O/T. The Government's handling of Covid

[ramAnag]

Not sure how you worked that out ra, the Pfizer vac gives 95% protection 26 days after the first jab if the second one is given so that’s mid-January, 6 weeks, for early adoptors.

I was working on the basis that the Oxford-Astra Zeneca vaccine is going to be the most common on the basis that...
a) it’s infinitely cheaper b) it’s a great deal easier to store and administer.

The recommendation is that two doses are needed between four and twelve weeks apart. Given the evidence of most things so far we should all suppose that twelve weeks rather than four is likely to be more realistic and then there is a further period of (I think) three weeks before the vaccine becomes effective.

[Ram59]

I was working on the basis that the Oxford-Astra Zeneca vaccine is going to be the most common on the basis that...
a) it’s infinitely cheaper b) it’s a great deal easier to store and administer.

The recommendation is that two doses are needed between four and twelve weeks apart. Given the evidence of most things so far we should all suppose that twelve weeks rather than four is likely to be more realistic and then there is a further period of (I think) three weeks before the vaccine becomes effective.

The vaccine becomes effective 3 weeks after the FIRST dose, as in it prevents people suffering badly enough to warrant hospitalisation, which is the most important figure. Apparently out of 1,000s who were assessed, only 2 people had to go to hospital after the first dose and both of them are believed to have contracted the virus before receiving the jab. The second dose is the dose that prevents people contracting the virus in any way at all in the percentages quoted in the trials.

Hopefully, as around 25% of over 80s have now received the first dose, the middle/end of January should start to see a reduction in hospital admissions, based on the fact that over 50% of fatalities are in that age group.

With the ramping up of inoculations in January, thanks to the Oxford vaccine, the over 80s should all have received their first dose in January and as a result, over 50% of potential fatalities and hospitalisations will be prevented by mid February.

What may cause problems, is the number of people prepared to have the vaccine. Apparently a survey has revealed a potential take up of around 80% in the UK. France, however, appears to be heading for serious problems, the same survey suggest that only 40% of the French will have it, combined with the snail like start to their inoculation process having inoculated only 138 people since Sunday. These figures are awful and ask the question of how many doses have been thrown away, as a box of 945 doses must used quickly?

[Geoff Parkstone]

I'd guess for myself optimistically that I might get jab by 31-03 and so could be able to go to the Open with some confidence.

As regards "now voicing the disadvantages" it's nothing new. From day 1 I have always been aware of the trade off, as evidenced by being accused of sitting on the fence (evaluating the tradeoff &#128521 for so long. It ain't nuffink new.

And yes the failing of the education system was a wind up BUT there is an underlying truth. Its interesting that you have so little faith in the decision making prowess of the generations that the education system has provided, at least, as regards basic analytical skills. This is not so much a criticism of the practitioners but the system more keen on teaching, for example, RE or Gendered Awareness rather than simple personal decision making or other practical skills. All have a place, but I'm not sure the latter is emphasised enough. But that's a whole new debate.

[Andy_Faber]

And yes the failing of the education system was a wind up BUT there is an underlying truth. Its interesting that you have so little faith in the decision making prowess of the generations that the education system has provided, at least, as regards basic analytical skills. This is not so much a criticism of the practitioners but the system more keen on teaching, for example, RE or Gendered Awareness rather than simple personal decision making or other practical skills. All have a place, but I'm not sure the latter is emphasised enough. But that's a whole new debate.

Having seen my kids’ year groups go through the parallel experience of state and independent schooling I couldn’t agree more. A teacher friend describes it has knowing what rainbow shoe laces represent but not knowing how to tie them

[MadAmster]

Overall there are in excess of 100K vacancies in the NHS from cleaners, porters right through to surgeons...........

[Geoff Parkstone]

/time to bring in workers from overseas then! I'm sure there are a few Europeans around! As for the more menial roles needing filling, it would be nice to think that the furloughed or otherwise unemployed millions might step up as a temporary fix where regular staff are sidelined by covid or fear of covid, But then I woke up

[MadAmster]

Current polls show a 76% take up in the Netherlands. I'm one of the 24%, for now, for reasons detailed in previous threads.

[swaledale]

Current polls show a 76% take up in the Netherlands. I'm one of the 24%, for now, for reasons detailed in previous threads.

You must be used to feeling a little prick!

[MadAmster]

You must be used to feeling a little prick!

Actually I'm straight Swale

[swaledale]

Actually I'm straight Swale

I wasn't referring to your ***uality!