OT Covid priority groups

[Geoff Parkstone]

New leader in he clubhouse: 12 a day here.

I have, on the rare occasions that I have gone to shops or on trains, noticed that, second only to men in shorts in winter for not wearing masks, are black middle aged females. Why? I have no idea - perhaps an over reliance on the "Laaawwwwd" to save them? Whereas the south asian element within the BAME subset are diligently compliant. Would be interesting to see the split within the BAME aggregation as to who are the least likely to take the vaccine and why. It is, as with all, entirely their choice, but would be intriguing to know the reasons.

[Ram59]

New leader in he clubhouse: 12 a day here.

I have, on the rare occasions that I have gone to shops or on trains, noticed that, second only to men in shorts in winter for not wearing masks, are black middle aged females. Why? I have no idea - perhaps an over reliance on the "Laaawwwwd" to save them? Whereas the south asian element within the BAME subset are diligently compliant. Would be interesting to see the split within the BAME aggregation as to who are the least likely to take the vaccine and why. It is, as with all, entirely their choice, but would be intriguing to know the reasons.

The South Asians definitely aren't compliant here in Brum, both from personal observations and from official numbers of cases in areas with high South Asian occupation.

I just don't understand their reasoning, when they're amongst the most vulnerable.

[Andy_Faber]

New leader in he clubhouse: 12 a day here.

I have, on the rare occasions that I have gone to shops or on trains, noticed that, second only to men in shorts in winter for not wearing masks, are black middle aged females. Why? I have no idea - perhaps an over reliance on the "Laaawwwwd" to save them? Whereas the south asian element within the BAME subset are diligently compliant. Would be interesting to see the split within the BAME aggregation as to who are the least likely to take the vaccine and why. It is, as with all, entirely their choice, but would be intriguing to know the reasons.

Muslims, and I believe Seikhs, are concerned about there being animal products in the vaccine (there isn’t), and I’ve noticed a number of tv docs emphasising this in interviews. GOOD use of broadcast media on this occasion, such folk will listen to doctors and religious leaders above all others.

One of my areas of repeated reading is medical and other scientific research (I mentioned ‘how to survive a plague’ yesterday) and it (black take-up of medical developments) appears to be a long-standing frustration of the (USA at least, that’s most of my reading) medical profession, including an inclination to drop out of trials. I’ve never read of any underlying reason

[Ram59]

I didn’t actually say it didn’t...it’s the ‘maths’ of leaving the ‘super spreaders’ till towards the end that I’m querying.

One massive flaw with your query RA, so far, research has the vaccine has only been shown to protect people from getting covid, not from being able to pass it on.

So if you vaccinated every child in the country, you would save a handful of lives, but all those children may still be able to pass the virus on to their elderly loved ones. Their actions are already reckless, can you imagine what they'll be like if they're told that they're immune.

[MadAmster]

One massive flaw with your query RA, so far, research has the vaccine has only been shown to protect people from getting covid, not from being able to pass it on.

So if you vaccinated every child in the country, you would save a handful of lives, but all those children may still be able to pass the virus on to their elderly loved ones. Their actions are already reckless, can you imagine what they'll be like if they're told that they're immune.

What we're getting over here is that they know the vaccine helps reduce symptoms should you become infected, meaning you shouldn't need hospitalising or ICUing if you get infected. They don't know if it prevents infection. They also don't kow how long any infection prevention OR symptom reduction may last. They also don't know if you can infect others once vaccinated. What they do know is, because of all the things they don't know, that mask-wearing and "social" distancing will still be required.

The above is causing many people to ask "what's the point?"

[MadAmster]

I am ready for that cold needle, it's precisely owing to underlying condition and 8 a day (in remission, sky's the limit in relapse), that I'll have no hesitation to roll up the sleeve. I don't fancy another year of not being able to leave the house, it's not healthy in any way. The risk of Covid is a known quantity, and any opportunity to avert that quantity, is a gift from my atheist heaven. I'd also quite like to visit my elderly relatives, which is simply not an option with us both being classed extremely vulnerable in these times. The sooner the better for me.

Adi, your choice based on your circumstances and I fully support you in that choice.

I have been lucky, I suppose, as I haven't been locked in the house and have been able to get out and about in the countryside 3 or 4 times a week, lycra-louting on my 20 speed bike. The weather has been against me for about 3 weeks but as soon as I get the chance I'll be out for an hour or two's cycling again. I've also been able to visit folk I wanted to visit and even, until mid October, go out for a beer with a friend or 2, all within the rules. Despite the new lockdown, I can still visit folk and have up to 2 visitors myself each day. A much more preferable situation to the one you're in.

If I had been in your position, rather than mine, I would probably have come to the same conclusion that you did. I wish you well and hope you soon get some "freedom".

I have managed to avoid infection for 9 months and don't intend changing anything, any time soon. That makes, for me, the unknown of the vaccine too much of a gamble. I'll keep on social distancing, avoiding crowds, washing my hands several times an hour, masking up in the shops and on public transport if I ever use it. Doing all the basic things that have kept me infection free since this all started will suffice for me, for now. If it aint broke, don't fix it is my motto and I understand that it's also a gamble. I've just decided which one seems to me to be the greater gamble.

As I've posted elsewhere on here. Whatever the individual decisions folk make. They will get no criticism from me.

[MadAmster]

New leader in he clubhouse: 12 a day here.

Bastions of health, us lot, aren't we?

To vax or not to vax, that is the question we all have to answer for ourselves. I wish you all much wisdom in your deliberations choosing the right way forward for you.

[ramAnag]

One massive flaw with your query RA, so far, research has the vaccine has only been shown to protect people from getting covid, not from being able to pass it on.

So if you vaccinated every child in the country, you would save a handful of lives, but all those children may still be able to pass the virus on to their elderly loved ones. Their actions are already reckless, can you imagine what they'll be like if they're told that they're immune.

That’s fair enough Ram...to what extent the vaccine protects and for how long are, as you say and as I had already acknowledged, amongst the many unknowns.
I have no vested interest, beyond friends and one close relative who are teachers, and I certainly think there is a case for all teachers to be amongst the ‘workers’ who are vaccinated first.

IF we knew that being vaccinated both protected people from contracting Covid AND passing it on then I would unhesitatingly be in favour of secondary school pupils going somewhere near the top of the list. They are the ones who mix and then come into contact with older family members...stop that situation and you go a long way to quashing the virus...BUT I accept we don’t know that yet.

[AdiSalisbury]

Yes but, teachers only work for 9 months a year

I think retail workers should be first, they are in the firing line of every demographic and so highly vulnerable themselves, and equally could be super intense spreaders.

[ramAnag]

Yes but, teachers only work for 9 months a year

I think retail workers should be first, they are in the firing line of every demographic and so highly vulnerable themselves, and equally could be super intense spreaders.

Ha, ha.

That’s why I said ‘amongst’. Completely agree with you about retail workers. Retail workers, teachers, NHS workers, emergency services, delivery drivers, postmen, transport workers are all amongst the most in need imo, probably overlooked some, but it’s not a competition.