Vaccine supply about to significantly reduce

[DareIask]

Looks like Europe may have got their way

As a 40 something, slightly disappointed tonight.

I wonder if it's because we are using the NL site which was always supposed to be part of our SC and we paid for it, but will no longer be available to us.

I do think AZ has oversold and they are letting us down as much as the EU, but it's hush hush over here. What the EU don't realise is that it's us having our doses stolen and not the other way around.

But we'll have Novavax soon and hopefully Valneva. And the site that cab manufacture MRNA soon.

We need to reduce our reliance on the EU. I have got to admit I would still prefer to be in the EU, but boy this is an eye opener, but I think the main problem is poor politicians in the EU and some EU Member States too. VDL is in BJ's league........

As a 30 something I wasn’t expecting it any time soon so no big disappointment there. But I’m concerned about implications for the reopening timetable which has a much bigger impact on me. Public opinion still seems so over-cautious, I can imagine this will just give a boost to those who vocally opposed the planned timetable already.

@LittleRen

How can people categorically say it’s nothing to do with the EU?? How can you all know this? It’s bizarre.

Even bbc news is hinting/pointing to this.

I’ve just searched the Spanish news (I’m Spanish ) in the same link you can see the Eu threat and that London is going to go down in numbers in April suspicious

@middleager

The issue is that these were the headlines a few days ago

'Vaccines for all over-40s in UK by Easter'

No offence but who believes anything they read in the papers?

The EU also invested in AZ production remember, and as turned out signed their contract before U.K., but with less stringent conditions. However, this is not a competition but a pandemic. EU are also entitled to vaccines they paid for.

It was expected that in the next weeks there would be supply to mop up those in cohorts 1-9 who haven’t come forward (will be increasingly small numbers as it gets harder to convince those really not keen to have it to have it) AND enough for all the 2nd dosers AND eniugh for further the rollout the over 40s.

It isn’t a sudden surprise that 2nd dosers need it or that some of 1-9 need following up,but the real change is that 40s will be delayed until May - that’s 6-7 weeks, given the rollout enabled new age groups to be added every week or so.

It’s true it hasn’t been explained why there is a sudden reduction in supply from April and why this very sudden halt to rollout to new groups is needed. Something ghastly happened. If it was always going to be the case there would only be enough for mopping up and 2nd doses, they would have always made clear group 10 of over 40s could expect a significant delay after it was offered to group 9. But that has never been said before today.

I think there has been a cock up sonewhere. They can’t admit it. Because they never made specific promises about the next groups, they don’t have to backtrack because the very cautious timescale of everyone done by end July is still achievable. The point is though, that although the target said mid April for all over 50s, they were on track to do all over 40s by around that point.

People who don’t get the disappointment haven’t been following the rollout closely and clearly don’t realise that many 40s expected to be able to book by GP or national system sometimes this week or next. It was that close. And now it’s 6-7 weeks away.

I wonder if we will ever know why this has happened. I guess they will just keep saying the vaccines a4 for mop up and 2nd dosers and pretending there was never an intention to give to 40s now. But there has NEVER been mention of a big 6 week hold up of 1st dose roll out.

So, how many of us under 50s have worked throughout, home schooled, shopped for elderly large and done everything we were told, only to be told: nah, bollocks to you?
I've had cv, BTW, but I think immunity only lasts a few months. And I'd quite like to go on holiday this year.

I don't understand why so many non CV under 50's seemed to think they would be getting it in the next few weeks, the plan has been published for ages now

Because lots of under 50s have had it (and without underlying health issues). I thought I'd be booking an appointment next week for two or so weeks later.

@Incogweeto

Well since all kids and most teachers aren’t vaccinated I hope you’re all looking forward to your next stint of home schooling. For a year group at one of my children’s school that started today (the LFT didn’t pick up the positive case so she was in school right up until (and for a few hours after) the symptoms appeared).

Schools won't close again if the NHS isn't overwhelmed. Doesn't matter how many people catch it, what matters are the hospital numbers.

@HSHorror

Ive just booked!

You will be fine...they are honouring all bookings already made

I am 51 and in Scotland so have to wait for invite letter with appointment date and time. Could have cried when I saw the breaking news

@WombatChocolate

It was expected that in the next weeks there would be supply to mop up those in cohorts 1-9 who haven’t come forward (will be increasingly small numbers as it gets harder to convince those really not keen to have it to have it) AND enough for all the 2nd dosers AND eniugh for further the rollout the over 40s.

It isn’t a sudden surprise that 2nd dosers need it or that some of 1-9 need following up,but the real change is that 40s will be delayed until May - that’s 6-7 weeks, given the rollout enabled new age groups to be added every week or so.

It’s true it hasn’t been explained why there is a sudden reduction in supply from April and why this very sudden halt to rollout to new groups is needed. Something ghastly happened. If it was always going to be the case there would only be enough for mopping up and 2nd doses, they would have always made clear group 10 of over 40s could expect a significant delay after it was offered to group 9. But that has never been said before today.

I think there has been a cock up sonewhere. They can’t admit it. Because they never made specific promises about the next groups, they don’t have to backtrack because the very cautious timescale of everyone done by end July is still achievable. The point is though, that although the target said mid April for all over 50s, they were on track to do all over 40s by around that point.

People who don’t get the disappointment haven’t been following the rollout closely and clearly don’t realise that many 40s expected to be able to book by GP or national system sometimes this week or next. It was that close. And now it’s 6-7 weeks away.

I wonder if we will ever know why this has happened. I guess they will just keep saying the vaccines a4 for mop up and 2nd dosers and pretending there was never an intention to give to 40s now. But there has NEVER been mention of a big 6 week hold up of 1st dose roll out.

Very close. Close enough for dh to book today but not me. Close in age by a year-ish

Probably all lies about 40s because they wanted teachers and parents back at school. What was the date. Around the 8th???

The other thing that is awful is that actually quite a lot of 45-50 year olds have started to get it, and younger people in some parts of the country too - lots of evidence of this. So if you're in your late 40s with a couple of underlying conditions and with a reasonably risky route of exposure via schools (e.g. teacher, parent) then it's gutting.

@DareIask

Looks like Europe may have got their way

Matt Hancock said in the report that our vaccine supply is fine

Well all those brexit supporters best not be hoping for a vaccine any time soon.

@HSHorror

Probably all lies about 40s because they wanted teachers and parents back at school. What was the date. Around the 8th???

Not really I know a fair few 40s getting first dose, only just but definitely happening

And yes, not vaccinating a large cohort of relatively vulnerable teachers and parents while having schools open with massively crowded classrooms is just asking for a 4th lockdown, really.

@mrsknottschicken

I’m so gutted by this; it’s really taken the wind out of my sails. I’m 45 and had started to believe that I’d get the jab in the coming weeks. I appreciate that we’re lucky to be in a country where the vaccination programme is going well, but to all those people in their 40s who expected to be protected quite soon it’s quite a big blow, especially when many of us have school-aged children and will perhaps now be unprotected when things open up. People are allowed to be disappointed.

Exactly how I feel. It’s been leaked for weeks in the press that over-40s might be vaccinated by Easter. My young son is mixing in school and I’m very nervous about this.

Frankly I’m annoyed that over-40s who are desperate to receive the vaccine are being put aside so they can basically chase up and try to convince people who have had the chance to have the jab and have not bothered.

Really doesn’t seem fair. Esp as PP have said plenty of younger people are getting it in certain areas. Starting to look like a post code lottery.

I feel very demoralised this evening

No offence but who believes anything they read in the papers?

Or that comes from Hancock for that matter
Let's not forget this is the man who was found to have handled contracts illegally, passing one to his ex-pub landlord neighbour and the biggest one of all to the dreaded Dido

Not exactly an inducement for confidence is it?

Well we have five weeks to see if kids going back makes an impact, but so far so good, right?

Slight uptick already and we’re 10 days in. So no.

Frankly I’m annoyed that over-40s who are desperate to receive the vaccine are being put aside so they can basically chase up and try to convince people who have had the chance to have the jab and have not bothered

Yes that is really annoying. If you missed your slot you should now be at the back of the queue unless eg you had covid when it was offered to you so couldn't go.

@herecomesthsun there was, however, always the distinction between vaccinating the vulnerable groups and then the entire population, from before the vaccine was even available. Perhaps the government haven’t been clear in their messaging, perhaps they were now hoping to ignore it, Perhaps people have presumed time scales. Perhaps they’d have been better to stick to the original time scales and not raise expectations, it’s not totally unexpected that the rates might slow and those needing 2nd jabs have to be priority.

While the potential risks of vaccinations shouldn't be used as a deterrent, the truth is that Covid vaccinations can have some pretty unpleasant after-effects. I have two elderly friends who after the first jab both independently reported fever, chills, severe nausea, vomiting and generally feeling very sick for two days. And I'm one who will take the vaccination without hesitation, in fact I can't wait for it to become available. They both received Astra and would have preferred Pfizer.

I thought that a large amount of the AstraZeneca vaccine was due to arrive from India. Maybe it's not coming.