If they open up schools all at once, I'm done with every other precaution

[BettyBoomerang]

If the 'leak' is true and they are stupid enough to open up all schools to all kids at the same time (thus leading to uncontrolled transmission of variants and increased risk of vaccine escape, further lockdowns and a redo of the vaccination programme) then I'm done with any kind of compliance.

I'm not staying at home like a fucking stupid sitting duck, waiting for my kids to come home with Covid anymore. The kids can see their friends, have sleepovers and we'll go out and about and visit friends and relatives and do the maximum we can.

You can pile in and call me selfish or whatever - I genuinely don't care anymore. I'm not putting my life on hold just for the government to fuck the recovery up again. I'm the most compliant of pretty much everyone I know but this is it for me, and many others I suspect (most of whom are already doing way more than me). If it's safe for my kids to go to school, then everything is safe.

@RhubarbCrumbling - have you tried to book yourself in for a vaccine via the NHS covid vaccine website? If you are in group 6 you should be eligible and can book yourself in without waiting to hear from your Dr.

@Mif4

Good for you OP! Lockdown 4 is inevitable anyway, they've already mentioned it several times which is a huge indicator that will happen. Time people took personal responsibility. If they dont want to catch covid then stay home, meanwhile every one else can get their lives back.

Yep, life is for living We can all make our own risk assessments. I don’t need anyone to tell me how to live my life . I have no regrets about what I didn’t do last year, because I did it.

Violetlavenders

I think most parents feel that the benefits to their children of being in school far outweigh the potential risks of catching and bringing covid home. It's a mild or asymptomatic disease for most and, more importantly, the majority have had their vaccinations“

The majority unfortunately won’t have their vaccinations until mid-April.

We’re acutely aware of the potential damage to our youngest, at College, because he has been, with me, shielding his CEV dad.

Dad has only just today been told he will receive his first jab next week. Whoohoo. Can’t tell you the delight and relief in this house. Means that our son will manage a week in College before Easter, to allow for the 3 week period as initial protection kicks in. We’re aware he won’t have full protection ‘til his second dose, but my husband is desperate for our son to start living his life again and will happily take partial protection. The burden of knowing what his poor health has cost our boy has been excruciating for him. Excruciating to watch, too.

I’m 56, couple of issues, but am delighted that after a year at home, barring 6 days in September, our son will see his peers so I’ll take precautions at home myself until I get my jab too. Our son has asthma himself but after a long and fruitful chat with our GP, I’m reasonably happy that he goes in with his N95 and copious gel.

There’s definitely light at the end of a dark, dank, miserable tunnel.

@LolaSmiles

Chewingle I'm sure your insight there really helped the PP

I wasn’t looking to help the PP I just asked why she didn’t ask the GP

@RhubarbCrumbling

And the “ I am not going to follow rules/guidelines” as children are in school will be an attire many have. Which is why, as a Group 6 teacher with no vaccine in sight, who was on the shielding list all of 2020 ( a Gp decided to remove me for reasons unknown) I am going to get signed off ill now and not go into work.

Whilst others decide it is ok to mix, as schools are open, I am scared for my life and health. I have not managed to eat a meal for many days due to the awful anxiety. Therefore, many children will not get a specialist teacher, I will be signed off so will not be setting or marking work and the children who need to do work for their teacher assessed grades for year 11 and yr 13 will not get them.

But it is ok to mix if kids are in school. I wish people with multiple health issues and regular hospitalisation with no vaccine can be in a school full-time unvaccinated with over 1000 students in a school.

Why is there no vaccine in sight? In most areas group 6 can book themselves in rather than waiting for an invite.

Really? I know most of my colleagues who are group 6 have had it.

Feel free to phone my Go or CCG if you do not believe me . After lots of talking to reception/admin staff, eventually got to speak to a Gp today. The Gp practices who are working together only refer to one place and last week only did vaccinations on two days, this week only one day in a whole week and they have no idea about next week but no vaccines for first does people until next Friday. And they are doing group 6 in age order not clinical need. So my coeliac husband who is group 6 ( found that out today, news to us) will get it before me as he is older by 3 years and works totally from home, whilst I was in the shielding list until 2021 and have multiple conditions that qualify for group 6.

Postcode lottery. So frustrating that people in the next areas can book their own. And that there are plenty of vaccines there but not where I can go. Not allowed to send to other vaccinating areas - believe me I did ask.

Group 6 is a disaster for me.

@Inastatus yes have tried ( maybe lots of times!)

It says only over 65’s or front lines health and social care workers, so I guess someone has to release our group 6 to be allowed to book anywhere.

I wonder if it is a funding thing, how Dr’s and practices set themselves up?

Or which vaccine they are getting. The only place the Gp can send me is to a place with AZ and they are getting less supplies than they had expected.

@RhubarbCrumbling - keep trying. I know it says over 64’s on the front page but my DH has booked in and he is 60. I know other 60-64’s who have done this also. It’s frustrating if it’s to do with postcodes etc. Hope you get one soon.

Just to clarify, teachers and pupils in seconary schools don't have to wear masks, just like taking flow tests.

so don't kid yourselves that your children will be safe at school due to these things being done.

@TSR1

Just to clarify, teachers and pupils in seconary schools don't have to wear masks, just like taking flow tests.

so don't kid yourselves that your children will be safe at school due to these things being done.

Oh don’t be daft The risk to children is tiny. Tiny. With it without a face mask.

Risk to children yes but what about the risk of people they transmit to? But if no one in your household is vulnerable you are right you don't need to worry. I just wanted to make people aware it isn't compulsory as I don't think the media often make that clear and some people still have vulnerable people in their households that haven't yet been vaccinated

But you said “don’t kid yourself that your children will be safe”. Different from what your follow up.

@TSR1

Risk to children yes but what about the risk of people they transmit to? But if no one in your household is vulnerable you are right you don't need to worry. I just wanted to make people aware it isn't compulsory as I don't think the media often make that clear and some people still have vulnerable people in their households that haven't yet been vaccinated

To put it bluntly they should be vaccinated and if they aren’t then it’s a matter for their family and their decisions - did we stop all other kids going to school when people had vulnerable family members who could die from the flu.

some people still have vulnerable people in their households that haven't yet been vaccinated

I thought that the most vulnerable of dying have all been vaccinated by now?

They have

Based on 120,000 deaths only 14,500 were under 70 (outside of top 4 priority groups)

So even the vulnerable aren’t that at risk

.

I feel similar, all my dc mixing yet i can't share a coffee with a friend who's the mother of a child from the same class. Schools always were the spreading platform so they might aswell allow outdoor mixing now. I want my children in school but tbh i know after Easter would be safer. I don't get the point in just 2 weeks at school. Boris is being stupid again

@Pastanred are you somehow dismissing 120 000 deaths? Are you saying that just because they are older - it doesn’t matter? Do you realise they still deserve, and have a right to hospital care - and the huge impact this has on the NHS? Do you realise that younger people can still get seriously ill, and the impact of Long Covid is unknown? Do you realise that hospitals are admitting a large number of children with a PIMS reaction, despite having Covid only mildly? Do you want peoples cancer operations to be delayed because the NHS are so stretched? Do you want to be able to access A and E quickly if you need emergency care? Do you realise this virus can mutate - and will probably do it’s very best to outwit the vaccine? Just follow the rules.

The scientific advisors are making it clear, implicitly, that they don’t want all school children going back to school so soon. Prof Devi Sridhar admitted that she felt “slightly more relaxed about schools opening” once she realised that the Easter break wasn’t far away (a chance to look at data). My 16 year old and 15 year old work really well from home so I would LOVE them to continue, for now.

@Wannabangbang

I feel similar, all my dc mixing yet i can't share a coffee with a friend who's the mother of a child from the same class. Schools always were the spreading platform so they might aswell allow outdoor mixing now. I want my children in school but tbh i know after Easter would be safer. I don't get the point in just 2 weeks at school. Boris is being stupid again

My god it’s not rocket science - in a perfect covid tackling only world we would keep everything shut even supermarkets- but we have to limit interactions whilst getting back to some sense of normality- education needs to be prioritised. And it’s only two weeks argument is rubbish when you consider some kids have had a year of next to no time in school. Any time in the classroom should be greatly welcomed

@CrispsnDips

The scientific advisors are making it clear, implicitly, that they don’t want all school children going back to school so soon. Prof Devi Sridhar admitted that she felt “slightly more relaxed about schools opening” once she realised that the Easter break wasn’t far away (a chance to look at data). My 16 year old and 15 year old work really well from home so I would LOVE them to continue, for now.

Their job is to solely worry about tackling covid, there’s a bigger picture and a balance to be had!

@Wannabangbang

I feel similar, all my dc mixing yet i can't share a coffee with a friend who's the mother of a child from the same class. Schools always were the spreading platform so they might aswell allow outdoor mixing now. I want my children in school but tbh i know after Easter would be safer. I don't get the point in just 2 weeks at school. Boris is being stupid again

They want to stagger as helps analysis Ie identify what action results in increase or not

This ongoing pandemic is essentially after a year and 0.12 million plus excess fatalities with possibly more with post long Covid syndrome and a large minority of the population previously infected but recovered - a balance to manage three main ills of medical, economic and mental.

There is either a strict strategy of eradication (zero Covid) or containment to NHS manageable levels. We evidently in the UK with world beating per capita Covid fatalities and infections statistics can't aim for zero Covid as in New Zealand, Australia, Iceland, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Macao etc. Therefore with the help of mass vaccination we can aim for a careful checked balance approach but only if the priority sectors including in person over crowded face to face teaching can play its role to help mitigate the known risks. Failure to use all helpful risk mitigation measures such as masks, testing, bubbles and rotas etc will mean further short sighted asymptomatic mutating super spreading and further cycles of unsustainable non risk to benefits balanced perpetual open and close lockdowns. To get sustainable risk balance reopening we need to find the best equilibrium to balance all the risks and benefits so that we can achieve a cure for the Covid medical, mental and economic ills. It's not mission impossible if everyone understands their civic duty for personal and community benefits to do the right things, get vaccinated when called, moderate your potential Covid footprint outside their home bubble wearing some sort of protection and following the basic hands, face, space and trace health and safety protocols and observing criminal laws.

If you ignore the science then the same consequences as after Christmas will result. It's not new as we all know the score but it's getting the right benefits versus risks balance. There will be inevitably more fatalities but even more if you ignore the science and overwhelm the NHS. Do the right thing and save your live and livelihoods as well as others in your community. You want others to treat you with care and respect so do not be reckless and individualistic but more civic duty of care minded as that is the only long term sustainable solution along with all the new medical interventions. Be a part of the solution and not a likely reason for the cause so be mindful of your potential Covid footprint. None of us perpetual yo yo open and close mutating super spreading cycles year after year. Living with it means slow containment if not eventual eradication.

[quote Silverthorny]@Pastanred are you somehow dismissing 120 000 deaths? Are you saying that just because they are older - it doesn’t matter? Do you realise they still deserve, and have a right to hospital care - and the huge impact this has on the NHS? Do you realise that younger people can still get seriously ill, and the impact of Long Covid is unknown? Do you realise that hospitals are admitting a large number of children with a PIMS reaction, despite having Covid only mildly? Do you want peoples cancer operations to be delayed because the NHS are so stretched? Do you want to be able to access A and E quickly if you need emergency care? Do you realise this virus can mutate - and will probably do it’s very best to outwit the vaccine? Just follow the rules.[/quote]
You could have just read the actual post 🙄🙄