Good news Part 9

[BBCONEANDTWO]

Previous thread here:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/4151264-Good-News-Part-8?pg=37

Useful links:

coronavirus.data.gov.uk

www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

www.covidmessenger.com Thanks to LittleOwl for all her hard work!

ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations

www.omnicalculator.com/health/vaccine-queue-uk

NB Please don’t take this too seriously- it depends what vaccine delivery speed and uptake you estimate so it’s not written in stone.

According to covid messenger there a 17 councils with rising rates.

That's more than there were but I'm assuming some of those will be due to increased testing so not worrying about it.

My area is down below 200/100,000 for the first time since October so I'm feeling pretty happy

If you look at those raising councils though most are tiny raises. Yesterday one was 2 cases more than the day before.

Some are a little iffy but the overall drops are still big in most councils

Gosh it’s a bad news day today isn’t it - between that and the weather I’m feeling super gloomy.

Agreed. I am struggling today...think the snow is not helping at all!

Though I think I heard Sarah Gilbert say more data was coming ‘in the next few days’ am off to check that I remembered that correctly!

She said ‘shortly’ so guess we wait and see!

@Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum - no need for apologies, I need to phrase things better. And TBF, top 10 normally means good things in non-Covid times!

good news re Pfizer vaccine and the infamous SA strain
From the Guardian (it goes on a bit but this is the top bit - is just on their live feed atm so can't link in full)

The Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine is effective against the coronavirus variant that emerged from South Africa, according to a new study. The PA Media report goes on:

In a study of 20 vaccine recipients, researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston, America, found that the vaccine neutralises the virus with the N501Y and E484K mutations ...

In the UTMB study published today, after testing the sera samples - obtained from blood - authors found evidence that the mutant viruses were neutralised - destroyed by the sera panel.

@Frazzled2207

good news re Pfizer vaccine and the infamous SA strain From the Guardian (it goes on a bit but this is the top bit - is just on their live feed atm so can't link in full)

The Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine is effective against the coronavirus variant that emerged from South Africa, according to a new study. The PA Media report goes on:

In a study of 20 vaccine recipients, researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston, America, found that the vaccine neutralises the virus with the N501Y and E484K mutations ...

In the UTMB study published today, after testing the sera samples - obtained from blood - authors found evidence that the mutant viruses were neutralised - destroyed by the sera panel.

Oh this has cheered me up after a very gloomy day.

According to Prof Peter Openshaw, an immunologist from Imperial College London, mild forms of the illness meant that the virus was only present in the nose and upper airway, whereas "the disease that we are most fearful of is when it gets down deep into the lungs" and potentially affects other organs of the body.

"I think there is very little doubt these vaccines will prevent that sort of spread of the virus outside the confines of the upper respiratory tract," he told the BBC.

@Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum

According to Prof Peter Openshaw, an immunologist from Imperial College London, mild forms of the illness meant that the virus was only present in the nose and upper airway, whereas "the disease that we are most fearful of is when it gets down deep into the lungs" and potentially affects other organs of the body.

"I think there is very little doubt these vaccines will prevent that sort of spread of the virus outside the confines of the upper respiratory tract," he told the BBC.

So is this saying that the AZ vaccine can’t stop the local infection in the mucosa but can stop it spreading systemically? Because the immune responses are separate?

Sorry, just realised that’s exactly what the second paragraph says. Must read more carefully before posting

So I had my jab! Had abit of a panic because I assumed I was getting the Pfizer one but instead for the Oxford one. Feel abit dizzy but I think it was from walking home 😂

You explained it so expertly though chicken

I don't think it is 100% at all yet it can or can't stop the SA infection. We will have to wait for further evidence of that. Though all the vaccines seem to have lower effectiveness with this variant.

However the neutralizing affect of the vaccine on the virus when attacking the body organs should still work the same. Apparently 🤷‍♀️

@Thedarksideofthemoon30

So I had my jab! Had abit of a panic because I assumed I was getting the Pfizer one but instead for the Oxford one. Feel abit dizzy but I think it was from walking home 😂

Lovely another one for tomorrows numbers then❤

@Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum

According to Prof Peter Openshaw, an immunologist from Imperial College London, mild forms of the illness meant that the virus was only present in the nose and upper airway, whereas "the disease that we are most fearful of is when it gets down deep into the lungs" and potentially affects other organs of the body.

"I think there is very little doubt these vaccines will prevent that sort of spread of the virus outside the confines of the upper respiratory tract," he told the BBC.

Presumably this also prevents long Covid

You would have thought so if it stops damage to the organs. Definitely the major problems. Possibly the people that suffer tiredness etc may still have those symptoms.

Covid patients in hospital in London have now dropped below the peak of the first wave. Nationally it's almost 10,000 people down from the peak of this wave.

Northern Ireland vaccinated its care homes first - not only are outbreaks down by 25 on the same day last week but more are asymptomatic than symptomatic.

app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiZGYxNjYzNmUtOTlmZS00ODAxLWE1YTEtMjA0NjZhMzlmN2JmIiwidCI6IjljOWEzMGRlLWQ4ZDctNGFhNC05NjAwLTRiZTc2MjVmZjZjNSIsImMiOjh9

Ahhh I lost you.

Good news you've had your jab @Thedarksideofthemoon30 :)

Anyone else watching the briefing? JVT being massively reassuring over the SA variant and the vaccination programme. I ❤️ him so much.

Professor Van Tam sounding very reassuring on AstraZeneca, affirming he thinks it will still prevent serious illness and death and also that South African variant is not a concern at the moment. I think the media reporting about that trial has been extremely irresponsible.

The briefing is very reassuring.

Maybe I’m naive but I think MH comes across pretty well and I think the response now has really got into its stride. Shame it took so long, obviously.

Yes so good to get his view. Much needed.

@MarcelineMissouri

Anyone else watching the briefing? JVT being massively reassuring over the SA variant and the vaccination programme. I ❤️ him so much.

Yes - I also think he is excellent!