Vaccine supply about to significantly reduce

[DareIask]

Looks like Europe may have got their way

[quote poshme]@Avondklok you say they 'didn't plan properly'
There's a supply issue from India, and it's possible (according to some reports) that there is a batch issue/rechecking of batches is slowing it down.
They were expecting 10m doses from India & got 5.

It's not a planning issue. It's a supply issue. [/quote]
India will start exporting AZ in bulk from April once they have completed their high risk vaccination programme and Indian production for their various vaccine programmes commence properly. I imagine the NHS has paused to see the results of India’s own generic vaccine - apparently it’s even better than AZ when it comes to certain variants. But Indian drug companies are facing unprecedented demand from African countries who would normally turn to China and that demand will be prioritised over western countries.

@BubbleBanana the uk have not scrapped the 2nd doses at all

@Ousted

Bit of a wild theory but could they be delaying to see if there is any truth to the ‘blood clot’ issues? Could it be that they have discovered a link of some kind to some sort of side effect? Seems very sudden and the explanation was very vague. Matt Hancock looked very uncomfortable earlier.

You're right, a wild theory

Like many others, I'm so disappointed. I've been watching the vaccine figures, and this morning, it really seemed realistic that I'd be able to book an appointment withing the next fortnight. Now, it looks as though it will be mid May at the earliest. My kids are back at school, I'll be back at work by then and I'm not quite old enough, not quite fat enough, not quite asthmatic enough to be a priority, and I have to admit that it's hard seeing friends a couple of years older than me who are working from home and either don't have children or whose children have left home getting vaccinated, while I have to expose myself to risk every day.

@BubbleBanana one of the reason it appears why an age group has slowed down seems to be a little less supply and making sure 2nd doses are given and that all people in first 9 groups are offered
Some areas are a little ahead of others so probably the odd 40 year old going through in some places , so makes sense to get 2nd doses out and as many as groups in higher risks done

@WombatChocolate yes, as a 40 something anxious to be vaccinated I have followed the ages going down closely, so combined with the headlines it felt completely realistic that I could be able to book within the next few weeks. Whilst I accept many over 40s might have been oblivious to this, it has really knocked me tonight. With it getting to over 50s I had just been thinking about the things I would feel more confident about doing, how much less anxious I would feel if my kids had to isolate again (with one already isolating at the moment!)
Plus I remember at the briefing a few weeks ago when they announced what they were doing after group 9, and JVT said something like it’s not so important where you are in the queue, just that the queue keeps moving fast. It feels like the queue has stopped now

@Unmellowbirds I’m hoping that’s all it is. Health and social care staff so if they mess around with vaccinations there will be an awful lot of people on the frontline getting irritable.

I’m really pissed off about this! I wish people would stop bashing the Uk 😡

@DaisyWaldron can people not see though that despite it being open didn't mean all the groups were done , my mum is 64 only having it this week
She has been back at work for months and also has a family member at college living with her , so just because this age group could book doesn't mean they were all done

@DaisyWaldron
In the kindest possible way, don't watch the vaccine figures - I hadn't been and had no idea that vacs for the over 40s were imminent. And keep in mind, the fact that you are not old/fat/asthmatic hopefully means that you are probably not at risk of serious illness.

Fingers crossed things get moving again quickly.

@Dongdingdong

Thank you, I’m sure she will, it’s just that overexcited reporting from the government was a bit irritating.
I agree with your summary a few pages up the thread. We are back on schedule so just storm in a teacup. Initially we were going to have al adults vaccinated by September and everyone was quite happy about this.
Also I suppose we can’t go too quick with our first doses because with every first dose there is a second dose coming within 12 weeks so we need to consider supply for them as well.

I'm gutted, I'm a teacher in my 40s, going to be at least 8 weeks until I'm vaccinated and protected. I really believed I was only a couple of weeks away. I've had covid once I think, but a year ago now, likely I've no longer got antibodies. Cases will rise again. Took weeks and weeks to get better last time. I get that I'm likely to be 'mildly' ill, but mild covid can still knock you out for weeks if not months.

@3asAbird

I'm so confused only few days ago news said vaccines ramping up as moderna arrives.

www.cityam.com/downing-street-says-uk-eu-vaccine-row-will-not-affect-moderna-vaccine-shipments/

Has any vaccines been blocked or about to be blocked?
Seeks odd.

Me too. A very quick about turn. There seem to be different stories about why there is going to be a big slow down now as well, doesn't feel like we are getting the truth.

@wonderstuff my dh is 48 and won't get a vaccine he is in multiple houses a day as part of his job and we have kids in school , i honestly didn't think he would get one until my anyway seeing as both my mum in 60's and myself group 6 are only having ours this week

@Unmellowbirds I am in my late 40s, obese and asthmatic. Just below the threshold on several counts to qualify for a vaccine.

@Staffy1 someone further down said why and what supplies will be short
They can only tell us when its known

@donewithitalltodayandxmas

Where did everyone get that they were doing the over 40's all in april anyway , we have only just opened up to the over 50's My mum is 64 and she is only just getting hers this week

From where they have been at for the past 3 weeks.

I've been following progress closely and have been aware of what was expected.

I was telling friends 3 weeks ago that they would get invited this week.

That would put, even with 2nd doses, the uk very much on track to start over 40s the week after Easter. Indeed thats also what omni-calculator has been saying for a while.

So it's a pretty big hit to supplies. Ive been cautious on this throughout (check my posting history). Mid to late April was very viable and likely. And until today there was no indication whatsoever that there might be problems. There was slack in the system.

The EU issue has certainly not helped. The EU have enough vaccine on order and due for delivery in Q2 to more than meet its target. Including if you discount AZ and the 12mil the uk needs for Pfizer second doses.

So i suspect there is a whole range of issues.

The EU currently has 8 million AZ doses that it hasn't administered yet due to the blood clot issue too.

@middleager

I'm also gutted. 48, DH 47.

Two kids at two different secondaries in high risk areas where vaccine take up has been poor.
One child already brought Covid home in November.
We are both due back in our offices soon.

Yup Same ages here, dc at secondary school and dh and I are both teachers as well. A perfect storm for contracting Covid!

@DaisyWaldron apologies, I misunderstood your post.

I hope you don't have too much longer to wait.

I might have had a tiny chuckle to myself that U.K. issue is just a SUPPLY issue, that AZ promised 10 million from India, but will only send 5 million. After ALL those posts where AZ didn't deliver before and it was all the EUs fault.

I am really disappointed. One of my DC was shielding, then taken off the list but still vulnerable, primary school age so no vaccine and no masks or tests at school. When they are ill they require round the clock care or hospitalisation. I was banking on significant and increasing numbers of parents and teachers getting the vaccine to reduce the likelihood of the virus circulating in school. I was also hoping dh and I (both 40s) would get the vaccine in April so that if our dc get ill there is less chance of us being ill so that we can look after them properly. Now we have at least another half term before anything really changes for us. It feels devastating tonight.

@Avondklok

I might have had a tiny chuckle to myself that U.K. issue is just a SUPPLY issue, that AZ promised 10 million from India, but will only send 5 million. After ALL those posts where AZ didn't deliver before and it was all the EUs fault.

And I know it's not funny. But so many posters were positively gleeful that we in EU would have to wait. And wait we will. I am happy for my friends and family who are now vaccinated.

I’m in my 40’s and not overly worried. Surely the priority is getting the older people their second doses and if younger people have to wait a bit longer then so be it. I’m hearing people saying they are desperate for it for selfish reasons like going on holiday rather than fit the health protection benefits.

@Swirlingasong do your children get disability payments or classed as disabled? You may be able to get the vaccine as a carer?

[quote BungleandGeorge]@Swirlingasong do your children get disability payments or classed as disabled? You may be able to get the vaccine as a carer?[/quote]
No, they don't as they don't require any additional care day to day, just when ill.