1.5 million people vaccinated already - brilliant!

[buttery81]

They’ve vaccinated 1.5 million people so far and the target is 13.9 million people (the top 4 groups in the attached graphic) by the middle of February, according to ITV. It’ll be a fantastic achievement if they can hit that target.

The government will be providing daily updates on the vaccine rollout progress from Monday 11th January.

It’s such a relief that they’ve got this vaccine and are rolling it out quickly across the country. Considering that it’s only 8th January today, I truly feel like 13.9 million by mid February is achievable.

Come on, let’s do this!

@FourTeaFallOut I read it as offered is different to received.

Thank you so much for this thread. I have just been unfriended by someone I used to really like because I challenged an anti-vaccine story she had posted on fb.

I wanted to feel part of the solution so I've volunteered to be a steward, and will be doing shifts at a new vaccination centre to be opened in my city later this month.

For the PP who asked, you can volunteer here:
nhsvolunteerresponders.org.uk/
It takes 7 days to do an ID check on you, then you can volunteer via an app.

@FiveFootTwoEyesOfBlue good for you!!! I did the same last week and am waiting for my check to finish. I would just ignore people who diss the science. It is because they don’t understand it and maybe feel threatened by it. I myself am a scientist - I studied many many years ago - and my parents will be the first in the queue for the vaccine when they get the call (they are mid 70s). I have read the science behind all the vaccines and it is amazing. Luckily in this country we seem to have enough people who don’t buy all the bullshit. Proud about that too honestly. Let your friend go gracefully!

[quote Lottieis44]@FourTeaFallOut I read it as offered is different to received.[/quote]
The targets are 100% for care homes, 85% for health and social care, 75% for rest of the population. Lots of pressure to hit those targets ASAP. They will do it for the older groups. But the staff are always difficult to plough through.

Donewithitall

Matt Hancock insists that we are due to hit targets. 14 million by February 15th.

On January 4, Boris Johnson first set out the target of offering the first dose of a vaccine to the top four priority groups identified by the government’s main advisory body on vaccinations by February 15.

There was debate whether that top 4 groups consisted of 15 million. Or the matt Hancock figure of 13.9 million.

None-the-less, we are nowhere near.

Figures quoted for this week were:

165,000 Monday.
224,000 Tuesday.

according to the latest official figures.
Just over 3 million people have now received a first or second dose in the UK.

There are 33 days between January 12 and February 15.

To vaccinate all 13.9 million people by then, 300,000 vaccinations a day – would be needed. around double the current rate.

The government says that ability of drug companies to supply enough vaccine quickly is the limiting factor in the rollout.

Pharmacists start vaccinations today, with 200 of them giving jabs within the next 2 weeks. Another great step forwards!

@Ohcomeallyechristmas thank you for the recommendation - I’ve just place marked on that thread now and am looking forward to being a Positivity Puffin

Has anyone seen any stats on what the take up rate for those that have been offered so far? I’ve heard lots of stories on the news where people at various hubs have said they’ve filled all their slots and used up all their allocation but wondered if there was anything a little more concrete yet.

@FiveFootTwoEyesOfBlue

Thank you so much for this thread. I have just been unfriended by someone I used to really like because I challenged an anti-vaccine story she had posted on fb.

I wanted to feel part of the solution so I've volunteered to be a steward, and will be doing shifts at a new vaccination centre to be opened in my city later this month.

For the PP who asked, you can volunteer here:
nhsvolunteerresponders.org.uk/
It takes 7 days to do an ID check on you, then you can volunteer via an app.

Thank you for posting this - have just signed up. Have no idea if I’ll be able to help now that the dc are at home again and with my partner working shifts, but I’ll never know if I don’t at least have a look!

The pledge is to have OFFERED all those in priority groups 1 - 4 a vaccination (single)

I note the wording.

What’s wrong with “offered”? If they offer someone the vaccine and they refuse to have it, there’s not a lot more they can do - they can’t force people to be vaccinated against their will.

And besides, the figure we’re keeping an eye on here is the daily number of people who have had the vaccine, which now stands at over 2.6 million - a gain of 207,000 on the previous day.

I’m looking forward to seeing today’s total - I’m predicting 2.8. The big 3 million is edging ever closer!

Pharmacists start vaccinations today, with 200 of them giving jabs within the next 2 weeks. Another great step forwards!

More excellent news. The rollout is gathering pace!

@PleaseDontGo just seen your question. You can sign up here to volunteer to help.

nhsvolunteerresponders.org.uk/i-want-to-volunteer/volunteer-roles/steward-volunteer

You sign up and then it takes a week to do all the necessary checks

To vaccinate all 13.9 million people by then, 300,000 vaccinations a day – would be needed. around double the current rate.

I just double checked on the dashboard and yesterday we did 208k first shots and 16k first shots. 224k is not half of 300k by anyone's reckoning, it's almost 75%. Capacity has really increased over the last two weeks and set further to surge. With more super vaccination centres (or whatever they are called) more gpsand more pharmacist to join shortly.

I honestly think they could be a little late with their ambitious target but my the time we get to mid Feb there will be so many avenues to get the jab it will be ironed out in days, rather than weeks.

Then we just need to cross our fingers that the j&j jab comes through, that will change everything.

Then we just need to cross our fingers that the j&j jab comes through, that will change everything.

The advantage of the J&J jab is that only one dose is needed, am I right? But even if it doesn’t come through, we will manage perfectly fine with the Oxford jab!

Yes, just the one dose that simplifies the logistics and speeds everything up. But, yeah, the Oxford does the job.

Yep the Oxford one EVEN AFTER ONE DOSE had a 100% no serious disease or hospitalisation rate. That is good enough.

Just switched on the tv and saw ambulance workers queuing up for their jabs and just burst into tears. What these people have done for us all.

I am Mrs Negativity at the moment, but even I can see we are making really good progress with the vaccination program. A lot of capacity is coming on line now. There will be bottle necks and hiccups, but I think that we will very soon start to see a drop in cases in the most vulnerable. Once that happens, it starts to open up the capacity to devote more resources.

At the moment it is like playing the board game Traffic Jam. Once the pieces start moving, it starts flowing.

Whilst I am holding onto the vaccine as being the only beacon of light in a dark world, I’m concerned that the right messages are not getting through to people.

My parents (late 80s but still on the ball) had no idea that the vaccine did not protect them from contracting the virus and were quite upset when I explained the true situation to them. In fact, it doesn’t make any difference to them on a day to day basis, as they don’t go anywhere, but I haven’t been able to visit them for almost a year, due to their vulnerability, and I think they were looking forward to being able to see me.

The other issue is that studies have shown that consuming alcohol before or after the vaccine may limit its effectiveness. My parents like a drink, but have managed to significantly reduce their intake. They had no idea until my sibling and I told them about this.

Why isn’t this vital information being made available to everyone?

@ShadowPuppeteer

Whilst I am holding onto the vaccine as being the only beacon of light in a dark world, I’m concerned that the right messages are not getting through to people.

My parents (late 80s but still on the ball) had no idea that the vaccine did not protect them from contracting the virus and were quite upset when I explained the true situation to them. In fact, it doesn’t make any difference to them on a day to day basis, as they don’t go anywhere, but I haven’t been able to visit them for almost a year, due to their vulnerability, and I think they were looking forward to being able to see me.

The other issue is that studies have shown that consuming alcohol before or after the vaccine may limit its effectiveness. My parents like a drink, but have managed to significantly reduce their intake. They had no idea until my sibling and I told them about this.

Why isn’t this vital information being made available to everyone?

The vaccine MAY protect people from contracting the virus. We don't know yet- so asking people to not change their behaviour until we do know is precautionary. I think this is important to point out as even though it doesn't mean that people should do anything different, the misinformation around the vaccine definitely not preventing infection or transmission is likely putting some people off having it.

Whats wrong with offered?

You are in your 80s, live alone, dont drive. You only have a pension. You manage by yourself going to the local shops and GP in your village.

But you are offered a slot 15 miles away. You can't get a taxi. Theres no buses on Wednesday and that only gets you within 5 miles and you'd have to walk the rest of the way.

Theres offered and offered. A offer that you can decline by free choice and an offer you simply cant take up even though you would desparately like to but you are then labelled as a refuser and cant get access to a viable alternative.

I know a couple of over 80s in that situation,but there was a number to call on the letter and they were offered an appointment at another centre, just a week later.
I think the logistics of ringing everyone to offer a choice would be a nightmare.
Now local pharmacies are up and running things will improve.

I am having a positive day and so am believing they will hit the target! Just this week they have started vaccinations in my area and also my parent’s elsewhere in UK so surely figures will be going up.

I cannot wait for my Dad to have it, he’s over 70 and has heart problems, he was pretty relaxed before December time but is now so scared.

What I've been hearing is that people are asked to hang on if they can't make a particular centre. GPs are locally going to be visiting housebound people and more local appointments will be offered.
At the moment we don't have a vaccine centre in our town, but community transport are taking people to their appointments.
Yes Hancock uses weasel words, but I don't think they will be leaving out any vulnerable person who wants a vaccine in the end.

The thing is the government wants this thing over, they don’t just want to make themselves look good by being able to crow about numbers of jabs offered, so it is in their interest to actually deliver rather than just being able to say they have.

Yep. More vaccinations, more people out spending money on the high street.

My mum just called and said her friend is having her jab on Saturday at their local surgery. She is over 80. She lives very out in the sticks so it is getting through! My dad is over 77 and had a stroke last year and a pacemaker fitted. He is super fit and walks 9 miles regularly so has a good few happy years in him yet. Just hoping he doesn’t catch it before then. My sisters who live nearby are doing a stellar job of getting all their shopping etc. But we can’t wait to all have hugs again.