Medellin Reports

[GeneHickman]

True, but this is a sensational evidence of how some press and some people twists facts to mislead.

If I allow people to travel to my home country depending on their skin color or religion, I am discriminating arbitrarily. But if I allow only vaccinated people to enter my country, I am keeping out those that are more likely to bring infections to my citizens. We do it for Yellow Fever or other diseases, I do not see why we should not do it with COVID.

So, all you no-vax guys, stay happy and relax at your home, travel to third world, but I will not allow you to enter my borders, neither I will allow you to get on my aircrafts, because my passengers must travel safe!

I can't wait such vaccination pass will be introduced. Not a panacea, but definitely it will help me a lot to travel.

You are probably wrong on this. This is not known yet, at least for the moment. On the contrary, I read there is some preliminary evidence that at least some vaccines are quite effective also in preventing the infection (you know that in medicine the 100% success probability does not exist, never, in any therapy).

What you wrote above is the prudent current assessment, based on empirical data collected in these few last months. Next year we will know more. We can hope vaccines will also help to prevent infections, but nobody knows yet how effectively.

Vaccine potency varies for sure. Take one look at Israel (mostly PFE) v Chile (Mostly Sinovac) and their current numbers. Both nations are well on their way to vaccinating their populations.

However to say that they don't work is utter bullshit. Have a look at Israel who has vaccinated about 60% of their population with Pfizer bioNTech vaccine. Alos bear in mind that this vaccine is not approved for the under 16(roughhly 20% of the population). So only 1/4 have not and likely will not. They barely get 20-30k people a day to take the shot now.
Their case numbers are next to zero. I think they had like 30 cases and a couple of deaths today. If you get the vaccine especially one of the mRNA ones. You stand an above 90% chance of not getting the disease. If you do it is likely to be milder. This has been shown to be the case against most of the variants as well. What is more it remains unclear but very likely that even if you do get the disease you are less likely to be a heavy spreader. This is the case with other vaccinations. I am baffled at why the CDC is taking this long almost 5 months since mass vaccinations with these mRNA vaccines started to come up with that information. The press is not doing their job on that By pressing the CDC officials, who are notoriously risk averse, IMHO.
Finally, the rapid antigen tests that we are using to allow people to travel are not without their own shortcomings. There are false negatives associated with this test. In addition there is 5 days incubation periods to consider. So when you are using a non-bullet proof method to allow international travel why can you not do so with a highly efficacious vaccine. Politics more at play more than science IMHO.

[Surfer500]

People do not want to be marked and segregated according to their willingness to accept the vaccine. A vaccine passport seems to be an irrelevant thing anyway seeing that the vaccine does not prevent you from getting covid or spreading it. All a passport would be saying is that you probably won't die from getting it. The yellow fever card, however, says that you can not infect the mosquitos which would in turn infect other people.

Well it's interesting that you think that the vaccine does not prevent you from getting COVID, as a lot of Countries are relying on it in hopes of re-opening sooner. And in Thailand, if you've been vaccinated, they reduce how long you have to be quarantined to enter versus those who haven't.

Regardless, I think your in the minority, in that eventually I see it as being a requirement to enter many Countries, no different than the Yellow Fever shot. And for those who have not been vaccinated, they may be subject to quarantines and other limitations to enter Countries that don't require you be vaccinated.

Anyways, you may find yourself in a pickle, and it won't be the first time, because if you refuse to be vaccinated, and are barred from those Countries requiring it, you will have to get a new handle, as you will no longer be able to be the one and only Mr. International on ISG! LOL.

[Black Page]

People do not want to be marked and segregated according to their willingness to accept the vaccine.

True, but this is a sensational evidence of how some press and some people twists facts to mislead.

If I allow people to travel to my home country depending on their skin color or religion, I am discriminating arbitrarily. But if I allow only vaccinated people to enter my country, I am keeping out those that are more likely to bring infections to my citizens. We do it for Yellow Fever or other diseases, I do not see why we should not do it with COVID.

So, all you no-vax guys, stay happy and relax at your home, travel to third world, but I will not allow you to enter my borders, neither I will allow you to get on my aircrafts, because my passengers must travel safe!

I can't wait such vaccination pass will be introduced. Not a panacea, but definitely it will help me a lot to travel.

A vaccine passport seems to be an irrelevant thing anyway seeing that the vaccine does not prevent you from getting covid or spreading it.

You are probably wrong on this. This is not known yet, at least for the moment. On the contrary, I read there is some preliminary evidence that at least some vaccines are quite effective also in preventing the infection (you know that in medicine the 100% success probability does not exist, never, in any therapy).

What you wrote above is the prudent current assessment, based on empirical data collected in these few last months. Next year we will know more. We can hope vaccines will also help to prevent infections, but nobody knows yet how effectively.

[Queens35]

During the total lockdown periods (Fri-Sun morning / afternoon), it sounds like the girls can still come to us, but can we go out to them (in a taxi)? In other words, if we book a taxi, and go door to door, is that a risk?

TIA.

[JjBee62]

So far, I haven't found a single health agency, from the Catron County New Mexico Health Department to the WHO, or governments, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, which are basing pandemic responses and recommendations on what they're reading on the ISG Medellin forum. Maybe that's the whole problem.

Or maybe most of us here lack the qualifications (or are too damn lazy) to fully understand the data and draw reasonable conclusions.

On the subject of mongering, for those who use Facebook, Yennifer Taborda recently split up from her pandemic boyfriend and is back on active duty, although she's apparently keeping pretty busy.

[SavePros321]

It seems to be kind of a moot thing seeing that the vaccine does not prevent you from getting covid or spreading it.

And nothing in that statement matters because the government is pushing hard for people to get the vaccine, and if they have to "incentivize" you to do it by restricting you from getting on an airplane and traveling internationally, the will do it.

[Mr Enternational]

As far as vaccination passports, I am perplexed when I hear people who are against them for whatever reason, and a lot of people are against them.

People do not want to be marked and segregated according to their willingness to accept the vaccine. A vaccine passport seems to be an irrelevant thing anyway seeing that the vaccine does not prevent you from getting covid or spreading it. All a passport would be saying is that you probably won't die from getting it. The yellow fever card, however, says that you can not infect the mosquitos which would in turn infect other people.

[Osteoknot]

Unfortunately Colombia is a long way off from it's population becoming fully vaccinated, and as your aware a lot of people in the Country got the Chinese vaccine wth an admitted low efficacy, and those people are now going to want to get the Pfizer vaccine. The actual question is whether a Country can actually vaccinate it's way out of the Pandemic which the USA is attempting to do right now, but may never achieve given that a lot of people are reluctant to get vaccinated, so nobody really knows at this point in time. As far as Colombia, it may end up that the virus will just run it's course thru the Country versus being eradicated thru the population being vaccinated.

As far as vaccination passports, I am perplexed when I hear people who are against them for whatever reason, and a lot of people are against them. I see no difference with the "Yellow Fever Shot" required for entry into certain Countries and don't know why this hasn't been worked out already but am guessing the authentication of those people being actually vaccinated is part of the reason. It will eventually become a worldwide requirement, it's just a matter of time, and Countries are already starting to accept them as a basis for entry.

Anyone out there who believes it is going to be left up to individual choice as far as Enternational travel is concerned is kidding themselves and doesn't really understand the ramifications of moving around the world unfettered. You will have to show proof of vaccination or you won't be allowed entry to Colombia and just about every other country in the world, sooner than later, is my prediction, and that doesn't take a degree in epidemiology. I don't give a flying fuck about the politics or effectiveness of the vaccine. I happen to believe the risk of the vaccine harming you is much less than the risk of catching COVID and the harm that can do, which is small. Even though I don't need it, I am getting my second dose of vaccine in anticipation that proving vaccination status will soon be the new standard requirement for international travel.

[Paulie97]

Because those 2 states handled it complete opposite (Florida out partying with the Covid; California hiding in the house from the Covid), but still pretty much have the same results.

We can also add Oregon and Washington, both states with heavy restrictions, with large urban centers as well as plenty of rural that have done way better than FL or CA.

https://www.beckershospitalreview.co...te-july-1.html

[SavePros321]

Well I just got the news that the toque de queda or curfew will extend for the the following weekend. If you are caught you may get fined 900 mil peso. Well what can we do? I'll be there that weekend but will follow their strict rules.

Man, that is a steep fine. That's about as much as you can pull out of the ATM there at one time.

Also will be a huge deterrent for chicas to try to risk such a heavy fine to try to come and visit you during curfew.

I enjoy all of my chicas, but I can't think of one that I would want to have stay with me Thursday through Monday. You might as well say you are married at that point, LOL!

[Surfer500]

As soon as availability for my age group was announced I set up my appointment. I'm now 3 weeks past my second shot (and still wear a mask wherever I go). Lost an aunt to this crap a year ago. One of my cousin's lost her husband about 7 months ago. He was in the ICU room next to me when I spent a night there. Just found out yesterday that 3 other cousins (all of them "nobody is going to vaccinate me" types) are sick, 1 just went to the hospital.

I'll keep postponing my next trip until things are looking better in Medellin. Maybe by the end of May.

This is sad to hear of so many people within your family becoming ill, and you would think that especially those who partake in our "sport" (not you or I) would take getting vaccinated seriously, but there are members who won't which defies logic to me. Our sport exposes us to so many unknown people so I kind of view the Vaccine somewhat similar to a condom.

What I can tell you as to what I experienced being in Medellin in November 2020 prior to being vaccinated, versus in late February to early April of this year after being vaccinated was a whole different mindset for me.

In November I stayed off the Metro and away from people as much as possible and basically was a bit paranoid, especially when in El Centro about getting infected.

Upon returning in February after being vaccinated, I basically put COVID in the rear view mirror, not meaning that I wouldn't wear a mask or abide the rules, but more in the sense that I'm supposedly at least 90% protected with no underlying health conditions so the odds of getting sick and dying were very low. Hence I operated while in town exactly as before the Pandemic, riding the METRO, and banging away in El Centro besides other places.

[Combo]

Because those 2 states handled it complete opposite (Florida out partying with the Covid; California hiding in the house from the Covid), but still pretty much have the same results.

Yup. Texas and Florida (fairly open) vs CA, NJ, MI, et al (strict lockdown). There is virtually no correlation to infection rates.

FWIW I think there's still a lot we don't know. Governments all over the world are frequently throwing shit against the wall, hoping something will work.

[Paulie97]

Because those 2 states handled it complete opposite (Florida out partying with the Covid; California hiding in the house from the Covid), but still pretty much have the same results.

Nounce was correct. This is cherry picking of data, which is especially popular among those eager to take off their masks and get their dicks wet. We can also look at very restrictive states like Vermont and Hawaii that have both done way better than FL or CA. There's also distinct differences between FL and CA when it comes to housing and population densities. And as we know, restrictions without effective enforcement / compliance are much less irrelevant.

https://www.healthline.com/health-ne...is-complicated#Confounders-abound.

https://khn.org/news/article/califor...ver-citations/

[Mr Enternational]

You should google it. Compare it by county or region, then you might get a different picture. There are 50 states, why only pick these two states? Why not compare all 50 states?

Because those 2 states handled it complete opposite (Florida out partying with the Covid; California hiding in the house from the Covid), but still pretty much have the same results.

[Surfer500]

I am not seeing much discussion about vaccination status as the path back to normality. I am NOT talking about whether or not you believe in the vaccine or politicizing it, I don't care. But I believe the handwriting is on the wall that being vaccinated is going to be required for international travel. I have been back in the USA for two weeks and in that short time there have appeared two huge, free, drive through vaccination stations set up in the busiest areas of the city. I don't need to be vaccinated, I am still immune, I didn't really want one, but they made it so easy, I did not have to get out of my car or show ID to get vaccinated, for free. I have an appointment for my second dose. Colombia won't be like it was until a critical mass of it's population is vaccinated. I don't have a timetable for that but the drug companies are trying to vaccinate the entire world, not just the USA, obviously. The buzzword I keep hearing is "vaccination passport."

Unfortunately Colombia is a long way off from it's population becoming fully vaccinated, and as your aware a lot of people in the Country got the Chinese vaccine wth an admitted low efficacy, and those people are now going to want to get the Pfizer vaccine. The actual question is whether a Country can actually vaccinate it's way out of the Pandemic which the USA is attempting to do right now, but may never achieve given that a lot of people are reluctant to get vaccinated, so nobody really knows at this point in time. As far as Colombia, it may end up that the virus will just run it's course thru the Country versus being eradicated thru the population being vaccinated.

As far as vaccination passports, I am perplexed when I hear people who are against them for whatever reason, and a lot of people are against them. I see no difference with the "Yellow Fever Shot" required for entry into certain Countries and don't know why this hasn't been worked out already but am guessing the authentication of those people being actually vaccinated is part of the reason. It will eventually become a worldwide requirement, it's just a matter of time, and Countries are already starting to accept them as a basis for entry.