Four nation Cobra meeting expected today

[jimmyhill]

From @bbclaurak...

"Govt source expects Cobra meeting this afternoon with the devolved administrations - Scottish, Welsh and NI govts"

@Delatron

I agree *@MorrisZapp*

We need to start thinking more long term than these constant knee jerk reactions. What is our long term plan here?

I know it’s not a mild illness for many but I currently have Covid and I’ve had worse colds.

I completely understand that everyone getting it at once would not be a good idea. But it may happen, by consequence that if enough of us get Omicron this will help build immunity so the next variant (and there will be one) will be less disruptive. Throw in three vaccinations for many and immunity will really build.

I firmly believe locking us all down and artificially suppressing this wave is not a good idea. Keep boosting and allow it to circulate.

I know that’s controversial but we cannot get stuck in this endless cycle of restrictions forever.

I agree.

5.00pm PC tonight

Parliament winter recess tomorrow

As a long term strategy the NHS should be reaping all the £££ being made from travel tests - biggest opportunity missed. A small private test in South London. Is making £20k a day for example!!!

@Delatron I think the JCVI have previously said they hope to make a decision on vaccines for 5-11 year olds this side of Christmas. I do actually think they are part of the bigger picture because the case numbers in this age group have been really high in recent weeks and schools have been decimated.

I agree we can't have an endless cycle of lockdowns but I do think we probably need more restrictions to try to stem the wave that seems to be building. I would much rather the government acted now than having to close schools in January, which I really, really don't want.

I do think they need to move faster with their decisions @dollywoodlooksgood

Would have liked my 12 year old DS to have been vaccinated over the summer.

Do we think take up will be high in this younger group? My kids are a bit older. And one just had asymptomatic Covid. Anyway, yes that will help!

I’m not sure about jetting everyone get it at once but I certainly agree that we need a long term strategy. They should have been working on this for the last year, we can’t just keep lurching from one crisis to the next.

We cannot have a long term plan off fitting society into the health service , we have to build a health service to fit society and sadly that is a society with covid.

I think the long term strategy needs to accept we’ll have a new variant every year. It’s a bit like ‘oh shit there’s a new variant and shock horror the NHS is about the be overwhelmed’. Did we not see this coming?

I disagree with Delatron.

I've listened to many different experts , scientists and politicians on the radio and on the tv since feb/ March 2020 and I don't recall any of them saying that a new variant may evade the vaccines or spread as quickly as this new one has now. I'm not a covid denier and had the jabs, but I still can't help feeling a bit duped.
I know people will come on and say ' ahh, but they did ' and I missed it, but other people have said the same to me too.
Is this it now ? More variants every year and everyone thinking we can just lock down ?
I supported the first few lockdowns and tiers and mask wearing and all the rest of it , but if it's going to be a long term thing I can't help feeling a bit depressed about it and agree we need a better way out of it. Not sure what though !

[quote dollywoodlooksgood]@Delatron I think the JCVI have previously said they hope to make a decision on vaccines for 5-11 year olds this side of Christmas. I do actually think they are part of the bigger picture because the case numbers in this age group have been really high in recent weeks and schools have been decimated.

I agree we can't have an endless cycle of lockdowns but I do think we probably need more restrictions to try to stem the wave that seems to be building. I would much rather the government acted now than having to close schools in January, which I really, really don't want.[/quote]
How is giving a 5 year a covid vaccine stop them from getting covid when adults who have had 3 lots of covid jabs are still getting covid?

A Cobra meeting? A meeting of snakes. Sounds about right.

@Porfre absolutely.

@Delatron

I think the long term strategy needs to accept we’ll have a new variant every year. It’s a bit like ‘oh shit there’s a new variant and shock horror the NHS is about the be overwhelmed’. Did we not see this coming?

We will have one or two new variants every year.

But the NHS will still be overwhelmed every winter like it has been for years before covid arrived. It's just the new excuse.

Now instead of winter pressures it's all blamed on Covid.
Until they actually sort out the NHS, it isn't going to improve.

Borris is holding a Press conference at 5.

@the80sweregreat I can sort of understand what you're saying but don't really think you can say you've been 'duped' because it's just a virus doing what viruses do. Nobody could have predicted it.

I think the uptake in vaccines for younger children might be lower if/when they are approved. People will probably ask what the point of them are when lots of kids have had covid, when covid is mild/asymptomatic for lots of children and when they'll probably just get 2 jabs when we're now being told we need 3. HOWEVER, personally speaking, I would want my almost 9 yo to get vaccinated (and she has had covid - it was asymptomatic). I feel like vaccinating children is probably part of the bigger picture to stop the spread in the longer term. I would like to think that eventually there will be vaccines that provide more general coverage for variants but who knows?!

More waffle no doubt , unless he is resigning ?
Which I doubt

Agree @Porfre

Well the reason it's able to affect uk more is obviously our complete lack of mitigations
And yes of course children are a huge part. 10m+. No masks rooms of 30+. It needed to be 12-16 over the summer. Then 5+ now...
Instead rather ridiculously those vax are going to some people after 3m soon. Now if that were the AZ tha would be in line with other countries. Instead its the 3m people because nothing more can be done.
Jvci should hang heads in shame!!

If this turns into another 8w of school missed by some kids its on them and the gov (who are anti masks). Potentially gov shouldnt be allowed to shut school to vaccinated kids or ones wearing masks because they are not the bulk of the issue. Not to mention this is now 2y the kids have hardly seen grandparents and not at christmas.

Duped is the wrong word I suppose , but I feel that the public wasn't told the full story?
.. it's all been drip fed.
I think it'll be a low take up with smaller children, it's not been great amongst teens I believe ?

@orinocono

Never been more glad that I’m moving out of the U.K. early next year to be honest! What a shit show response.

Lucky you! I still have a bit longer but yes on my way out.

I’m sure I just heard only 40something% of 12-18 year olds are vaccinated. That’s really shocked me.
They need to get that figure up

It doesn't really matter whether they impose more restrictions, does it? I mean, after the farce with the Christmas parties at Westminster last year, are we really going to follow what that twerp recommends?

Mr Do As I Say, Don't Do As I Do?

I agree with @Delatron.

Boost and live. We have to.

One of the key issues that we have is that everything in politics is now reduced to its binary form - should we leave the EU or not? Should we lockdown or not? Do we want the NHS overwhelmed or not? There's no immediate benefit to a party's popularity in showing that their approach is complex, multi-faceted and long term. Short termism is what gets the headlines and the votes.

So instead of investing in the NHS, creating sensible leadership structures to guide the country both in times of crisis and on an ongoing basis, we have what we have now. Makes you wonder exactly how PPE is taught at Oxford and Cambridge.

For my part, though, having seen the awful effect on individuals of potentially critical hospital appointments and operations cancelled because of the high levels of Covid admissions I'm of the opinion that it needs to continue to be managed.

@Hairwizard

They can have all the cobra meetings they want. I dont give a flying fuck. Business as usual for us. Shower of cunts every last hoorin bastard one of them.

Very mature 🙄

I’m sure I just heard only 40something% of 12-18 year olds are vaccinated. That’s really shocked me.* They need to get that figure up*

I think many parents feel that the benefits of the MRNA vaccine for children is not outweighed by the benefits.