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The Vanderbilt group Dolly Parton donated to identified and isolated the two monoclonal antibodies currently in testing by AZ. She’s done more than most. Great song too. I’ll get my wig out.
I’ll get my wig out.
After this latest lockdown, I have the moobs!
She has always done a lot of good work with her money, however much we may wonder at her success.
There seems to be 2 completely separate booking processes - either the GP phones you for an appt at the local GP led clinic - or you get a letter from the national system to book online at one of the big sites.
or you get a letter from the national system to book online at one of the big sites.
I got the letter yesterday, and was able to book first and second shots - first next Monday, then 27th May. Not at my nearest vaccination centre, as that is used for people contacted by their GP, but at one a few miles further away. Wondering if I'll confuse them by cycling there.
The Vanderbilt group Dolly Parton donated to identified and isolated the two monoclonal antibodies currently in testing by AZ
I know a few peoples heads that will explode at that sentence. Couple of NI comedians do a conspiracy theory podcast and the Vanderbilts are regularly discussed.
Go on Dolly!
Just tried phoning the 119 line and spoke to a very helpful lady, managed to get one that's less than a 20 minute drive away for 13th of this month. Happy Days! 👌🏻☺️
that’s less than a 20 minute drive away
so 10 miles then? 😉
Ha, slightly less! Winsford instead of a trip into darkest S-O-T 👍🏻
GRAEMEJONES -Glad you're sorted.
I also received an invitation yesterday. When I tried to book online it also was sending me miles away, when my nearest centre is a couple of miles (I can cycle to it easily), where all my neighbours have gone. However I tried your advice and the 119 chap can't book me in as it's so busy. He said try again tomorrow.
nickc - Our Dr surgery do not want people phoning them about this, as they are overwhelmed atm, which is understandable.
Yes there are 2 different booking systems and 2 different supply chains of vaccine. We’ve had dribs and drabs in primary care for a few weeks but more coming next week and the week after.
Most of my patients don’t want to travel to the mass vaccination centre which is 20 minutes drive, or any of the “local hubs” which are also 20 minutes drive. It may take longer before they get it from the practice but most are willing to wait.
Interesting stat I picked up last week regarding where the vaccines were being given. In the PCN which our practice is a member of, which covers 240000 population, as of last week 60000 first doses had been given, 52000 of these in primary care, 8000 at mass vaccination sites or hospitals. I imagined it would have been more at the mass sites but here in South Yorkshire it was a while before our big one opened so maybe different in the rest of the country.
I was led to believe that more of the younger fitter population would be invited to the mass vaccination sites and they would let us do the housebound, more unwell/less able to travel etc. Will be interested to see if the ratio changes.
@Bunnyhop, the lady I did my booking with said later on at night after 10pm is a good time to ring because it sometimes brings up spaces due to people not turning up later that day .
DocR - my mass vacc site in Sussex has been standing down staff for the last 2 weeks due lack of customers. It is on Brighton seafront with no parking.
I can’t help feel there has been a big miscalculation with the psyche of the public. People want to stay local, or a small friendly site. Give them an option they will exercise it. To use all our capacity we need to actually tell people where they need to go.
I had my first jab earlier today. Got my text invite last Friday, was such a slick process from start to finish. I'm not easily impressed but I can't find a fault, it was so well oiled and they were processing us so quickly.
Our is GP run. The 2 local practices teamed up to run ours.
Dan - I understand why people prefer to wait, they are used to convenience, having too much choice and don't realise how much work has gone into sorting this vaccination process out, in such a short space of time. Having said this I'm sure some older people can only get to a local centre.
I'm now booked in after getting my invitation and yes its 28 minutes away.:o)
Can't say I'm all that surprised that a vaccination centre without parkng isn't all that much in demand as people are probably scared to use public transport to get there.
Quibbling over an extra few minutes in the car to get the life saving and normal life restoring vaccine developed and tested at breakneck speed and delivered completely free when they even send you a letter to tell you to come and get it? Err, ok.
Out of the 50 ish vaccination sites in Sussex, the only site we SJA vaccinators are allowed to work at is The Brighton Centre. With the lack of patients, all SJA shifts have been cancelled there since 18 Feb, and will be for at least another week. So all volunteer vaccinators in Sussex are unused TFN.
I'd happily travel 100 miles to get mine when it's my turn. Actually probably way more than that.
I chose to drive 15 miles for a jab. My only worry was that I was so elated to be getting it I'd prang the car. Is it just the fuzzy side-effects or is 'cautious but irreversible' a bit of a logical impossibility?
Food for thought, if you’ll pardon the pun....
I’d happily travel 100 miles to get mine when it’s my turn. Actually probably way more than that.
me too.
Obviosuly I'm in the priviledged position of owning a car and being in good health.
If going to not-my-nearest centre gets the population done faster, and maybe simplifies the logistics of those who cannot travel so easily, then I'm all for it.
Dan – I understand why people prefer to wait, they are used to convenience, having too much choice and don’t realise how much work has gone into sorting this vaccination process out, in such a short space of time.
Or they've been told for a year now to stay local, not travel unless absolutely necessary, keep away from crowds. And now they are told to travel past a local centre to a more crowded centre. I'd happily travel but it's hard to turn the juggernaut that is a population.
Or like my mum (before we finally persuaded her to stop driving) didn't feel safe driving to anywhere except her local Tesco (she wasn't really safe).
10 or 15 miles to a hospital appointment meant me or my brother taking a day of work, driving 100 miles to her and taking her there. I'd be happy to do that if necessary for the vaccination but as she's in a care home now it's not necessary, she's already been done.
It's a bit mad. I had to register inside a tent (5-6 other people in there), drive to the outskirts of Leicester. Twice a week I drive past Thurmaston. I've never seen that car park less than about half to two-thirds full, always a queue at the drive through bit of McDonald's even at 11am on a Sunday. If ever there was a humane case for a neutron bomb. I felt like Dangerman on steroids driving to Oadby.
@BillMC I'm Thurmaston born and bred unfortunately and my local office is about half a mile from said McDonalds.
Where did you have to go for your vaccination, hoping I might get my turn in the next few months.
fathom: I got my letter and went online and was given the option of go anywhere or wait for one via the GP (probably at Oakham but not available at that time). Travelling was the only option (to Severn pharmacy). Just received an email booking me in in May for No 2, again though that can be changed.
Make sure you confirm, a guy in front of me in the queue had been turned away a few days before for not having pressed the button (and his wife was a GP).
PS not entirely serious re Thurmaston
I had the letter offering me a chance to book somewhere or wait for my GP to get in touch. If the weather was good then I would have booked online and cycled the 30mile roundtrip to Oxford but it was mid Feb and freezing. Got the GP's text on Monday offering a jab and had it on Tuesday. Brilliant and profession service from the folks.
I understand why people prefer to wait, they are used to convenience, having too much choice and don’t realise how much work has gone into sorting this vaccination process out, in such a short space of time. Having said this I’m sure some older people can only get to a local centre.
Had this battle with my parents. Dad was adamant he would wait for the local surgery to do his despite getting an invite for the main centre 20 miles away 3 weeks before the surgery was even starting their programme that is reserved for non-mobile patients. Took a lot of persuading that it was better for me to drive him and get the vaccine early, plus it would free up space for the people who have no other option of waiting for the surgery appointments.
Personally I'll go wherever gets me the injection soonest.
BillMC my dad lives your way and guessing at 64 he'll have been contacted by now, though I've not spoke to him for a couple of weeks. And thanks for the tip, sounds like old person and technology maybe 🙂
Like others have said, I'll drive as far as needed to get mine, I just want it in mine and the Mrs arm asap. What's slightly annoying is I imagine she'll get hers a few weeks before me, she's 41, I'm 39. It'd make more sense that we go together.
Re Thurmaston, it's a bit of a hole these days and I don't live there anymore. Hopefully by the autumn we'll be out of Leicestershire completely.
had the AstraZeneca jab last night, all very smooth process at local vaccination centre.
Slightly sore left upper arm today and a pounding headache that woke me around 5am, eased off well now after some paracetamol first thing. If that is the extent of the side effects I'm well chuffed, though realise its only 20 hrs since I had it..
That sounds about normal - drink plenty of water too 👍
I felt lethargic and achy for about 12-36 hours after the vaccination.
From BBC live updates
Posted at 15:11
UK 'country most likely to experience new coronavirus variant'
Health minister Lord Bethell says the UK is the country most likely to suffer a new variant of the coronavirus.
“If there’s one place in the world where a mutant variation is likely to happen, it’ll be an area where you have a high infection rate and a large amount of suppression of the virus by either a lockdown or a vaccine programme - and if you look around the world, that country is most likely to be Britain," he told the House of Lords.
"And we must be on the balls of our feet to be prepared for unhelpful news on that front.”
He was responding to a question from Labour’s Prof Lord Winston, who said there was likely to be an inevitable risk of dangerous new variants to which we have no defence.
Could someone kindly explain why, despite, the speed of the vaccine rollout and the pretty strict lockdown (well for those who follow it), we are at the highest risk from "dangerous new variants".
I hadn't appreciated our current state of infection is considered high, though I recognise there are sigificant regional variations.
Thank you
I hadn’t appreciated our current state of infection is considered high
But it is. It is much lower than it was. But it is still high.
And we’re open to people returning to the UK and then going about their business with just a nod and wink that they’ll self isolate, after travelling by any means they want from the airport to home.
But why is
and a large amount of suppression of the virus by either a lockdown or a vaccine programme
contributing to this particular risk?
I had thought we were doing pretty well but this could be construed as saying why bother because Covid19 will always find a way unless you have the absolute rigidity of the NZ approach.
I suppose they are arguing (and I’m not sure I agree) that vaccinations and social measures favour variants that are vaccine resistant and/or more contagious… in the situation where many people are still infected and infecting others.
I’m still of the opinion that the vaccine rollout should be paired with using lockdown to get prevalence very low, and then use a working test/trace/isolate system (and income support plus accommodation help for those isolating) to keep the virus controlled, rather than letting the public breed and spread new variants. I’m aware that most of the country have bought into the idea that this can’t be done. Which means it won’t.
On the BBC news earlier that 41% of over 80 year olds have broken the lockdown rules, since having their jab.
Also I keep seeing little film clips of older people having their jabs, with their mask only over the mouth. Arrgghhh.
@Kelvin, thanks for that. Think I understand the points you made.
letting the public breed
best put a stop to that nonsense then 😀
broken the lockdown rules, since having their jab
https://twitter.com/weinbergrrrrr/status/1366910957566353411?s=21
Kelvin - that's really made me laugh, :0)
kelvin
Full MemberWorld beating…
There was a really telling moment fairly early in the whole mess... Scotland announced that we were changing some of our rules because we'd identified a specific country as a risk, and the national response was that we were "jumping the gun" and should "wait for evidence".
The more it went on the more obvious it was that the westminster commentators weren't really stirring- they just didn't understand that we had working, effective track-and-trace and could make quick decisions based on it, because there was no prospect of their system enabling them to do the same. They'd just forgotten that that's half of the job
'jon henley
@jonhenley
·
52m
France is going to start vaccinating at *weekends*
What is the country coming to'
Is epidemiology a thing in France?
41% of over 80 year olds have broken the lockdown rules
On the face of it that sounds bad but I'd be interested to know what % of under 80 year olds had broken the lockdown rules in the last 4 weeks.
They said: "You can't lock everyone down and shut international borders, it'll ruin the economy"
Australia said:
... still can't get a frigging builder though 🙁
In the meantime, the cheeky Italians have stolen a shipment of our vaccines link
The sentiment from everyone I've spoken to this morning (granted, in a fairly leftie suburb of Sydney) was....... "aw yeah, fair dincum".
We have licensed 58m doses of the AZ vaccine (population of Australia is about 26m), 50m of which are going to be manufactured over here, with the first batch expected at the end of March. The vaccination process has started with imported Pfizer and AZ doses over the last few weeks, so the feeling is that this is a minor glitch rather than a significant issue.
Ultimately, the last covid death in Australia was 19th October 2020, and there aren't any kind of significant restrictions in place - so I'm happy for these vaccines to go where they are most needed....... I'm sure they will be relieved to have my approval.
Ultimately, the last covid death in Australia was 19th October 2020, and there aren’t any kind of significant restrictions in place
That, and the Guardian link above about your economy, makes me so angry at the failures of leadership in Whitehall with this pandemic.
It would have been much, much harder to do what you did in the UK, but it feels like we never even ****ing tried, and are just giving a collective shrug as the death toll heads to 125,000.
Ultimately, the last covid death in Australia was 19th October 2020, and there aren’t any kind of significant restrictions in place
Thats just mental. Like i can't even comprehend being in that situation.
A leaked Test and Trace document admits that data from check-ins at pubs, restaurants and hairdressers was barely used for contact tracing
I'm sure they used T&T data at some point or other to suggest that the risk of transmission in these venues was very low. Unsurprisingly, turns out they didn't bother trying to find out. Bit like the 'no evidence of transmission in schools' thing.
Honestly, they deserve a massive kicking over this, if only because they need to get their act together in the next couple of months. Without working t&t, even with vaccination, we will continue to have issues with local flare-ups and there will be deaths among vulnerable people, because no vaccine is entirely effective, and some people can't have it.
Plus it will be vital to get on top of vaccine-evading strains, even if finding potential cases is inconvenient and hard because they went to the pub.
Thats just mental. Like i can’t even comprehend being in that situation.
Thats just mental. Like i can’t even comprehend being in that situation.
You probably expressed it better than I did. Just does not compute.
That, and the Guardian link above about your economy, makes me so angry at the failures of leadership in Whitehall with this pandemic.
Don't get your hopes up that a public inquiry will hold them properly accountable
Huff Post now reporting that the taxpayers' money given to Serco instead of the NHS will come to £37bn, lucky Dido's not being insulted with 1% and a clap.
I’m pleased to see there are some areas of blue re-emerging amongst the red where I am on the Southern fringe of Greater Manchester.
I would put money on lockdown ending and london being open the north being shut again, which will be absolutely heartbreaking for people and businesses.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-56289054
The Cypriot government said those who had both Covid jabs could travel there without restrictions from 1 May.
I've got a 2 word response to this. THe first rhyme with truck, the second refers to a generation born in the post WW2 period.
You make it read like there’s some sort of boomer plot that involves them dying in large numbers so they can have a quiet holiday without any yoofs
ignore, missed a decimal point in my question
You make it read like there’s some sort of boomer plot that involves them dying in large numbers so they can have a quiet holiday without any yoofs
PJay puts it better than I can. As we have sacrificed a year (and counting) of our lives, kids educations ruined, businesses gone, thousands of pounds wasted even for us lucky ones, long lasting national economic damage we'll be paying for for decades; all to protect people who are about to pull the ultimate "I'm alright Jack" now that they presonally are sorted.
PJay puts it better than I can. As we have sacrificed a year (and counting) of our lives, kids educations ruined, businesses gone, thousands of pounds wasted even for us lucky ones, long lasting national economic damage we’ll be paying for for decades; all to protect people who are about to pull the ultimate “I’m alright Jack” now that they presonally are sorted.
I'm also thinking along these lines.
all to protect people who are about to pull the ultimate “I’m alright Jack” now that they presonally are sorted.
Many people who have been vaccinated are probably terrified of going to Tesco never mind Paphos. Some will go there but many won't.
When are you going to grow up and stop whining about boomers, oldies etc. ?
You are falling hook, line and sinker into the Govt trap of stirring it up and letting the people argue about trivial things. Direct your endless outrage towards the architects of this shitshow.
You make it read like there’s some sort of boomer plot that involves them dying in large numbers so they can have a quiet holiday without any yoofs
They didn't even have the decency to do that. The majority of deaths are from the generation before. They clog up hospital capacity instead.
Many people who have been vaccinated are probably terrified of going to Tesco never mind Paphos. Some will go there but many won’t.
Bunnyhops post, yesterday:
On the BBC news earlier that 41% of over 80 year olds have broken the lockdown rules, since having their jab.
Also I keep seeing little film clips of older people having their jabs, with their mask only over the mouth. Arrgghhh.
A sizable minority. Given that there is not a lot you can do to break the rules without the willful compliance of others. I wonder what the 60-80 group figures are like, and how its going to increase (for all vacinated ages) once there is a bit more freedom in what you can do in the upcoming months.
When are you going to grow up and stop whining about boomers, oldies etc. ?
When they stop moaning about us youngsters, or until I become an oldie myself. At which point I'm sure I will perpetuate the cycle.
@ajaydoubleyou I'm one of the last boomers and not even a sniff of a vaccine appointment yet. I'm not yet 60, remember what is said about assumption being the mother of all **** ups, don't go there.
@Sandwich - there's no point in trying to reason with them, they're beyond help. Their mind is made up, older people are causing all of the world's ills and youngsters are the victims.
I think ajw is an acronym for ageist joyless whinger
acronym for ageist joyless whinger
Ageist, quite possibly, but some of my best friends are old etc. etc.
But joyless whinger? compared to some of the pessimistic doom-mongers this thread has seen over the past 11 months, seriously?
some of my best friends are old etc. etc.
Okay you're forgiven
😉
Many people who have been vaccinated are probably terrified of going to Tesco never mind Paphos. Some will go there but many won’t.
When are you going to grow up and stop whining about boomers, oldies etc. ?
You are falling hook, line and sinker into the Govt trap of stirring it up and letting the people argue about trivial things. Direct your endless outrage towards the architects of this shitshow.
Don't be so naive, the oldies are rightly so peed off with it all as we all are and want to get on with life.
My wife's parents now they've had their 1st jabs have changed their attitude full circle and are leaving the house to go shopping and happy to have us in a support bubble (childcare), was able to before but didn't want too.
I know that's one example but as that other study shows I wouldn't be surprised they're all now thinking let's crack on.
Why on earth you think there's some conspiracy theory that the government is trying to play young vs old is absolutely ridiculous and I'd say it speaks more about you. 😉
The point is that we're all getting annoyed with each other instead of the bigger picture
some of my best friends are old etc. etc.
But they are different to the ones you despise eh?
You are falling hook, line and sinker into the Govt trap of stirring it up and letting the people argue about trivial things. Direct your endless outrage towards the architects of this shitshow.
Again we fall for it. 41% of most age groups have probably broken the rules, not just over 80s.
Squirrels!
I wouldn't blame Boris if he said "Sod it, it's everybody for themselves now, just don't come crying to me"
That's the feeling I get looking around at traffic levels and people meeting and talking in town and the parks.
And in a way that's how it's going to be going forward, the zero infection horse has long since bolted. And unless there's an immediately fatal variant, a further lockdown will be political suicide.
And what does 'broken the rules' mean? I broke the rules today, I took my car out for a run. A few days ago I walked to Costa with the kids. Non-essential.
If you don't know what breaking the rules entails by now you're a Muppet
joat
Full Member
I wouldn’t blame Boris if he said “Sod it, it’s everybody for themselves now, just don’t come crying to me”
It was said at the time that when Boris supported Cummings over that whole Barnard Castle trip it would erode public confidence in governance during the pandemic and likelihood to follow regulations.
Add that to a pile of other government bugger ups and here we are.
No reason to go crying to our PM as he is part of the problem and doesn't give a sh*t anyway.
Once all the fanfare for Johnson having Got Covid Done and Freeing Up Britain starts, people need to remember:
'Of all the countries with more than 12 million people, the UK had the highest crude pandemic mortality rate by the start of March 2021: 18 people had died of the disease for every 10,000 alive at the start of the year.' (Danny Dorling)
^ this
It's like congratulating ourselves for the speed with which we called the fire brigade and how well they're dealing with the fire, while conveniently ignoring the fact it was us that set fire to the house in the first place.
I like rounding the data slightly, and it may still get there. Almost one in 500 people in the UK have died as a result of this virus, the majority of which could have avoided had the government done what needed to be done.
They have utterly failed in their key duty to protect the population, both physically and economically. I'm not interested in legal challenges or criminal charges, they need to be held to account by wider parliament, the public and the press at every opportunity, and anyone who feels that isn't appropriate needs to really have a good look at their moral compass.
It’s like congratulating ourselves for the speed with which we called the fire brigade and how well they’re dealing with the fire, while conveniently ignoring the fact it was us that set fire to the house in the first place.
I think you mean... once we had finished arguing about if we really need fire brigades, had invited all our mates round for selfies with the fire, decided if a mobile / landline or carrier pigeon was the best way to contact them, moved our mates out the way so the fire brigade could do the job and finally trusted the professionals jobs rather than thinking we knew better.
Meanwhile - with Cyprus happy to take the UK's approach to vaccine certificates. Heads its test and trace tails it's the vaccine role out. Being Boris skeptical I'd rather we weren't at this first because of the risk of another biosecurity lite outsourcing fiasco with a big fraud risk.
56yo and older open for vaccine booking now...
olddog - you beat me to it, just booked mine for next Wednesday
Once we get below 50, will it still be in age brackets? (Vested interest married to a 46yo)