2-Part Covid Vaccinations

A difficult question to answer, because:

• More than one type of vaccine being used
• How well it works depends on age, general health and genetic make up.
• The virus is mutating. So far, none of the variants seem to have changed enough to resist the vaccine, but it's a possibility. Remember flu-jabs are changed annually to cope with whatever strain of flu is likely.
• Available figures depend on the size and scope of relatively small trials rather than actually inoculating large numbers. It does seem the vaccines are working a bit better than expected.

Important to know the vaccines don't render individuals immune or stop us catching and spreading the disease. Therefore the other counter-measures still have to be maintained as necessary to control the R-number: masks, washing, isolation etc. This may go on for some time yet.

The advantage of the vaccine is it builds immunity against the real thing making it much less likely an infection will turn nasty. After vaccination, people who might previously have died in intensive care are more likely to cope at home with paracetamol and hot drinks!

For the future, I don't think anyone knows. Covid has delivered 2 waves and there might be a third, or more. Mutations can be good or bad for us, and it's common for strains to become weaker rather than stronger. Killing the host is bad for the virus too! Covid-19 might fizzle out completely. As it's proved persistent, my guess is it will be like Flu, a permanent part of a medical landscape in which large numbers of us are periodically revaccinated.

Dave

I understand from the son of a friend, who is an epidemiologist and has been working extensively on Covid over the last 12 months that the first inoculation will give around a 25% level of protection after 2 weeks and which gradually increases to about 50% to the time of the second inoculation. Interesting that the WHO has come out and declared (reported in The Times) that a delay to the second inoculation will give a 'better' result in overall eficiacy. This confirms the Government strategy of a 12 week wait for the second dose. I had my 'shot' 3 weeks ago and I am still shielding and not taking any risks whatsoever. Others I know are assuming they are now free to mingle, complete idiots that are bending the rules for selfish ends.

Meanwhile my daughter who lives in Madrid has told me that her in-laws, who are both in their 70's, have no likelihood of an injection until at least September. Good to see the UK Gvt. has got something right in all this pandemic.

As a further note of caution/alarm I also see that another outbreak of Ebola has occurred in Guinea. This is the one to watch, as the concern is if there is a cross mutation with a virus as destructive as Ebola, it may well be bye-bye human race!

Stay safe everyone,

Martin

That is ridiculous, Most of my family have had the 1 st shot in the UK. My Son who has Diabetes & is 33 years old gets his 1st shot on Thursday. Cannot believe Canada is so far behind. Sympathies Peter.

Steve.

Not possible to comment without getting into politics/partisan issues which get censored here.

Edited By Peter Greene on 15/02/2021 16:04:52

I've edited a comment, although I appreciate the comment was no doubt meant figuratively, someone was upset by it.

Neil

So far, the figures for the UK are very encouraging, due to a splendid effort from the NHS and their helpers, our vaccination figures are ahead of most of the world.

+ 1 for that.

Steve.

I remember roughly what Bazyl originally wrote. So one person "felt upset" by it and the other 1067 (at current count) who've read the thread weren't apparently bothered significantly. You yourself believe it was meant figuratively - as was obvious to me and, I'm sure, the other 1067.

I'm curious: how do you decide in this instance to pander to the one person?

That's weird. The edit removes the joke part so makes it worse! the smiley is jocular btw.

[This posting has been removed]

It's just the way of the world nowadays.

Stay safe ... ...

Yes - edited or complete post deleted... and worse, the complainer does this behind a cloak of anonymity instead of having the...er ... thingies .... to state his views in the forum in the usual way.

As blowlamp says ...

Edited By Peter Greene on 15/02/2021 22:22:45

I can now confirm you do NOT need a letter to get jabbed, just be the right age group. Book it on the NHS site using NHS number (on your prescription, we've all got those) date of birth & mobile number or email, receive conformation. turn up at your choice of site, if you're on the list you get the jab. Thats all there is to it.

I am afraid not quite true, while you can book without getting your letter, when you do get the letter it says you MUST take the letter with you, read from that what you will.

The letter sent out on the 4th of feb for 65 to 70 makes no mention of requiring said letter, are you telling me I need to convince my arm and queasy stomach it's all my imagination and the jab card sitting in my wallet is fake?

I expect the goal posts have been moved since you had yours

Edited By Dave Halford on 16/02/2021 10:00:40

Edited By Dave Halford on 16/02/2021 10:01:04

My wife and I were contacted by our respective surgeries by phone for our jabs and had them last Friday and the Friday before, we're 69 & 70. Missus had quite bad reactions, myself not so bad, to the Tizer vaccine.

Roger

That's got to be the best typo/joke in the history of the internet.

Can't stop Lol-ing

Did it affect your appetite as in 'Tizer the ..... '

Certainly increased my hunger to find out more about it!...

..and it seems to be as good as anything else out there.

Live long & prosper.

Edited By blowlamp on 16/02/2021 12:15:17

Governments biggest mistake is to employ experts who do actually know what they are talking about. This is very expensive when all they need to do is pop in the local pub, experts give advice freely on any subject. Football is another organisation that wastes millions of pounds on players and managers when there are loads of experts in every pub.

Mike