gym for the active senior classes when the gyms were first open. The class size has shrunk from about 25 to between 7 and 10 so there is plenty of distancing. I will let the members of my class know about Publix and Walmart as possible places to call. I will report on how the shot went and any side effects.

Stay tuned and be safe...reporting live from
FL Mary

REPLY
2 replies
ess77 - Elizabeth | @ess77 | Jan 6, 2021
In reply to @amandajro "While the pandemic has stirred up many thoughts/feelings politically, it is important to keep the focus..." + (show)
@amandajro

While the pandemic has stirred up many thoughts/feelings politically, it is important to keep the focus of this community on healthcare and sharing and supporting one another in that manner. Sharing a friendly reminder to please refrain from going down the political path in order to keep this community inclusive and to honor the Community Guidelines (see #6 specifically): https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/about-connect/tab/community-guidelines/

Thank you.

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Thank you. Amanda. Good reminder....sometimes in this climate we can get pretty concerned and head off in a different direction! Good reminder....Blessings. Elizabeth

REPLY
ess77 - Elizabeth | @ess77 | Jan 6, 2021
In reply to @imallears "@ess77 Pasco schools have been open in person since late August. Don’t know about testing sites..." + (show)
@imallears

@ess77
Pasco schools have been open in person since late August. Don’t know about testing sites being used for distribution of vaccine. My daughter ,who is a nurse practitioner and myself are getting the first shot on Monday at one of the facilities where her patients are...being administered by Walgreens. She gets tested every 2 weeks as mandated and has been doing self tests in between and running them up to the lab as well as testing all her patients. She is the one who tested me and family. She lives across the breezeway from me but is exposed to Covid every time she walks into a facility and I do work for her at home but see her most days. So it behooves me to get the vaccine ASAP.

Pasco has been open for business generally and you wouldn’t think there was a pandemic by the number of cars in the shopping area parking lots, even after the holidays. And in my particular area there are a lot of seniors. I did go back to the gym for the active senior classes when the gyms were first open. The class size has shrunk from about 25 to between 7 and 10 so there is plenty of distancing. I will let the members of my class know about Publix and Walmart as possible places to call. I will report on how the shot went and any side effects.

Stay tuned and be safe...reporting live from
FL Mary

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Wonderful! imallears, you have a possibliity of exposure so often, it' s wonderful you can get vaccine Monday. When hugs in person exist again, give your daughter a hug from me, as a grateful older middle aged woman with a long background in working with the elderfly in retirement communities and nursing homes. She's truly special to choose that work. It's not simple, it's not easy, it's challenging every day, AND it's extremely rewarding every day. You know, you and I and others on these sites are important to getting the honest, factual word out to the community. We can help a lot as long as we're sure to ck the info to be sure we're on track. We're a 'vital' link, so pat yourself on the back! I'm sending some info to my friends at church on our 'Primetimers' site. They're probably way ahead, tho. At least we can help each other out at this point. Blessings to you and your daughter. Elizabeth

REPLY
1 reply
ess77 - Elizabeth | @ess77 | Jan 6, 2021
In reply to @imallears "@ess77 Pasco schools have been open in person since late August. Don’t know about testing sites..." + (show)
@imallears

@ess77
Pasco schools have been open in person since late August. Don’t know about testing sites being used for distribution of vaccine. My daughter ,who is a nurse practitioner and myself are getting the first shot on Monday at one of the facilities where her patients are...being administered by Walgreens. She gets tested every 2 weeks as mandated and has been doing self tests in between and running them up to the lab as well as testing all her patients. She is the one who tested me and family. She lives across the breezeway from me but is exposed to Covid every time she walks into a facility and I do work for her at home but see her most days. So it behooves me to get the vaccine ASAP.

Pasco has been open for business generally and you wouldn’t think there was a pandemic by the number of cars in the shopping area parking lots, even after the holidays. And in my particular area there are a lot of seniors. I did go back to the gym for the active senior classes when the gyms were first open. The class size has shrunk from about 25 to between 7 and 10 so there is plenty of distancing. I will let the members of my class know about Publix and Walmart as possible places to call. I will report on how the shot went and any side effects.

Stay tuned and be safe...reporting live from
FL Mary

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Aren't we blessed to have our businesses open and staying in business....hopefully!? I do worry about the small business owner, haveing been one for 10 years long ago. I would by now be bankrupt is I had my shop. No way to stay afloat with doors closed. I really hurt for them. Their lives are upside down and they're in such a tough spot. My goodness, it's wonderful, for them to be open and I could get printer ink yesterday after Mayo......I'm so glad to buy from local businesses, rather than online. Thankful for online purchasing, butwant to support the local folks. Blessings, Elizabeth

REPLY
imallears | @imallears | Jan 12, 2021
In reply to @ess77 "Wonderful! imallears, you have a possibliity of exposure so often, it' s wonderful you can get..." + (show)
@ess77

Wonderful! imallears, you have a possibliity of exposure so often, it' s wonderful you can get vaccine Monday. When hugs in person exist again, give your daughter a hug from me, as a grateful older middle aged woman with a long background in working with the elderfly in retirement communities and nursing homes. She's truly special to choose that work. It's not simple, it's not easy, it's challenging every day, AND it's extremely rewarding every day. You know, you and I and others on these sites are important to getting the honest, factual word out to the community. We can help a lot as long as we're sure to ck the info to be sure we're on track. We're a 'vital' link, so pat yourself on the back! I'm sending some info to my friends at church on our 'Primetimers' site. They're probably way ahead, tho. At least we can help each other out at this point. Blessings to you and your daughter. Elizabeth

Jump to this post

@ess77
Thank you for your kind words and yes, she is special. We had our first Pfizer dose yesterday with only a slight sore arm today.
I didn’t even feel the needle. Scheduled for the second dose on February 1.....so onward and upward . It’s difficult to get the vaccine here and our area has opened up another (second) distribution site. Hopefully things will progress faster and more smoothly. I am lucky to have access to “the powers that be”. Many of my friends are anxious to make appointments and my daughter is keeping an eye out for opportunities for some our friends to get an appointment. Stay safe and happy.

FL Mary

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