COVID-19 — Coronavirus

[KS55]

i'd say 90% that i know off, their jobs haven't been affected - and they have saved hundreds/thousands on travel, not going out, not having holidays etc

few people i know have been hit hard, being put on furlough and losing jobs, mainly in entertainment industry. My brother especially, was a high flying photographer for some big clubs in London, and does weddings etc.
He's now a Amazon delivery driver.

I was shocked to discover how much I had saved by not going out drinking, eating etc.

 

[03 March 2002]

The concerning thing is it was administered to the 2 with severe allergies in the first place no? And, as everyone here has done their research, what level of investigations have gone into predicting how this vaccine will react / cause a reaction to other medications people are taking? Seems there is an element of learning on the job.

You'd need a super computer to compute all the possible interactions and even then you'd not catch everything. Drug-to-drug interactions are complex and sometimes involve cascading reactions with unpredictable chemistry, they're also very rare because drugs are designed to be stable and with stability you get a lack of willingness to react. Of course this changes with metabolism of that drug because of the physical changes which occur during that metabolism, but we can still predict the chemistry to a good level.

These considerations are found in the submission which is reviewed by the relevant Health Authority. The regulators are at the top of their game and will be aware of possible interactions as much as the scientists who designed it. There is a limit in human understanding like with anything. This would be the element of learning on the job.

A drug candidate is selected based on these considerations in the very early phase. Whilst more true of so called 'small molecules' (e.g. 'regular' medicines you have to take frequently e.g. paracetamol and ibuprofen) vaccines should in theory elicit fewer interactions as the framework (adenovirus in the case of the Oxford/AZ one) has been used in humans for a long time without significant issue - the only change being the spike protein which you WANT to elicit a response against.

The technology used by Pfizer is more akin to a small molecule approach but if RNA elicited a reaction then we as a species probably wouldn't have survived to where we have given its essential-to-life status. The likely scenario is the other way around, doctor knows your medications and makes a recommendation not to have a vaccine because you're an unsuitable candidate.

 

[Uncle Wally One Ball]

Incredible amount, isn't it? Not so sure how big the bounce back will be. Some of those savings will be used to cover loss of earnings plus some people will be nervy so will want some reserves.

We will end up with some bounce back but let's not forget the economy was not in great health prior to the pandemic.

Not sure I agree with the last part. There was tangible sense that things were improving and on the up, post austerity

 

[Marvin]

You'd need a super computer to compute all the possible interactions and even then you'd not catch everything. Drug-to-drug interactions are complex and sometimes involve cascading reactions with unpredictable chemistry, they're also very rare because drugs are designed to be stable and with stability you get a lack of willingness to react. Of course this changes with metabolism of that drug because of the physical changes which occur during that metabolism, but we can still predict the chemistry to a good level.

These considerations are found in the submission which is reviewed by the relevant Health Authority. The regulators are at the top of their game and will be aware of possible interactions as much as the scientists who designed it. There is a limit in human understanding like with anything. This would be the element of learning on the job.

A drug candidate is selected based on these considerations in the very early phase. Whilst more true of so called 'small molecules' (e.g. 'regular' medicines you have to take frequently e.g. paracetamol and ibuprofen) vaccines should in theory elicit fewer interactions as the framework (adenovirus in the case of the Oxford/AZ one) has been used in humans for a long time without significant issue - the only change being the spike protein which you WANT to elicit a response against.

The technology used by Pfizer is more akin to a small molecule approach but if RNA elicited a reaction then we as a species probably wouldn't have survived to where we have given its essential-to-life status. The likely scenario is the other way around, doctor knows your medications and makes a recommendation not to have a vaccine because you're an unsuitable candidate.

It's also an emergency use authorisation so as the original poster said there will be some learning on the job and the important thing is to highlight issues as and when they arise.

 

[Healdplace]

Scotland update:

50 deaths (they always seem the highest on Thursday and this is one less than last week)

Cases 933 - again slightly down - at 4.7% positive.

But 984 in hospital (up 12)

and 52 on ventilators (up 2)



Nicola Sturgeon adds the R number has fallen further below 1 but gave no details.

And also confirmed that 5330 people in Scotland were vaccinated with the first of the two jabs on Tuesday and Wednesday.

And will give regular updates on numbers.

Every area other than Shetlands has had vaccinations.

 

[Toney’s bookie]

Scotland update:

50 deaths (they always seem the highest on Friday and this is one less than last week)

Is it still Thursday today?! :P

 

[Healdplace]

By the way - assuming the vaccine is being distributed equitably around the UK that suggest maybe 55,000 will have had it in England and over 60,000 in the UK in those first two days.

 

[ayrshire_blue]

Surprised to hear her say it's fallen further below 1 given the absolute minimal drop over the course of the last week, and indeed a slight increase in % positive rate. Maybe the lag for the R rate coming into effect?

Also, given that tomorrow spells the end of the 3 week lockdown for a good part of the country, you'd maybe have hoped for cases to have fallen to a much lower level than they have done. From 1089 cases on Thursday 19/11 to 933 cases 3 weeks later after a lockdown doesn't seem like we'll be reopening again from a much lower case level.

 

[Healdplace]

Is it still Thursday today?! :P

Yes, sorry I was hurrying to post as she was speaking. The numbers are usually the highest on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday was what I meant to say.

 

[Healdplace]

Surprised to hear her say it's fallen further below 1 given the absolute minimal drop over the course of the last week, and indeed a slight increase in % positive rate. Maybe the lag for the R rate coming into effect?

Also, given that tomorrow spells the end of the 3 week lockdown for a good part of the country, you'd maybe have hoped for cases to have fallen to a much lower level than they have done. From 1089 cases on Thursday 19/11 to 933 cases 3 weeks later after a lockdown doesn't seem like we'll be reopening again from a much lower case level.

I was surprised too. She just added that test positivity in Edinburgh has gone up 0.5% in past week and that 14% more cases there with 5 out of 7 days showing increase.

This is why the city has not been freed from restrictions when others with better current data have.

And notes England now is also seeing similar post lockdown rises. And these are inevitable which I am sure is true.

 

[somapop]

By the way - assuming the vaccine is being distributed equitably around the UK that suggest maybe 55,000 will have had it in England and over 60,000 in the UK in those first two days.

These numbers will soon ramp up and chip away at this monstrous situation.

My view that humankind was on the cusp of some incredible scientific breakthroughs over the last few years was tarnished by this microscopic virus. We went all medieval again. But actually these vaccine developments have allowed me some fresh optimism.
Not only for this but for future generations. I giant step backwards this year but I'd like to think we're set of a couple of giant step forwards.
Advances in quantum computing will make research and development even more astonishing a few years (no idea of any time frame with quantum computing in all fairness). The off shoots of all this research (especially mRNA) this year must be potentially exciting too.

Just need to sort the thinning of hair issues out (according to 'my mate' who is a tad concerned 'he' says).

 

[ayrshire_blue]

Just need to sort the thinning of hair issues out (according to 'my mate' who is a tad concerned 'he' says).

Thinning is fine, but my mate's has fallen off completely so that should come first...

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

The speed of fall has slowed here now so I think it will start creeping back up again in a few weeks time once all the mixing allowed.

 

[Marvin]

By the way - assuming the vaccine is being distributed equitably around the UK that suggest maybe 55,000 will have had it in England and over 60,000 in the UK in those first two days.

Thanks HP. Low but as somapop says we're right at the beginning of the process and distribution should widen.

I looked in the MEN, and there's an example there of vaccination starting in the community in Manchester next week. If this happens across the country as I am sure it will those figures should jump. I hope they publish them daily.

MEN

 

[ayrshire_blue]

 

[somapop]

Thinning is fine, but my mate's has fallen off completely so that should come first...

Sometime think my mate would be happier if all this went...one less worry in the morning.
They said them years ago that they would resolve the follicle conundrum and a 'cure' would be here.
Of course, there's more important issues to look at (we're still living in bodies with a multitude of flaws).

 

[somapop]

Like the F pace of these trials.

 

[Manc in London]

Probably why there are a lot of dilapidated leaky conservatories attached to peoples houses that need knocking down now. The salesman must have made some commission back in that in the early 90s.

Since this second lockdown when I go out running I’m noticing a lot more carpet fitters, painter and decorators and skips outside peoples houses where people are spending money on improvements. I know a guy who fits carpets and he’s never been busier, people looked at improving the garden in the summer are now looking at their front rooms. Good for the trades people and hopefully keeps some cash circulating in the economy.

Working from home has made me think of various things I want to change. Since lockdown, I have bought a new dining table, sideboard, book shelves, rug and a TV for the back room. I have also painted two rooms.

Maybe those people bringing in tradespeople for work is due to them finding more fault with their homes as they are pretty much staring at the same four walls all of the time.

 

[Manc in London]

Not sure I agree with the last part. There was tangible sense that things were improving and on the up, post austerity

Maybe marginally better than the hole we were in during previous years. However, we were still in austerity.
Schools begging for cash, with some reducing days of operation. Councils reducing bin collection and street cleansing frequencies, social care decimated, reduction is respite and support for the vulnerable etc.. Increasing numbers of poverty and evictions, among other unpleasant things. The interest rates were close to zero and the BoE was still operating QE.

If we are in a slightly better financial position in January 2022 than we were in January 2020, we will still be in a bad place.

 

[Healdplace]

Wales still in trouble sadly. Cases high and deaths well up week to week,

Deaths 33 Cases 1968. From 13, 888 tests.