Vaccine discussion - What research is out there? (title edited at OP's request)

[GoneCrazy]

A new variant:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-56233038

And the most used vaccine here is AstraZeneca Oxford. Our elderly and most vulnerable seem to have been vaccinated with the least effective of the vaccines.

Will we be able to control the risk of the variants?

We need to support the world in upping its speed of vaccination. At what point should we be really giving our excess vaccine to other countries for the greater good?!

If other countries are not vaccinated at the same time what is the point of us being ahead if we let in new variants?

Just a few of the million questions I have around vaccines and our programme.

@partyatthepalace

Jesus Christ -

• All of the vaccines work. There is less data on AZ right now. They will all have strengths and weaknesses.
• The key thing right now is that the vaccines work well enough to keep people out of hospital so the NHS doesn't fall over and we can get back to normal. They do all work well enough for this.
• The point of a mass vaccination programme is also that the vast majority of the population are protected so the virus cannot spread
• There will be yearly boosters to deal with variants.
• We should all be thanking our lucky stars we live somewhere with a vaccine programme

Why. Is. All. This. Too. Hard. For. So. Many. People. To. Understand.

Why do some people lack the ability to discuss a valid concern without being rude. Why can we not have a debate about the difference between the vaccines?

[quote Baileysforchristmas]There is data that Pfizer is less effective on obese people coming from Italy. I think on the whole these vaccines will work but you will get snippets of news coming through.

There are questions about Pfizer effectiveness data coming through from Italy.

www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/28/pfizer-vaccine-less-effective-obesity-study[/quote]
I saw that article and I'm quite worried now. I started the pandemic much bigger but I now have a Bmi of 36 due to a disability that restricts my mobility/ability to exercise. I had the Pfizer jab a week and a half ago. I'm so worried it won't be enough to keep me out of hospital now and the kids go back to school in a week .

Whichjab - I often wonder the same. It’s a shame because there’s an opportunity to share information and learn so much on these threads.

But that’s made next to impossible when people respond so rudely and shut down conversations.

No. HTH.

Why can we not have a debate about the difference between the vaccines?

Because the "debates" are mainly started by idiots who don't understand the first thing about vaccine efficacy, and think it's OK to start a load of scare stories that will freak out people who have had/are planning to have a particular vaccine.

Putting people off being vaccinated will prolong this whole nightmare and put us all at risk.

@GoneCrazy - since scientists in Germany are reconsidering its decision not to offer the AstraZeneca vaccine to the elderly, and at least one is pushing for the decision to be reversed asap and for Merkel to have the vaccine live on TV to reassure people of its effectiveness, I would say you are being unnecessarily paranoid and that not having been vaccinated at all yet is a far worse position for the vulnerable to be in.

But if it stops serious disease hospitalisation and death it's pretty well made covid into a cold.

I'll take that as a success.

I'd have an AZ vaccine gladly.

We have got 6 cases of the Brazil variant identified. They will most likely be testing all who come from Brazil. They have had to quarantine for ages now. And from 15th Feb it's hotel quarantine.

I'm not saying we don't have a problem. I really don't know why we haven't made it more difficult for people to come to the UK.

BUT we surely should be able to manage this.

And the AZ vaccine may not be effective at stopping spread but I am sure it will prevent serious illness which is the most critical thing.

And given the results of Pfizer with SA variant I suspect that will be similar.

The vaccines we have now are beginning of the road out of this. They are good enough to see us through the next few months, maybe even the rest of the year. But there will be future vaccines that will be developed to deal with these strains.

Witty / Valance always said the 1st vaccines wouldn't be the last vaccines.

@Beebityboo I didn’t mean to worry you, there’s not been enough data yet, it maybe a small number of people who had a specific health issue, we will get snippets of media reports on both vaccines as they come through, I still think there will be over 90% protection from both vaccines after 3 weeks after the first injection.

We just don't know yet.

What we do know is that the arrival of new variants is definitely going to happen while people can travel into the country without any quarantine from some places and with ineffective quarantine from others.

What is sadly also probable is that eventually there will be a variant that will escape the vaccines one day.

The only way to stop that variant reaching the UK and making us restart the whole vaccination programme again from the start: stopping non-essential travel into the UK and quarantining every single arrival (in vastly reduced numbers because most travel is actually non-essential).

When will the UK government do the right thing?

Or there will be tweaked vaccines for a third shot..

@MissLucyEyelesbarrow

Why can we not have a debate about the difference between the vaccines?

Because the "debates" are mainly started by idiots who don't understand the first thing about vaccine efficacy, and think it's OK to start a load of scare stories that will freak out people who have had/are planning to have a particular vaccine.

Putting people off being vaccinated will prolong this whole nightmare and put us all at risk.

And the answer to this is to post or shut down conversation and gas light?

I agree with vaccination but I believe that talking about it, showing the reasons why it's important is better than shutting down conversation.

It is hard to strike the right balance between not worrying enough and worrying too much.

These six cases illustrate why we need quarantine - and why England's quarantine is feeble as only 1% of travellers have to do it. Again the government make an announcement that is in reality empty.

the greatest risk is when you have a large vaccinated population in close contact with a large infected population This is a worry, seems Johnson wants to gamble with this as much as possible so I am nervous. But we might be lucky.

But the vaccines themselves are fine, better to vaccinate people quickly than aim for perfection I think.

Why can we not have a debate about the difference between the vaccines?

I am not really qualified to have a debate about vaccines - are you?

There is another thread I'm on and people have talked about the AZ specifically. There is a lot of disinformation. This is mainly from people based in the EU so they are not necessarily to blame for the disinformation but just shows you that comments or people debating things they know sweet f.a about doesn't really add anything of value. And in the EU for example, will probably cost some lives.

@OldRailer

But if it stops serious disease hospitalisation and death it's pretty well made covid into a cold.

I'll take that as a success.

I always thought (though admit it's never been said!) That was pretty much the aim - as we already have 4 coronavirus cold strains that do the rounds normally.

I also agree shitting down conversation isn't helpful. Just because you aren't personally worried doesn't mean others aren't and can't be reassured by helpful and non judgemental information.

Personally I'm reassured by the vaccines. But mostly because I listen to Vallance, Whitty and JVT when it comes to information and judge if risk.

No. Latest research announced today shows 90% protection three weeks after first dose.

What more do you expect?

Yes, it may not be as effective against all variants in the future but it can be tweaked within weeks and it’s sure as hell better than not vaccinating.

Today 19:54 MissLucyEyelesbarrow

Why can we not have a debate about the difference between the vaccines?

Because the "debates" are mainly started by idiots who don't understand the first thing about vaccine efficacy, and think it's OK to start a load of scare stories that will freak out people who have had/are planning to have a particular vaccine“

Exactly this.

Given the stats showing both vaccines having excellent results what would your alternative be, OP?

It’s a sensible discussion I would like. I know tweaks will have to be made and I will assume as soon as the new vaccines come out the CEVs will be offered the boosters again or I guess first the very elderly then the shielding

I suppose I would just want the most vulnerable to have the boosters.

There has also been a study or a study started of mixing the vaccines

Can people not just accept the UK is doing well at vaccinating ? All the vaccines offerr good protection my extremely vulnerable parents got the Pfizer injection as that was what was offered ,myself and my DH also got the Pfizer injection last week as it was offered ,we are both in group six,but some of my friends also group six got the AZ VACCINE As they had allergies all the vaccines are affective and they are better than not being vaccinated

I feel there is this feeling of Pfizer being better than AZ - the fact that PP just detailed they all got Pfizer. It’s like Pfizer is the posh one - most definitely first world problem

www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/covid-vaccines-choice-pfizer-astrazeneca/2021/02/20/0beaceb0-5f2f-11eb-a177-7765f29a9524_story.html

Gone well people are thick!

Pfizer had better results in the trials. Pfizer didn't test for asymptomatic cases.

Pfizer is very expensive. Oxford is not.

I don't know which one is best. And Pfizer will be better suited to some just like AZ to others.

More people have actually had Pfizer in UK I believe, or that was the case a few weeks ago. I know my parents and inlaws got Pfizer but they would have happily had either.

All i want is a vaccine, when I am offered it which means I will be very unlikely to get sick or die from this virus. I don't bloody care who makes it.

@JennyWreny

Why do you think the vaccine most used here is the AZ one? I'm pretty sure I saw a graph the other day (can't find it now) which showed that more Pfizer than AZ had been administered.

yes up to a few days ago around 55% percent of doses in the UK were Pfizer and 45% AZ. The balance is expected to shift in March - no less Pfizer yet but just more AZ coming in,