COVID-19

Unfortunately its the way of the world, any shortages the rich countries or individuals don't have a problem getting anything.

 

From the perspective of eradicating this virus and if we want international travel to resume to any degree we need to ensure as low a level as possible of this virus in every country we can. leaving poor countries behind because its just the way she goes will ensure we're trapped in some form of restrictions even longer.

 

I agree, but life's a bitch more so if you're poor, it ain't gonna happen mate, not being smart but as long as I've been on this planet it hasn't been the case, the rich are still exploiting the poor, even in Leicester.

 

Well the EU are literally doing that with a common approach so nobody gets left behind? As I said to Aaron, pros and cons to each approach depending on your outlook.

 

Of course it can, but I think a measure of civilisation is how you treat the weakest and most vulnerable from a position of strength. I judge a lot of things by that in life

 

I hope the EU are planning to wait to implement the vaccine until all the poor African counties have been fully protected then

Otherwise, it's just an arbitrary border around 27 countries rather than just a single 1 with no actual desire to protect to poorest.

 

That's what GAVI is for? Which incidentally we're a leading contributor to which I also think is worthy of praise.

 

I know. It was more a point that the EU idea that the delay is because they're equalising poorer nations doesn't stand up to that much scrutiny. In global terms none of the EU countries are poor.

It's really limiting highly technological countries by spreading their capabilities across countries of less capability under the guise of being a single unit. Its where the EU cross the line from being a trading clock into being an overarching power who have the impossible job of equalising 27 very different counties.

 

Well it doesn't if you think the EU's remit is also Africa. There's a global mechanism in gavi to solve that problem which european countries participate in, so how does it count as a failing of the EU? The problem of low income countries getting vaccine access is a global issue that rich countries worldwide have an obligation to contribute to solve if they dont want to turn poor countries into petri dish no go zones that risk re-importing further mutated forms of the virus. The responsibility for dealing with that is not solely on the european union.

 

No, I don't think Africa is the EU problem. I think you're missing the point and I apologise if that is my fault.

I was saying the issue with the EU viewpoint is that it's not between rich and poor. It's between capable and incapable. The addition of overarching control above actual governments slows things down rather than speeds them up.

While it can be good for the smaller countries (although I believe Hungary have now broken the rules to procure their own supply of vaccine) it can be extremely bad for the most capable countries as it slows them down.

If we were still in the EU we would be way behind where we are on the vaccine. Not because of any rich/poor issue but because of control of power.

 

The EU drug regulator is due to decide on approval of AstraZeneca's vaccine on January 29. By which time the UK will have vaccinated around 6 million most vulnerable,

 

Yep both the wife and I got ours today and as you say we're booked in for 18th of April so that's 12 weeks.

 

we have to do them as part of NHS as well. Hardest thing is filling in the form online as you have to repeat the details everytime.

 

My sister has just tested positive for the second time. She had it in April/May last year snd now the poor lass has it again.

 

Thats scary. Hope she's ok. I read that if you had it bad the first time you get a milder version the second time, and vice versa. I don't know how true that is

 

Hope she recovers quickly.

 

Hopefully not hospitalised, let's hope she makes another full recovery mate.

 

most recent research suggests that ‘immunity’ lasts about 7 months after catching it so I think we will start see more and more of people getting it again.

hope she is ok

 

Plenty of encouraging reports coming out on first dose efficacy:

From a study of 1,800 Israeli doctors, 92% had ‘major antibodies’ after the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

60% reduction in hospitalisation of over 60s from first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

JCVI itself says a 90% efficacy on a single dosage of the Pfizer vaccine after two months.

AstraZeneca CEO endorses the second dose delay strategy and suggests that the efficacy of a single dose offers 100% protection against severe disease and hospitalisation.


I’m hardly a cheerleader for the government, but it looks like it’s all going pretty well at the minute.