Indian variant - why the panic?

[Doireallyneedaname]

Multiple news stories over the last 24 hours stating that the vaccines are effective against it; as well as lab studies last week showing the same, yet the panic continues. Why?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57134181

[LittleRen]

Because many have not been vaccinated and a huge number have only had one vaccine. It’s really that simple.

I am 36 - only just had a jab, it takes at least a week to kick in and my second won’t be until august.

[RaspberryCoulis]

Because it has taken hold in areas where a higher population than average have not taken up the offer of vaccination.

[nordica]

Because if it's as transmissible as they currently think, it will spread much faster among everyone who isn't yet vaccinated (and some of the most vulnerable the vaccine may not have worked for as well).

Already seeing anecdotal evidence of whole families getting ill whereas the previous variants often didn't seem to be as contagious even for people living with an infected person.

[FlattestWhite]

because it may well be slightly less affected by vaccines - and that's enough to mean that one dose could potentially leave people vulnerable. That's a lot of people to be getting it, and spreading it, especially if it's more contagious. That then also has knock on effects for those for whom vaccines didn't work or those who couldn't be vaccinated, or chose not to be. That's still plenty of people that could end up using the NHS, possibly overwhelming it in places.

[BelleBlueBell]

I was only 90% concentrating but I'm pretty sure that they said on the radio a few minutes ago that the people in hospital in Bolton with the Indian variant were all people who are eligible for the vaccine but hadn't had it

Pretty clear why there's a push to get as many done as possible.

[Onedaysomedaynowadays]

Interesting how other countries are continuing to relax restrictions too. Not just us so that has to be a good sign right?

[WaitingForNormality]

Because we havent finished the vaccination program with only 69% adults having had one jab - that leaves 31% adults totally unvaccinated plus children. It's a big proportion of the population that could catch and spread it and before we know it the case rates could increase exponentially again.

[MontysRoseGarden]

Wonder if those in hospital will now have the vaccinations!

[Cornettoninja]

Emotionally it’s because 95% of the population has hated the last year and a bit for many, many reasons and now we’re so close to having an end to the worst of restrictions in sight people are understandably nervous it could all go wrong and what then? Another lockdown is the worst case scenario but if covid gets out of control there are few other options and realistically the restrictions artificially imposed manifest naturally at certain levels of infection because people essentially isolate themselves. Either way the economy goes the same way.

Practically speaking, as PP have pointed out, although we’ve done amazingly well with our vaccine programme we’re not quite there in terms of numbers of fully vaccinated (is it 40% of the adult population with two doses at the moment?). Add to that we’re only just getting data about the effectiveness of the vaccines we’ve been using against the Indian variant, it looks positive so far but it’s not conclusive and even if we’ve managed to reduce the numbers who will require hospitalisation or die we don’t know if we’ve reduced them enough to cope with a more transmissible variant running through the unvaccinated including those who, for whatever reason, don’t produce antibodies even when vaccinated.

[Overthebow]

Because we are so close to the end and everyone looking forward to June 21st then Boris says the varient may mean that is cancelled. Of course people at panicking about it. Hopefully some more good news about it soon.

[Pyewackect]

I was seconded to ICU for 12 months to cover the emergency. 4 weeks ago we transferred our last Covid patient and I went back to my “day” job. I got to work this morning and we had 6 admissions of the Indian variant to ICU over the weekend. One patient arrested within 10 minutes. She didn’t make it. I have been recalled.

[Odagled]

As far as I can see, the “panic” is largely isolated to the media.

[ajandjjmum]

@BelleBlueBell

I was only 90% concentrating but I'm pretty sure that they said on the radio a few minutes ago that the people in hospital in Bolton with the Indian variant were all people who are eligible for the vaccine but hadn't had it

Pretty clear why there's a push to get as many done as possible.

Hopefully this will persuade those who are hesitant to have the vaccine, as it's obviously doing the job!

[Backofbeyond50]

I was seconded to ICU for 12 months to cover the emergency. 4 weeks ago we transferred our last Covid patient and I went back to my “day” job. I got to work this morning and we had 6 admissions of the Indian variant to ICU over the weekend. One patient arrested within 10 minutes. She didn’t make it. I have been recalled.
@Pyewackect that is so sad.

[OliveTree75]

@Pyewackect

I was seconded to ICU for 12 months to cover the emergency. 4 weeks ago we transferred our last Covid patient and I went back to my “day” job. I got to work this morning and we had 6 admissions of the Indian variant to ICU over the weekend. One patient arrested within 10 minutes. She didn’t make it. I have been recalled.

Genuine question but how do they know it is the indian variant? I thought only a small % of cases sequenced

[Lockheart]

I don't think it's panic as much as caution.

I think there is good reason to be optimistic, but that doesn't mean we should throw caution to the wind.

[MarshaBradyo]

I was interested I how you know which variant

Do you have access to a central system or how does it work

[blueangel19]

all Pyewackect

Which area is this?

[RockingMyFiftiesNot]

I'm pretty sure that they said on the radio a few minutes ago that the people in hospital in Bolton with the Indian variant were all people who are eligible for the vaccine but hadn't had it.

This newspaper report is saying something different - 1/3 of those in hospital reported to have had a vaccine (one has had both):
Speaking to the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, the Health Secretary said the majority of the sick patients had not been vaccinated, but were eligible for one
. Of the 18, he said five patients have had one dose of the vaccine, while one person had received both jabs.

Of course it depends when they had their jabs in relation to contracting COVID, possibly they weren't protected at the time, but given the acceleration of the 2nd vaccine, it does make you wonder.

[AlecTrevelyan006]

I remember the good old days when it was all about getting the most vulnerable vaccinated.

Now, everyone has to be vaccinated. At least twice. Preferably three times, while wearing full PPE gear and staying at home alone until 2024.

[mumwon]

the more covid spreads the more chance of mutations - as has already happened with the "Indian" & "Kent" variants - & then we might have a version that can escape the vax
& as pp said some people who have been vaxed may not have adequate/full immunity due to disease or extreme old age (chemo & blood disorders)

[Doireallyneedaname]

@RockingMyFiftiesNot I read that none of those who had 2 doses died.

[RockingMyFiftiesNot]

[quote Doireallyneedaname]@RockingMyFiftiesNot I read that none of those who had 2 doses died.[/quote]
I've only read what I posted which doesn't mention deaths

[Whyarewehardofthinking]

It is all about being cautious. We have a surge of cases in our school, 2 students ill enough to have had medical care over the weekend and one of them (a year 13) has had 2 vaccinations, yet he saw his SATs decrease massively over the weekend (I've just caught up with his head of year). He is vaccinated as he has Crohn's. A member of staff with 1 dose of vaccine and due dose 2 in 3 weeks is also off and too ill to deliver lessons online right now.

There isn't a panic, even at DPs school in Bolton, but there is a resurgence of cases and it will continue to increase if we aren't careful.

[Cornettoninja]

@MarshaBradyo

I was interested I how you know which variant

Do you have access to a central system or how does it work

I can’t answer for @Pyewackect but I do know when they were surge testing in my DF’s area for the SA variant you had to attend a specific testing site because all tests were being screened for that specific variant. I imagine it’s much the same with the Indian variant in areas of concern.

I think the variant surveillance is generally sampled from a small percentage but once a variant has been identified it’s easier for other labs to look for it specifically.