Under 50s safety compromised yet again!

[3asAbird]

I am 41 this year as 1st vaccine next week.
It will take 3 weeks take any effect.
Why the rush to unlock when so many not been vaccinated and lots younger age group seriously ill and dying in India

We told we spaced out vaccines longer to ensure everyone has 1 dose at least which gives some protection yet now we could be holding 1st doses back to speed up 2nd doses for over 50.
Will this means anyone anyone in 30s will be delayed 1st doses.

We have school kids not vaccinated at all.
International travel opening up
No masks in classrooms.

I know they have to have a system of priority.
I think it was Indonesia who decided to vaccinate younger age group 1st.
Is there the danger given info coming from Indian variant hot spots thats its prevalent in under 50s.
That they are the ones catching and spreading it.
I imagine elderly in carehomes fairly partially shielded and older age groups have less points of contacts.
Surely the worry is Indian is much more transmissible and it will be the younget age groups that catch and spread it.
Then there's worry it overtakes the Kent varient b117 and becomes our main version of the virus.
We know in uk localised lockdowns haven't contained it.
Yes it entered via International travel but now its community transmission.
Surely Andy Burham ideas targeting hot spots is better than making over 50s a priority everywhere else possibly putting under 50s at more risk.

I’m quite annoyed at how the 40-50s have been treated (i am 42). Not vulnerable enough in terms of priority for vaccines and now an early second dose but also not considered enough of a risk to be offered an alternative to AZ!

I had AZ and I will gladly have my second - this isn’t about wanting a different vaccine. It just feels like this age group really is getting the short straw from all sides!

Sadly, if we get another wave soon I expect it to be the 40-49 bracket that cops the brunt of it hospitalisation wise. Partially vaccinated with the vaccine most susceptible to variant breakthrough.

Do we know that AZ has had more breakthrough? All the older people I know had AZ too.

@RuleWithAWoodenFoot

Do we know that AZ has had more breakthrough? All the older people I know had AZ too.

Well we know it’s not great against the SA variant and there are many reports of breakthrough infections of double vaccinated people in India. However it’s expected to prevent death and serious illness in most people. But I get the impression the scientists here are desperate for more data from India on this to clarify the situation.

We’re at low risk. It makes sense to vaccinate the groups that are most likely to end up seriously ill/in hospital. I don’t feel that my safety is compromised at all. I have never felt that I’m particularly at risk anyway though.

Oh do stop whinging, did you actually look at the Bolton numbers?

@IndigoC

Sadly, if we get another wave soon I expect it to be the 40-49 bracket that cops the brunt of it hospitalisation wise. Partially vaccinated with the vaccine most susceptible to variant breakthrough.

This.

I missed the press conference. Is that true - they've not included 40+ for the moved forwards second doses? If so, that is shocking.

Much as I dislike Burnham, he's right. The priority should be over 40s (or even 30s) in areas of concern. So, Bolton, Blackburn, Bedford, London, Sefton, Glasgow (and any others).

Aren't women in their 40s one of the highest risk groups for Long Covid?

Why did Boris import this new strain? What did he think would happen?

I completely agree with everything you have said OP.

I agree OP.

It is as if 40-49 year-olds did not exist. Not young enough to get anything other than AZ, but not old enough to get priority or a booster.

Whitty said that the under-40s vaccines will not be delayed because of prioritising second doses of over-50s, as under-40s do not get AZ. But where does the extra vaccines come from? Did we already have a surplus from AZ? But then why not bring forward all AZ second doses?

I think and always have that people who are unable to work from home should be prioritised for the vaccine.

Chris Whitty said it was unlikely to cause any delays because most of the 2nd doses needed now are AZ and the under 40s due to get their 1st will get Pfizer/Moderna. The two streams can run alongside each other - if anything it should speed things up for everyone, not delay.

It has been known for a while by people tracking the supply that the UK has had a large stockpile of vaccines building up so this should be fine. (It's been possible to calculate the supply as Scotland releases their weekly figures of vaccines sent to them and it is proportional based on population.)

@Freddiefox Absolutely.

@nordica My question was why they do not bring forward the second doses for 40-49-year-olds.

Have they said they won't? Most 40-49 year olds won't be at the 8 week mark just yet unless they got invited early?

I had my vaccine today in London. Most of the people in the four blocks line look they were about 30. I asked two of them and they were 29 and 28 and were invited. Was very surprised they were called as was expecting only 40 plus this week. It really depends. It looks like there are plenty of vaccines. Why to worry?

They will make it within the 8 weeks is things get a lot worse.

@nordica

Have they said they won't? Most 40-49 year olds won't be at the 8 week mark just yet unless they got invited early?

Sorry, I am not arguing with you, if that is how I came across. Are they blanket bringing forward over over-50s vaccinations or are they bringing them forward to 8 weeks?

Its cynical of me I know, but I imagine moving the focus more towards to second doses of (probably AZ) for over 50s rather than first doses for under 40s is to do with having lots of AZ and not enough of Pfizer/moderna that the under 40s need.

40-49 year olds - parents of unvaccinated secondary aged children who are mixing freely in enclosed spaces with no masks and little ventilation for six hours a day. No, cases won’t rise in that scenario, will they?

My question was why they do not bring forward the second doses for 40-49-year-olds.

Because they want to maintain an 8 week gap and very few of the 40-50 group are anywhere near that. It was initially reported that the UK evidence was suggesting that a longer (ie more than 3 week) gap was actually beneficial. This fits with non-covid vaccines - often they are more effective with longer gaps and in some cases only given close together so that people actually remember to get the second dose. I haven’t seen the data though, so apologies for no link.

Why did Boris import this new strain?

Are they blanket bringing forward over over-50s vaccinations or are they bringing them forward to 8 weeks?

Chris Whitty said specifically that they want to maintain an 8 week gap. So there will (I think) be a blanket policy of moving the over 50s second dose forward to meet the 8 week gap. Any over 50s who had a dose late (say 4 weeks ago) won’t have their second for another 4 weeks. But those who had doses earlier (say 9 weeks ago) will have their second dose ASAP.

@Freddiefox

I think and always have that people who are unable to work from home should be prioritised for the vaccine.

Totally agree Under 40 s here both bo sign of vaccine in site and working in high traffic key worker roles Oh also with kids at school Oh Also very close to a new outbreak area

@CarrieBlue

40-49 year olds - parents of unvaccinated secondary aged children who are mixing freely in enclosed spaces with no masks and little ventilation for six hours a day. No, cases won’t rise in that scenario, will they?

Exactly I have 1 in senior school that covers 4 different counties. 2 in separate primaries. Overall my city low covid rates but we are a multicultural city and a couple local schools bubbles have burst this week. Why no masks in class rooms that seems obvious fools error. Not only are children not vaccinated but they vectors transmission and why b117 Kent varient spread so quickly. Are they sure in addition to preventing people being hospitalised the vaccines reduce or prevent transmission. My local bus says wear masks properly at all times and keep windows open as its a air Bourne virus. Ventilation in most schools shit. My husband 49 this year old had his 1st last wed and I have my 1st next week.. Family and freinds in Wales and they way ahead south west. Seems very much postcode lottery in which age groups been vaccinated its been very unfair on the 40_50 age group.

@blueangel19

I had my vaccine today in London. Most of the people in the four blocks line look they were about 30. I asked two of them and they were 29 and 28 and were invited. Was very surprised they were called as was expecting only 40 plus this week. It really depends. It looks like there are plenty of vaccines. Why to worry?

Not sure this is the norm across London boroughs as much as I wish it were