Vaccine supply about to significantly reduce

[DareIask]

Looks like Europe may have got their way

Jesus - it's like waving a flag at a pack of horses!

The UK's vaccination program is MASSIVELY ahead of where it was predicted to be at the end of last year.

We had a greater than expected supply of vaccines at one point, now it's dropped a bit so they're reserving some for people's 2nd jabs.

It's not the end of the world!!

I think this is the most upset I've felt this past year. I have genuinely been joyful for every person I know older than me who had received their jab, even DH, patiently waiting my turn.

Every time I've heard about someone in their 30s or 40s randomly being called up, I've told myself, it's ok, all of group 10 will be very soon, we're going so quickly, we'll really be ramping up come mid March. I've watched the ticker on sky news every day, steadily going up, all the papers saying over 40s by end of March.

I haven't seen my family in the other side of the world in 2 years now. I kept thinking, if I get my first jab start of April when can I visit my family, doing the maths. Mother's Day was really hard, I really missed my mum. I woke up this morning to over 50s being called, 600k(?) Doses given yesterday... Then out of nowhere, this punch to the gut.

Where has this come from? I'm so angry. And fed up. Yes, I have managed an entire year of being patient, keeping it together, doing my best but I feel like I can't any more. I woke up this morning thinking I would be called up probably in a week or two.

I'm a little confused. Opening up the vaccine to the over 40s didn't preclude anyone in the older categories from booking theirs - appreciate that not everyone has access to the internet and the national booking service but it all seems a bit odd.

Which makes me think that the issue with supply is greater than the government is letting on. Otherwise they could keep going with the "keenies" who are willing to book on the national website and travel to wherever there's supply, while letting the GPs mop up those who perhaps need an extra phone call or two. One doesn't need to exclude the other unless there's a supply constraint.

We only ordered a small amount of the Moderna vaccine- 5 million total I think. Not sure where it is coming from either, might be EU?

It’s clear from the thread that not all of the vulnerable in the UK have been offered an appointment yet, they are the priority. Whatever their job because they are most at risk of hospitalisation and death. I also think the over 45s could well open during April but I think they probably did need to manage expectations

[quote VaVaGloom]**@cathyandclare* In some areas they're vaccinating healthy 30 year olds, which is fine when supply is good- but not when there's a temporary lull*

Really? Where's that then?[/quote]
Lots of my friends in London in their 30s and 40s have had their jabs. They are healthy in the sense that they've not known they're considered clinically vulnerable. Some have queried with their GPs and been told the invite has been sent for reasons like a mental health diagnosis from 10 years ago or hospitalisations for something in childhood... So not exactly on the official group 6 list.

I've just seen on Twitter that it's because there's a delay in 10m doses from India.

No idea if that's true or not

@minniemoocher
Why don't you book them in online? Or call 119, failing that call their gp - our gp has been pleading with the last of the over 65's to book in for the last couple of weeks, they can't make people though

I have called 119 they do not deal with home vacs, the lady I spoke to was very upset about this she said she was having thousands of calls from disabled and house bound not able to get to vac. centres.
All GP will say is they are on the list to be done but they have not got any vaccine! I am now waiting to hear back from my MP.

@WombatChocolate

Very disappointing for the upper 40s who felt it was so close.

Just watching Matt Hancock doing his briefing. He is saying over 40s will not be moved into at the moment. He is trying to explain it in terms of the fact they want to return to anyone in Grouos 1-9 who hasn’t yet accepted their invitation to be vaccinated. In reality that’s an excuse, as they were all geared up for it to go to 40s and actually lots of GPs have already been giving it to 40s. However, because of this reduced supply that’s expected, rather than focus on that and how it will limit vaccinations,they are instead saying the focus is in those not yet done in groups 1-9.

I know they are already ahead of where they said they would be, but it’s so disappointing for those in 40s who thought they might be able to book within the next week and are now unlikely to see the national booking site opening up to them.

Yep. I'm 50 in 6 weeks time - not sure how it will affect me. Will I be called once I turn 50 or will it be a case of so near, yet so far

@hennybeans

I think this is the most upset I've felt this past year. I have genuinely been joyful for every person I know older than me who had received their jab, even DH, patiently waiting my turn.

Every time I've heard about someone in their 30s or 40s randomly being called up, I've told myself, it's ok, all of group 10 will be very soon, we're going so quickly, we'll really be ramping up come mid March. I've watched the ticker on sky news every day, steadily going up, all the papers saying over 40s by end of March.

I haven't seen my family in the other side of the world in 2 years now. I kept thinking, if I get my first jab start of April when can I visit my family, doing the maths. Mother's Day was really hard, I really missed my mum. I woke up this morning to over 50s being called, 600k(?) Doses given yesterday... Then out of nowhere, this punch to the gut.

Where has this come from? I'm so angry. And fed up. Yes, I have managed an entire year of being patient, keeping it together, doing my best but I feel like I can't any more. I woke up this morning thinking I would be called up probably in a week or two.

Henny where do you want to go? Does the vaccine make much difference or is it more that they have a two week hotel quarantine?

I know it’s tough though, me too re o/s

Wakeup maybe. It was fast in some areas, even lower ages.

yes I know of someone in Berkshire aged 33 no health issues at all been invited for vaccine and going at weekend - they received a text so booked.

We only ordered a small amount of the Moderna vaccine- 5 million total I think. Not sure where it is coming from either, might be EU

I don't know where it is made - it's a US vaccine so perhaps in the US but we've ordered 17 million doses. However, 7 million and then another 10 million, so it may be that only the 7 million are arriving any time soon.

I was quite happy to wait my turn for the vaccination and was surprised by my own reaction when my group came, anxiety came from nowhere and was constantly checking texts and emails. I feel sorry for those who simply thought they were next. Logically it makes sense we need close to 30 million supply for 2nd doses and those booked in, but I would be gutted if I was in my forties

I'm disappointed too. So many friends have had early call ups for quite spurious reasons (they've told me the reasons - I'm not judging them!) and I thought ok, but I'll have mine in the next month or so (early 40s), and I'll feel happier seeing people when we can. Now... pah. I know the risk to me is minimal but I really felt like there was light at the end of the tunnel. Now chances are we will get to May and there will be a reason for another delay. Sigh.

I've been feeling really upbeat over the last few weeks and this has knocked me back a bit tonight. I'm 48 and was looking forward to getting a jab before Easter as things were looking yesterday. Now I'm looking at another 6 weeks probably. The last year has just been bad news, doom and gloom and perhaps stupidly, I'd latched onto the positivity around the vaccine programme. I know I'll get it at some point, but that some point is just that bit further off now. My DH, DM, DiLs, BiL, SiL and 80% of our little group of friends have all had it so I feel a bit left out.

@poshme

I've just seen on Twitter that it's because there's a delay in 10m doses from India.

No idea if that's true or not

I don't think uk been getting any from India as that az. We have 2 factories here and we also were getting some from helix in Netherlands we invested in that factory. None if their supply has been used by EU get as ema only authorised Belgium site not the Netherlands one. I think eu has been getting supply from India.

Its incredibly bad timing same time as some countries suspended az over safety concerns and same day as udvl threatens withhold uk supply.
I assumed our shortage were if phizer not az.
Also media said moderna was arriving within the next week.
I don't think Johnson and Johnson will be for a few months yet.

I wonder why they can’t just say there has been an unexpected fall in expected supply.

That is essentially what has happened. They always knew they had to do over 40s and mop ups. But now supply is falling they only have enough for them and not for the over 40s too.

It feels dishonest, it feels like they think people are a bit stupid and will buy the line that it’s because of 2nd doses and mop up ( and actually that’s plausible to lots of people who haven’t tracked the process and haven’t realised they are ahead by weeks at the moment) rather than knowing this is a big delay to what was happening.

Why not just be honest that supply is down and this is more than just a lumpy phase but one which they are saying means a 6-7 week delay.

I think they’ve misjudged the comms on this one because people will demand answers. Look at the amount of replies on these threads tonight and think how many 40s across the country are truly upset tonight about this (some call it over reaction, but for those feeling worried about Covid and who felt their jab could be next week and is now possibly 2 months off, it is a pretty major issue, when they have been tracking the doses every day and tracking which group is offered and feeling It inching closer to them and being within spitting distance now)

It’s the dishonesty people don’t like. Van Tam suggesting we always have to retreat and pick up the vulnerable not vaccinated, implying 40s being done would be to the detriment of vulnerable....but dishonest, because the plan was to mop up AND do 2nd doses AND do the 40s too....and suggesting 40s who hoped to be done sooner were somehow jumping the gun or expecting something which would cause others to miss out is just crap. No 40s want people who are vulnerable to miss out. They expected and were led to believe that after 50s who were being done alongside ealrlier mop up and 2nd dosesm they too would be done alongside mop up and 2nd doses. It was never a case of doing EITHER age cohorts OR mop up and 2nd doses, it thistas how they presented it tonight, and that’s infuriating because it’s dishonest.

@MarshaBradyo California. It's not so much quarantine that is the issue. More that I don't feel safe traveling and being there around people without being vaccinated.

I’m gutted for my DH - late 40’s secondary teacher with underlying conditions (but not quite enough to be in group 6). It’s ok to be scared and angry if you’re just a whisker away from the official line between the haves and have nots.

@OverTheRainbow88

Well I do think we have a moral duty to the global society, so agree now our most vulnerable are vaccinated, focus on their second dose and even donate to those countries who are still vaccinating their 80 plus and CEV.

This isn’t the time to just think about our own.

Do you work from home?

[quote hennybeans]@MarshaBradyo California. It's not so much quarantine that is the issue. More that I don't feel safe traveling and being there around people without being vaccinated.[/quote]
Fair enough. I wondered if you were Aus or NZ

I guess I'm just not getting something but I still don't understand why everyone's got their hopes up on these vaccines.

They haven't been proven to stop transmission or stop you catching covid, only lessen the severity of it. We still have to social distance and wear a mask, so after the elderly and vulnerable have been vaccinated I'm not getting why anyone else is rushing to get it

Maybe I'm living under a rock but it just confuses me. I'll wait at the back of the que, people are welcome to my dose of they want it

@Lemons1571

I’m gutted for my DH - late 40’s secondary teacher with underlying conditions (but not quite enough to be in group 6). It’s ok to be scared and angry if you’re just a whisker away from the official line between the haves and have nots.

Sorry to hear that’s it’s rubbish isn’t, I feel quite sad that that’s people who can’t social distance at work haven’t been prioritised over those that can work at home.

Don't shout at me folks - but aren't those of you under 50 with school aged dc (and thus not getting the jab as quickly as you had hoped) not a bit reassured by the lateral flow testing that is going on? I find it reassuring that ds (16) has had 4 negative lateral flow tests and its only his second week at school

The expectation management (or lack of) is the real issue.

I was not happy about DS going back to school because the most obvious place for transmission for the forseeable is schools.

But i could reconsile that with the fact that it probably wasn't going to be too long before we got ours.

Now im back to the anxiety of watching cases (they are already going back up where I am - they have been for a week) and that feeling of dread and uncertainty about whether we will get the call from school or get sick ourselves.

On top of this increasingly seeing people do stupid high risk stuff hasn't helped combined with friends who are booked in for next week taking the attitude that its all over now without a thought about us. The Alright Jack stuff has really upset me.

It means probably another 6 to 8 weeks of staying home.

It means we can't plan holudays etc, when all our close friends now can, with a reasonable degree of confidence that it will probably be ok.

Its the limbo effect that it creates that bothers me.

Im not begrudging anyone who has had it, but this just feels cruel and its utterly sole destroying really.

Ive been pretty measured and not over optimistic throughout. I thought if there was to be a supply crunch it would hit in March not April. So thats hard too.

Its just shit.