OT Covid priority groups

[Geoff Parkstone]

so that just leaves me in the downgraded non key level 17 after everyone else has been redefined as more important. Ah well, its good to know your place

Sorry Adi, I misread your post at first, thought you said teachers only work 9 minutes a year

[Ram59]

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.

It's a difficult enough task as it is, without the NHS having to find out what everyone's occupation is, before deciding who gets the vaccine first.

How would you collate everyone's occupations onto a data base?

[ramAnag]

It's a difficult enough task as it is, without the NHS having to find out what everyone's occupation is, before deciding who gets the vaccine first.

How would you collate everyone's occupations onto a data base?

I’ve no idea, Ram...no idea how to make a vaccine either and fortunately for everyone it won’t be my responsibility.

Such collation has taken place before though. During the fuel crisis of the very early 2000’s (I think) both my wife and I were, along with many others, described as ‘essential workers’ and provided with County Council documentation entitling and enabling us to buy petrol so we could continue to attend work.

It’s only really an extension of that process and in the case of NHS workers, teachers and supermarket workers at least the institutions obviously already exist where mass vaccination COULD possibly take place with safe checking of ‘occupational entitlement.’

I’m not making a case for teachers on the basis of favouritism, but just because it’s an environment I understand. Teachers are at risk...someone very close to me indeed has today been told that she has to immediately self isolate for the next ten days because a child in her class has tested positive. Like it or not most teachers have spent the last 14 weeks or so in very close and protracted proximity to large groups of young people. They need the protection of the vaccine, as do the other groups I’ve spoken of. Unlike the Government I’m not entering a ‘me first’ competition but it does need looking at.

[Andy_Faber]

I’ve no idea, Ram...no idea how to make a vaccine either and fortunately for everyone it won’t be my responsibility.

Such collation has taken place before though. During the fuel crisis of the very early 2000’s (I think) both my wife and I were, along with many others, described as ‘essential workers’ and provided with County Council documentation entitling and enabling us to buy petrol so we could continue to attend work.

It’s only really an extension of that process and in the case of NHS workers, teachers and supermarket workers at least the institutions obviously already exist where mass vaccination COULD possibly take place with safe checking of ‘occupational entitlement.’

I’m not making a case for teachers on the basis of favouritism, but just because it’s an environment I understand. Teachers are at risk...someone very close to me indeed has today been told that she has to immediately self isolate for the next ten days because a child in her class has tested positive. Like it or not most teachers have spent the last 14 weeks or so in very close and protracted proximity to large groups of young people. They need the protection of the vaccine, as do the other groups I’ve spoken of. Unlike the Government I’m not entering a ‘me first’ competition but it does need looking at.

But going down the age groups saves the most lives

[AdiSalisbury]

so that just leaves me in the downgraded non key level 17 after everyone else has been redefined as more important. Ah well, its good to know your place

Sorry Adi, I misread your post at first, thought you said teachers only work 9 minutes a year

Haha maybe I did!

[ramAnag]

But going down the age groups saves the most lives

Possibly. Although I’m not sure how, for instance, a 65-75 year old who obeys the social distancing rules is at greater risk than a 45 year old who works in Tesco or spends all day in a school with a room full of te-enagers.

I’m not really arguing with the age thing...just suggesting there might be other considerations. Isn’t that why NHS workers were originally in the first ‘cohort’ for vaccination?

[Geoff Parkstone]

But going down the age groups saves the most lives

But that's not important right now - remember TLM

I appreciate that you have to disagree with anything anyone in authority decides rA, but why suggest changes to covid vaccine priorities when (a) I'm not sure anyone knows how those priorities have been assigned and (b) you've got no access to the data that underlies the decision process. First it's students you want to prioritise, then key non health care workers. At this rate you'll find a reason for prioritising everyone not currently prioritised., and as the number of angels on the pinhead are checked and rechecked, more and more people die.

Collating occupation data to reprioritise? You're having a laugh. Is your middle name Nero, all this fiddling while Rome is burning....

[Andy_Faber]

Possibly. Although I’m not sure how, for instance, a 65-75 year old who obeys the social distancing rules is at greater risk than a 45 year old who works in Tesco or spends all day in a school with a room full of te-enagers.

I’m not really arguing with the age thing...just suggesting there might be other considerations. Isn’t that why NHS workers were originally in the first ‘cohort’ for vaccination?

Sorry it was a quick response - they are, and care home workers, and quite rightly - directly responsible for saving the lives of those most likely to die (Covid sufferers and the elderly). I saw my mum for the first time yesterday and the carer who accompanied her had her first vaccine jab that morning - good for her, I don't know her and I was pleased for her.

[Andy_Faber]

Just an update to show that some enlightened folk DO manage somehow to put aside the behaviour of some baldy bloke with bad eyesight a few months ago and actually think about about the govts advice - Mrs F has just cancelled Christmas (or at least drastically downscaled it) at the Faber house after some coaching by me, essentially getting her to focus on her family's safety rather than getting frustrated that the dickheads at the bottom of our garden are bound to have a seven day jolly up (Christmas plus new years eve and day). She's been supremely risk averse throughout (despite having to visit Spain for family reasons twice) and is even more jittery now a 'cure' is on the menu. Her cousin has described her as 'short', a military term for someone almost at the end of their tour of duty

[ramAnag]

But that's not important right now - remember TLM

I appreciate that you have to disagree with anything anyone in authority decides rA, but why suggest changes to covid vaccine priorities when (a) I'm not sure anyone knows how those priorities have been assigned and (b) you've got no access to the data that underlies the decision process. First it's students you want to prioritise, then key non health care workers. At this rate you'll find a reason for prioritising everyone not currently prioritised., and as the number of angels on the pinhead are checked and rechecked, more and more people die.

Collating occupation data to reprioritise? You're having a laugh. Is your middle name Nero, all this fiddling while Rome is burning....

With all due respect that’s absolute bollux, GP.

1) I don’t question anyone in authority for the sake of it...although it would help if those currently in authority in this country weren’t, imo, a collection of clowns and charlatans.
2) I haven’t said I want to prioritise any group...I’ve asked a couple of questions.
3) Why don’t you ever provide an alternative rather than just attempt to mock, or have we really reached the stage where we all unquestioningly agree with what Johnson, Trump, Cummings, Rees-Mogg etc say because they’re in charge?

All I’ve actually ASKED is...a) Is there a case for secondary school and College students being further up the list because they’re amongst the most severe spreaders?
b) Shouldn’t teachers, retail workers (especially those in Supermarkets), transport workers and certain others join those in the NHS to be prioritised on the basis of their working environment rather than their age. The precedent has been set.

Ram59 has provided a POSSIBLE and sensible answer to the first question...how about you try really hard and come up with an answer to...why isn’t it a good idea for the other workers I’ve identified to be treated in the same way as NHS workers?

P.S. How often have you been into work since March?