Guilt Free Railing 13

[WouldBeGood]

Unlucky for some.. maybe lucky for us?

@KingsleyShacklebolt

So true. Sick to the back teeth of the petty game playing, wasting money for their "cause".

Anyway I'm off south of the Border tomorrow to enjoy a week of no masks and no making appointments to do everything, socially distanced.

Enjoy! It really does feel different south of Berwick at the moment. I can’t wait to go back!

"See also those that voted SNP in this year to ‘say thank you to Nicola for seeing us safely through the pandemic’ confused"

Ha! Because the zero COVID strategy worked out so well didn't it? I'm so glad we had all that extra pain so that we could prevent large infection peaks and leave restrictions behind sooner - oh, hang on....we've had the worse summer in the UK and we're still under the heaviest restrictions. Still, Tories, Boris etc.etc.

Interesting to see this morning that ZOE have confirmed the ideas floating on this forum a month or so ago, after John Campbell did a video on a similar study - vaccination after natural infection is much more robust with significantly less waning at 6 months.

"The Zoe Covid study found two doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca provided 71% protection against infection up to six months after vaccination.

But protection was increased to 90% among those who previously tested positive for the virus.

Meanwhile, two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech jab gave 80% protection up to six months after vaccination, which increased to 94% with a previous infection."

In his video this week he states that they don't have data on it, but logically if infection came afterwards it might have the same effect (he's more cautious on this point and doesn't recommend it as a 'strategy', although personally I think there's no hiding from infection forever so this is good news for the vaccinated). This could add up to a fairly significant benefit to countries who had already seen larger levels of infection before their vaccination programmes were complete, and could well explain why Scotland has seen things spiral more after lifting restrictions than England has. England levels remain stubbornly flat even after ditching mask mandates and all remaining restrictions, making contact testing voluntary, allowing mass gatherings and nightclubs without restriction, no vaccine passports, and after schools have been back for a month, against even the most optimistic projections. Could natural immunity be the missing variable not accounted for in the models?

Interesting @Y0uCann0tBeSer10us. Would this be relevant to decisions about vaccinating teens, does anyone think?

@WouldBeGood The ZOE data said (I think) that natural infection alone gave about 70% protection from reinfection, which is lower than in combination with vaccine but still a pretty decent level (similar to vaccine alone after 6 months I think). Since most children/teens are now thought to have had COVID (and they weren't particularly at risk to start with), personally I think it weakens the argument for a vaccine given the risks with that, as they'd derive even less benefit from vaccination. (The risks from vaccination are very low, but the risks from COVID, especially if you've had it already, are probably lower for this age group in general - obviously a different story for older people, and I chose to be vaccinated, or those with health conditions.)

I'm very opposed to coercion and to giving medical interventions without clear benefit to the individual, but obviously this is very controversial, quite political, and individual circumstances vary. It seems a lot of people have set on vaccinating as much as the population as possible, and I think this is what's driving the push to give younger teens the jag. The role of natural immunity has been largely ignored in policy making as far as I can tell (probably because it's harder to quantify), which might be why things are never quite as bleak as predicted. I would argue that ultimately immunity is the goal, and indeed inevitable given the virus is everywhere, however you come by it.

Ooo thanks @Y0uCann0tBeSer10us finally some good news for me from being so ill as I got my first jab about 7 weeks after I had covid!

Yes, you should be set for a while @Scottishskifun. How are you feeling now?

@Y0uCann0tBeSer10us

Yes, you should be set for a while *@Scottishskifun*. How are you feeling now?

I'm a lot better than I was, I'm now at the 6 months mark. I still get covid headaches in the morning but they are usually gone in an hour or so. Which is way better than all day and no daily fevers anymore!

I still pace through the day to reduce chances of overdoing it and having a relapse and my lung capacity is still significantly lower than it used to be but I don't know if this one will ever change.

I can look after DS on my own again though and take him to the playpark 😊 I'm a way off getting back to my hobbies but hopefully by next spring I will!

I'm still pretty pissed off that people are largely left to figure out how to try and get help themselves in Scotland and I worked out in 6 months I've spent nearly 2K on private therapies!

I'm glad you're doing better @Scottishskifun, and hope the progress continues. What you've been through is disgraceful though - I thought of your story every time 'long COVID' was trotted out as an excuse to not open this or that, when they were doing nothing to support sufferers!

@Y0uCann0tBeSer10us

I'm glad you're doing better *@Scottishskifun*, and hope the progress continues. What you've been through is disgraceful though - I thought of your story every time 'long COVID' was trotted out as an excuse to not open this or that, when they were doing nothing to support sufferers!

on Twitter this pm- Alex Cole Hamilton, Scottish Lib Dem leader asking our beloved FM about the support for long covid. 79,000 people suffering.

Thanks @Y0uCann0tBeSer10us.

I’m so unsure what to do about DS.

@WouldBeGood

Thanks *@Y0uCann0tBeSer10us*.

I’m so unsure what to do about DS.

It's such a tough call one I am glad I don't have to make about DS.

I did say to DH if we had to make the decision then I would sit and wait a bit to see a bit more data and also if they change it to 2 vaccines as the benefits to DS would be based around travel!

@WouldBeGood

Thanks *@Y0uCann0tBeSer10us*.

I’m so unsure what to do about DS.

I'm also glad I don't have to make the decision, but if I had a child that age (or if they extend it to over 5s) I don't think I'd consent as things stand. It just seems riskier than COVID to them, and we don't have any clinically vulnerable family nearby to worry about. Plus, quite honestly they've likely had it by now anyway which to me makes it kind of a moot point! Of course if COVID nonsense like vaccine passports etc. persists beyond next year I might eventually have to change my mind!

Yes.. thanks guys for putting up with my musings. I hope it all becomes clear soon.

Yes, good points @Y0uCann0tBeSer10us I agree.
I do think this time next year it will be similar to getting the flu spray and probably left up to the children to decide (as they can for flu spray currently). I don’t personally think- based on the outbreaks we’ve had here, children absolutely fine, vaccinated parents suffering though- any young child/early teens really needs it for their own health, nor does it stop them spreading it whether they have it or not, so kind of, what’s the point? I’d rather my child’s immune system was not tinkered with unnecessarily. But I don’t have the decision to make, thankfully. Overall, I hope we don’t spend time judging families on their decisions either way. Hope it all works out ok whatever you both decide @WouldBeGood

I'm railing at Patrick Harvie energy bill.... 🙄

Yes we all need an energy transition but with zero detail (why am I not surprised!) of how it's to be paid for it looks like home owners will be footing the bill or a large amount of it! Air source heating systems start at 10k......... Ground source needs a very deep hole and again upwards from 8k as usually the whole house needs retrofitting to the system!

Why they don't concentrate on making it easier to obtain funding for insulation first is beyond me! DH and I tried a few years ago (live in a drafty cottage!) but at £150 just for the bloody survey to then find we had to go through a handful of companies who were charging double and money then being set against the cost of our home it was way too complex and actually cost us more!

We did improve the insulation at a fraction of what the SG scheme wanted to charge us!

Yes @Scottishskifun, didn't the parliament in NI fall over because of problems/fraud/negligence over homes insulation grants?

I started a thread last night about this as I have the same concerns over costs. New radiators, new boilers, all for a lukewarm shower and inadequately heated home. If your home is not sufficiently insulated then the new boilers will just not be enough. If you live in a period home you can't insulate easily either.

In the proposal there is talk about help for the most vulnerable. So that's something .....

Yep they did!

Most vulnerable will be elderly and those on very low incomes but there are plenty (myself included) who just won't have that kind of spare cash for all the works sat about!

Our cottage was built around 1850, we renovated so we're able to put internal wall insulation in but it was tricky and involved checks as the houses are designed to breathe and if you stop the airflow fully then you can cause other problems elsewhere with condensation and damp!

It also baffles me to what they will do with victoriana tenements for instance....
Think I will stick my middle finger up on this one to the SG as long as physically possible and tell them to get to feck!

I have just done my shopping in a large Tesco in Yorkshire WITHOUT A MASK and it was wonderful.

I'd say around 40% of the customers were masked. Around 3% of staff.

My DSis recently moved into a new build flat that has a central boiler for the block and they just access that for that for their heating etc (individually metered) they also have wifi for the block too and the cost of maintenance etc is built into the rent or presumable paid for in a cost for those who have purchased. I think doing things when houses are built or you are replacing your boiler anyway are fair enough but I'm sick of things being imposed and of personal choice being removed. Patrick Harvey really is the biggest lying numpty outside the SNP. He even lied about cycling down a one way street but surprisingly had to shut his gob when faced with video evidence of his lying.

They really don't have any any moral compass.

I am not railing but crying with happiness.

The sheer relief and loveliness of being in London with no masks, and normality is just amazing. Thanks railers for recommending

Fabulous @WouldBeGood enjoy 🥂

@WouldBeGood

I am not railing but crying with happiness.

The sheer relief and loveliness of being in London with no masks, and normality is just amazing. Thanks railers for recommending

It really is, you can literally forget how it feels in Scotland. Note, those with masks are on trains and tubes, nobody hassling each other, respectfully wearing or not wearing. Personal choice. It’s going into cafes, restaurants and theatre which felt wonderful- especially for the businesses to have queues at door to get in. Our amazing hospitality sector should be feeling this buzz, but no, still checking in and wearing masks to walk to tables. Sigh. Enjoy your break- (you’ll feel your mood instantly drop on return home, so enjoy whilst you can!).

@KingsleyShacklebolt

I have just done my shopping in a large Tesco in Yorkshire WITHOUT A MASK and it was wonderful.

I'd say around 40% of the customers were masked. Around 3% of staff.

It’s the choice that I really respected. I didn’t see anyone hassling those with or without masks. Plenty of staff without, which is great they have the choice too. Really difficult coming back, I tried going into local Sainsbury’s here without, but just feel the pressure/stares/read the room feeling and popped it on again, same with the shops, I’d been able to browse with ease week before, but yet locally still trying to hear at the till behind two screens and a mask. Only coffee shops I’ve gone in without mask for takeaway (why would I wear a mask surrounded by those at tables without? Why would I sit in when asked to check in?) and tend to find most people, including staff, without a mask.

@WouldBeGood oh god that sounds amazing! I'm going to the Lake District next week for the school holidays and considered still wearing my mask in shops. Bugger that! A week of normality sounds much more appealing.