ADs won't tut when you're stuck in a rut, we're all too busy pouring Amaretto in our porridge

[BogRollBOGOF]

Welcome into another thread of alternative reality as we try to nagivate through the Coronacoaster of life.

We may be up, down, spinning around (generally in confusion at the next random edict drawn up on the back of a fag packet) but never sucking the joy out of life.

@Reedwarbler A usually sensible scientist on R4 news at lunchtime (Professor John Bell, who sits on the vaccine's taskforce I think) was v. positive about the vaccine, because (and I didn't quite follow his logic) if one can be proved to work, then the others coming right up behind this one, should also be able to work. He also felt that the issues with storage and so on should also be solvable.

Yes, @110APiccadilly I'm not sure if I would want it for myself as I too would be worried about side efects down the line, and I am really not concerned about catching corona, although I have a sneaky suspicion I may have had it anyway. However, it might transpire that you can't do anything unless you can produce some sort of proof that you are immune, like, for example, enter another country. We could be entering a whole new area of rules and restrictions. (And if that was the case, I would havethe vaccine, rather than forego anything I want to do!)

(Also, although I wouldn't want it, I would happily be queuing up if I was over 70 or had serious underlying conditions. It's about making the right risk/reward balance choice.)

That's my stance but I'm hoping it will be an option soon for my older realtives with underlying conditions but I don't think the risk benefit balance is right for DS or I to get it yet - we have asthma -- though if they later make travel dependent on having had it then I'd look again for all of us.

I will be delighted to be vaccinated as soon as it's available to the likes of me (and as a non clinically vulnerable, non healthcare worker, I understand that it could be a while!). This feels like a good news week and I'm happy to roll with that considering we've been getting so few of them recently!

@LadyOfTheImprovisedBath I'd love my gran to have it. She's in her 80s, so long term effects are (brutal, but true) not top of the list of considerations. She has dementia and if a vaccine meant she could have visitors, hug people, go out to a cafe for lunch, it would make an incredible difference to her quality of life. She should possibly never have been stopped from doing these things, but that's another argument...

@110APiccadilly and @Reedwarbler agree wholeheartedly. I really don't want the vaccine - I'm lucky enough to have a robust immune system and would happily donate mine to someone who isn't as confident in their own bodies ability to fight the virus. But I do worry that it will be mandatory to have the vaccine in order to travel. i don't go abroad very often but wouldn't want to have to have a regular vaccine just for the handful of times I do!

I'm not as worried as some about international travel as I doubt we'll really be doing any for the next 5 years or so, by which time if there are side effects they'll probably have started to appear. I think I feel differently about it on a philosophical level as well - there's always been some restrictions on traveling to other countries so it doesn't feel sinister that you might need a vaccine for that, if that makes sense? It's a different sort of thing in my head to rules about not being allowed to invite someone into your own house for a cup of tea.

(Potentially very tough on anyone worried about vaccine safety who needs to travel though.)

I am certain it would be a requirement for travel. Given I do long haul and cruises as holidays I am fully expecting to have to get it in order to do them again. The only concern I have is that we simply can't get one because I am at the bottom of the priority list and they also decide to restrict private vaccinations. DH tried to pay for a private flu jab but with the stock levels all the pharmacies around here won't allow anyone not on the free NHS list to book an appointment even when it is back in stock.

The vaccine is great news.

I think its going to take a long time for people to forget how they were treated though, the mask exemption hatred for one. The use of the phrase Covid denier to silence people who have been critical of the Governments response to it, Dominic Cummings Ferguson Farrier et al. Its thrown up a side to society i dont much care for
I think the ramifications of things like this will last a long time after the pandemic itself is over.

Loving the fact that a few of the usual Ds are out on the boards lamenting not enough vaccine, 'only' 90% success rate, therefore.... Yes that's right... We should still all 'stay home' even once it's rolled out. God they should really all set themselves up with a Covid sex line that they can ring when in need of a bit of salivating excitement around 'stay home' (aaargh at least add the 'AT'!), oooh, lungs, long covid; for an extra 10p a minute, someone could sexily talk about ventilators, and hmhmm masks.
Anyway, I have no interest in the vaccine myself having miraculously survived the deadly deadly virus, along with everyone else I know BUT I very much hope it comes through so that the Covid-obsessed bugger off.

Then there is the emotional blackmail.

110A
Yes I know a what you mean re travel. Like when you used to have to get a yellow fever vaccine to travel to S America.

90% efficiency is good. I think those that still want us all to stay at home and only go out with masks and SD with a vaccine just want a justification for their social anxiety. That's fine if they want to do that but for gods sake let the rest of us have a bloody enjoyable SOCIAL life.

I like the woman being interviewed now

Professor Alison Pollock

@JamSarnie

90% efficiency is good. I think those that still want us all to stay at home and only go out with masks and SD with a vaccine just want a justification for their social anxiety. That's fine if they want to do that but for gods sake let the rest of us have a bloody enjoyable SOCIAL life.

Agreed! Some people seem to love lockdown way too much...

@JamSarnie

90% efficiency is good. I think those that still want us all to stay at home and only go out with masks and SD with a vaccine just want a justification for their social anxiety. That's fine if they want to do that but for gods sake let the rest of us have a bloody enjoyable SOCIAL life.

Indeed! The comments about the 90% did make me laugh - it was just so dementory: 'NO but that's still a 10% chance that I could DIE' (not even going to go into the obvious rant about the statistical fallacies there!)

Lord yes, the love of lockdown out there! I ought to because on paper it should suit me down to the ground (I'm one of the privileged big house/garden etc people) + very antisocial BUT the idea that seeing people is actually unlawful is utterly bizarre at best and frankly terrifying at worst. + I know it's horribly hard for others and I'm not a selfish twat (oh of course, sorry, I am - because I don't APPROVE of PROPER LOCKDOWN and therefore I have committed the ultimate thought crime 😉)

For those tuning in to Bo-Jo's briefing, is there anything interesting being said? We're watching Cebeebies to calm DD down after a manic moment with the sock monsters

Bloke from the military describing the mass testing. People will be notified of result by e mail or text.

Van Tam talking about vaccine.

I like Van Tam. After Cummings little jolly i remember him saying at a previous press conference that "the rules apply to everyone"
Whitty was all i dont get involved in politics.

@MercyBooth

Professor Alison Pollock

She was excellent - can't believe she slipped through the BBC filter - I think even Reeta was shocked. Shame they cut her off to go to Biden & his masks.

In the absence of one of our usual activities, I managed to successfully load the DCs into the car by 15:45 and wantonly drive off on an "unnecessary journey" and shamelessly flock to a park or two. There on the cusp of middle-age, I selfishly had fun in the middle of a global pandemic by selfishly and immaturely playing on my scooter in the spirit of my young disease vectors who have been mingling all day in a school assymptomatically contaminating their poor hard-working teachers with a deadly virus.

It was good

I now have LED lights and hi-viz in the car as it was gloomy by the time we were done, and I'd hate to cause a sadly death by running over someone who had a positive Covid test in the past 28 days

@MercyBooth thanks, can't bring myself to watch it later as I get annoyed!

I think I've reached covid saturation point these past few days.

The final straw has come with not being allowed to do something that doesn't put anyone else at risk at all, but it's not allowed anymore, "because of covid." I can't say what it is because it's so petty it might be identifying. But IT IS NOTHING TO DO WITH COVID, & covid is being used as an excuse by a dementor to suck the joy out of life. I could go on but I might say something I'll regret.

I may have eaten 2 slices of cake in retaliation, & now feel sick.