Under 50s with no risk factors - how will the rest of 2021 look for us?

[Amidone]

Does anyone expect we will actually be vaccinated with even one dose anytime in 2021? There are already reports that after the current phase 1 groups are completed, teachers, childcare staff, police and shop workers will get next priority and I can see why - I expect teachers might get bumped up the list even quicker if the Gov wants schools reopened. Life will slowly return to more like normal, albeit with distancing and other measures still in place as we still don't know if the vaccines prevent transmission to the unvaccinated or whether the controversial dose spacing approach will give full protection to the vaccinated. I am also unaware of whether anyone knows if the vaccines prevent long Covid. Serious infection seems to be all we know that they help with at the moment so vaccination should reduce hospital pressures.

But for those under 50 and with no health or occupation risk factors, are we going to have to continue to try to dodge Covid until the end of the year, albeit with the reassurance that there'll likely be an ITU bed available for us if we get it badly? Given how lockdown and distancing rules haven't been observed by a significant minority so far, do we think that once vaccinated enough people will continue to put themselves out so to speak, for the protection of others?
I feel quite nervous about it all tbh. I certainly won't be rushing to hug vaccinated family members who may also be hugging other unvaccinated family members.
Can I really expect to avoid Covid infection for the best part of a year and three quarters? Especially as I have school age kids.
Already vaccinated and obviously otherwise healthy older people are telling the TV and radio reporters that they're looking forward to their next holiday abroad soon and trips to the theatre and restaurants. I don't feel able to travel abroad until I've been vaccinated. 2021 feels a write-off still despite the advent of the vaccines. :(

Fine we’re all different. I see vaccination as a way out of this dire situation and I’m glad it’s so fast.

I've just been recruited to the mass vaccination programme (retired nurse) and it's a short term funded project to the end of September. The expectation is that this is how long it will take to offer and give a vaccine course to everyone over 18 and barring supply issues, this should be achievable.
None of the current vaccines are licensed for under 16 year olds but there is a live nasal spray vaccine in development which may be used like the flu vaccine in children perhaps?

@doireallyneedaname

As a “healthy” 32 year old I’ll be pretty furious if all measures are abandoned once the vulnerable are vaccinated. I’ve been following the rules strictly since March. I too am scared that I’ll be forgotten about, but they have said they aim to have everyone over 18 vaccinated by September.

If that is true, I expect to be offered it sometime in the summer.

I am desperate to have it.

You would be entitled to continue to stay in, wear a mask and have your shopping delivered. You wouldn’t be expected to go to restaurants, or entertainment venues if you didn’t want to, but as soon as it’s possible, it should be allowed for those of us that are as desperate to go out as you are to have the vaccine.

I am not sure which other word the Government could use, other than 'offering' people a vaccine. If they said 'will have had a jab' that would be wrong as it implies a mandatory vaccine, if they said 'vaccines will be available' that implies they won't contact people so the vulnerable could be missed out. See what I mean? They have to choose their words very carefully.

I’m 4; fit and healthy

I’m not even arsed if I’m offered it as my risk is minuscule

Certainly not changing anything of my life til I’ve had it

I don’t have flu vaccine and whilst I know they’re not the same - I don’t believe at my age etc that my risk of serious complications is any worse

44

As someone who has had covid along with all my family I am desperate to get out and start living again once the vulnerable and critical workers are vaccinated.
If you are 30, not vulnerable and still not wanting to go out that is fine, stay in. If you can't risk asses and that's your issue. I am sure those people still drive, much riskier then covid statistically.

@NailsNeedDoing of course schools need to open first. Children shouldn't be shut away just so everyone can go to the theatre. Socialisation with peers their own age is as important as the education side. Also many parents are abandoning home schooling because they just can't do it alongside working full time too.

I think I’ll get vaccinated by the autumn but don’t expect to be going out anywhere because DC won’t be vaccinated. It seems wrong to go swanning around because I’m protected when my DC is not.

@choirmumoftwo

I've just been recruited to the mass vaccination programme (retired nurse) and it's a short term funded project to the end of September. The expectation is that this is how long it will take to offer and give a vaccine course to everyone over 18 and barring supply issues, this should be achievable. None of the current vaccines are licensed for under 16 year olds but there is a live nasal spray vaccine in development which may be used like the flu vaccine in children perhaps?

That's great to hear @choirmumoftwo! Thank you for taking part

@Glenorma

I think I’ll get vaccinated by the autumn but don’t expect to be going out anywhere because DC won’t be vaccinated. It seems wrong to go swanning around because I’m protected when my DC is not.

Can you say more, are they CEV?

How long will you not do anything for as DC not on list to be vaccinated. Will you keep them off school?

My son has autoimmune problems. He doesn’t start school till next year so I’m hoping by then the situation will be better. He’s currently not at nursery because it’s too risky. Obviously nursery isn’t compulsory so I haven’t decided yet when (or if) I’ll send him back. But it feels stupid to go swanning around when I’m vaccinated but he’s still unprotected. I find it very upsetting that there’s still no plan in place to protect children from Covid.

@murbblurb

we need to get the cases down enough that it is possible to give real financial support to those isolating. This will bring the cases down further.

we could have helped when it was 500 cases a day. At 40,000, no chance. So we need to get the cases down.

shut borders for a year, no-one in or out except hauliers. (especially not 'influencers' who then go and spread it further). Pubs and restaurants shut, with proper support for those left with no income; no pubs and bars means no Saturday night additional NHS pressure. Let's throw money where it is needed, at those whose businesses are shut down. Not encouraging use of those businesses! This will also mean support for those in travel and many other sectors.

strict and enforced limits on numbers in shops ; if you are that desperate for anything non-essential, you won't mind queuing up. No communal worship of any kind.

then we can hopefully keep the schools open and get into a vaccination groove for the future. Mandatory mask wearing in public indoor spaces - help for those who can't wear masks is already there, just ask if you need shopping done.

not fun but otherwise no way out. Australia has done it without a vaccine, lower population but still has big cities.

Throw who's money at it. Print it, tax grab on the £200 billion in the publics bank accounts. [shocked]

@Glenorma

My son has autoimmune problems. He doesn’t start school till next year so I’m hoping by then the situation will be better. He’s currently not at nursery because it’s too risky. Obviously nursery isn’t compulsory so I haven’t decided yet when (or if) I’ll send him back. But it feels stupid to go swanning around when I’m vaccinated but he’s still unprotected. I find it very upsetting that there’s still no plan in place to protect children from Covid.

Ah sorry to hear that, so hard, I don’t blame you.

Especially as pretty much any child who wants to be can be in school now and schools have to provide a full remote education

This is not the case. Plenty of children want to be in school right now and don’t have a place.

Especially as pretty much any child who wants to be can be in school now

How so?

As soon as restrictions end I will be carrying on within the guidelines as normal as possible, whether i’ve had the vaccine or not, the risk that scares me at the moment is the hospitals are full, as soon as the admissions are back to normal level and the government have lifted restrictions, I will be enjoying life to the full.

@TheKeatingFive

Especially as pretty much any child who wants to be can be in school now and schools have to provide a full remote education

This is not the case. Plenty of children want to be in school right now and don’t have a place.

Yeah, this is a clear case of someone assuming that what they read on MN ('95% of kids in my DC's class are in! The school said it was fine to send them in if you fancied doing your nails that day!') is actually true and representative

Yeah, this is a clear case of someone assuming that what they read on MN ('95% of kids in my DC's class are in! The school said it was fine to send them in if you fancied doing your nails that day!') is actually true and representative

No, it isn’t. I’m speaking from experience of what’s going on in the school I work in. At the first sign of a parent finding it a little challenging it seems they are being offered a space.