We've got it here too, Vee; there's poor uptake of vaccines in the part of Northern England where the "Indian Variant" has taken hold.
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Yeah, I just don't understand it at all, PM. I know people who have not cared for their health much at all who are suddenly too "health conscious" to take a vaccine. People believe some random video made by a chiropractor or med student posted on Facebook over a team of doctors at the CDC. I just find it all incredibly frustrating. It scares me if a disease like Ebola, where the mortality rate is much higher, ever started circulating the globe again...now that everyone is their own doctor and scientist, how do we even protect against the next pandemic? (This is probably my GAD talking, but the anxiety is there...)
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However, while India has thousands dying everyday, and needs vaccines, we're still begging adults in some states to get vaccinated :/ It's hard to stomach sometimes.
...and offering a cash lottery in Idaho for those who get vaccinated ? :/ Really shows some of the worst of the human race that lottery thing, where do you even start with breaking that one down.....
Mind, as said by PM, that issue exists here, poor uptake in certain areas.
I don't think that is GA talking actually Vee, I think thats something that may be frightening a lot of people right now, having seen some of the responses during this one.Quote:
It scares me if a disease like Ebola, where the mortality rate is much higher, ever started circulating the globe again...now that everyone is their own doctor and scientist, how do we even protect against the next pandemic?
It does seem that the worst affected areas right now are those with the lowest vaccine uptakes, and it beggars belief that people are still buying into the conspiracy theories about the vaccines being more harmful than even Covid itself, and the bats**t crazy beliefs about them being impregnated with microchips, etc, which there is still no evidence of whatsoever.
Mind you, the equally bats**t crazy hysteria over 5G masts about a year ago, just like the toilet roll mania, seems to have now gone south, thank God!
I seen talk of 80,000 dying and also a massive summer wave and sage demanding the 17th May unlocking of lockdown doesn’t go ahead. Any thoughts why are they pushing the Indian wave so much when the vulnerable are vaccinated they claim younger people will end up in hospital that’s what media says?
Talk of local lockdowns coming back too
Thanks, Carys. It blows my mind. If I lived in Brazil or India, and I saw what was going on in some parts of our countries, I think I would just cry. If people just got the vaccines here that we were saving for them, the excess could be sent to other countries.
@LB, I agree 100%
@Phil, I think there are considerations of lockdowns because you can never be too careful and you have to be transparent with people. If worst case scenario would happen, you'd have to go back into lock down. If you don't tell people there's a chance of that, they complain that they weren't warned.
From today (Sunday) paper.
UK REOPENING PLANS IN CHAOS
A rise in cases of the Indian coronavirus variant could “pose serious disruption” to Britain’s reopening plans, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned.
England will take the next step of reopening on Monday as planned, but the final stage, currently scheduled for June 21, could be in doubt.
“I do not believe we need to delay our road map,” said Mr Johnson.
But, “this new variant could pose a serious disruption to our progress,” he said, adding, “We will do whatever it takes to keep the public safe.”
The health ministry said the B1.617.2 variant is “beginning to spread increasingly rapidly” in northwest England and to a lesser extent in London, “and decisive action is being taken to further control its spread”.
The new variant has been detected in London, with Hackney residents being asked to present for surge testing.
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Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that the Indian COVID variant could risk the UK’s reopening plans. Picture: Getty Images
Second doses of vaccines will be accelerated for the over-50s and the clinically vulnerable in a bid to keep the strain at bay, Johnson told the press briefing.
Surge testing and possible local restrictions are also in the mix after infections of the variant rose from 520 last week to 1,313 this week, officials said.
The British government is waiting on data that will indicate if the new variant is more transmissible than other strains currently circulating before deciding on its next step, said Mr Johnson.
Scientists believe it is more transmissible, but are unsure of by how much, revealed Britain’s Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty.
If only slightly, the country will reopen as planned, said Johnson. But if there is evidence of uncontrollable spread and the threat of increased pressure on the National Health Service (NHS) then more restrictions are likely, he added.
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A London greetings card shop displays a sign reading "Start buying stuff again or we're all screwed". Picture: Getty Images
‘TRUST OUR VACCINES’
Britain has driven down cases over the last few months thanks to a successful vaccine campaign, and officials are optimistic they will be effective against the variant.
“So far, there is no evidence that our vaccine will be less effective against serious illness and hospitalisations,” said the prime minister, adding the country was “in a different position from the last time we faced a new variant.”
“We should trust in our vaccines … while monitoring the situation very closely,” he said.
The government last month added India, which is experiencing a devastating wave of deaths from COVID-19, to a travel red list, meaning travellers from the country have to quarantine in hotels on arrival in Britain.
In the northwest English city of Bolton, which has a sizeable population of South Asian origin, mobile testing units have been deployed and door-to-door testing is also on offer.
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A man walks past a banner featuring a coronavirus testing site set up at St Mary's Church hall in London. Picture: AFP
Britain has been gradually reopening its economy, after months of coronavirus restrictions.
On Monday, indoor mixing will resume in England, including in pubs and restaurants.
Deepti Gurdasani, senior lecturer in epidemiology at Queen Mary’s University London, said that must now be postponed.
“Further, we may have to actually strengthen restrictions a bit more to get on top of this, because we need to remember this is actually growing with current restrictions in place and growing rapidly,” she told Times Radio.
The Indian variant is also triggering concern in Scotland and Wales, which administer their own health policy.
Scotland announced on Friday (local time) it was going ahead with its next stage of reopening on Monday, except in Glasgow, where restrictions will remain unchanged due to a rise in cases of the variant.
Because right now they don't know. They think it won't impact on hospitals and those vaccinated but are awaiting the data. Scientists believe it more transmissible but don't know by how much.
Providing the vaccines work against it it won't impact on hospitals. Numbers will rise but in people who don't experience the worst of it.
The lack of clarity is to the media what a juicy pork chop is to a lion. They will go mad over it. But these are possible scenarios based on a lack of data so will be cautious.
More than that some spiritual leaders have been pulled up for anti messages.
A recent article from the BBC stated various reasons why uptake is lower in black communities. Lack of trust in government was one, another was a disproportionate level of spending compared to messages to the Asian community who had more.
It's understandable there lacks trust, and any working class community has felt that for quite some decades too, but the news is on daily. They can see what's happening. I think it's a bit of a cop out to absolve yourself of personal responsible because you haven't been targeted enough. And besides, some MPs did just this after the initial low vaccination rates in the black community (Diane Abbott is one I can remember straight away).
Having said that there are those who speak little English who need something specific. And those from countries where a uniform represents oppression. I would like to think they see this as from theirs doctors, they must see someone when ill, but staying away from authorities is understandable in these groups.
SO so true !Quote:
The lack of clarity is to the media what a juicy pork chop is to a lion.
'They' must believe that the vaccine has some impact on the Indian variant, otherwise they wouldn't be urging vaccination and bringing forth appointments for the over 50s !
Just heard Matt Hancock say that there was tentative promising data about this..but basically they don't know. A decision will be made on 14th June re the next stage of lockdown.
So I'm confused. Are we still gonna continue the easing of lockdown or is there a chance we'll go back into it?
How long is a piece of string?
Views across the Internet vary from "carry on" to "I think we need a 'circuit breaker' NOW".
As far as I can see, tomorrow's easing will happen but what comes on 21/6 is most likely to be delayed. IF things materially deteriorate then we may end up back where we are as of today, unless the 'circuit breaker' option gets invoked but they just get ignored anyway - everyone seems to be a 'key worker' now.
(Which reminds me - I must buy some more masks.)
Poor old Matt Hancock is getting a grilling this morning..His shadow government counterpart was at the FA Cup Final yesterday without a care in the world..
I say put all countries on the red list and continue with things as they are until 21/6. Not popular with the hospitality sector or desperate sunseekers but what's the priority here? We don't want a National Covid Service, we want an NHS where there's room for cancers and other life-threatening and painful illnesses to be treated as a matter of urgency and not shunted to one side.
Most of the information coming out seems to point to those that are vaccinated don't appear to be greatly affected by the Indian variant, it's mainly the unvaccinated and those that chose not to take it are the ones ending up in hospital. Hence, the huge queues at the pop-up vaccination centres in the high incidence areas yesterday, though that is shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted, but every vaccination must help.
What the Shadow Health Secretary was doing yesterday is irrelevant, P. They're not in power so can do what they damn well like.
Hancock's got the job - he's also incompetent. So I have no sympathy if he's got a grilling off Marr, especially as Marr normally gives Tories an easy ride.
From https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57134181
The take-home from that BBC story is that the current vaccines work against it, but it is likely to become the new dominant strain.Quote:
In Bolton there are 18 people in hospital with coronavirus, with the majority of those not having the jab despite being eligible, the health secretary said.
He added that five people had ended up in hospital having had one jab, while there was one there who had received both doses but was "frail".
Anyway, when the toothless wonders start filling up the Spoons from breakfast tomorrow, expect cases to rise sharply in a couple of weeks.
The main headline currently on the BBC website says that early lab tests reveal that the current vaccines are (mostly) effective against the Indian variant, which sounds promising, and only just one person so far (in Bolton) who has had both jabs is currently in hospital with it, but that person is reported to be frail anyway. Five further people have only had one jab so far, and the other twelve (the majority) are still unvaccinated.
Matt Hancock has announced that so far he is not aware of any deaths of anyone who had been vaccinated but since tested positive for the Indian variant.
I wasn't suggesting that what Jonathan Ashworth was up to yesterday WAS relevant..Just contrasting their lifestyles at the moment. Who would want to be Matt Hancock, regardless of politics? I was actually listening to the interview with Sophy Ridge this morning.
There is always a chance any of us could go back into a lockdown. I don't say to that be alarmist, but there is always a chance that there could be a variant that our vaccines can't handle. That's why it's so important that the world works together to help countries like India and Brazil where the virus is running rampant. No public official is going to tell you that there will not be any more lockdowns because it would be their career if they were wrong. Public officials have to cover their asses.
The important things to remember: Get vaccinated. Encourage others to get vaccinated. Wear a mask in public places and around people you don't know.
Hospital cases below 1,000 :yesyes:
Surprisingly today's national dashboard cases remain below 2k for the second consecutive day, despite the Indian variant now being more apparent, and more tests having been carried out over the latest 24 hour period.
It has been quite heartening to see photos of the lengthy queues of people in places like Bolton waiting to be jabbed. Looks like people are finally showing signs of getting more sensible and moving away from vaccine hesitancy!
Over 2300 cases of the Indian variant alone, Lenco, so expect the stats to start spiking. At least hospital cases from this are low but there is some media spinning of the fact most were not vaccinated by choice...tiny numbers all round though. Good that vulnerable groups aren't ended up in hospital.
Hancock mentioned polling putting the UK as having the highest vaccine confidence. Not seen it yet but great for us and I'm hoping others are close behind or there is bad news too.
They have accelerated the jabs in two hotspots.
It would be ironic if the AZ were proved to be the most effective vaccine against the Indian variant, wouldn't it?
Yes, it would mean some interesting u turns and a sudden dropping of that blood clot issue by some.
I thought calling it the China virus was racist yet no big outcry over the Indian variant?
Cautious hugging is now allowed!
https://www.india.com/wp-content/upl...gging-Gran.jpg
Well, theres lots of variants and they need differentiating somehow. Surely its about how its said, the tone and the 'attached blame' that made it racist at the start when certain people used the phrase 'China virus'. It had a name even then, COVID19, but some people like the orange one chose to not use that term, but there are variants and people want to name them in the absence of any other name.
I think there were other agendas involved with the orange gibbon a good while before Covid was even a thing. Remember that infamous 'trade war between the USA and China a couple of years prior to the pandemic?
I reckon orange gibbon Dollard must have had an intense hatred of China and all things Chinese for such snide name-calling (Chinese Virus)!
I think those 2300 cases you mentioned are culminative cases so far, as opposed to having been confirmed over the past 24 hours or even 7 days.
If they were within the latest 24-hour period, we would suddenly be back up to levels seen in March, with cases of all the other existing variants added as well.
You're right that it's encouraging that so far hospitalisations and deaths aren't going through the roof, unlike back in December and January.
And yes I know today is just one day in the great scheme of things, as we never know what might (or might not) be around the corner tomorrow and beyond!
So they are planning local lockdowns and close shops and hospitality again. Couldn’t make it up round in circles open up and close down again. How long is this shambles going to continue? My anxiety is ramping up again as I thought we would finally recover from this pandemic yet we are back down the rabbit hole again looking at lockdowns despite what over 60% of all adults had a first dose?
That might apply to the Kent strain from a xenophobic angle with some of our friends over a different stretch of water.
But it's all politics. China claimed it was racist, a laughable claim coming from a country mistreating one demographic based on their religion, sounding more like playing the victim at a time the world was watching the mess coming from there. I suspect it was lucky for them Trump was in since the media would side with them as opposed to other presidents who they may stick up for. But China and the US will continue their spats as surely as the US and Russia will. It's all money and power at the end of the day before even considering their true feelings towards each other.
What was a big problem was how it affected Chinese people in our countries. US rhetoric playing it's part but that's more about us than some leader of another country...
I think you are right to point out intention matters but I also think it doesn't matter depending on who's involved e.g. any coining of Israeli strain will be instantly branded racist as it would certain other cultures. I don't believe China care what anyone thinks, they just used it as a deflection from their mess.
Hopefully you could be right Terry.
According to the dashboard site yesterday, in the 'Cases by area-LTLA' sub-section, Bolton recorded the highest number of cases (700-odd) over the past week or so, but my town, by contrast, only recorded 8 cases over the same period.
Again, no gloating intended as I really feel for the people of Bolton and other places like Blackburn, Bradford, Bedford, Glasgow, Nottingham and certain parts of London right now.
On the flip side, it's encouraging to see the people of Bolton in particular being proactive right now and finally getting jabbed en masse. Just a shame that many of them previously declined the jabs despite having the opportunity, but at least they're co-operating in a civil and orderly manner and now heeding the strongly recommended advice to get jabbed ASAP and not being dragged kicking and screaming into the vaccination centres.
My current sentiment is 'stuff the serial antivaxxers and conspiracy theorists'!
DO you know what they are doing in areas of surging variants - GIVING THEM THE VACCINE EARLIER. Phil, I try and let your overtly self-centred comments pass mostly (as it is clear you have an inability to see beyond your own needs and have empathy), but really quit this now. Are you actually part of the UK society ? Do you have any responsibility ? Do you think the rest of us are here to protect you in our actions ? Have you seen the terrified people having their vaccines, on this very site, as they feel moral responsibility. YOUR anxiety, YOUR anxiety, its always about that, most people are anxious yet they are trying to take action to BRING THIS PANDEMIC UNDER CONTROL. Don't want the vaccine, fine, but please stop complaining about the pandemic affecting you when you aren't doing anything to stop it. It is insensitive and misguided. We need as many people as possible to have this vaccine, for the well being of ALL of us.Quote:
How long is this shambles going to continue? My anxiety is ramping up again as I thought we would finally recover from this pandemic yet we are back down the rabbit hole again looking at lockdowns despite what over 60% of all adults had a first dose?