To think they should be aiming for 1 million vaccines per day

[maddening]

Once the Oxford vaccine is approved, we have purchased 100 million doses, they could have 30 million 1st and 2nd doses complete by the end of Feb. We have 6800 go surgeries, there is talk of the army and football stadiums and sports halls being used. There are over 11000 chemists. And then the news is Sage discussing 1million per week? Wtf? 4 million 1st doses and million 2nd doses - so 4million every 2 months is never enough, surely they can't be seriously aiming for 1m a week?

My DF was due to get his vaccine today but sadly fell and is now in hospital so I know a little of what is going on. The care home needs to be first is fraught with issues. Proper approval by either the resident or the power of attorney needs to be given. What if the resident then refuses when the time comes. It’s not just a question of waiting, they will need to move on and the resident misses out. All of this takes time. Some people don’t have anyone.

His hospital care and operation has gone ahead (two London Hospitals) and they have been great.

Whilst we are struggling in our hospitals some people on MN seem to wallow in misery and don’t waste a second trying to spread it. They also try and make it all about the government which isn’t always the case. Wales is a basket case and Scotland isn’t much better.

No one regardless of political persuasion would have been staffed up to manage this pandemic and maybe just maybe in the future we can have a sensible discussion about how we fund the NHS. Someone please correct me but aren’t we the only country who makes it completely free at the point of use.

Logistically how do we do more than 1 million per week when the hospitals are in major incidents due to the number of cases and the staff shortages.

My BIL was telling me that the problem they are having with the Pfizer vaccine is because its caused several severe reactions every vaccination clinic must be supervised by a doctor and cannot be purely nurse led.

The hope is Oxford doesn't have the same problem so is less intense on staffing issues.

But yes the numbers on this are insane (BILs primary fear).

I am very firmly back of the queue for a vaccine. I'm fine about this as there are many many people who need it more than me, but its worrying how long i will have to wait nonetheless.

I think everyone wants it to be rolled out as fast as utterly possible. I can't imagine anyone deliberately digging their heels in over this.

@OhYouBadBadKitten

I think everyone wants it to be rolled out as fast as utterly possible. I can't imagine anyone deliberately digging their heels in over this.

Inc Hancock. Whatever you think about him, Boris or the nhs, they can’t be enjoying this or want to drag it out further, they will do everything possible to try to get it rolled out as soon as possible. Only a masochist wouldn’t.

The care home needs to be first is fraught with issues. Proper approval by either the resident or the power of attorney needs to be given. What if the resident then refuses when the time comes. It’s not just a question of waiting, they will need to move on and the resident misses out. All of this takes time. Some people don’t have anyone.

The care homes priority unfortunately is a result of government meddling. With the Pfizer vaccine it would have made far more sense to vaccinate NHS staff first, not only for logistical reasons (keeping it at -70) but also to keep the NHS running. I also don't think many people would feel that it is more important to vaccinate 95-year-olds with dementia before 18-year-olds on chemotherapy but that is what is happening.

Those of us who don’t work in NHS logistics imagine that it would be quicker to set up sports centres, drive ins etc, run by the military. This could work alongside the care home and hospital programmes, which could exist for those unable to get themselves to a sports centre etc. Those of you in the know, what’s wrong with that idea?
This morning a scientist on the BBC was saying how experienced the NHS is in vaccination programmes as it delivers the flu vaccine every year. That involves a much smaller group of people, having letters sent out etc. It doesn’t seem a particularly good comparison, when surely the focus needs to be on speed.

Logistically how do we do more than 1 million per week when the hospitals are in major incidents due to the number of cases and the staff shortages.

The AstraZeneca vaccine doesn't have to be done in hospitals though. It could be done in GP surgeries and pharmacies and a number of other places.

This morning a scientist on the BBC was saying how experienced the NHS is in vaccination programmes as it delivers the flu vaccine every year. That involves a much smaller group of people, having letters sent out etc. It doesn’t seem a particularly good comparison, when surely the focus needs to be on speed.

The flu vaccination isn't a smaller number. The same people are vulnerable.

It is a smaller number, the aim of the C19 vaccination programme is to vaccinate every person over 50 plus vulnerable people, isn’t it? Not everybody over 50 receives a flu vaccine.

Actually, isn’t the plan eventually that people under 50 with no pre-existing conditions are also vaccinated against C19?

@GwendolineWindowlene

It is a smaller number, the aim of the C19 vaccination programme is to vaccinate every person over 50 plus vulnerable people, isn’t it? Not everybody over 50 receives a flu vaccine.

It WAS the plan.

They are now thinking this might not be sufficient and offer enough protection to the population as a whole.

There is also talk of prioritising school staff which wasn't originally planned.

The position has shifted somewhat since they found out about the new strain.

Not everybody over 50 receives a flu vaccine.
Just on this point, I'm in southeast England, and the surgery rang me to invite me for the flu vaccine, as everyone over 50 is getting it this year. It was done at the doctor's, with volunteers providing hand gel and taking my temperature outside, then going through to four nurses vaccinating non-stop. It took about two minutes, from entering the room, being asked questions, and being jabbed, and out through the back door. I was very impressed with the efficiency.

If they are concentrating on the first dose, it also effectively doubles the number of doses available.

@GwendolineWindowlene

Those of us who don’t work in NHS logistics imagine that it would be quicker to set up sports centres, drive ins etc, run by the military. This could work alongside the care home and hospital programmes, which could exist for those unable to get themselves to a sports centre etc. Those of you in the know, what’s wrong with that idea? This morning a scientist on the BBC was saying how experienced the NHS is in vaccination programmes as it delivers the flu vaccine every year. That involves a much smaller group of people, having letters sent out etc. It doesn’t seem a particularly good comparison, when surely the focus needs to be on speed.

BIL is an A&E consultant.

He was saying that the rollout of pfizer was being hampered not only by the limited number of freezers that go down to -80C, the limited supply of the vaccine they actually have recieved, but also because due to a few people having a severe allergic reaction to the pfizer vaccine, they have to have a qualified GP to oversee every vaccination clinics in case there is an issue.

We have a few staffing issues with doctors in the UK atm...

@GwendolineWindowlene

Those of us who don’t work in NHS logistics imagine that it would be quicker to set up sports centres, drive ins etc, run by the military. This could work alongside the care home and hospital programmes, which could exist for those unable to get themselves to a sports centre etc. Those of you in the know, what’s wrong with that idea? This morning a scientist on the BBC was saying how experienced the NHS is in vaccination programmes as it delivers the flu vaccine every year. That involves a much smaller group of people, having letters sent out etc. It doesn’t seem a particularly good comparison, when surely the focus needs to be on speed.

Nothing at all, and that is in the plan.

@GwendolineWindowlene

It is a smaller number, the aim of the C19 vaccination programme is to vaccinate every person over 50 plus vulnerable people, isn’t it? Not everybody over 50 receives a flu vaccine.

They don't vaccinate healthy people between 50 and 65 with the flu vaccination on the NHS. However quite a few people get vaccinated privately at chemist shops . Also, healthy people between 50 and 65 are the lowest risk group and the final people to be vaccinated in the first wave.

According to online statistics there are 3.2 million over 80's in the UK. Presuming about half a million of those have been vaccinated with the pfizer vaccine so far, then within about 3 weeks of today, if the 1 million per week stands true, all of the over 80's will start to produce some good level of protection against being hospitalised with covid. That reduces the death rate greatly and the pressure on the NHS. Then, with the rest of the groups following on, a month or two from then, we will only be waiting for the rest of the country to be immunised so we can have our own personal peace of mind back. But try and imagine how different live is going to feel within a month or two from now.

They don't vaccinate healthy people between 50 and 65 with the flu vaccination on the NHS.
They have done this year.

I think going in to workplaces is a really good idea too!
Once the care home staff and residents and NHS workers are done. Carry on with the priory list but at the same time try to target other front line workers, teachers, bus drivers, supermarket employees. The people who are keeping the Country ticking over. We need them protected as a priority.

The restrictions we have in place are to prevent the NHS being over run. Once the most vulnerable have had one dose (which at the moment is being suggested could be late March) then the NHS will no longer be over run and restrictions can start to reduce. We don't need everyone to have had it for life to start to return to normal thankfully.

Each vaccine needs to be individually prescribed as there is no GPD (group prescription essentially). Social distancing in waiting areas also needs to take place as well as cleaning seats etc. With the Pfizer they need to stay in the building supervised for 15 minutes afterwards. Logistically this is a nightmare not even taking into account the Pfizer needs each injection drawn up as they can’t be pre-filled and no one worth their registration will risk someone else filling this so it’s not a simple in and out.
The Oxford will hopefully be a lot easier.

@WinterIsGone

Not everybody over 50 receives a flu vaccine. Just on this point, I'm in southeast England, and the surgery rang me to invite me for the flu vaccine, as everyone over 50 is getting it this year. It was done at the doctor's, with volunteers providing hand gel and taking my temperature outside, then going through to four nurses vaccinating non-stop. It took about two minutes, from entering the room, being asked questions, and being jabbed, and out through the back door. I was very impressed with the efficiency.

I had a flu vaccine this year, and it wasn’t like that at all at my surgery. Appointments were offered by text. There were no volunteers or anyone taking temperatures. Process seemed quite cumbersome.

I didn't realize the Pfizer vaccine needed to be drawn ,up that in itself takes a few minutes ,( i used to be a nurse have given pleanty of injections) and yes you wouldn't risk your registration not drawing It up yourself .

@WinterIsGone

They don't vaccinate healthy people between 50 and 65 with the flu vaccination on the NHS. They have done this year.

Yes, but they haven't done it yet in most places.

Each vaccine needs to be individually prescribed as there is no GPD (group prescription essentially).

It doesn't need to be individually prescribed. There will be a PGD for this as there is for the Pfizer vaccine.