So, coronavirus...

[Lobby]

Also as we don't manufacture or finish Pfizer what would be the point of the EU sending us 9m Pfizer and demanding 9m AZ in return. It's interesting the Pfizer contracts haven't been questioned once AFAICS

Well, that's never really been explained. But Pfizer themselves have pointed out to the EU that if the EU blocks exports to the UK then the UK's natural reaction might be to shit down component export to Pfizer. The thing about mRNA vaccines is that they;re close to being synthetic (predictable) production process rather than a biological (unpredictable) process, but for the moment at least they require complex supply chains involving many countries, unless you're the size of the US. Curevac mRNA when it comes online will be an mRNA completely manufactured in the UK AFAIK.

I think one of the reason for the EU’s demand for UK AZ vaccines is that AZ’s contract with the EU specifies that all vaccines will be manufactured in the EU, but includes provision for them to be supplied from elsewhere, including the UK, under certain circumstances. An additional complication is that, whereas AZ has to seek permission from the EU to supply from other countries, the UK is exempt from this provision, which could suggest that the UK is being treated as more equivalent to an EU based supplier. Hence, when AZ couldn’t meet expectations from its EU-based facilities, the EU demanded that it make up the shortfall from its UK facilities.

The UK doesn’t manufacture the Pfizer vaccine so they can’t really demand we supply these. When the EU first passed its laws restricting vaccine exports, there was an expectation that they might halt Pfizer vaccines as well, but Pfizer very quickly informed the German govt of the implications of doing this, and so Pfizer was quickly put off limits for these controls.

[Saint]

Also as we don't manufacture or finish Pfizer what would be the point of the EU sending us 9m Pfizer and demanding 9m AZ in return. It's interesting the Pfizer contracts haven't been questioned once AFAICS

Well, that's never really been explained. But Pfizer themselves have pointed out to the EU that if the EU blocks exports to the UK then the UK's natural reaction might be to shit down component export to Pfizer. The thing about mRNA vaccines is that they;re close to being synthetic (predictable) production process rather than a biological (unpredictable) process, but for the moment at least they require complex supply chains involving many countries, unless you're the size of the US. Curevac mRNA when it comes online will be an mRNA completely manufactured in the UK AFAIK.

I think one of the reason for the EU’s demand for UK AZ vaccines is that AZ’s contract with the EU specifies that all vaccines will be manufactured in the EU, but includes provision for them to be supplied from elsewhere, including the UK, under certain circumstances. An additional complication is that, whereas AZ has to seek permission from the EU to supply from other countries, the UK is exempt from this provision, which could suggest that the UK is being treated as more equivalent to an EU based supplier. Hence, when AZ couldn’t meet expectations from its EU-based facilities, the EU demanded that it make up the shortfall from its UK facilities.

The UK doesn’t manufacture the Pfizer vaccine so they can’t really demand we supply these. When the EU first passed its laws restricting vaccine exports, there was an expectation that they might halt Pfizer vaccines as well, but Pfizer very quickly informed the German govt of the implications of doing this, and so Pfizer was quickly put off limits for these controls.

The AZ contract specifies that the theoretical two UK sites can be part of the production channel for the EU, but doesn't say anything about % that will be supplied or that they are required to supply the EU. The (unpublished) UK contract apparently specifies that UK production is for the UK unless or until supply exceeds demand, or something close to that effect. It also may or may not contain language about the UK's expectations on AZ for plants in the EU to supply the UK. It's actually very interesting given just how many people must have knowledge of that contract that it hasn't really leaked from either side - at a guess there are probably more than 100 people who have at least some knowledge of what the UK/AZ contract says, and the usual rule of thumb is that 3 people is enough to guarantee a leak - there's been insinuations, but by now you would have expected an unredacted copy to have hit the web.

[Hal Jordan]

I see that the man tasked as Chief Investigator into whether the vaccines can be mixed is...Professor Snape.

If, when presenting his findings, he doesn't direct us to turn to page 394 I will be sorely disappointed.

[Saint]

Some interesting numbers...... ONS are reporting that approx 55% of all adults would test positive for antibodies as of end of March. This is almost certainly an undercount as the antibody test isn't massively sensitive, and obviously it doesn't cover T-Cell etc.#

And I just noticed on the Zoe app that they're estimating in my local area at least, active Covid cases are now as low as they were at the lowest point last summer and still dropping. All positive news, but we need a couple of weeks to be able to start guaging what impact the initial release from lockdown has had

[Sandstorm]

Some interesting numbers...... ONS are reporting that approx 55% of all adults would test positive for antibodies as of end of March. This is almost certainly an undercount as the antibody test isn't massively sensitive, and obviously it doesn't cover T-Cell etc.#

And I just noticed on the Zoe app that they're estimating in my local area at least, active Covid cases are now as low as they were at the lowest point last summer and still dropping. All positive news, but we need a couple of weeks to be able to start guaging what impact the initial release from lockdown has had

Be interesting to see how many people will bother to go get tested now. Last year having a Covid test was a novelty and most people took the results seriously and isolated properly. I feel by now the novelty has worn off and with the risk of "passing on Covid to an elderly person and killing them" reduced, many people will just carry on despite having Covid symptoms.

"It's probably just a cold....I'm going to work/shops/gym anyway"

[TheNatalShark]

Some interesting numbers...... ONS are reporting that approx 55% of all adults would test positive for antibodies as of end of March. This is almost certainly an undercount as the antibody test isn't massively sensitive, and obviously it doesn't cover T-Cell etc.#

And I just noticed on the Zoe app that they're estimating in my local area at least, active Covid cases are now as low as they were at the lowest point last summer and still dropping. All positive news, but we need a couple of weeks to be able to start guaging what impact the initial release from lockdown has had

Be interesting to see how many people will bother to go get tested now. Last year having a Covid test was a novelty and most people took the results seriously and isolated properly. I feel by now the novelty has worn off and with the risk of "passing on Covid to an elderly person and killing them" reduced, many people will just carry on despite having Covid symptoms.

"It's probably just a cold....I'm going to work/shops/gym anyway"

Aye, in Wandsworth we've been asked to do the surge testing for SA variant, and rugby club is asking everyone to do it and I suspect people will get told off if they don't.

But beyond that general chatter around taking tests is low vs last year from my circles.

[Saint]

Daily updates on testing by type and pillar can be found here https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/testing

[tabascoboy]

Denmark has become the first European country to completely stop using the AstraZeneca vaccine due to rare blood clotting concerns - but it may not be forever.

The head of Denmark's health authority, Soren Brostrom says he is not ruling out using the vaccine again in the future, adding if Denmark was in a different situation right now and being affected by a third wave of the pandemic, Danish health authorities would not hesitate to use the vaccine.

[Saint]

Moderna have jsut tested a version of their vaccine targeting the SA variant, shown to produce the correct antibodies in mice

[Sandstorm]

Moderna have just tested a version of their vaccine targeting the SA variant, shown to produce the correct antibodies in mice

Noice

[Sandstorm]

Friend spoke with his Dad in India this morning and they are reporting 250k new Covid cases per day across the country!!

[Sards]

I expect there are a lot of posters here that have been chipped already.

[Raggs]

Friend spoke with his Dad in India this morning and they are reporting 250k new Covid cases per day across the country!!

India is going to have been a mess. Only something like 85% of deaths are reported to government *not* during a pandemic, something like only 25% of those have an actual doctor certified cause of death on their certificates, and even then we're mostly looking at the richer population.

[Sards]

Do you think we can still save the world by reducing the population with Covid and the variants. I mean it looks pretty much farked to me....

[Raggs]

Do you think we can still save the world by reducing the population with Covid and the variants. I mean it looks pretty much farked to me....

What would reducing the population do? There's not a food production problem in this world as it stands, there's an economic one. And economies aren't getting any better through covid.

[JM2K6]

Moderna have jsut tested a version of their vaccine targeting the SA variant, shown to produce the correct antibodies in mice

Well that's shit - why are we vaccinating mice? Let the fuckers die

[Saint]

Oxford University study into Blood Clots post Covid and post vaccine - very high level

A study suggests the risk of getting rare blood clots is eight to 10 times higher after contracting coronavirus than it is for those who have been vaccinated against the disease.

Researchers at Oxford University (independent of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine) said the risk of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) - an unusual blood clot in the brain also known as CVST (cerebral venous sinus thrombosis) - is around eight to 10 times higher after catching the virus than getting vaccinated with the BioNTech-Pfizer, Moderna or Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid jabs.

The researchers said people who have had Covid shouldn't be unduly worried by clots either.

[Sandstorm]

Moderna have jsut tested a version of their vaccine targeting the SA variant, shown to produce the correct antibodies in mice

Well that's shit - why are we vaccinating mice? Let the fuckers die

[Sandstorm]

New Desi Covid variant frim India is looking very scary. Now a few dozen cases in London.

Awesome border controls yet again Boris!

[TB63]

New Desi Covid variant frim India is looking very scary. Now a few dozen cases in London.

Awesome border controls yet again Boris!

<<<Stares suspiciously at Chicken Tikka in fridge>>>

[Hal Jordan]

New Desi Covid variant frim India is looking very scary. Now a few dozen cases in London.

Awesome border controls yet again Boris!

Do we need a trade deal with them?

Plus our good friend Modi on the Axis of Fash.

[Lobby]

New Desi Covid variant frim India is looking very scary. Now a few dozen cases in London.

Awesome border controls yet again Boris!

Do we need a trade deal with them?

Plus our good friend Modi on the Axis of Fash.

Interesting that while Bangladesh and Pakistan are on the UK travel red list countries, India hasn’t yet been added, despite its high rate of infections and nasty variants.

Boris is due to fly over there in 10 days time with a whole entourage of officials and lobbyists; be interesting to see if that goes ahead.

[Biffer]

Seems that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines also cause blood clots

https://www.sciencemediacentre.org/expe ... influenza/

Come on Denmark, ban them.

[Sandstorm]

New Desi Covid variant frim India is looking very scary. Now a few dozen cases in London.

Awesome border controls yet again Boris!

Do we need a trade deal with them?

Plus our good friend Modi on the Axis of Fash.

Interesting that while Bangladesh and Pakistan are on the UK travel red list countries, India hasn’t yet been added, despite its high rate of infections and nasty variants.

Boris is due to fly over there in 10 days time with a whole entourage of officials and lobbyists; be interesting to see if that goes ahead.

Good question for the 5pm Covid Show: "So Prime Minister, are you and your 100 lobbyists going to cancel your trade junket to India to save lives and protect the NHS?"

[Sandstorm]

Seems that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines also cause blood clots

https://www.sciencemediacentre.org/expe ... influenza/

Come on Denmark, ban them.

[Fangle]

Pfizer have announced that possiby an annual booster shot will be required. Moderna are working on a combined covid/flu booster.

[Bullet]

Just booked my 2nd jab for the end of April.
With my Mother in law dying yesterday it's shaping up to be a good weekend

[Sandstorm]

Just booked my 2nd jab for the end of April.
With my Mother in law dying yesterday it's shaping up to be a good weekend

[Raggs]

Sinovac only 80% effective at preventing death.

https://www.reuters.com/business/health ... 021-04-16/

85% against hospitalisation and 67% against symptomatic infection. This has to be taken with consideration that it's facing p1 strain a lot. Would be interesting to see if there's a good breakdown against strains.

[Calculon]

That's not bad, will be interesting to see how it compares to the pfizer

He said Chile's health ministry will shortly publish a real world study on the effectiveness of both vaccines rolled out in its population and appealed to Chileans to continue to participate in the vaccination programme.

[Fangle]

In Georgia they are struggling to get people vaccinated, especially in Deliverance mountain areas. So they have opened clinics to all comers. Just rock up and get your vaccinations.

[BnM]

Agnes Pannier-Runacher, the French industry minister, said it is 'highly probable' that the EU won't order any more AstraZeneca or Johnson & Johnson vaccines.
Europe is scheduled to receive 500million doses of AZ and J&J vaccines this year, but it is thought contract will not be renewed after that

No comment.

[Glaston]

In other news, Fiji vaccinated nearly 2% of its population on thursday with the AZ jab.


The EU and the Yanks can send the AZ jab they don't want to the COVAX set up.

[Raggs]

In other news, Fiji vaccinated nearly 2% of its population on thursday with the AZ jab.


The EU and the Yanks can send the AZ jab they don't want to the COVAX set up.

The Yanks can't actually. Contract won't allow them.

[Glaston]

In other news, Fiji vaccinated nearly 2% of its population on thursday with the AZ jab.


The EU and the Yanks can send the AZ jab they don't want to the COVAX set up.

The Yanks can't actually. Contract won't allow them.

So the vaccine is sitting in a USA warehouse slowly running out of bb4 date.

Meanwhile the Chinese are offering their vaccine to all and sundry.

Wonder who will win the Global soft power battle?

[Raggs]

In other news, Fiji vaccinated nearly 2% of its population on thursday with the AZ jab.


The EU and the Yanks can send the AZ jab they don't want to the COVAX set up.

The Yanks can't actually. Contract won't allow them.

So the vaccine is sitting in a USA warehouse slowly running out of bb4 date.

Meanwhile the Chinese are offering their vaccine to all and sundry.

Wonder who will win the Global soft power battle?

That's not what I said. American companies can sell who they want to. But anything bought by the USA can only be used in US territories and cannot be exported elsewhere.

[Sandstorm]

Hawaiian Islands are vaccinating 18-25 year olds this week with Pfiser. 16-17 year olds pencilled in for 1 June.

[Saint]

The Yanks can't actually. Contract won't allow them.

So the vaccine is sitting in a USA warehouse slowly running out of bb4 date.

Meanwhile the Chinese are offering their vaccine to all and sundry.

Wonder who will win the Global soft power battle?

That's not what I said. American companies can sell who they want to. But anything bought by the USA can only be used in US territories and cannot be exported elsewhere.

I thought its was more that the US had part funded AZ production in the US, and therefore every export requires Presidential sign-off

[Raggs]

So the vaccine is sitting in a USA warehouse slowly running out of bb4 date.

Meanwhile the Chinese are offering their vaccine to all and sundry.

Wonder who will win the Global soft power battle?

That's not what I said. American companies can sell who they want to. But anything bought by the USA can only be used in US territories and cannot be exported elsewhere.

I thought its was more that the US had part funded AZ production in the US, and therefore every export requires Presidential sign-off

I posted a new article a while back saying contracts with vaccine companies says anything sold to US must be used within us territories.

[Saint]

That's not what I said. American companies can sell who they want to. But anything bought by the USA can only be used in US territories and cannot be exported elsewhere.

I thought its was more that the US had part funded AZ production in the US, and therefore every export requires Presidential sign-off

I posted a new article a while back saying contracts with vaccine companies says anything sold to US must be used within us territories.

To the best of my knowledge, over two thirds of US production from AZ has been contracted to countries other than US (primarily Canada and Mexico). The trouble is that AZ can't even send what they're contracted to to either country without a Presidential signature, because some of the production capability in the US was funded under there Defense Procurement Act. There's 30 million plus doses sat in the US that wont last forever. 4 million odd were released to Canada and Mexico last month under a reciprocal agreement that said they would be replace, but even that caused issues internally in the US. There's a very real chance that the majority of what has alreay been produced will be allowed to go to waste.