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Post by number13 on Dec 4, 2020 0:30:27 GMT
On the BBC Newsday programme, I heard someone quoted as saying (and I can't find who said it right now, I probably zoned out when they identified the speaker for some reason) that because the UK has decided to roll out the vaccine so quickly, this will "all be over by the spring". Can't remember who said it, but I think that's overly optimistic. Even with immediate vaccine roll out, we don't know what will happen by spring. I doubt "this will all be over" by then. Very true. But the NHS is very good at our annual flu vaccine campaign, for example, and this year that's been expanded to include everyone over 50. So as long as the extra logistical problems around handling this vaccine are solved then I'm sure they can get the similar priority list of 'high risk' people vaccinated in a reasonably short time.
And from a BBC story yesterday, once everyone on the priority list is vaccinated, that would save 99% of lives that might otherwise have been lost to COVID. Which will be a long way towards all over, at least. Thank goodness!
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Post by number13 on Dec 4, 2020 0:46:49 GMT
Well its reassuring to know we weren't breaking any of their laws, a few weeks before exiting the EU, of all times. Its very magnanimous of them. So what are we saying? We have done something that is allowable under EU law before brexit that we will still be able to do after brexit? How does brexit have any bearing upon it at all, other than we are again seeing the brexiteers' usual m.o. of scoring cheap points by peddling myths?
As we all know, Boris Johnston is not a dot the i's and cross the t's kind of person who is burdened by any concept of integrity and there is a clear political benefit to his government to getting the vaccine out asap. I have no truck with the anti-vaccine crowd, but in this instance I'm going to wait until the vaccine is approved by a few more countries before I would get it for myself or my family.
Approval wasn't a political decision or even one made by the medical officers. It's an established, independent process and it will be a literal tragedy if people are put off being vaccinated for political reasons.
That said, I think the point is moot. Only people at the very top of the priority list will have had time to be vaccinated in the UK before it is approved by other regulators elsewhere, so for most people if they want to wait until the EU approves it, or the US, it won't cause them any delay in getting the vaccine.
I'm guessing the UK decision not to wait for the EU (because that's all it was, and you're right, any other member state* could have done the same but they didn't - for reasons of 'bloc solidarity' no doubt) will put boosters (rocket, not vaccine ) under the decision-makers elsewhere to at least start the process. Citizens of other countries - Germany and Belgium especially - are likely to start asking 'why the Brits and not us' before long.
When our regulators have been very efficient, that is a British success that others could replicate. Waiting until December 29th to even meet to discuss it - as is the current EU plan - doesn't seem exactly urgent.
"England's deputy chief medical officer said questions over the speed of approval were coming from regulators that were 'further behind'"
Also, one apology for remarks which 'seemed to criticise the UK's vaccine approval process'.
(* 'other member state' of the EU regulators, before anyone points out we have already left the actual EU. )
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Post by Ela on Dec 4, 2020 2:07:14 GMT
On the BBC Newsday programme, I heard someone quoted as saying (and I can't find who said it right now, I probably zoned out when they identified the speaker for some reason) that because the UK has decided to roll out the vaccine so quickly, this will "all be over by the spring". Can't remember who said it, but I think that's overly optimistic. Even with immediate vaccine roll out, we don't know what will happen by spring. I doubt "this will all be over" by then. Very true. But the NHS is very good at our annual flu vaccine campaign, for example, and this year that's been expanded to include everyone over 50. So as long as the extra logistical problems around handling this vaccine are solved then I'm sure they can get the similar priority list of 'high risk' people vaccinated in a reasonably short time. And from a BBC story yesterday, once everyone on the priority list is vaccinated, that would save 99% of lives that might otherwise have been lost to COVID. Which will be a long way towards all over, at least. Thank goodness!
I don't care how efficient the vaccination initiative is, it's still not going to be "all over" by the spring. Hopefully it will be better by then, but that remains to be seen.
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Post by number13 on Dec 4, 2020 2:49:38 GMT
Very true. But the NHS is very good at our annual flu vaccine campaign, for example, and this year that's been expanded to include everyone over 50. So as long as the extra logistical problems around handling this vaccine are solved then I'm sure they can get the similar priority list of 'high risk' people vaccinated in a reasonably short time. And from a BBC story yesterday, once everyone on the priority list is vaccinated, that would save 99% of lives that might otherwise have been lost to COVID. Which will be a long way towards all over, at least. Thank goodness!
I don't care how efficient the vaccination initiative is, it's still not going to be "all over" by the spring. Hopefully it will be better by then, but that remains to be seen. Let's hope it will be better indeed. I saw the latest COVID news from the US later this evening, the situation looks horrible. Best wishes to all our friends across the Atlantic.
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Post by sherlock on Dec 8, 2020 16:42:58 GMT
Good news-
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Post by johnhurtdoctor on Dec 8, 2020 17:35:52 GMT
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Post by The Brigadier on Dec 8, 2020 18:57:05 GMT
Blimey..you know you're getting older when the Biochemists start look younger...😁 Thanks for sharing this.
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Post by tuigirl on Dec 8, 2020 20:06:46 GMT
With deaths and infections numbers still much too high, and our "lockdown light" a complete and utter failure, our glorious government is now thinking about ordering a second severe lockdown. They are still debating about the dates. From tomorrow on, my state (Bavaria) is going into a state of emergency, and more than a quarter of the population will be put on curfew from 9pm to 6 am since in many regions, infections rates are through the roof. There is every chance Christmas is cancelled this year. Sigh. But I agree, we have to get on top of this, and it will take drastic measures.
Having read many of the papers on the vaccinations (including the one from Fauci), I am still not 100% on board. I have written my worries about this above somewhere. I still do not think any vaccine will save us short term, and I still have concerns about the side effects. (again, as I have written above).
Time will tell, I guess.
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Post by johnhurtdoctor on Dec 8, 2020 21:05:23 GMT
With deaths and infections numbers still much too high, and our "lockdown light" a complete and utter failure, our glorious government is now thinking about ordering a second severe lockdown. They are still debating about the dates. From tomorrow on, my state (Bavaria) is going into a state of emergency, and more than a quarter of the population will be put on curfew from 9pm to 6 am since in many regions, infections rates are through the roof. There is every chance Christmas is cancelled this year. Sigh. But I agree, we have to get on top of this, and it will take drastic measures. Having read many of the papers on the vaccinations (including the one from Fauci), I am still not 100% on board. I have written my worries about this above somewhere. I still do not think any vaccine will save us short term, and I still have concerns about the side effects. (again, as I have written above). Time will tell, I guess. Good luck, hope you get some kind of christmas. Looks like London will be moving to tier 3 thanks to people being reckless.
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Post by aussiedoctorwhofan on Dec 8, 2020 23:57:32 GMT
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Post by Whovitt on Dec 9, 2020 0:12:01 GMT
At least they're already in quarantine. That's the weird thing about here in Tassie - I don't think we've had a "wild" case (a case that wasn't already in quarantine) since about June. Life went back to normal here about six months ago and we haven't had any lockdown relapses at all. It's given me quite a unique, and totally inaccurate, idea of how all this has gone down. For me, COVID ended months ago. Hearing that it's still running wild throughout the rest of the world seems so strange because we've basically moved on down here. My city wasn't really hit by it either, so it's just been this global event that happened to other people. This must be like what Donna felt like every time she missed the alien invasions...
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Post by aussiedoctorwhofan on Dec 9, 2020 0:28:27 GMT
At least they're already in quarantine. That's the weird thing about here in Tassie - I don't think we've had a "wild" case (a case that wasn't already in quarantine) since about June. Life went back to normal here about six months ago and we haven't had any lockdown relapses at all. It's given me quite a unique, and totally inaccurate, idea of how all this has gone down. For me, COVID ended months ago. Hearing that it's still running wild throughout the rest of the world seems so strange because we've basically moved on down here. My city wasn't really hit by it either, so it's just been this global event that happened to other people. This must be like what Donna felt like every time she missed the alien invasions... Your neck of Australia is safest, next to Western Australia. Good work
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Post by tuigirl on Dec 13, 2020 9:30:12 GMT
So there we go, Germany will go into another hard lockdown from next week on. Details are discussed by the government as I write. Christmas appears to be pretty much cancelled this year. I got a call from my sister yesterday and my mum seems to be suffering especially. The loneliness, the cancellation of family Christmas, the Christmas shopping, the usual annual trips with the village clubs to all the large Christmas markets in Germany and the surrounding countries- my parents like these bus tours with the village club and have been travelling all over the place (Italy, Austria, Czechia, Poland...) several times a year, and this year, all their little trips had to be cancelled. For most of my life, mental health issues did not exist in my family (as in, were a taboo topic not to be discussed). It appears my mum is now in such a bad way she freely admits she may be suffering from depression. She is listless, aggressive, moody, hardly sleeps.... my parents continue to look after my niece and nephew, and my sister said now my mum has been scaring the kids. Bad. As as per usual, she refuses completely to a) talk to anyone about it and b) will not seek help or see a Doctor. Because mental issues are a sign of weakness and what might the neighbours think if they found out? (or something equally ridiculous and irrelevant). Well, at least my mum confided to my sister. I had a chat with mum on Friday, and she did not mention a word to me. Although I might be the go-to person, who has been living with this issue for decades and has tried every medication under the sun. And I even did talks for my students at university and had an open ear if they had issues. So now my sister has charged me to handle the issue. This is a very sensitive topic and my mum will not react well... I think it will be near impossible to convince mum of therapy, so that one falls flat. But I hope I can at least convince her of medication. At least I remember enough of the talks I gave to the students that I will just repeat to mum... and trying to assume the cool, distanced and rational persona I used when I gave these talks, trying not to get bogged down in the (likely) emotional outbursts. My family (including myself) can be very emotional and we are usually very direct. We all have a bit of a temper and we can be VERY loud when things get heated. None of us is subtle. This is a very tough one for me. Especially since I also do not feel at the top of my game right now and my mood has been pretty low these past few weeks. It is one thing giving "the talk" to a room full of students, a completely other thing trying to talk to your mum who can be difficult when she is in the best of moods. Wish me luck.
Edit: Just had my talk with mum. I explained everything to her rationally. Of course she declined. Although, I at least made her think and we are have reached a firm "maybe, possibly" for medication. I will book this as "progress".
This will be ongoing and it will not be easy and we must not push too hard and too fast.
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Post by grinch on Dec 13, 2020 13:30:22 GMT
So there we go, Germany will go into another hard lockdown from next week on. Details are discussed by the government as I write. Christmas appears to be pretty much cancelled this year. I got a call from my sister yesterday and my mum seems to be suffering especially. The loneliness, the cancellation of family Christmas, the Christmas shopping, the usual annual trips with the village clubs to all the large Christmas markets in Germany and the surrounding countries- my parents like these bus tours with the village club and have been travelling all over the place (Italy, Austria, Czechia, Poland...) several times a year, and this year, all their little trips had to be cancelled. For most of my life, mental health issues did not exist in my family (as in, were a taboo topic not to be discussed). It appears my mum is now in such a bad way she freely admits she may be suffering from depression. She is listless, aggressive, moody, hardly sleeps.... my parents continue to look after my niece and nephew, and my sister said now my mum has been scaring the kids. Bad. As as per usual, she refuses completely to a) talk to anyone about it and b) will not seek help or see a Doctor. Because mental issues are a sign of weakness and what might the neighbours think if they found out? (or something equally ridiculous and irrelevant). Well, at least my mum confided to my sister. I had a chat with mum on Friday, and she did not mention a word to me. Although I might be the go-to person, who has been living with this issue for decades and has tried every medication under the sun. And I even did talks for my students at university and had an open ear if they had issues. So now my sister has charged me to handle the issue. This is a very sensitive topic and my mum will not react well... I think it will be near impossible to convince mum of therapy, so that one falls flat. But I hope I can at least convince her of medication. At least I remember enough of the talks I gave to the students that I will just repeat to mum... and trying to assume the cool, distanced and rational persona I used when I gave these talks, trying not to get bogged down in the (likely) emotional outbursts. My family (including myself) can be very emotional and we are usually very direct. We all have a bit of a temper and we can be VERY loud when things get heated. None of us is subtle. This is a very tough one for me. Especially since I also do not feel at the top of my game right now and my mood has been pretty low these past few weeks. It is one thing giving "the talk" to a room full of students, a completely other thing trying to talk to your mum who can be difficult when she is in the best of moods. Wish me luck.
Edit: Just had my talk with mum. I explained everything to her rationally. Of course she declined. Although, I at least made her think and we are have reached a firm "maybe, possibly" for medication. I will book this as "progress".
This will be ongoing and it will not be easy and we must not push too hard and too fast.
Best of luck tuigirl. Do keep in mind that we are always here if it gets too much for you and if you ever want to get some stuff off your chest.
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Post by The Brigadier on Dec 13, 2020 13:57:12 GMT
So there we go, Germany will go into another hard lockdown from next week on. Details are discussed by the government as I write. Christmas appears to be pretty much cancelled this year. I got a call from my sister yesterday and my mum seems to be suffering especially. The loneliness, the cancellation of family Christmas, the Christmas shopping, the usual annual trips with the village clubs to all the large Christmas markets in Germany and the surrounding countries- my parents like these bus tours with the village club and have been travelling all over the place (Italy, Austria, Czechia, Poland...) several times a year, and this year, all their little trips had to be cancelled. For most of my life, mental health issues did not exist in my family (as in, were a taboo topic not to be discussed). It appears my mum is now in such a bad way she freely admits she may be suffering from depression. She is listless, aggressive, moody, hardly sleeps.... my parents continue to look after my niece and nephew, and my sister said now my mum has been scaring the kids. Bad. As as per usual, she refuses completely to a) talk to anyone about it and b) will not seek help or see a Doctor. Because mental issues are a sign of weakness and what might the neighbours think if they found out? (or something equally ridiculous and irrelevant). Well, at least my mum confided to my sister. I had a chat with mum on Friday, and she did not mention a word to me. Although I might be the go-to person, who has been living with this issue for decades and has tried every medication under the sun. And I even did talks for my students at university and had an open ear if they had issues. So now my sister has charged me to handle the issue. This is a very sensitive topic and my mum will not react well... I think it will be near impossible to convince mum of therapy, so that one falls flat. But I hope I can at least convince her of medication. At least I remember enough of the talks I gave to the students that I will just repeat to mum... and trying to assume the cool, distanced and rational persona I used when I gave these talks, trying not to get bogged down in the (likely) emotional outbursts. My family (including myself) can be very emotional and we are usually very direct. We all have a bit of a temper and we can be VERY loud when things get heated. None of us is subtle. This is a very tough one for me. Especially since I also do not feel at the top of my game right now and my mood has been pretty low these past few weeks. It is one thing giving "the talk" to a room full of students, a completely other thing trying to talk to your mum who can be difficult when she is in the best of moods. Wish me luck.
Edit: Just had my talk with mum. I explained everything to her rationally. Of course she declined. Although, I at least made her think and we are have reached a firm "maybe, possibly" for medication. I will book this as "progress".
This will be ongoing and it will not be easy and we must not push too hard and too fast.
Basically just to second what grinch has already said - we're here if you need us to be.
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Post by tuigirl on Dec 13, 2020 14:22:26 GMT
Thank you guys. This means a lot. All of this is very hard on all of us. I am in the (lucky?) position that I am an introvert (which nobody in my family "gets") so the whole self isolation business is not that hard on me. Yes, I am annoyed that I cannot do the things I enjoy, but being alone is nothing soul destroying. I actually often cherish it. Plus, I have a full time job and am surrounded by people all day... But I am painfully aware how devastating and nerve-wracking the situation is for other people, including my parents and of course mum. At least my sister and I are now in a position where the mental health topic can be openly mentioned and discussed piece by piece. It will take patience. And as you all know, this is another thing my family is not known for.
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Post by johnhurtdoctor on Dec 14, 2020 15:19:21 GMT
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Post by aussiedoctorwhofan on Dec 15, 2020 10:33:10 GMT
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Post by tuigirl on Dec 15, 2020 11:00:39 GMT
Having some time off, and had planned for weeks to do some of my Christmas shopping on my off days. I really wanted to support local economy and give the cute little stores in my home town, situated in the historic old town houses, a boost. It would be devastating if all of them die because of the pandemic! So I went to town yesterday, because from tomorrow on, lockdown will hit. With an actual curfew at night from 9pm to 5am (I think we did not have anything like this since WWII). Shops will be closed for at least the coming 3 weeks! Town yesterday was absolutely packed. Especially high risk people were out in force. Everybody was wearing masks and people at least tried to keep their distance, but there were long queues in front of the shops non the less. I had anticipated something like this, so I had time and patience to spare, but it was pretty insane. I waited 20 mins in front of the book store to get a sound picture book for my little niece and then I waited 45 mins (!!) in front of the chocolate store to get little chocolate decorations for the presents for my family. If anyone complains I did not put patience and effort into any of my presents, I am going to be very upset.
I think the short sightedness of the government (I had a suspicion in November that a "lockdown light" was a pretty useless exercise) and their sudden decision to finally do a hard lockdown right before Christmas, might have caused even more harm, since people are now out on force to get the last of their shopping in and the people in the shops said they had never experienced anything like this before. Plus, yes, there are restrictions in place during Christmas, but who in their right mind believes for a second that families will stick to the rules of "Christmas cancelled"? And who is going to police this? Short of the police going from door to door on Christmas day, I do not believe much is going to happen.
I am already dreading January, this might well be a case of "We ain't seen nothing yet".
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Post by johnhurtdoctor on Dec 15, 2020 11:22:05 GMT
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