Covid vaccine - only half the population and not for under 18s (FT article)

[snowballer]

Don't know if this has already been mentioned elsewhere but thought it was worth posting. I've read quite a few posts where people have been musing about whether or not they would vaccinate their children. The article says adults only, and of those adults only those over 50 plus healthcare workers and those who are vulnerable.

It's not clear whether it would be available privately to those outside these groups or whether the vaccine is not formulated for children (I'm no scientist so don't know if this is even a thing!)

Pic of article below - fingers crossed it posts.

MrsTerryPratchett
COVID could have an RO of 4
Haven't seen any evidence of this. It peaked at 3 in London.

It makes sense to me, provided those who are younger but with the main underlying health conditions that put you at risk are included too. Covid risk is primarily correlated with age, so targeting the over 50s makes sense. It's the same with the flu jab - it isn't offered to everyone, just those at the most risk. If you look at the stats, the number of under 50s seriously affected is tiny. I'm fine with this plan (and I'm in the 40-50 group mentioned by another poster).

Has anyone mentioned that there is no vaccine and there may never be?

cloud I work in a GP surgery and with my colleagues have seen many hundreds of people face to face since lockdown. Many of whom are suspected Covid. Indeed I have tested positive for antibodies myself, likely through working with no ppe at the beginning.
It will be interesting to see how many of the elderly people who decline the flu vaccine year on year in their thousands, come forward for any new vaccine.

I can’t imagine leaving the 40’s unvaccinated is going to work for the public or for the economy.

Which parents want their unvaccinated child taught by a 48yo unfit coughing breathless teacher who is no longer allowed to isolate?

How would immunity passports work? People in their 30’s and 40’s are pretty economically active but a lot won’t want to “get back to normal” with such large swathes of the population unvaccinated. Office blocks will still be pretty empty. Large arena events aimed at those in their 30’s and 40’s are still going to be empty. I’m not even sure that the vaccinated over 50’s would relish sitting on a plane with coughing covid infected 40 year olds? Plus you’ve got the whole argument that you’re vaccinating the 80+’s who have a shorter lifespan to go, but allowing the under 50’s to risk long covid and all the complications that are becoming clearer.

I can understand the priority ranking and agree with it. But I think the government need a greater degree of normal than filling up the garden centre cafes.

I think this is rubbish. Yes those groups will be done first. But then they will roll out to all adults. What about BAME men in their 40s for eg? Theyll want all adults to have it especially as it’s unlikely to give elderly 100pc vaccine. I reckon groups outlined done by early summer, younger groups by the early autumn. Don't think children will ever get it.

100pc protection I mean

I am so shocked by this. I have been quite worried about getting it even though I am early 40s. Not for dying but for long Covid and just being really unwell. But I am not even eligible for a vaccine? The article says healthy adults would be put at risk of freak harm ( zwhatever that means) by the vaccine. So risk of harm by the vaccine is higher than risk of harm by Covid??

Even if age 40-50 are last to get it I am still a bit worried about that as we will be releasing restrictions by that point as the most vulnerable will be protected. So a good chance I could end up catching it before I get vaccinated

They have to start somewhere though don't they. It's obvious the elderly and NHS workers will be first, then the younger vulnerable and so on. Once the most at risk have been vaccinated surely the criteria will open up, or will be available to buy like the flu jab is.

What about BAME men in their 40s for eg?

In 11th category, unless working in a care home (1st) HCP (2nd) or previously shielded (3rd)

There have been several iteration NHS of the priority list by JCVI already. I expect there will be further updates, especially when an actual vaccine is in the offing

I think they are aiming for 60% for herd immunity (based on R of 2-3 if unchecked) and they want to protect the most vulnerable and keep NHS going (and restoring non-Covid services)

It seems a bit daft given the risks of long Covid which is what is truly terrifying about Covid. After all, once you’re dead, you’re dead, but a lifetime of managing heart and lung problems is something else.

@notevenat20

Has anyone mentioned that there is no vaccine and there may never be?

But there probably will, won't there? It's sounding very likely that there will be one or more that give at least partial protection.

@scaevola do you have a link to the priority categories? X

It makes perfect sense to me - I’m not sure what people are annoyed about, to be honest.

But not everyone eligible for a flu jab, and no one ever seems to be up in arms about that?

Why is everyone shocked at this? Of course they will vaccinate the most vulnerable first. The rest of the adult population will be vaccinated but only when there is enough vaccine which may not be next year. It’s likely children won’t be vaccinated at all.

But Covid is 10 times worse than flu. And I always expected to be bottom of the priority but didn’t think they wouldn’t vaccinate 40-50 at all

No vaccine is 100% safe. It might be 99.9999% or 99.99999% safe but given the understandable pace of roll out we can’t yet know for sure whether it might be only 99.999% safe. That’s inevitable with the first ten million people to try any new vaccine, however slow the pace of registration.
It’s a risk worth taking for the over 50s, even the healthy ones, but it’s much more difficult to justify for children for whom the risk of serious harm from Covid19 is very low.

"There is going to be no vaccination of people under 18.

"It's an adult-only vaccine for people over 50 focusing on health workers and care home workers and the vulnerable."

I don't think her communication is very clear. The first sentence implies only people under 18 are excluded, but the second one states that only those over 50 will get it. So will those aged 18 to 50 be eligible or not?

news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-vaccine-head-less-than-half-of-the-uk-population-could-get-vaccinated-12090472

Think it’s explained better here

Presumably the vaccine will be available privately at a not-ridiculous price.

The conclusion I’d draw from the above is that school teachers and forty-something parents should be next in line to be allocated vaccines after HCPs, and the older and vulnerable population.

@Racoonworld

Why is everyone shocked at this? Of course they will vaccinate the most vulnerable first. The rest of the adult population will be vaccinated but only when there is enough vaccine which may not be next year. It’s likely children won’t be vaccinated at all.

She doesn't say this though. She implies certain adult age groups will never be vaccinated.

@BlueBlancmange

"There is going to be no vaccination of people under 18.

"It's an adult-only vaccine for people over 50 focusing on health workers and care home workers and the vulnerable."

I don't think her communication is very clear. The first sentence implies only people under 18 are excluded, but the second one states that only those over 50 will get it. So will those aged 18 to 50 be eligible or not?

Eventually yes all adults over 18 will get it