#get vaccinated

[stevviefox]

⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️

FOR PARENTS OF YOUNG KIDS IN THE US!

Someone over on bluesky posted this and I figured I'd better repost it here. It's the pre-RFK 2025 vaccination schedule for babies and young children, ya know, just in case it mysteriously disappears. Save this and give it to your child's pediatrician; tell them this is the schedule you want your child on.

[pandemic-info]

I had titer testing done found that my MMR and Tdap vaccines needed updating, with my doctor’s guidance.

I’d suggest for anyone who’s able to do the same. It may be in Texas now, but our world is fairly borderless thanks to travel. This absolute failure of “leadership” will allow previously-controlled diseases to spread; look out for yourselves.

Government webpages across all sectors are being edited or removed, so here’s an archived link to the CDC vaccination schedule:

https://web.archive.org/web/20250115125828/https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/imz-schedules/adult-age.html

Screenshot:

[coffee-mage-sans-caffeine]

Antivaxxers are not responsible* for the current pertussis outbreak. In fact, rich countries are! Here's how:

Whooping Cough, also called pertussis is back in a big way in the US right now. Other nations are also seeing outbreaks, particularly 'rich' or 'first world' or 'developed' nations. Wait what? Rich countries are having a bigger increase in whooping cough than countries with limited healthcare infrastructure? You're probably thinking 'ah, it's the antivaxxers, isn't it?' While they're contributing to the problem, but no, they're not in fact THE PROBLEM. In fact, even fully vaccinated people in rich countries are at risk for pertussis. The first thing to understand is that there are two 'generations' of pertussis vaccine available at present. Both are given in combination with tetanus and diphtheria vaccines. As far as I know, tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis are given together in every mainstream formulation of pertussis vaccine globally. The OG (first gen) pertussis vaccine was the DTP vaccine which contains a whole cell inactivated pertussis bacteria so when it is given, the body develops a robust immune response to every antigen (the thing your body can learn to make antibodies to recognise) on the surface of the pertussis bacteria. It is still used in countries where money is tight because it's cheaper to make and the immune response is robust and long-lasting--5-10 years depending on your source. Unfortunately, side effects were higher with the OG. Some children spike high fevers causing febrile seizures (which are terrifying even though they're benign), arm pain is more intense, and people feel worse after getting it. A miniscule number of children given the OG suffer encephalitis and more serious neurological effects, though most cases self-resolve. In rich countries, as the incidence of pertussis (and diphtheria and tetanus) fell with robust vaccination programs, people became more and more afraid of the side effects of the DTP vaccine. Those side effects sound scarier when there's lower risk of pertussis. There were also ever-growing antivaccine movements because since there has been inoculation (a precursor medical practice to vaccination that goes back all the way to ancient China) there have been opponents inoculation and vaccination. Antivaxxers are not new and modern. They have always been there and they were PISSED about the encephalitis. So both antivaxxers and provaxxers who were starting to forget how scary it is to watch a baby with pertussis said 'we need a better option'. This brings us to 2nd gen vaccines, the acellular pertussis vaccines DTaP and Tdap. The little a stands for 'acellular', meaning that there is no longer a whole dead bacteria cell as our antigen. We use specific cut-up antigens instead. Most formulations use 3-5 different antigens. This results in much lower side effects! Immunity without side effects is the goal! The problem is that this vaccine doesn't last as long. In fact, for 0-10 year old children, 98% are immune at 1 year after vaccination while 81% are immune at 5 years after vaccination. For 11-20 year olds, those numbers drop to 72% at one year and 42% at 5 years after vaccination. For people who are older, those numbers drop even faster. And the acellular vaccines aren't as good at preventing infection--they're more like the covid vaccines in that rather than stopping infection, they make the symptoms less bad. And those 3-5 antigens in the acellular vaccine are becoming less common on the surface of the bordatella pertussis bacteria. Yup. It's out-evolving the vaccine. So where does this leave us? 1) Make sure your pertussis vaccine is up to date. This protects you against the effects of a very serious illness. 2) If you have been exposed to pertussis TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT PROPHYLACTIC ANTIBIOTICS. After an hour in a room with someone who has pertussis, if your body doesn't have sufficient immunity there's up to a 90% chance of you getting it and you will be sick for months. This is one of the ONLY CASES EVER where you should be getting prophylactic antibiotics. Usually, I would say do not get prophylactic antibiotics. This is a special case.

3) If a third gen vaccine comes out (many are in development), update your pertussis shot! 4) IF YOU FEEL SICK AND HAVE A COUGH, STAY HOME. If you cannot stay home, then you should wear a well-fitted disposable n95, kn95, or surgical mask (in order of preference) at all times around other people. 5) Mask in crowded public spaces and on airplanes even if you feel well.

[victusinveritas]

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved in our archive

HIV/AIDS & COVID-19, particularly long COVID, share several significant similarities, especially in terms of viral persistence, T cell damage, immune system dysfunction, & activation of other pathogens. These parallels are important for understanding the long-term effects of both infections and their impact on the immune system.

1. Viral Persistence

Both HIV & SARS-CoV-2 can persist in the body, leading to chronic symptoms & immune system complications. In HIV, the virus establishes reservoirs in various tissues, allowing it to evade immune detection and antiretroviral therapy (ART), leading to lifelong infection. Similarly, recent studies at Brigham and Women’s Hospital suggest that a subset of people with long COVID may harbor persistent SARS-CoV-2 proteins in their blood, potentially explaining ongoing symptoms months after the acute infection has resolved[4][10]. This viral persistence is thought to drive chronic inflammation and immune dysfunction in both.

In long COVID, viral reservoirs have been identified in multiple organs, including the gut, blood, & nervous system[12]. This mirrors HIV's ability to persist in tissue reservoirs such as lymphoid tissues. For both viruses, this persistence can lead to prolonged immune activation & may contribute to ongoing symptoms like fatigue, cognitive issues, & cardiovascular problems.

2. T Cell Damage & Exhaustion

Both HIV and SARS-CoV-2 cause significant damage to T cells, particularly CD4+ T cells. In HIV infection, CD4+ T cells are directly targeted by the virus, leading to their depletion over time and resulting in severe immunodeficiency if untreated. Similarly, severe COVID-19 has been associated with a reduction in CD4+ T cells due to excessive immune activation and exhaustion[1][2]. In both, CD8+ T cells also become dysfunctional due to chronic exposure to viral antigens.

T cell exhaustion is a common feature in both infections. In HIV, chronic infection leads to high levels of inhibitory receptors like PD-1 on T cells, contributing to their reduced functionality[2]. In severe COVID-19 cases, similar markers of T cell exhaustion (e.g., PD-1 and TIM-3) are observed[1]. This exhaustion impairs the body's ability to clear the virus effectively and contributes to prolonged illness.

3. Immune System Dysfunction

Both HIV/AIDS & long COVID can lead to profound immune system dysfunction. In HIV infection, even with effective ART, individuals often experience chronic immune activation and systemic inflammation due to incomplete immune recovery[6][9]. This persistent immune activation is linked to increased susceptibility to other infections and long-term health complications.

Similarly, long COVID is believed to involve ongoing immune dysregulation even after the acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection has passed. Some studies suggest that persistent viral proteins may continue stimulating the immune system, leading to chronic inflammation[4][12]. This ongoing immune activation may explain why some individuals experience prolonged symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, or cardiovascular issues even after clearing the virus from most tissues.

4. Activation of Other Pathogens

Both HIV/AIDS and long COVID are associated with the reactivation of latent pathogens due to weakened immune surveillance. In people living with HIV (PLWH), co-infections with viruses like Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) or cytomegalovirus (CMV) are common due to compromised immunity[7]. Similarly, studies have shown that reactivation of latent viruses such as EBV may contribute to long COVID symptoms[7]

In both conditions, the weakened immune system's inability to control these latent infections can exacerbate symptoms and complicate recovery. For example, EBV reactivation has been linked with neurocognitive symptoms in long COVID patients[7], while opportunistic infections such as Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia are common in advanced HIV/AIDS patients[3]

So, HIV/AIDS and long COVID share several key similarities regarding viral persistence, T cell damage, immune system dysfunction, and the reactivation of other pathogens. These shared features highlight the importance of understanding how chronic viral infections can lead to long-term health consequences through mechanisms like persistent viral reservoirs and ongoing immune activation. Insights from HIV research may help inform treatment strategies for long COVID, especially in targeting viral persistence with antiviral therapies or addressing chronic immune dysfunction.

Sources

[1] SARS-CoV-2 and HIV-1: So Different yet so Alike. Immune ... pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9608044/

[2] Sharing CD4+ T Cell Loss: When COVID-19 and HIV Collide on ... www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2020.596631/full

[3] Overview of SARS-CoV-2 infection in adults living with HIV www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhiv/article/PIIS2352-3018(21)00070-9/fulltext

[4] Study Finds Persistent Infection Could Explain Long COVID in Some ... www.massgeneralbrigham.org/en/about/newsroom/press-releases/study-finds-persistent-infection-could-explain-long-covid-in-some-people

[5] New COVID studies show varied viral clearance time in patients with ... www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/new-covid-studies-show-varied-viral-clearance-time-patients-lower-immunity

[6] Immunologic Interplay Between HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11904-023-00647-z

[7] Long COVID in people living with HIV - PMC - PubMed Central pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10167544/

[8] Persistence and Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in an ... - NCBI www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7673303/

[9] The immune response to SARS-CoV-2 in people with HIV - Nature www.nature.com/articles/s41423-023-01087-w

[10] Persistent infection could explain long COVID in some people, study ... www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241009122346.htm

[11] Plasma-based antigen persistence in the post-acute phase of ... www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(24)00211-1/fulltext

[12] Long Covid trials aim to clear lingering virus—and help patients in ... www.science.org/content/article/long-covid-trials-aim-clear-lingering-virus-help-patients-need

[tomorrowusa]

The US doesn't need a quack and conspiracy nut like RFK Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services at a time like this.

All these articles from reality-based sources were published in the past 48 hours.

America’s first bird flu death reported in Louisiana

Norovirus on the Rise

What you need to know about HMPV as China sees rise in cases

RSV hasn't gone away.

How RSV Spreads

The COVID-19 emergency is over but that doesn't mean COVID-19 has disappeared.

COVID Map Update Reveals US Cases at Christmas

Get whatever vaccinations and boosters you can before January 20th. In the meantime, contact your US senator and express your opposition to putting a science denier like RFK Jr. in charge of America's health.

[updatesfromarandomgirl]

POTUS has ordered the CDC to remove vaccine information from their website. These vaccine information statements are required to be given to patients when they are vaccinated. Trump wants to makes these more difficult to access and therefore, make vaccines more difficult to access. Here are those sheets. Resist by staying healthy and not letting him censor health science.

[myriadofcolors3]

Going to put this up in my office at work! Feel free to use yourself-- I just made it on Canva.

[magnetothemagnificent]

It's been about a month since I got whooping cough and I'm still feeling the symptoms because I literally can't yell anymore. I mean. I *can*. If I really really tried. But suddenly raising my voice has me choked on my breath. And when I'm talking for a long time I'll swallow every few words. It's horrible.

Anyway if you're an adult you should be getting your TDaP boosted every ten years. If you're in your early 20s like me, it's probably been ten years if not more since your last pediatric TDaP, so check with your doctor about getting it boosted. You really do *not* want to get whooping cough. It's not fun.

Also. If you have a persistent cough that feels different from any other cough you've had before, listen to your body and get that checked out. Whooping cough wasn't even top on my radar when I went to the doctor, but I had a cough that felt different from anything I'd experienced before. The characteristic "whooping" part of whooping cough doesn't usually start until you're a few weeks into the infection, and if you have it, you want to start on antibiotics *before* it gets really bad. I unfortunately got the "whooping" part of the infection just a day after I went to the doctor and started antibiotics. It wasn't fun at all and I actually thought I was going to die because I couldn't breathe. But it could have been so much worse if I hadn't started on antibiotics, and at least after I finished my course of antibiotics I was no longer contagious.

TLDR: Whooping cough is much worse than the silly sounding name suggests so get vaccinated.

[arabella-strange]

Sam Riegel ❤️🎗️, you kind, lovely, generous man

also, GET VACCINATED

[lawofcollage]

This is another piece of art I made while processing my ongoing anger with how the US specifically, though also many other countries, have completely ignored managing the covid pandemic for the last several years.

This is your reminder: there was a new vaccine released in September of 2023. If you have not had a vaccine since then, you need one.

Threadless, Redbubble

[triple-mayday]

So RFK Jr. just got confirmed

Buckle up everybody, this is huge news for preventable diseases. I’ve been speed running my vaccination schedule and now all I have left is my third HPV vaccine. Get yourself booked for a poke as soon as possible if you have gaps in your vaccine record

Every virus in existence is about to experience a baby boom, and I want y’all to live long enough to see Rump get dumped into a hole in the ground

[pandemic-info]

Novavax is here!

Good news! Many pharmacies across the U.S. received Novavax shipments yesterday, Sept. 9 2024.

Call your local and confirm with a human.

CVS Tips:

Use this with the automated system to find out if yours carries it: "Vaccine availability > COVID-19 > Details"

Or hit 8003 right away to talk to a human

See also:

All #Novavax info:

[fixing-bad-posts]

[Image description: A photograph of a man shown from the nose down, wearing a graphic t-shirt. The shirt has been edited blackout-poetry style to read, "Vaccinated conservative eater." The text is next to three stripes in pink, purple, and blue—the colours of the bisexual pride flag.]

---

this man eats conservatives; and he's bisexual!

[victusinveritas]

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved on our archive

How is this not national news?

At a glance Weekly estimates of COVID-19 vaccination coverage and parental intent for vaccination among children are calculated using data from the National Immunization Survey–Flu (NIS–Flu). COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage and Intent for Vaccination, Children 6 months through 17 years Weekly estimates of COVID-19 vaccination coverage and parental intent for vaccination among children through December 31, 2023, were calculated using data from the National Immunization Survey–Child COVID Module (NIS–CCM). The NIS–CCM was discontinued at the end of 2023 and questions regarding COVID-19 vaccination status and intent were added to the National Immunization Survey–Flu (NIS–Flu).

NIS–CCM and NIS–Flu are national random-digit dial cellular telephone surveys of households with children ages 6 months through 17 years; NIS–Flu is conducted during October-June. The respondent to a NIS–Flu survey is a parent or guardian who said they were knowledgeable about the child's vaccination history.  All estimates are based upon parental report of receipt of vaccination and month of that vaccination.

Weekly comparisons to previous season should take into account differences between seasons in vaccine availability dates. 2023–24 COVID-19 vaccines were first available mid-September 2023, and 2024–25 COVID-19 vaccines were first available at the end of August 2024.

The NIS–Flu data posted on the dashboard below are currently a few days behind the data that are posted on the Respiratory Illnesses Data Channel. This lag is due to the time it takes to review data by geographic and sociodemographic characteristics and summarize the findings.

(Follow the link for interactive graphs and all the data)