Breaking News Boris press conference tonight 14/05/21

[Whichjab]

So, is Monday under threat? Change to school masks or hugs?

I feel so disappointed today. Things were heading in the right direction and now it feels like we're going back in the other direction.

Fed up with the Bolton situation, it's like groundhog day. Last summer Bolton dragged the rest of Greater Manchester down and its happening again. We'll be back in local lockdown again at this rate. Blackburn with Darwen will be the next hotspot, then Oldham, Rochdale etc.

I agree @Lostinacloud

Were those that died from the variant double vaccinated? What age group? This is all valuable information (and would stop the scaremongering) yet they hold it back.

Remember in the beginning when there were a few deaths and we had the age and whether they had underlying conditions? Not that that makes the deaths any less sad before anyone jumps on me. Just that this should affect the strategy going forward.

As second vaccines are now 8 weeks for over 50s will gp’s contact people if you were done at your gp for the first one? Do we just wait if we are at that limit now...

@Mrgrinch - much easier said than done but don’t let these arseholes beat you. Staying alive is the ultimate protest to this situation. I hope you’re ok.

@vera99

Wales has paused Monday's re-opening.

We definitely haven't. Drakeford wants us to holiday in Llandudno 😂 but Monday's reopening is going ahead!

@GabsAlot

how are they moving everyones vaccine up quicker im due m 2nd in a months time do they let you know

I got a text and DH got a letter. Phoned docs and booked ours for 10wks after our first (last wk) was AZ and we had no side effects other than a sore arm.

Maybe we need to think about different restrictions for the unvaccinated. I heard someone in the outside cafe I was in today saying that if they wanted to go abroad they would take the vaccine but not until then.

Shame on them. I am sick of people just thinking of themselves and spreading this virus around.

@Delatron

I agree *@Lostinacloud*

Were those that died from the variant double vaccinated? What age group? This is all valuable information (and would stop the scaremongering) yet they hold it back.

Remember in the beginning when there were a few deaths and we had the age and whether they had underlying conditions? Not that that makes the deaths any less sad before anyone jumps on me. Just that this should affect the strategy going forward.

The fact that they haven't released that info tells you it's not good news.

If the people who died from B1617.2 were unvaccinated they would say so. It would boost take up.

[quote SlightlyJaded]@LlamaDrama20 Also agree

Community/Mosque/Family leaders need to get behind the vaccination programme - there is so much misinformation, lack of understanding and fear. I don't blame the individuals of Bolton but collectively the take up of the vaccine is shocking.[/quote]
One of the problems for the immigrant community is not just wanting the vaccine but actually being able to access the vaccine. I know some (not all!) immigrant families who have never registered with a gp here in the UK as they prefer to travel home for any medical treatment.

Then there are people who are here legally, but are worried that if they go for a vaccination they will be ‘noticed’ by the authorities. Given the current climate where people are being deported (in some cases illegally) without access to legal representation, you can see how people would be nervous even if they were here legally.

Then you have the problem of people who are here illegally - they won’t be on the gp’s/NHS’s book to be called for a vaccination. So what? You may think - if they’re here illegally they don’t “deserve” the vaccine. But unfortunately, that group will contain trafficked people, people who want to be vaccinated but aren’t allowed but their family (predominantly women), leaving a chunk of the population of that are unvaccinated.

It’s not as simple as saying they just need a good talking to, and I really hope that outreach in their community can help overcome those problems.

In the USA (iirc) there was an “amnesty” for anyone who was an illegal immigrant or who had outstanding warrants to receive the vaccine and not be picked up by the authorities, but given that the authorities had used this ruse to swoop in and deport people before, I can imagine the trust was not there. Hopefully in areas like Bolton community leaders and PHE will be able to work together to reassure the communities.

@sadperson16 How is it racist to say there is a problem with vaccine hesitancy in the south Asian community? (not just in Bolton etc but other places in UK). The problem needs to be addressed and the community assisted to improve vaccination rates.

@Franklin12

Maybe we need to think about different restrictions for the unvaccinated. I heard someone in the outside cafe I was in today saying that if they wanted to go abroad they would take the vaccine but not until then.

Shame on them. I am sick of people just thinking of themselves and spreading this virus around.

Covid passports are unpopular at the moment, and probably unethical, however it would solve vaccine hesitancy.

i booked my secind one already when i had my first im just wondering if it will be moved forward

@sadperson16

Just to give you a heads up ( especially the racists), the original Bolton Spike was caused by a stupid young white guy who was infected on holiday, refused to follow the rules and drank in numerous pubs...thereby infecting multiple people.

"Partly responsible" not "caused" if you read the reports properly.

The Assistant Director of Public Health in Bolton has also said there is "a picture of widespread community transmission, associated with all sorts of different settings."

I don’t agree @PrincessNutNuts because it would provide evidence the vaccines weren’t working. Yet they have said there is no evidence for that. They have not released the info because they want to keep the fear levels high.

If less than 50% of eligible people re vaccinated in Bolton that is your answer.

I'm a bit concerned - a couple of days ago I was beginning to feel more optimistic.

I fear for the younger people with this Indian variant, and would happily wait for my second dose, (maybe forever!)
As someone over 50, I do not want the 12 weeks brought forward to 8 weeks. Firstly, it has been drummed into us that the 12 week wait is better for efficacy of the vaccine, secondly I am still trying to get over the side effects from the first dose! Also, I do not want to be rushed into more AZ because I believe more issues with it will unfold in the near future.
It seems Germany are more concerned about the Indian variant than we are, they are already planning to list us as a risk area. Looks like they will actively try to stop the Indian variant spreading there, whilst we let it come here because Boris was not putting India on the red travel list, and he was actually still planning on a trip to India at a time when he should have been getting out his red marker pen and writing 'INDIA'.
For goodness sake.

[quote Rosehip10]@sadperson16 How is it racist to say there is a problem with vaccine hesitancy in the south Asian community? (not just in Bolton etc but other places in UK). The problem needs to be addressed and the community assisted to improve vaccination rates.[/quote]
Agreed. And it's certainly not racist to ask why the hell flights were allowed in and out of India. The white middle classes travelling to Dubai over Christmas were just as much a problem.

@Whichjab ‘solve’ it? People are allowed to decline the vaccine you know. It should be seen as a ‘problem’ that needs to be ‘solved’.

Shouldn’t be seen*

[quote Rosehip10]@sadperson16 How is it racist to say there is a problem with vaccine hesitancy in the south Asian community? (not just in Bolton etc but other places in UK). The problem needs to be addressed and the community assisted to improve vaccination rates.[/quote]
Agree. In my area mosques haven't even closed, the streets are packed out with cars and prayer attendees as if the pandemic doesn't affect them. And that's NOT racist, that's just a fact I observe every time I pass the many mosques in my area. Until leaders address this then the India variant will spike in our area too.

[quote bumbleymummy]@Whichjab ‘solve’ it? People are allowed to decline the vaccine you know. It should be seen as a ‘problem’ that needs to be ‘solved’.[/quote]
That’s fine as long as everyone else doesn’t have to carry this too

South Asian
The Community

Look at the language.

Things are more subtle than that.

Partly responsible indeed.

@Iamsodonewith2020

Police knocking on doors this afternoon in Nottingham making everyone get tested. They stand there whilst you do it apparently. My student DS and his household said the police were taking it very very seriously. Worried now.

When you say 'apparently' and mention your DS are you saying he has actually witnessed this happening? Or that he heard about it from a friend of a friend etc?

@penni00 maybe we have to suck up to India because of brexit, I dunno...
politics is in the mix for sure in all these decisions anyway