The Vaccine

I'm not at all happy with vaccines being tested on animals, but as vaccination is so very important, I'll put aside my vegan objections and willingly have whatever one is offered.

www.veganfriendly.org.uk/health-fitness/vaccines/

Alegrias2

It would appear that there's always going to be a "yes, but...." Which sounds a little bit like looking for excuses, I'm afraid. If it's not the timing, it's the side effects or the logistics. Which is why the government need to get the communication sorted about this rollout.

Have the vaccine, save lives, including your own. End of.

Yep! Simples!

trisher

growstuff as I understand it in order for vaccines to work a certain percentage of the population needs to be done. With limited amounts of vaccine I can't see how that can happen. Of course it will protect those who are already exposed to the virus, but those sheltering may be lulled into a false sense of security because they have been vaccinated.

It depends on what you mean by "work".

My understanding is that the Pfizer vaccine stops about 90% of infected people from developing the severe symptoms, which kill people. It has not been established whether it stops anybody catching the virus nor whether infected people are infectious.

It's good news for the most vulnerable because they will hopefully not develop symptoms and fewer will die.

In time, it could mean that everybody gets infected but, if they're vaccinated, they won't develop symptoms. That's a different idea from so-called herd immunity.

If everybody were vaccinated and if immunity lasts for life, we could have a situation where humans live alongside the virus, which can't do much harm.

The catches are that not everybody will be vaccinated and we don't know how long immunity lasts or whether it will mutate. If we ignore all the safety precautions and life goes back to "normal", the virus will still be doing the rounds and some people will still be very vulnerable. It won't be like smallpox and totally eradicated. It will be many months or years before the effects of vaccine on a whole population can be evaluated with any accuracy, especially as the whole world (all 7.8 billion of us) will need to be vaccinated.

So, yes, the vaccine will hopefully "work" by protecting the most vulnerable individuals, but nobody knows whether it will "work" at eradicating (or severely reducing) transmission. I agree with you that some people might be lulled into a false sense of security.

Thanks for that post growstuff I do think the idea that this vaccine wiill be the silver bullet is being wdely promoted just now. I think it would be much better if the situation was discussed more.

I'm in two minds about the vaccine. I think I'll wait for the reviews and then decide.

Alegrias2

It would appear that there's always going to be a "yes, but...." Which sounds a little bit like looking for excuses, I'm afraid. If it's not the timing, it's the side effects or the logistics. Which is why the government need to get the communication sorted about this rollout.

Have the vaccine, save lives, including your own. End of.

I’m not looking for excuses when I say there’s maybe issues around the 15 min wait. My fear is that they will over promise and that leads to mistrust. I agree that much depends on the communication strategy and frankly that’s been utter s**t from the getgo.

Thanks grow that’s communication

Im first in queue when i get my turn. Im 66 so will be in the next group. I dont mind which type i get i just want to protect my elderly mother and my family.
I'm finding so many people who are saying its a government plot to affect our brains and make us more obedient so they can take us over and control ourthoughts and freedoms.
At first I thought it was just a few idiots but my friend is a healthcare professional and her daughter is too and they both believe this. A relative of mine agrees. These people are not ignorant but well educated. I just can't believe this. Many posts on Facebook are along this vein. I wonder what world am I living in, surely we all want to protect ourselves and others.
I'm still determined to have a jab tho.

I heard somewhere that Italy is prioritising its police and the military to have the vaccine. It did make me wonder whether they were going to be used in the manoeuvres or whether the Italian government anticipated some kind of unrest.

Have my sleeve rolled up and my arm waiting for whichever vaccine is offered to me first). So excited that these are coming into being, can see light at end of the tunnel and later next year life returning to something approaching normal.

I am not 80 yrs old until next year, so am likely to be in third or fourth group. Do hope they include teacher and school staff amongst the top priorities.

Cannot understand any of us older people being worried about this vaccine. More likely to be concerned if I was many years younger, as (obviously) there has not been any time to find out long-term effects. But for me I would be there today if I could have any of these vaccines developed by these wonderful scientists.

Like some of you I’m holding a watching brief. There has been little public discussion with scientists who hold opposing views on the virus let alone a vaccine.

As I understand it this is the first vaccine that has been developed using the virus’ RNA and not the tried and tested methods used previously. It sounds like genetic engineering. Not that I’m against progress but it looks like a venture into the great unknown right now.

I will wait awhile and see what the results are before I go ahead. This partly originates from my distrust of this government and a lack of informed public debate.

If all seems to be going well, I will have the vaccine at a later date, especially as I would like to visit my daughter in NZ. My DH on the other hand will have it as soon as it is offered as he has a number of health conditions. Before anyone ‘shouts’ at me, I’m far more reclusive than he is and have a very small circle of social contacts.

Just now I don’t think a vaccination should be compulsory. It’s new technology and the effects on the general population can only be estimated.

Just had a quick e-Mail from daughter with a bit of news on the Oxford vaccine.

This is based on standard technology, so the side effects will be already known so should go through the safely checks quite quickly.

This will be the one most of us will get as it is in production and easier to store. So logistically it isn’t such a headache.

You know when you wonder what the point of life is and what you have contributed?

Well those scientists will never get that feeling will they?

So, those worrying about untried and untested vaccine, this isn’t one of them, we get it every year in the flu jab.

Thank you Whitewave, that's truly wonderful news.

Great news WhiteWave! Shall we start queueing? ?

Alegrias2

I was going to ask why you are reluctant annsixty but I think M0nica sums up the situation very well. Already in this thread there is a raft of vaccine myths – such as there’s a special one for older people - although the most common complaint in general seems to be that his has been rushed through.

My mum is the same age as you annsixty and she’s champing at the bit as well, like your friend. I’ll be taking whatever vaccine my doctor offers me, because if its being offered that means it has gone through all of the necessary safety and effectiveness checks. I won’t know what’s in it because I’m not a medical scientist, but I trust the people who are, and the regulatory bodies. If we stop doing that, we’ll be in a pretty bad way.

Its natural to have doubts, but it’s also sensible to listen to reasonable explanations. I hope the government have a good communication campaign about this so that as many people as possible take the vaccine up and we will all benefit from that.

Totally agree with you Alegrias2 you hit the nail on the head for me. Very well put. Thank you.

Dr Johns blog tonight talks about a link with having the MMR vaccine and having a certain amount of protection from Covid. Now, when my son was about to have his MMR vaccine he didn’t: I’m not sure what the reason was but I think a scare story broke the following day and the nurse, knowing what a worrier I am persuaded me to not have it done that day ( I could be wrong: it was a long time ago). I do think he had it done at a later date though. However, the point I’m trying to make is that an unfounded concern at the time about a vaccine for my son might be putting him at risk now. So I’m not going to allow any scare stories to put me and mine off having the Covid vaccine as soon as we can.

I also follow Dr John Campbell on youtube and he is very reassuring about the vaccine. He explains things so well and without drama. If he says he is having it then I am happy to agree.

He’s been my lifeline throughout this pandemic. Every night I have my tea and then listen to his blog. I’m so grateful to the person that first told me about him. My whole family listen to his advice.

I think all the 'doubting Thomas' out there should look at the medication they may take on a daily basis, either prescription or over the counter meds. Do you know everything about what you are taking?? I doubt that very much . I will be in that queue as soon as i can.

The Oxford vaccine is to date the vaccine that will actually save the world. It is the cheapest vaccine by far and is the most stable and easiest to store.

All the vaccines will be valuable, but production, efficacy and ease of storage prize certainly goes to Oxford.

Whichever vaccine we get I just hope that Boris's promises of it all running like clockwork will actually happen, for once. Ever the optimist!

Sounds really hopeful WhiteWave!

Whitewavemark2

The Oxford vaccine is to date the vaccine that will actually save the world. It is the cheapest vaccine by far and is the most stable and easiest to store.

All the vaccines will be valuable, but production, efficacy and ease of storage prize certainly goes to Oxford.

Great, so does that mean standard fridges will do the job?
In that case think of all the school kitchen fridges standing idle over Christmas, great location to carry out vaccinating.

absolutly yes. soon as it is offered. Mad not to. Its brilliant news.