#how to register for coronavirus vaccine

[mightyflamethrower]

Hospital That Fired Nurses for Refusing Vaccines Now Begging Them to Return

By Jack Davis, The Western Journal Sep. 2, 2023 7:40 pm

A Maine health-care provider wants the nurses it fired during the pandemic for refusing to be vaccinated against the coronavirus to come back to work.

MaineGeneral Health in Augusta has reached out to health-care workers, many of whom were denied unemployment compensation after they were fired, according to The Maine Wire.

Former registered nurse Terry Poland shared the message she received from the employer that booted her.

“You were once a proud member of the MaineGeneral team. Would you consider rejoining us? We would be pleased to discuss options with you,” the facility told her in a text, per The Maine Wire.

“As you know, nearly 2 years ago MaineGeneral had to comply with a state mandate for COVID-19 vaccination. We lost a number of great employees as a result, including you,” MaineGeneral continued, noting that the vaccination rule has been waived by the state.

Return of COVID Restrictions? Instead Of Complying, Here’s One Way To Be Prepared

Despite hard economic times after losing her job, Poland, who made about $75,000 a year before being fired, was not tempted.

“I was livid. Like, how dare you force me out of a career that I’ve dedicated my whole life to, taken away my livelihood, my ability to earn a good income, and now you think I’m gonna come grovel back to you?” Poland said.

“I don’t hardly think so. And that’s the attitude of most everybody that I’ve been in contact with since yesterday.”

Poland would not accept the mRNA vaccines.

“I knew enough not to take it. I’ve been a nurse long enough to know I need to question what new products are. I’m not going to be the first one to jump on board of an experiment,” she said, noting that her Christian convictions also came into play over concern for the use of fetal tissues in developing the drug.

The result was that she was fired and accused of misconduct, which meant she could not collect unemployment benefits, according to The Maine Wire.

Joy McKenna, director of communications for MaineGeneral, said only “a few people” have been interested in returning.

Some nurses who were fired and later fought back in court have scored victories.

Roswell Park Comprehensive Care Center has been ordered to reinstate nurse Wendy Cooper and negotiate retroactive pay and benefits with her, according to The Buffalo News.

State Supreme Court Justice Emilio Colaiacovo ruled this week that an  arbitrator’s decision that went against Cooper was “irrational, violative of public policy and contrary to the interests of justice.”

“Ms. Cooper is an unfortunate victim in the wake of excesses exhibited by governors, administrators, legislatures, and yes, even the judiciary,” the ruling said. “All too frequently did critical thinking and the exercise of personal liberties expire at the altar of false righteousness, fear and authority.”

“Since the mandate which formed the basis for Ms. Cooper’s termination was found to be invalid while the matter was being litigated (in arbitration), the arbitrator’s decision upholding the termination must be vacated,” Colaiacovo wrote.

“It is troubling to find that this arbitrator found it fair and just to confirm Cooper’s termination despite there being scant evidence of Ms. Cooper being derelict in her duties, incompetent or insubordinate, other than refusing to take a vaccine pursuant to a mandate which was found to be found null and void, that the person issuing the mandate lacked the authority to do so, and that the rule was unenforceable.”

Roswell Park said it will appeal the decision.

[global-research-report]

From Precision to Safety: How Prefilled Syringes Are Transforming Healthcare Delivery

The global prefilled syringes market size is anticipated to reach USD 16.73 billion by 2030, expanding at a CAGR of 13.08% from 2024 to 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Key factors driving the market expansion include technological advancements in auto-injectors and growing usage of prefilled syringes owing to its reduced prices per dose.

The current COVID-19 outbreak is expected to have a substantial impact on the industry. The pandemic has resulted in a significant surge in demand for emergency supplies, medical disposables, medicines, and hospital equipment. According to American Pharmaceutical Review in December 2021, COVID-19 vaccines are being created at an unprecedented rate in response to the worldwide pandemic. COVID-19 vaccination doses totaled 7.3 billion by November 9, 2021, with approximately 30.3 million doses provided daily.

As a result of COVID-19, there has been an increase in the production of COVID-19 vaccines, resulting in increased demand for prefilled syringes. For instance, in March 2022, Schott announced further investments in its pharma sector, including expanding its capacity in Hungary for prefillable glass syringe production. The increased capacity is likely to benefit the global market and provide greater supply security for major pharmaceutical corporations and contract manufacturing firms. As a result, due to the outbreak of coronavirus infection in 2020, sales of prefilled syringes increased globally.

Furthermore, emergency syringes used to treat some of COVID-19's most significant side effects such as heart damage have historically been scarce. Despite the heightened demand during the outbreak, manufacturers provide various programs that identifies high-quality, protected supply bases for medications that are or could be added to the national drug scarcity list. For instance, in October 2019, Premier Inc. teamed up with Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to provide phytonadione injection and emergency, pre-filled syringes of sulphate, dextrose, sodium bicarbonate, epinephrine, atropine, calcium chloride, and lidocaine to healthcare practitioners through its ProvideGx programme. These characteristics are projected to generate lucrative market growth prospects.

Prefilled Syringes Market Report Highlights

The disposable segment accounted for the largest market share of 91.4% in 2023 and is expected to register the fastest CAGR over the forecast period.

The glass segment accounted for the largest share of 51.4% in 2023. The glass acts as a strong barrier against external elements like moisture, oxygen, and light.

The vaccines and immunizations segment accounted for the largest share of 25.8% in 2023. Numerous vaccines require multiple doses to be administered over a period of time.

The Europe prefilled syringes market dominated the global market and is driven by the strong preference of medical professionals for injectable devices that are prefilled to reduce damage caused by needles.

Prefilled Syringes Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global prefilled syringes market on the basis of type, material, application, distribution channel, and region:

Prefilled Syringes Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

Disposable

Reusable

Prefilled Syringes Material Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

Glass

Plastic

Prefilled Syringes Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

Vaccines & Immunizations

Anaphylaxis

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Diabetes

Autoimmune Diseases

Oncology

Others

Prefilled Syringes Distribution Channel Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

Hospitals

Mail Order Pharmacies

Ambulatory Surgery Centers

Prefilled Syringes Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

North America

US

Canada

Mexico

Europe

UK

Germany

France

Italy

Spain

Denmark

Sweden

Norway

Asia Pacific

Japan

China

India

Australia

South Korea

Thailand

Latin America

Brazil

Argentina

Middle East & Africa

South Africa

Saudi Arabia

UAE

Kuwait

List of Key Players

BD

Gerresheimer AG

SCHOTT Pharma AG

Stevanato Group

Nipro Corporation

Terumo

West pharmaceuticals

Fresenius

Catalent

Aptar Pharma

Recent Developments

In May 2023, Schott Pharma developed pre-fillable syringes specifically designed for medications that require storage in extremely cold conditions

In May 2023, Fresenius Kabi expanded its Simplist prefilled syringe line with a 100mcg per 2mL dose of Fentanyl Citrate Injection

In September 2022, Becton Dickinson and Company (BDX) launched a new, top-of-the-line glass pre-fillable syringe specifically for vaccines. This innovative product features enhanced specifications for manufacturability, visual quality, contamination control, and overall integrity

In May 2022, SCHOTT, opened a brand-new facility to manufacture pre-fillable syringes using innovative polymer materials

Order a free sample PDF of the Prefilled Syringes Market Intelligence Study, published by Grand View Research.

[superpruchika99world]

Covid vaccination Phase-II: Check if you are eligible to get a shot

Coronavirus News The registration portal could be accessed at https://selfregistration.cowin.gov.in/. The government has issued a list of 20 specified co-morbidities to determine the eligibility of people who can be administered a vaccine shot on priority.

If someone is more than 45 years old and suffers from conditions like diabetes or has suffered a heart attack in the past year, they will be eligible to get a Covid-19 vaccine shot.

ALSO READ: Don't want to impose lockdown but 'majboori' is also something: Maha CM

Here’s the full list of specified co-morbidities: 1. Heart failure with hospital admission in the past one year. 2. Post cardiac transplant/ Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD).

3. Significant left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVEF < 40%). 4. Moderate or severe valvular heart disease. 5. Congenital heart disease with severe PAH or Idiopathic PAH...Read more.

[reportwire]

Register for v-safe

Use this step-by-action information to learn how you can register for v-protected to report any facet effects just after your COVID-19 vaccination. Resource backlink

[breakingnews365]

registration of vaccination starts from 28th April, 18+ people will be get the vaccine from May 1, know the whole process

registration of vaccination starts from 28th April, 18+ people will be get the vaccine from May 1, know the whole process

Vaccination of people of the age group for more than 18 years will start in the country from May 1. Registration for this starts on April 28. The central government has framed a new policy regarding this new system. All eligible Indian citizens can register on the Cowin APP cowin.gov.in or the Arogya Setu App to get the vaccine. So let’s know how you can register for a complete vaccine. Register…

[liferealthought]

Registration for Vaccine 18+ : क्या करना है। जानें पूरी प्रक्रिया और जरूरी बातें

Registration for Vaccine 18+ : क्या करना है। जानें पूरी प्रक्रिया और जरूरी बातें

देश इस वक्त कोरोना से जंग लड़ रहा है। संकट की इस घड़ी में कोरोना वैक्सीनेशन ड्राइव को तेज किया गया है। 1 मई 2021 से देश में 18 वर्ष से ऊपर के लोगों को कोरोना वैक्सीन लगना शुरू हो जाएगा। इसके लिए 28 अप्रैल से रजिस्ट्रेशन शुरू होगा। स्वास्थ्य मंत्रालय ने ट्वीट कर जानकारी दी है कि वर्तमान में 45 वर्ष या उससे अधिक उम्र के लोग टीकाकरण किया जा रहा है। अगले महीने यानी  1 मई, 2021 से 18-45 वर्ष आयु वर्ग…

[surfincloud]

Ways to register online for the COVID-19 vaccine

Ways to register online for the COVID-19 vaccine

Since Monday, March 1, 2021, the second phase of Coronavirus vaccination has started across India. The Covid-19 vaccine will first be applied to seniors 60 years or older. In addition, persons aged 45 years or older, who are suffering from more than one permanent disease, will be given the vaccination on priority. In the initial stage, if you also want to register yourself for Covid-19 vaccine,…

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Bolsonaro's home raided in Brazil vaccine records probe, say sources

Brazilian police on Wednesday raided former President Jair Bolsonaro's home and arrested two personal aides as part of an investigation into falsified COVID-19 vaccination records, two sources familiar with the matter said.

The investigation may answer questions about how Bolsonaro, a strident coronavirus skeptic who vowed never to get the COVID vaccine, was registered as vaccinated in health records made public in February.

The vaccine probe is one of many putting the former far-right leader under pressure, including investigations into alleged voter suppression, attacks on the legitimacy of Brazilian elections and embezzlement of foreign gifts.

Bolsonaro has denied any wrongdoing. His spokesman and his lawyer did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Continue reading.

[superpruchika99world]

Centre allows all private hospitals to administer Covid-19 vaccine

Coronavirus The states and Union territories were also urged not to store, reserve, conserve or create a buffer stock of the COVID-19 vaccines, the Union Health ministry said in a statement, a day after the start of the second phase of India's inoculation drive.

In which the coverage has been expanded to include everyone above 60 and those over 45 with specified co-morbidities.

ALSO READ: Half of telecom spectrum sold goes to Reliance Jio at Rs 57,122 crore

At an official review meeting with the states, the Centre reiterated there is no shortage of the vaccines and hence, adequate vaccine doses should be allocated to the COVID Vaccination Centres(CVCs)

The Centre urged the states and the UTs to ensure adequate allocation of COVID-19 vaccines to all hospitals, government as well as private, for the entire duration for which vaccination sessions have been planned...Read more.

[reportwire]

Enroll your Dependent in v-safe

Enroll your Dependent in v-safe

Use this step-by-step information to learn how you can sign up your dependent or kid into v-risk-free to report any aspect outcomes just after their COVID-19 vaccination. Source connection

[low-budget-mulan]

My Experience with the Covid Vaccine

Hi Everyone! I’ve been receiving a lot of questions about my experience with the Covid vaccine and I figured it would be best to just make a post where I can answer everyone’s questions all in one place. I will be going over a couple of different things here from how I was able to get the vaccine, my reaction to the vaccine, the ethics behind the vaccine (for my Catholic, Christian, Pro-Life friends-- you can ignore this section if you are none of those things), how the vaccine works, and why you should get the vaccine. I will try my best to make everything here as honest as I can in terms of my experience and I will link you to sources for my more scientific facts. I know that there is a lot of misinformation out there and fear regarding the vaccine and I hope to put all that to rest. 

So let’s start this off with how I was able to get the vaccine. For those of you who don’t know I am a healthcare worker. I work in EMS as an EMT.  I was lucky enough to have the option for either the Moderna or the Pfizer vaccine. My company offered us the Moderna vaccine, but the local hospital in our area (which was offering the Pfizer Vaccine) had some extra vaccines and were generous enough to share those vaccines with us. My company wouldn’t receive their shipment for another week or two and I wanted to get my dose as soon as possible, so I decided to get my dose through the local hospital. Which is how I ended up with the Pfizer one. 

Many of you asked about my reaction to the vaccine. I have had both doses now and my reactions to both were very different. These were MY reactions. I know people who had different reactions than me, so just because it happened to me does not mean it will happen to you. Everyone is different and can experience things on their own. For my first dose I didn’t have any reactions. I just had the sore arm that comes with any vaccination. They are injecting it directly into your muscle so you are going to be sore. That is normal and you shouldn’t be worried. It feels kind of like a charlie horse or like you worked out really hard at the gym, but only in that one spot. Just ice it or throw on a heat pack or take a tylenol and power through. You did a good thing for yourself and your community. About 18 days later I had my second dose of the vaccine. This dose is larger and is needed in order for you to have the immunity to the virus. DO NOT MISS YOUR SECOND DOSE. I made the mistake of getting this shot while on duty lol. I had started my day with some normal back and neck pain that I attributed to regular heavy lifting of patients and a car crash I had a month prior. About 4 hours after getting my vaccine I started feeling VERY achy in both my back and neck. I thought nothing of it because I started the day with that pain and figured it was just because we had lifted some heavier patients. About an hour later I started getting the chills and the weakness. I was just feeling off and not quite myself. As the night progressed I ended up getting a low grade fever, nausea (luckily I had zofran on hand), a cough, dizziness, and I was diaphoretic (sweaty). I just really didn’t feel very good. I powered through my shift where I got off at 0700 and went home the next morning where I was able to sleep it off. By noon I was back to my regular self with only the sore arm. My reaction to the vaccine from start to finish was probably only about 15 hours. Yea that reaction sucked and I really did not feel too great, but would I do it again if it meant protecting myself and others from Covid? Hell yes!

The process for getting the vaccine may differ at each distribution site in terms of registration, but there are a few things that are going to stay the same. It started off with me registering on the website and answering some basic questions. Such as “are you a healthcare worker?” “have you been exposed to Covid without PPE?” “Are you Pregnant?” “Are you over 16?” “Do you have any allergies?” etc. Common questions that get asked in the current medical setting. I then had to register for an appointment time and show them my ID to prove I am who I am. After answering those questions I was sent off to wait for the first available person to administer my vaccine. Each table is sanitized after each person. I went over and got my shot. Went and filled out my vaccination card and had it signed off by someone then I went to sit in the waiting area for 15 minutes. That part is mandatory for everyone in case there is a reaction to the vaccine. WHICH IS EXTREMELY RARE. If you are a person who has many allergies then it is recommended you wait 30 minutes instead as it can sometimes take 30 minutes for a reaction to develop. Luckily there are healthcare providers all around so you are in good hands :) The whole process was so simple and I made friends with everyone else who was there getting their shots. We were bonding over our combined 5G super coverage. It was glorious. 

How does the vaccine work? The Covid 19 Vaccine is a newer type of vaccine. It is something called a mRNA vaccine. mRNA Vaccines are different from our traditional vaccines as they don’t have a weak or inactive version of the virus or bacteria in them. What it does is it teaches the cells in our body how to fight off the virus by creating a protein to trigger our immune systems into action and fight off whatever shouldn’t be there.  After the protein in our cells is created it gets displayed for our body to realize that it doesn’t belong. Our immune system then starts creating antibodies to fight off this unknown and very unwelcome protein. After our body has created these antibodies it deletes the protein out of existence as if it never existed leaving only the antibodies to protect us later down the line in case we do end up catching Covid (you can read more on this here https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/mrna.html) . I think mRNA vaccines are going to be the future. They are more effective and way cooler in how they work. How did this vaccine come out so fast you ask? It was obviously planned by the government right? Wrong. Stop with the conspiracy theories ya wackos. mRNA vaccines had been in the works for YEARS.  China had successfully identified the protein on the outside of the virus and sent that information to the labs across the world (pfizer and Moderna) to get started on a vaccine. They were able to crank one out and start the testing on animals, then people. After the trials they were able to approve these vaccines for distribution across the world (https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/why-are-mrna-vaccines-so-exciting-2020121021599). So basically the vaccine is cool and in no way a conspiracy. 

Now for all of my Catholic, Christian, and Pro-Life friends. Is it ethical to receive the vaccine. In short, yes. For those of you who are still reading this part the reason this is a big issue for my Catholic, Christian, and Pro-Life friends is because past vaccines have used stem cells from an aborted baby. This is not meant to start a pro-life/pro-choice debate. Any of that on this post will be shut down immediately. For us as Catholics and as people who are pro-life it can be seen as a morally gray area due to the fact that a life has been taken and each human being has inherent dignity and value from conception to natural death. Now on to why we are able to receive the vaccine. Both the Moderna and the Pfizer vaccines were made using the mRNA technique. Which basically means there is no fetal tissue in them. Now where people are getting confused. While the vaccines do not use fetal tissue in them, they still tested them on a morally compromised cell line. Now the reason we are able to receive these vaccines still is because while neither of these vaccines is remote from evil there were no other options for us to keep the population as a whole safe. If you are still concerned about it we are so far removed from the act of the abortion that we cannot be held accountable for the actions that took place that day. This is a very very shortened version and if you would like to keep reading then you can do so here https://www.catholic.com/audio/cot/covid-19-vaccines-and-the-usccb?fbclid=IwAR2xRPbNxiCdsc1ISeb6u_D-YHjyoCrQlT3oTI4QZdeU1z9LZ6eGtbqrrKw. We should be getting this vaccine to protect those of us who are unable to receive it. 

This post was not meant to be political in any way. I wanted to help you all understand why this vaccine is so important and put your minds at ease. Remember, the reasons vaccines work is because of herd immunity. Which means if the majority of us as a community get the vaccine then it will help to keep those who can’t get it (the pregnant, breastfeeding, immunocompromised, etc) safe and better protected from the virus. So please do your part. Social distance, wear your mask, wash your hands, get your vaccine, and look out for your neighbors. We are all in this together.

[vilaspatelvlogs]

Covid Vaccine: क्या आपको भी लगवाना है कोरोना वैक्सीन, यहां मिलेंगे हर सवालों के जवाब

Covid Vaccine: क्या आपको भी लगवाना है कोरोना वैक्सीन, यहां मिलेंगे हर सवालों के जवाब

लखनऊ: कोरोना वायरस के खिलाफ वैक्सीनेशन अभियान के तहत 1 अप्रैल से पूरे देश में 45 साल या उससे ज्यादा उम्र के लोगों को टीका लगना शुरू हो जाएगा. इसके लिए यूपी की योगी सरकार और उत्तराखंड की रावत सरकार के स्वास्थ विभाग ने पूरी तैयारियां कर ली हैं. ऐसे में लोगों के मन में बहुत से सवाल उठ रहे हैं, जैसे- वैक्सीन के लिए रजिस्ट्रेशन कैसे करें? अपॉइ���टमेंट कैसे ले सकते हैं. जिनका जवाब हम इस आर्टिकल के जरिए…

[homeschoolinginindia]

Homeschooling in India: Concept, Curriculum & More

The coronavirus outbreak ushered in what may be the world's fastest-growing trend in homeschooling. Many parents have decided to continue guiding their children for education themselves, even after schools have reopened post-pandemic and vaccines have become widely available.

Homeschooling allows parents and guardians to direct their children's overall development outside of the confines of formal education. Parents decide what and how their children are taught, and they are not required to follow any school board's curriculum. In India, parents have the option of not enrolling their children in school or withdrawing their children from school if the school's approach does not fulfil their child's needs.

The homeschooling concept in India

The notion was developed in India for children with special needs who require additional parental assistance. Many parents experimented with the idea as concerns about a rigorous schooling system arose. Other factors include concerns about bullying, child abuse, ineffective teaching methods, and children's desire to pursue careers other than academics.

Homeschooling has been supported by edtech companies that carry the curricula of various educational boards like ICSE, IGCE, Cambridge, etc. While most parents use homeschooling online platforms to assist their children understand a variety of concepts, they avoid restricting their children to the curricula.

The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act of 2009 mandates that all children complete eight years of formal education, although it does not mention any other options.

Proof of competence is required for homeschooled students to be eligible for higher education in India. This can be accomplished by taking the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) exams, which provide Open Basic Education to children aged 14 and up. Children can take A, B, and C level exams, similar to Classes 3, 5, and 7, or Secondary Education Course and Senior Secondary Course exams, which are equivalent to Classes 10 and 12. They can also take the Cambridge Assessment International Examination's International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) (CAIE). Children are eligible for college entrance after passing any of these tests.

With the growing popularity of homeschooling in India, open education and learning have become more formalized to ensure that students receiving this type of education do not fall behind. Major academic institutions, both domestic and international, have joined this learning alternative. The two influential organizations linked with homeschooling in India are listed below.

The concept of open schooling

The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) is an open learning board in India that allows students to continue their education at home. This board enables parents to homeschool their children and complete significant exams such as class 10th and 12th exams. Students must register with the board, and the certification acquired through the board's tests is equivalent to that of any other board in the country. It provides education at many levels and places a strong emphasis on vocational learning and formal education.

The International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) is an internationally recognized qualification for homeschooled students. It is held in the 10th grade and has many phases to assess a child's learning from the beginning to the end. Candidates can sit for the exam as private candidates and acquire a globally recognized qualification.

The admission process of learning from home

The decision to learn from home is the first step because there are further stages to take after you've decided on an educational path. The procedure for applying to learn from home in India is detailed here.

Approach a school that permits pupils to apply as a private candidate. The school should be affiliated with one of the open learning boards and be one of the open learning from home platforms and provide students the opportunity to continue their education in their choice of time.

After that, the main focus is on determining whether to teach yourself or hire a private teacher.

The child can comfortably pursue their schooling while also focusing on developing their talents in other disciplines. 

Benefits of Homeschooling in India

Homeschooling or learning from home provides the room and scope to develop and foster a child's potential when the traditional education sector becomes increasingly rigid and inflexible. Some of the advantages of homeschooling that you should be aware of are listed below:

It allows parents to tailor their children's academic learning, allowing them to develop their talents.

The child has a better comprehension and stronger conceptual underpinnings due to paying more attention to details.

The kid's requirements can be considered, and milestones can be established to allow the youngster to develop at their own rate without being rushed.

It provides the flexibility and freedom to pursue one's passion and thrive at it.

Because it has become more regimented, it does not cause a child to fall behind and is comparable to any other form of education.

Parents who homeschool their children believe that as India begins to value uniqueness, homeschooling will become more popular. These homeschools are now centered in urban areas such as Pune, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Delhi, and Chennai. Make sure it's accredited by an agency recognised by the government or your state. Not all programs are accredited in every state, so check! Many schools list their accreditation status on the home page of their websites and in marketing materials. Having said that, 21K School is India’s leading online school that offers transparent quality education, regardless of the situation and location. It is a recognised and accredited K-12 School offering Indian, American and British Curriculum online for students aged 3 to 18 years in India and abroad. The online model allows learning from anywhere and hence also allows parents to evaluate their child’s progress from anywhere and at any time. Visit today to enrol.

[tinyshe]

COVID Vaccine Mandates Strongly Opposed in Europe, US as Failures Increase Analysis by

Barbara Loe Fisher

August 10, 2021

Since coronavirus pandemic lockdowns were implemented by many governments in 2020, people around the world have held largely peaceful protests against unprecedented social distancing restrictions that are devastating global economies and ruining people's lives.1,2,3,4

Now, faced with being ordered to obey new laws that require them to be injected with COVID-19 vaccines in order to enter public spaces or hold a job, on July 24, 2021 — World Freedom Day — hundreds of thousands of people of all ages took to the streets in Australia, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Greece and Germany to publicly challenge oppressive public health laws.5,6

The messages on the signs they held were diverse but they were united in pushing back against government overreach.

The brave determination of people, in democracies around the world who are publicly defending civil liberties — freedom of thought, speech, conscience and assembly — and the human right to informed consent to medical risk taking, demonstrates that the spirit of freedom lives in the hearts and minds of people everywhere. Both those who gather in the public squares of cities big and small and those who are watching are inspired by this commitment to defending liberty.

In the United States, no large demonstrations have been held yet, but polls reveal the nation is sharply divided about COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

A Politico/Harvard poll taken in late June 2021 found that Americans were evenly split on whether children should be required to get the COVID-19 vaccine to go to school and more than half of employed Americans are against COVID-19 vaccine requirements for holding a job, while almost 70 percent of Americans oppose being required to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination to enter a store or business.7

A recent CS Mott Children's Hospital poll found that more than half of parents in the U.S. with children between the ages of three and 11 say it is unlikely they will give their children the COVID-19 vaccine.8

Australia: 'The lockdown Is Killing Us, Not COVID'

With a population of 25 million people, Australians have been subjected to repeated strict lockdowns over the past 18 months and the government's "stay at home" lockdown in early July 2021 was imposed on New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, where more than half the country's population lives. The 30-day rigid social distancing restrictions were enacted after 176 new daily infections were registered in the whole country.9

In response, thousands of Australians gathered in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane on July 24 to protest the lockdown.

Social distancing restrictions that have been imposed include compulsory masking in all indoor non-personal residence settings; most schools closed; restrictions on how far people can travel from their homes; no going to work except for designated "essential" employees (who must be tested every three days); exercising and gathering outside only in groups of two; shopping only for essential items; attendance at funerals limited to 10 people but weddings are banned, and other limits on person-to-person social interaction.

In what the U.K. newspaper Daily Mail described as "frenzied crowds" coming together on July 24, there were estimates that as many as 10,000 protesters marched from Victoria Park to Town Hall in the central business district.

Carrying signs calling for "freedom" and "the truth" and "I don't consent" and "Wake up Australia!" and "We are your employers, we are not your slaves" and "unmasked, untested, unvaxxed, unafraid" and "I am not a biohazard" and "Our kids are not your guinea pigs" and "No false tests, no false cases, no lockdowns," one protester said, "We don't give a f*** mate, this lockdown is killing us." Another agreed: "I'm against lockdowns, they're killing my business."

Dozens of protesters climbed onto the roofs of a train station and Woolworths store as the crowd gathered around Town Hall singing the Australian national anthem. One observer said on social media, "Protest stretches right down Broadway! Absolutely massive turnout."

The Sydney protest was mostly peaceful but when mounted police told the demonstrators to disperse or they would be pepper sprayed, some broke through a police barrier and threw plastic bottles and plants at officers. The New South Wales Police Minister confirmed 57 people were arrested and charged and a "strike force has been established to investigate who was in attendance."10

On July 28, the Australian Prime Minister called in military personnel to help enforce social distancing restrictions in Sydney and extended the lockdown for another month after 239 new cases of COVID-19 were detected in the city of five million people within a 24-hour period. Residents will be forced to wear a mask outside their homes and must stay within 3 miles of their homes, only going out for "essential" activities like food shopping.11

On July 30, the Australian government used helicopters and the Army to help police enforce its 'Zero Covid' lockdown in Sydney and issue $500 fines for failure to mask.12 The BBC reported that Australian Defense Force soldiers will begin conducting unarmed patrols of the streets this week.13

According to media reports, sirens could be heard throughout the city and helicopters blared messages that 'this is public health order — do not break rules — you will be found and fined.'

Road blocks were set up in a military show of force in response to the public demonstrations earlier in the week, although soldiers are under police command. Starting this week, military personnel will accompany police going door to door to ensure that people who have tested positive for COVID-19 are isolating.14

Reuters reports that the Australian COVID-19 vaccination rate for adults stands at 18 percent and the Prime Minister has said 80 percent of adults must get vaccinated before the border, which has been sealed since the pandemic began, will be re-opened.15

Britain: 'No Forced Testing, No Forced Vaccines'

In May 2021, a 12 mile procession of tens of thousands of people ended at Parliament Square in a protest against continuing lockdowns and vaccine passports as a condition of accessing public venues.16

On July 19, the British government lifted the COVID-19 lockdown that had been in place for over a year, eliminating masking requirements, work from home, and limits on numbers of people who can gather together, which allowed for the full opening of restaurants and other public venues without social distancing restrictions.17

Just five days after the lockdown restrictions were lifted, thousands of people made their way to Trafalgar Square on July 24 to signal their opposition to potential future lockdowns, as well as to protest against the showing of COVID-19 vaccine passports as a condition of entering public spaces.18

There were banners draped in front of the speaker podium saying, "the public demands live debate" and "Science is not science without discussion" and demonstrators held signs that said "No forced testing, no forced vaccines" and "We are the lions in a world of sheep" and "If you tolerate this, your children will be next."19

Toward the end of the July 24 demonstration, the huge gathering in Trafalgar Square in unison sang, "You'll Never Walk Alone:"

When you walk through a storm Hold your head up high, And don't be afraid of the dark. At the end of a storm is a golden sky And the sweet silver song of a lark.

Walk on through the wind, Walk on through the rain, Though your dreams be tossed and blown. Walk on, Walk on With hope in your heart And you'll never walk alone, You'll never walk alone.

The United Kingdom, which has a population of 57 million, ranks in the top 20 most COVID vaccinated nations, with an adult vaccination rate of over 57 percent.20

France: 'My Body Is Mine' and 'It Is My Choice'

Paris, France and the cities of Marseille, Montpelier, Nantes and Toulouse saw tens of thousands of people take to the streets on World Freedom Day to protest against a proposed law that would require all health care workers to get COVID-19 vaccinations or lose their jobs.

People will be barred from entering restaurants or other public venues, effectively preventing them from participating in public life unless they have a health pass showing proof of COVID-19 vaccination, recovery from the disease or a recent negative COVID-19 test.

A care assistant at a Strasbourg nursing home expressed her disgust with the proposed law, saying it is "the blackmail of caregivers who were at the fronts line during the first wave and who are now threatened with "no more pay" and even being fired."21

A huge crowd of 160,000 people or more, many chanting "freedom, freedom" and carrying signs saying "stop the dictatorship" and "Big Pharma shackles freedom" and "no to the pass of shame" and "vaccines: fake freedom" and "don't touch our children" were met by police deploying tear gas and a water cannon used against some of them.22

Reuters reported that scuffles broke out at the Champs-Elysees and the Gare Saint-Lazare railway station.23 The demonstrators met at the Bastille plaza and marched through eastern Paris and also gathered at Place Trocadero near the Eiffel Tower to protest the required carrying of a "health pass."24

Just two days after witnessing several hundred thousand people voicing their opposition to the proposed new public health law, on July 26, the French Parliament voted to pass the law that will take effect this week.25,26

Five days later, on July 31, several hundred thousand French citizens of all ages again flooded into the streets of Paris with signs saying "We are not guinea pigs" and "It is our choice" and "My body is mine" and "Health terror — I will not submit" and "the 4th wave is us" in opposition to the new COVID-19 vaccine and vaccine passport.27

According to media reports, four marches dovetailed into the Place de la Bastille, with health care workers in white coats leading some of them, and were met by waiting squads of gendarmes and CRS riot police with water cannons. Demonstrators also gathered at the Arc de Triomphe at the top of the Champs-Elysees and at the Villiers metro station in northwest Paris.

Reportedly, about 150 other protest events also took place in cities around France, which has a population of about 67 million and an estimated COVID vaccination rate of about 47.5 percent28 or more.

Italy: 'Enough Dictatorship: No Green Passes'

Thousands of people gathered in Rome, Genova, Milan, Naples, Turin and scores of other cities in Italy on July 24 to voice their opposition to the government's imposition of social distancing and COVID-19 vaccine requirements on citizens, including a requirement to carry the "Green Pass," which is an extension of the European Union's digital COVID certificate.29

The Green Pass will be required to enter cinemas, museums, indoor swimming pools, sports stadiums or eat indoors at restaurants, proving that a person has been vaccinated, has had a recent negative COVID-19 test or has recovered from the coronavirus infection.30

Chanting and carrying signs that said "Freedom" and "No Green Pass" and "Down with the dictatorship" and "Better to die free than live like slaves" and "against vaccination obligations" and "government does terrorism" and "shame-shame,"31,32 reportedly about 80 cities in Italy saw demonstrations on World Freedom Day.

These included an estimated nine thousand people in Milan, who marched in procession to the Piazza Duomo, the Galleria Vittoria Emanuele and to the Piazza Scala in front of the Town Hall. One banner said "Big Pharma out of the state. No to multinationals."

About five thousand people gathered in Piazza Castello in Turin with signs that said "We want to have the freedom to choose – the freedom to go wherever we want without being tied to a sheet."

In Rome, where there have been anti-lockdown demonstrations over the past year to protest then closure of cafes, bars and restaurants,33 an estimated two thousand demonstrated and the police intervened to disperse the crowd with armored vehicles.34 Italy has a population of about 60 million people, with nearly 52 percent vaccinated for COVID-19.35

Greece: 'Hands Off Our Children'

Thousands of people gathered in Omonia Square in the center of Athens on July 24 to express their opposition to the government's COVID-19 vaccine mandate. They carried signs saying "No mandatory vaccinations" and "No blackmail to dismiss" and "No separation of Greeks" and "hands off our children."

The leader of the anti-COVID vaccine movement in Greece, cardiologist Faidon Vovolis, MD addressed the huge crowd, which, according to Athens News, included "not only anti-vaccination activists, but also food and tourism entrepreneurs, clergy, citizens disaffected by the overall government leadership over the pandemic, and vaccinated citizens who view recent government measures as anti-democractic."36

Greek police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse the demonstrators, who had rallied outside the Parliament building to protest COVID-19 vaccine requirements for workers, such as health care workers. Reuters said that about 45 percent of Greece's 11 million population is already vaccinated.37

Germany: 'For Peace, Freedom, Truth'

Berlin has been the site of several large demonstrations against lockdowns and COVID vaccine passports over the past year.38 On Aug. 1, 2021, tens of thousands of citizens marched in the streets of Berlin to protest lockdowns that have restricted dining indoors at restaurants or staying in a hotel and requirements to provide proof of COVID vaccination, defying a ban by German lower and upper administrative courts on public demonstrations.39

Berlin's administrative court had refused to authorize 13 demonstrations, some of which had been organized by the Querdenker (Lateral thinker) anti-lockdown movement.40

Berlin's police department deployed more than 2,000 officers armed with batons, pepper spray and water cannon as the crowds made their way from Berlin's Charlottenburg neighborhood, past the Tiergarten park and on to the Brandenberg Gate.

Reportedly, police in heavily armed vans dragged protesters across roads and into the vans with marchers shouting for freedom and the lifting of mandatory masking and travel bans. Protesters continued to march in the evening through the city streets and 600 people were arrested.41 Germany has a population of 83 million and 52 percent have been fully vaccinated.42

Human Rights Watch: COVID-19 Triggers Wave of Free Speech Abuse

On Feb. 11, 2021, Human Rights Watch published a report called for an end to excessive restrictions on free speech and peaceful demonstration where people are criticizing COVID-19 lockdowns, mandatory masking and other social distancing regulations that restrict civil liberties. The human rights organization said:43

"At least 83 governments worldwide have used the Covid-19 pandemic to justify violating the exercise of free speech and peaceful assembly … Authorities have attacked, detained, prosecuted, and in some cases killed critics, broken up peaceful protests, closed media outlets, and enacted vague laws criminalizing speech that they claim threatens public health.

The victims include journalists, activists, healthcare workers, political opposition groups, and others who have criticized government responses to the coronavirus … Governments and other state authorities should immediately end excessive restrictions on free speech in the name of preventing the spread of Covid-19."

Decentralized Government in US Makes a National COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate More Difficult

Unlike centralized governments in Europe and many other parts of the world, the founders of the United States of America ensured in the U.S. Constitution that this country would operate with lawmaking power shared between national, state and local governments.44

The fact that lawmaking power in the U.S. does not solely reside with the federal government, which is composed of the legislative (U.S. Congress), Executive (President/federal agencies) and Judicial (federal courts) branches, so far has protected the U.S. population from being subjected to the same kinds of uniform lockdown restrictions and now, the same kinds of COVID-19 vaccine mandates that are being implemented in European Union countries and other nations with centralized federal governments.

Since most public health laws in the U.S. fall under the legal jurisdiction of states, if a resident does not like the lockdown, masking, social distancing or COVID-19 vaccine mandates in the state they are living in, they simply can move to a different state that does not have the same kind of oppressive public health laws.

This is one reason why, although there have been smaller anti-lockdown and anti-COVID-19 vaccine mandate demonstrations in the U.S. over the past 15 months, some of them protesting COVID-19 vaccine requirements for health care workers,45 so far there have not been massive national demonstrations in the U.S. like those taking place in Europe and other parts of the world.

U.S. Government Pushes for an 85 Percent COVID-19 Vaccination Rate

As of July 28, about 60 percent of the U.S. population of 332 million people age 12 and older had received at least one dose of COVID vaccine and reportedly 50 percent, or about 165 million Americans, are "fully" vaccinated.46 As the third largest country in the world, the U.S. has a high COVID-19 vaccination rate compared to other countries, with only 25 countries recording a higher vaccination rate than the U.S.47

According to Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center, the country with the largest population in the world at 1.5 billion people — China — has a 16 percent COVID vaccination rate; the country with the second largest population in the world at 1.4 billion people — India — has a 7.4 percent COVID vaccination rate; and Russia, with a population of 146 million people, has a 17 COVID vaccination rate.48

However, U.S. government officials are pushing for an 85 percent COVID vaccination rate in the U.S.,49 even as a former FDA commissioner says that a combination of natural acquired immunity and vaccine acquired immunity is likely rapidly achieving an 85 percent herd immunity rate with the Delta variant in the U.S. population.50

Half to Two-Thirds of Americans Oppose Punitive COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates as Companies Begin to Mandate

Even though polls show that one-half to two-thirds of Americans oppose COVID-19 vaccine mandates, depending upon the setting,51 on July 29, the President announced that all federal workers and contractors must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or mask and social distance at all times and get constantly tested.52

The federal government also is urging corporations, local and state government agencies, medical facilities and other institutions to make vaccination a condition of employment.

Some companies, like Google, Facebook, Morgan Stanley, Ascension Health, The Washington Post, Saks Fifth Avenue, Lyft and Uber, Walmart and Disney have already mandated employees to get COVID-19 shots to continuing working for the companies.53,54 On July 30, Broadway theaters announced that all members of the audience will be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination and must keep a mask on at all times except when eating or drinking.55

Opposition Grows as CDC Admits Fully Vaccinated Persons Can Get and Efficiently Transmit COVID-19

After lifting national masking recommendations for COVID vaccinated persons in May 2021 with the assurance that the vaccine was effective in preventing symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection,56 on July 27, CDC officials abruptly reversed course and said that Americans, whether vaccinated or not, should wear a mask indoors outside their homes in certain places.57,58

They said they based that policy change on new information that the COVID-19 vaccines do not reliably prevent infection and transmission of the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 and that the viral load in vaccinated persons who get infected is as high as the viral load in unvaccinated persons who get infected.59,60

CDC officials said the new federal indoor masking policy especially applies to adults in "high risk" areas where there are more people being infected with the Delta variant. The masking directive also applies to all unvaccinated children over age two, as well as vaccinated children over age 12 attending school, and additionally includes all teachers, school staff and visitors to schools whether vaccinated or not.61

Reuters reported on July 24 that vaccinated people made up 75 percent of recent COVID-19 cases identified in Singapore, but vaccinated cases were associated with mild symptoms:

"Of Singapore's 1,096 locally transmitted infections in the last 28 days, 484 or about 44 percent were in fully vaccinated people, while 30 percent were partially vaccinated and just over 25 percent were unvaccinated."62

The percentage ratio of infected vaccinated to infected unvaccinated persons in Singapore matches that of a recent SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in Massachusetts. On July 30, Associated Press reported that information in CDC documents revealed that 75 percent of the Provincetown outbreak occurred among fully vaccinated individuals.

About 80 percent of them experienced COVID-19 symptoms, with the most common being cough, headache, sore throat, muscle aches and fever.63

U.S. States Push Back Against COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates

Over the past year, Americans have been taking action at the state and local level to block COVID-19 vaccine mandates. A number of states have passed laws that restrict COVID-19 vaccine mandates and "vaccine passports" that bar people from entering public spaces.

Among the states that have passed laws prohibiting COVID-19 vaccine passports or COVID-19 vaccine mandates in some way are Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, Oklahoma, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah.64,65,66

On July 29, the Governor of Texas signed an executive order prohibiting state government agencies from mandating COVID-19 vaccine being distributed under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) and banning public or private entities that receive state funds from denying entry to those who are not vaccinated and, additionally, banning companies, state and local agencies — including school districts — from requiring mask wearing.

He said that Texans, "have the individual right and responsibility to decide for themselves and their children whether they will wear masks, open their businesses, and engage in leisure activities."67

Governors of several other states also have issued executive orders prohibiting COVID-19 vaccine mandates and some local and state governments have prohibited mask mandates.68,69 But some city and state governments, like New York City and California, have created legal requirements that force state employees to get vaccinated as a condition of keeping their jobs.70

On July 26, the nation's largest healthcare worker union, United Healthcare Workers, demonstrated in New York City against employee COVID-19 vaccine mandates.71 So far, the COVID-19 vaccine mandate as a condition of employment is also opposed by the American Postal Workers Union,72 Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, and United Auto Workers.73

It's Up to You to Act Now

With military soldiers patrolling the streets in Sydney, Australia and police with water cannons and tear gas facing tens of thousands of people protesting against vaccine passports and COVID-19 vaccine mandates in the streets of London, Paris, Rome, Athens and many other cities in Europe, there should be no doubt where the enforcement of mandatory vaccination policies are headed in the U.S. if Americans fail to proactively take action now.

There is no question that we are dealing with a global assault on civil liberties and human rights when public discussion and debate about government policy is censored74,75 and peaceful dissent is considered a crime. Public health laws that respect civil liberties and the informed consent ethic can only be secured if the lawmakers we elect value civil liberties and defend informed consent rights. Become fully informed about who you are voting for and never miss an opportunity to vote.

I and the supporters of the non-profit charity the National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) have worked since 1982 to prevent vaccine injuries and deaths through public education. We have publicly defended the ethical principle of informed consent to medical risk taking and other human rights that include freedom of thought, speech and conscience.

In 2010, we launched the NVIC Advocacy Portal, a free online communications and advocacy network to empower Americans to work in their own communities to secure informed consent protections in public health laws.

Now more than ever, it is time to get to know your local, county and state elected representatives – from your school board members and county supervisors to your local sheriff and lawmakers – who represent you in your local and state governments. Establish a personal relationship with those who make laws that govern you and your family.

Have a conversation with them now about why you believe it is important to protect civil liberties and vaccine informed consent rights in public health laws. Provide them with well referenced vaccine information from NVIC.org and register and join with thousands of others in your state working to protect the legal right to make a voluntary vaccination decision by becoming a user of the NVIC Advocacy Portal at NVICAdvocacy.org.

Actively participate in the democratic process that has defined who we are as a Constitutional Republic since the US Constitution was ratified in 1788. Be the one who never has to say you did not do today what you could have done to change tomorrow.

[wolfliving]

‘The Postdigital City for Post-Pandemic Times’

*Not a word left to say about “smartness.”

Attendance is free and all are welcome, but please register here: https://www.coventry.ac.uk/research/about-us/research-events/2021/the-postdigital-city/

Organised by The Centre for Postdigital Cultures, Coventry University, UK.

‘The Postdigital City for Post-Pandemic Times’ will take place online over the course of two days:

Tuesday 15 June, 2021 (12:30pm – 6:20pm BST)  

Wednesday 16 June, 2021 (10:30am – 2:50pm BST)

https://www.coventry.ac.uk/research/areas-of-research/postdigital-cultures/cpc-2021-conference/

Keynote speakers:

Binna Choi - director of Casco Art Institute: Working for the Commons

Leslie Kern - Mount Allison University, author of The Feminist City (Verso, 2020)

‘The Postdigital City for Post-Pandemic Times’

All cities can now be said to be postdigital since digital information processing has permeated nearly every aspect of their existence: communication, entertainment, education, energy, banking, health, transport, manufacturing, food, water supply. Yet cities today also face numerous predigital problems: poverty, population density, unemployment, racist state violence, segregation, social inequality, violence against women, climate breakdown and threats to public health posed by novel viruses. 

Given the funding cuts imposed by governments in the name of ‘austerity’, a lot of cash-strapped cities have been forced to reduce their public infrastructure budgets. Britain has closed 800 of its public libraries since 2010, for example – that’s almost one fifth of the total. The coronavirus pandemic has only made the situation worse, and not just in the UK. 

A survey of 760 museum directors by the American Alliance of Museums found that one third of their institutions may not reopen after the outbreak. As a result, the path has been left clear for private providers to enter spaces long considered the domain of the public sector. That many cities are planning for their post-Covid future by looking to for-profit businesses for investment and infrastructure, often partnering with multinational data surveillance companies such as Amazon, Google and Uber, is all the more surprising given the virus has clearly exposed the danger of relying on the private sector. Doing so led to vaccines for diseases with pandemic potential not being developed in advance as businesses perceived them as having insufficient potential to generate profits for their owners, shareholders and investors. The fight against a pandemic only works if everyone everywhere is vaccinated, not just those who can afford to pay for the privilege. The same can be said of other aspects of municipal health and welfare. Cities are only really fit to live in if they provide all of their human and nonhuman inhabitants –– people, animals, plants – with a decent quality of life. The climate and environmental crises have made this clear.  

How can we reimagine our cities for post-pandemic times? And what role can postdigital media, from AI and FemTech to augmented reality and 360 video play in such public placemaking? This conference will examine how artists, activists, designers, theorists, practitioners, publishers and writers can work together (albeit not necessarily without disagreement and dissensus) to intervene in and transform cities for the 21st century world after austerity, the Covid outbreak and the recent Extinction Rebellion, Black Lives Matter and violence against women protests. 

It will explore how postdigital cities, and the cultural institutions within them, can be reshaped, including through the provision of a diverse range of co-created and co-curated alternatives to those currently being offered by the state and corporate realms. It will show how urban citizens and communities can use the infrastructural tools and resources generated by advocates of open access, free and open-source software, p2p filesharing, copyfarleft, ‘piracy’ and the anti-privatized knowledge commons; and how they can build their own anticapitalist, antiracist or antiheteropatriarchal versions of galleries, libraries, archives and museums. By cultivating conditions for a wide range of situated ideas, initiatives and projects, the conference will look to generate a nonharmonious pluriverse of more socially just and environmentally sustainable ways of living and working in the postdigital city.

The conference includes panels on:

Being Public: placemaking with the whistle-blower, the heckler, the killjoy and the protestor / 'She Was Just Walking Home': on violence against women / Publishing and Place: situated knowledges in art and academia / The Immersive City: co-creating with 360 video, augmented and virtual reality / AI and Algorithmic Cultures: from predictive policing to intelligent assistants on phones and in homes.

Participants include:

Adrienne Evans, Debra Ferreday, Devi Kolli, Gary Hall, Ian Bruff, Ian Forrester, Jacqueline Cawston, Janneke Adema, Kevin Walker, Lena Wånggren, Lindsay Balfour, Maria Economou, Matt Davies, Mel Jordan, Nathan O'Donnell, Priya Rajasekar, Ravin Raori, Sylvester Arnab, Vidushi Marda

Find out more and sign up here: https://www.coventry.ac.uk/research/about-us/research-events/2021/the-postdigital-city/

The conference webpage is here:

https://www.coventry.ac.uk/research/areas-of-research/postdigital-cultures/cpc-2021-conference/

-- Gary Hall Professor of Media Director of the Centre for Postdigital Cultures, Faculty of Arts & Humanities, Coventry University: http://www.coventry.ac.uk/research/areas-of-research/postdigital-cultures http://www.garyhall.info Latest: Book (open access): A Stubborn Fury: How Writing Works in Elitist Britain: http://www.openhumanitiespress.org/books/titles/a-stubborn-fury/ Chapter (open access): ‘Postdigital Politics’, in Cornelia Sollfrank, Shuhsa Niederberger and Felix Stalder, eds, Aesthetics of the Commons: https://www.diaphanes.com/titel/aesthetics-of-the-commons-6419 Video: 'Can We Unlearn Liberal Individualism: Gary Hall in Conversation with Carolina Rito About A Stubborn Fury: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CQiRCib_AU Blog post: 'Combinatorial Books - Gathering Flowers', with Janneke Adema and Gabriela Méndez Cota: https://copim.pubpub.org/pub/combinatorial-books-gathering-flowers-part-i/release/1

______________________________________________

SPECTRE list for media culture in Deep Europe

Info, archive and help:

http://post.in-mind.de/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/spectre

[underthewingsofthblackeagle]

             Germany counted a staggering 50,196 new COVID-19 infections on Thursday, its highest count since the pandemic began. It is the first time the country has been battling a major wave despite a majority of its population being doubly vaccinated. About 67% of people in Germany are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. But experts have warned from the beginning of the rollout that the number is not high enough to keep the virus under control. According to the Robert Koch Institute, the incidence of hospitalizations for unvaccinated COVID-19 patients between 18 and 59 is currently about four times higher than for vaccinated ones. For patients over 60, it’s about six times higher. While the jabs significantly lower the risk of serious illness and death, they don’t fully protect against infection. With soaring case numbers, the risk of getting COVID-19 also rises for vaccinated people. The vaccinated who could face a higher risk, she says, are the older ones with weaker immune systems, especially if some time has passed since their second shot. The country is now administering booster shots to people who were fully immunized more than six months ago. Compared to early 2021, Germany has lax distancing measures in place during this fourth wave. About a year ago, the government introduced rules that would eventually develop into a hard lockdown: All nonessential businesses were closed and a nighttime curfew was imposed temporarily. There were varying restrictions about how many households could meet. In combination with the vaccine rollout, these measures caused Germany’s incidence to drop in the spring. Nowadays, people in Germany face less rigid rules: They have to wear medical, so-called FFP-2 masks on public transport and in stores, and most venues will only let them in if they are vaccinated, have recovered from COVID-19 or were tested. This year delta, a more contagious mutation of the coronavirus, has become the predominant variant in Germany and much of the world. It is more than twice as contagious as previous variants, according to the CDC. It might also cause unvaccinated people to experience worse symptoms.

             Though still in the midst of complex coalition negotiations, the three parties that will probably make up Germany's next government have begun framing new rules to curb the coronavirus pandemic. They have been forced into action as Germany saw its highest 7-day incidence rate since the pandemic began. The chief German medical authority, the Robert Koch Institute, also recorded over 15,000 new cases on Sunday alone, a 60% rise on last Sunday. More than 250 million worldwide have been infected with the coronavirus, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University. The milestone comes as countries in eastern Europe are seeing record outbreaks, while many countries ease trade and travel restrictions. So far, more than 5 million people have died due to COVID-19. Europe is the most affected region in the world, registering more than 76 million COVID-19 infections. This is followed by Asia, with over 56 million cases, followed by the US and Canada with more than 48 million cases, and lastly, Latin America and the Caribbean with more than 46 million cases. Over the past seven days, nearly 449,000 new daily infections have been registered on average. Germany, for the second day in a row, reported record coronavirus incidence rates on Tuesday. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reported the incidence rate — the number of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants over the previous seven days — at 213.7. This is higher than Monday's figure of 201.1, which was the first time the rate passed 200 since the pandemic began. Germany reported 21,832 new cases and 169 new deaths, according to data from RKI.

             COVID-19 booster shots have been introduced in many countries. Scientists say the third dose is necessary to top up immune protection in vulnerable groups. But as people in wealthy countries begin lining up for COVID vaccine booster shots, the rest of the world is still waiting for the first dose. The WHO says rich countries with large supplies of coronavirus vaccines should refrain from offering booster shots through the end of the year and make the doses available for poorer countries.

             Spain has one of the highest COVID vaccination rates in the world. Nearly 80 percent of people there are fully vaccinated. And they've done this without mandates, health passes or government orders. Here's how Spain got to the top of the vaccination ladder and what others might learn from it.

             Austria is threatening to impose the toughest restrictions in Europe on those unvaccinated against COVID-19. It says they could be put into lockdown if the nation's intensive care units come under too much strain. Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg warned of a 'pandemic of the unprotected' as infection numbers in Austria rise. Around 62 percent of eligible people have been fully vaccinated - but the campaign has stalled. After a crisis meeting, the chancellor said he hopes the plan will send a message to those still refusing to take the jab. Countries across eastern Europe are already dealing with overcrowded hospitals because of vaccine skepticism. New infections and deaths in Ukraine are the highest they've been since the beginning of the pandemic. The government has introduced new restrictions on public life in response. People suffering from Covid's Delta variant have practically filled a hospital west of Kyiv. Doctors expect even more cases, and they know why.   Only 15 percent of Ukrainians are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus - one of Europe's lowest rates. After experiencing the disease, some people say they should have acted differently.   As new cases and deaths from the disease reach new heights in Ukraine, more people are getting their coronavirus shots. But not all have come voluntarily. Ukraine now requires many state employees including teachers to be vacccinated against the virus. And to ride public transport, people now have to be either be vaccinated or tested before traveling. But again, resentment against the measures is widespread. To get around the restrictions, many Ukrainians have been buying fake vaccination documents. Yet another problem for a country already struggling with the pandemic.