Coronavirus

[oddoneout]

I wouldn't hold your breath. My experience is that quite a lot of these general email addresses (like website contact forms) are rarely monitored. I'd go for Petrushka's response.

I, on the other hand, have the opposite problem. Because I took part in the COM-Cov2 trial, their IT systems cannot/not allowed to connect to NIMS (the main immunisation database and the one that drives the NHS App). So the system' believes that I have not yet had my second dose and I am being bombarded with texts and letters encouraging me to get my second dose. As a result, there is also the practical aspect of foreign travel. The COM-Cov2 trial team are sending letters confirming the second jab out to the GPs of those who took part and also a copy to the triallists but would you chance your luck at foreign travel producing this letter and having it accepted as proof of the second vaccination? I wouldn't risk it.

Any foreign travel is out of the question for me anyway but for another reason. The pre and/or post-Covid tests before travel. It is impossible to find out ahead of time what type of tests they are...nasal and throat or just nasal. Those where I have found the details are nasal and throat and so out of the question for me as I cannot do the throat swab nor will anyone do it for me. I could go and chance it but fear that I will end up like Tom Hanks and doomed to spend the rest of my life stranded at Preveza airport.

I entirely agree with Bryn re the presumed assumption that everyone has a smartphone or often more importantly a mobile signal. It's not just in the context of Covid but online purchases where especially the latter can make life impossible to function within the e-commerce world.

I also see that PHE has redefined 'highly'. PHE released the efficiency results of Pfizer and AZ re the Indian variant. Pfizer is 88% highly effective after two doses. AZ is a measly 60%. That is not IMO 'highly' effective. After doing a lot of research I came to the conclusion long ago that Pfizer was the vaccine of choice and determined to try and choose a vaccination location where I stood the best chance of getting it. I over-thought it and got AZ sadly for my first dose. Now, having taken part in the COM-Cov2 trial I have no idea where I might be in the spectrum. if I gt a second dose of AZ then I know that I have a measly 60% effectiveness rate (better than Covid, I accept). But mix'n'match.....where does that leave us ?

The surgery email address worked fine earlier this year, quick and intelligent response by a human (member of staff at the surgery) so I think it's worth trying again.
I read about the difficulties being faced by those participating in vaccine trials trying to establish/prove their vaccination status - not a good situation and, it strikes me, a poor reward for being public spirited.

[Serial_Apologist]

I too keep getting online messages "reminding " me to get my second jab, which I have had. Each time I wonder: has the dementia finally got me?

[Petrushka]

I too keep getting online messages "reminding " me to get my second jab, which I have had. Each time I wonder: has the dementia finally got me?

Online messages from whom? Your GP surgery? If you booked both doses via the text message link from your surgery it should already be on your records. My own surgery could not have been more efficient or the volunteers more helpful who were out in atrocious weather conditions on both occasions.

[Serial_Apologist]

Online messages from whom? Your GP surgery? If you booked both doses via the text message link from your surgery it should already be on your records. My own surgery could not have been more efficient or the volunteers more helpful who were out in atrocious weather conditions on both occasions.

Good questions: I deleted the messages, should have checked them first.

[Anastasius]

....
I read about the difficulties being faced by those participating in vaccine trials trying to establish/prove their vaccination status - not a good situation and, it strikes me, a poor reward for being public spirited.

Just read the Guardian article. It is pure Catch-22. I was on the Novavax trial I wasn't confident about the way my local trial centre were doing things ...minimal and/or inconsistent pre-trial screening, for example..minor procedural mistakes and so pulled out. I got unblinded and discovered I'd had the placebo. Certainly hadn't realised the implications re approval being mandatory to 'qualify' for the magic passport.

But here's the thing. Those of us on the COM-Cov2 trial must, by default, ALL be deemed as not having two approved jabs since Novavax was one of the vaccines being given. But we were blinded hence the blanket...not an 'approved' jab.

[oddoneout]

I have been trying to establish what the rules/options are for seeing and staying with family. I've made several attempts but can't get past what seems to be an anomaly. Perhaps someone can help - what am I missing?
If I go to visit my son and his family at their house I can only stay overnight with them - which means I can't visit as the journey time and limitations(public transport) make that unfeasible. However I can go on holiday with them and share accommodation. I don't see any logic or reason in that differentiation.

[LMcD]

I too keep getting online messages "reminding " me to get my second jab, which I have had. Each time I wonder: has the dementia finally got me?

I think you should be pleased that 'they' don't seem to know quite as much about you as they think or you fear!

[Serial_Apologist]

I think you should be pleased that 'they' don't seem to know quite as much about you as they think or you fear!

[Joseph K]

Had my second jab on thursday - no side effects again.

[Dave2002]

I have no great problem with needing proof of vaccination in some verifiable form but giving the powers that be relatively easy access to the data in everyone's powerful pocket computer/communicator is simply not on.

Probably I've been watching too many detective series - Line of Duty, Bosch etc. Get a bag of burner phones!

[vinteuil]

I have no great problem with needing proof of vaccination in some verifiable form but giving the powers that be relatively easy access to the data in everyone's powerful pocket computer/communicator is simply not on.

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... good news, I think.

If you need to prove your covid vaccination status (for overseas travel or otherwise) it looks as if the nhs has got its act together.

Today, the first day it went 'live', Mme v was able to download the nhs covid app on to her smartphone, and - wayhey! - there were details of the two inoculations she had received.

I don't have a smartphone - but rang 119. I provided them with my nhs number, and they say a letter confirming my vaccination status should reach me in five days.

I am impressed.
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... and today the official letter arrived - "Coronavirus vaccination confirmation - two doses received. This document is important. Keep it safe. It proves that you have been vaccinated ...(then details of doses &c) "

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[antongould]

... and today the official letter arrived - "Coronavirus vaccination confirmation - two doses received. This document is important. Keep it safe. It proves that you have been vaccinated ...(then details of doses &c) "

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The People’s Republic Of Cambois requires this vints ....:

[Anastasius]

... and today the official letter arrived - "Coronavirus vaccination confirmation - two doses received. This document is important. Keep it safe. It proves that you have been vaccinated ...(then details of doses &c) "

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Lucky you! I'm disenfranchised aka a sucker as I signed up to the Com-Cov2 trial. There's 10,000 of us stuffed.

[Anastasius]

And we're still stuffed. Just got this email from Pandemic research. Typical Government weasel-words that say absolutely SFA. Utter and total BS. It says absolutely nothing. There is no getting around the fact that we have been and continue to be disadvantaged. Madeira ? Nope. Cruise ? Nope.

Government statement on vaccine certification and clinical trial participation
Issued 28 May 2021

Clinical trials of Covid-19 vaccinations are critical for responding to COVID-19. They are a global public health good. Those who are taking part in them are creating great benefit for the rest of the world.

Being in a COVID-19 vaccine trial, in either active or placebo arm, should not disadvantage you, and the Government intend to take any action available to ensure that this is the case.

The Government will ensure that information on those in clinical trials vaccine is linked to mechanisms to demonstrate your vaccine status to ensure that anyone on a vaccine clinical trial can prove they are in a clinical trial and therefore should be treated as vaccinated.

The Government position is that a vaccine should not be a requirement for travel at this time. This is aligned to the current WHO approach to international travel. Discussions are ongoing with other countries, including through groups such as the G7, the EU Commission, and the WHO to shape the approach taken around the world to sharing health status for travel, including vaccination status. As a global public health good, the UK Government will make the case that anyone on a COVID-19 vaccine trial should be treated the same in terms of certification as someone who has received a deployed vaccine.

We appreciate that even for participants not currently planning to travel, qualifying for vaccine certification is important and we do not want any trial participants to be disadvantaged, nor to feel disadvantaged. Everyone is committed to getting this issue sorted out as quickly as possible and NIHR will provide a further update in the week beginning 7 June. The latest information including updated FAQs is available on the Be Part of Research website https://bepartofresearch.nihr.ac.uk/Vaccine-studies/Latest-vaccine-news/index

Last time I volunteer for a trial. I'll give them until the end of August to sort this. If they haven't then I'll go and get my second AZ dose and sod the trial.

[LMcD]

My wife has had 2 Pfizers and I've had 2 AZs. We've amended our wills and rigorously cross-examine each other every morning to ensure that neither of us is concealing, or unaware of, deadly side-effects. We're keeping MI5, and any other institution that might be interested in our fate, up to date and have promised to inform them immediately of any developments. You could cut the pre-breakfast tension with a knife.