MHRA approves Pfizer jab for use in UK

[AuntieStella]

News just breaking on BBC

@3littlewords

I wonder if those who decline this Pfizer vaccine would have the option further down the line to take the Oxford vaccine should that get approved? Or is it the vaccine in general some are against not who has produced it?

The problem is that each vaccine is different (the components and how they work).

Pfizer/Moderna=messanger RNA vaccine
Oxford= genetically altered chimpanzee adenovirus that carries a Covid spike protein

I personally don't think people worry about who is producing them i.e. US vs UK (as long as they are reputable and transparent)

It's more that the vaccines are based on new technology and have not been around long enough to ascertain long term side effects

I guess the rest of us (of working age) will stay inside for the next year then.

@elastamum

If you read the BMJ editorial it says the studies were designed the same way flu studies are and aren't designed to look at deaths, which would take years to run or transmission which is logistically very complicated to do. So they have used a proven trial model, which is good enough for me. Stop scaremongering. The BMJ does not criticise the pharma companies, it just points out the limits of their study design. That's how science works.

Exactly!

@NoSquirrels

I am extremely grateful not only to the minds of the worldwide scientific community in vaccine development, but all those thousands of people who have offered themselves up as "guinea pigs" in the trials.

100% this

@bubbletrouble1

No, it has been rushed and there isn't the long term safety data you would normally see. It's a risky vaccine because of it. It doesn't mean we shouldn't take that risk but to say you can compress the process without risk is just wrong. You can't speed up time. You can't know what long term effect there will be.

How long would you say is reasonable and what is your proposal for containment in the meantime?

That’s interesting

I knew (from the draft version) that I’m in priority 4

The table attached to the draft list had age 18 not 16 for priority 6. The glossary in the draft version said that priority 6 would include those who cohabit with the severely immune compromised - which might now include DD now they’ve lowered the age

The vaccine isn’t for children and it is given to adults in order of priority. Am listening to the press conference with the experts now.

It’s an amazing breakthrough.

@ThornAmongstRoses

As far as I’m aware it doesn’t stop you getting covid...it stops the symptoms.

This was my understanding too. It stops you getting seriously ill from it, but it doesn’t actually stop you getting it in the first place.

I’m not sure how true that is, but it’s what has been a talking point at work for the last few weeks - one of the Consultant was worried about it just causing more asymptomatic infected people to be out and about.

I was taking it all with a pinch of salt though as I knew I wasn’t educated enough about the specific way the vaccine works to really get involved.

We don't know this yet, but it's been cited as 'fact' all over the internet. The Oxford trial swabbed its participants weekly and so they have better data showing that vaccination likely prevents a person from catching Covid

@Parker231

The vaccine isn’t for children and it is given to adults in order of priority. Am listening to the press conference with the experts now. It’s an amazing breakthrough.

There is the argument that mRNA vaccines could be as big a breakthrough as penicillin. Huge potential for transforming the way in which vaccines are produced and treatments for cancer too.

@AgnesNaismith

I guess the rest of us (of working age) will stay inside for the next year then.

And all us extremely clinically vulnerable people will be swanning around like fucking superheroes. I'll do your shopping for you if you like? I haven't been in a shop for almost a year - seriously, I'll do anyone's shopping for them.

@purplefig

Ok I dont want to “crap” on anyone’s happiness, so I’ll leave you be. Just wanted to share a few points to show that a) no, not all nhs staff will be having this and b) there are genuine concerns if you do some reading around. I throughly recommend the BMJ as a highly reputable starting place.

And there are always such debates about any and all treatments, old and new. Many of them, and the one you linked to above includes this, act as starting points for new discussions on making research better, broader and more focussed.

There are genuine concerns, but they are based on the genuine effects on covid in the wider population rather than for an individual! Which is only to be expected given how flu viruses differ!

When you apply for nursing you have to attend occupational health for a health check, this includes a check on your vaccine status. Most of us had to get hep B done, I had to have a few others as my parents hadn't got me properly vaccinated.

If I'd have refused I wouldn't have got a place on the course.

I'm betting Covid will be added to this list. While they can't force existing staff to be vaccinated they can make it a requirement for new starters. They can also make it a requirement for any contract changes within a trust.

My husband is happy to have it, but has also been told it's not really optional.

Nobody seems to know how long the vaccine will last ? Trials have said it was still present after 56 days !!!!!!! So not long at all. I can’t see how the country will be able to afford to keep vaccinating everybody if it only lasts for say 3 months ???????

The Oxford trial swabbed its participants weekly and so they have better data showing that vaccination likely prevents a person from catching Covid

Yes, it's possible, indeed likely, but it has not yet been satisfactorily demonstrated with sufficient evidence. But they'll still be collecting data, and they may be able to form a view idc.

Will there be challenge trials if it is looking good?

There is the argument that mRNA vaccines could be as big a breakthrough as penicillin. Huge potential for transforming the way in which vaccines are produced and treatments for cancer too. That!!!!!

It could be an absolute fucking medical miracle and all we get are buckets of cold water and misery from our media and SM 'experts'!

@CuriousaboutSamphire

There is the argument that mRNA vaccines could be as big a breakthrough as penicillin. Huge potential for transforming the way in which vaccines are produced and treatments for cancer too. That!!!!!

It could be an absolute fucking medical miracle and all we get are buckets of cold water and misery from our media and SM 'experts'!

Yep totally.

@iVampire

I feel I should have the right to know if the person treating me does not want to have the vaccine, so I can refuse treatment

Staff in the haem unit I attend wear ‘I’ve had my flu jab’ badges during the flu season. Patients don’t get a choice about who they see, but this is a way to reassure the (often highly vulnerable) patient community that every step is being taken to protect them. We might see similar

And staff who cannot it do not receive the vaccine might need to be redeployed away from direct contact with those who remain vulnerable.

That's good to hear. I'm a healthcare professional myself (although not treating patients at the moment) and I just can't imagine refusing a vaccine if it meant vulnerable patients were put at risk. I would leave the job rather than do that as it would go against what I feel is my professional responsibility. I'm quite shocked that there are some NHS workers on here although perhaps they're not healthcare professionals or maybe they don't see anyone who could be at high risk from Covid.

And all us extremely clinically vulnerable people will be swanning around like fucking superheroes. I'll do your shopping for you if you like? I haven't been in a shop for almost a year - seriously, I'll do anyone's shopping for them

Hell yes. Me too!

1 - Residents in a care home for older adults and their carers
2 - All those 80 years of age and over. Frontline health and social care workers
3 - All those 75 years of age and over
4 - All those 70 years of age and over. Clinically extremely vulnerable individuals
5 - All those 65 years of age and over
6 - All individuals aged 16 years to 64 years with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality
7 - All those 60 years of age and over
8 - All those 55 years of age and over
9 - All those 50 years of age and over

@Chumleymouse

Nobody seems to know how long the vaccine will last ? Trials have said it was still present after 56 days !!!!!!! So not long at all. I can’t see how the country will be able to afford to keep vaccinating everybody if it only lasts for say 3 months ???????

Do you understand that it isn’t possible to publish findings about how long it lasts until the requisite amount of time has passed?

!!!!!!!!!!!!! ???????????

Ffs

My 80yo DM cannot wait to get the vaccine. Neither can my good friend who is an NHS consultant but also CEV. If she trusts the vaccine then I do too.

If the vaccine induced effects are indeed v short lived, then we're back to square 1 unless/until a different one can provide longer. What a depressing prospect

[quote purplefig]@MarshaBradyo but we’ve approved it and they haven’t.[/quote]
We're just first, that's all. Everyone else will do so probably within the week

I am so grateful that I live in a country where the vaccine will be a choice.

I'd be happy to have it, but is my view skewed because I'm 41 with no known health conditions so there's a chance I won't have it this side of NEXT Christmas.

The way I see it vaccines plus mass testing is the only way out of all this crap. So I am hoping there will be a good uptake of the vaccine.

However I much rather live in a society where we might have to deal with WFH, masks, social distancing etc for a while longer than force people to have the vaccine.

So it’s a case of , great we have a vaccine, but no idea how long it will last ? Mmmmm 🙄