The Omicron Thread.

[baggieal]

More Scientific facts From HK labs
The original variants tended to attack the internal structure of the lungs, more specifically the alveoli The lung is similar to a sponge and not like a balloon. These alveoli transfer CO2 and O2 into and out of the bloodstream. These were often filled with fluid as the condition worsened leading to poor outcomes. In some ways very similar to Pneumonia. Very serious indeed for many.

The Omicron is different in that it attacks the bronchi and trachea it appears. BUT it is more than 70 times !! more prevalent than the other variants in this respect. It has been suggested this is why it is so contagious. In other words previous variants were shed when a patient coughed but now just breathing will shed the virus as its located higher in the nasal pabyssageways and trachea.

This is actually very good news in many respects for outcomes. Whereas previously the symptoms were more like Pneumonia for some, the new strain is more like Bronchitis.

That’s no to say that Bronchitis won’t cause some patients very real and serious issues but it’s a much better outcome than Pneumonia is.

But once again it is the large numbers that are the issue. Lots of people sick at the same time

But where are all the deaths? Shutting down the economy again would be a disaster in my mind with yet more companies going bust! I feel sorry for all the young kids with disrupted schooling and those who want to do better for themselves by going to uni - plus a life experience of gap years which are a no no etc etc.

If those who are worried then I get it but stay at home! The over 70's cause more issues than most - don't wear face masks properly - no social distancing etc etc. Went to the tip on Sunday and it was like a game of boules with so many oldies or chatting away and in people's way.

PS - I know absolutely loads who have had reactions to the Moderna booster.

Lets hope there's no lock down as mental health cases and suicide cases will go through the roof. I want to travel and have nice holidays like many. In fact going to the US late December - am I worried? Am I hell as rather be in a US hospital than our NHS that's for sure.

[kettering_baggie]

I had a mild reaction to the Moderna booster but so what? It is more than likely to help keep me from serious illness and I want my normal life back. Why shouldn’t we get together to socialise, go to the pub, etc, we have had the vaccinations? It is all the ******* idiots who won’t have it that ought to stay at home and be subject to a ban from all public buildings, pubs, sports arenas etc. I would also ban any footballers who haven’t had the vaccination from entering a stadium. Quite a lot of activities that I have been looking forward to have been cancelled and I am seriously pi$$ed off about it. I have had enough of this Chinese plague messing our lives up.

[baggiematt]

But where are all the deaths? Shutting down the economy again would be a disaster in my mind with yet more companies going bust! I feel sorry for all the young kids with disrupted schooling and those who want to do better for themselves by going to uni - plus a life experience of gap years which are a no no etc etc.

If those who are worried then I get it but stay at home! The over 70's cause more issues than most - don't wear face masks properly - no social distancing etc etc. Went to the tip on Sunday and it was like a game of boules with so many oldies or chatting away and in people's way.

PS - I know absolutely loads who have had reactions to the Moderna booster.

Lets hope there's no lock down as mental health cases and suicide cases will go through the roof. I want to travel and have nice holidays like many. In fact going to the US late December - am I worried? Am I hell as rather be in a US hospital than our NHS that's for sure.

I can understand the issues associated with a lockdown and definitely hope the restrictions are limited like they currently are but I don't think many can comprehend what would happen if the NHS completely collapsed due to too many patients for the resource available.

Talk about suicide and mental health issues, imagine those who take overdoses but can't be seen by a healthcare professional to save them. We talk about liberties being removed, imagine a world where you can't catch a virus, be in a car accident, heart attack etc. without having guarantees of being nursed back to full health.

[baggieal]

I can understand the issues associated with a lockdown and definitely hope the restrictions are limited like they currently are but I don't think many can comprehend what would happen if the NHS completely collapsed due to too many patients for the resource available.

Talk about suicide and mental health issues, imagine those who take overdoses but can't be seen by a healthcare professional to save them. We talk about liberties being removed, imagine a world where you can't catch a virus, be in a car accident, heart attack etc. without having guarantees of being nursed back to full health.

The Fat Clown has had two years to build the NHS up to the way it used to be and should - it's crumbling because of lack of resource and financial support! No wonder so many now go private even though they can't really afford to do us as waiting lists for many operations are pathetic. I am sure to an extent hospitals will follow dentists and many private walk ins will start to pop up. Would you pay lets say £100 for your child to be seen immediately or wait in A&E with God knows how long the wait with drunks and other weirdos. There we have it - it will happen at some point and so it should!

[baggiematt]

But where are all the deaths? Shutting down the economy again would be a disaster in my mind with yet more companies going bust! I feel sorry for all the young kids with disrupted schooling and those who want to do better for themselves by going to uni - plus a life experience of gap years which are a no no etc etc.

If those who are worried then I get it but stay at home! The over 70's cause more issues than most - don't wear face masks properly - no social distancing etc etc. Went to the tip on Sunday and it was like a game of boules with so many oldies or chatting away and in people's way.

PS - I know absolutely loads who have had reactions to the Moderna booster.

Lets hope there's no lock down as mental health cases and suicide cases will go through the roof. I want to travel and have nice holidays like many. In fact going to the US late December - am I worried? Am I hell as rather be in a US hospital than our NHS that's for sure.

You can't sort the NHS in 2 years though Al. It takes 6 to become a doctor and a further 7 to become a Consultant in a specialist field, 5 to become a GP. You often have 20 people involved in your care no matter what you're in for. The Radiographer to check your scans, the Pathologist to check your samples.

Even nursing is a 2 year course with an extra one year of training. You can't just fix it like that. Capacity can be improved and technology does make things easier but it's still not possible to just allow for a 20% patient increase, for example.

The trouble with the NHS is you either run it tightly like a private sector organisation to save tax payer money or you run it loosely and we all pay higher taxes (or diverted from other essential services).

[regis80]

You can't sort the NHS in 2 years though Al. It takes 6 to become a doctor and a further 7 to become a Consultant in a specialist field, 5 to become a GP. You often have 20 people involved in your care no matter what you're in for. The Radiographer to check your scans, the Pathologist to check your samples.

Even nursing is a 2 year course with an extra one year of training. You can't just fix it like that. Capacity can be improved and technology does make things easier but it's still not possible to just allow for a 20% patient increase, for example.

The trouble with the NHS is you either run it tightly like a private sector organisation to save tax payer money or you run it loosely and we all pay higher taxes (or diverted from other essential services).

You are right, you can’t sort the nhs out in two years but there wouldn’t be any harm to start putting in systems, infrastructure etc in place now (even if they are plans) as a contingency? No harm in long term planning. Sadly we have corruption going on that individuals are looking to profit by awarding contracts, and this is put before peoples health. We wasted how much on the field hospitals? And now we’re made out to believe with hysteria and panic that this variant is a lot worse than before. Then bring back these field hospitals.

I’m sure many people would rather we have nhs funded than the hs2. That £350M a week going to the NHS promise?

With recruiting, Yes it all depends on people availability. I’d use money to give bursaries to train people up in the UK to do the jobs. I can only talk of a few friends who in their 30s retrained to become nurses. Hospital Doctors and GPs are another trickier matter to try instill to get new medicine graduates (home grown), but we can still do it if we wanted. We can stop relying on overseas doctors as it’s not sustainable.

That said make these jobs for nurses more lucrative by at least giving the rewards they desperately deserve. Let’s give the money away to our pals though, that’s better spent.

[baggiematt]

You are right, you can’t sort the nhs out in two years but there wouldn’t be any harm to start putting in systems, infrastructure etc in place now (even if they are plans) as a contingency? No harm in long term planning. Sadly we have corruption going on that individuals are looking to profit by awarding contracts, and this is put before peoples health. We wasted how much on the field hospitals? And now we’re made out to believe with hysteria and panic that this variant is a lot worse than before. Then bring back these field hospitals.

I’m sure many people would rather we have nhs funded than the hs2. That £350M a week going to the NHS promise?

With recruiting, Yes it all depends on people availability. I’d use money to give bursaries to train people up in the UK to do the jobs. I can only talk of a few friends who in their 30s retrained to become nurses. Hospital Doctors and GPs are another trickier matter to try instill to get new medicine graduates (home grown), but we can still do it if we wanted. We can stop relying on overseas doctors as it’s not sustainable.

That said make these jobs for nurses more lucrative by at least giving the rewards they desperately deserve. Let’s give the money away to our pals though, that’s better spent.

There are bursaries up to £5k per year for nurses in training. I wouldn't read too much into nurse pay, it's a well paid, rewarding but hard job. They are on similar salaries to counterparts with similar skills such as police, teachers, paramedics, radiographers etc. and they are decent careers. Because they work 3 x 12 hour shifts, they usually get the option of picking up the 4th shift for decent pay and with night payments, they can easily clear £35k PA right from qualifying.

The amount of programmes for nursing and docs is decided centrally and they conduct longer term planning to offer out what is needed. The problem is about 6% of those out of medical school are choosing to not go into the profession. There is a glorified view of what a doctor is but it's bloody hard work and mentally draining as many realise.

[mickd1961]

I had a mild reaction to the Moderna booster but so what? It is more than likely to help keep me from serious illness and I want my normal life back. Why shouldn’t we get together to socialise, go to the pub, etc, we have had the vaccinations? It is all the ******* idiots who won’t have it that ought to stay at home and be subject to a ban from all public buildings, pubs, sports arenas etc. I would also ban any footballers who haven’t had the vaccination from entering a stadium. Quite a lot of activities that I have been looking forward to have been cancelled and I am seriously pi$$ed off about it. I have had enough of this Chinese plague messing our lives up.

Your 100% right Kets.

We need to be like Germany and start excluding those who won’t have vaccines and boosters.

As soon as you ban these people from football matches, pubs, concerts and foreign holidays they’ll be booking their vaccinations in droves.

This will be the true test of their values and ethics.

No vaccine......no going on the p I s s in Benidorm with your mates or your partner.

They’ll soon fold!

[mickd1961]

Highest number of cases of Omicron and hospitalisation of people and serious illness is in London where the take up of the vaccines and booster has been the lowest.

Oh dear what a shame.

Arrogant w a n k e r s, absolutely no sympathy due.

[kettering_baggie]

Even the useless London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, was reported as saying that areas of ethnic minorities have the least take up of vaccination. Absolute disgrace, mustn’t criticise them, though, must we? Also reported that of all those in hospital at the moment with Covid, more than 9 out of 10 are unvaccinated! I’m struggling to think of something offensive enough to say about them.