Pledge of Allegiance
Michael Brownrigg led the Pledge of Alliance.
Invocation
Brian Neider reflected on the foundations of Rotary and how our vision and mission
aligns to our local and international service efforts. Rotary’s vision is “Together, we see a
world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in
our communities, and in ourselves.” Rotary’s mission is “We provide service to others,
promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace though our
fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.”
Brian ended with a quote by Mother Teresa:
People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them
anyway.
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Andrea Capozzoli, guest of Marilyn Orr.
Lyle Duncan, guest of Pierre Bouquet.
Dr. Kathleen Kenny, today’s speaker.
Announcements
Our holiday drive-in dinner and movie scheduled on December 16 th has been cancelled
due to rising COVID numbers.
In lieu of a holiday party, we will have a Club Cocktail Party on Sunday, June 27 th . It will
be an outdoor gathering at Filoli from 5pm to 8pm and guests will be welcome. More
details to follow in the Spring, but mark your calendars now. You will not want to miss
this event!
Fritz Brauner announced that Hillbarn Theatre is giving a virtual Holiday Concert this
holiday season, and proceeds go to the Holiday Sustaining Belief Drive. The virtual
concert is a 60 minute program of local performers, holiday music, fellowship,
community, and love. There is no set price, you make your tax-deductible donation of
any amount and you will receive a link and password by email that will give you access
to view this special holiday program. The holiday program is available from December 4 th
through 20 th and you will have 48 hours to view the program once you donate. More
details are available at:
https://www.hillbarntheatre.org/holiday-concert-2020/
Special Announcement
Michael Brownrigg announced that RethinkWaste, led by our very own Joe La Mariana,
was awarded the 2020 Public Agency Award by the Solid Waste Association of North
America's (SWANA) Northern California Chapter. This impressive award means
RethinkWaste was voted the best public waste agency out of 100+ municipal solid waste
programs. SWANA cited RethinkWaste’s comprehensive industry leadership in receiving
this award - way to go Joe and team! Joe said it was a very cool moment and that it was a
wonderful surprise because it was an unsolicited award. RethinkWaste serves 435,000
residents and 11,000 businesses/multi-family dwellings for 10 cities within County of
San Mateo. Joe extended an open invite to Rotary to visit the RethinkWaste site post
COVID. Sounds like we have a field trip in our future!
Sunshine Report
In the spirit of real-time sunshine, we learned that Pierre Bouquet had been hospitalized
for dehydration. Just after hearing that update, Pierre came into the Zoom squares looking
hale and hearty, and stating that he felt much better.
In less bright sunshine news, we found out shortly after our meeting from Cheri De Lacy
Carr that she has been in the COVID trenches. First, Cheri tells us that a De Lacy family
member died of COVID in the summer. Then unfortunately, Cheri contracted the
dreadful COVID in October and has had a rough battle with it. As Cheri continues to
focus on her recovery, she has let us know that her club involvement will be limited
through year-end. We wish Cheri all our best as she continues to heal and manage her
travel business in these tough times - and we all hope to see her back again soon!
The presentation covers:
- Scope of the pandemic
- Overview of vaccine development
- Biology of COVID-19 and vaccine targets
- Types of vaccines
- Clinical data from vaccine trials
- Operation Warp Speed
- Supply and demand for vaccines in the US
- Herd Immunity
- What do we do while we wait for a vaccine
The presentation is quite lengthy at 38+ pages and dense with information, so following
are a condensed version of anecdotal notes.
- US death rate is highest worldwide on a per capita basis, likely due lack of mask wearing and/or social distancing in certain regions.
- Over 180 vaccines are currently under study. Pre-clinical (no human trials) = 155 Phase 1 (double digit safety trials) = 39, Phase 2 (hundreds in expanded safety trials) = 18, Phase 3 (large scale efficacy trials) = 11, Approved (general use) = 0.
- COVID-19 RNA virus mutation rate is slow compared to influenza B cell systems make antibodies, T cell systems neutralize antibodies and creates long-term memory immunity.
- Vaccine development ideal characteristics have been largely met, except for stable temperature (current vaccine must be stored at -100 F) and durability of > 1 year (how long current vaccine works is not known).
- Vaccine development was so fast due to head-start of SARS and MERS coronaviruses and early publications of full length genome sequence by China.
- Vaccine types fall into 5 categories. Pfizer and Moderna are using nucleic acid based vaccines. Clinical efficacy data is 95% Moderna, 90% Pfizer, and 70% AstraZeneca. What they followed was not Covid-19, but the endpoint was clinical disease. The transition phase of being infectious was not followed.
- Vaccine supply and demand – Pfizer has 20M doses by end of 2020.DEamnd is 328M. Phased approach is Phase 1a Healthcare workers 24M, Phase 1b Essential workers 55M Phase 1c Adults high-risk and 65+ 100M.
- Availability of vaccines for first 3 phases is still unknown. Educated guess for Phase 1c is April 2021.
Questions
- How is International research being coordinated? Primarily funded through World Health Organization and country funded. US is at the forefront of getting the vaccine because the US pays more for health care than any other developed county worldwide.
- Has there been contact tracing follow-up ala Sturgis, South Dakota rally? In the US contact tracing at an effective level is near impossible because individual cellphone coordinates cannot be traced, and the exposure numbers are too large.
- What will the vaccine cost? What’s a fair price? Dr. Kenny believes the vaccine will be free to promote people getting vaccinated.
- What is the planned timing and supply distribution of the vaccine? If based on population, CA will get 1/8 of the available supply. Part of Project Warp Speed has funding for mass distribution of vaccinations at places like Walgreens and CVS. County Health Departments will also get involved in distribution.
- Should one still get a flu shot? Yes, but get it now. Dr. Kenny said it would be better to have the flu shot in advance.
Next Meeting
Our next virtual meeting will be Wednesday, December 9th at 12:15 pm.
Speaker: Dr. Kathleen Kenny on Vaccinations and COVID-19
