Good News Part 12 - So Much Good News - We Needed Another Thread

[BigWoollyJumpers]

Useful links:

coronavirus.data.gov.uk/www.coronavirus.data.gov.uk
www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/www.worldometers.info/coronavirus
www.covidmessenger.com/
ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations

This is a thread to share all good news with regards to Covid.
We also share pictures of small furry animals and cute birds.
Posts on other random good news also gladly accepted.

Doomploppers will be met with scorn and derision!

Why, oh why do I click on the negative articles it links though? I'm an idiot.

An NHS spokesman has said that the number of vaccine slots booked on Tuesday was one of the highest ever.

They said: "The programme is now moving on to its next phase as supply allows, with people aged over 45 now able to book their jab and it is fantastic to see such enthusiasm, with Tuesday seeing one of the highest number of bookings on record, as 765,000 jab slots were taken up."

A nice article explaining our four buckets approach to vaccines and why it puts us in a good position

www.theguardian.com/society/2021/apr/13/uk-strategy-of-backing-several-covid-vaccines-seems-to-be-paying-off

Checking in as it's been a while since I last looked at this thread.

Things are feeling more and more normal (relatively anyway) and I didn't feel the need to constantly distract with the good stuff!

However, a quick glance shows I might have missed things I'd have rather seen so off for a proper browse on this thread now.

Gosh two whole positive articles in the Guardian? I feel like I've entered the Twilight Zone. Life is really getting better isn't it?!

@FreyaFolkvangr

Gosh two whole positive articles in the Guardian? I feel like I've entered the Twilight Zone. Life is really getting better isn't it?!

My mum is a lifelong Guardian reader, she has it delivered and gets all her news from there. The rest of us get our news from a variety of sources. At family zoom last week she was making plans for db to visit in May and she went ‘if it’s even allowed in May, with the new South African variant!’
The rest of us were a bit

Your mum sounds like a friend of mine, he too is an avid Guardian reader but also doesn't tend to read anything else - he has made very similar comments to the one your mum made about variants!

When I asked him, a while back, if he'd seen the info emerging from Israel his reply was 'what is it, more variants?'

I have to say I’ve had to really avoid people like that and I’m also suprised at how many negative people there are in my life! I had one friend saying vaccines won’t change much and they aren’t even sure whether they should get their second dose. I was shocked as this is a normally very rational and sensible person. Each to their own I guess!

Schools returning don’t seem to have had a negative effect either. Also clubs opening next week - swimming/rugby not night - those days are behind me !

@chri55ie yes it’s really odd - there definitely appear you be less bonkers/ agenda driven threads though - nice to see some positive, albeit not lots yet.

Since we're on the subject the contrast with my BBC news app and my sky news app was like light and day! Sky was totally Covid led doom and gloom. And bbc was a mixture; theirs was about the r rate (after midday) Shocking!

Just looked at worldometers. Our numbers are down from last Friday.

But, checked out Israel:-

20 new cases
1 new death!

They had 188 new cases last Friday. Long may it continue!!

Not sure if a holiday in Israel?

The US has given 198.3 million jabs to date. The seven day moving average is 3.3 million jabs per day. 23.6% of the population is fully vaccinated and 37.9% has had at least one dose.

All states will have everyone age 18 and over eligible by next week. My 21 year old son got his first Pfizer jab in New York last Sunday and my 19 year old daughter is scheduled for her first dose in Massacusttes tomorrow. She's away at uni. I'm really relieved that we're getting the kids sorted. I thought they would have to wait for this summer to get vaccinated.

Putting the J&J vaccine on hold hasn't made it much harder for most people to get appointments as it was primarily targeted at difficult-to-reach populations. J&J's production has also been much smaller than Pfizer and Moderna's, who have done a brilliant job ramping up production much faster than anyone thought possible. I was really pleased when the UK started getting Moderna doses earlier this month. It's an excellent vaccine and somewhat easier to handle than Pfizers.

How is the J&J vaccine pause going down @MissConductUS ? Are people worried over there?

@tobee

How is the J&J vaccine pause going down *@MissConductUS* ? Are people worried over there?

It hasn't really caused that much of a fuss. Most of the complaints are from the organizations who are running mobile vaccination programs or pop-up sites where you need a "one and done" vaccine.

They've found six blood clot cases out of almost seven million doses. The pause now is to see if any further cases come to light and can be looked into. People who have already had the J&J jab may be understandably concerned. The nutters are saying "I told you so" and sensible people are saying they'll get one of the mRNA vaccines instead, and that the surveillance system is working.

Good to hear. Thanks for your reply @MissConductUS

Some personal good news: got my first jab this week! I'm mid 30s with no health issues. One of my local vaccination centres had too many AZ vaccines so were offering them to anyone over 30 who could turn up and queue that day. While I was queuing outside, the volunteer stewards were literally calling out to passers-by "hello! Have you had your vaccine yet? Would you like one?!" 😆

Also got to take my toddler swimming this week for the first time since September, he loved it 🥰

You're quite welcome @tobee. This thread fell off of my "I'm On" list and I've missed it, so I'm glad to be back to give the good news from America.

Yes it’s great to hear about how other countries are doing- especially the good news! Don’t hear so much of that so good to hear. Thanks @MissConductUS

While I was queuing outside, the volunteer stewards were literally calling out to passers-by "hello! Have you had your vaccine yet? Would you like one?!" 😆

That makes me think of people in supermarkets going "would you like to try our new artisan sourdough loaf?" Maybe that'll happen soon. Vaccines at the supermarket. Maybe it has already?

I mean, I've definitely had flu jabs at pharmacies in supermarkets, so why not?

Just amazing numbers in the States. I'm pleased to see other countries doing well. There is so much bad news around.

I had a panic today. My first in ages (I had dreadful ones through the first wave). Reading Mac n Chise on Twitter helped so much. She's so reassuring.

My parents have their second jabs in a couple of weeks. That feels really good because I keep reading how much that helps. It will be nice to relax even more about them being as safe as is possible.

I mean, I've definitely had flu jabs at pharmacies in supermarkets, so why not?

It's become a key part of the strategy in the US. As I mentioned up-thread my daughter is getting hers at the US affiliate of Boots, and my son had his at one of their other locations last weekend. They can't do the numbers of jabs that the mega state-run sites do, but there are now thousands of local pharmacies doing them, and it's very convenient. Most of the big supermarket chains here have pharmacies in the store, so supermarkets are doing them here too.

Some years ago the regulations were changed to allow pharmacies to do vaccinations more easily, mostly to increase the uptake of the annual flu vaccines. So the big pharmacy chains here invested heavily in cold storage, staff training, software improvements, etc., and were totally ready to jump in and do covid vaccination. It's really ramped up in the last month or so with the greatly increased supply from Pfizer and Moderna.

Phew, found this thread again! Had to run the gauntlet of the other threads in the topic, but managed to avoid clicking on them.

48 and had my jab this afternoon. Was at a local community centre and it was all really well organised.

Was surprised by just how quick the jab was. I’m used to B12 injections, this was a doddle in comparison. Am now hunkering down and awaiting side effects 😂