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

I was just pleased to get a vaccine.

I'm with suzziewoozie on her thoughts.

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

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.

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’m with you Witzend!

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!

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

Ha! That’s cheered me up.

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

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 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!

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.

The denigrating comments made about the AZ vaccine by Macron and Merkel have backfired on them as many people in the EU are refusing to have that vaccine thus slowing their progress. Sour grapes, never a good idea. Peasblossom I can’t believe a ‘friend’ would feel superior about the type of vaccination they had, it takes oneupmanship and snobbery to a whole new level.

I’ve been optimistic right from the first lockdown, knowing that eventually we would be able to resume our lives again.

My husband had the AZ vaccine on Sunday. By the evening he was sniffling and yesterday he was quite unwell. Now his symptoms are milder and he feels much better. This has happened with everyone I know who has had the AZ vaccine whilst those who had the Pfizer vaccine have barely had a reaction. I'd like to think that the body's response to the AZ vaccine is encouraging!
I am going to remain optimistically cautious as we unlock. However, I also feel that we may have to work hard to keep vaccinations targeting the variants. This is also just one pandemic. If we keep on over populating the planet, squeezing everyone into the same space, destroying natural habitats, etc., this is just the beginning. I think it has also helped show rogue nations how easy it is to control the world and destroy their economies.

We’ve only mentioned which vaccine when comparing side effects, if any.
Around here it seemed to depend on the GP surgery. An ex colleague who lives only a short distance away, but different GP surgery, had the Pfizer, whereas we both had the AZ.

Ours too GG13
One is actually 92y! She has been a Spanish resident, paying taxes there for over 30y and said none of her friends have heard a dicky bird yet.

I've had the AZ just over 2 weeks ago and no serious side effects - just a sore arm and a dodgy tummy a few days later which may be completely unrelated. A friend who goes to a different surgery aparently had to hang about queueing for about 45 minutes then was given the Pfizer. He said he would have prefered the AZ but decided to go ahead anyway after waiting so long. Can't say I'd have even considered turning it down but was glad I got AZ. I did have a preference as I was an Oxford student many years ago and an old friend went to work for AZ for his first graduate job so I feel connected. The only person I know who worked for Pfizer nicked a friend's husband!....

Definitely feeling more optimistic. Now I'm just concerned for my daughter's mental health. She lives in Scotland and hates the fact she can't travel to climb mountains. Her big worry is long covid as long term physical effects would really wreck her life. Of course we don't know if the vaccine has an effect on long covid yet. Lets hope that is helped too.

This friend talks about nothing else growstuff?

Well, three of us in our family are being vaccinated on Thursday and none of us could care less which one it is. We are grateful to be having it at all.

My thoughts are, let’s see what happens when the kids go back to school. Last time it caused a second wave. Until then, I won’t hold my breath.

Don't know if I'm "allowed" to be optimistic, but with or without permission I am! Just getting a bit concerned with the number of Facebook posts outlining the exact dates they can do whatever, after the release of the "roadmap". It clearly said "such and such a date at the earliest "

Try to look forward to the better times yet to come

Well it is three weeks since I had my first vaccination (Pfizer) so I walked into our town centre and into two shops for the first time for months. Still cautious, but lovely to choose my own toiletries etc.
We had already optimistically booked a UK self catering cottage for early July. Now I am looking forward to some day trips before then.