Proof of the power of vaccination

Whitewavemark2

I’ve noticed an upward trend in my area, albeit it at a low level but up to about a fortnight ago it was down week on week for a long time. Last week it was 20 more than the previous week and this week 53 more than last week.

Bugger

same here, active cases seem to be growing alarming here and it the two neighbouring boroughs. That said, I know of several people who have had covid in the last month and they are all 40-50 and their children, all had it mildly, all recovered and vaccinated people in their house didn't catch it

But we shouldn’t be seeing pictures like this. Taken recently at Heathrow.

This is a Petri dish in the making.

timetogo2016

The Indian variant would not be here had the government stopped all travel from India to this country.
They knew the variant was there so why give a time and date for them to come into this country,all travel to and from India should have stopped then and there.
It`s not bluddy rocket science.

It’s not that easy though is it?

Could you imagine the outcry and newspaper headlines British Citizens being abandoned if they could not return home from India or anywhere else in the World come to that. Flights coming from India carry things other than passengers, vaccines are just one example.

The UK is an Island, but it is incomparable to Australia or New Zealand, it’s an International Hub, not just a destination.

It's not bluddy rocket science.

'tis though. That's why they're paid to make the hard decisions. (Which they don't always get right, not by a long chalk)

GG13 - I'm getting worried

The Indian variant would not be here had the government stopped all travel from India to this country.
They knew the variant was there so why give a time and date for them to come into this country,all travel to and from India should have stopped then and there.
It`s not bluddy rocket science.

Alegrias1 I am still agreeing with you.

I don't often disagree with you, Alegrias, but do you have any evidence for your apparent claim that our vaccine s will defeat any mutation of the virus?

I didn't say that or claim that MaizieD, read it again. I said it wouldn't mutate to be vaccine resistant overnight. By which I meant in a short timeframe, obviously.

My main issue is that the government has such an atrocious track record in dealing with lockdown and the level of illness and death, that I view everything that they do with regard to covid with a great deal of scepticism.

I literally said "Not saying she's wrong but this must be taken in context."

There are a group of scientists who have the luxury of being able to look at things only from a scientific viewpoint and not from the viewpoint of keeping the country functioning, and Independent SAGE is made up of scientists with no accountability.

So somebody has to balance the probability that the Indian variant will cause high numbers of cases with the continued harms that restrictions are doing to society. IMO, if we stop completely every time there is a new variant, we'll never open up. That doesn't mean we should plough ahead regardless, but it is one thing for an unaccountable scientists to give their opinions via the Guardian and Twitter, and another for scientists and governments to make the hard decisions.

I wouldn't want their jobs.

Yes, the virus might behave as no virus has even done before and magically morph into a vaccine-resistant variant overnight.

I don't often disagree with you, Alegrias, but do you have any evidence for your apparent claim that our vaccine s will defeat any mutation of the virus?

I realise that 'flu is a completely different virus, but the annual vaccine offered is based on what is likely to be the predominant strain of the virus and doesn't necessarily protect against all. Why do you imply that c19, also a virus, different?

Alegrias1

Prof Pagel is not a member of SAGE, and she is speaking in a personal capacity. Independent SAGE is not an advisor to the Government and are not accountable for the outcomes of their opinions.

Not saying she's wrong but this must be taken in context.

So what are you saying?

She is wrong or correct in her conclusions?

I read this last night Whitewave. I’m as pleased as anyone else about the success of the vaccine roll out but whenever I say we should proceed with more caution than we are I get accused of being a killjoy etc. More haste less speed as my mum used to say. I think it’s crazy to talk about people not wearing masks from June because people are used to it now and if we stop it will be well nigh impossible to get them to do it again if infection rates rise. We are so close to being able to live a normal life but it needs to be after the younger group now being vaccinated have had their second jab.

Prof Pagel is not a member of SAGE, and she is speaking in a personal capacity. Independent SAGE is not an advisor to the Government and are not accountable for the outcomes of their opinions.

Not saying she's wrong but this must be taken in context.

Professor Christina Pagel - UCL - director of clinical operational research and member of SAGE has written a long article with attached data supporting her call for a delay in the next stage of the road map.

It can be found on twitter and in the Guardian.

Lin52 of course flights should have been stopped especially to India. I agree - always harping on about racism get on my nerves. It's hardly relevant when all countries are fighting a common enemy, the virus.

Yes I do agree alagrias

But being annoyed at blips is a human reaction, each number is a human being suffering.

That isn’t to say that I fear the worst, but that I am thrilled at the difference the vaccine is appearing to make. These skirmishes are undoubtedly just that but it does no harm to take note and adjust behaviour accordingly if thought necessary.,

MayBee70

Alegrias1

Thanks Casdon for trying to present some good news. ?

The vaccine is working in the population to which it has been given. It works against the "Indian" variant. Yes, the virus might behave as no virus has even done before and magically morph into a vaccine-resistant variant overnight.

And we might get hit by a meteor.

imo during a pandemic it’s best to hope for the best but plan for the worst and not assume anything.

While this is of course true, it is also necessary to appreciate that there is light at the end of the tunnel. We can spend the next few months or years anticipating the worst at all times, and disregarding everything that suggests any progress whatsoever. Or we can understand that there are scientific facts that shows we are making progress against the virus and what the real risks are.

Being realistic means understanding the positives and not always fearing the absolute worst. It's not irresponsible to believe we are winning.

Totally agree with you, but can you imagine the shouts of racism from that community if we, as we should have, stopped flights. Straight away.

Baggs

Why do news media keep publishing case numbers? It's numbers of hospitalisations and deaths that are important. If cases rise but those other two numbers do not, what's the problem?

Also, why is government blamed when people catch covid in hospital? Are MRSA and other nosocomial infections government's fault as well?

I wasn’t quoting from the media. I was quoting from the Zoe data that I having taking part in since last May.

Always assuming that in the very unlikely case the rising numbers do not result in rising deaths, long covid is always an issue.

Rising numbers albeit at a very low level should never be dismissed in such an offhand manner.

Case numbers are very important Baggs because that’s the only way we know how much COVID is in our area. and can act accordingly. Case rates have been a predictor of hospitalisation and death rates until vaccinations were given, which was the point I was trying to make when I posted this news.

No mention is made of the government being blamed for hospital transmission in the article, unless I’ve gone word blind?

Alegrias1

Thanks Casdon for trying to present some good news. ?

The vaccine is working in the population to which it has been given. It works against the "Indian" variant. Yes, the virus might behave as no virus has even done before and magically morph into a vaccine-resistant variant overnight.

And we might get hit by a meteor.

imo during a pandemic it’s best to hope for the best but plan for the worst and not assume anything.

Agree Baggs

Why do news media keep publishing case numbers? It's numbers of hospitalisations and deaths that are important. If cases rise but those other two numbers do not, what's the problem?

Also, why is government blamed when people catch covid in hospital? Are MRSA and other nosocomial infections government's fault as well?

I think I may have three drinks in our local instead of two next Monday after reading this thread. ?

I’ve noticed an upward trend in my area, albeit it at a low level but up to about a fortnight ago it was down week on week for a long time. Last week it was 20 more than the previous week and this week 53 more than last week.

Bugger