So, coronavirus...

[Calculon]

Yeah, China sending aid to India while at the same time the USA is banning the export of vaccine components was just a bit too much.

[Rinkals]

USA has finally lifted a ban on export of vaccine components to India. Ventilators, Oxygen also being shipped in, but it's all too little guven the scale if the problem

The US has a VP who dines out on her Indian heritage but seemed fairly content to leave them to it in what's turning into a humanitarian disaster. Suspect the U turn comes from a combination of the moral element being tough to sustain, and more importantly India being crucial to containing China.

Just like Biden's connections to Ireland they will do the bare minimum to pay lip service to it but it will be dropped the second US self interest becomes involved.

I think it's fairly obvious that Biden will be looking after America's interests first and I suspect the Pharmaceutical industry's is lobbying hard to protect their revenue streams.

I've made the point repeatedly on here that containing the virus in your own narrow area is doomed to failure if the pandemic is allowed to run rampant in poorer areas outside.

[Paddington Bear]

The US has a VP who dines out on her Indian heritage but seemed fairly content to leave them to it in what's turning into a humanitarian disaster. Suspect the U turn comes from a combination of the moral element being tough to sustain, and more importantly India being crucial to containing China.

Just like Biden's connections to Ireland they will do the bare minimum to pay lip service to it but it will be dropped the second US self interest becomes involved.

I think it's fairly obvious that Biden will be looking after America's interests first and I suspect the Pharmaceutical industry's is lobbying hard to protect their revenue streams.

I've made the point repeatedly on here that containing the virus in your own narrow area is doomed to failure if the pandemic is allowed to run rampant in poorer areas outside.

Agree with all of this. India strikes me as an absolute petri dish for variants. What's happening is enough to justify humanitarian intervention on it's own, but the risk of variants strikes me as justifying it from naked self interest as well.

I've been fortunate through work and cricket to get to know a lot of Indians, and what they're sharing on social media is really, really concerning. People desperately trying to find oxygen/hospital beds pretty much every day. I was on calls last week with a guy in Delhi with a horrendous cough who ended up calling in sick Thursday and Friday.
It must be one of the hardest places in the world to contain an epidemic and as of now the government seems to have lost control. Will get worse before it gets better.

[Rinkals]

Just like Biden's connections to Ireland they will do the bare minimum to pay lip service to it but it will be dropped the second US self interest becomes involved.

I think it's fairly obvious that Biden will be looking after America's interests first and I suspect the Pharmaceutical industry's is lobbying hard to protect their revenue streams.

I've made the point repeatedly on here that containing the virus in your own narrow area is doomed to failure if the pandemic is allowed to run rampant in poorer areas outside.

Agree with all of this. India strikes me as an absolute petri dish for variants. What's happening is enough to justify humanitarian intervention on it's own, but the risk of variants strikes me as justifying it from naked self interest as well.

I've been fortunate through work and cricket to get to know a lot of Indians, and what they're sharing on social media is really, really concerning. People desperately trying to find oxygen/hospital beds pretty much every day. I was on calls last week with a guy in Delhi with a horrendous cough who ended up calling in sick Thursday and Friday.
It must be one of the hardest places in the world to contain an epidemic and as of now the government seems to have lost control. Will get worse before it gets better.

Yes. Initially, I was very concerned about the impact of the pandemic, given the high density of the living conditions in their urban areas and the difficulty of maintaining social distancing or access to washing facilities. Much as we have here, but hundreds of times worse.

And yet, they seemed to have gotten off fairly lightly: the cricket series against England had spectators for the first few games and they seemed to have it under control. Something that was possibly ascribed to the use of Ivermectin by some.

However, that lull has apparently ceased and they are now seeing 300,000 plus new cases a day.

Just goes to show that, after having this thing under the collective microscope for a year and a half, we still don't know enough about the mechanics of it's spread or how it is inhibited by weather, physiology or behavioural patterns.

[sorCrer]

They're getting absolutely smashed in India. Very very grim situation.

[Saint]

44 year olds in England now being invited to book their appointment online (if their local surgery hasn't already sorted them out). Two thirds of 45-49 year olds have already had their first jab now.

[tabascoboy]

44 year olds in England now being invited to book their appointment online (if their local surgery hasn't already sorted them out). Two thirds of 45-49 year olds have already had their first jab now.

That's very specific, surely not going to an age year-by-year rollout now?!

[Saint]

44 year olds in England now being invited to book their appointment online (if their local surgery hasn't already sorted them out). Two thirds of 45-49 year olds have already had their first jab now.

That's very specific, surely not going to an age year-by-year rollout now?!

Not sure - I think there's still some concerns over delivery schedules, especially as Moderna are going to underdeliver this month and next. Apparently there will be some guidance for 40-43 year olds as to what to expect in the next few days.

But in some parts of England local surgeries are already moving onto under 40 year olds......

[Marylandolorian]

In September Sanofi will start the production of 200 million doses of the Moderna vaccine at its Ridgefield site, NJ. These doses will be distributed worldwide. Sanofi has also a contract with Pfizer to produce 125 million doses.

[BnM]

https://www.politico.eu/article/europea ... shortages/
THe whole contract https://gript.ie/wp-content/uploads/202 ... REPORT.pdf

I get that AZ got its forecasts woefully wrong but this hurts everyone.

The European Commission confirmed it began legal proceedings against AstraZeneca for its vaccine-delivery shortages.

“Indeed the Commission has started last Friday a legal action against the company AstraZeneca on the [basis] of breaches of the advanced purchase agreement," Commission spokesperson Stefan De Keersmaeker announced Monday.

“The reason indeed being the terms of the contract, or some terms of the contract, have not been respected, and the company has not been in a position to come up with a reliable strategy to ensure the timely delivery of doses," De Keersmaeker explained. "What matters is to us in this case is that we want to make sure that there is a speedy delivery of sufficient number of doses that the European citizens are entitled to and which have been promised on the basis of the contract.”

Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides shortly after tweeted that the Commission's "priority is to ensure #COVID19 vaccine deliveries take place to protect the health of [the EU]. This is why @EU_Commission has decided jointly with all Member States to bring legal proceedings against #AstraZeneca. Every vaccine dose counts. Every vaccine dose saves lives."

AstraZeneca's contract promised to provide 300 million doses to the EU by the end of June, but now it looks likely to only deliver a third of that. By the end of March, the company had sent 30 million doses to the EU, and the company expects to deliver another 70 million by the end of June.

Earlier this week, some EU countries had reservations over whether a lawsuit would further damage AstraZeneca's reputation in the bloc or whether the lawsuit, first reported by POLITICO, would even help the EU get more doses. However, all countries backed the lawsuit by Friday morning, according to several diplomats.

This article is part of POLITICO’s premium policy service: Pro Health Care. From drug pricing, EMA, vaccines, pharma and more, our specialized journalists keep you on top of the topics driving the health care policy agenda. Email pro@politico.eu for a complimentary trial.

[tcc_dc]

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/25/worl ... urope.html

The all mighty dollar and euro always wins...hey your vaccinated...let's bring in the tourism

......

My colleagues in India lost two people last week who could not get into the hospital. Both gentlemen in the early 50s :( Both men kept saying they were fine but when it intensified, it was too much.

[Marylandolorian]

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/25/worl ... urope.html

The all mighty dollar and euro always wins...hey your vaccinated...let's bring in the tourism
.....
My colleagues in India lost two people last week who could not get into the hospital. Both gentlemen in the early 50s :( Both men kept saying they were fine but when it intensified, it was too much.

Beside the expats who want/need to see their family, I don’t know why people will go there for tourism with 1/2 of the countries under curfew or restrictions.

India is getting worse by the day.

[Calculon]

Presumably they'll go to countries with few or no restrictions. I think it is great news.

[Uncle fester]

Might be misremembering but didn't India have curiously low numbers while the rest of the world was battling first and second waves?

[Flockwitt]

That was my take on it. I also never understood how South Africa was so little impacted also in the initial waves (in relation to what was happening elsewhere in the world at the time).

[Calculon]

South Africa's first wave was a complete damp squib. Unfortunately I had to spend several weeks in the local hospital during the height of the first wave. A large section of this hospital was set aside for the expected influx of covid19 patients. At the time I asked one of the nurses how many patients were in the covid hospital. It was 3. In the second wave we got a decent number of deaths but I don't recall the hospitals being in danger of being overwhelmed, presumably a lot of people dying at home. We are all waiting to see if we are going to get a third wave.

[Saint]

USA now apparently on the brink of releasing all it's AZ stock. Not clear if it's heading to Canada/Mexico, or India

[fishfoodie]

Might be misremembering but didn't India have curiously low numbers while the rest of the world was battling first and second waves?

(1) The numbers from India were/are always bullshit; even these days, there are people counting bodies being cremated, & they're saying that some of the official numbers are an order of magnitude lower than what they are seeing.

(2) Demographics; India has a very lower average age; & as we now know, that mattered in the 1st & 2nd waves

(3) Mutations; the latest variants all seem to be impacting younger people far more than the 1st & 2nd waves.

[Fangle]

In many US states there is an oversupply because of reluctance. It’s disturbing. Even walk-up vaccinations aren’t helping much.

[Sandstorm]

(3) Mutations; the latest variants all seem to be impacting younger people far more than the 1st & 2nd waves.

This is what I feared several months ago.

[Saint]

In many US states there is an oversupply because of reluctance. It’s disturbing. Even walk-up vaccinations aren’t helping much.

Also a large number of people skipping jab 2 apparently

[Ovals]

In many US states there is an oversupply because of reluctance. It’s disturbing. Even walk-up vaccinations aren’t helping much.

Also a large number of people skipping jab 2 apparently

I wondered if the take up for the 2nd jab would fall off in the UK.

Overall the % of people get vaxxed in the UK has been very encouraging - despite the AZ blood clot scares - I think we were fortunate that we'd done 20m+ by the time the scares surfaced - people could see the risks were tiny and the benefits huge. We'll have to see how we get on as we move on to the younger groups that are less at risk.

[Fangle]

In many US states there is an oversupply because of reluctance. It’s disturbing. Even walk-up vaccinations aren’t helping much.

Also a large number of people skipping jab 2 apparently

Generally the current numbers by state are about 35% first jab and 22% second, and moving slowly.

Even a nurse where my wife is in hospital is not getting done. Boggles the mind.


Editing to say that this clinic is currently largely used for patients recovering, getting back their strength and doing rehab after Covid. Many empty rooms.

[Saint]

In many US states there is an oversupply because of reluctance. It’s disturbing. Even walk-up vaccinations aren’t helping much.

Also a large number of people skipping jab 2 apparently

I wondered if the take up for the 2nd jab would fall off in the UK.

Overall the % of people get vaxxed in the UK has been very encouraging - despite the AZ blood clot scares - I think we were fortunate that we'd done 20m+ by the time the scares surfaced - people could see the risks were tiny and the benefits huge. We'll have to see how we get on as we move on to the younger groups that are less at risk.

We're already spending a lot of money on getting the under 40s/30s to take the jab when offered. Very pro-active campaigning going on

[Ovals]

Also a large number of people skipping jab 2 apparently

I wondered if the take up for the 2nd jab would fall off in the UK.

Overall the % of people get vaxxed in the UK has been very encouraging - despite the AZ blood clot scares - I think we were fortunate that we'd done 20m+ by the time the scares surfaced - people could see the risks were tiny and the benefits huge. We'll have to see how we get on as we move on to the younger groups that are less at risk.

We're already spending a lot of money on getting the under 40s/30s to take the jab when offered. Very pro-active campaigning going on

All very positive. It is odd how somewhere like the UK seems to be so pro covid vaccine, yet France, and others, appear very reluctant. Of course, the EU haven't helped matters by being all over the place in how they've managed their vaccine programmes and put doubt into minds about safety and efficacy.

[Raggs]

I wondered if the take up for the 2nd jab would fall off in the UK.

Overall the % of people get vaxxed in the UK has been very encouraging - despite the AZ blood clot scares - I think we were fortunate that we'd done 20m+ by the time the scares surfaced - people could see the risks were tiny and the benefits huge. We'll have to see how we get on as we move on to the younger groups that are less at risk.

We're already spending a lot of money on getting the under 40s/30s to take the jab when offered. Very pro-active campaigning going on

All very positive. It is odd how somewhere like the UK seems to be so pro covid vaccine, yet France, and others, appear very reluctant. Of course, the EU haven't helped matters by being all over the place in how they've managed their vaccine programmes and put doubt into minds about safety and efficacy.

I think the effect on the numbers is really helping people see the benefits too. The more time passes, the more I think on Breton's "tortoise and hare" comment, where he reckoned that the EU would surpass the UK, but the numbers alone make it very clear that the hare approach was the better one.

[Saint]

We're already spending a lot of money on getting the under 40s/30s to take the jab when offered. Very pro-active campaigning going on

All very positive. It is odd how somewhere like the UK seems to be so pro covid vaccine, yet France, and others, appear very reluctant. Of course, the EU haven't helped matters by being all over the place in how they've managed their vaccine programmes and put doubt into minds about safety and efficacy.

I think the effect on the numbers is really helping people see the benefits too. The more time passes, the more I think on Breton's "tortoise and hare" comment, where he reckoned that the EU would surpass the UK, but the numbers alone make it very clear that the hare approach was the better one.

There's that; there's also the announced timetabling, there's the very clear message that end of restrictions is tied to vaccination numbers.....

The whole "how do we end this" in the UK has been shockingly good for a country used to complete mediocrity (at best) from its government.

Of course, still plenty to criticise in the "how did we get here" stage, so I guess it averages out

[Raggs]

All very positive. It is odd how somewhere like the UK seems to be so pro covid vaccine, yet France, and others, appear very reluctant. Of course, the EU haven't helped matters by being all over the place in how they've managed their vaccine programmes and put doubt into minds about safety and efficacy.

I think the effect on the numbers is really helping people see the benefits too. The more time passes, the more I think on Breton's "tortoise and hare" comment, where he reckoned that the EU would surpass the UK, but the numbers alone make it very clear that the hare approach was the better one.

There's that; there's also the announced timetabling, there's the very clear message that end of restrictions is tied to vaccination numbers.....

The whole "how do we end this" in the UK has been shockingly good for a country used to complete mediocrity (at best) from its government.

Of course, still plenty to criticise in the "how did we get here" stage, so I guess it averages out

Yeah, I'm more than happy to praise the vaccine approach, but I'm not going to forget the absolute clusterfuck in the leadup, even over christmas and the 1 day school opening. It's basically like there's been two governments, one dealing solely with vaccines, and another doing everything else.

[Ovals]

I think the effect on the numbers is really helping people see the benefits too. The more time passes, the more I think on Breton's "tortoise and hare" comment, where he reckoned that the EU would surpass the UK, but the numbers alone make it very clear that the hare approach was the better one.

There's that; there's also the announced timetabling, there's the very clear message that end of restrictions is tied to vaccination numbers.....

The whole "how do we end this" in the UK has been shockingly good for a country used to complete mediocrity (at best) from its government.

Of course, still plenty to criticise in the "how did we get here" stage, so I guess it averages out

Yeah, I'm more than happy to praise the vaccine approach, but I'm not going to forget the absolute clusterfuck in the leadup, even over christmas and the 1 day school opening. It's basically like there's been two governments, one dealing solely with vaccines, and another doing everything else.

This ^

And I still think the EU will struggle to catch us up if their populations are reticent to take the AZ and J&J vaccines - and all vaccines in some places. But I hope they do - it's in our interests that the EU, and all other countries, get vaxxed asap - I'd have no problem with them doing to even faster than us - but they do need to stop fannying around and just get jabs in arms double quick.

[Saint]

There's that; there's also the announced timetabling, there's the very clear message that end of restrictions is tied to vaccination numbers.....

The whole "how do we end this" in the UK has been shockingly good for a country used to complete mediocrity (at best) from its government.

Of course, still plenty to criticise in the "how did we get here" stage, so I guess it averages out

Yeah, I'm more than happy to praise the vaccine approach, but I'm not going to forget the absolute clusterfuck in the leadup, even over christmas and the 1 day school opening. It's basically like there's been two governments, one dealing solely with vaccines, and another doing everything else.

This ^

And I still think the EU will struggle to catch us up if their populations are reticent to take the AZ and J&J vaccines - and all vaccines in some places. But I hope they do - it's in our interests that the EU, and all other countries, get vaxxed asap - I'd have no problem with them doing to even faster than us - but they do need to stop fannying around and just get jabs in arms double quick.

They're not going to catch us up, simple as that. There's been very few days when even a single EU country has delivered more jabs per person than the UK - as far as I can tell there hasn't been a single day where the EU as a whole has managed this. So every day, we move further ahead of the EU

[Sandstorm]

I want my 3rd jab before Van Der Lying gets her 1st.

[Saint]

I want my 3rd jab before Van Der Lying gets her 1st.

That's a fail then - she even got an EU logo plaster to go with it

[fishfoodie]

I want my 3rd jab before Van Der Lying gets her 1st.

Can we please stop this Nationalistic dick waving ?

The virus doesn't give a fuck what football team you support; or what anthem you stand up for !

If the UK wants to send a million doses of vaccine to Ireland; I can guarantee they'll find people ready to take them; & in the meanwhile; listening to the dick waving from the UK, is getting pretty damn old !

[Kiwias]

A contractor my wife uses at her company was tested positive and is in hospital, along with his wife and father, but my wife tested negative yesterday.

Whew!

[Kiwias]

Absolutely stunning stuff from a private school in Florida, and it seems to be legit. My favourite bits in a letter the school sent to all employees would be this.

Reports have surfaced recently of non-vaccinated people being negatively impacted by interacting with people who have been vaccinated. Even among our own population, we have at least three women with menstrual cycles impacted after having spent time with a vaccinated person.

https://jezebel.com/florida-private-sch ... 1846768429

[Calculon]

I want my 3rd jab before Van Der Lying gets her 1st.

Can we please stop this Nationalistic dick waving ?

The virus doesn't give a fuck what football team you support; or what anthem you stand up for !

If the UK wants to send a million doses of vaccine to Ireland; I can guarantee they'll find people ready to take them; & in the meanwhile; listening to the dick waving from the UK, is getting pretty damn old !

it's fucking tedious, maybe we can have a seperate UK vs EU (Ireland) thread for it.

[Calculon]

In many US states there is an oversupply because of reluctance. It’s disturbing. Even walk-up vaccinations aren’t helping much.

My brother got his vaccination from a walk-in centre in Vermont. I wish I had the option here.

[Paddington Bear]

I want my 3rd jab before Van Der Lying gets her 1st.

Can we please stop this Nationalistic dick waving ?

The virus doesn't give a fuck what football team you support; or what anthem you stand up for !

If the UK wants to send a million doses of vaccine to Ireland; I can guarantee they'll find people ready to take them; & in the meanwhile; listening to the dick waving from the UK, is getting pretty damn old !

I'd be fascinated to see the commentary if Brexit Britain had made a hash of it's vaccination effort.

[Sandstorm]

I want my 3rd jab before Van Der Lying gets her 1st.

Can we please stop this Nationalistic dick waving ?

The virus doesn't give a fuck what football team you support; or what anthem you stand up for !

If the UK wants to send a million doses of vaccine to Ireland; I can guarantee they'll find people ready to take them; & in the meanwhile; listening to the dick waving from the UK, is getting pretty damn old !

Only a million? That’s less than 25% uptake. You guys have some serious anti-vaxer convincing to do!

[tabascoboy]

People aged 42 and over in England are now able to book their Covid-19 jab, the health secretary has said.

Those who are due to turn 42 by 1 July are also eligible to make an appointment under the latest extension of the vaccine rollout.