MHRA approves Pfizer jab for use in UK

[AuntieStella]

News just breaking on BBC

@TableCat

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

Same here. This is monumentally brilliant.

Most people will be sensible enough to have the vaccine. And that's all that matters.

@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

But the one thing money and night shifts can’t work out is long terms effects.

@ThornAmongstRoses

NHS staff will take it I’m sure.

On the ward I work on, staff in general are not keen at all to have the vaccine.

Maybe it’s because we don’t work with Covid patients though....

You may feel like that at the moment, but when the NHS returns to normal, which it has to very soon, i.e. back to full waiting rooms, normal daily lists, full wards, minimal gaps between patients etc., you and your colleagues will probably feel very different when you're at risk. At the moment, with social distancing, far fewer patients being treated, etc., you probably feel safe enough, but that WILL change as the NHS, like everything else, will have to get back to normal in a few months, whether you and your colleagues have had your jabs or not.

I really don't think it is that many people that done want to have it. Certainly not enough that restrictions can't be lifted by spring... You always think its more when they spout it on social media but in reality it's the ones that don't bother saying anything that will be happy to have it.

Yep. Restrictions will go. Momentous news even if there’s negativity on here.

Why will UK be the first to roll this out?

Scientists themselve are aware that the compressed timeline of delevopment is risky, new legislation has had to be rolled out to bypass normally very lengthy trials.
I am cautiously optimistic, certainly no tears.
I won't be in a rush to get the vaccine.

Absolutely bloody amazing news today!

My question is this. Once you have the jag, are you a little bit covered straight away, with full immunity at the 21 day booster? Or not at all covered for the first 21 days?

Some people are always ready to put a downer on the vaccine. First it was ‘we’ll never have a vaccine’ then ‘we might but it will take years’ now it’s ‘we have one but no one will take it’ and ‘there won’t be any delivered to the UK’. Why can’t people just admit they were wrong and we have an approved, useable vaccine that we are getting delivery of next week and there are many people who will be queuing up to get it? It’s brilliant news, can’t wait for this all to end soon!

I’m a healthcare worker and a bit hesitant about lining up for this vaccine next week. Speaking to colleagues I’m not alone. While mRNA vaccines have been used in research this is the first to be approved and even with whatever money has been thrown at it etc, they can’t know the long term consequences as they haven’t been followed up for long enough. It is likely that long term complications are rare (most vaccine complications arise quickly), it isn’t a zero risk. We also don’t know if this vaccine prevents you from passing it on, the main reason for me to be vaccinated would be to protect others. It is likely it does, but we can’t know that yet. I’m also trying to get pregnant and this not approved for pregnant women hence my apprehension. It puts me in a difficult position as I know my duty to protect my patients but I also have to balance the risks to my future health. I know many people saying they would be first in line to have the vaccine, but wonder if they could be so forthcoming if it was actually their reality, like it is for me. Overall I will have the vaccine (if not pregnant when it rolls out to my ward) but I understand people’s hesitancy and calling them names for it or telling them that they are selfish for not having it isn’t going to help change their minds.

I don’t get how you can work for the NHS and not believe in the science of the jab

You always think its more when they spout it on social media but in reality it's the ones that don't bother saying anything that will be happy to have it.

Exactly, the "silent majority" effect. Everyone knows the opinions of the gobby few, but the majority keep their opinions to themselves. That's why election opinion polls have to be adjusted for "shy tories" - the kind of people who go out of their way to avoid being interviewed on the streets etc., rather than the gobby minority who actively hang around waiting to be pounced on by the opinion pollsters.

I'm on another online chat room. It's unbelievably "covid denial" through and through. For a casual observer it gives the impression that no one is adhering to the restrictions, no one wears masks, no one is going to have the vaccine, etc. But, it's just an echo chamber. If you post anything the moderators don't agree with, they'll either delete your post or send you a stroppy email telling you to amend it. If you don't, you get kicked off the site!.

You may feel like that at the moment, but when the NHS returns to normal, which it has to very soon, i.e. back to full waiting rooms, normal daily lists, full wards, minimal gaps between patients etc., you and your colleagues will probably feel very different when you're at risk.

We work in Paediatrics which is probably why we don’t feel at risk. I work on a ward for 0-2 year olds and we haven’t had a single case.

I imagine if we worked on a Covid ward and were surrounded by ventilated and dying patients we’d feel very differently.

On the ward I work on, staff in general are not keen at all to have the vaccine.

Maybe it’s because we don’t work with Covid patients though....

What a shame. Who will look after your non-Covid patients when you and your colleagues are off sick with Covid?

@ThornAmongstRoses

NHS staff will take it I’m sure.

On the ward I work on, staff in general are not keen at all to have the vaccine.

Maybe it’s because we don’t work with Covid patients though....

What’s your job role?

It wasn’t “rushed” it was expedited because, you know, Pandemic!
It’s as if you were driving across London but all the traffic has been removed, all lights are on green and there are no 1way systems in place. The route is the same but it’s so much faster.
I will be having it as soon as it’s offered but unfortunately I am way down the list, although DH is classed as a key worker so I’m not sure if that makes any difference

@speakout

Why will UK be the first to roll this out?

Scientists themselve are aware that the compressed timeline of delevopment is risky, new legislation has had to be rolled out to bypass normally very lengthy trials.
I am cautiously optimistic, certainly no tears.
I won't be in a rush to get the vaccine.

Because we're one of the countries hit hardest by Covid. Our economy is going down the pan. People are dying because they can't get NHS treatment. Self employed are committing suicide because they've been excluded from Govt support and have lost their savings, their homes and their businesses. Unemployment is set to reach 1 million. The sooner we start getting back to normal, the sooner the country will start the long and painful process of recovery. The countries that control the virus and get back to normal soonest will be the ones who recover quickest from the effects of covid.

@ Marks2 what a refreshingly calm and measured comment.

I have exactly the same concerns as you and for that reason will choose not to have the vaccine any time soon.

People dismissing these valid concerns as anti vaxxer rhetoric are mistaken. Like many people with concerns about this one, I have had every other vaccine! But for me, on balance, the potential risks (no long term studies, brand new type of vaccine) don’t seem worth the benefits (a milder case of covid) in my case. I respect other people will come to different conclusions.

What a shame. Who will look after your non-Covid patients when you and your colleagues are off sick with Covid?

We have a ward of about 50 staff - of those 50 we’ve had one member of staff be off sick with Covid in the last 9 months.

But the one thing money and night shifts can’t work out is long terms effects

I can't remember the name but I listened to a documentary on the vaccine development and the scientists said that vaccines don't tend to have long term effects, they know pretty such straight away if there are going to be any.

Im not a doctor but what I understood is that a vaccine isn't like a treatment drug but one thing I do know is thet way greater medical minds than mine are pretty much unanimous that this is a positive step, pretty sure that they haven't failed to notice that we don't have long term evidence

Brilliant!

@Racoonworld

Some people are always ready to put a downer on the vaccine. First it was ‘we’ll never have a vaccine’ then ‘we might but it will take years’ now it’s ‘we have one but no one will take it’ and ‘there won’t be any delivered to the UK’. Why can’t people just admit they were wrong and we have an approved, useable vaccine that we are getting delivery of next week and there are many people who will be queuing up to get it? It’s brilliant news, can’t wait for this all to end soon!

Well said.

Unfortunately, I think too many people are enjoying the consequences of covid, i.e. on furlough or doing less work due to fewer patients/customers.

I think people will reconsider when they are told to get back to normal work, and hopefully, employers will be quick and insistent that staff and workplaces get back to how things were immediately before covid. Any staff who still feels at risk for whatever reason can beggar off and let someone else do their job.

Tears here too. For those being cautious, the MHRA applies some of the most rigorous criteria in the world before they approve anything and there is no way they will have cut corners with this. It's too important for them not to. The fact is, a bottomless pit of funding is what's enabled the scientists to crack on and get one produced so quickly. Whatever money and resources they needed, they got it, which isn't the case usually. Scientists normally have to apply for funding at different stages of the process, which is why it can take years.

@satnighttakeaway that’s interesting - but this isn’t just a new vaccine, it’s a brand new TYPE of vaccine which is what concerns me.

@MarshaBradyo

I really don't think it is that many people that done want to have it. Certainly not enough that restrictions can't be lifted by spring... You always think its more when they spout it on social media but in reality it's the ones that don't bother saying anything that will be happy to have it.

Yep. Restrictions will go. Momentous news even if there’s negativity on here.

I think though that there will need to continue to be restrictions while the vaccine is being given to the community through the different groups, and that will take several months.

@ThornAmongstRoses

What a shame. Who will look after your non-Covid patients when you and your colleagues are off sick with Covid?

We have a ward of about 50 staff - of those 50 we’ve had one member of staff be off sick with Covid in the last 9 months.

But you're in an artificial bubble where you''ll be seeing fewer patients, fewer (if any) visitors, wearing masks, extra cleaning, etc etc. How will you feel when your ward is back to how it was this time last year? How will you feel when the ward is full of visitors who havn't been social distancing, washing their hands, etc?

I do think some people are in denial that we ARE going to go back to normal and all the things that have helped reduce the spread of Covid over the past 9 months WILL be relaxed/removed.

cathyandclare it would be lovely if that proved to be true. It would be better still if distribution chain was sorted. Brilliant if hubs have suddenly got access to freezers. Hope there is more to follow as that amount is a drop in the ocean.

Fingers crossed.