Covid Vaccination Status

[Quizzical Bob]

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/astr ... -jrjdsc265 (paywall)

"The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine will not form a routine part of Britain’s booster programme, as the government revealed all over-50s will be offered Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna for the third dose irrespective of their first two."

[barney]

Cheers Bob
Detail not speculation.

[Stephen]

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/astr ... -jrjdsc265 (paywall)

"The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine will not form a routine part of Britain’s booster programme, as the government revealed all over-50s will be offered Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna for the third dose irrespective of their first two."

Your correct QB.

I heard the government officials say the same thing at their news conference, last night or the night before, I can't remember. I thought it a bit strange at the time, thinking how they were originally giving out one or the other vaccines for both jabs, now it's just the one (Pfizer) for the booster.

[Ray B]

with the boffins concerned with the new variant from Africa we quickly closed down flights from the country. As they now report a case in Belgium, does that mean that the new African variant genie has now escaped the bottle.

[Onelife]

with the boffins concerned with the new variant from Africa we quickly closed down flights from the country. As they now report a case in Belgium, does that mean that the new African variant genie has now escaped the bottle.

Probably….and if it turns out as bad as they say it might we’ll be needing more than three wishes.

[Kendhni]

I would say it is not a case of 'if' but a case of 'when' it arrives over here.
There are groups out there that work to find ways to get anyone from A to Z by skirting around national laws. All it means is that you have to country hop until you find a country that allows flights to your required destination. The fact it is now in Europe means that unless the government shuts down flights totally then it will probably arrive here ... fingers crossed the current vaccines batches work

[david63]

unless the government shuts down flights totally then it will probably arrive here

It would not come as any surprise to find that it already is here - just not detected yet

[Mervyn and Trish]

I read last night that various vaccine companies are already working on updating to take in the new variant(s) in case their current products are less effective against them and that it won't take too long to do. I presume they will all adapt over time as the flu jab does. I also read that a future possibility is a jab combining the mechanisms of the AZ type jabs and the Pfizer type to give the best of both worlds.

[Kendhni]

unless the government shuts down flights totally then it will probably arrive here

It would not come as any surprise to find that it already is here - just not detected yet

Indeed, on the news this morning they used a strange phraseology that made me think it maybe has been detected (but well isolated) within the UK.

[Manoverboard]

61 infected passengers arrived in the Netherlands this morning, they are all in isolation.

[Ray B]

unless the government shuts down flights totally then it will probably arrive here

It would not come as any surprise to find that it already is here - just not detected yet

Possible that the odd one or two has entered the UK with developing early symptoms before flights were stopped. I don't know how well tests can detect early signs.
We have been accused of punishing S African nations, best we give it two weeks to assess if it's a threat.
S African medic says that should other countries find a new strain they may be reluctant to inform the Who. This would be totally irresponsible for any country to do so.
S Africa should be applauded in coming forward to allow the scientists to investigate.
Just been announced that two infected persons have been found in UK.

[Stephen]

Just a matter of time before another lockdown is announced.

[Frank Manning]

We have had a Pfizer booster, and were looking forward to a bit of a social life again. Looks as though that may be scuppered.

[barney]

Just a matter of time before another lockdown is announced.

I fear that you are right Stephen.
We are fully expecting another lockdown immediately after Xmas like last year.

[towny44]

Boris will be on this afternoon, but I fully expect him to still be saying another lockdown is unlikely.

[anniec]

Boris will be on this afternoon, but I fully expect him to still be saying another lockdown is unlikely.

Past experience says this means that it's only a matter of time.

[Stephen]

A bit close to home. Batten down the hatches


Covid: Two cases of new variant Omicron detected in UK https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-59445388

[Bensham33]

Two cases doesn't equal lockdown. It's to early to say how dangerous this variant is. In short don't panic..

[Mervyn and Trish]

The measures announced seem proportionate until we know more. Though I presume you know who will say Boris didn't act fast enough

[Kendhni]

Many people, including from his own advisors and cabinet, felt he lifted restrictions too early, so it is good to see he seems to be finally learning from his mistakes of the past and reacting quickly (almost to the point of proactivity). I don't believe any action could have/will stop it arriving here, so we have to go into damage limitation mode ... which is what Johnson appears to be trying to do.

AZ believe they can quickly get out a vaccine against this (if required) - I wonder if that will mean another booster shot.

[david63]

Two cases doesn't equal lockdown

They don't but at the press conference last night that was what the media were wanting to happen.

[Manoverboard]

Face masks are a requirement as of Tuesday ...

[Stephen]

A little extra info

Covid: Face masks to be compulsory in England from Tuesday, says Javid https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-59449480

[Mervyn and Trish]

I see Twitface is alive with anti-vaxxers, covid-deniers and conspiracy theorists dismissing the possible danger and even existence of the new variant.

I wonder how these morons put their pants on in the morning.

[Manoverboard]

Backwards I shouldn't wonder