Chat about Novel Coronavirus - 2019-nCoV - COVID-19

The husband of the lady my wife looks after died last night two weeks after testing positive, he was on oxygen and comfortable but took a sudden turn for the worse and that was it. Late 60s and otherwise healthy.

terrifying

It really is. I’m just grateful my wife and I seem to be over it.

Watering down would be a stupid thing to be doing

Not half.

The blurb from our trust says the efficacy of the first Pfizer jab is 89-92%. It depends on how you look at the stats apparently........

but it will take 12 days to even start doing anything, a few weeks after that it should typically be 52% effective.

The 52% often quoted includes the early period when it does nothing. The effectiveness after 15 days is estimated at 89%.

They also reckon the Oxford vaccine is 73% effective 22 days after one dose.

An anecdote positioned as a story about underperformance actually turns out to be about a missed opportunity to overperform.

It is a shame that nothing better can be done with surplus.

Agreed. Although based on news reports and other's posts (with more knowledge than me), it sounds like they are in the process of doing something with it, thankfully.

And this is how it appears to be working in the real world, not trial conditions:
https://www.timesofisrael.com/how-well-does-the-vaccine-work-israels-real-world-stats-can-be-globes-guide/

Ah yeah sorry, so that gov.uk you linked to actually says effectiveness between 15 and 21 days is 89% and the 52% is efficacy between dose 1 and 2 - short-term protection from the first dose is 'very high from day 10'.

Still won't be able to go round for a cuppa for a bit though I think.

I wasn't sure even whether to post this as I don't know the details as I'm not there, by my dad got the vaccine on Tuesday or Wednesday. He's only 72, so technically not in the target group yet, but according to him, the south-east of London, in this case Sidcup*, has spare slots and is filling them. He called Guys and got a slot the next day, but they wouldn't do my mum, who is 68.

I don't want this to be gossip-mongering or spreading fake news, I'm just going by what they've said, but it might be helpful.

* It fucking is London, alright.

Went to a Birmingham GP surgery to get my grandma done today, they said they'd used just over 20,000 doses with only 6 cancelled appointments!

I’d just say to everybody

-Make sure you are registered with a GP with your current address/phone so THEY can contact YOU; most GPs let you register with them on their website

If not then

-Have a note of your NHS number from any correspondence with the NHS or download the NHS app and get it from there if you register fully and ID verify.

My GP practice's web-site also says this, which is probably worth adding:

Please do not contact your GP for a COVID-19 vaccine. The NHS is prioritising vaccinating people who experts have agreed will benefit the most. We will let you know when it is your turn.

Yep, my father's been given an appointment for arm stabbing on Thursday, and he's not yet 80. Close though, at (I think) 77. Also London. That's where he's registered with his GP, although he's been sheltering outside London since early March last year.

-Make sure you are registered with a GP with your current address/phone so THEY can contact YOU; most GPs let you register with them on their website

Just done this a few days ago. I've not been registered with a GP since my last one got closed for being "under used" (aka you could actually get an appointment) in 2015. Filled out the form online, no ID check required but I have no idea what my NHS number is so left it blank. They sent an email saying they can't register me without it.
Googled what next step to take and it said the GP can find it for me, so emailed them back quoting Dr Google and the next day they confirmed my registration. Job done.

Did make me wonder, what are the current numbers of unregistered people in the UK?

In England there is a database known as "SPINE" that GP's and hospitals use to find your NHS number.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/jan/16/bosses-accused-putting-workers-lives-risk-bending-lockdown-trading-rules

This shit makes me so cross. All the talk about getting kids back in school being the number one priority and fining people for going for a walk in the country and yet the data points to transmission being driven by less than essential work, or work that could be done from home.

I'm just still baffled by the government's insistence on not getting to grips with a proper lockdown. How can click and collect handbags even be legal if you can only leave your house for essential shopping or exercise?

Why are the cops not hanging about outside these shops instead of countryside car parks?

I understand the government are totally useless, but I'm disappointed the police seem to be determined to grab the most ineffectual end of the stick too.

I understand the government are totally useless, but I'm disappointed the police seem to be determined to grab the most ineffectual end of the stick too.

I think the problem is that when the police try to enforce the government's vague, contradictory and inconsistent regulations they get hammered as a result of the regulations being vague, contradictory and inconsistent.

How can click and collect handbags even be legal if you can only leave your house for essential shopping or exercise?

Shopping at any business that's open is an acceptable reason to leave the house. In fact it's the number one reason to leave the house.. The regulations don't use the word "essential" or anything similar.

The people driving 100 miles to visit McDonalds aren't actually breaking the law as far as I can tell. In fact a quick check of the various news stories about such people shows every one is committing other offences i.e. having mates in the car, no insurance, etc.

These days, I’d there are 4 similar aged people in a car going at 90mph without tax, you’re highly unlikely to be in the same household, or support bubble...

I'm just still baffled by the government's insistence on not getting to grips with a proper lockdown. How can click and collect handbags even be legal if you can only leave your house for essential shopping or exercise?

Because money > life. The perception that they're useless allows them to be excused for too much.

NewsThump is nailing it right now.

https://newsthump.com/2021/01/14/government-to-make-new-brazilian-variant-available-to-everyone-in-uk-within-weeks/

https://newsthump.com/2021/01/14/governments-post-covid-plans-for-killing-people-include-nuclear-strike-and-water-poisoning/

https://newsthump.com/2021/01/13/you-cant-trust-tories-with-free-school-meal-money-as-theyll-only-waste-it-on-profits-for-their-mates-insist-benefit-recipients/

140 jabs a minute
2 new cases admitted to hospital a minute

this morning in stats

How many days will the 140 start reducing the 2? How long will the 140 reduce the 2 to close to 0?

My wife had the Pfizer jab yesterday at a clinic in Bermondsey - she’s NHS and classed as at risk because she has a suppressed immune system due to her medication for psoriatic arthritis. She’s 53. I’m 58, but I’m going to have to wait for at least 3 months even though I’m classed as an essential worker, so we’re both going to carry on as we have been for months and keeping ourselves as isolated as we can. Would be an arseache to go and catch Covid within sight of the finish line.