Coronavirus (Covid19) Corner

[Tizer]

There was some news this morning about MPs calling for compensation for key workers suffering from `long covid'. We need to raise awareness of this other dangerous aspect of covid-19 which affects young as well as old and can be long lasting. It was discussed in the latest More or Less LINK Tim Harford interviewed Dr Natalie MacDermott who had been on the programme at the very beginning of the pandemic. She's NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer in Paediatrics (Infectious Diseases) at King's College London McDermott She caught covid early on but has suffered serious long covid ever since. This video gives the details she presented in the recent programme: BBC video

[Stanley]

I heard the lady Peter and she tells a harrowing story. Things like that get forgotten in the general gl ee about successful vaccination programmes.
As you know I am suspicious (to say the least) as to the motives of Tim Baker and his Covid Recovery Group. The Eye carries an interesting piece about who funds them. They were funded by a man called Like Johnson who runs a group called 'Risk Capital Partners' which has often invested in hospitality. Johnson himself is on record as saying that attempts to control Covid are a 'Campaign of Fear'.
However he dropped out at the end of 2020 and the group is now funded by 'The Recovery Alliance'. Only trouble is that there is no record of such a group at Company House and calls to the group about the funding go unanswered.

[Whyperion]

I must be moving up the list, I'm 60 in just over a week. Paulette is already (I'm always reminding her I married an older woman) so hopefully we'll get invited at the same time.

I think you still have to do the online booking job Kev so you may run into the same problem I did.

Probably. I'll see what happens.

Do you get missed completely or does the age person not had get re-run weekly to catch up increasing age ones ? For hospitals I think once you have your time slot you can arrive a little in advance as it seems there is a bit of overbooking with no-shows or question failures on booking in occuring, I was in and out with the biggest delay to me the time to take my coat on and off (it was cold in london on Saturday) was a bit achy on sunday into monday but bright now (AZ one with no direct date offered yet to jab 2). I was offered to book a slot by text on the weds before the Sat ( the date I chose to best work around the rest of life - down in the unpaid carer category )

[Tizer]

As you know I am suspicious (to say the least) as to the motives of Tim Baker and his Covid Recovery Group.

I expect they are the same people as the anti-lockdown MPs, the ultra-Brexiteers and the MPs demanding the opening of the Cumbria coal mine.
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One of my lipid science colleagues tells me that the RNA vaccines (Biontech/Pfizer and Moderna) utilise charged lipid nanoparticles to envelope the fragile RNA molecules and facilitate their movement across cell membranes. The RNA vaccines are not new, they're already in use against certain cancers for example. He pointed me to this Nature article from 2018 - it's very long but the first few screen lengths are OK!: `mRNA vaccines — a new era in vaccinology' LINK

[Stanley]

I'm sure that link is brilliant but the list of key points was enough to convince me this was above my pay grade.
I just get the sense that the craft/art/science of designing and manufacturing vaccines has just taken a giant leap forward under pressure from Covid.
I cheered up when I heard the estimates of about 50% protection three weeks after a jab. That's the sort of news we need!

[PanBiker]

Sally and I are in the line today at Burnley. 40 minutes apart due to the less than useful booking system. I will see if they can put us through at the same time.

[Tizer]

There was a very long article in The Times last week by its science editor Tom Whipple based on his interviews with many scientists working on covid virus and covid vaccines. The take away message is that we'll never go back to what we've known as `normal' and the covid-19 virus will probably be always with us. We'll live different lives, more cautious of anyone sniffing or coughing and more aware of hygiene. We won't be going on foreign holidays so readily, even when we've been vaccinated because the covid-19 variants will still be racing ahead in many other countries. Until we've depressed the pandemic everywhere the virus will be capable of coming back to Britain. Like climate change, virus pandemics need international action.

[PanBiker]

Sally and I are in the line today at Burnley. 40 minutes apart due to the less than useful booking system. I will see if they can put us through at the same time.

All sorted, the security guy who was ticking folk off took my point about our appointments being 40 minutes apart although from the same household. He let us both through together. Not overly busy just a steady stream. Very efficient. Took longer to book in than the jab of course. I have my sticker now to prove that I have had the jab and have not grown another head. I raised a laugh from the girls when I asked them to confirm that I hadn't grown a tail before I left. Venue in the Shopping Centre is where Next used to be. In one side and out the other, very well organised. We got the AstraZeneca vaccine.

[Stanley]

I think Mr Whipple is talking sense Peter. It's a genuine game changer.
That is unless there is a miracle and Covid loses its virulence in some fairy tale mutation.

[PanBiker]

For the record, I have had no real adverse reaction to the vaccine. Sally has had breakfast in bed and is now having another sleep. Arm a bit sore and her joints ache probably down to her compromised immune system.

[Tizer]

Mrs Tiz takes her turn tomorrow, same place as I did. She's looking forward to having a direct line to Bill Gates!

Now, don't get worried - this is not bad news. This type of thing happens frequently and an important fact is that the virus isn't transferring to humans. Another important fact is that it illustrates how we are now monitoring these virus movements much more closely and will be able to nip them in the bud. Also the information is being shared worldwide and in public...
`Bird flu: Russia detects first case of H5N8 bird flu in humans' LINK

[Tripps]

the security guy who was ticking folk off

Were they not behaving themselves?
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PS looked it up. " tick someone off - to make someone angry. That really ticks me off! "

I always took it to mean 'tó reprimand someone' as in 'gave him a good ticking off'.

Maybe one's British and the other American? Almost wish I hadn't mentioned it now.

[Stanley]

I have always used it in the same way as you. I have also noted the usage where it means someone is angered. I don't think the two are mutually exclusive. Getting ticked off could very well make someone angry.
Don't go into a decline about it David.....

[plaques]

I have my sticker now to prove that I have had the jab and have not grown another head. I raised a laugh from the girls when I asked them to confirm that I hadn't grown a tail before I left

"Definitely no tail but you do remind me of a librarian I read about" she said. Oook oook, (thank you) as he knuckled his way to the door.

Sorry about that Ian.

[plaques]

Boris Johnson to reveal his road map of easing the lockdown. The current lockdown is doing its stuff and the vaccines have the potential to ease the situation further.

The Prime Minister will today unveil his roadmap to easing restrictions in England, the stages of which will be based on data surrounding hospitalisations, deaths, cases and transmission.

But Sir David Spiegelhalter - professor of statistics at Cambridge's mathematics department - said although the numbers are "extremely positive", the data alone should not shape Boris Johnson's decision.

Most of us will now know the political decision it will all be about the Economy V Hospitalisations and Deaths. Somebody is going to have to put a number on these factors but I doubt if we will ever hear proposed numbers. The answers will always be couched in 'trends, statistics and aspirations. This being the second time round lets hope the politicians get it right but just in case they don't which is par for the course the message is keep wearing your mask and keep away from everybody else.

[PanBiker]

Lets hope they don't ignore the Elephant in the room which is the fact that our NHS establishments are still full to overflowing. I firmly belive that there should be no real opening up or reduction of lockdown until this backlog has been cleared and we get back to elective surgery and the like. The other massive thing as well which does not seem to be mentioned is that the entire thrust of the vaccine has been towards the section of the population who are generally sensible and don't break the "rules". The folk that are actually spreading it are the younger end who are all still walking around as they of course are bullet proof. They may not have symptoms but they can still have the potential to be Typhoid Mary's.

[Tizer]

The folk that are actually spreading it are the younger end who are all still walking around as they of course are bullet proof. They may not have symptoms but they can still have the potential to be Typhoid Mary's.

I've never forgotten your `fester balls of infection' description of kids from your days of working in schools Ian!

Breaking news...
`Covid: Vaccines having big impact on hospitalisation risk' LINK
`Covid vaccines have had a significant impact on the risk of serious illness in Scotland, an analysis shows. The work led by Public Health Scotland found by the fourth week after the first dose hospitalisations were reduced by 85% and 94% for the Pfizer and AstraZeneca jabs respectively. It is the first sign of the real world impact of the Covid vaccination programme in the UK. Figures for England are expected to be released later. Among the over 80s, the combined figure was an 81% reduction. The preliminary data from the EAVE II project covers 1.14 million vaccinations given between 8 December and 15 February. .'.

[PanBiker]

20 - 40 year age group are the ones that will flood back into the pubs given the opportunity. If the pubs are opened before they have all had the jab it will be welcome to phase three, regardless of the "irreversible" sound bite.

[Stanley]

Several elephants in the room. Everyone manages to skirt round the level of staffing and bed provision prior to 2010 when it had already been eroded by funding cuts. Not a word about the billions being thrown at the private hospitals for whom it is a life saver. Nothing about better recognition of the staff efforts than standing on the doorstep clapping.
Yes, you're right. I am angry with the government.... The least they could do is give all the staff free parking!

[Tizer]

Mrs Tiz vaccinated this morning and so far nothing but a slight ache in the arm. We've both registered our interest today in taking part in the `Active Monitoring of the Safety of COVID-19 Vaccines Study' Covid vaccine safety study It's looking at whether people have side effects, and what they are, or no effects.

[Big Kev]

Aged mother had her second Pfizer jab on the 17th, 7 weeks after the first one. Aching and a headache for 24 hours but all good now.

[Stanley]

I was heartened by the latest assessments of the efficacy of the vaccinations. They both seem to be remarkably effective even after one dose.
Also, comments about the absence of colds and flu this winter. It would appear that being close to one another is bad for our health. Or have I got that wrong?

[plaques]

Aged mother had her second Pfizer jab on the 17th, 7 weeks after the first one. Aching and a headache for 24 hours but all good now.

thanks for that Kev. We are now on amber alert waiting for our second vaccine call. 8 weeks since our first dose but it hardly feels any time at all. Don't need the car's Sat-Nav: to get to get to Colne health centre but Boris's road map may need a bit of thinking about. There must be loads of places beyond Sainbury's that I've forgotten about.

[Stanley]

"There must be loads of places beyond Sainsbury's that I've forgotten about"
That made me laugh Ken. Every time my minders take me beyond the Manorial Boundary I see things that are new to me.

[Tizer]

I had to learn how to drive the car again yesterday when I ferried Mrs Tiz to the vaccination centre. I sat in the car reading the paper for 10 minutes but when she returned and tried to open the passenger door it was locked. I hadn't put on the central locking. I pressed the unlock button on my door but hers still wouldn't open. I turned the ignition on to see if that would sort it. I should have leant over and opened her door from the inside but I wanted to know why it wasn't unlocked (and I'm lazy!). I opened my door to see if that would make all the doors unlock. The security system went berserk! Horn blasting, lights flashing. Masked vaccination officials rushed over thinking we must have a post-vacc medical emergency, anaphylactic shock etc. It certainly gave me a shock. Using the `open' button on the key fob stopped it. Not a nice experience. Mrs Tiz seems to be free of any significant side effects of her vaccination but it's left me with PVSD, Post-Vaccination Stress Syndrome!