Coronavirus (2021) thread

[BlueAnorak]

Herd immunity is the goal.
After discovering that those under 30 without underlying conditions are not particularly at risk, we should have been giving low metered doses of the virus to isolated healthy under 30 volunteers since August.
If we had, the impact of infections of the new strain would be so much lower

 

[feedmpenzaandhewillscore]

It isn't - its from the SAGE brains trust. Led by Whitty and Valance.
From a population statistics point of view they are bang on.
it's a numbers game.
Double the number of people vaccinated gets us closer to the herd immunity figure between 70%-80%. And as one dose will stop patients dying if they catch it.
3m vaccinated a week will get us to heard immunity by the start of April. 4m by Early March.

Chris Whitty moves to head off GPs' rebellion over Pfizer Covid vaccine doses

Chief medical officer tells doctors that 'public will understand and thank us' for administering as many first doses as possible

www.telegraph.co.uk

On the other side of it what’s the amount of antibodies in the general population who have already had covid? We are up at two and a half million cases confirmed, if the country tracks at the same amount of cases of 50,000 a day which equates to what will be 1.4 million cases a month. When all the asymptotic and confirmed cases collide with the buffer of a vaccine we hopefully see this horrid virus disappear.

 

[BlueAnorak]

I'm reassured that the Professors are backing this decision, thanks for that @BlueAnorak

My (relatively minor) problem is having one set of parents still going for the second jab on Sunday while the in-laws have been cancelled and having to explain that divergence in vaccination to scared 80+ folk is a challenge.

Inoculating everyone over 85 properly with 2 jabs (the highest at risk part of the population) is sensible as they are the most at risk from dying if they catch the virus and become ill after i jab.

 

[Cityfan]

Herd immunity would be great but we don't yet know how effective the vaccines are at blocking transmission.
Evidence that they block symptomatic disease is pretty good , evidence that they block asymptomatic infection is lacking.

 

[Manc in London]

Not helped by a Mayor who decides to put on the fireworks at cost of the tax payer. Great idea to promote crowds during a pandemic.

Didn't notice any public funded displays in Manchester..

The displays in the capital are paid for via sponsorships, tickets sold and the London taxpayer. Plus, Lambeth and Westminster councils most likely use resources for cleaning the streets after the event. My understanding is that the events are not paid for by the 'taxpayers', in general.

As someone who gives money to the GLA via a Council Tax precept, I don't mind even if others in the country, like yourself, benefit.

There were no London fireworks this year.

 

[artfuldodger]

I think this came from the scientific community rather than politicians. It maybe criticised by individual GPs and practises who have to reorganise appointments but I think the rationale came from the medical community. I saw an interview with Professor Sarah Gilbert whose group developed the vaccine and she described it as a pragmatic decision to reach the maximum number of people.

My father in law has his 2nd jab on Tuesday and was contacted by his GP yesterday to say it’s going ahead. Apparently GPs are being given some flexibility regarding 2nd jabs.

 

[BlueAnorak]

Herd immunity would be great but we don't yet know how effective the vaccines are at blocking transmission.
Evidence that they block symptomatic disease is pretty good , evidence that they block asymptomatic infection is lacking.

True, but it's a numbers game and the brains trust have built that into their infection models.

 

[Healdplace]

Thanks for all your hard work this year, it really is greatly appreciated by us all.

Thank you Ric and everyone. This was appreciated. But like all of you I will be more than happy when the day comes - as it will - when I no longer need to do this. Hopefully now starting to become visible on the horizon.

 

[Marvin]

My father in law has his 2nd jab on Tuesday and was contacted by his GP yesterday to say it’s going ahead. Apparently GPs are being given some flexibility regarding 2nd jabs.

Thanks for the update

 

[somapop]

Thank you Ric and everyone. This was appreciated. But like all of you I will be more than happy when the day comes - as it will - when I no longer need to do this. Hopefully now starting to become visible on the horizon.

Oh no...you’ll have to find something less nefarious to post daily updates on...we’ll miss you otherwise!

Hugely appreciated by the way.
Thank you.