Vaccine groups

I had 1st jab Dec.20th 2nd jab is Jan,9th. No side effects and very well organised. I think anyone who doesn't take 1st offer should be put to back of the queue.

Is that sort of in line with if you refuse an operation or procedure you go to the back of the queue? I know of a friend who turned down a two week wait scan (to go on holiday!) and then had to wait another 2 weeks from the date she had been offered. Fair enough.

With the millions of people who need and want to be vaccinated, it’s unrealistic to expect that a choice will be offered, other than for very specific medical reasons. If you don’t have the vaccination when it’s offered to you it’s unlikely that you will get an offer again until the end of the vaccination programme - which is as it should be. It’s up to each of us to weigh up the options, but be prepared to wait for at least six months for a second chance if you decline the first offer.

You really need to read the criteria which were used by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation to decide the priority.
You really need to stop jumping on my back with every comment I make growstuff. You really do insult my intelligence, but worse still my empathy with all groups. I know all about saving the NHS, vulnerable people etc etc. We hear enough about your personal circumstances and views, so why criticise others for theirs?

That's what I was thinking growstuff.

Kate1949

Will we get a choice over which vaccine we get?

I can't see how we would be offered a choice. The centres need to use up the vaccines they have and can't run the risk of running out of one and having surplus of the other.

In any case, the UK has only ordered a limited number of the Pfizer vaccine and I'm not sure that the supply issues with it have been sorted.

sharon103

farview

I'm really really not sure yet that I would want the vaccine...and if I had to have it...my gut feeling would be for the Oxford vaccine....tin hat on now and behind the settee...

Same here farview. I would rather stay home and wait for the Oxford one. I have allergies and been put off by the Pfizer one.
I've just joined you behind the settee. Can't find me tin hat!

As a matter of interest, what's your reason for preferring the AZ/Oxford vaccine? So far, the evidence suggests it's less likely to be protective than the Pfizer/BioNTech one. I doubt if there'll be a choice.

sharon103

farview

I'm really really not sure yet that I would want the vaccine...and if I had to have it...my gut feeling would be for the Oxford vaccine....tin hat on now and behind the settee...

Same here farview. I would rather stay home and wait for the Oxford one. I have allergies and been put off by the Pfizer one.
I've just joined you behind the settee. Can't find me tin hat!

I think it is acceptable if people want to choose the vaccine they would like but if they refuse the first offered they must then wait until everyone else has been vaccinated before offered again
I don’t care which I have as long as it works

Will we get a choice over which vaccine we get?

Ellianne

You are so right to say we are all entitled to our views Sarnia on that issue. Our opinions are often shaped by our own experiences.
My parents died when I was young,, so for the last 40 years I have not had the responsibility for elderly relatives. I don't think that makes me any less compassionate, but it has made me value the lives of my own children and grandchildren more. That is maybe why I am perhaps more concerned about children, their education, and their mental and physical health than worrying about the very old. This also ties in with your opening comment about who it is that will be getting this country back on its feet economically.

You really need to read the criteria which were used by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation to decide the priority list.

The sole aims are to save lives and to take pressure off hospital beds. As the over 65s make up the bulk of those in hospital, it's logical to try and prevent them from becoming seriously ill.

The priorities have nothing to do with anybody's value to society, but a pragmatic decision to take pressure off the NHS.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/priority-groups-for-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-advice-from-the-jcvi-2-december-2020/priority-groups-for-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-advice-from-the-jcvi-2-december-2020

We still don't know whether any of the vaccines will stop transmission, so they could be of very limited and expensive use to those who are less likely to become seriously ill. People will still need to wear masks and socially distance themselves, vaccine or not.

The main problem in schools is that it is the pupils who are infecting others and there have not been any trials on under 16s. It's not even definite that there would be enough doses for everybody over 16. The people who need vaccinating are the elderly/vulnerable relatives of school pupils.

farview

I'm really really not sure yet that I would want the vaccine...and if I had to have it...my gut feeling would be for the Oxford vaccine....tin hat on now and behind the settee...

Same here farview. I would rather stay home and wait for the Oxford one. I have allergies and been put off by the Pfizer one.
I've just joined you behind the settee. Can't find me tin hat!

Thank you Madwoman. I'll be glad to get mine too.

Kate1949 well I wish him well. I will certainly be glad to get mine

Teachers are living under so much uncertainty and fear at the moment, that the vaccine is the least they deserve if they are due to restart term in a few weeks.

I can have an opinion with no vested interest, since I'm teaching overseas now. I also think teachers should be higher on the priority list.

If what we want is schools open, we need to make it safer for those at the chalk face to be there.

I think all NHS frontline should be vaccinated as a priority
Those who want to wait should not be offered the vaccine until everyone over the age of 18 has had a chance to take it if they want to

I think it would be only fair to get the teachers vaccinated.

You are so right to say we are all entitled to our views Sarnia on that issue. Our opinions are often shaped by our own experiences.
My parents died when I was young,, so for the last 40 years I have not had the responsibility for elderly relatives. I don't think that makes me any less compassionate, but it has made me value the lives of my own children and grandchildren more. That is maybe why I am perhaps more concerned about children, their education, and their mental and physical health than worrying about the very old. This also ties in with your opening comment about who it is that will be getting this country back on its feet economically.

Ellianne

Sarnia in answer to your question why there are posters who think the lives of the elderly don't matter, that isn't at all true. There was a heated discussion where a couple of posters with 90+ parents said they would prefer younger working people to be vaccinated before these older folk. It was actually the 90 pluses who had expressed this wish too. Some readers got very uppity and accusations flew about not valuing older inactive people.

I haven't read that post. My remark was to another poster mentioning that. It is a very thorny issue with differing views to which we are all entitled.

Sarnia in answer to your question why there are posters who think the lives of the elderly don't matter, that isn't at all true. There was a heated discussion where a couple of posters with 90+ parents said they would prefer younger working people to be vaccinated before these older folk. It was actually the 90 pluses who had expressed this wish too. Some readers got very uppity and accusations flew about not valuing older inactive people.

I'm beyond worrying who has the vaccine first or last, but glad to hear the surgery has the sense to call in your mobile, healthy and ready to respond 69 year old brother Kate whatever the reasoning.

I think the vaccine roll out has been quite haphazard, but good for your brother that he’s getting it.

My brother was surprised to be asked so soon. My 93 year old neighbour hasn't heard from her surgery, so yes it must depend on where you live. My brother is in the same city as us but about ten miles away. He is going to ask tomorrow how come he's been offered it.

Kate1949 that's reassuring as I've been wondering how far in the queue I am, but of course it will depend on where you live and lots of other things

My brother is getting the vaccine tomorrow. 69 No health issues. Surgery just rang and offered it to him.