I’m just angry now

[BathFullOfEels]

They knew a vaccine would be the only way of getting us out of this mess. The country has already been locked down twice. Why, why, why didn’t they use this time to set up the logistics of distributing and administering these vaccines?

Why, why, why are the government allowed to decide who to prioritise to receive these vaccines when they were always going to distribute in a way that benefits them. Surely any government with an ounce of realism would be self aware enough to realise that they would make this vaccine distribution a political decision and instead allow the decision to be made by an independent third party who can distribute it in a way that would allow the country to get back to work. Instead it’s likely that months and months down the line we’ll all be forced to go back to work despite still be unprotected.

I have visions of pensioners being able to swan off on holiday over the summer while the workers of the country will still be unable to.

It’s an absolute fucking farce. Watching that press conference last night just finally made it snap for me - they genuinely don’t know what they’re doing at all

@1980smum heatlthcare workers and careworker's are being vaccinated along with the over 80's and have been since day one
You can look up the vaccination group order

@PurpleDaisies

Not everyone will be vaccinated, the government are deliberately letting infection rates peak before they start each lockdown to ensure there is as much natural immunity as there is from the vaccines, because it's cheaper.

This is utter nonsense. Are the not vaccinating people who have had covid?

they are, I know health workers whoo had covid in April (confirmed) and who had n immunity in December (they were tested) and are getting the vaccine when available for them (it's in spain)

Genuine question, why do the elderly and clinically vulnerable still have to shield after the vaccine? I really understand the logic behind this

let's remember that due to this government's economic policy over the last decade, our life average expectancy has significantly dropped

Untrue. It has stopped climbing, but it has not dropped.

@Topseyt

I wonder if there is a private option

It isn't being made available privately in the UK. Only via the NHS.

And how right too!

they are, I know health workers whoo had covid in April (confirmed) and who had n immunity in December (they were tested) and are getting the vaccine when available for them (it's in spain)

We’re talking about the UK. Not Spain.

@HforHavana

Genuine question, why do the elderly and clinically vulnerable still have to shield after the vaccine? I really understand the logic behind this

Oops, I really DONT understand the logic

@nonono1 and thats not good i have lost my job also , but whats the alternative . We couldn't just leave everything open and let it run rampant , the vaccination order is the best order in order to be able to lift restrictions earlier. This is one thing they are doing right and so far well as we have vaccinated more than any other european country so fat

@Iremembertheelderlykoreanlady

It's about reducing deaths and pressure on the NHS. Always has been.

And I say that as a CV person of working age. Even as CV I won't be getting the vaccine until the summer.

The death rate reduces then restrictions will be lifted. The way the govt. Have arranged the vaccination schedule is one thing they've done that I agree with

This

@nonono1

Younger members of the population and children are collateral damage.

Yes, that’s what me and my family are - collateral. We and probably millions of others like us have lost everything for the greater good and nobody gives a shit. Maybe they will wake up to it when they realize there’s nobody left to fund the NHS though.

This exactly.

I feel like we are sacrificing an entire generation on the alter of the NHS.

We need far more people to be vaccinated I don’t know anyone at all and we have been in a high risk area since the start. I only know one person in a dementia care home scheduled to have the vaccine next week. I live in an area with a high number of elderly people and no one I have spoken to has received confirmation when they will get the vaccine. Look at the rates the vaccine is being distributed it’s not quick enough nowhere near. I’m not saying there isn’t progress it’s just not enough. It’s my opinion and I’ve emailed my MP rather than just moaning on MN. I know people losing jobs, homes, being ill, my kids have had their education massively impacted. Yes we’ve all got stories I’m aware of that but it’s my choice to email the MP and question progress.

@Ponypizzy

I’ve emailed my local MP this morning, which I’ve never done before, to say how I despair at the lack of progress for the vaccine and to raise it with his Senior leaders (Conservative). I’d encourage others to do the same. I just felt like I couldn’t sit back and watch this shit show any more.

We have vaccinated more than the whole of Europe put together

@HforHavana I guess because its still high in the community and they need to wait for 2nd dose to have a higher degree of protection plus all restrictions are still in place so they cannot do much anyway

@Ponypizzy have you looked up how many people we have vaccinated and are scheduled too. We have done more than the whole of europe put together how is that not quick enough , just because you don't know anyone ? Do you know every 80+ year old , care worker and healthcare worker on your area

[quote Thatsnotmynamename]@BathFullOfEels Yep, you're absolutely right. All those running governments across the world and those with the highest qualifications in science and mathematics across the world are completely wrong with what they agree on being the best order to roll out the vaccine in order to cut the death rates, ease the pressure on health services so that people with cancer, heart attacks, etc are able to get the treatment they need AND get us out of lockdowns as soon as possible. Could you shout a little louder though because I don't think they're listening for some strange reason. I mean why shouldn't they listen to someone who completely lacks the intelligence to link the oldest and most vulnerable in society being in hospital for weeks (whether they live or die) with the reason why we're all in lockdowns.

All those in agreement can deny as much as you like. But what you want is to sacrifice the elderly and vulnerable. I don't disagree that this is disastrous for many many businesses and working people, with ramifications for everyone's future. But those of you who think you should be able to play God with lives and decide that 80 is a good enough innings, or that someone who's had an organ transplant in their 40s, but doesn't work in a key roll, doesn't deserve the vaccine before you are absolutely disgusting. And I really hope that once you hit this magic 'elderly age' you think back and remember that you were happy for those people to just receive a bit of oxygen if they must and be allowed to die at home, because if you want the young workforce vaccinated and leave elderly and vulnerable until last as they're not productive in society, then you have to accept that the elderly and CV shouldn't be admitted to hospital when they catch it - because that is what is the cause of the lockdown.[/quote]
This.

The level of ageism, ableism and plain stupid on this thread and others like it makes me weep.

But that doesn't matter, because I'm one of the pesky expendables, taking vaccines away from all the productive fit people.

@Ponypizzy

I’ve emailed my local MP this morning, which I’ve never done before, to say how I despair at the lack of progress for the vaccine and to raise it with his Senior leaders (Conservative). I’d encourage others to do the same. I just felt like I couldn’t sit back and watch this shit show any more.

I think you are asking the wrong question there.

There is no lack of progress. Over 1.3 million people have already been given their first doses, and some their second. That is pretty good progress. The only thing I am disappointed about and wish they would change is the delayed second doses, even though I reluctantly accept that there is some logic.

A better question might be why this government is so poor at managing expectations. They are so eager to look "world beating" that they consistently over-promise, can't meet those promises and then under-deliver. It makes them look even more like incompetent twats than they already did.

@Ponypizzy yes its your choice to email your mp , but how do you propose we vaccinate more than the vaccine we have been given
If we have say 1 million doses and we give one million , how can we improve on that?

Well if you are happy with progress good for you. I’m not, my opinion and yes I have looked at the stats.

A better question might be why this government is so poor at managing expectations.

This is absolutely spot on.

I made a thread the other day stating this. The over 70s don't really work, so surely the under 70s should be prioritised so we could go back to working, teaching and back to schools meanwhile the over 70s could shield and all delivery slots etc should be given to the over 70s. The over 70s that have businesses or that are in a bubble with under 70s or have underlying health conditions that require frequent hospital visits should be included otherwise the rest should be last surely. We have had 11 months to prepare for this and 2 lockdowns and knew the only way out was a vaccine. I think the vaccine should be given to Margaret the teacher first not 90 year old Margaret.

You are absolutely right in that this is a total shit show.
However, vaccinations do have to be given to those for whom the illness is dangerous so the very elderly have to get it first as they are the ones most likely to die from it (obviously there are always outliers, as with absolutely any illness, but at population level Covid is only dangerous, and even then only to an extent, to the old) so to get the death figures down - though to what level, who knows - they can't be vaccinating the middle-aged or young because they are vanishingly unlikely to die of it anyway.
Typical of the short-sightedness of government that they thought it was a good idea to terrify the population by lying that Covid doesn't discriminate, and now they have a vaccine, they have to use it on the proper scientific basis that of course Covid does discriminate.

@SeriouslymoleI feel like we are sacrificing an entire generation on the alter of the NHS.

I've read this continually on here since March and it's untrue hyperbole.

If you can't cope with what is going on now you really wouldn't like to be left with a country without a safe and functioning NHS service.

@Ponypizzy

We need far more people to be vaccinated I don’t know anyone at all and we have been in a high risk area since the start. I only know one person in a dementia care home scheduled to have the vaccine next week. I live in an area with a high number of elderly people and no one I have spoken to has received confirmation when they will get the vaccine. Look at the rates the vaccine is being distributed it’s not quick enough nowhere near. I’m not saying there isn’t progress it’s just not enough. It’s my opinion and I’ve emailed my MP rather than just moaning on MN. I know people losing jobs, homes, being ill, my kids have had their education massively impacted. Yes we’ve all got stories I’m aware of that but it’s my choice to email the MP and question progress.

So far the vaccination figures only relate to PB though. It is really ramping up this week with AZ now approved. I am sure we will see a huge difference this week and next.

@TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross im glad he has refused to rule out schools being closed for the whole academic year and if your a teacher i am shocked you should say this.
As well as you should be aware they are not shut to all anyway.
But if we get rates down and vaccinations are going well come april /may why on earth would be keep kids off school still.
We can't just write off the rest of this academic year now and as you say you are a teacher I find that even more shocking .

My mum says NHS workers and teachers and children should be first priority as that will allow parents who are low risk to get back to work and children to get their education. She doesnt feel elderly should be priority.