Coronavirus (2021) thread

[MillionMilesAway]

Hopefully they've been allocating the vaccines in such a way that we've built in the lag time between doses to replenish our stocks of each vaccine for the second dose i.e. moving over to Oxford vaccines to allow us time to replenish the Pfizer stocks for the second doses.

I think "hopefully" is the key word there.

Pfizer has presumably been all but used, and should be being stopped completely if Pfizer production is being limited for a time.

By a back of envelope calculations:
We'd need 50 million or so total by the start of April - we had about 25 million I think at New Year.

We'd then need about 15-20 million a month if they want 2M a week (assuming the 2M are first time shots). I think there would be a lot anger if it dropped to 1M/week first time shots come April, especially if there is no open statement about that.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

25, 008 care home residents in the UK have had Covid mentioned on death certificates. That is a big percentage of all the tragic deaths in the nation and - whilst it is never going to be easy to tackle them - the fact this was obvious as a big problem from day one (the first major western outbreak was in a Seattle care home before we locked down) - our inability to address it will be one of the first scandals once we do emerge from where we are now into whatever the new normal this Summer looks like. Because it was predictable and not completely avoidable but not enough was done to stop it becoming a disaster.

And it's the one gap in the the otherwise excellent so far vaccine rollout. Denmark prioritised care homes and has vaccinated the entire country's residents. We're still a way off.

Not intended as a big criticism, just an observation that they're still not getting top priority.

 

[cleavers]

Call 111 , they will get a dr to call you back and give you antibiotics ,they send it to whatever chemist you want and you just collect it , do it now

He'll need someone to collect it, as he'll have to stay isolated.

 

[Healdplace]

Trials to start early February on a mix of the Oxford vaccine and the Russian Sputnik that is hoped to improve efficacy.

Anyone able to comment if this is a credible expectation?

 

[Healdplace]

And it's the one gap in the the otherwise excellent so far vaccine rollout. Denmark prioritised care homes and has vaccinated the entire country's residents. We're still a way off.

Not intended as a big criticism, just an observation that they're still not getting top priority.

Scotland seem to have vaccinated the majority of care home residents given regular updates on numbers Nicola Sturgeon reports. No idea where the rest are at.

 

[Churchlawtonblue]

Started with symptoms today. Headache, cough (not bad, but regular) and got the shivers. FFS!

Got to say I'm a bit freaked out. I was yesterday, wondering when/if I'd get it, but shit just got real.

Mrs got symptoms last Friday, tested Sat, positive result Sunday morning. She's ok but feeling groggy and completely lost her voice now. I told her not to be working doing online lessons (from home) yesterday, but no...

Reckon she got it last Monday in school as a colleague who was working in the same staff-room tested +ve on Thursday. But who knows?

Can't believe the school were still insisting that they go in to do remote lessons. The cunts.

I got a test kit delivered, but spoke to Test and Trace (for her as she can't speak) and they said there's no point doing it now as we're isolating for 10 days from today anyway. Just assume I've also got it.

Fingers crossed for everyone who's in a similar boat.

wishing you a speedy recovery.

 

[blueparrot]

And it's the one gap in the the otherwise excellent so far vaccine rollout. Denmark prioritised care homes and has vaccinated the entire country's residents. We're still a way off.

Not intended as a big criticism, just an observation that they're still not getting top priority.

Some areas of the UK have done care homes first too, think Newcastle have done most care homes, and Scotland too has done care homes first.Both have done almost all care home residents.

 

[shemnel]

depending on the care home provider, between 5 and 20% of care home staff have refused a vaccine when offered, and up tp 2.7% of residents. I wonder what the overall uptake up to now is?

 

[M18CTID]

Agreed, and that works across all countries when it comes to holidays.

The arrogance of some of the reporting in this country around holidays abroad this year, is surely typical Little Englander?

It will not be our choice to make.

Other countries around the world will be at different stages of their own vaccine programme, so it is pretty arrogant thinking for some outlets to suggest Gary and Sharon can have their two weeks in Marbs this summer, just because they have had their jab?

They are just as likely to remain potential carriers of the virus and still be able to transmit it to others (those not fortunate enough to have had a jab yet)

Equating risk can't be a personal choice, sadly, not in these times.

This is a global challenge and the laws have to be considered for the greater good.

If that means a week in Devon rather than Spain, then people have to accept that.

I have been genuinely shocked how many people assume this vaccine is the white Knight on a fiery steed.

Spot on. I alluded to this the other week but didn’t articulate it quite as well as you have. I’d ask some of these people what’s wrong with a week in Devon anyway. There are so many beautiful places all over the UK and this would be the ideal opportunity to try them out, while putting the holidays abroad on the back burner until other countries are up to speed with their own vaccination programmes.

 

[AlgarveBlu]

When did we decide vaccines don't reduce ability to transmit the virus by the way?

Last I heard in December the Oxford trials had shown greatly reduced ability to transmit the virus and Pfizer and Moderna were conducting trials with the results pending?

Did I miss a big study coming out on mucosal immunity or are people just taking the "assume the worst until proven otherwise" approach?

Fact check: Scientists do not yet know whether the COVID-19 vaccine reduces transmission of the virus

A Facebook post, shared hundreds of times since Jan. 15, claims that the COVID-19 vaccine does not prevent transmission of the disease, meaning vaccinated people will effectively become “silent spreaders”. It uses this as an argument against introducing health passports. This claim, however...

www.reuters.com

no evidence base for either, at the moment

Actually there has been some recent evidence on the topic of transmission capacity through the ongoing studies with Pfizer and Israel as part of their collaborative agreement for clinical feedback for priority vaccine supplies. Needs to be firmed up more obviously but all eyes are on Israel/PFZ

Pfizer vaccine may prevent transmission of coronavirus to others, Israeli study suggests (msn.com)

Professor Gili Regev-Yohai, director of Sheba’s Infectious Disease Epidemiology Unit, said that people who received both doses of the vaccine will most likely not become carriers of the virus and will not spread it further due to the high level of antibodies they have obtained.

 

[PannickAtTheDisco]

Spot on. I alluded to this the other week but didn’t articulate it quite as well as you have. I’d ask some of these people what’s wrong with a week in Devon anyway. There are so many beautiful places all over the UK and this would be the ideal opportunity to try them out, while putting the holidays abroad on the back burner until other countries are up to speed with their own vaccination programmes.

Because everyone will be in bloody Devon and it's a pain in the arse to get to.

If countries were accepting people at the height of the pandemic then responsible, vaccinated people should be afforded the same privilege.

 

[Healdplace]

depending on the care home provider, between 5 and 20% of care home staff have refused a vaccine when offered, and up tp 2.7% of residents. I wonder what the overall uptake up to now is?

That does not surprise me. I was a carer for many years and spent time with a few elderly sick patients and noticed that some of them choose to go on their own terms and just make peace with that towards the end.

More than once after having conversations (real or imagined) with those who had preceded them.

Indeed for some I think they prefer this to lingering. And given what Covid involves in late stages with deeply intrusive ventilation it is hard to blame them.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

Trials to start early February on a mix of the Oxford vaccine and the Russian Sputnik that is hoped to improve efficacy.

Anyone able to comment if this is a credible expectation?

My understanding: Credible but by no means certain.

Both viruses are "viral vector" - they use a disabled virus to get the genetic material that codes for the spike protein into human cells. Those cells are then programmed to produce spike proteins which the immune system responds to. The Pfizer jab uses

There is a theory that the second dose can be less effective if the immune system reacts not just to the spike protein but to the disabled virus vehicle. That prevents the second dose causing the hoped for level of expression of the spike protein. So using a different vehicle for the second dose can elicit a better response, as the second dose is not attenuated by the body responding to the vehicle.

I think the intent is not to mix the vaccines as such, but rather to use one for the first and the other for the second dose.

Again, from my understanding, the Sputnik vaccine is *already* two different vaccines for the two different doses, using two different vectors, for precisely this reason. I'm not sure why the Oxford vaccine for the other dose should improve things.

Not my area of expertise, so may have misunderstood something.

[As an aside, I would not personally trust anything about the Russian vaccine until published in a reputable journal and approved by a Western regulatory agency. Efficacy, safety and particularly manufacturing and quality control for something done under time pressure for national prestige need independent confirmation IMO. Not at all saying it's definitely dodgy, but you can imagine the pressure to produce "results" with the FSB knocking on the door]

 

[somapop]

Call 111 , they will get a dr to call you back and give you antibiotics ,they send it to whatever chemist you want and you just collect it , do it now

I’ve got a call with the hot covid clinic in ten mins. Will they be able to administer antibiotics? With thus being viral how does that work though?
I need something....I can barely stand up or eat....feels like it’s all over my chest now and coughing is still extremely painful.

 

[artfuldodger]

Covid care home resident deaths almost double in fortnight - ONS​

In amongst those figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) today comes data showing deaths of care home residents in England involving Covid-19 have almost doubled in a fortnight.
There were 1,260 deaths involving the virus in care homes notified to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in the week ending 15 January, a 45% rise from the 864 deaths notified during the previous week.
It is almost double the 661 deaths notified to the regulator in the week ending 1 January.
There were also 422 CQC-notified deaths of care home residents in hospitals involving Covid-19 in the week ending January 15, and 24 occurred elsewhere or in a location not stated.
Article share tools

• 
  
• 
  

 

[kaz7]

He'll need someone to collect it, as he'll have to stay isolated.

Most chemists will deliver as well if he has nobody to fetch it

 

[M18CTID]

Because everyone will be in bloody Devon and it's a pain in the arse to get to.

If countries were accepting people at the height of the pandemic then responsible, vaccinated people should be afforded the same privilege.

There’s more to holidays in the UK than Devon you know. And if it’s booming everywhere then that will help give our economy a boost.
It’s not for us to tell other countries that they should accept tourists from the UK - that’s up to those countries to decide.

 

[kaz7]

I’ve got a call with the hot covid clinic in ten mins. Will they be able to administer antibiotics? With thus being viral how does that work though?
I need something....I can barely stand up or eat....feels like it’s all over my chest now and coughing is still extremely painful.

viral pneumonia leaves you open to bacterial pneumonia , i had several courses including some iv in hospital, they will give you some to cover you in all likely hood

 

[kaz7]

A bit of good news

COVID-19: British pilot discharged from US hospital after 243 days of coronavirus treatment

Nicholas Synnott punched the air and hugged staff as he finally left hospital in Houston after eight months to return to the UK.

news.sky.com

 

[cleavers]

Covid care home resident deaths almost double in fortnight - ONS​

In amongst those figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) today comes data showing deaths of care home residents in England involving Covid-19 have almost doubled in a fortnight.
There were 1,260 deaths involving the virus in care homes notified to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in the week ending 15 January, a 45% rise from the 864 deaths notified during the previous week.
It is almost double the 661 deaths notified to the regulator in the week ending 1 January.
There were also 422 CQC-notified deaths of care home residents in hospitals involving Covid-19 in the week ending January 15, and 24 occurred elsewhere or in a location not stated.
Article share tools

• 
  
• 
  

Not a great surprise, since hospitals were trying to discharge patients into care homes again.