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?

I don't think age should be the main criteria. I am 70. My husband is a little older and was on the shielding list (complex health needs). We have achoice to stay at home and have a priority ASDA slot, our pensions go in the bank regardless.. I think all public service workers should be first. My daughter is a teacher, she will be spending all day with large numbers of children with additional needs wearing no mask. Medical staff, police,care workers, anyone with clinical vulnerability who can't shield and then age based vulnerability. I will be very happy to get a vaccine but I do have a choice for now to avoid interacting outside the home.

@Hercwasonaroll

A recent prevalence study from the Office for National Statistics, with data from Sept to Oct, found “ no evidence of differences in the positivity rate between primary and secondary school teachers, other key workers and other professions.”

Link here, so you can see the specific stats.

It’s really not true that data relating to schools isn’t being published, or that teachers have a higher prevalence of Covid. Or if it is, please provide reliable sources to the evidence.

It should be done on the basis of clinical risk plus health workers and I expect that this is what will happen. Once those with the highest level of risk are vaccinated then restrictions should be lifted for everyone.

The main question shouldn’t be who’s going to get the jab, it should be who’s going to give it. Any suggestions? Are there any health care staff with nothing else to do? I think maybe not. That’s the biggest challenge.

Baaaaahhhh- so a 80+ healthy person is more likely to be in hospital and die than a 75 yo with leukaemia or asthma? Where is the data on that?

I am shocked by those saying teachers and nursery workers should be above CV. How selfish.

It will probably happen anyway at some point. I suspect that schools in hard hot areas will start closing due to staff sickness, children will be sent home and the knock on effect will make government panic.

hard hit

Age is still the biggest criteria on the CV list. Lets not forget also that the elderly have put more into the community than younger age groups through the work they have done over generations and the thousands of pounds in taxes they have paid. They have put the most into the kitty.

I have a feeling care home workers aren’t at the top of the list quoted because of the risk to them so much, it isn’t maybe more to do with preventing them transferring it to care ho e residents for who, the virus didn’t “stick” - it sort of makes sense that if the pay vaccinate everyone in the carehome they vaccinate the workers there too, it creates a little bubble with herd immunity. Health care workers also, tend to be working with vulnerable people, plus the NHS can Ill afford any of them coming down with covid and self isolating. The benefit to those people’s individual health is an additional benefit.

I know that children were included in the Oxford vaccine trials, and Pfizer has just started including 12 year olds in trials - surely this would be so that eventually children would be included in a vaccine programme?

I am shocked by those saying teachers and nursery workers should be above CV. How selfish.

They aren't saying that at all.

@Wigeon Interesting that they've only just started asking for occupation when you book a test so who knows where that data came from.

They are burying infection rates in children, they're changing categories so you cannot compare like with like.

I don't think teachers should be anywhere near the top of the list. They should be above some jobs though.

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

I'm not sure why teachers aren't on the list?

1. Care Home Staff and Residents
2. ALL medical patient facing staff across all sectors
3. Teachers (Secondary, then Primary, then HE)
4. The clinically vulnerable due to illness

Sometimes I think MNetters live in a parallel universe.

Teachers before CV and CEV? What possible good reason is there for that?

Think about it, why should a 25 year old fit teacher get a vaccine before vulnerable adults. 80 statistically is a threshold for serious disease, vulnerable adults were also on the list. The first order to arrive is likely to be 10 million doses if we are lucky, as you need two they need to only give to the most vulnerable. Kids won't be offered it because (as parents in favour of schools being open are forever telling us) they don't get sick very often. I wouldn't fret, it's a barely tested vaccine, let others be guinea pigs. I'm in the lowest category and happy that I am

Does it really matter?? Surely as it’s rolled out, less people will be contracting it which means those who are not vaccinated yet will also be exposed less to it? Meanwhile, we can continue with hand washing etc. We shouldn’t be expecting to go back to the practices we had before (poor hand washing practices/non-sanitizing of shopping trolleys/poor coughing etiquette etc) just because a vaccine exists.

Sorry for all the typos, dodgy phone. But basically care home and HCPs being vaccinated gives additional protection to the vulnerable groups they work with as well as themselves

I think the list is about right, people saying teachers should get priority, what about police, prison officers, social workers, fire brigade? All in contact with a wider range of people than teachers, all essential services we'd be screwed without, all working without PPE in most settings. It gets too messy and complicated. Healthcare and CEV first then oldest to youngest is the most logical as a cross section of keyworker professionals will be vaccinated and they go through the age brackets

The order makes no sense, but I say that as dh (40) is stage 4 terminal cancer.

1. Healthcare workers (including care homes)
2. CEV
3. over 80's
4. care homes
5. key workers (teachers etc) Then probably in age order

I think you are giving the government way too much credit tbh. The entire thing will be ran by the NHS who I’m sure will be more sensible in their conduct especially if they have ordered enough for a third of the population (not sure I believe that either though)

I agree OP.
Also I don’t really care where on the vaccine list I am (it’ll be pretty low) as surely every vaccination given makes it just a little safer for the rest of us? (Or is that rose tinted thinking?!)

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

I'm not sure why teachers aren't on the list?

1. Care Home Staff and Residents
2. ALL medical patient facing staff across all sectors
3. Teachers (Secondary, then Primary, then HE)
4. The clinically vulnerable due to illness

Yes they did!

#2 after care home workers and 80+ in care homes should be CV over 50.
Then the next age criteria.

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

The current potential vaccine would mean vaccinated older people will still be much more at risk than unvaccinated children

I wonder if anyones going to complain about ageism now that the older are priority for vaccines? it should be care homes, health care, all highest risk, then high risk and work down.

@JJsDinerWaffles

My thinking exactly.

Love your user name!

I'm a teacher.
I'd rather my students have it first.