Coronavirus

[Dave2002]

Well, wadyano?

https://bylinetimes.com/2021/02/05/c...PLC5gD5qhXe1a0

Interesting, but one has to be careful. We may well be suspicious, but just because firms or someone who has significant involvement with a commercial company has made large donations to a party doesn't necessarily mean that choosing that company to fulfil a need isn't actually the best option. In some cases it might be - but the process needs to be scrutinised much more thoroughly and made fully transparent.

However ordering ship transport from a "company" which has no experience of ships, virtually no logistics, and doesn't even own or lease ships does seem to be pushing things way over the top.

I think there are similar examples in the Coronavirus rather than Brexit context.

[french frank]

What a dire situation in Tanzania. At least in North Korea when they deny there is a problem, you know they understand the situation and are taking all the necessary precautions for whatever the situation really is. Not so in Tanzania, apparently.

[Anastasius]

What a dire situation in Tanzania. At least in North Korea when they deny there is a problem, you know they understand the situation and are taking all the necessary precautions for whatever the situation really is. Not so in Tanzania, apparently.

You beat me to it. When I read this I was profoundly sad....still am. I can't begin to comprehend where they are coming from. Fundamental Christians ? How? Why? How can an entire country be duped like this ? Intelligence and a questioning mind is such a delicate (and rare) characteristic, I simply can't take this in, that it is so lacking.

[Frances_iom]

there was a brief item hidden away in the 10pm R4 news - Oxford + Astrazeneca reported that in a trial their vaccine was less efficient against the South African strain - seems to give some protection in that no serious hospital treatment but not the same protection as against the Wuhan strain

[Frances_iom]

...How? Why? How can an entire country be duped like this ? Intelligence and a questioning mind is such a delicate (and rare) characteristic, I simply can't take this in, that it is so lacking.

You are dealing with leaders who are still in their minds fighting against their one time colonial masters - my guess is that basic education is poor and the bright young have left the country - much easier to say no problem than to admit they need help - didn't we see similar attitudes to Aids etc in other parts of Africa.

[oddoneout]

This is a useful reminder that there is an awful lot of behind-the-scenes admin work involved in getting the jabs administered, and how that can slow things up.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/07/community-vaccinator-it-can-be-very-frustrating-but-we-feel-like-were-injecting-hope

[Anastasius]

This is a useful reminder that there is an awful lot of behind-the-scenes admin work involved in getting the jabs administered, and how that can slow things up.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...injecting-hope

Good link, thank you.

[oddoneout]

I have not been following the EU vaccine issue in any great detail, but had accepted the general view being put out from all sides that the UK's success in the matter could not have happened without Brexit. Yesterday though while following up something else I came across several comments to the effect that the UK could have taken the same path if it had remained in the EU, ie nothing to do with Brexit. This is one of several article I came across to that effect. https://www.instituteforgovernment.o...cisions-brexit

[johnb]

The FT has a very interesting, informative and fairly comprehensive article on AstraZeneca and their vaccine, the somewhat haphazard trials and the problems with EU supplies. Well worth a read.

https://www.ft.com/content/d0fd6c4c-939a-43c7-a9b9-47c8d3cab253

[Dave2002]

The FT has a very interesting, informative and fairly comprehensive article on AstraZeneca and their vaccine, the somewhat haphazard trials and the problems with EU supplies. Well worth a read.

https://www.ft.com/content/d0fd6c4c-...9-47c8d3cab253

Seem to have hit a paywall there. I could try the four weeks trial I suppose.

[Petrushka]

I have not been following the EU vaccine issue in any great detail, but had accepted the general view being put out from all sides that the UK's success in the matter could not have happened without Brexit. Yesterday though while following up something else I came across several comments to the effect that the UK could have taken the same path if it had remained in the EU, ie nothing to do with Brexit. This is one of several article I came across to that effect. https://www.instituteforgovernment.o...cisions-brexit

As I understand it, there was nothing to stop any nation in the EU from sourcing their own vaccines because health is not a centralised matter within the EU. For instance, Hungary obtained the Russian Sputnik vaccine. The UK could have both gone it alone and stayed within the EU vaccine programme thus having its cake and eating it!

[Bryn]

Just received through the letterbox, an NHS letter inviting me to book my first COVID-19 vaccination. Hmm. I had that first vaccination 8 days ago, having been offered the relevant booking by text message. To be fair, the letter does have, at the bottom of the first page, "If you've had your first vaccination dose already, ignore this letter, the NHS will contact you when it's time for your second dose", except when I got the first dose I was given a date and time for the second and was specifically advised that I would receive no reminder.

[oddoneout]

Just received through the letterbox, an NHS letter inviting me to book my first COVID-19 vaccination. Hmm. I had that first vaccination 8 days ago, having been offered the relevant booking by text message. To be fair, the letter does have, at the bottom of the first page, "If you've had your first vaccination dose already, ignore this letter, the NHS will contact you when it's time for your second dose", except when I got the first dose I was given a date and time for the second and was specifically advised that I would receive no reminder.

There is often a mismatch with information sent by post, due to the inherent delays. Once the letters have been printed and fed into the delivery system they can't then be removed, and so can be at odds with what has already happened. Phone or electronic messages can obviously have a much shorter lead time and update turnaround. It's a bit like the note on bills saying "if you have paid within.... please ignore this reminder".

[Serial_Apologist]

There is often a mismatch with information sent by post, due to the inherent delays. Once the letters have been printed and fed into the delivery system they can't then be removed, and so can be at odds with what has already happened. Phone or electronic messages can obviously have a much shorter lead time and update turnaround. It's a bit like the note on bills saying "if you have paid within.... please ignore this reminder".

Let's hope Bryn's original booking for his second jab hasn't therefore been cancelled.

[Bryn]

Let's hope Bryn's original booking for his second jab hasn't therefore been cancelled.

No real fear of that. Though only delivered today, the letter was dated 30 Jan 2021, the day before the text message and actual first vaccination appointment. I do think a text message reminder a few days before the second vaccination appointment would be in order, though.That said, I have scheduled a reminder on this laptop.