Coronavirus

[Bryn]

Has anyone mentioned the huge 'anti-vaxx' movement in France?

https://www.wired.co.uk/article/france-covid-antivaxx-coronavirus

Our French friends tell us it is very real...and can't understand why. Quite scary.

Very strange for a nation who's iconic malady is held to be hypochondria.

[Anastasius]

Has anyone mentioned the huge 'anti-vaxx' movement in France?

https://www.wired.co.uk/article/france-covid-antivaxx-coronavirus

Our French friends tell us it is very real...and can't understand why. Quite scary.

Simple to sort out. "There's the wall. Now did you want a blindfold?" You can't reason with some people.

[Anastasius]

The government response was that it was 'highly unlikely' but the two possibilities were that there was no record of which one you'd had the first time ("couldn't happen", I was told and I was given my mRNA card as everyone else I know has been; and it was independently recorded by them). The other possibility mentioned was that there was none of the original available, but that was dismissed as a possibility too, so I don't know why the government was trying to cover its back. Caution born of ignorance, I dare say.

Since some people given their first jab were not told (or if they were, didn't listen) that it takes time to become effective, they can still pick up and transmit Covid, are you not surprised.

[Anastasius]

Prior to the authorisation, rollout and delivery of the vaccine, I was firmly in the camp - as I have been for decades, of firm opponents of the party of which this government is the latest (and generally, debased) manifestation.

However, I'm coming to think its possible critical without any exception. The support for research, authorisation, production and delivery of the vaccine is nothing short of miraculous as far as I'm concerned. And of course only a part of that is to the credit of the government. They are relying on public servants (much despised, generally, not least by their masters) - business, medics and many, many volunteers.

If I was directing the despatch of vaccine around the UK when nothing can be perfect, and in all respects its a dynamic situation, I would be thinking - " great Yorkshire has forged ahead in its priority population (must find out how they did it). Do I allow other parts of the UK to fall even further behind, or shall I send first doses to the areas that need to catch up...."

I don't think that's equivalent to deciding to disadvantage Yorkshire.

Oi! And Northumberland, marra.

[Bryn]

Oi! And Northumberland, marra.

Stick that in your pipes and . . .

[Bryn]

Looks like the Commission is back-tracking fast.

[Bryn]

https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/news/cronyism-adviser-behind-botched-250m-mask-order-hides-earnings/21/01/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=sfeu

[french frank]

Pretty galling for the EU, having put billions of euros into the development of the first vaccines, to be let down by Pfizer and AstraZeneca. And ironic that there had been - apparently - people in NI jumping up and down for government to invoke Art 16, and then they jumped up and down because the EU threatened to do so.

But with a shortage of vaccine in the EU, I can understand their reluctance to see EU-produced vaccine going into the UK when the UK stuck to their full 'contract entitlement'. What a mess.

[Frances_iom]

... I can understand their reluctance to see EU-produced vaccine going into the UK when the UK stuck to their full 'contract entitlement'. What a mess.

The Pfizer vaccine is EU produced and their problem is some hiatus whilst production is being ramped up - the Astrazeneca is UK produced tho early doses were put in vials in EU tho that has now moved to Wrexham - their problem appears to be teething problems with a new plant in EU following the delay in signing a contract.

[Bryn]

A great one-liner from Fauci "Viruses can't mutate unless they replicate", i.e. follow the rules and stop the replication. His case more fully stated here: https://thehill.com/policy/healthcar...a-wake-up-call

[Anastasius]

There's the rub. "Follow the rules" which are overly complex, keep on changing and it seems to me that the messages simply do not come across.

Our water treatment plant was serviced yesterday and at the end - 4m socially distanced and outside - both with masks - had a conversation with the engineer who lives locally. Actually once started, he 'talked at me' about numerous households (relatives and friends) where someone had tested positive. The one recurring theme across all households was that the person testing positive had to self-isolate but that other members of the household could still venture out.

Now I thought that all members of the household had to isolate and can find no reference to the contrary. Maybe I'm wrong. See what I mean about confusion ? Maybe I'm right. See what I mean about not getting the message across ?

[LHC]

Pretty galling for the EU, having put billions of euros into the development of the first vaccines, to be let down by Pfizer and AstraZeneca. And ironic that there had been - apparently - people in NI jumping up and down for government to invoke Art 16, and then they jumped up and down because the EU threatened to do so.

But with a shortage of vaccine in the EU, I can understand their reluctance to see EU-produced vaccine going into the UK when the UK stuck to their full 'contract entitlement'. What a mess.

The EU’s claims about funding vaccines are rather disingenuous. All of the western countries have invested in vaccine development, and per capita it has invested much less than the UK and US on vaccine develoment, and it’s funding for the AZ vaccine is essentially a down payment on the vaccines to be supplied.

According to this FT article, in total, the UK and US have each spent about seven times more upfront, per capita, on vaccine development, procurement and production than the European bloc, according to data gathered by Airfinity, a London-based life sciences analytics company.

https://www.ft.com/content/c9bbc753-97fb-493a-bbb6-dd97a7c4b807

The UK has also pledged to give £571 million ($727 million) to the COVAX alliance to fund access to vaccines for poorer countries, while the EU has pledged $500 million

[Frances_iom]

Now I thought that all members of the household had to isolate and can find no reference to the contrary. Maybe I'm wrong. See what I mean about confusion ? Maybe I'm right. See what I mean about not getting the message across ?

It used to be the case that it was assumed self isolation within a household was possible (presumably law passed by middle class MPs with 2 bathroom houses etc) as there was comment to use separate towels + clean bathroom after use etc - the IoM also used this UK rule until of course the virus escaped into the community via another member of household - then changed law to all household must isolate and as in a small community easy to check and with courts very willing to impose 6 week jail sentences if law broken - returning students at xmas had to self isolate in holiday accommodation.

It is obvious that the UK cannot police self isolation hence a major contributor to the spread of the virus

[french frank]

The EU’s claims about funding vaccines are rather disingenuous. All of the western countries have invested in vaccine development, and per capita it has invested much less than the UK and US on vaccine develoment, and it’s funding for the AZ vaccine is essentially a down payment on the vaccines to be supplied.

Accepting your figures as correct, I'm not sure that per capita calculations are entirely justified, particularly, as in this case, the EU is neither a single sovereign state (like the UK) nor a tight federation like the US when it comes to funding projects. I assume that EU countries have also, individually, funded research?

I'm glad the EU has backed off - promptly, be it said - I merely said the situation must have been 'galling': they were the ones left in the lurch by both big producers.

[Bryn]

Had the UK still been a member, it might have acted as a steadying hand on the EU tiller. I stress MIGHT.