What is fair? Covid - sudden change of policy!

My DH has had his first one 30th December the 2nd is due 20th January - hope it stays that way, also hope I get mine soon!!!

Worrying for you "Applegran*. It seems that the first dose gives some protection but I would still be very careful.

It's all very odd. My 69 year old brother has had his. He has no health conditions. My neighbour who is 93 with many conditions hasn't been called yet.

No you are definitely not being selfish, and imo people need to contact their MP quoting the message from Pfizer.

I think you should have your second shot Applegran. That's what you signed up for and were led to believe would happen. Sorry to say that I don't think this is anything to do with fairness. The country doesn't have enough vaccines and this is a political decision to keep more people quiet.

Fingers crossed for you!

Very frustrating for those in your situation Applegran but I think the policy of the 'greatest good of the greatest number' is the one to be followed.
Certainly we can wonder why this wasn't worked out before.
I feel more nervous that the 12-week follow-up jabs are pie in the sky and will never happen.
News that there are several million doses ready but an insufficient supply of glass vials isn't reassuring.

This is the only way to get a hold on the virus now this mutation is spreading so fast. They need to give protection to as many people as possible to prevent deaths and to stop the hospitals being overwhelmed.

It's disappointing for us oldies, but it's the best way. The first dose prevents serious disease and the need for hospitalisation. It makes sense when you think about it.

I think it didn't start out this way because no one new the mutation was on the way.

I am concerned about this, too, although I have not yet had a vaccination myself. However, this new policy has been approved by all four chief UK medics, including Chris Whitty. I understand that the Pfizer vax gives 90% protection from the first jab and the Oxford vax gives 70% protection from the first jab and this is good - the flu vax we have every year gives less protection than this. Both jabs need top-ups after three months but are effective three weeks after the first jab. We should know within two weeks, according to Jonathan Van Tam, whether or not we are able to carry the infection (ie perhaps pass it on to others) after just one jab and I think that is the clincher. If I am 70% protected after the first jab and not able to become infected and pass on the infection to others I will feel confident to carry on life as normal (if allowed) and not worry that I have to wait three months for the booster. Such worrying times we live in.

Could it be that they can't get any more (or enough) of the Pfizer vaccine soon enough to give the second doses, and are now having to improvise, hoping that we don't realize their mistake?

I think that those who have already had their first dose should get the second as planned.

However the system of one dose and a follow-up in 12 weeks for anyone who has not yet had a first dose seems reasonable, because they will anticipate this.

It seems unfair that my 93yo mother hasn’t heard as much as a cuckoo about getting her jab when other, less vulnerable, people are having their second.

I read that the second Pfizer jab increases protection from 90% to 94%, which is not a huge increase.

MamaCaz

Could it be that they can't get any more (or enough) of the Pfizer vaccine soon enough to give the second doses, and are now having to improvise, hoping that we don't realize their mistake?

This sounds about par for the course.

I would get onto someone about that. I know surgeries are saying the "don't contact us" thing, but that seems so wrong. Local MP perhaps?

That meant for SueDonim

I would rather the teachers got a first dose before us oldies get a second.

MamaCaz

Could it be that they can't get any more (or enough) of the Pfizer vaccine soon enough to give the second doses, and are now having to improvise, hoping that we don't realize their mistake?

I'd put money on that being the reason.

Pfizer: “There are no data to demonstrate that protection after the first dose is sustained after 21 days".

So it might or it might not.

Moonlight113

I think it didn't start out this way because no one new the mutation was on the way.

If the scientists didn't realise that the virus would mutate, they need to go back to school. Every single virus mutates, so they must have known.

Yes, I'm sure that scientists are well aware of mutating viruses.

SARS-CoV-2 is an RNA virus, and mutations arise naturally as the virus replicates. Many thousands of mutations have already arisen, but only a very small minority are likely to be important and to change the virus in an appreciable way. COG-UK says that there are currently around 4000 mutations in the spike protein.

Sharon Peacock, director of COG-UK, told the Science Media Centre briefing, “Mutations are expected and are a natural part of evolution. Many thousands of mutations have already arisen, and the vast majority have no effect on the virus but can be useful as a barcode to monitor outbreaks.”

From

www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4857

i think they should follow the agreed schedule, but realistically there isn't much we can do about it.
so best not to get agitated, raise blood pressure etc.
half a loaf is better than none.
happy new year everyone.

I think they were surprised at the speed that this particular mutation is able to infect people. The death rates have soared.

Moonlight113

I would get onto someone about that. I know surgeries are saying the "don't contact us" thing, but that seems so wrong. Local MP perhaps?

Chance would be a fine thing, Moonlight! Her local health services shut up shop yesterday and won’t reopen until Tuesday.

When I worked in the NHS, many moons ago, we weren’t allowed to close for two days in a row, hence working some Saturdays mornings and half days on bank holidays.

I got the impression that the longer gap was for the Astra Zeneca vaccine.
I am prepared to be wrong, I often am.