[CajunBMW]

Originally Posted by 3-GT

There's a lot of questions about the vaccine may not stop people from spreading the virus.

The government describe the vaccine as an 'exit strategy'. However as most of the public will hopefully not get ill (creating more asymptomatic spreaders) after receiving the vaccine, the virus will circulate undetected even more than now. But it'll look OK as the recorded cases/deaths will look low.

So for some of those who will not see a benefit from the vaccine it will be a matter of time before they eventually succumb to the virus.

Do we need a vaccine that stops the spread just as much as one that protects against the illness?

So the vaccine's endpoint for evaluation was disease so the scientists and physicians that were part of the trial can only say with confidence that the vaccine prevents disease. This does not mean it doesn't block infection or shedding, it just means that conservatively they know it prevents disease.

Immunologically the vaccine generates a very clear antibody response that work deep in the lungs to prevent lower respiratory infections (ie prevents disease). Lower respiratory infections are worse than upper, hence why the type of antibody response was needed. Nothing says per se that the vaccine won't prevent shedding.

My guess is that if you don't get a lower respiratory infection, you don't get that horrible cough and thus at the minimum you spread at a reduced rate. As the vaccine trials continue, they should eventually know how many vaccinated folks were infected vs no infection and will know how much the vaccine blocks the initial infection.

The type of vaccine to block infection in general or to generate what they call sterilizing immunity is generally hard with respiratory pathogens. Now maybe with time another one will come out.

Again, a guess, but if we get a high level of coverage and add that to those naturally immunized because they got infected, we will essentially break the dangerous cycle of this virus. Then in a few years it will join its 4 benign and usually harmless Coronaviruses buddies and will just be another virus that causes an upper respiratory infection or common cold. Coronaviruses are wide spread viruses and this idea of a coronavirus jumping animals into humans and causing a pandemic and then after a few years becoming endemic as a virus that causes seasonal colds has happened before. Or perhaps more cautiously is thought to have happened in 1890 during the famous 1890 pandemic that most of are familiar with??? That is there was a pandemic in 1890 and we know from viral genetic tracing that one of the benign viruses entered humanity at that time.

[JD6]

Not sure if it has been posted but the delayed U.K. figures for Wednesday show that they’re up to a vaccination rate of almost 2 million (1.952m) first doses a week. Just over 2 million a week if we include second doses. Looks promising.

https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/deta...ort_date_daily

[SteveChester]

Numbers really starting to ramp up now 🤞

[Goneinsixtyseconds]

Originally Posted by JD6

Not sure if it has been posted but the delayed U.K. figures for Wednesday show that they’re up to a vaccination rate of almost 2 million (1.952m) first doses a week. Just over 2 million a week if we include second doses. Looks promising.

https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/deta...ort_date_daily

That’s a better site than the NHS one I was looking at, shows all U.K. and you don’t have to calculate the daily number yourself.

[Goneinsixtyseconds]

Originally Posted by SteveChester

Numbers really starting to ramp up now 🤞

Let’s hope supply keeps up with the increase.

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by JD6

Not sure if it has been posted but the delayed U.K. figures for Wednesday show that they’re up to a vaccination rate of almost 2 million (1.952m) first doses a week. Just over 2 million a week if we include second doses. Looks promising.

https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/deta...ort_date_daily

Very encouraging and a great effort by all concerned; let's hope we can maintain this rate and hopefully improve on it!

My only slight anxiety is I've seen reports suggesting Astra-Zeneca are having some production issues. If so I hope they've just been teething problems that are now resolved as I get the impression that source is key to the UK's vaccine roll-out plans?

[robbiep]

Had my first jab (Pfizer, but doesn't bother me which one I got) today.

[SteveChester]

Originally Posted by robbiep

Had my first jab (Pfizer, but doesn't bother me which one I got) today.

Good to hear you have received it!

[JD6]

Thursday's figure is 316,694 receiving their first vaccination, implying a weekly rate of 2.2 million (up from a weekly rate of 1.952m on Wednesday).

By my estimation they need to reach a weekly rate of about 3 million in the next 2/3 weeks to hit their target of the first 4 priority groups including all over 70s being offered their first jab by mid Feb. Given the acceleration we have seen this week - a doubling in 3 days, that looks very achievable to me, assuming that supply doesn't become the limiting factor.

https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/deta...ort_date_daily

[JD6]

Friday's figure is 324,233 first vaccinations, a modest increase on Thursday's 316,694 figure and implying a 2.27 million weekly rate.

It will be interesting to see the figures for the weekend, which will be published on Monday afternoon, to see if this is a true 7 day a week operation. It needs to be if they are going to hit their target.

https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/deta...ort_date_daily

[Goneinsixtyseconds]

Originally Posted by JD6

Friday's figure is 324,233 first vaccinations, a modest increase on Thursday's 316,694 figure and implying a 2.27 million weekly rate.

It will be interesting to see the figures for the weekend, which will be published on Monday afternoon, to see if this is a true 7 day a week operation. It needs to be if they are going to hit their target.

https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/deta...ort_date_daily

Let’s hope so. I think KRS_SN was scheduled today and my wife went for hers early this morning. Hopefully a lot more did too.

[SteveChester]

Originally Posted by JD6

Friday's figure is 324,233 first vaccinations, a modest increase on Thursday's 316,694 figure and implying a 2.27 million weekly rate.

It will be interesting to see the figures for the weekend, which will be published on Monday afternoon, to see if this is a true 7 day a week operation. It needs to be if they are going to hit their target.

https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/deta...ort_date_daily

Interesting to see how much more it will/can increase next week - can they get to 500k a day and really get though the top 4 of the JVCI list and beyond?

Really think this is one of the few aspects of the pandemic the government has got right. From the initial funding of the Oxford work back in early 2020, agreeing to buy many doses split across different vaccine developers, first sign off and now putting together a huge logistical challenge for the vaccination programme...

If only test and trace, school lunches, PPE etc was as successful

[Techno 9000]

Interesting reporting of the House of Lords on TV late last night, strategy is to have the whole population vaccinated by Autumn.

[Goneinsixtyseconds]

Originally Posted by Techno 9000

Interesting reporting of the House of Lords on TV late last night, strategy is to have the whole population vaccinated by Autumn.

I read something today that said July was achievable for 100% of population, and as only 80% likely to have it, it could be even earlier.

Just hoping, as others have said, that this steady increase carries on and isn’t a false dawn because vaccines run out.

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by JD6

Friday's figure is 324,233 first vaccinations, a modest increase on Thursday's 316,694 figure and implying a 2.27 million weekly rate.

It will be interesting to see the figures for the weekend, which will be published on Monday afternoon, to see if this is a true 7 day a week operation. It needs to be if they are going to hit their target.

https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/deta...ort_date_daily

The lousy weather some parts of the country have been experiencing can't have helped the vaccination programme so over 324k yesterday feels like good going to me.

Apparently more than 90% of over-80's have been vaccinated in some areas and hence over-70's might start to receive invitations to get vaccinated as soon as next week - just hope they can keep the momentum going as, for once, this seems to be something we're getting right!

[Techno 9000]

Originally Posted by Goneinsixtyseconds

Just hoping, as others have said, that this steady increase carries on and isn’t a false dawn because vaccines run out.

Same reporting (from the House of Lords) showed they have sight of all aspects of production and delivery to end of February.
That would account for all in the 70+ age range, Residential, Healthcare, Socialcare workers, plus those Clinically Exremely Vulnerable in all age groups.

[KRS_SN]

Originally Posted by Goneinsixtyseconds

Let's hope so. I think KRS_SN was scheduled today and my wife went for hers early this morning. Hopefully a lot more did too.

hi had mine at louisa Jordan Glasgow's standby COVID hospital. Feel Fine. Hope your Mrs is ok too.

[JR1664]

Letters arriving like confetti today. Managed to get three oldies booked in on the online booking system for next week at a large vaccination hub they're setting up nearby.

The NHS online system is allowing booking times / dates for both jabs but we kept finding by the time you came to 'complete' the booking it notified you the original slot had gone. On one booking we went from 1800hrs to 1855hrs after about five attempts.

There's also a number to call, it appears that you don't have to have received a letter just quote your NHS number.

Anyway its a great relief simply to have a time / date.

I can imagine once the NHS booking system settles down it will be a great resource.

[ZedsRedBaby]

They're saying all over-50s by the end of March which seems promising. Looks like they've dropped the ban on Epipen carriers getting jabbed as well, so hopefully good to go.

[Techno 9000]

Yep, all Tier 1 (down to the over 50's) by end of March seems to be the plan. That takes 99% of the population at risk of dying from the virus out of harms way. A massive weight off of the Healthcare system after that point.

[JD6]

Originally Posted by JNW1

The lousy weather some parts of the country have been experiencing can't have helped the vaccination programme so over 324k yesterday feels like good going to me.

Apparently more than 90% of over-80's have been vaccinated in some areas and hence over-70's might start to receive invitations to get vaccinated as soon as next week - just hope they can keep the momentum going as, for once, this seems to be something we're getting right!

My parents live about 10 miles from Bristol. In their area they seem to be ahead of the game. They are late 70s with no underlying health conditions but both received an invitation on Monday and were given the Pfizer jab on Wednesday. Presumably all over 80s must have been offered the jab in their immediate locality for them to move on to 75+ around a week ago.

My understanding is that if one area gets very far ahead of others, they will apply the brakes to avoid for example a 53 year old being vaccinated before a 73 year old. The hope is that this form of stabilisation isn’t necessary.

[isleaiw1]

Mum had hers done today, seemed to be pretty well organised, she had to stay an extra 15 mins after as she reported an allergy (shellfish, not that she has eaten any for 60 years!)

No online bookings for her they rang her and asked her if she wanted it and could she make today (Shirebrook leisure centre for the locals).

Good job, well done. She is very happy (and will be even happier when it has kicked in!)