Are we allowed to be optimistic yet? *Title edited by GNHQ*

Who said shielding won't be necessary by the end of March? Hate to be a wet blanket, but if you want to remain safe, it's going to take a bit longer than that. It depends what level of risk you're prepared to take.

I had the AZ three weeks ago and OH had the Pfizer two weeks ago, tbh although they are based on different science, they are both effective and I am very optimistic. My D is a doctor, her hospital now has very few covid patients now but was full some weeks ago and having to transfer patients. Numbers are dropping everywhere and the sun is shining! My sis lives in S of Spain and despite being nearly 80 with some health issues has not had a vacc yet, she'd have the AZ one at the drop of a hat!

I'm quietly confident that everything is going in the right direction. June will do me fine. Already one of my favourite months for various reasons. Maybe now another to add. Softly softly.........

I’m cautiously optimistic especially as it’s thought shielding will no longer be necessary by the end of March. On 1st April (call me a fool ) but I want to get a bit of my independence back by going for my own food and toiletries. I never again want to have to have 3 phone calls from my 35 year old son while he tries to find the right hair removal cream

Ha! That’s cheered me up.

Our friends 81 and 78 in Southern Spain haven’t heard anything either Urmstongran and they are Spanish citizens.

Peasblossom

I saw that bit of news and my heart lifted. I had the Astra Zeneca and then a phone call from a friend to tell me it was useless (unlike her Pfizer) so I’m especially pleased with the AZ figures.

Do people really have conversations with friends about vaccines?

I'm having mine on Thursday. I haven't a clue which one it will be, but I'm hoping I'll get a sticker (if not a lollipop).

It's a day out, so dead excited!

I’m with you Witzend!

Can you just imagine the howls of protest Witzend if the boot was on the other foot and the sainted EU were surging ahead with vaccination rollout? There were howls of protest from some quarters when Boris announced we were going it alone regards procurement.

Yes, I do realise that technically every EU country were at liberty to buy their own vaccines but they didn’t. They relied on UvdL to do the business and negotiate hard on behalf of 27 member states. It all went spectacularly wrong. And then Macron dissing the OAZ didn’t help matters any. His chickens have come home to roost for sure.

Friends over in Malaga haven’t had a sniff of a vaccine yet. Seven of them are in their mid-80’s too.

I read the other day that masses of doses of the AZ were being wasted in Germany, because people weren’t turning up for jabs if they knew it was going to be the AZ.

I blame Macron and various EU bods, for what I’m quite sure were sour-grapes remarks disparaging the AZ -and in the case of Macron, particularly sour because the French vaccine they’d been relying on had failed - though I believe they’re still working on it.
Plus I dare say that they like to think that anything developed in a country stupid enough to leave the EU (which has proved so spectacularly useless at rolling out the vaccines) can’t possibly be any good.

I am quietly optimistic, the PM's roadmap seems a measured approach. Looking forward to second vaccine dose.

I had the AZ in January, DH had the Pfizer in December - would we have better immunity if we had one of each? Whatever, I am hoping to go for a UK Break in May!! Haven't spent so long without break - ever!!

I was just pleased to get a vaccine.

I'm with suzziewoozie on her thoughts.

Peasblossom

I saw that bit of news and my heart lifted. I had the Astra Zeneca and then a phone call from a friend to tell me it was useless (unlike her Pfizer) so I’m especially pleased with the AZ figures.

Nice friend!

Just after Christmas, My always optimistic husband booked us (plus stepfather) a holiday to Ibiza on 29 May - flights & hotel refundable if not possible due to restrictions. He is a very happy bunny this morning whistling a merry tune ...
?

I am optimistic by nature and am hopeful that by the summer there will be some resemblance to pre-pandemic normality.

Opening up gradually

BigBertha1

Yes I am optimistic but I wonder what this very very cautious road map is really concerned about. Is it hospital admissions or transmissibility I wonder?

I think Chris Whitty addressed this didn’t he? Our case numbers are still high, hospital admissions and inpatient numbers are still high, and not everyone is vaccinated, Of those who are vaccinated there is and never can be 100% protection, transmissibility still seems to be around 30% of those vaccinated. Opening up will lead to more cases ( increased R) and more admissions and deaths. Openin*but gradually is meant to mean tbat if this increase gets out of hand, the government will hit pause. Oh and I forgot new variants

I had the Pfizer jab in January and definitely feel optimistic.

Yes I am optimistic but I wonder what this very very cautious road map is really concerned about. Is it hospital admissions or transmissibility I wonder?

I would have been devastated if the research found that the vaccines had made no difference to hospital admissions. Further research will answer the questions about immunity, transmission and so on but this initial news has given me hope and I will allow myself to be cautiously optimistic for now.

So far so great. Roll on summer!

I am cautiously optimistic, I have to be!

Obviously I’m still being cautious as well as feeling optimistic and happy to read this news ?

Good news. I had the AZ vaccine which seems to be performing better.