So, coronavirus...

[JM2K6]

showing the spread during the 2nd wave - clearly takes the longest to spread properly to the south west & norfolk, which isn't a big surprise I suppose.

[Saint]

Pfizer will be slowing vaccine delivery for the next 2-3 weeks in order to re-organise it's production facilities to enable greater long term output

[tc27]

Pfizer will be slowing vaccine delivery for the next 2-3 weeks in order to re-organise it's production facilities to enable greater long term output

Wonder to what extent that will effect the UK rollout? Oxford and Moderna jabs are approved so hopefully enough to take the slack.

320k jabs today

[Saint]

Pfizer will be slowing vaccine delivery for the next 2-3 weeks in order to re-organise it's production facilities to enable greater long term output

Wonder to what extent that will effect the UK rollout? Oxford and Moderna jabs are approved so hopefully enough to take the slack.

320k jabs today

We won't see any Moderna in the UK till April, but I think we have enough stock to cover any shortfall in the short term. Vaccination rate now really ticking up and if they can keep similar rates over the weekend we're going to be in a strong position

[Saint]

And we finally close the travel corridors

[SaintK]

And we finally close the travel corridors

Yep, just how long ago should that have been done

To protect us from the risk of as-yet unidentified strains, all travel corridors will temporary close from 4am on Monday, he says.

This will apply across the whole of the UK, he says.

Anyone coming into the country must have proof of a negative test taken within 72 hours before leaving, a filled in passenger locator form and the airline will ask for both before take off, he says.

You may also be checked on landing and face fines for refusing to comply, he says.

Upon arrival you must quarantine for 10 days, not leaving for any reason, and take another test on day five and wait for proof of another negative result, he says.

Enforcement will be upped in-country and at the border, he says

[SaintK]

Surely this should be "were allowed to do!?

I’m afraid in the next week we do anticipate the number of people in the NHS and the number of deaths will continue to rise as the effects of what everyone has done take a while to feed through.

[JM2K6]

443K people have been properly vaccinated. Good stuff.

[Saint]

443K people have been properly vaccinated. Good stuff.

That number's not going to move now for a while

[dpedin]

And we finally close the travel corridors

Yep, just how long ago should that have been done

To protect us from the risk of as-yet unidentified strains, all travel corridors will temporary close from 4am on Monday, he says.

This will apply across the whole of the UK, he says.

Anyone coming into the country must have proof of a negative test taken within 72 hours before leaving, a filled in passenger locator form and the airline will ask for both before take off, he says.

You may also be checked on landing and face fines for refusing to comply, he says.

Upon arrival you must quarantine for 10 days, not leaving for any reason, and take another test on day five and wait for proof of another negative result, he says.

Enforcement will be upped in-country and at the border, he says

About feckin time, only 10 months too late. Wonder why they are now introducing this measure? What has made them change their mind? We have always had mutations of the virus, it is what happens with every virus, do they know something they are not telling us?

[JM2K6]

And we finally close the travel corridors

Yep, just how long ago should that have been done

To protect us from the risk of as-yet unidentified strains, all travel corridors will temporary close from 4am on Monday, he says.

This will apply across the whole of the UK, he says.

Anyone coming into the country must have proof of a negative test taken within 72 hours before leaving, a filled in passenger locator form and the airline will ask for both before take off, he says.

You may also be checked on landing and face fines for refusing to comply, he says.

Upon arrival you must quarantine for 10 days, not leaving for any reason, and take another test on day five and wait for proof of another negative result, he says.

Enforcement will be upped in-country and at the border, he says

About feckin time, only 10 months too late. Wonder why they are now introducing this measure? What has made them change their mind? We have always had mutations of the virus, it is what happens with every virus, do they know something they are not telling us?

Probably spooked by what's happening in Manaus after our own variant and the SA one.

[dpedin]

Yep, just how long ago should that have been done

About feckin time, only 10 months too late. Wonder why they are now introducing this measure? What has made them change their mind? We have always had mutations of the virus, it is what happens with every virus, do they know something they are not telling us?

Probably spooked by what's happening in Manaus after our own variant and the SA one.

Could be to keep Trump from coming to Turnberry next week as he flees Washington?

[Bimbowomxn]

Catching up with the nationalists still trying to “other” the performance of a Scottish government that is slowly being exposed as unfit for anything and eventually might get criminal charges is a thing of wonder. I assume they’re fairly bright people but f uck me they’re either so full of English hate or brainwashed that they’re supporting genuine nasty nationalism and corruption.


Oh and the Data scientist is still wrong about IFR......

[Denny Crane]

Pierre Kory
@PierreKory

Our Ivermectin paper passed three rounds of peer-review! Abstract published online today, full manuscript is in production and will be published online in 1-2 weeks we hope - speed is critical, lives depend on the dissemination of our findings.

Review of the Emerging Evidence Demonstrating the Efficacy of Ivermectin in the Prophylaxis and Treatment of COVID-19

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10 ... 9/abstract

[Glaston]

Pierre Kory
@PierreKory

Our Ivermectin paper passed three rounds of peer-review! Abstract published online today, full manuscript is in production and will be published online in 1-2 weeks we hope - speed is critical, lives depend on the dissemination of our findings.

Review of the Emerging Evidence Demonstrating the Efficacy of Ivermectin in the Prophylaxis and Treatment of COVID-19

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10 ... 9/abstract

Dont tell the Saffas.
The Govt are cracking down on people with Ivermectin.
Even searching Hospitals

[Denny Crane]

Review of the Emerging Evidence Demonstrating the Efficacy of Ivermectin in the Prophylaxis and Treatment of COVID-19

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10 ... 9/abstract

Dont tell the Saffas.
The Govt are cracking down on people with Ivermectin.
Even searching Hospitals

US NIH (Jan 14) updated its position with the recommendation:

The COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel (the Panel) has determined that currently there are insufficient data to recommend either for or against the use of ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19. Results from adequately powered, well-designed, and well-conducted clinical trials are needed to provide more specific, evidence-based guidance on the role of ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19

[FalseBayFC]

Pierre Kory
@PierreKory

Our Ivermectin paper passed three rounds of peer-review! Abstract published online today, full manuscript is in production and will be published online in 1-2 weeks we hope - speed is critical, lives depend on the dissemination of our findings.

Review of the Emerging Evidence Demonstrating the Efficacy of Ivermectin in the Prophylaxis and Treatment of COVID-19

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10 ... 9/abstract

Dont tell the Saffas.
The Govt are cracking down on people with Ivermectin.
Even searching Hospitals

I have a stash. My farming family distributed to our network.

[Uncle fester]

Japan’s National Institute of Infectious Diseases announced they have discovered a new strain of the coronavirus in four passengers that arrived in Japan’s Haneda airport from Brazil.

I wonder when the one that increases the lethality (is that a word) to 20% or something will arrive?

Viruses generally become less lethal over time. It's a more productive evolutionary trait.

But not always. Spanish flu second wave was way more lethal than the first.

[Denny Crane]

For anyone interested in an update on the Corona lawsuits being brought and court rulings in a couple of countries as of Jan 6

http://enformtk.u-aizu.ac.jp/howard/fuellmich/

[TB63]

Ex wife got the jab last weekend, she's a visiting carer, but still a 160 mile round trip to get it.
Both my parents booked in for next Friday as are a lot of their 80 plus friends. About time as Wales has been well behind..

[Raggs]

I wonder when the one that increases the lethality (is that a word) to 20% or something will arrive?

Viruses generally become less lethal over time. It's a more productive evolutionary trait.

But not always. Spanish flu second wave was way more lethal than the first.

Less than 1% fatal rate is not going to impact it's evolution at all as it is though. It's not going to burn through all it's hosts with a fatality rate that low anyway, there's no pressure whatsoever on fatality rate. Transmission is always likely to increase is more the issue, since increasing transmissibility is an immediate evolutionary advantage.

[SaintK]

This must be more than a bit worrying?

Advisers from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) have raised fresh concerns over Covid vaccine uptake among black, Asian and minority ethnic communities (BAME) as research showed up to 72% of black people said they were unlikely to have the jab.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021 ... id-jab-uk

[Saint]

This must be more than a bit worrying?

Advisers from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) have raised fresh concerns over Covid vaccine uptake among black, Asian and minority ethnic communities (BAME) as research showed up to 72% of black people said they were unlikely to have the jab.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021 ... id-jab-uk

The one BAME on my wife's team has refused the jab. She's also at risk as morbidly obese and therefore has been risk assessed by occupational health and is not allowed to see patients.

[Margin__Walker]

How can you work in that profession and be fundamentally sceptical when it comes to medicine?

Weird.

[Saint]

How can you work in that profession and be fundamentally sceptical when it comes to medicine?

Weird.

There's a whole Facebook group of doctors and healthcare professionals in the UK who are anti-vax

[Margin__Walker]

How can you work in that profession and be fundamentally sceptical when it comes to medicine?

Weird.

There's a whole Facebook group of doctors and healthcare professionals in the UK who are anti-vax

It's mental. I just can't understand how you can reconcile it with your day job when you go home each day.

[SaintK]

How can you work in that profession and be fundamentally sceptical when it comes to medicine?

Weird.

There's a whole Facebook group of doctors and healthcare professionals in the UK who are anti-vax

Christ!!! That's bloody lunacy

[sockwithaticket]

This must be more than a bit worrying?

Advisers from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) have raised fresh concerns over Covid vaccine uptake among black, Asian and minority ethnic communities (BAME) as research showed up to 72% of black people said they were unlikely to have the jab.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021 ... id-jab-uk

Strictly in terms of overall immunity it doesn't really matter. At the last census (admittedly a decade ago now so there might have been some change, but probably not anything too drastic), the black population (including those who identified as mixed) was <5%. The whole population group could refuse and the magic 70% would still be achievable even allowing for some refusal among other groups.

Obviously we want as many people taking it as possible and no particular communities to suffer, but this isn't a roadblock to the overarching goal.

It is weird, though. While I can understand there are historical issues I'm only vaguely aware of, this vaccine is quite publicly being issued to white people too, so it's not a case of using minority communities as a proving ground.

This bit's a little concerning

The report emphasised the need for engagement with trusted sources such as GPs, and scientists from within BAME communities to respond to concerns about vaccine safety and efficacy.

In a country where the community is such a minority, is it practical or desirable to encourage a situation where only those of the same skin colour are listened to?

[SaintK]

This must be more than a bit worrying?

Advisers from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) have raised fresh concerns over Covid vaccine uptake among black, Asian and minority ethnic communities (BAME) as research showed up to 72% of black people said they were unlikely to have the jab.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021 ... id-jab-uk

Strictly in terms of overall immunity it doesn't really matter. At the last census (admittedly a decade ago now so there might have been some change, but probably not anything too drastic), the black population (including those who identified as mixed) was <5%. The whole population group could refuse and the magic 70% would still be achievable even allowing for some refusal among other groups.

Obviously we want as many people taking it as possible and no particular communities to suffer, but this isn't a roadblock to the overarching goal.

It is weird, though. While I can understand there are historical issues I'm only vaguely aware of, this vaccine is quite publicly being issued to white people too, so it's not a case of using minority communities as a proving ground.

This bit's a little concerning

The report emphasised the need for engagement with trusted sources such as GPs, and scientists from within BAME communities to respond to concerns about vaccine safety and efficacy.

In a country where the community is such a minority, is it practical or desirable to encourage a situation where only those of the same skin colour are listened to?

Thanks for the context

[fishfoodie]

How can you work in that profession and be fundamentally sceptical when it comes to medicine?

Weird.

There's a whole Facebook group of doctors and healthcare professionals in the UK who are anti-vax

Christ!!! That's bloody lunacy

Medicine isn't a science, it's a trade !

There might now be large parts of it that are scientific; but there are also parts that are sympathetic with practicing homeopathy, & these were probably the same people who believed in leeches a 150 years ago

[Biffer]

This must be more than a bit worrying?

Advisers from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) have raised fresh concerns over Covid vaccine uptake among black, Asian and minority ethnic communities (BAME) as research showed up to 72% of black people said they were unlikely to have the jab.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021 ... id-jab-uk

Strictly in terms of overall immunity it doesn't really matter. At the last census (admittedly a decade ago now so there might have been some change, but probably not anything too drastic), the black population (including those who identified as mixed) was <5%. The whole population group could refuse and the magic 70% would still be achievable even allowing for some refusal among other groups.

Obviously we want as many people taking it as possible and no particular communities to suffer, but this isn't a roadblock to the overarching goal.

It is weird, though. While I can understand there are historical issues I'm only vaguely aware of, this vaccine is quite publicly being issued to white people too, so it's not a case of using minority communities as a proving ground.

This bit's a little concerning

The report emphasised the need for engagement with trusted sources such as GPs, and scientists from within BAME communities to respond to concerns about vaccine safety and efficacy.

In a country where the community is such a minority, is it practical or desirable to encourage a situation where only those of the same skin colour are listened to?

Overall that's right, but there are some towns and cities where the demographic is such that the area would be susceptible to epidemics with that rate of refusal

[Rhubarb & Custard]

There's a whole Facebook group of doctors and healthcare professionals in the UK who are anti-vax

Christ!!! That's bloody lunacy

Medicine isn't a science, it's a trade !

There might now be large parts of it that are scientific; but there are also parts that are sympathetic with practicing homeopathy, & these were probably the same people who believed in leeches a 150 years ago

In fairness they were right about the leeches, sort of. Though as has been noted, nobody who professes to believe in homeopathy can be found flying in a plane filled with homeopathic jet fuel, which is to say no one who believes actually believes that tripe.

I'm not sure how you can work in medicine and not be driven by data, working in IT the equivalent might be coming into a meeting where someone wants to run all of bank's IT systems off a Commodore 64 because that's known tech from their childhood. It's just very weird, we all have biases and gut instincts, but to impose those over science is..., well, weird

[sockwithaticket]

This must be more than a bit worrying?

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021 ... id-jab-uk

Strictly in terms of overall immunity it doesn't really matter. At the last census (admittedly a decade ago now so there might have been some change, but probably not anything too drastic), the black population (including those who identified as mixed) was <5%. The whole population group could refuse and the magic 70% would still be achievable even allowing for some refusal among other groups.

Obviously we want as many people taking it as possible and no particular communities to suffer, but this isn't a roadblock to the overarching goal.

It is weird, though. While I can understand there are historical issues I'm only vaguely aware of, this vaccine is quite publicly being issued to white people too, so it's not a case of using minority communities as a proving ground.

This bit's a little concerning

The report emphasised the need for engagement with trusted sources such as GPs, and scientists from within BAME communities to respond to concerns about vaccine safety and efficacy.

In a country where the community is such a minority, is it practical or desirable to encourage a situation where only those of the same skin colour are listened to?

Overall that's right, but there are some towns and cities where the demographic is such that the area would be susceptible to epidemics with that rate of refusal

True, I don't really know the regional breakdown of the population. Obviously London would be in a spot of bother.

[Saint]

There's a whole Facebook group of doctors and healthcare professionals in the UK who are anti-vax

Christ!!! That's bloody lunacy

Medicine isn't a science, it's a trade !

There might now be large parts of it that are scientific; but there are also parts that are sympathetic with practicing homeopathy, & these were probably the same people who believed in leeches a 150 years ago

But these aren;t that type of group. We're talking about professionals who have been brought through a system emphasising the scientific side of things. That they've subsequently somehow been exposed to a position/reached the conclusion that antivax is a reasonable position to take is concerning - especially as we as a society rely on many of the same people to be delivering vaccines each year for Flu, childcare vax programmes, etc

[Lobby]

This must be more than a bit worrying?

Advisers from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) have raised fresh concerns over Covid vaccine uptake among black, Asian and minority ethnic communities (BAME) as research showed up to 72% of black people said they were unlikely to have the jab.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021 ... id-jab-uk

Strictly in terms of overall immunity it doesn't really matter. At the last census (admittedly a decade ago now so there might have been some change, but probably not anything too drastic), the black population (including those who identified as mixed) was <5%. The whole population group could refuse and the magic 70% would still be achievable even allowing for some refusal among other groups.

Obviously we want as many people taking it as possible and no particular communities to suffer, but this isn't a roadblock to the overarching goal.

It is weird, though. While I can understand there are historical issues I'm only vaguely aware of, this vaccine is quite publicly being issued to white people too, so it's not a case of using minority communities as a proving ground.

This bit's a little concerning

The report emphasised the need for engagement with trusted sources such as GPs, and scientists from within BAME communities to respond to concerns about vaccine safety and efficacy.

In a country where the community is such a minority, is it practical or desirable to encourage a situation where only those of the same skin colour are listened to?

It might not impact on overall immunity, but given that the death rate in the BAME community is double that of white people, with such a low take up of the vaccine, that disparity is only going to increase.

[Uncle fester]

Viruses generally become less lethal over time. It's a more productive evolutionary trait.

But not always. Spanish flu second wave was way more lethal than the first.

Less than 1% fatal rate is not going to impact it's evolution at all as it is though. It's not going to burn through all it's hosts with a fatality rate that low anyway, there's no pressure whatsoever on fatality rate. Transmission is always likely to increase is more the issue, since increasing transmissibility is an immediate evolutionary advantage.

I'm not sure how your post relates to mine?

Even if 1% lethality was to remain unchanged with a new more transmittable strain, deaths will increase due to more people having it.

It will also increase the risk of further mutations in a more dangerous direction and possibly making current vaccines ineffective.

[Raggs]

Having been at uni with medical students, they are not scientists (some obviously are, but more the GPs etc). They have the grounding that they could be, but it's more about making connections. Get symptoms, get idea of person, come up with idea of ailment, prescribe best medicine. Minds busy making connections all the time, but not necessarily needing to worry about actual science, could easily fall prey for conspiracy theories etc.

But not always. Spanish flu second wave was way more lethal than the first.

Less than 1% fatal rate is not going to impact it's evolution at all as it is though. It's not going to burn through all it's hosts with a fatality rate that low anyway, there's no pressure whatsoever on fatality rate. Transmission is always likely to increase is more the issue, since increasing transmissibility is an immediate evolutionary advantage.

I'm not sure how your post relates to mine?

Even if 1% lethality was to remain unchanged with a new more transmittable strain, deaths will increase due to more people having it.

It will also increase the risk of further mutations in a more dangerous direction and possibly making current vaccines ineffective.

It was more just continuing the conversation, targeting Biffer.

[Saint]

Nearly 330k doses delivered on Friday then. Will be interesting to see what the weekend numbers look like tomorrow and Monday

[TB63]

The mentality of some people...
Friends of my parents, both in their 90s have their jab coming up on Friday, her first comment, I can pop into Lidl then seeing as it's next door to the clinic...FFS....

[Saint]

The mentality of some people...
Friends of my parents, both in their 90s have their jab coming up on Friday, her first comment, I can pop into Lidl then seeing as it's next door to the clinic...FFS....

I've given up being amazed by anything surrounding how people are viewing the pandemic these days. Just glad that the numbers appear to be dropping through the floor locally