MHRA approves Pfizer jab for use in UK

[AuntieStella]

News just breaking on BBC

LemonTT yes I agree. It’s disappointing though as others read it.

All R4 news positive this morning, anyone feeling anxious listen to scientists on there.

The concerning part for me is that ten years has been crammed into ten months

If you have the vaccine next year you could find out in five years there are major side effects

Hancock might say delivery in the community in GP surgeries but in the short term, we've not been given access to buy the freezers.

We need to check but when we last looked, this might be the vaccine that isn't kinetically stable once defrosted and diluted so must be kept on one site (no satellite surgeries) and the relatively large dilution dosages and relatively short duration for use means a defrosted dose might be for more vaccinations than a practice's sub-population of eligible (elderly) so we can't take a delivery of a dose from the hospital or distributor then defrost, dilute and use on one site in 3/5? days unless wastage is allowed or the initial guidance for primary care regarding the above has changed.

@Oxyiz

More people will take it over time when it becomes seen as safer I'm sure.

Isn't the point that many people will be reticent of being the guinea pigs at this stage? If you're relatively young and healthy especially.

If you're 85 and/or been shielding since March you might walk over glass to take it tomorrow.

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

It reduces the symptoms to mild/trivial, and it is not yet known whether it also prevents transmission. Anyone who has read even the very early press releases would know that the manufacturers have been saying this clearly from the off

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.

Thank fuck for that, let’s get it shipped over and stuck in those bingo wings pronto

Well, reading about it, this vaccine does seem to have some limitations and quite a few unknowns.
Sorry it's in German, but as MN insitsts on proof:
Diese positiven Ergebnisse beziehen sich auf den Schutz vor einer Covid-19-Erkrankung. Inwiefern der Impfstoff auch vor der Infektion und einer möglichen Weitergabe des Virus schützt, ist noch nicht klar
From amp.zdf.de/nachrichten/wirtschaft/coronavirus-impfstoff-grossbritannien-biontech-pfizer-100.html

@purplefig I would also like to know who you are accusing of being corrupt and why. Evidence please.

I wouldn’t walk over glass, but I was told at outpatients this week that (based on what was known to the haematologists at that point) that there was no obvious reason why someone with my type of leukaemia could not safely receive either/both types of vaccine, nor was there any reason why it would not have the intended effect

It would be lovely to move from CEV strictures to ordinary community rules (even lockdown rules would be liberating!)

Re; it being fine they’ve “compressed” 10 years work into 10 months, I get how that’s possible with the global effort.

BUT. There are obviously no long term studies into the side effects.

And this is from the bbc: "An mRNA vaccine has never been approved for use in humans before, although people have received them in clinical trials."

So that’s why I won’t be having it. That and the fact it is unknown if it even stops you getting it in the first place.

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?

I'm happy for anyone who has the opportunity to have it but also respect the wishes of those who want to decline it I'm sure no one takes the decision to have/not have lightly

@wildbarnet

Fab news shame there are so many people that won't take it and don't realise that although it takes years usually (due to funding etc) and there has never been such massive funding /scientists working night and day etc

I wonder how many of these really won't take it when offered.

@TableCat

I literally have tears rolling down my face. It really does feel like this never-ending crapfest is going to end.

I agree. Finally some real hope of getting our lives back and seeing the folk we love.

" I’m as yet undecided as I’m very unlike to get covid complications so the virus does not greatly worry me."

Interesting. On MN you frequently see people arguing that all children should be vaccinated not just to protect themselves (a healthy child is unlikely to get severe complications from childhood diseases; it's not impossible but it is unlikely, just like you being "unlikely" to get covid complications) but also recognising that it's vital to get most people immunised in order to protect children undergoing cancer treatment and those who are immuno-suppressed from catching a disease which may kill them. Do you argue against this, too?

BTW this reluctance among NHS staff ("in my hospital no-one wants to take it..." ) for the vaccine must be very hospital specific. My DD is a nurse in a non-Covid ward and she and her team are eager for it.

As I would expect all sensible people to be.

@TableCat

I literally have tears rolling down my face. It really does feel like this never-ending crapfest is going to end.

This

I reckon I will weep tears of joy when that needle finally gets stuck in my arm!

I wonder how many of these really won't take it when offered

Time will tell, but I expect that there will be so many people readily consenting that uptake could be high enough for significant easing of restrictions by about April (I thought Hancock was hinting at that as the timeline when he spoke to BBC earlier thus morning)

I can see the Oxford vaccine being approved by the end of the week/early next week too. Then we'll have a whole load of vaccines to go round.

@WhyNotMeThough totally agree.

I’m sure that this vaccine is not “10 months in the making” it’s based on science that has been developed over a very long time.

Scientists have been working on a potential zoonotic virus vaccine in the background ever since SARS.

I’ll have yours @purplefig

Not rushed: as well as a ton of money, there's also been a ton of cases, what with it being a pandemic, so it's been a damned sight faster to get results out than when it's the usual sorts of things like meningitis, that are relatively rare. And I suspect that US and EU approval will be through in the next day or two.

They say that Maurice Hillman, the "father of modern vaccines", used to say that he didn't breathe a sigh of relief about a new vaccine until it reached its 3 millionth dose. Which is to say, rare, serious side effects are always possible. But the emphasis should be on rare. 43,000 people were vaccinated in the Biontech trial, and there's been no serious side effects discovered yet. On the other hand Covid 19 has a case fatality rate of about 1%, with many others having extended stays in hospital, to say nothing of the folk affected by "long Covid".

I'd be first in line if they would give it to me! But I think it is absolutely right that they protect health workers first, both for practical reasons and for moral ones - these people have been putting themselves in the line of fire all year.

@Burnthurst187

The concerning part for me is that ten years has been crammed into ten months

If you have the vaccine next year you could find out in five years there are major side effects

Can I suggest that you actually read up on the facts of the vaccine development.

In extremely simple terms it's like being at work and being told you only have to do one part of your job, you can ignore anything else, you'll still be paid the same, your bss will also do nothing but review your work how much quicker will that one specific task be achieved?

I know that's super simplified but counters the repeated false accusation that the fact that it's been done speedily is a bad thing

“43,000 people were vaccinated in the Biontech trial, and there's been no serious side effects discovered yet.

And herein lies people’s reluctance I think - which is perfectly valid.

My FIL is in his 70’s, vulnerable and has barely left his house since March - he says he can’t wait to get it because what’s he got to lose?

He said if he was young and healthy there’s no way he’d get it.

It’s all about perspectives I guess.

Brilliant news.

When can we start burning the bastarding face coverings?

I have not heard 1 nhs worker say they wouldn’t have the vaccine. I think this is being spread by anti vaxxers.

The over 80s are in priority 2 along with HCPs

I wonder if HMQ will be getting it as her Christmas present?