Vaccine rollout in Europe

[Baileysforchristmas]

The vaccine rollout in Europe is turning into a complete disaster.

www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/19/german-politicians-counter-astrazeneca-covid-vaccine-scepticism-with-show-of-support

Relax restrictions.

@MarshaBradyo schools are open. Different in each state but in mine it’s nurseries, years 1-3, year 6, and the equivalent of GCSE and A-level students. Staggered return for all the others from next week.
Practical courses at universities are still happening face to face. My same course in the UK hasn’t allowed in person teaching since the November lockdown. Not so good when 80% of the course is practical.

Next Monday hairdressers, beauticians, garden centres open. Zoos and similar places always stayed open. Non-essential retail should open before Easter.

The is a lot of financial support for businesses. I’m in performing arts and we’ve been working throughout the pandemic. The govt made up the shortfall of what the company would receive from ticket sales, and our income has stayed the same. No extras like tours or gigs abroad, but we’re working and being paid. My colleagues in the UK, no work in the last 11 months. Most theatres shut down last March and only opened for a couple of weeks before Christmas.

I’m allowed to meet one other household, I can travel anywhere I want in the country or abroad, and the stay at home order isn’t in place anymore.

There is a plan for everything else too but only with provisional dates. The government can’t promise they will open X in May, because they can’t actually know what will happen in May. Plans are short term, but they stick to them. Once something is certain, it gets added to the plan.

Health Minister Jens Spahn was forced to drop a plan to offer free tests starting in March amid opposition from state leaders". I had no idea individuals had to pay for PCR tests when they suspect they are ill, is that right? How expensive is it?

Tests are free when you have symptoms, or are a close contact of a positive case. You don’t have to pay to get tested if you’re ill.

Tests for travel or personal purposes are around 60-80€. Depends on the company. You’re not allowed to get one of these if you have symptoms.

That quote refers to free asymptomatic testing, and it varies by state. They meant teachers and students. In my state teachers are tested regularly, for free, and children have access to up to 2 tests a week.

Oh right, thanks EileenGC so all the PCR stuff that is just for peace of mind or to jump through hoops is paid for? That makes sense.

But the asymptomatic testing (just lateral flows?) can sometimes be paid for, depending on the state? Presumably they mean paid for by individual school budgets rather than the individual children when it comes to school children testing?

Thanks Four for link

Eileen yes things are very strained here, financially for many. It is adding to our general relief over fast vaccination programme. I can see it would feel differently there.

We have an idea of timing but conditions have to be met. I’m fine with this way of doing it, to see a path out helps but that’s just my take.

We’ve had a lot of support financially in U.K. (furlough SEISS, grants) but still it’s a deep pit atm and some businesses / people are very much struggling.

I don’t think it’s a disaster.
I’m in Austria. Everyone I know who’s eligible via age or profession who wants the vaccine has had two doses already. Some people have declined saying they don’t want one. Hospitals have plenty of space and are taking in critical patients from other Eu countries.

Schools have reopened, shops all reopened. Tests available for anyone even without symptoms. We are allowed to mix between two households, and outdoor places like zoos reopen.
Restaurants maybe be open from mid March with restrictions

@newstart1234

The cynic in me is totally pissed off that there seems to have been a concerted effort from some to smear the reputation of the cheap, effective and easy to transport AZ vaccine

Yes, the fact that it has all these positives is a no brainer.

Producers of mRNA vaccines may have considered the pandemic a unique opportunity to trial out new technology on a large scale to use as a template for similar treatments in the future. That's perhaps one of the reasons they have snubbed the cheap and easy option, which is a shame

according to covidvax.live/ at current rates, these are the dates by which each country will have could have 70% of people vaccinated (2 doses)

Israel - 30 March 2021 - not in EU
Serbia - 29 June 2021 - not in EU
United Kingdom - 2 October 2021 - not in EU
Turkey - 12 December 2021 - not in EU
Malta - 31 December 2021
Iceland - 29 March 2022 - not in EU
Hungary - 5 May 2022
Ireland - 15 July 2022
Norway - 22 Juny 2022 - not in EU
Greece - 16 August 2022
Poland - 17 September 2022
Lithuania - 20 September 2022
Slovenia - 29 September 2022
Portugal - 2 October 2022
Switzerland - 5 October 2022 - not in EU
Sweden - 1 November 2022
Denmark - 6 November 2022
Cyprus - 14 December 2022
Austria - 10 February 2023
Romania - 10 February 2023
Slovakia - 25 February 2023
Netherlands - 30 March 2023
France - 18 April 2023
Spain - 25 April 2023
Luxembourg - 1 June 2023
Germany - 12 July 2023
Croatia - 13 July 2023
Estonia - 27 August - 2023
Bulgaria - 23 November 2023
Italy - 13 December 2023
Belgium - 30 September 2024
Latvia - 6 June 2026

I don't think the current vaccine rates are a great measure for long term progress. We're all poised to ramp up vaccinations as volumes of current jabs ramp up and new ones are approved and delivered.

I hope the EU are not making up there shortfall from the UK to sit on shelves

www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/24/astrazeneca-expected-to-miss-eu-covid-vaccine-supply-target-by-half-in-second-quarter-report

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/feb/24/eu-covid-vaccination-difficulties-anti-vaxxers

We need all countries vaccinated to avoid new mutations which could be resistant to the vaccine. I would prefer my parents in Belgium in their 70’s to be given the vaccine before me in the U.K. in my 40’s. It’s irrelevant which country you are in.

But unless all countries in the world insist on mandatory vaccination[would have to include vaccine by force], there will always be some people somewhere, who are not vaccinated.

Uptake in the Uk seems to be around 80%. Much less in even Europe.

If you read the link it says vaccines are sitting on shelves not being used as it is thought to be quasi ineffective as Macron says, i’m happy give up my vaccine for someone more vulnerable but not for it to be turned down and not used.

I had, (and was much relieved to have had AZ), as I had concerns about Pfizer and the effect thereof on platelets, given reports from the US, and my lack of platelets.

I haven't heard from my family and friends in Belgium if they have been jabbed yet or not. I suppose those who are Brit Military will be done as soon as possible.

I can speak about the Italian perspective. If you look on the WHO dashboard for Coronavirus infection you will see that the infection is still contained in certain areas, not spread in the community.

That means the risk environments are:

1. hospitals (all staff are being or have been vaccinated, including DC1 who is a medical student and is due to go back for work experience in March).
2. Care homes (all residents and staff vaccinated)

3, Over 80s (the people who are likely to catch it and die, nearly all vaccinated).

Teachers and over 70s are being offered vaccination now.

It’s well organized and clearly monitored. Regions which get through their vaccine supplies quickly are supplied with more. So it’s distribution efficiency rather than availability that’s causing delays. Vaccines can be booked through your local pharmacy, much like any other National Health test.

Personally I’m a healthy, low risk 53 year old and don’t expect to be vaccinated until April at the earliest. No problem.

No vaccines sitting on shelves in Italy (see long paragraph above).

Why do you think it's your vaccine sitting on a shelf Baileys? I can't work out the logic.

I was watching The Week in 60 Minutes with Andrew Neil | SpectatorTV earlier. In the section called 16:50 - Will BAME vaccine reluctance scupper immunity IDs?, Rod Liddle and Trevor Phillips do a slight diversion into roots of European vaccine hesitancy.

No idea if it's true but it was interesting.

It is what’s reported on the link I attached

Although one of my relatives is moaning that in her comune they are still on over 80s, and then it’s teachers and... nuns. There doesn’t appear to be much urgency and they are doing jabs from 2 till 4 in the health centre.

Depends who you ask - many European countries are actually well ahead of the UK in fully vaccinating. The UK has decided to opt for partial vaccination which is off Licence. I rather suspect in the desire for tabloid headlines to hide their complete Covid catastrophe, they won't actually get around to second doses for many.

www.euronews.com/2021/02/24/covid-19-vaccinations-in-europe-which-countries-are-leading-the-way

It is not a partial vaccination, it's a delayed vaccinatíon schedule.

Cherry the UK made the best choice for the UK and decided to delay the 2nd vaccine dose.

It could be argued that it would be a sensible move for some EU countries also, but I guess they have passed the liability to Pfizer so probably not possible.

If the UK had chosen not to delay the 2nd dose, then the amount in the UK fully vaccinated would be much higher than it is now.

The only thing that matters to me is that lives are being saved and pressures on hospitals reduced and that is happening.

I am so relieved that the MHRA are making informed choices using their extensive experience.

@FourTeaFallOut

It is not a partial vaccination, it's a delayed vaccinatíon schedule.

Well that will need time before we accept that. Given this governments ability to turn around every decision and hide the truth, it’s entirely possible there will be very few second doses.