PM to give 8pm address tonight (Sunday), no new restrictions expected

[bagofconkers]

"As pressure from virus rises, PM will give national address at 8pm tonight, updating the booster programme - sounds like this will NOT include new restrictions"

twitter.com/bbclaurak/status/1470076029926522884

It feels panicked ; maybe this was done deliberately so people will ... err .. panic?
They do consult ' behaviour therapists ' to come up with strategies to make people do things they wouldn't normally do.
Maybe this one is to say ' emergency'
Get the boosters etc , repeating these mantras ? Getting armies of people in . So a war apology there ?
It's just my musings here but the whole narrative has changed the last few days.

@the80sweregreat

It feels panicked ; maybe this was done deliberately so people will ... err .. panic? They do consult ' behaviour therapists ' to come up with strategies to make people do things they wouldn't normally do. Maybe this one is to say ' emergency' Get the boosters etc , repeating these mantras ? Getting armies of people in . So a war apology there ? It's just my musings here but the whole narrative has changed the last few days.

I think it’s because we will be seeing very high numbers

And the booster is the best bet rather than old use of lockdown etc

Anything but lockdown !. Can live with that
Yep, I'll get a jab and grin and bear it.
Just hope it all works

To be fair the government are working on incomplete information and if they do nothing now they will be criticised for that. It may turn out that this is a storm in a teacup and omicron is so much milder than delta that it isn’t really an issue. Or it’s possible that the two doses of vaccine which most people have had provided strong protection against serious illness. But they’re responding on the basis of a worst case scenario. I don’t want to go into lockdown based on the unproven worst case scenario predictions but speeding up the booster program based on it seems fine.

And they probably won’t jab 18m people by the end of the month but if they do half that and the boosters are what makes the difference between mild and serious disease we’re still in a much better position.

I really don't see how this is remotely possible. Everyone over 18 who wants it in the next 19 days? I just don't see it.

Micheal Gove chaired a Cobra meeting and he mentioned on tv that they had some difficult data or something like that ?
I can't remember the exact wording , but it sounded grim.

I think saying they will get it to everyone by the end of December is a bit of behavioural psychology. It’s a well known tactic in nudge theory - you send people letters saying something like “98% of people pay their taxes on time” and it nudges the other 2% to do it too. Here the idea is that you think everyone else is having their booster now so you should get yours.

It’s manipulative but in the scheme of government manipulation and scare-mongering pretty mild. And at least the booster is (for now) optional. Lockdown wouldn’t be.

I call bullshit.
Boris - Oh dear, they really won't leave me alone for the Xmas parties
Adviser - Let's tell everyone they can get their booster before Xmas?
Boris - Great idea - no one knows if Omicron is even a big issue but it should create enough panic and a promise of help to distract from me nicely - go on, I'll look like their saviour - fuck the NHS staff who are on their knees - and if they complain I'll call them selfish and ungrateful!
Adviser - great - I'll set up a press conference
Boris - NO, don't do that - I'll need to pre-record so no one can ask me any questions about the parties or why this is even necessary!!!

46 million people have had two doses, and 23 million have had their booster, just in England it’s 39 million with two doses, 19 million with booster (from gov website today). So they’re aiming to get everyone who has had a second dose vaccinated with a booster by the end of the year?

That’s 20 million booster jabs in the next 19 days? The day where we had the highest number of vaccines given was back in March and was 844,000, and the highest number given in any 7 day period was 4,200,000 (also from gov website).

With time and planning you could get to a 19 day period where you can do lots more doses, but at the last minute, is the large and sustained increase from the previous best day/week feasible - particularly when those 19 days includes the Christmas period?
And I think more importantly, does Johnson really think it’s achievable, or is he just saying it to sound impressive now. Why not give a more realistic target - of course still aim to increase doses if that’s what you need, but if you’re just throwing around dates then they’re worthless.

@Tistheseason17

I call bullshit. Boris - Oh dear, they really won't leave me alone for the Xmas parties Adviser - Let's tell everyone they can get their booster before Xmas? Boris - Great idea - no one knows if Omicron is even a big issue but it should create enough panic and a promise of help to distract from me nicely - go on, I'll look like their saviour - fuck the NHS staff who are on their knees - and if they complain I'll call them selfish and ungrateful! Adviser - great - I'll set up a press conference Boris - NO, don't do that - I'll need to pre-record so no one can ask me any questions about the parties or why this is even necessary!!!

Really?

If you listen to epidemiologists they are very straight on why a booster is needed atm and pretty fast.

I think saying they will get it to everyone by the end of December is a bit of behavioural psychology. It’s a well known tactic in nudge theory - you send people letters saying something like “98% of people pay their taxes on time” and it nudges the other 2% to do it too. Here the idea is that you think everyone else is having their booster now so you should get yours.

Is the big issue with getting boosters in to people that they don’t want them though? Or is it capacity? Does anyone know? Because you can make people want them all you like, it’s not that helpful if there’s no capacity to jab 20 million people in the next 19 days.

Noone is really talking about the impact of very large numbers of mild cases. We've just had covid in our household, I'm double jabbed and DH is double and boosted. I've had a week and a half off work due to a combination of me being too ill to work, kids off school, and DH too ill to cover childcare.

Imagine if a large proportion of the country all have that happen to them at the same time. Even without serious illness, the impact on hospitals, food delivery, social care, schools etc will be massive.

@MarshaBradyo
Yes - really.

However, while the omicron variant is thought to be more transmissible than the delta variant, currently still the dominant strain in the UK, the truth is that more “real-world” data is still needed before the extent of the threat it poses can be determined

Results from preliminary studies by the German Centre for Infection Research found that there were significant reductions in antibody potency for the Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna and Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines when they came up against omicron.

However, two doses of any of those vaccines should offer some protection from severe disease according to the WHO, which has said that “current vaccines remain effective against severe disease and death”.

Source - Independent/WHO

[quote Tistheseason17]@MarshaBradyo
Yes - really.

However, while the omicron variant is thought to be more transmissible than the delta variant, currently still the dominant strain in the UK, the truth is that more “real-world” data is still needed before the extent of the threat it poses can be determined

Results from preliminary studies by the German Centre for Infection Research found that there were significant reductions in antibody potency for the Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna and Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines when they came up against omicron.

However, two doses of any of those vaccines should offer some protection from severe disease according to the WHO, which has said that “current vaccines remain effective against severe disease and death”.

Source - Independent/WHO[/quote]
Well listening to an epidemiologist tonight he was very clear and easy to get on why the booster was necessary

I’ve heard it a few times from various sources

I don’t see the point in not believing their expertise and don’t get why people are so reluctant tbh

It’s a booster - far easier than a lockdown

@MarshaBradyo

Of course, get a booster (don't think I ever said don't get a booster??!)- just don't set an unrealistic 1M doses per day target to distract from the 2020 Xmas parties that happened whilst people were dying.

Pretty sure WHO has good experts to listen to as well. In fact another expert stated the reduced symptoms of the omicron strain could indicate the start of the end of the pandemic - I'd like this to be the truth.

And when you cannot get a GP appointment for the next 3 months - this is why and please do not moan about it.

In fact another expert stated the reduced symptoms of the omicron strain could indicate the start of the end of the pandemic - I'd like this to be the truth.

Me too. Very much so.

But I don’t think it’s confirmed yet that it’s the case

And also if it is mild we still will get a big wave - and increased hospitalisation, so the booster will help avoid harsh restrictions. Which I really do care about too

@MarshaBradyo

Looks like we agree!

I'm quite hopeful that omicron is a break through but for us at this time its easy to see why it can be a disaster re over whelming the NHS.. Our winter is the worse time.

Does anyone know What percentage of adult population is completely unvaccinated and also only single dose?

@Thewiseoneincognito

Does anyone know What percentage of adult population is completely unvaccinated and also only single dose?

www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/articles/coronaviruscovid19latestinsights/vaccines

www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-55274833.amp

These links both give a range of stats for vaccinations.

@Thewiseoneincognito Why?

@Thewiseoneincognito

It's about 10% unvaccinated and a further 8% single dose - but the stats are now based on over 12s rather than over 18s

coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/vaccinations

If you fancy some calculations, the NHS data has vaccines by age group so you'd be able to get to over 18 only data
www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/covid-19-vaccinations/

We need the Boosters (for Delta as well) no doubt but the timing is about keeping #partygate off the front pages, source? The Daily Mails Deputy Political Editor.

This could have been announced in Parliament tomorrow.

I repeat, latest from WHO and EMA is that Omicron appears to be mild, hence no one else is doing what the UK is, Europe is having a surge of Delta.

[quote Mistletoeandwhineing]@Thewiseoneincognito Why?[/quote]
As we know the high transmissibility of Omicron means more or less everyone is likely to come into contact with it sooner rather than later. There’s a few million unvaccinated adults (by choice or can not have on medical grounds) and that could become an issue considering this massive push to get extra protection from boosters for everyone else.

I’m not sure what to think right now, Israel have closed their borders to us and Denmark due to rising Omicron cases, BJ addressing the nation to get boosted, something seems off when you contrast the Mild messaging with the actions.

Its a pity he did not announce real restrictions for the unvaccinated.