The virus isn’t dangerous till Boxing Day

Someone has brought out a vaccine that does cover all variants. Can’t remember when it’s called.

Chestnut

Well now they're saying the booster only lasts 10 weeks so we may have to start another round of jabs. ? If this is true the doctor surgeries will never get back to normal practice.

Think we have had enough jabs for one year

Sorry to hear that Calistemon. My daughter had huge problems with her periods after her 2nd jab some months ago. She feels sure it was the jab. Nothing is perfect. She has just had her booster so just hoping the same thing doesn't happen. We all have to take the plunge and hope for the best I suppose. It's better than getting the virus which is very unpredictable as to how it affects people, and you don't want to be one of the unlucky ones.

We really need a Vaccine Mark 2 which will protect against all the variants for a year. Until that happens we can't get back to normal. Then we can have a vaccine once a year with the 'flu jab.

Chestnut

Well now they're saying the booster only lasts 10 weeks so we may have to start another round of jabs. ? If this is true the doctor surgeries will never get back to normal practice.

Oh, good grief!
I've felt awful since I had mine, it could be something else I suppose but it is a big coincidence (-ve tests)

Well now they're saying the booster only lasts 10 weeks so we may have to start another round of jabs. ? If this is true the doctor surgeries will never get back to normal practice.

I am incredibly impressed with the booster vax programme and all the hard work going into it, with vaccinators even planning to work on Christmas Day. They are fantastic.

lemongrove I agree.

Your faith is touching. We will see what happens within a few days now.

The fact that it is milder makes less hospital admissions likely.
I think the government in England is taking the right approach.

You’re missing the point lemongrove, Boris’ approach will be vindicated if the number of infections that translate into hospital admissions is balanced, it’s not about the infection being milder alone.

Chestnut

I think everyone is aware by now there is a dangerous virus spreading fast, and how to avoid catching it. So people should make their own decisions on how to protect themselves. We should take responsibility for ourselves.

Exactly Chestnut and Maw ????

The scientists ( luckily for them) don’t have to run a country.
If the new variant is milder, then Johnson’s approach will be vindicated.The UK is doing really well with booster vaccinations too.

Boris hasn’t called anything. He’s doing what his backbenchers have told him to do because the 1922 committee are still accepting letters of no confidence in him. He’s scared that, if he doesn’t do what Bone, Cash Redwood et al tell him to do he’s out.

Another headline:

“Cowboy Sturgeon sticks to her guns on Covid rules, even as the chickens come home to roost

John Wayne’s ‘Never apologise’ quote seems to fit a First Minister dead set on introducting curbs in the face of hopeful news over omicron”

*

I’m feeling optimistic that Boris has called this just right.

Urmstongran

News headlines this evening:
“One in three Covid patients may have caught virus in hospital - making lockdown ‘difficult to justify’

Figures suggest large amount of transmission is on NHS wards and that many patients are primarily being treated for other conditions”

Most Omicron cases in South Africa were picked up by people being in hospital for other things: not people in hospital with the virus. So a similar thing is happening here. But we can’t have essential services understaffed because so many people are off sick. Omicron isn’t quite the dominant virus here so we still have people catching Delta. It’s all rather uncertain. But looking hopeful. I think/hope….

Is that the Parkrun story Urmstongran? There’s a paywall on the Telegraph, so I can’t see it.

I’m more interested in the hard facts than the gossip, which was why I posted the figures about the infection rate rises. Drakeford is well thought of in Wales because he has a track record of being honest even if people don’t like his policies, but I hope that on this occasion hindsight will show that Drakeford, Sturgeon and the other European leaders are all wrong, although I doubt that’s the case. I’d be happy to be proved wrong, as I have a lot of family who live in England, including my parents.

One thing’s for sure, we will find out soon.

More news headlines just now:

“Mark Drakeford accused of lying over claim omicron is ‘probably’ as severe as delta

Health expert attacks Welsh First Minister for ‘deceiving the public’ to justify Covid restrictions despite studies refuting his comments”

*

Oh dear.
Welsh citizens and businesses are going to be mighty cross if Boris’ (in)action is proved to be correct after all.

News headlines this evening:
“One in three Covid patients may have caught virus in hospital - making lockdown ‘difficult to justify’

Figures suggest large amount of transmission is on NHS wards and that many patients are primarily being treated for other conditions”

If less people with Omicron need hospital admission it’s very encouraging, but there’s no evidence I can see that England has it right and the other UK nations have misjudged - it looks very much the other way. Even if it’s 30%, as reported in the news as best case scenario, it is a large number of people - presumably the Delta numbers aren’t actually decreasing yet, it’s just that there are now more and more Omicron cases on top of the Delta?

Whitewavemark2

Our youngest grandson, has a “cold” and feeling quite poorly. Tested negative so far, but DD is assuming the worse and won’t come to us for Christmas dinner as planned. We will plate everything up, including crackers etc and she will pick it all up.

Eldest grandson who has been staying with girlfriend is coming to us to avoid catching anything. They are then returning to girlfriends flat to go “brother- in-laws’ on Boxing Day.

Flexibility is the word.

I do hope your grandson soon feels better hopefully as he has had negative tests it’s just a cold.
With our grandson we really watched the lateral flows working as his mum was positive they were testing every day Grandson was negative in the morning then began to feel tired in the evening tested again positive before he had any symptoms. He was unwell for one day but is still testing positive
His younger brother although with him initially has never tested positive although he moved in with his dad quite quickly He is a very sassy 6 year old Covid wasn’t brave enough to infect him lol

MayBee70

This is the saddest Christmas I can remember. Because I really thought we’d be meeting up with family in one way or another. But, if I am going to catch covid (and with the new variant it’s unlikely that I will at some point) I don’t want to risk catching Delta, having protected myself thus far.

Likely, not unlikely…..

Our youngest grandson, has a “cold” and feeling quite poorly. Tested negative so far, but DD is assuming the worse and won’t come to us for Christmas dinner as planned. We will plate everything up, including crackers etc and she will pick it all up.

Eldest grandson who has been staying with girlfriend is coming to us to avoid catching anything. They are then returning to girlfriends flat to go “brother- in-laws’ on Boxing Day.

Flexibility is the word.

M0nica

Sparklefizz To save you having to read my previous post. Here is the key text:

'the South African experience of omicron suggests that it milder than previous variants,* even when they broke the figures down by age, older people were doing better than expected.*

It couldn't be more explicit.

Thanks Monica

This is the saddest Christmas I can remember.

I have had much sadder Christmases long before Covid, so I know I can cope with this one even though I'll be spending it on my own. Thank goodness for Zoom!

We no doubt have to be prepared to be flexible this Christmas the increase in infections has certainly thrown us a curved ball in that anyone can test positive.
Most in my family are now testing daily as my little grandson tested positive fortunately not ill but very bored
Fingers crossed he tests negative tomorrow but if not we will just move Christmas around a bit