A successful vaccine program

Maddyone

I'm not saying the logistics of the distribution weren't good - I'm simply pointing out that it's easier to distribute something you have, than something you don't!

Casdon

Your assumption that lots of vaccine has made the rollout in the UK easy is an oversimplification of what has been a massive logistics exercise NotSpaghetti . The vaccine supply has been and continues to be sporadic in the UK, and vaccination centres have to flex their staff on a daily/weekly basis. Virtually all the NHS staff have been pulled from other roles, leaving gaps in core service provision. It’s very difficult indeed to sustain the services, and credit show go where it’s due, to the NHS for doing so well.

Well said Casdon. The vaccination programme has been successful because of all the hard work people have put into it. It wouldn’t matter how much vaccine we had if it hadn’t been well organised. My daughter is a GP who also has a Leadership role in our area. She has been heavily involved in the roll out as her Leadership role is to organise delivery of services across the South Eastern corridor. There will be many more like her up and down the country working hard to ensure the efficient delivery of the vaccine programme. No, it most certainly is not just about having lots of vaccine.

I just had to look this up!
mobile.twitter.com/DrGregorSmith/status/1386745363168641027/photo/2

Apparently it's the Greek God of medicine. He's also got Apollo driving his chariot across his chest

Gosh Alegrias1 what IS the tattoo?
It's surely not Venus?

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202104/medium-267007-29-apr-js-hancock-01.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202104/medium-252624-gregor.jpg

I thought this would be an nice addition to the thread. Matt Hancock getting his jab from JVT at the Science Museum, and Scottish CMO Gregor Smith showing off his surprising taste in ink

Casdon I'm not saying the logistics of the distribution weren't good - I'm simply pointing out that it's easier to distribute something you have, than something you don't!

Casdon

I agree Alegrias1. In the uncharted territory of the pandemic the government in the UK listened to and put faith in the professionals, medical, scientific and procurement, and acted on their advice. I wish that happened more often in other aspects of government as well.

Me too Casdon, me too. ?

Thank you for that article suzie. That whole thing was so well thought out it almost made me cry! She's the woman who saved Britain, I reckon.

www.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/blog/coronavirus-how-the-uk-backed-vaccine-winners/

This is an interview wth her and a really interesting read - long but worth it.

No the vaccine roll out wasn’t a success because the govt learned from its March mistakes ( which it repeated twice more throughout 2020. It was a totally different model with the right person ( and her team ) running it. And it was a well funded strategy which spread the risks across a range of several different vaccine technologies. KB’s background was the perfect combination of being a venture capitalist with a first class degree in biochemistry . Patrick Valence was instrumental in getting her involved in the first place.

I agree Alegrias1. In the uncharted territory of the pandemic the government in the UK listened to and put faith in the professionals, medical, scientific and procurement, and acted on their advice. I wish that happened more often in other aspects of government as well.

They have done a good job with vaccination , the government learned from all their mistakes from March 2020, at least they did order masses of vaccine, credit where credit is due.

I was very very concerned and critical about the introduction of the 12 week gap which has proved so successful and it’s a pity that apparently not more countries have followed example.

I have a theory (probably wrong) that it was Rachael Johnson’s idea to use Kate Bingham. I think they were at uni together. Either way, it was a good idea for the government to use someone that actually had an in depth knowledge of what they were dealing with.

This is a really interesting thread with different points of view, thank you for answering my question. One thing we all seem to agree on is that the implementation of the rollout has been exemplary. The NHS, the Army, the volunteers, all going above and beyond to get it done.

But there are 3 things that have gone so well that were started even before the first patient was jabbed.

First, huge amounts of vaccines were purchased, even when we didn't know if they would work. Amazing foresight and a calculated risk, which other countries don't seem to have taken.

Second, we stuck to the JCVI priority order, in the face of calls to prioritise teachers, policemen, supermarket workers.....and it seems to have been justified.

Third, and the decision that I think needs the most praise from all of us; they went with the medical and scientific advice that a 12 week gap was the best approach. When everybody was doubting it, and some people were even calling for court cases, they stuck to their guns, and they've been vindicated.

I wouldn't use the word proud either, but I'm impressed and grateful, that's for sure.

I am thrilled, delighted and mighty relieved at the success of the vaccine distribution. Long may it continue on its scheduled path. However it is the only success I can see in the otherwise shambles. I accept that the Govt was on new and untried territory but find many of their actions and decisions inexcusable. With the resources they have to hand they should have done better. I think of our death toll with absolute and utter shame and always will.

This is a really interesting question. I don’t think KB learned from DH as I think the procurement negotiations started very early. She was given a bottomless purse ( but so was DH) but she clearly knew exactly what she was doing. But the other cracker of a decision was MH’s to refuse Oxford’s preferred US partner and insist on AZ as we would have control. If and when the book comes out explaining the story of the vaccine roll out, it will be a great and fascinating read.

I think the job of implementation was given to the right people and all hail the volunteers. To answer yourOP Alegrias I don’t think the severity and deadliness of COVID-19 was understood by most governments initially. The subsequent rapid procurement and quantity of specific equipment was an unknown experience. That and track and trace really exposed any disaster recovery plans that existed to be useless, I hope we, as a country have learnt from it.

I read it’s down to the fact we have a ‘mature’ National health service. It was set up ready to move at short notice. It’s been excellent. Very efficient and I’d think almost wholly down to the nhs.

Your assumption that lots of vaccine has made the rollout in the UK easy is an oversimplification of what has been a massive logistics exercise NotSpaghetti . The vaccine supply has been and continues to be sporadic in the UK, and vaccination centres have to flex their staff on a daily/weekly basis. Virtually all the NHS staff have been pulled from other roles, leaving gaps in core service provision. It’s very difficult indeed to sustain the services, and credit show go where it’s due, to the NHS for doing so well.

Being in Scotland, I am also very pleased to have had the benefit of the UK vaccine scheme and not the EU one, which some SNP members would have had us join.

I’m very happy that the vaccination program is proving to be a success. I hope the rest of the world benefits too.

I am very grateful for a successful vaccination programme. I'm not sure proud is the right word for me as it often has slightly negative connotations, but I am pleased we have managed to get so many vaccinated.

We had a good roll out because we simply had lots of vaccine. We purchased at a higher price than elsewhere - so that's how we settled earlier - and we also ordered enough for (correct me if I'm wrong) five doses each. This means that we have many more doses than we need.

It's obviously simpler to roll out "a sufficiency" than roll-out "not enough".

I am proud of the vaccine roll out throughout the UK.

Me too, AGAA4. The only thing about Britain I've been proud of in the past few years.

Brings tears to my eyes when I think of how brilliantly the NHS has responded; and how hard all the volunteers have worked. Even more tears at the thought of the tories wanting to sell it off and destroy it.