comment by Oscar. #TeamFury (U12980)
posted 32 seconds ago

Boris Johnson was facing mounting pressure to halt the easing of lockdown today as it was revealed that the new Indian Covid variant has killed four people in Britain. Experts suggested that easements planned for Monday, including allowing people to meet inside pubs and hug close friends and family should be postponed as case of the the highly contagious strain doubled. Surge testing has already begun in 15 towns including Bolton and Formby and ministers last night approved plans aimed at slowing the spread of the imported strain of Covid-19. It came as ministers revealed teenagers could be offered jabs as authorities battle to bring the outbreaks under control. Public Health England revealed this morning that four deaths linked to the Indian variant B.1.617.2 were reported across Britain between May 5 and 12, out of 97 total Covid deaths. There are no signs it is more deadly or resistant to vaccines yet, it found.
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Emergency Press conference announced for tonight 5pm

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comment by Tamwolf (U17286)
posted 1 minute ago
I do think if we are going to go back on restrictions in the case of any variant, then we will never be rid of restrictions, I guess we'll have to wait and see what is said.
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As loath as I am to support this abomination of a government it’s best to be cautious instead of risking another surge in cases. It’ll do just as much damage to the country to end restrictions and then have to reinstate due to it going through to roof again.

Is there any data about this new strain that suggests that we need to diverge from the timelines?

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They fear it’s 60% more transmissible but that’s in India where everyone and everything is in close proximity so of course it would be more transmissible in India

Evidence also suggests vaccines work against it

Probably just more fear propaganda to increase uptake of vaccine

If vaccines work against it and it's no more transmissible than the Kent variation then we should plow on. And we really do need people to get shots in their arms asap.

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comment by Tamwolf (U17286)
posted 25 seconds ago
Viruses mutate. Its what they do. The way out of this was vaccinations. If every time we see a variant we go back into restrictions, then we may as well go into permanent restrictions.

The only way they should be pausing is if there is evidence that the vaccine is not effective against this variant.
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Agreed.

Lockdowns are a last ditch tool to buy time to prepare. They shouldn't be a 'go-to' tool whenever there's a hint of trouble.

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comment by Europa League Here We Come! (U22521)
posted less than a minute ago
Still havent had a vaccine. They have really slowed down sicne Easter. I could be waiting until autumn at this rate.
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I think they're going to plan aren't they? I certainly expected mine in May and here I am with the first dose mid-May. I thought the timelines were being successfully met?

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Don’t want the return of tiers or local lockdowns either.

comment by IvanGolacIsMagic (U5291)
posted 10 minutes ago
comment by Europa League Here We Come! (U22521)
posted less than a minute ago
Still havent had a vaccine. They have really slowed down sicne Easter. I could be waiting until autumn at this rate.
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I think they're going to plan aren't they? I certainly expected mine in May and here I am with the first dose mid-May. I thought the timelines were being successfully met?
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I’m hearing anecdotal stories that they could significantly speed up and that there are lots of spaces for people to get appointments/loads of folk missing theirs which is a bit bonkers to me given the whole purpose was to get jags into folk as quick as possible.

As I said yesterday mate, I was stunned at how quiet it was at the vaccination centre. I was expecting a steady queue of people with their sleeves rolled up - instead I was 20 minutes early, straight to the front of the queue and sat and had a 10 minute blether with the nurse and trainee who administered the jab.

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comment by Tamwolf (U17286)
posted 3 hours, 21 minutes ago
comment by Oscar. #TeamFury (U12980)
posted about a minute ago
He was fine after first one so should hopefully be fine after this one. Whereas my Brother had his first the other day. Slept for 18 hours that night and felt crap for 2-3 days.

As I said though younger people are always more likely to have side effects because there’s more cells to trigger side effects and responses whereas old people there’s less cells / dead cells and less sensitive cells.

Don’t know how many cells our bodies contain but say as just a comparison a 40 year old might have 50 cells whereas a 70 year old would probably have 10

Hence more side effects in younger people
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I think the average number of cells in the human body is about 30 trillion.
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Ballpark figure? I've got about 12 left.

comment by ttliv87 (U11882)
posted 25 minutes ago
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/05/14/government-strategy-vindicated-delaying-pfizer-dose-12-weeks/

Did say at the time that a gap of 3 weeks between boosters is unheard of for most viruses, usually it's months or even years. Immune response matures for months. It was a calculated risk and unfortunately more people put a lot more emphasis on the risk part instead of the calculated part. Brilliant work by our scientists despite worldwide condemnation at the time because people thought antibodies would magically disappear at day 22 because trials hadn't gone past 21 days.
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Quite right.

TT - have you done much reading into the efficacy of the vaccines against the India variant?

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comment by IvanGolacIsMagic (U5291)
posted 17 minutes ago
As I said yesterday mate, I was stunned at how quiet it was at the vaccination centre. I was expecting a steady queue of people with their sleeves rolled up - instead I was 20 minutes early, straight to the front of the queue and sat and had a 10 minute blether with the nurse and trainee who administered the jab.
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Same as my dad

Dropped him earlier at 10 30 appointment not until 11 but he was out and done by 11 40

That was in a pharmacy though

comment by Tamwolf (U17286)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Europa League Here We Come! (U22521)
posted about a minute ago
My boss got his yesterday and he is 38.

I think there is quite a lot of geographical and regional variation here when when comes to vaccines. Some areas well ahead of others.
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When I phoned my local GP a few weeks ago they had an automated message saying they were still only taking vaccine requests from over 70s.

I guess Sussex is highly likely to be behind if anywhere is, as all the villages on the coast are packed full of old people.
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Yep depends on population age too. EG my brother got his Monday he’s 38, whereas his friend who lives in Fulham hasn’t even been offered his 1st and he’s 45