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?

Are you aware of the fact that hospitals, GPs, pharmacies all have other things to do as well? They can't just drop everything for the sake of the vaccine, particularly when you consider it'll most likely be a yearly thing not a one off effort.

Apart from urgent care the vaccine should have priority though. They don't seem to have had much of a problem reducing non urgent care to treat covid cases after all.

@Lindy2

Another fucking shambles and you all know it. A year they've had to set this up but theyve pissed away time and money with backhanders to their mates

Actually although I'd like our roll out to be faster than 1million a week I think the UK is leading the way on the vaccinations.

The EU only started with Pfizer a few days ago and are no doubt going to spend more time arguing about who pays what and gets what.

The UK just got on with getting the job done and had vaccinated half a million if our most vulnerable before pretty much any other country had even got started. Many many countries have done no vaccinations at all yet.

I think we're doing well with this. We'd always want more and quicker - it's natural in such situations, but this is not a shambles. Far from it.

I agree totally.

I thought the oxford vaccine was a one and done - no second jab required

It's hugely unlikely that non key workers under 40 will ever see the jab!

I disagree. Whether or not it is offered on the NHS people will eventually be able to have it privately if they want.

@lubeybooby

I thought the oxford vaccine was a one and done - no second jab required

No. Two jabs 12 weeks apart.

Don't forget the Janssen vaccine - potential dark horse, results due end of January 2021, and it's only a one-dose regimen (although there's a separate trial to establish its two-dose efficacy). The UK has ordered 30 million of those, although I'm not sure when they'll be delivered.

@Circumlocutious - ineteresting thanks - I’ve not heard of that one. Off to google.

@Circumlocutious

Don't forget the Janssen vaccine - potential dark horse, results due end of January 2021, and it's only a one-dose regimen (although there's a separate trial to establish its two-dose efficacy). The UK has ordered 30 million of those, although I'm not sure when they'll be delivered.

J&J/Janssen are submitting very soon, and is a vaccine very similar to Oxford in terms of make-up, transportability etc etc. It seems to be another strong contender.

Surely if we can test half a million a day we can vaccinate more than that considering we have more GP surgeries than test centres.

@DigitalGhost testers aren’t medically trained in any way so it’s more the redeployment of staff who are qualified and trained to vaccinate as well as the logistics. Many of the over 80’s aren’t going to be able to go to a drive through site and it isn’t safe to have them observed in their cars for the required 15 minutes afterwards.

@DigitalGhost

Surely if we can test half a million a day we can vaccinate more than that considering we have more GP surgeries than test centres.

Are you serious?

For a start, testing centres are outdoors, massive open areas which can accommodate a large group of people whilst still being able to facilitate social distancing. Do you know any GP surgeries which fit this bill?

Secondly, the tests are carried out typically by the patient, with someone trained (but likely not medical) talking the patient through the steps. Do you think the vaccine can be administered this way?

And lastly, issuing medication requires way more preparation and cross checking than handing someone a swab and having them wipe the inside of their own throat and nose.

They are not processing volunteer vaccinators yet.

I am waiting for my recruitment pack in order to start giving the vaccine. The process has taken many weeks. I’ve done lots of on-line training, and gave loads of immunisations before I retired. Cant wait to start actually.
In Germany 8 care workers were overdosed on the Pfizer vaccine. Whoever gave it did not realise it was a multi-dose vial. They diluted it with 1.8ml of sod chl and gave the whole as a dose instead of just 0.3ml which is the correct dose.
Each vial contains 5 doses.

@HildegardNightingale

I am waiting for my recruitment pack in order to start giving the vaccine. The process has taken many weeks. I’ve done lots of on-line training, and gave loads of immunisations before I retired. Cant wait to start actually. In Germany 8 care workers were overdosed on the Pfizer vaccine. Whoever gave it did not realise it was a multi-dose vial. They diluted it with 1.8ml of sod chl and gave the whole as a dose instead of just 0.3ml which is the correct dose. Each vial contains 5 doses.

That's careless! Are they OK? It's actually 6 doses in a vial to allow for wriggle room.

Out of curiosity would you prefer a military veteran or a veterinarian?

I now have a mental image of a veterinarian directing patients to climb on the table and then plunging the needle into the back of their neck!

Seriously, I don't care who does it. Give me a syringe and instructions and I'll grit my teeth and do it on myself!

@cathyandclare - no it’s 5 doses. 5 x 0.3 = 1.5ml. 6x0.3=1.8ml. If you dilute with 1.8ml of sod chl and gave out 6 does you would have no wriggle room .

Doses!!!

[quote HildegardNightingale]@cathyandclare - no it’s 5 doses. 5 x 0.3 = 1.5ml. 6x0.3=1.8ml. If you dilute with 1.8ml of sod chl and gave out 6 does you would have no wriggle room .[/quote]
After the first week GP colleagues were told to get six if they can. Most say that they are.

www.pulsetoday.co.uk/uncategorised/gps-may-be-able-to-get-extra-dose-out-of-pfizer-covid-vaccine-vial/

I haven't done a survey, so could just be the people I know! 5 or 6 friends said they were getting 6.

Not according to PHE COVID 19 vaccination, information for healthcare practitioners republished December 2020 page 27, vaccine presentation. Appendix one storage and preparation of the COVID 19 mRNA vaccine BNT 162b2 (Pfizer Biotech)
@cathyandclare

Well I can assure you it's happening, the FDA, Israelis snd Czechs have approved it snd the EU are looking into it too.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN28S04L

Well hopefully PHE will approve it too.

Based on each jab taking 2 minutes in total to administer, to get 1 Mill per day would take approx 355000 hours. Yep. Very doable
.

People really have no idea whats involved.