Who would have predicted France being ahead of Israel or Germany in vaccine uptake?
Not me. Glad to be wrong. I think, despite being very uneasy about how he has managed many things, Macron’s straight talking no equivocation approach deserves praise. And so do the public.
Just seen Henning Wehn’s show at the Fringe.
Unfollowed him on Twitter when his “instead of getting vaccinated just stop drinking cola” jokes wore very thin.
Unfollowed him on Twitter
He described the show as an unbiased view of the pandemic. Having previously heard him described as a "libertarian" I wasn't sure what to expect.
Probably fair to describe him as a lockdown sceptic rather than a Covid denier, though some of his points were probably valid. But it didn't feel "unbiased", and I think he lost a fair chunk of the audience at times.
I’m not treating it as a race, some kind of competition or rubbishing the UK’s efforts. It was a little irritating the dissing of the French attitudes to vaccination earlier in the thread which facts now show to have been unfair
Feel similarly though I think you said yourself that the French were generally more vaccine sceptical? Not just covid - generally? I'm not having a go!
Great news that they've got on board. What's 'DOM TOM' please?
Nothing exactly new, but I found this article quite though provoking, along with the beeb article linked above.
https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2021/08/how-we-live-coronavirus-forever/619783/
What’s ‘DOM TOM’ please?
All the French overseas territories, outside of Europe.
I think you said yourself that the French were generally more vaccine sceptical?
I did, Del. I mentioned the well publicised issues with contaminated blood, Mediator and vaccines that have made the public aware of potential risks with pharamceuticals. However, the polls showed only a minority strongly against and the numbers we now have vaccinated in favour or maybe. What irritated was pointing at France when it was clear that there would be resistance from a minority everywhere.
The sad part is that wherever you look being anti-vax is much more a political statement than genuine concern about the risks of the vaccine. Exploitation of anti-establishment sentiment by populist movements on both the right an left. A general distrust and hate that we discussed here in the anti-woke thread, a rejection of a social model by those that benefit most from it.
So we’ve had a small surge of kids around us testing positive. Seems a trend that 3-4 days of -ve LFT results after the likely exposure then a +ve around day 4-6 backed up by subsequent pcr test. A few have had symptoms emerge at the same 4-6 day point. Makes sense as viral load would take some time to build but I guess the question is how contagious are they before this point.
Well my test has come back as negative but I still feel really rough with all 3 of the symptoms: high temperature, consistent phlegmy cough and a poor sense of taste. Either I've got it and the test didn't pick it up or there's another bug going round that has similar symptoms. My asthma is also flaring up with a slight wheeze that won't shift.
The sad part is that wherever you look being anti-vax is much more a political statement than genuine concern about the risks of the vaccine.
Spot on.
In the news earlier - Home anti body testing kit available to everybody.
Hubby found out that you have to go and have a PCR test to take part or be signed up to Covid symptom study (Zoe).
Maybe there is an update on this.
The tests are easy, just a prick to the finger, collect the blood and send off.
My friend has been taking part in the trials for months now, whereas before a nurse had to actually visit you and take the blood sample.
I just read on the guardian it was 8000 tests only and it was 2 to be done if you have coronavirus?
I did mine last week as part of the Zoe study, was negative but it says “you haven’t had coronavirus in the last six months” so it obviously becomes less accurate detecting past infection from the beginning of the outbreak.
Edit: easy? It took me ages and the blood was congealing before it could drop into the little vial, I gave up trying to fill it to the line.
I took an antibody test (Roche spike protein) as I was interested to know how my vaccination response was after chemotherapy for the lymphoma I had in 2017. I used testingforall as they confirmed the type of test but also quantified the response both both AZ and Pfizer in two groups of those who were and were not classified as immunocompromised.
I was pleased to see my result came back as ~1000 u/ml confirming I had a reasonable response to both jabs after ~9 weeks. The other interesting fact was the natural antibody level after infection was from .8-250u/ml so substantially lower than post vaccination.
Details here:
https://www.testingforall.org/understanding-your-roche-anti-sars-cov-2-s-test-result/
Not long back from a weekend walking in the lakes, popped in a few shops in keswick, was like playing spot the mask.
Incredible difference compared to up here.
Odd day. Went to he in laws for dinner where we were expecting my wife’s uncle. The youngest of her mums siblings and the same age as me, I was nervous of him coming as he was previously anti-vax.
Anyway, my FIL had phone him Thursday to tell him he’s not coming unless he’s had his vaccines (he hasn’t) and takes a test on the basis we have 87yo Great Nan in the room. And guess what, he’s pretty sick with “a Flu”, finding breathing difficult and aches an pains so bad he can’t get out of bed. It’s not Covid by the way he says, it’s just the Flu.
I told the MIL to phone up his flat mate and get him to hospital before it’s too bloody late, the idiot.
The sad part is that wherever you look being anti-vax is much more a political statement than genuine concern about the risks of the vaccine.
Couldn't agree more.
What's happened in France is interesting. There's been quite a bit of 'encouragement' applied by the state to get some of the 'maybes' off the fence hasn't there?
71% UK, 70% France including DOM TOM.
France, one of the most vaccine hesitant countries in the Western World have seen that in this instance, broad population coverage is in the country's interest. I think that is significant. Motivation for socialisation is likely to be a factor too.
Cases doubling about every three weeks at the moment (excluding Scotland). Admissions following slowly, doubling about every six weeks. Deaths will rise inline with admissions, but these last two are all very moderated, thanks to vaccination.
He described the show as an unbiased view of the pandemic.
What were the distasteful parts? Mortality in the elderly? Economically screwing the young? Maybe I should have given a show. I don't think anything I've written has been particularly biased, nor doom-mongering. I'm an optimist by nature with lots to be optimistic about.
Yes, Del, making life for non-vaccinated more complicated with repeated testing at present and excluding them from some activities soon. It's not just the state, sporting federations (football, tennis, equitation, golf...) are making making vaccination a condition of getting a licence - licences run Sept-Sept for most federations.
In Madame's school there were no cases of transmission in school once mask wearing started but several kids were contaminated via clubs so that seems a very good thing.
Although the anti-vax minority gets a lot of publicity the fact is they are detested by the majority who approve Macron's vaccination drive even if they not fans of his other policies. A recent occupation of our local hospital by a gilet jaune/complotist/anti-vax/RN/Melonchon mob provoked a level of contempt and disgust I've rarely heard being expressed in my MTB club.
Macron's desire to have only the non-vaxxed stuck at home this wave is happening, but it's as much society in general that's enforcing it as the state.
What were the distasteful parts? Mortality in the elderly? Economically screwing the young?
There were quite a lot of jokes about the impact of the pandemic on business models for old folks homes. Quite a lot around people losing jobs and houses. Not controversial per se, valid arguments between deaths and economics I understand, but felt a bit too soon to be joking about it.
One section he did appear to be disputing the reported death figures and making light of the numbers. That sounded like a sop to the deniers, didn't come across well, didn't get a lot of laughs.
Basil Brush did a better pandemic routine, being honest.
disputing the reported death figures
Whether one likes it or not, twice as many people were dying at the peak last year as normal, and about half as many again this year. Those are exceptional events. A bit like those 100-year storms. This was one of those. I'm less concerned about what they were dying from. When numbers get that big, it's immaterial.
Basil Brush did a better pandemic routine, being honest.
Needs an additional 'Boom' for the delta wave 😉
IGMC
Needs an additional ‘Boom’ for the delta wave 😉
IGMC
No coat needed, there were lots of "boom booms" throughout the show.
Yet another friend has caught covid. For 18 months it was all friends of friends etc. Now thats 4 families i know well all positive, and they are all double vaccinated adults/generally safe and advice abiding.
Thankfully noone in hospital.
Yet another friend has caught covid. For 18 months it was all friends of friends etc.
Really does feel like it's creeping ever closer.
Really does feel like it’s creeping ever closer.
We are all getting / have had C19, its just a matter of when.
We are all getting / have had C19, its just a matter of when.
Been resigned to that for a while, but hoping it will get me gently and at a not too inconvenient time.
We are all getting / have had C19, its just a matter of when.
If I'm double-vaccinated the problem comes when I then pass it on unknowingly to someone who is immunocompromised, or just very old with waning antibodies, and I accidentally kill them.
If I’m double-vaccinated the problem comes when I then pass it on unknowingly to someone who is immunocompromised, or just very old with waning antibodies, and I accidentally kill them.
There was always that same risk in the past too, with other infections.
I really have no idea how to 're-calibrate' my risk perception of the virus now, but feels like it might be required. Plenty of folk are just getting on with life and not really worrying about it... and I'm starting to wonder if they might have got the right idea.
If I’m double-vaccinated the problem comes when I then pass it on unknowingly to someone who is immunocompromised, or just very old with waning antibodies, and I accidentally kill them.
Ultimately people cant be expected to stop living their lives to stop the transmission of the virus to a Tiny minority of others that are still at risk even after being vaccinated
That said people can be expected to make minimal sacrifices to protect this population. That in my opinion includes mask wearing and regular testing at home, especially when you will be in contact with at risk folks
Ultimately people cant be expected to stop living their lives to stop the transmission of the virus to a Tiny minority of others that are still at risk even after being vaccinated
That tiny minority keeps increasing as people age, or develop other conditions. It's probably not that tiny.
I'm resigned to catching it. Terrified of passing it to my 80 year old parents.
Plenty of folk are just getting on with life and not really worrying about it… and I’m starting to wonder if they might have got the right idea.
Im fully in this camp of living my life these days because I simply don't have the space in my brain to continue to worry about Covid.
How much longer are we expected to put stuff on hold this virus is not going any where, we can't wait it out in our bunkers. I put my marriage off for a year and was just not willing to do it any more. All you can do is make sensible adjustments to limit the risk. My basketball group all take tests before we play, if I see my old parents I take a test before hand, wear a mask, get jabbed. Apart from that I don't get what else I can do.
Im off on a little staycation honeymoon type thing soon its not the dream holiday we planned some may say thats immoral, stupid or unnecessary, but if I don't go now when can I go..? We will take a test before we go, wear a mask and all that apart form that there is nothing we can do.
I’ll try and find an article on U.K. uptake and why it’s slowed I read the other day. Shows quite well that the U.K. isn’t far off vaccinating everyone we can/is willing.
It was something along the lines of 20-25% either not eligible, not able, or not willing.
My basketball group all take tests before we play, if I see my old parents I take a test before hand, wear a mask, get jabbed. Apart from that I don’t get what else I can do.
100% this..
Unfortunately folks are going to continue to die from covid moving forward. Is covid any more deadly than flu to an 80 year old assuming they have had 2 jabs?
Covid will tragicly continue to claim the lives of the most vulnerable in society however the people who die from it will by and large be the same people who were at high risk of mortality from the winter flu and other infections, none of which prevented us from going about our daily lives pre covid
our habits have changed but slowly getting back to "normal"... been to the theatre, had a city-break, pubs/restaurants etc. Way less than before although early days yet! Just booked a gig for next year. Still wearing mask in shops etc (didn't in theatre) and doing more outside than inside stuff (not necessarily a bad thing, until the weather turns!) Not sure I'm too fussed about going back to the cinema ever & sitting with loads of plaguey teens though 🤣I really have no idea how to ‘re-calibrate’ my risk perception of the virus now, but feels like it might be required. Plenty of folk are just getting on with life and not really worrying about it… and I’m starting to wonder if they might have got the right idea.
I think if you believe that Covid will be around for the foreseeable, and assuming you & yours have been doubled vaxxed, it's very much a choice between starting to do stuff again now or shut yourself away for the rest of your days!
Similar here, Piemeonster. The biggest non-vaccinated group here is the 9 400 000 under 12s which is unusually high in Europe due to the birth rate over the last 12 years. There's debate about vaccinating them but there are no vaccines currently authorised. Logically the least vaccinated group of those who can be is the last to be called, the 12-18s of whom only 56% have had a first dose. Apparently that's picking up as people come back from holiday. We haven't topped out at 70% but it's going to be slow progress from here on.
Some of the under 12s are getting inflamatory symptoms and long Covid hence the desire to vaccinate if the level of risk is acceptable.
I really have no idea how to ‘re-calibrate’ my risk perception of the virus now...
Same.
Not so much for the risk to myself. I'm unsure how to exercise my personal responsibility towards others and feel there is next to no guidance on how we should be behaving.
It feels like we've reached a point where the decisions to go either way are now based on complex data, difficult for the average person to understand. And consistent messaging is not there.
Oh yes, me and my parents are double jabbed, we've just had a long weekend in Edinburgh on the train, in pubs, restaurants, theatres etc for the Fringe, but we've been masked up when indoors and I'll make sure we've had a couple of negative LF tests before we next see my parents.
But I'm still terrified I'll be the one who gives them it. It's a shit way to die and I don't want to inadvertently be part of it
I have no idea what this protest is about given that the government doesn't seem to have any plans for vaccine passports, it's only entry into nightclubs that will require proof of vaccination/negative test isn't it ?
Anti-vaccine protesters storm ITN's London headquarters
https://f7td5.app.goo.gl/on27KD
Sent via @updayUK
Not so much for the risk to myself. I’m unsure how to exercise my personal responsibility towards others and feel there is next to no guidance on how we should be behaving.
It feels like we’ve reached a point where the decisions to go either way are now based on complex data, difficult for the average person to understand. And consistent messaging is not there.
Very well put, rather than my tired gabbling.
Received this text from local surgery today
admin.yhc@nhs.net
In preparation for winter pressures we are making plans for our flu clinics. The plan is to give your COVID-19 booster alongside. Await further instructions for booking.
The plan is to give your COVID-19 booster alongside
It makes sense, one visit two jabs very efficient. As long as they play nicely together.
Only yesterday I was reading that the government had decided to only give booster injections to the very vulnerable so was somewhat surprised to receive this text today
It seems Scotland is back at the highest level of infections again. This is last 6 months of infections and deaths.
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Of course this doesn't show that many are still in hospital with serious issues, long covid etc.
It seems we are at a place where the vulnerable (those sheilding) are going to be sacrificed for the greater good of getting back to normal.
Kind of terrifying when you're married to someone with no immune system who relies on a treatment that's deliberately excluding cv19 antibodies at present.
@MOAB 🙁
There does seem to be a lot of it around. Anecdotally, my workplace now has more people tested positive in the past couple of weeks than I have heard of over the entire rest of the period.
Kind of terrifying when you’re married to someone with no immune system who relies on a treatment that’s deliberately excluding cv19 antibodies at present.
And there's part of the issue- that supposedly tiny number of vulnerable people are relying on their close family members continuing to be extra cautious, while they also have to try and carry on with work etc among a population that wants to go back to normal.
Over a year ago this was published showing where much of the misinformation was coming from.
I can only imagine how difficult it must be for those with family members/partners who are vulnerable to try and protect them,I personally think that the ending of the requirement to wear masks/socially distance is another one of this governments many mistakes but what other measures (other than lockdowns) could be put in place to protect the vulnerable given that covid is never going away?
