To think the vaccine shouldn't be given out by age criteria?

[studychick81]

I know the data says that the majority of people who get the virus and are most seriously ill or die are the elderly, over 82. But I was quite surprised by the potential order of giving out the vaccine.

1. people in care homes and care home workers- fair enough.

2. over 80s and health care workers.

3. age order oldest- youngest.

4. I don't agree with this. Surely all health care workers should get it before all people over 80? Shouldn't those 50 plus who have underlining issues which means catching it could be deadly get it over a normally healthy over 80 year old?

5. should kids who live with vulnerable adults/grand parents get it before a fit and healthy 40 year old?

6. should teachers, education workers get it before a fit 40 year old?

The trouble with that approach is that classes of middle aged and younger teachers will face ongoing disruption.

that’s just not true. See this government study from the summer of Covid in schools, and this report on the low numbers of Covid outbreaks in schools

I don’t actually know of teachers are at greater risk. But data from summer isn’t much use (the number of kids attending school in June & July was extremely low).

I don't think agree with number 2. I don't think the fit and healthy over 80 and not in a care home should get it before those younger who are more vulnerable and have underlining conditions and/or asthma

My DF has leukaemia and COVID-19 would probably be deadly for him. He is 75. I don't think it's right that a healthy 80 year old gets it over people like him or others with underlining conditions or asthma.

Teachers before clinically vulnerable- no way! Really?

No not before the clinically vulnerable.

But they should definitely be on the list.

@Hercwasonaroll - the second link looked at those schools which were open, and found:

“ only 0.01% of open educational settings had an outbreak

out of more than 1 million children attending pre-school and primary school in June, just 70 children were affected

infections in the wider community likely driving cases in schools

children were more likely to acquire SARS-CoV-2 infection at home than in school”

As a lecturer who is also CEV, it’s preposterous to suggest that healthy teachers should be prioritised above CEV who have been Shielded. I’d have thought this way were I not CEV.

When it does come to the rest of the population after healthcare workers, the elderly and high risk, if the rest of the population are vaccinated, I’d like to see the BAME population prioritised given the clearly more unfavourable outcomes towards BAME people.

What about the police delivery drivers shop workers etc, who are probably as at risk as teachers, they come in contact a wider selection of people every day than teachers. I am sorry but I really don’t think teachers are at any higher risk than the average worker.

I think people who are particularly vulnerable to conditions causing breathing difficulties should be at or near the top of the list.

I'd agree with the BAME & at risk group points. I would like to point out that schools are losing multiple teachers to sickness and if they are not able to work then schools close. That would have a knock on effect on the economy and hospitals.

I think with teachers it's not just about them catching it and being seriously ill it's about them catching it and staff shortages meaning schools have to shut. I can understand this argument and they should be above normal, healthy under 40s but definitely not above the vulnerable or above children who live with vulnerable people or children who are perhaps carers.

I'm 38 and asthmatic, have received the flu jab every year as far back as I can remember and been on daily meds since the age of 5

I was not on the CEV list (apparently was 1 course of steroids away from it) but suffer chest infections most winters and sometimes at the beginning of hayfever season (yep I have hayfever too), always requiring medical intervention and sometimes requiring hospitalisation.

The original list lumps me in somewhere near the bottom, which for me personally I am ok with as I can continue to work from home and have understanding employers, but for many others who 'just missed' the CEV criteria and have to continue to go to work facing people every day, I definitely think they should be prioritised over people slightly older but fit and healthy.

If you didn't know me, saw me out running, you would consider me young (ish! Lol) and healthy, but it's only thanks to daily medication and avoiding certain situations (such as smokers, office working when other staff have flu, additional meds to manage hayfever, not going out when it's extremely hot, humid or exceptionally cold) that I manage to maintain this balance.

It's normal for me now having lived with it all my life, but I definitely think vaccines shouldn't be given primarily just based on age

Broken- 100% agree. Those with asthma, breathing/lung issues should be up there too

Yes, I agree too Broken. I’m 36 and most 80 year olds seem healthier than me! Age is a shitty criteria.

@Wigeon The schools open at that time had social distancing and VERY small numbers per class.
This is not the case now.

You're proving my point to anyone who knows what school was like then and is like now.

The government isn't publishing data on schools as much anymore. They don't want people to know.

BAME was found to be a proxy for occupation and location.

I would've thought that they would give it to the same people that are eligible for the flu jab firstly.

This is fairly close to what they are actually doing. It makes the most sense. Obviously everyone has their own opinions about who is and isn't a higher risk, but they have to go with the data that they have rather than how people feel.

Children will not get the vaccine as it will not be licensed in children.

Regardless of any ECV or underlying condition age is still the biggest risk factor for hospitalisation and death. A healthy 80+ year old is still more likely to die than any other section of society.

The schools open at that time had social distancing and VERY small numbers per class.

But the kids were kids of front line health workers

@Thewithesarehere

Teachers should be up there on this list.

So should nursery staff, cuddling, feeding, changing all the little ones.

I work in a secondary school, and I wouldn't expect or want to get it before health workers, elderly or vulnerable people.

Caveat to any priority list though is how each vaccine works in different groups of people. We will not know that until the full studies are released.

But the kids were kids of front line health workers

Who were more likely to be sensible with handwashing, distancing etc at home.

Do you really not see that 6-8 children per class is far lower than school exposure now. At secondary many teachers were only in the building once per week.

I work in a secondary school, and I wouldn't expect or want to get it before health workers, elderly or vulnerable people

Me too. I hope teachers are on the list, but it’s going to be a seriously big list

@TheDowagerDuchess

Clinically vulnerable should be high up on the list, surely? And teachers should certainly be on there before all and sundry. I would also thought there would come a time when it would stop being oldest to youngest (50?) and then start with the children before young, healthy adults.

It's highly unlikely that any vaccine will initially be licensed for use in children.