Coronavirus (2021) thread

[ayrshire_blue]

When someone you would usually associate with leaning to a more optimistic outlook changes their tone somewhat, it doesn't sound great.

 

[BlueAnorak]

I think there's more to these vaccine figures than supply issues.

Vaccine hesitancy from those who are living pretty much a normal life right now and either are blaize about getting vaccinated asap or don't understand the need for it so aren't in any hurry would be my guess.

Maybe vaccine passports/certificates would change things.

That Tweet is rubbish

 

[ayrshire_blue]

That Tweet is rubbish

In what way?

 

[BlueHammer85]

I'm absolutely sure deaths won't get anywhere near 3 figures.

I’m not when we’re hitting 18+ thousand infections - remember it takes 3/4 weeks to result in deaths.

but the vaccine is working wonders for sure.

 

[everythingchangesbutblue]

I know someone who as the test and trace app but has never used it, yesterday it’s informed her that she needs to self isolate.
Looking like quotas are needed to be met

So you are saying there is a conspiracy?

 

[Summerbuzz]

So you are saying there is a conspiracy?

No, he's detailing it. Secret quotas.

Could just be his mate forgot he used it, doesn't know how to use their phone, or is a liar.

Or it could be SECRET QUOTAS designed to... umm.. how would that work? Oh yeah. Gotta keep the population in fear.

There's no fooling our Keith. Recognises a made up scare story when he sees one. Probably because he spouts them all the time.

 

[Manc in London]

Consultation launched on closing face-to-face customer services

Bosses in Tameside are consulting on whether to close their drop in face-to-face customer services for good at the new multi-million pound council HQ.

www.questmedianetwork.co.uk

This is the sort of thing that worries me post Covid. Whether some public services will never go back to 'normal'

Authorities across the country have been doing this for a while. I cannot remember the exact figures but a senior finance manager told me that if someone visits a council access point with council tax query, it costs the council, on average, about £15. Yet for almost all queries, the answers can be found on the council website.

The pandemic is certainly enabling authorities to be bolder with such changes.

 

[Marvin]

Probably been posted already but in case not..

Keep an eye out for progress of the epidemic in UK, SA, Brazil and Poland. Presumably all we need is an efficacy signal?

Trial to enrol approximately 2,250 adults to assess safety and immunogenicity of AZD2816 against the SARS-CoV-2 virus​

​

The first participants in a Phase II/III trial for the new COVID-19 variant vaccine AZD2816 were vaccinated today to assess its safety and immunogenicity in both previously vaccinated and unvaccinated adults.
The trial will recruit approximately 2,250 participants across UK, South Africa, Brazil and Poland.
AZD2816 will be administered to individuals who have previously been fully vaccinated with two doses of Vaxzevria or an mRNA vaccine, at least three months after their last injection. In non-vaccinated individuals, AZD2816 will be given as two doses, four or twelve weeks apart, or given as a second dose following a first dose of Vaxzevria four weeks apart.
AZD2816 has been designed using the same adenoviral vector platform as Vaxzevria, with minor genetic alterations to the spike protein based on the Beta (B.1.351, South African) variant.
Sir Mene Pangalos, Executive Vice President, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, said: “It is important we continue to stay ahead of genetically distinct variants of the coronavirus. AZD2816 should help broaden individuals immune response against emerging variants of concern. Initiating the Phase II/III trial for AZD2816 means we can be prepared should a variant vaccine be required in the future.”
Professor Sir Andrew J Pollard, chief investigator and director of the Oxford Vaccine Group at the University of Oxford, said: “Testing booster doses of existing vaccines and new variant vaccines is important to ensure we are best prepared to stay ahead of the coronavirus pandemic, should their use be needed.”
Initial data from the trial is expected later this year and, once available, will be submitted to regulators for assessment as a next-generation booster vaccine and through an expedited regulatory pathway.
D7220C00001
D7220C00001 is a Phase II/III partially double-blinded, randomised, multinational, active-controlled trial in both previously vaccinated and unvaccinated adults to determine the safety and immunogenicity of AZD2816, a vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19 caused by variant strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Trial participants aged 18 years or over who are SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid seronegative will be randomised to minimise group differences in terms of age, gender and the presence of comorbidities. Participants will receive intramuscular administration of either Vaxzevria (5 ×1010 viral particles) or AZD2816 (5 ×1010 viral particles). In addition, seropositive participants will be enrolled, with a cap of 10% of the seronegative population, to support exploratory analysis.
AZD2816
AZD2816 has been built using the same adenoviral vector platform as with Vaxzevria, with minor genetic alterations to the spike protein based on the Beta (B.1.351, South African) variant. The Beta variant vaccine contains ten changes across the spike protein, many of which are also seen in other variants of concern, and which lead to effects such as, reduced ability of antibodies induced against the original virus to block cell entry (K417N, E484K, N501Y); increased infectivity compared to the original virus (D614G); reduced sensitivity of neutralising antibodies to the original virus (L452R). These modifications are only minor and in all other ways the two vaccines are the same.

 

[BlueAnorak]

I think most people expected it to at least blunt the growth by now.

Well the outbreak is showing down in areas of high vaccination - even in lower vaccination areas iwhere Delta first got a hold it is, so herd immunity probably is kicking in now.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

Well the outbreak is showing down in areas of high vaccination - even in lower vaccination areas iwhere Delta first got a hold it is, so herd immunity probably is kicking in now.

Some of these communities saw the epidemic in India and took Covid more seriously