Coronavirus - Part Two.

[catmiss]

The latest statement from Germany that the Astra Zeneca vaccine is not proven to be effective for over 65s, reported to be at odds with the imminent EU evaluation, seems to be another example of Baron99’s argument. 

[El Cid]

6 hours ago, catmiss said:

The latest statement from Germany that the Astra Zeneca vaccine is not proven to be effective for over 65s, reported to be at odds with the imminent EU evaluation, seems to be another example of Baron99’s argument. 

Germany dont have much supply of the Astra Zeneca vaccine, so its much easier for them to be critical.

[Westie1889]

The Guardian are saying the EU commission is preparing legislation to block vaccine exports - if true it will delay the UK vaccine program by 2 months to September and likely cause many deaths.

They are using the fact that the UK has banned the export of certain medicines to justify this.

A quick search shows half the EU nations did this themselves in the past 12 months, the EU also banned the export of medical equipment and PPE from May which was heavily criticised as it affected poorer countries greatly as Germany is a big producer.

 

I’m usually pretty ambivalent towards the EU, there are things I don’t like about it and there are things I do but this stinks of politicians failing to do their jobs properly then blaming others to save their own skins.

 

If this goes through it will cost British lives and why - because the EU commission failed to sign-up to the Oxford vaccine when they should. Whether that was due to overly- bureaucratic processes in agreeing doses and funding between member states or a political view that they didn’t want a ‘British’ vaccine we will probably never know.

 

I hope they don’t go through with this, my parents have been hiding away for 10 months and have had the first Pfizer jab - will they get the second one now?

Its especially galling as my Dad is not in the best of health and had moved closer to me in the hope we could spend what time he has left together. Covid has meant this has not been possible so far, this issue could further delay that and who knows what might happen in-between?

 

The EU are not covering themselves in glory here, either in terms of their capabilities or morals and if it comes to pass I think there will rightly be outrage and it will damage relations even further.

[Flanker7]

13 minutes ago, Westie1889 said:

I’m usually pretty ambivalent towards the EU, there are things I don’t like about it and there are things I do but this stinks of politicians failing to do their jobs properly then blaming others to save their own skins.

The situation spins both ways.

a) The EU -  Hide bound, bureaucratic, slow.

b) UK - Corner cutting, standard slipping, expedient.

 

I tend to believe :-

b) as we know them so well.

a) can be true also

 

But I suspect that there are similar Political clones in every country. Whilst many of us are able to see 'wood for the trees'and hear the dog whistles in the UK our knowelege of EU is less detailed. Heaven help us.

[Westie1889]

22 minutes ago, Flanker7 said:

The situation spins both ways.

a) The EU -  Hide bound, bureaucratic, slow.

b) UK - Corner cutting, standard slipping, expedient.

 

I tend to believe :-

b) as we know them so well.

a) can be true also

 

But I suspect that there are similar Political clones in every country. Whilst many of us are able to see 'wood for the trees'and hear the dog whistles in the UK our knowelege of EU is less detailed. Heaven help us.

I agree it’s politicians being politicians, and I’m not saying we are superior to them, just that they are just as bad despite many peoples protestations otherwise.

 

In terms of us corner cutting etc if you are referring to vaccine approval in the UK this myth has been debunked by all the leading scientists and does the people working on this issue a great disservice and also leads ultimately to a lack of take-up on the vaccine.

[hauxwell]

We are doing very well in the number of people we are vaccinating in this country and it appears the EU don’t like it.

Good news on another new vaccine which is on the way, Novavax, which is being made in Stockton-on-Tees.  Another vaccine the EU won’t be able to block.

Edited January 29, 2021 by hauxwell

[El Cid]

1 hour ago, Westie1889 said:

The Guardian are saying the EU commission is preparing legislation to block vaccine exports - if true it will delay the UK vaccine program by 2 months to September and likely cause many deaths.

They are using the fact that the UK has banned the export of certain medicines to justify this.

That is one reason why we left the EU, so Boris could play the nationalism card, he would do the same. I would be surprised if that happened tho.

[El Cid]

44 minutes ago, Westie1889 said:

In terms of us corner cutting etc if you are referring to vaccine approval in the UK this myth has been debunked by all the leading scientists and does the people working on this issue a great disservice and also leads ultimately to a lack of take-up on the vaccine.

Of course corners were cut, u can take that as a positive or negative. It resulted in the UK getting the vaccine first.

I hope their will be no bad outcomes from this corner cutting, except know how effective the vaccines are for older people. But if they have an effect of help antibodies develop in younger people, it will do the same for all age groups.

Medications should be tested more in general, male and female bodies are different, obese/tall people may need a bigger dose.

How can one dose be the same for a small female vs a large male?

[Westie1889]

6 minutes ago, El Cid said:

Of course corners were cut, u can take that as a positive or negative. It resulted in the UK getting the vaccine first.

I hope their will be no bad outcomes from this corner cutting, except know how effective the vaccines are for older people. But if they have an effect of help antibodies develop in younger people, it will do the same for all age groups.

Medications should be tested more in general, male and female bodies are different, obese/tall people may need a bigger dose.

How can one dose be the same for a small female vs a large male?

They didn’t cut corners, they stopped all approval work on other vaccines and tripled the manpower on the Oxford approval so it took only one third of the normal time to go through the data.

people need to read what the scientists say, it’s out there.

[Cyclecar]

Producing vaccines is not like stamping out washers, I am not a scientist but I gather that the vaccine has to be 'grown' in batches, etc.  So you cannot just crank up the presses.....

 

I do wonder if AZ have over promised,  and gladly accepted orders for many millions of doses which - now we are at the sharp end - they are struggling to deliver. Interesting to learn that the UK site/s are more productive than the German and Belgian ones - who'd have thought it.  And good news that the Novovax product should be in the shops by mid year. 

 

Oh, and the French are 'avin a wobble because their home grown vaccine has failed its trials. 

Edited January 29, 2021 by Cyclecar
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