[Ed P]

It looks as though Germany’s success in handling the first wave of the virus may have been a curse rather than a blessing now that they are struggling under the Second Wave.

According to Der Spiegel there are real concerns that they will not get enough vaccine and it will arrive too late in the Covid season:

“The EU and Berlin have insisted there will be sufficient vaccine available, but delays in signing purchasing contracts mean that the elixir will arrive late and there might not be enough. The EU even declined an option that would have allowed for the purchase of hundreds of millions of extra doses.

“The EU and Berlin have insisted there will be sufficient vaccine available, but delays in signing purchasing contracts mean that the elixir will arrive late and there might not be enough. The EU even declined an option that would have allowed for the purchase of hundreds of millions of extra doses. ”

“Initially, Germany’s health minister has announced, there will probably only be 400,000 vaccine doses for Germany, with another 11 to 13 million to follow by March — a fraction of the amount the Americans (and British) are getting.”

[Boris]

Never trust an atom - they make up everything !

[Ed P]

Grandparents will know what a bitter-sweet day it was yesterday. If you were inclined to obey the rules, adult children with kids would have to choose between grandparents and grandparents with more than one set of grandchildren would have to choose which one if any to visit. What a crap-up; more likely to result in acrimony and tears than a happy day. 😥

Catch me if you can! :yahoo:

Happy New Year to everyone. 😉 :good:

[Ed P]

This Reuter’s report on the Oxford vaccine helps explain why it is taking so long to get approval. Although it still reads like a cockup by Oxford University, we probably need to wait for the Regulator’s verdict. :scratch:

[Ed P]

Thanks to the Government’s early purchases of vaccine, and the work by the NHS and Public Health, the UK leads Europe in the numbers already vaccinated. :good:

UK vaccinations 1.3 million

Germany 0.3 million

France <0.01 million

Italy 0.2 million

Netherlands ~nil (they want to use Oxford vaccine, but not yet approved in EU)

[Dave Rice]

Credit where it’s due.

What worries me being in Phase 5 but with health issues the Govt has scaled downplayed, is that after Phase 4 there will be a clamour to open right up again. We know that politicians in general, and Bojo in particular, only want good news and they have a history of doing this.

[PlaneMan]

Ed P wrote:

Thanks to the Government’s early purchases of vaccine, and the work by the NHS and Public Health, the UK leads Europe in the numbers already vaccinated. UK vaccinations 1.3 million Germany 0.3 million France <0.01 million Italy 0.2 million Netherlands ~nil (they want to use Oxford vaccine, but not yet approved in EU)

That should really be the UK, except Wales. Both by sheer numbers and percentage of population we are doing badly compared to England. Percentage wise Scotland and Northern Ireland are mullering us.

Under the Welsh vaccination scheme I’m in phase 4 due to being ‘extremely vulnerable’ (used to be in the shielding group). This means I’m in the same phase as my mum. :wacko:

 

[Ed P]

Also giving credit where it is due, the US has administered 6.25 million doses which on a percent of population vaccinated is roughly on par with the UK.

[Ed P]

My previous comment is expanded in this Bloomberg report that includes a ‘Heat Map’ of jabs/head of population around the world.

[JayCeeDee]

One of my worries, regarding the UK rollout has come from speaking to a medical professional from my local GP surgery, that, despite it being the biggest surgery in the immediate district, it has been given the same allocation as two other much smaller surgeries. It also has a higher OAP client base. This is just in the initial run-up for the first four categories, of which I’m in the fourth.

Distribution is key, but getting it the ‘last mile’ and into arms could present a greater challenge than they foresee.

[Ed P]

At least it is the military in charge of logistics and not a complete a-hole like Dildo Harding.

[Ed P]

Out of evil came good!

Covid caused remission in a Hodgkin Lymphoma cancer case. It isn’t clear from the paper but it looks like it saved his life, or at least gave him more time!

Medical Research link

[PlaneMan]

I had a letter today from my local health board. It gives some numbers about the amount of people that are ahead of me in the vaccination phases.

As suspected I’m in the fourth phase, about 430,000  to go, ignoring  phase 1 which is allegedly complete. (1st injections).

So at the current rate of vaccination in Wales I might get an appointment in anywhere from 50-80 days.

[Ed P]

Although administratively Public Health Wales has been pretty crappy in getting out the vaccine, in the longer run it is likely to be manufacturing that is the critical path.

We have a relatively limited supply of the Pfizer vaccine allocated to us. The Oxford vaccine appears to be less constrained, but others such as Moderna and Jensson are not expected to arrive before April/May. The Valneva approvals are unlikely until October/November while the GSK Sanofi vaccine appears to have bombed by not giving sufficient protection during trials — maybe they can reformulate or change their dosage but it probably should not be expected before year end.

The bottom line is that a lot of our eggs are in the Oxford manufacturing and batching facilities for the short term.

The Government deserves a little credit for not putting all our eggs in one basket!

[JayCeeDee]

Just seen the BBC news and I think their subtitles have been Trump’d – they referred to the Oxford AstraZenica trial as Oxford ‘extra vinegar’!! Well, it tastes better than bleach, but I think I’ll pass on that one!!

[Boris]

A spot of good news ?

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/01/16/britain-will-able-vaccinate-nation-against-new-covid-strains/?

Never trust an atom - they make up everything !

[Ed P]

Again credit where it is due. My wife drove and escorted a blind 88 year old lady to the regional vaccination centre to receive the Pfizer jab. She was extremely impressed with the organization starting with the parking arrangements through to the after-jab arrangements and the ever attentive, helpful staff. It took about 30 minutes from start to finish.

If vaccine supplies hold up we could well be the country leading Europe out of this mess. B-)

[PlaneMan]

I’m now part of a survey conducted by ONS

It’s  in conjunction with Oxford University. Many tests for Covid over the next few weeks and months. Up to a year.

I can quit at anytime.

Apparently I was sought out because of my physical health issues and my autism was an ‘Easter egg’  :wacko:

Can’t see any NDA so I’ll keep you updated, next test is due on Friday.

[Ed P]

The wife and I have had our call to get a jab (Pfizer probably as it is at a centre equipped with the correct refrigeration).

My wife sees it as a ticket to freedom, but I’m not counting chickens as no Government can relax restrictions on individuals without causing mayhem. I just look at the somewhat disingenuous PHE message about not knowing if the jab cuts transmission (typical Blairing of the truth in that it is true that 5-25%  of people could still catch Covid and pass it on.) From this Blairing it is obvious that the Government have a difficult problem to manage expectations.

I suspect with the latest ONS news that the lockdown has only paused the infection rate the Government are still a month or two away from any restriction relaxation, and then any relaxation will be for all in major geographic zones not a lucky few.

[PlaneMan]

I had the results of my test that was done last week, negative thankfully.

Ment to have another tomorrow but no contact yet.

[Author]

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