Sadiq Khan wants to limit indoor mixing but why is he not addressing the low vaccine rates in London instead?

[Jobconfused]

In some areas of London the vaccine update is so low (think less than 60% of first dose and less than 20% booster), and significantly below the national average. Why is Kahn not addressing this and asking for further restrictions instead? He had the whole of 2021 to work on increasing the uptake amongst the London communities and now he is declaring a state of emergency. I don’t get it. What am I missing

I see no evidence that the encouragement works, that's all, that's why I'm saying that talk is cheap.

How the fuck do I suggest it happens? I'm not Mayor, so now is paying me to do it. Maybe he should the fuck get on with it, to borrow your expression.

no one is paying me

London was also hit really hard on the first wave. A lot of the young people probably assumed they’d had it already, and were also at low risk of problems so probably didn’t prioritise getting jabbed earlier in the year. And a lot of people work really long hours so would find it hard to book an appointment or aren’t registered with a GP. I was in Central London last week and saw really long queues at the walk in centres, but it’s only fairly recently that younger people have been able to book in.

I’m probably wrong, but from speaking to my parents’ friends in their 70s, they were getting vaccinated to prevent illness in themselves, not for the greater good. So I can understand that younger people may not bother, following the same logic.

It’s definitely not Sadie Khan’s fault.

For those saying they can't get dates until the new year, it might be worth looking again.

On whatever day it was last week when the central booking site opened up for over 18s I went in to try and book boosters for my daughters who are in their early 20s (with their permission obviously). There was nothing in the local area and the nearest I could find was about 16 miles away on 10 January.

I kept trying every couple of hours and found various other options that I decided against (including one on Christmas Eve). The website is updated constantly and on the third day I found something slightly further away but with availability for tomorrow so I booked them on.

I think that after another ruined Christmas ("lock down the unvaccinated!!") will be received quite well

By those who have had the jabs, very possibly ... but since minorities were mentioned I was asking about the reaction from those who haven't

Well, it seems that either everybody will be locked up, or just the unvaccinated will be locked up so the unvaccinated will be locked up one way or the other, minority or not. Is it fair for the vaccinated to be locked up because someone can't be arsed to have the jab?

If an unvaccinated person, minority or not aren't happy with it, then that's easily remedied. Get the vaccine.

We’re chasing moving targets all the time. We won’t get to zero covid and need to live with this now. This is a mild variant and so far seems manageable. It’s time to prioritise getting back to a life in which we can all thrive in.

@Charles11

We’re chasing moving targets all the time. We won’t get to zero covid and need to live with this now. This is a mild variant and so far seems manageable. It’s time to prioritise getting back to a life in which we can all thrive in.

Have you spoken to anyone working in the nhs at the moment? So many staff off ill with covid at the moment that rotas are stretched to the limit. Schools won’t have enough staff to open normally.

Pretending covid doesn’t affect anything if you don’t let it is just delusional. Getting back to a normal life means dealing with covid as a real problem.

@PurpleDaisies yes I do know people who work in the nhs. I work with vulnerable kids myself so I’m aware of what’s going on schools.
Perhaps we could start with looking at the self isolation period as that is causing a lot of issues at the moment. Thankfully, most people are recovering very quickly.

@ChardonnaysPetDragon

Well, it seems that either everybody will be locked up, or just the unvaccinated will be locked up so the unvaccinated will be locked up one way or the other, minority or not. Is it fair for the vaccinated to be locked up because someone can't be arsed to have the jab?

If an unvaccinated person, minority or not aren't happy with it, then that's easily remedied. Get the vaccine.

Well one thing is fairly simple.

We currently only have an extremely limited supply of the anti virals and the monoclonal antibodies. Nowhere near enough to treat all who might need it. It's only fair that we prioritise the vaccinated for these drugs.

Well I think the point of the vaccines is that people have a lower risk of being seriously ill - so they will be less likely to need the antivirals.

@LovelyLovelyWarmCoffee

We should do like the European countries and have covid passes. Not vaccinated = no access to restaurants, long distance trains, non essential shops, leisure centers, etc. I bet a good number would change their mind and get vaccinated.

Yes you're absolutely right.

France has long been one of the most vaccine refusing countries in the world.

Vaccine passes soon changed that. Bookings for the Covid vaccine shot up after Macron brought passes in.

Khan hasn't got the power to do that though. It's up to the national government.

@bumbleymummy

Well I think the point of the vaccines is that people have a lower risk of being seriously ill - so they will be less likely to need the antivirals.

Low doesn't mean no. And you're perfectly aware that vaccines, whilst still a very helpful extra layer of protection, aren't as effective for the more vulnerable.

Omicron is moving so quickly and the vaccine takes two weeks to fully kick in. The first vaccine off the three looks to have a negative effect on immunity in the first two weeks, so when a virus is in high circulation may not be the best time for a vaccine drive, especially for first doses.

As per a previous thread there's are five different drivers producing the low reported vaccination rates in London.

A) wealthy overseas-based second home owners. Significant driver of numbers in wealthier areas - eg Westminster. Effect on vaccination rates purely illusory because the people registered aren't actually living in London
B) mobile young adults shifting home to other areas in London/UK/overseas but not changing GP address. Effect on vaccination rates purely illusory.
C) Younger population in London than elsewhere. Effect on vax rate is real but not a specific cause for concern.
D) more international population may have been vaccinated elsewhere in last year - maybe not a big effect but I know a couple of people in that situation. Effect is illusory.
E) socially deprived population and population from certain minority groups, especially African and Caribbean heritages, are not taking up vaccine for a variety of reasons. Real effect, real problem, being addressed by social health workers (eg well-attended drop in sessions at my local mosque) but not something you can snap your fingers and solve by fiat.

Also, F) Covid recovered and are confident that it’s not a serious illness for them.
And G) Vaccinated with 1 or 2 vaccines then covid recovered and decided against boosters.

Your A, B, C, and D are irrelevant. They are a small proportion of London - out of 9 million inhabitants. The majority of Londoners are permanent, full-time, and have either just one home or (increasingly) no home.

Very obviously absent part-time residents aren't relevant to the current very high level of infections, hospitalisations, and staff sickness in London.

Younger population in London than elsewhere. Effect on vax rate is real but not a specific cause for concern.

Proportionally young when there's 9 million people. There are still more elderly in London than anywhere else in the UK. More than a million. And London's lower take up rate goes across all age groups.

The wealthy overseas based second home owners are irrelevant to the current situation of high number of cases and hospitalisations in London. They're a small percentage of the 9 million inhabitants.

And very obviously younger unvaccinated are a cause for concern. Widespread staff sickness aside, there's the risk they pose to London's million+ elderly, and the further several million CV in London.

Also, F) Covid recovered and are mistakenly confident that it’s not a serious illness for them.

Experts are warning that omicron can reinfect people who've had previous Covid infections.

They remain at risk. Including from Long Covid.

@Tealightsandd

Also, F) Covid recovered and are mistakenly confident that it’s not a serious illness for them.

Experts are warning that omicron can reinfect people who've had previous Covid infections.

They remain at risk. Including from Long Covid.

The risk is very small as omicron is a mild illness for many people. Elderly and those with underlying issues are at possible greater risk.

The risk is very small as omicron is a mild illness for many people

That's very good news. Last I saw (earlier today) the experts worldwide were saying it's too early to know.

Elderly and those with underlying issues are at possible greater risk.

Millions in London alone.

@Tealightsandd

Also, F) Covid recovered and are mistakenly confident that it’s not a serious illness for them.

Experts are warning that omicron can reinfect people who've had previous Covid infections.

They remain at risk. Including from Long Covid.

Evidence that reinfections are more serious with omicron and result in long covid? Please and thank you.

But of course the possibility of Long Covid disability means that actually everybody is at risk.

Erm Bumbley it's too early to know yet.

For now it's a Russian Roulette.