Coronavirus (Covid19) Corner

[Stanley]

Did you hear the report that vaccine production in UK has been slowed due to shortage of precursor ingredients that are imported? Is this Brexit, Covid related or EU action?

[Marilyn]

Heard it yesterday...

[Stanley]

See THIS BBC report. The problem is with Astra Zeneca vaccine produced by The Serum Institute of India. Their current delivery has been held up by four weeks.

[Marilyn]

Well....that is what you have been told. Do any of us trust drug companies?

[Marilyn]

Remember Thalidomide? We were promised it wouldn’t happen again. Then along came Debandox... ( not sure I have the spelling right, but I took that in early pregnancy for nausea, believing the horror could not happen again).
Call me stupid ( I can take all slings and arrows), but don’t we need to be truly sure that we protect our breeding population?
Who would have believed that a drug taken for Nausea would deprive their unborn of limbs.
Drug companies don’t care about YOU or your family.

[Marilyn]

I kind of see A/Z as that terrible builder who starts your job, disappears and everyone is left hanging, with no workable bathroom or useable kitchen !

[Sue]

I see tge delay for our vaccine delivery is from India. Julia and Ed slipped in well there, vaccinated yesterday in the 45-50 age group in Coventry. Apparently our astra production will provide for the second doses due next month, which is most of us and my friends I think. Actually mine was Pfizer . No problems there...yet !

[Big Kev]

My second AZ is booked for May, word on the street is there won't be any cancellations just a pause in new bookings.
Had an email from P&O Cruises ((I have a deposit on hold with them from last year) they're starting round UK cruises from the end of June and all passengers must be fully vaccinated. I think I'll wait a bit, now P has taken early retirement we're not restricted to school holidays and can book at short notice. The current offerings are from Southampton, there are rumours of some starting from Newcastle, so waiting seems sensible.

[Big Kev]

I see tge delay for our vaccine delivery is from India. Julia and Ed slipped in well there, vaccinated yesterday in the 45-50 age group in Coventry. Apparently our astra production will provide for the second doses due next month, which is most of us and my friends I think. Actually mine was Pfizer . No problems there...yet !

Pfizer, in Belgium, report no issues with UK deliveries (according to the BBC) fortunately the UK has its own plants that are supplying one to two million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine each week. The 5 million from India will only put a slight dent in the plan.

[Sue]

Our cruise to Portugal in April/May for our golden wedding has been cancelled, we were offered October or next May. We took next May. Its a shame as it was a special anniversary. We have a self catering booked ( if we are allowed to go) where we went in October instead. Not quite the same celebration . We should be fully vaccinated by then and will spend most of the week walking away from anyone.

[Sue]

I see tge delay for our vaccine delivery is from India. Julia and Ed slipped in well there, vaccinated yesterday in the 45-50 age group in Coventry. Apparently our astra production will provide for the second doses due next month, which is most of us and my friends I think. Actually mine was Pfizer . No problems there...yet !

Pfizer, in Belgium, report no issues with UK deliveries (according to the BBC) fortunately the UK has its own plants that are supplying one to two million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine each week. The 5 million from India will only put a slight dent in the plan.

Yes I read that. for my other daughter who is 44 and thus in the next phase

[plaques]

I kind of see A/Z as that terrible builder who starts your job, disappears and everyone is left hanging, with no workable bathroom or useable kitchen !

Maz I think you are being a bit pessimistic or too light hearted. Everything the politicians promise in the UK are just aspirations not facts set in concrete. What they call as being 'economical with the truth'.

Kev. reminded of this.

Rescue.jpg

[Marilyn]

Please view me as “too light hearted”, Plauques.

[Big Kev]

Our cruise to Portugal in April/May for our golden wedding has been cancelled, we were offered October or next May. We took next May. Its a shame as it was a special anniversary. We have a self catering booked ( if we are allowed to go) where we went in October instead. Not quite the same celebration . We should be fully vaccinated by then and will spend most of the week walking away from anyone.

We were due to cruise the eastern Med last August for P's 60th, we had then hoped to do this February for my 60th or this May for our 40th anniversary. Potentially a couple of weeks somewhere warm for Christmas now but I'm not holding my breath...

[Marilyn]

We have travel credits too. Originally due to fly last May, extended to October, extended another year. Forget it. Not going. They can keep the money and choke on it for all I care. It is not safe.

[Sue]

Result as expected, no link to blood clots, and a successful vaccine

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-56447367

[Big Kev]

Result as expected, no link to blood clots, and a successful vaccine

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-56447367

I don't think we were expecting anything any different to be honest.

[Tripps]

I think there is a little more than meets the eye here. The medical experts in the many and various countries that paused are not fools. Now we have a message from our Government, that if you have a four day headache, then seek help. I am guessing there have been a small but significant number of cases of a particular brain blood clotting event.

The story about the delay in the supply of Astrazenica vaccine from India is confused and inconsistent. Boris's waffle was at its finest this afternoon. Who knew the stuff was coming from India - not me.

They have said that people shielding do not need to after 1st April. Many will not have had the second dose by then. Another puzzle.


That said - I am waiting for the second injection and will take it without hesitation.

[Stanley]

So am I David and I shall continue to shield even after getting it.
I should explain that my version of shielding is that I go to the Co-op and Town Square early doors once a week to shop. No deliveries.
Ken, I too was surprised to hear we get vaccine from India.....

[Sue]

.....Now we have a message from our Government, that if you have a four day headache, then seek help. I am guessing there have been a small but significant number of cases of a particular brain blood clotting event........


They would be wrong not to give the warning, no matter how low the chance is. All drugs have warnings on the instructions even if only a very small number of people report the side effects. It is the same scenario.

I tend to try and find official documents and scientific papers and not listen to the politicians. I haven’t listened to Boris for months and I find all their statistical graphs confusing as they are thrown at you so quickly. As for shielding that is a personal thing beyond the date. Most I know who have a serious health issue, shield or self isolate from personal choice. All the government is saying is that after the end of March the risk is less. The figures speak for themselves. The vaccination programme seems to be working. The number in hospital has dropped from 40, 000 to 7,000 since the start of January and daily figures are much lower. In Europe they are heading for a third wave. Paris has just entered a month lockdown. Their vaccination programme is a shambles. I see most are resuming using astra zenica over the next 10 days. They can’t afford not to. The risk from the disease is much greater than any risk of the blood clot. Research is ongoing but one article I read suggested that at least one of the people had a previously undiscovered health issue.

You are a pessimistic lot.

[Stanley]

Not sure why we are pessimistic Sue.
I shall be being careful for a long time yet.
From what I can see France are reaping the harvest of a different strategy than us, they allowed more normality to help the economy. They made a choice.

[Marilyn]

Weekend guest (works in hospital administration) has already had first jab...Pfizer...

[Sue]

Not sure why we are pessimistic Sue.
I shall be being careful for a long time yet.
From what I can see France are reaping the harvest of a different strategy than us, they allowed more normality to help the economy. They made a choice.

Yes, they did Stanley. We have monitored and raised our eyebrows quite a few times. Bob gets a weekly update of the numbers round our house. Not exceptional but more than Greater Manchester where as last year you would hardly know there was a problem. They have had a night curfew 6pm to 6 am since Christmas and did at least close bars, much to their disgust ! The curfew is now 7pm 6 am .

We are in no rush to return although we hope to later in the summer. The neighbours as you know are brilliant but we can’t expect them to do maintenance and by now the wisteria will be under the roof tiles, and goodness knows what the mouse trail will be like and the damage they will have done. In the Spring we can catch 13 overnight in my art room, which still has stone walls that need pointing. It was the grain store so there are remnants of seeds in the walls . The mice get in from outside and climb through the inside of walls. At least we got through the winter with no leaks, burst pipes etc.

[plaques]

Never mind all the graph and charts, these are all aspirations to make the population feel more comfortable with what is going on. The overall logic is simple.

Do nothing ... the virus wreaks havoc, Vulnerable people catch it. Many hospitalised, High numbers of deaths.
Total lockdown... Stops people mixing and passing the virus on but the outcome for the vulnerable is still the same.
Vaccination....Reduces the severity of the infection. 1 in 10 could still have the full illness. Vulnerable should survive the illness if they get it.
Vaccination and no restrictions... Total infection rates will rise (third wave) but now with reduced affect as 'vaccination' (above).

The question is Do you feel lucky punk?

[Marilyn]

I feel lucky in Australia, Punk. And I ain’t going anywhere