O/T. The Government's handling of Covid

[Trickytreesreds]

According to the AP, I would think Merck can claim credit rather than any of the above

https://apnews.com/article/merck-say...bd776a0fffcc60

I'm sure they could. But do you really think a politician won't jump on this?

[Andy_Faber]

As a matter of interest, anyone going for a third jab? I had mine today (booked) after exactly six months to the day. Meanwhile there have been a number of frankly pathetic excuses given today on radio and TV for vaccine 'hesitancy'. Even worse, one of sport's greatest role models, Aaron Rodgers of NFL team The Green Bay Packers, has not only 'fessed up' to being unvaccinated, but also at least was evasive and at most was a liar in its regard.

[ramAnag]

As a matter of interest, anyone going for a third jab? I had mine today (booked) after exactly six months to the day. Meanwhile there have been a number of frankly pathetic excuses given today on radio and TV for vaccine 'hesitancy'. Even worse, one of sport's greatest role models, Aaron Rodgers of NFL team The Green Bay Packers, has not only 'fessed up' to being unvaccinated, but also at least was evasive and at most was a liar in its regard.

Had mine about ten days ago. Like you...about six months to the day after my second. Had to travel a little further, to Uttoxeter, but otherwise no problem at all.

[MadAmster]

As things stand mine can't be earlier than December 10th. I was very reticent of having the first one and did a huge amount of research before eventually deciding to get vaccinated. I shall be going for #3 when the time comes.

[Andy_Faber]

As things stand mine can't be earlier than December 10th. I was very reticent of having the first one and did a huge amount of research before eventually deciding to get vaccinated. I shall be going for #3 when the time comes.

No problem with anyone doing the research, I recall your approach from earlier in the year. Thing is, I don't see how anyone who does such research can determine anything other than opting for vaccination. Some of the rammel being spouted today would have been laughable if it wasn't so dangerous in the minds of some listening in.

[MadAmster]

No problem with anyone doing the research, I recall your approach from earlier in the year. Thing is, I don't see how anyone who does such research can determine anything other than opting for vaccination. Some of the rammel being spouted today would have been laughable if it wasn't so dangerous in the minds of some listening in.

I never did find the info I wanted, namely, the effects of the vax on people with a similar health profile to mine. I eventually spoke to my doctor about it and he said I hadn't found it as it's not kept. At the time, the ICUs here were reasonably full...... with the unvaccinated and not with people who had been vaccinated. That was the fact that made my mind up for me.

[Andy_Faber]

I never did find the info I wanted, namely, the effects of the vax on people with a similar health profile to mine. I eventually spoke to my doctor about it and he said I hadn't found it as it's not kept. At the time, the ICUs here were reasonably full...... with the unvaccinated and not with people who had been vaccinated. That was the fact that made my mind up for me.

looks like you might be battening down the hatches anyway...

[Geoff Parkstone]

Come on Andy, you're a mod, stay on topic. This thread is for criticising our government's appalling handling of covid, not for having petty digs at the superior European approach....

[ramAnag]

looks like you might be battening down the hatches anyway...

Yep...didn’t sound so great in the Netherlands according to yesterday’s news coverage here, MA.
Sounds like you may be facing another lockdown or partial lockdown at least. Is that how it is...or an exaggeration?
Stay safe anyway.

[MadAmster]

looks like you might be battening down the hatches anyway...

Back into a sort of lockdown for us as of 18:00 today. Face masks everywhere. Corona pass everywhere except for essential businesses which is, basically, food outlets, chemists and off licences who are allowed to stay open until 20:00. All "non-essential" shops have to shut at 18:00. Theatres and cinemas still open but with a max of 1250 visitors at any one time. A max of 4 visitors per day at home. Trade fairs and large events are cancelled. All sport, amateur and professional, can still take place but no spectators. Bars and restaurants to close at 20:00 each day although restaurants may keep the kitchen open later for take away meals. I was going gigging next Saturday but the latest rules mean seated only, no dancing or mingling so it's been cancelled. Today's record fair in Utrecht, an annual trip for me is also off. Work from home if at all possible. 1.5m distancing is back. The new measures have an initial period of 3 weeks. 90% of the population expects them to last way longer.

They have also said they will be pushing through the necessary new legislation to allow the corona pass to only be used "2G", that is only by those inoculated (Gevaccineerd) and those who have had, and recovered from Covid (Genezen). That would lead to those not vaccinated not being allowed into ant establishment that requires a corona pass for entry. At the moment the pass is "3G" and also valid for those with a recent negative test (Getest). As you might imagine, the 13% not vaccinated are pretty pissed of about this and things might turn ugly, especially if the current cabinet manages to get it through Parliament which will be difficult as they currently have a 76-74 majority and one of the coalition parties is a religious party who have huge moral and ethical objections to creating a 2 pronged society.

One thing that is happening is a shift of thought. Whether for or against the vaccine, more and more people are looking beyond the end of their nose and coming to conclusions the government aren't going to want them to come to. Due to the current number of patients in hospital/ICU with Covid, the number of available ICU staff is insufficient. Basically, they've been running a marathon and now, right when they thought they were on the last mile, they've been informed there's another 10Km extra been added on.

We have beds aplenty, just no staff to man them. Currently 20% of ICU staff are on the sick, long term with burnout and other mental issues following almost 2 years of having to sprint 24/7. 50% of those still working are experiencing mental issues and 30% are considering stopping for the sake of their own health. Like in the UK, we have had 11 years of austerity cutbacks meaning ICUs closing, hospitals closing, no pay rises which was causing nurses to leave even before the pandemic. This structural cutting back of services has delivered the current crisis and can be firmly pinned on the government although they strenuously deny it.

The solution? Proper wage rises for health care staff that will, hopefully entice a lot of leavers back and entice new staff to get trained. Reopen closed departments and hospitals. It's the only way to ensure we can handle the number of Covid patients without impacting other areas of the health service.