The vulnerable have not been vaccinated

[Icytundra]

I keep reading on here and in various other sources that the vulnerable have been vaccinated.

This is just not true. Very few have received 2 doses.

Some, like me, are yet to have the opportunity to book their first, yet are expected to teach face to face lessons in 2 weeks time.

The vulnerable have not been vaccinated.

I find most people who claim the vulnerable have all been vaccinated tend to have a crossover with those who shout about being vulnerable because their Human Rights and freedom have been taken from them.

We're still far from the vulnerable being vaccinated.

@pigletjohn I absolutely agree

@ILookAtTheFloor

The vast majority of protection is provided by 1st doses.

Yes you're right: 52% after the first dose and 95% after the second. www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4826

yep, group 6 and waiting. i know loads in group 6 waiting.

@Swirlingasong

There are also medically vulnerable children. They are not getting a vaccine but are expected to be in classrooms in two weeks.

That's because there have been no trials on children yet. They have started now but on healthy children only. I have been told that children's immune systems do not work in the same way against vaccines as adults, so maybe this is why they are not rushing with children.

My area only starting group 6 this week, which only gives a maximum of 2 weeks if someone were to get their first dose today (most will be later).

Plus problems with clinically vulnerable 16-18yo sixth formers getting the vaccine (can only get Pfizer, GP surgeries apparently not able to sort this out). So that won't be sorted in time for 8 March.

The vaccine effort (number of sites, appointments etc) hasn't noticeably increased in recent weeks to match the huge increase in numbers needing vaccinating with the younger age groups and 7 million in group 6. In fact, reports are that the mass hubs are being under-utilised.

@ineedaholidaynow

But no dose is not being vaccinated. The clinically vulnerable have not all had their first dose, or even if some have most of them won’t have had the 3 week window for immunisation to kick in.

The clinically extremely vulnerable have been told to shield to (at least) 31 March even if they have had both doses of the vaccine.

I continue to be staggered at what's going on in our local area. They've been doing really well in terms of numbers, but I know several vulnerable people who've not had their jab, and numerous people with no health issues in their fifties who have, and this morning another friend had their text to make an appointment (age 46, no health issues whatsoever!)

It's starting to feel a bit random!

The clinically extremely vulnerable have been told to shield to (at least) 31 March even if they have had both doses of the vaccine
Shielding doesn't really work if your DC are back in school.

Mass hubs often have loads of availability. I know people in 60s and some in 50s who are able to book there. The Group 6 people are more difficult as that depends on their GPs contacting them or putting them on the list for the national site, but it's not random (or it shouldn't be, apart from occasional mistakes). But it's because Group 6 are organised by GPs.

I don't even understand what 52% protected means. Does it mean if 100 people have the vaccine, 52 dont get it. Or does it mean if I get it, its only half as bad. Or I have a 50/50 chance of getting it at each exposure?

@RedcurrantPuff

I agree, “vaccinated” is having had the 2 doses.

Do you consider that your child is unvaccinated for measles for the five years between the first and booster doses?

There are vast swathes of extremely vulnerable people who have not been vaccinated, including people with Learning Disabilities. There are also many clinically vulnerable children who have been shielding, but who won't be vaccinated until the end of the year at the earliest.

Re: CEV children. I assume they'll continue to shield and not be expected back at school in two weeks? There's not going to be a vaccination programme for children for a good while.

Yes you're right: 52% after the first dose and 95% after the second.

No. This is a misreading of the data and fails to take into account the fact that immunity doesn’t kick in until day 14 approx.

i hope the recent media coverage will make GPs get on and list people with Learning Disabilities as Group 6, so that they can be vaccinated soon. I know some who have (all over age 16, though), so hopefully that is starting to happen. I think unfortunately vulnerable children will have to wait longer, until the trials can be done. It is a shame that they won't let those children volunteer for the studies, as I know that there are some who would be willing.

Right, so it’s the healthy who have received the 20 million vaccinations. 🙄

I have been vaccinated after being flagged for a history of GD in pregnancy. However my husband who has been shielding since last March has not been. After finally speaking to a doctor at the end of last week he was told that he was removed from the list on the 6th of November. Two days after receiving a shielding letter. After being removed he didn't get any further updates so he was unaware he had been downgraded from 4 to 6. The doctor agreed based on his medical history he needs it soon but is unable to flag him for the national hubs now. So instead we are having to wait for a space at the surgery. I'm genuinely concerned he wouldn't survive covid, as is he.

What are we supposed to do about the kids returning to school on the 8th? Is anyone in a similar position and not sending them back?

I don't know what other groups of extremely vulnerable people haven't been called yet, but I hope they also will be listed by GPs as Group 6 as soon as possible. I've been listed as Group 6 with only some vulnerabilities, not what I'd consider extreme - not shielding, for example - so it doesn't seem fair if those who are extremely vulnerable are not listed.

@ittakes2

We are still waiting for our first dose. On the news last night was talk about how 1 in 3 adults have been vaccinated - but in some areas they have gone past group 10 and are vaccinating healthy adults while other areas are still progressing through groups 5 and 6. I have no idea why in the areas who have done up to group 10 their vaccines have not been passed to areas stuck on groups 5 and 6. There are vulnerable teachers and parents and workers in these groups.

Because the issue isn't availability of vaccines, but of capacity to carry out the vaccinations.

So somewhere like Cumbria for example, has a much smaller population and has got through their vaccination program quite quickly due to geography, population and demographic (fewer in groups 1-6), where as some areas have far more people and fewer vaccinators per head. Unfortunately, very few of the high and low vaccination areas are close to each other and systems are different so asking people from one area to go to a vaccination centre in a different area is quite hard.

@PigletJohn

Now, I thought this was going to be about vulnerable people in care homes or with disabilities, but who are not elderly.

That's quite a scandal.

Yes, it is shocking. It is also under reported and not discussed much at all in the media. Thanks for highlighting it here.

I am group 6 and had mine yesterday via GP mass vaccination centre

Try orally agree OP, mumsnet and daily mail is frothing with people saying elderly and vulnerable have been vaccinated, I know elderly people still waiting for first dose, family are due to get their second dose end of April, so let’s not open the good pubs for Easter please

Data from Scotland shows just one dose is highly effective at stopping severe illness.

One dose is performing far better than could have been hoped for with two doses.

Yeah many areas haven’t even started on group 6 yet. I know some have but many have not.