COVID-19 — Coronavirus

[blueparrot]

That link gave me end of March previously, now it's end of May!

Looks to me like they have changed it to calculate a second dose 12 weeks after the first rather than 3, so added 2 months to the estimate.

 

[Healdplace]

Scotland data:

68 deaths

2622 cases

More tests than Wales and a 10,1% positivity.

1174 in hospital - up 41 since yesterday

70 on ventilators - up 1.

 

[BlueHammer85]

i prey im wrong on this, but i think it's just a matter of time before Hospitals refuse to take anymore Covid patients.

 

[Healdplace]

Northern Ireland even scarier (recall less than a month ago they were getting about 300 cases a day)

Deaths 11 (was 11 last week)

Cases 1929 (was 841 last week)

So few tests this was a staggering 40.4% positive!

 

[Invisible Man's Bandage]

Feel like we're sleepwalking into disaster with this half-dose now only regime. Reading more and more virologists saying its absolutely insane to take this risk and if anything we're potentially creating a perfect petri dish scenario to allow the mutation of a vaccine-escaping variant due to the minimal data on the one dose effect when combined with the ridiculous spread across the UK and a semi-immunised population. Ffs.

The half dose followed by a full dose regime for the Oxford/Astra Zeneca vaccine hasn't been approved. What has been approved is two full doses but with a longer gap before the second dose. There is evidence that the longer gap improves overall efficiency and from what the expert on BBC was saying this morning the first dose delivers nearly all the benefit.

This may not be the case with the Pfizer vaccine and I would hope that unless the evidence is there then it should be administered as originally planned. We should be going all out with the Oxford vaccine generally anyway as it is going to be available in large quantities and it can be delivered in more or less any location.

 

[Healdplace]

They have already started giving the second Pfizer dose to patients after the three weeks so I assume this will continue.

 

[Gabriel]

Nowhere near enough and they have to be trained in ICU, there were 400 beds alone in Manchester they say it’s 2 staff per bed at least

True, but both they and other military personnel could be deployed to help/free other hospital staff (ambulance/paramedics) and alleviate the burden. However, in the UK, a paralyzing fear seems to persist that deploying the military in a civilian setting, in this case the NHS, is tantamount to admitting that the system has broken.

The military have been and do appear ready to help, so it's simply a case of making the request and giving the order.
https://www.forces.net/news/coronavirus-how-military-helping

 

[twosips]

The half dose followed by a full dose regime for the Oxford/Astra Zeneca vaccine hasn't been approved. What has been approved is two full doses but with a longer gap before the second dose. There is evidence that the longer gap improves overall efficiency and from what the expert on BBC was saying this morning the first dose delivers nearly all the benefit.

This may not be the case with the Pfizer vaccine and I would hope that unless the evidence is there then it should be administered as originally planned. We should be going all out with the Oxford vaccine generally anyway as it is going to be available in large quantities and it can be delivered in more or less any location.

Im not talking about the half dose regime. Im talking about delaying the second dose. The evidence is reportedly nowhere near substantial compared to the approved initial method. There are very credible and sensible experts saying its an incredibly dangerous approach too.

People have had emails cancelling their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine already. That is scandalous as far as im concerned. These people never consented to that when they had their first dose. Pfizer themselves have already raised doubts about this too saying they have no evidence that one dose offers protection for more than 3 weeks.

 

[ayrshire_blue]

Im not talking about the half dose regime. Im talking about delaying the second dose. The evidence is reportedly nowhere near substantial compared to the approved initial method. There are very credible and sensible experts saying its an incredibly dangerous approach too.

People have had emails cancelling their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine already. That is scandalous as far as im concerned. These people never consented to that when they had their first dose. Pfizer themselves have already raised doubts about this too saying they have no evidence that one dose offers protection for more than 3 weeks.

Never knew a thing about this. What a way to end the year. Taking a huge gamble on the one beacon of light that we have at our disposal.

 

[abu13]

It looks increasingly like the final day of 2020 will be the worst of the year, god only knows how bad this will get over the next couple of weeks.

We really should be looking at a full national lockdown now!

 

[Healdplace]

It looks increasingly like the final day of 2020 will be the worst of the year, god only knows how bad this will get over the next couple of weeks.

We really should be looking at a full national lockdown now!

Now as in two weeks before Christmas which many people saw long before our leaders did - the most worrying of all of many things today. Some of this could have been avoided and it ought to be a national scandal that no efforts were made and even yesterday we were still in partial denial of the consequences.

We have far too many politicians in this country who put likes ahead of lives.

 

[M18CTID]

I’m not sure what they are aiming for, foolish to give targets, but we are certainly not at 1million a week yet.

Yeah, true - be nice if we can hit that figure in the next couple of months or so. I think the infrastructure will be there to achieve that eventually.

 

[squirtyflower]

Yeah, true - be nice if we can hit that figure in the next couple of months or so. I think the infrastructure will be there to achieve that eventually.

I hope so

 

[Invisible Man's Bandage]

Im not talking about the half dose regime. Im talking about delaying the second dose. The evidence is reportedly nowhere near substantial compared to the approved initial method. There are very credible and sensible experts saying its an incredibly dangerous approach too.

People have had emails cancelling their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine already. That is scandalous as far as im concerned. These people never consented to that when they had their first dose. Pfizer themselves have already raised doubts about this too saying they have no evidence that one dose offers protection for more than 3 weeks.

Regarding the Pfizer vaccine I agree with you as I said the same in my comment. The Oxford vaccine is different though and I'm happy to go with what is being rolled out.

 

[abu13]

Now as in two weeks before Christmas which many people saw long before our leaders did - the mosr worrying of all of many things today.

I agree, the people I have been discussing this with have all be dismayed that Christmas and more specifically the build up was allowed to happen.

Absolutley heart breaking to see these numbers come through each day while the Government seems to be sat on their hands.

You only have to look at the number of ambulances on the road each day to see what is happening.

 

[MillionMilesAway]

Im not talking about the half dose regime. Im talking about delaying the second dose. The evidence is reportedly nowhere near substantial compared to the approved initial method. There are very credible and sensible experts saying its an incredibly dangerous approach too.

People have had emails cancelling their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine already. That is scandalous as far as im concerned. These people never consented to that when they had their first dose. Pfizer themselves have already raised doubts about this too saying they have no evidence that one dose offers protection for more than 3 weeks.

That sounds like a mess. I'm surprised by cancellations, assuming it's to do with the changed interval and not a supply issue.

I don't think too much should be read into Pfizer saying that - they'll want to make clear it's not their decision.

 

[artfuldodger]

The half dose followed by a full dose regime for the Oxford/Astra Zeneca vaccine hasn't been approved. What has been approved is two full doses but with a longer gap before the second dose. There is evidence that the longer gap improves overall efficiency and from what the expert on BBC was saying this morning the first dose delivers nearly all the benefit.

This may not be the case with the Pfizer vaccine and I would hope that unless the evidence is there then it should be administered as originally planned. We should be going all out with the Oxford vaccine generally anyway as it is going to be available in large quantities and it can be delivered in more or less any location.

Both the bbc and guardian are suggesting that those due a second dose next week are being contacted to cancel. My father in law is due a second dose on Tuesday. He’s 87. He will be devastated if he has to wait another 9 weeks.

 

[Claytop]

MHRA have approved the delaying of the second dose, I believe this also applies to the Pfizer one.

No reason not to trust their decisions.

 

[blueparrot]

That sounds like a mess. I'm surprised by cancellations, assuming it's to do with the changed interval and not a supply issue.

I don't think too much should be read into Pfizer saying that - they'll want to make clear it's not their decision.

Don’t think its a big issue, based on zero knowledge so ready to be corrected, think it was 90 % effective with one dose. As I understand Pfizer saying it’s untested after a 3 week interval, not saying it doesn’t work though and no reason to think immunity would suddenly stop after 3 weeks.

 

[55yr old teenager]

True, but both they and other military personnel could be deployed to help/free other hospital staff (ambulance/paramedics) and alleviate the burden. However, in the UK, a paralyzing fear seems to persist that deploying the military in a civilian setting, in this case the NHS, is tantamount to admitting that the system has broken.

The military have been and do appear ready to help, so it's simply a case of making the request and giving the order.
https://www.forces.net/news/coronavirus-how-military-helping

Having served 22 years in the QARANC, (Nursing corps) All regular medical staff, ie, Doctors ),nurses, theatre technicians, xray techs, lab technicians all work in local NHS hospitals anyway. This would also include TA personnel.