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Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, November 10, 2021 -- SEVEN ~ Letters to the Editor ~ The Heppner Gazette Times will print all letters to the Editor with the following criteria met: letters submitted to the newspaper will need to have the name of the sender along with a legible signature. We are also requesting that you provide your address and a phone number where you can be reached. The address and phone number will only be used for verification and will not be printed in the newspaper. Letters may not be libelous. The GT reserves the right to edit. The GT is not responsible for accuracy of statements made in letters. Any letters expressing thanks will be placed in the classifieds under “Card of Thanks” at a cost of $10. Email to editor@rapidserve.net or upload to Heppner.net. Traditional vaccine undergoing trials To the editor; Novavax Inc-NVX- CoV2373 is being called a “traditional vaccine” that is undergoing trials in India under the brand name of Covovax. It requires two doses and is stable at 2-8 degrees Celsius. It should be available in the fourth quarter of 2021 but is hav- ing trouble getting approval from the FDA. It is said to give 70 percent protection against the virus. Why is it different from the other covid-19 vac- cines? The other vaccines trick the body into creating parts of the virus that can trigger the immune system. The Novavax vaccine contains spike proteins of the coro- navirus itself but formulat- ed as nanoparticles which cannot cause disease. It is a subunit. This vaccine uses a piece of the coronavirus and when the immune system encounters it, it produces antibodies against it. This vaccine is in phase three of clinical trials led by Diana Florescu MD at the University of Nebras- ka Medical Center. The phase three trial shows the vaccine was 90.4 percent effective against severe disease. It used 30,000 participants from US and Mexico with two doses three weeks apart. Serious adverse reactions were rare, there was no incidence of blood clotting or myocardi- tis. It has not been approved in any country yet but is supposed to reach regula- tory submissions in the UK, Europe, Canada, Australia and NZ in the next few weeks. Moderna and Pifzer use mRNA technology and Johnson and Johnson vac- cine uses more traditional virus based technology. Moderna and Pfizer contain messenger RNA which is genetic material. It contains a synthetic piece of mRNA that instructs cells in the body to make the distinctive “spike” protein of SARS- Co-2 virus. It takes the body about two weeks to produce the antibodies for protection. The say they are fully vaccinated two weeks, after their second dose and two weeks after their one J&J dose. The virus vector being used in the J&J and Astra- Zeneca vaccines is an ade- novirus, a common type of virus that typically causes mild cold symptoms. The single dose of the J&J vac- cine remains robust against the variants of SARS-Co-2. The mRNA vaccines (Mod- erna and Pfizer) have shown an increase in cases of myo- carditis and pericarditis, especially in young adults. Also, Moderna and Pfiz- er vaccines are not inter- changeable. They need a 21-42 day interval between shots. (CDC) The vaccines work by stimulating the immune system to produce anti- bodies. You then develop immunity, but you can still get Covid-19 after you have been vaccinated; it is called “breakthrough covid-19” and you are able to spread this disease. Inactive vac- cines use the killed version of the germ that causes the disease and are not as effective as live vaccines. AstraZeneca vaccine is not approved for use in the USA. J&J vaccine was 66.3 percent effective in clinical trials after two weeks. There is a risk of rare but serious adverse events; blood clots with low platelets in women under 50 yrs. People with a history of heart disease are at increased risk of severe complications not only for Covid-19 but also with the vaccine. If you have been vaccinated and you do get a breakthrough covid-19 infection, you will have strong protection and will not need a booster dose. (CDC) Boosters are required for people over 65 years if their last shot was over six months ago, those who work in front line jobs like teachers and medical work- ers, those in nursing homes, those with underlying med- ical problems and the im- munocompromised should get three doses. Whole virus live atten- uated vaccines use a weak- ened form of the virus that can still replicate without causing illness. There are two inactivated vaccines in adults over 18 years in one to two trials and efficacy has not been determined. There are 380 candi- date’s vaccines in devel- opment worldwide, 23 are already in phase three trials. Among them are inactivat- ed vaccines that are gener- ally safe and widely used for prevention of respirato- ry infections like influenza, hepatitis A, polio and rabies and can be stored at 2C-8C for years and is suitable for low income countries and those with limited cold storage. Australia agreed to purchases 51 million doses of Novavax at the beginning of 2021, but it has not been approved in any country yet. The Delta variant showed up in the US in December 2020, after the UK, and is accounting for than 99 percent of the cas- es. It is twice as contagious as previous variants and more likely to put people in the hospital. It can be transmitted by droplets and aerosols. Covid-19 virus can be detected in aerosols for up to three hours and on plastic and hard surfaces up to three days. CDC stopped counting county cases that do not result in hospitalizations in May 2021. They have also mandated masks for all teachers, staff and students and visitors at all K-12 schools. “Some of these vac- cines have been approved only under the EUA- Emer- gency Use Authority, and they should not be man- dated on any American. Even if they get approval from the FDA, Americans should have the right to assess their own risk and make informed decisions as to whether they want to be vaccinated. There are risks involved and we need to access those risk and act accordingly. They should not be forced in either di- rection by their governor and become another class of citizens based on the de- cision they make.” (pji.org) This last Monday, 11/2/21, the Australian prime minister Morrison reversed his government policy to eradicate the virus by shutdowns and conced- ed that suppressive efforts are futile and with high vaccinations rates now of about 80 percent of the pop- ulation, he is opening the borders and international travel, which was banned for 20 months. There will be no more quarantine for vaccinated travelers. They only had 1600 deaths main- ly from Victoria and NSW. Conclusion: This virus is not easily contained as the last two years have taught us. The scientists have tried to contain it with mask wearing and sanitizing efforts, isolation, quarantine, using PPE’s and restrictions from the CDC. However, now the government has added their version of how they think it should he stopped by shutdowns and now a mandate that all workers in businesses that employ over 100 persons must be all vaccinated. They now want to force businesses to fire those who will not comply. People who are fully vaccinated are having breakthrough infections and are spreading them, but they want to single out the people who refuse to have a vaccine that has not be proven for its safety. On top of all that, they want to force parents to have their young children, who are just developing, to receive an untested vaccine. There are Pfizer results for a 2/3 trial for those of the six months-11 age group done in the last nine months of about 2,268 children receiving a low dose in a two dose regimen, but it is not concluded and has not even been submitted for peer review or publication, let alone getting approval for EUA from the FDA (Pfizer.com) yet the gov- ernment is talking about mandating those parents who are scared to have their children vaccinated as they do not know what long term effects could show up at a later date. Children usually do not contract covid-19 so to subject them to this untested vaccine is abu- sive. It certainly does not have the best interest of the children or family in mind like they say they do. As a Registered Nurse I am against vaccinating this age group with an untested vac- cine. Also, the wearing of a mask in this age group is not necessary and it affects their learning ability with watching the teacher sound words, their interaction with other children and cuts down their oxygen intake by 21 percent. These masks will stunt their emotional and physical growth and put them at risk for respiratory infections from inhalation of bacteria into their lungs from their mouths. Julie Dick, Irrigon Duck bites the dust The Oregon Duck put on top of an old tree in the backyard of Bob Kilkenny’s former home on Hager Street, fell victim to the windstorm last night. Current homeowner Laurel Laney said she got up this morning and saw Duck laying toppled over in the yard. “A lot of people would come by and comment on that duck.” Laurel told the Hep- pner Gazette-Times. “It was pretty popular.” As anyone who knew Bob can attest, he was a “big” Oregon Duck fan. Veteran’s Day celebration moved to Gilliam Bisbee Heppner High School’s Veterans Day celebration will now be held indoors at the Gilliam Bisbee building due to expected inclement weather on Thursday, November 11. This event is for veterans only and will not be open to the public. Social distancing and masks will be enforced to ensure safety of all participants. Event starts at 2 PM. Please contact HJSHS with any questions at 541-676-9138. Thank You! As we celebrate National Cooperative Month we wanted to first say thank you to our membership and to our community partners. We are shaped by the people we serve. As a member- owned utility, we are driven to be more than a business, we are your energy partner. Learn more about how UEC is helping to power communities at: All COVID-19 Immunizations, Flu and any booster Now offering Pfizer pediatric immunizations for kids 5-11 Drive Through - Wednesday, November 10, 2021 1:00 - 5:00 PM Hermiston Office Boardman Office 750 W. Elm Ave. Hermiston, OR 97838 (541) 567-6414 400 N.E. Eldrige Drive Boardman, OR 97818 (541) 481-2220 Servicio al carro Miercoles 10 de Noviembre de 2021 Morrow County Fairgrounds, Heppner, OR Friday, November 12, 2021 2:00 - 7:00 PM Viernes 12 de Noviembre de 2021 A.C. Houghton Elementary School, Irrigon, OR
