Re: Covid-19 Vaccine updates

[Agartha]

Lion, I agree, Glaswegians are awesome, love their sarcastic humour and they are friendly indeed!

Rogue, my next dose is in 3 to 4 weeks.... they will email me another appointment.

So far nobody has had any adverse reaction, everybody is fine, the only side effects one person had was a headache and two people a sore arm, that's all (talking about my colleagues).

138,000 people have had the Pfizer vaccine in the UK since last week.... that is impressive.

[Rogue]

Yep good start, but a very long way to go. Good to hear all is well with you.


Just heard today Australia is not bothering with the Moderna vaccine. I'm a little surprised by that.

[TrueCrazyLion]

Really impressive start for the vaccination programme, and clearly there are no obvious side effects, which is brilliant!
Sounds like it might even be going ahead of schedule so far, which would be pretty awesome.

[Agartha]

Rogue, which vaccine is Australia going for?

Lion, the problem is that we only have a limited number of doses... and with Brexit coming I hope there won't be a problem getting all the vaccines we need....

[Rogue]

Australia is apparently pinning its hopes on the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

As well as the Pfizer vaccine and I believe the Novavax.

[TrueCrazyLion]

Was Australia not working on using an old TB vaccine and updating that to use on COVID as well? I’m liking how many different techniques are being tried!

And yeah, Aggie, Brexit could well prove to be a pain in the bum when it comes to getting long-term supplies of the vaccine. Who could’ve guessed Brexit would be a potential barrier to something like this back in 2016!!

[Rogue]

I'm not sure of that TCL, not something that I've heard of.

[TrueCrazyLion]

I just did a search out of interest, and this is the most accurate result I could find:

https://www.contagionlive.com/view/tb-vaccine-can-ease-course-and-reduce-spread-of-covid-19

Interesting that an existing vaccine seems to have beneficial effects... Fortunately with the new vaccines being developed so well, it looks like it won’t be needed!

[Rogue]

Interesting, but Australia not involved by the looks of it.

[Agartha]

The TB vaccine link has not been studied properly and never confirmed... I also think nothing was done because the vaccines in progress were successful.

BTW, everybody still ok post vaccine.

[TrueCrazyLion]

Rogue, yeah, that one doesn’t mention Australia - I definitely read about a TB vaccine being researched there but thinking about it, that was probably about 6 months ago now.

And Aggie, yep, that’s it I think - no point trying to work on an old vaccine which might or might not be effective when there are already specialist ones in the pipeline which definitely work!

And great to hear there are no side effects being reported

[Agartha]

It seems to be milder than the flu vaccine, actually... but they have been rejecting all with a history of allergies.

[Agartha]

Quick update: nobody I know has had any side effects from the vaccine.

[TrueCrazyLion]

That’s brilliant news Aggie, great to hear! 

This makes me even more keen to get the vaccine ASAP, and hoping the wait won’t be too long!

[Agartha]

It is excellent news indeed! At least you'll be able to feel more relaxed knowing so many people have had it without any problems.

I hope the general population will start getting it soon!

[Rogue]

This is good news...

Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine approved for emergency use in United Kingdom

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-30/uk-approves-oxford-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine/13022336

This is the vaccine Australia looks to be pinning it's hopes on.

[TrueCrazyLion]

Yes, the vaccine has been approved for use in the UK as of this morning:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/health-55280671

Woohooooo!!
Another step in the right direction!

[Agartha]

Yes, it's excellent that now we can rely on two different vaccines (that also work in completely different ways).

I have the feeling most people in the UK will now get the Astrazeneca one, because it's local and a loooot cheaper! (It will be produced in Argentina now, to distribute in Latin America).

[Agartha]

I am raging! Everybody's second vaccine dose has been cancelled. Apparently we'll be contacted again in february, as the UK Government says second dose can be given between 3 and 12 weeks (which is not what Pfizer said, as clinical trials gave all volunteers the second dose at 3 weeks. There is no evidence it will work the same at 12 weeks).

The gov says it's better to give everybody a 1st dose first and then worry about the 2nd dose. But is that true? Certainly not based on clinical trials. Are they covering the fact that they won't have enough doses? Or they want to use the Astrazeneca one which is British? In this case, will they ask us to start from scratch and forget about the Pfizer and get the AZ one?

I cannot believe it.........

[TrueCrazyLion]

OMG, that’s ridiculous!! So sorry to hear this. How utterly stupid of them...!!

This Government hasn’t got a clue. Talk about snatching defeat from the jaws of victory!

My understanding is that Pfizer shouldn’t be doubted as they were the ones who made it and it passed all the right trials and tests. 
The second dose has to be administered 21 days after the first one, February is no bloody use, the first dose will most likely have worn off by then and the whole process would have to be started again!

OMG, Aggie... You have my empathy. I think I’m almost as angry with them as you must be! What an epic Government fail! :-/

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