So, coronavirus...

[Denny Crane]

A Letter to NIH and Dr. Anthony Fauci. Is Anybody Home?

Dr. David Chesler is knocking at the door of the mighty U.S. National Institutes of Health. He has something urgent to share.

Since the pandemic began, more than 50 studies have accumulated – including three meta-analyses — concluding that Ivermectin effectively prevents and treats early infection and improves survival in late-stage patients. Yet the U.S. National Institutes of Health has shown little interest in Ivermectin.

Despite promising studies, the agency has not funded a single trial on Ivermectin. Meantime, it has supported 113 other U.S. COVID-19 studies.

“When the government sees that a country like Slovakia is allowing Ivermectin as a prophylaxis and a treatment for COVID,” said Dr. Sabine Hazan Steinberg, who is conducting an Ivermectin trial, “the government of America needs to put some funds into Ivermectin to see if that’s legitimate or not.”

https://trialsitenews.com/a-letter-to-n ... body-home/

[Marylandolorian]

I hope this isn't true

Yes it is. https://www.latimes.com/california/stor ... t-entrance

Trying to stop people (who might carry a gun) getting a vaccine is not smart, these type of demonstrations won’t end well.

[Biffer]

Further large scale vaccination sites opening in a Scotland this week. EICC in Edinburgh (21,000/week) Aberdeen conference centre (6000), Louise Jordan should be capable of 10,000 a day before too long. Should hopefully increase our rates up to nearer 40,000 a day, near 300,000 a week. Which would mean nine or ten more weeks to get all the JCVI priority groups done.

[tc27]

Nice...should be a 600k UK total

[Globus]

I get my jab on 9th Feb. No big deal.

[Saint]

Nice...should be a 600k UK total

Huge number. I'm increasingly convinced that the reporting is only loosely related to when the vaccination actually took place though

[tc27]

Yes seems likely lots of places dont report daily but wait until the end of the week

[dkm57]

I'd rather they just got on with doing the jabs than reporting daily, weekly summary is fine IMHO.

[Saint]

I'd rather they just got on with doing the jabs than reporting daily, weekly summary is fine IMHO.

That's how they started off. Press weren't happy, virtually every other country reports daily, and frankly, people need a daily reminder that something positive is actually happening

[Saint]

Final reported total was 609K, including 10,600 getting their second dose.

7 day average just shy of 375K per day, or 2.6 million per week

[tc27]

[tc27]

Further large scale vaccination sites opening in a Scotland this week. EICC in Edinburgh (21,000/week) Aberdeen conference centre (6000), Louise Jordan should be capable of 10,000 a day before too long. Should hopefully increase our rates up to nearer 40,000 a day, near 300,000 a week. Which would mean nine or ten more weeks to get all the JCVI priority groups done.

Good.

Without getting too political about it given the huge amounts of credibility pinned on whats perceived as a superior response in Scotland the vaccination data (the one metric absolutely down to competence) will be a concern I am sure.

[Saint]

Thing is, as further vaccines come on stream you would expect things to actually happen much faster

[The Druid]

Captain Tom Moore is in hospital with coronavirus.

Hope he pulls through, sad news indeed.

[Sandstorm]

My 46 year old brother had his second AZ jab on Friday. All day and night of Saturday he felt really achy with a migraine. Feels 100% again today.

[Raggs]

Thing is, as further vaccines come on stream you would expect things to actually happen much faster

You'd also think that the less vulnerable could be more easily mobile too, so less missed/rearranged appointments.

[Biffer]

Thing is, as further vaccines come on stream you would expect things to actually happen much faster

You'd also think that the less vulnerable could be more easily mobile too, so less missed/rearranged appointments.

Well you can definitely get them to mass vaccination centres.

[Saint]

Thing is, as further vaccines come on stream you would expect things to actually happen much faster

You'd also think that the less vulnerable could be more easily mobile too, so less missed/rearranged appointments.

Well you can definitely get them to mass vaccination centres.

Yeah, but then we're back to supply. My understanding is that we already have capacity to deliver a LOT more than is actually happening right now - perhaps as much as a million doses per week, and that's growing fast. But, without additional production coming on line we're relying on greater yields from the two AZ centers and Pfizer getting their re-org complete.

At some point in June/July the VMIC will open and begin emergency production of AZ, potentially increasing UK production by as much as 50%. Around April we're supposed to start receiving our first deliveries of Moderna, and I would guess that Novovax will start delivering, assuming MHRC sign off but no idea what scale yet.

Those are now the key milestones to significantly increase delivery - i.e. hit the revised 5 million doses per week

[Rinkals]

It's all very well ignoring this Crane character because he regurgitates unmitigated crap, but without it being contested it gets accepted as an important contribution rather than a complete pile of shit.

In order for the pandemic to be controlled, there needs to be a commitment from the general public to abide by the rules and follow the scientific advice.

Misinformation, quack science and loony conspiracy theories go a long way to undermine that and damage any attempt to get back to normalcy.

[Raggs]

It's all very well ignoring this Crane character because he regurgitates unmitigated crap, but without it being contested it gets accepted as an important contribution rather than a complete pile of shit.

In order for the pandemic to be controlled, there needs to be a commitment from the general public to abide by the rules and follow the scientific advice.

Misinformation, quack science and loony conspiracy theories go a long way to undermine that and damage any attempt to get back to normalcy.

Still about Ivermectin? If I saw it on say Facebook or somewhere, I'd perhaps challenge it. Here? It's such a closed audience that I can't see me changing anyones minds.

[Sandstorm]

If you live somewhere that isn’t getting a vaccine for 9-12 months and you’re a vulnerable person who could die from Covid.......yeah I’d get a couple of Invermecton pills and stash them in my medicine cabinet. Can’t hurt......

[dpedin]

Further large scale vaccination sites opening in a Scotland this week. EICC in Edinburgh (21,000/week) Aberdeen conference centre (6000), Louise Jordan should be capable of 10,000 a day before too long. Should hopefully increase our rates up to nearer 40,000 a day, near 300,000 a week. Which would mean nine or ten more weeks to get all the JCVI priority groups done.

Good.

Without getting too political about it given the huge amounts of credibility pinned on whats perceived as a superior response in Scotland the vaccination data (the one metric absolutely down to competence) will be a concern I am sure.

Slow start in Scotland however I know they have been focusing on care home residents, 80+ who are homebound and NHS and care home front line staff. Should ramp up next week. However not sure how vaccines are distributed, may be that more vaccine has gone to those areas with higher cases and deaths (parts of England and Wales) and where the NHS is under most pressure? Scotland still running well below case and death numbers per million when compared to parts of England and Wales. We were able to lock down earlier and when case numbers were still much, much lower than London and the SE and before the new variant took hold. Personally I wouldn't have a problem with vaccine distribution in UK being focused on those areas under most pressure and ditto in Scotland where Glasgow, Lanarkshire, etc have the highest rates.

[Rinkals]

It's all very well ignoring this Crane character because he regurgitates unmitigated crap, but without it being contested it gets accepted as an important contribution rather than a complete pile of shit.

In order for the pandemic to be controlled, there needs to be a commitment from the general public to abide by the rules and follow the scientific advice.

Misinformation, quack science and loony conspiracy theories go a long way to undermine that and damage any attempt to get back to normalcy.

Still about Ivermectin? If I saw it on say Facebook or somewhere, I'd perhaps challenge it. Here? It's such a closed audience that I can't see me changing anyones minds.

Yes.

My sister has gone out and bought a supply.

Which is weird because they keep telling me that it's just slightly more than a normal cold.

They were playing a podcast from someone who accuses Fauci of being behind the synthetic development of the coronavirus in a laboratory in Wuhan.

I have to say that the podcast sounded plausible but for the scientific consensus that has concluded that the virus doesn't have any of the traits of a synthetic product and appears to have evolved in the wild. I'm pretty sure if the genesis of the virus could be shown to have been man-made in Wuhan, Trump's Administration would not be sweeping it under the rug.

But what do I know?

[Raggs]

If you live somewhere that isn’t getting a vaccine for 9-12 months and you’re a vulnerable person who could die from Covid.......yeah I’d get a couple of Invermecton pills and stash them in my medicine cabinet. Can’t hurt......

Why can't it hurt? It has side effects, combined with the damage done by Covid, it could absolutely hurt, especially if self medicating!

[tc27]

Further large scale vaccination sites opening in a Scotland this week. EICC in Edinburgh (21,000/week) Aberdeen conference centre (6000), Louise Jordan should be capable of 10,000 a day before too long. Should hopefully increase our rates up to nearer 40,000 a day, near 300,000 a week. Which would mean nine or ten more weeks to get all the JCVI priority groups done.

Good.

Without getting too political about it given the huge amounts of credibility pinned on whats perceived as a superior response in Scotland the vaccination data (the one metric absolutely down to competence) will be a concern I am sure.

Slow start in Scotland however I know they have been focusing on care home residents, 80+ who are homebound and NHS and care home front line staff. Should ramp up next week. However not sure how vaccines are distributed, may be that more vaccine has gone to those areas with higher cases and deaths (parts of England and Wales) and where the NHS is under most pressure? Scotland still running well below case and death numbers per million when compared to parts of England and Wales. We were able to lock down earlier and when case numbers were still much, much lower than London and the SE and before the new variant took hold. Personally I wouldn't have a problem with vaccine distribution in UK being focused on those areas under most pressure and ditto in Scotland where Glasgow, Lanarkshire, etc have the highest rates.

Vaccinations are being dispensed to each nation and NI on straight population share basis. As far as I know there is no adjustment for case rates in any given area at UK level and in any case Scotland is about middle ranked compared to the rest of the UK in terms of fatalities (if England is broken down into regions).

There is a political aspect to the devolved administration wanting to claim credit for lower case rates (caused by a variety of factors and marginal testing) because it means they have to own the lower vaccination rate (solely down to governance and organisation) but perhaps that's a discussion for the Scottish politics thread.

[Sandstorm]

If you live somewhere that isn’t getting a vaccine for 9-12 months and you’re a vulnerable person who could die from Covid.......yeah I’d get a couple of Invermecton pills and stash them in my medicine cabinet. Can’t hurt......

Why can't it hurt? It has side effects, combined with the damage done by Covid, it could absolutely hurt, especially if self medicating!

As long as you avoid alcohol for 7 days, you’ll be fine.

[Saint]

Good.

Without getting too political about it given the huge amounts of credibility pinned on whats perceived as a superior response in Scotland the vaccination data (the one metric absolutely down to competence) will be a concern I am sure.

Slow start in Scotland however I know they have been focusing on care home residents, 80+ who are homebound and NHS and care home front line staff. Should ramp up next week. However not sure how vaccines are distributed, may be that more vaccine has gone to those areas with higher cases and deaths (parts of England and Wales) and where the NHS is under most pressure? Scotland still running well below case and death numbers per million when compared to parts of England and Wales. We were able to lock down earlier and when case numbers were still much, much lower than London and the SE and before the new variant took hold. Personally I wouldn't have a problem with vaccine distribution in UK being focused on those areas under most pressure and ditto in Scotland where Glasgow, Lanarkshire, etc have the highest rates.

Vaccinations are being dispensed to each nation and NI on straight population share basis. As far as I know there is no adjustment for case rates in any given area at UK level and in any case Scotland is about middle ranked compared to the rest of the UK in terms of fatalities (if England is broken down into regions).

There is a political aspect to the devolved administration wanting to claim credit for lower case rates (caused by a variety of factors and marginal testing) because it means they have to own the lower vaccination rate (solely down to governance and organisation) but perhaps that's a discussion for the Scottish politics thread.

Can you imagine the howling that would come from Edinburgh if the was being on anything other than a strict population share? I will give the Scottish gov some leeway in that getting the vaccine out to at risk in the Highlands is undoubtedly extremely difficult - but it can't be as difficult as their numbers so far would suggest.

[Slick]

Further large scale vaccination sites opening in a Scotland this week. EICC in Edinburgh (21,000/week) Aberdeen conference centre (6000), Louise Jordan should be capable of 10,000 a day before too long. Should hopefully increase our rates up to nearer 40,000 a day, near 300,000 a week. Which would mean nine or ten more weeks to get all the JCVI priority groups done.

Good.

Without getting too political about it given the huge amounts of credibility pinned on whats perceived as a superior response in Scotland the vaccination data (the one metric absolutely down to competence) will be a concern I am sure.

Slow start in Scotland however I know they have been focusing on care home residents, 80+ who are homebound and NHS and care home front line staff. Should ramp up next week. However not sure how vaccines are distributed, may be that more vaccine has gone to those areas with higher cases and deaths (parts of England and Wales) and where the NHS is under most pressure? Scotland still running well below case and death numbers per million when compared to parts of England and Wales. We were able to lock down earlier and when case numbers were still much, much lower than London and the SE and before the new variant took hold. Personally I wouldn't have a problem with vaccine distribution in UK being focused on those areas under most pressure and ditto in Scotland where Glasgow, Lanarkshire, etc have the highest rates.

Just stop

[GogLais]

It will be what it will be but does anyone know whether the Government's target is to vaccinate everybody by 15 February or to offer everyone a vaccine by then? I thought it was the former but I'm not so sure now. I'm eagerly awaiting the call even if I won't be able to do anything that I can't do now.

[Saint]

It will be what it will be but does anyone know whether the Government's target is to vaccinate everybody by 15 February or to offer everyone a vaccine by then? I thought it was the former but I'm not so sure now. I'm eagerly awaiting the call even if I won't be able to do anything that I can't do now.

My understanding is that it's to complete the vaccination by then, and that on current rates they're on track. The confusion is that the UK gov is only responsible for England vax rates. Provided Wales, Scotland, and NI are supplied with their share of vaccine there's nothing that Westminster can do beyond that

Edit - assuming you mean groups 1-4

[Ovals]

It will be what it will be but does anyone know whether the Government's target is to vaccinate everybody by 15 February or to offer everyone a vaccine by then? I thought it was the former but I'm not so sure now. I'm eagerly awaiting the call even if I won't be able to do anything that I can't do now.

Not everyone. Just groups 1-4 - and it is to actually get shots in arms. I believe the target is 15m.

I'm getting mine on Feb 9th

[dpedin]

Good.

Without getting too political about it given the huge amounts of credibility pinned on whats perceived as a superior response in Scotland the vaccination data (the one metric absolutely down to competence) will be a concern I am sure.

Slow start in Scotland however I know they have been focusing on care home residents, 80+ who are homebound and NHS and care home front line staff. Should ramp up next week. However not sure how vaccines are distributed, may be that more vaccine has gone to those areas with higher cases and deaths (parts of England and Wales) and where the NHS is under most pressure? Scotland still running well below case and death numbers per million when compared to parts of England and Wales. We were able to lock down earlier and when case numbers were still much, much lower than London and the SE and before the new variant took hold. Personally I wouldn't have a problem with vaccine distribution in UK being focused on those areas under most pressure and ditto in Scotland where Glasgow, Lanarkshire, etc have the highest rates.

Vaccinations are being dispensed to each nation and NI on straight population share basis. As far as I know there is no adjustment for case rates in any given area at UK level and in any case Scotland is about middle ranked compared to the rest of the UK in terms of fatalities (if England is broken down into regions).

There is a political aspect to the devolved administration wanting to claim credit for lower case rates (caused by a variety of factors and marginal testing) because it means they have to own the lower vaccination rate (solely down to governance and organisation) but perhaps that's a discussion for the Scottish politics thread.

Thanks for clarifying how vaccines are being distributed.

It really wasn't a political point but trying to be rational about trying to minimise the death rate across the UK, a bit like the argument about concentrating vaccine distribution across the EU. The current English death per million is running at 1,508 against a Scottish rate of 1,118 per million - 25% higher. I said in my post we should concentrate on London and the SE where the rate is highest and recognise that there are regional differences. In Scotland the death rate in Glasgow and Lanarkshire is the highest in Scotland. Number of deaths mirrors the number of cases, testing rate is as much a function of demand than anything else. I genuinely believe that we should be sending vaccines to those areas which have the highest death rates and where the NHS is under most pressure and this is clearly in parts of England. Where I am in Embra we are running at less than a 100 cases per 100,000 and deaths rates are relatively low as well, most deaths have been in care homes and these residents have now been vaccinated, so it would seem sensible to concentrate vaccination supplies and effort in those areas more at risk?

Really interesting that folk immediately jump on the Scotland v England issue when I thought I was making an entirely sensible suggestion - why not concentrate vaccination efforts in those areas of the UK, or Scotland, at highest risk and where the NHS is under most pressure? Lets look at the data rather than getting the hump?

[Saint]

Slow start in Scotland however I know they have been focusing on care home residents, 80+ who are homebound and NHS and care home front line staff. Should ramp up next week. However not sure how vaccines are distributed, may be that more vaccine has gone to those areas with higher cases and deaths (parts of England and Wales) and where the NHS is under most pressure? Scotland still running well below case and death numbers per million when compared to parts of England and Wales. We were able to lock down earlier and when case numbers were still much, much lower than London and the SE and before the new variant took hold. Personally I wouldn't have a problem with vaccine distribution in UK being focused on those areas under most pressure and ditto in Scotland where Glasgow, Lanarkshire, etc have the highest rates.

Vaccinations are being dispensed to each nation and NI on straight population share basis. As far as I know there is no adjustment for case rates in any given area at UK level and in any case Scotland is about middle ranked compared to the rest of the UK in terms of fatalities (if England is broken down into regions).

There is a political aspect to the devolved administration wanting to claim credit for lower case rates (caused by a variety of factors and marginal testing) because it means they have to own the lower vaccination rate (solely down to governance and organisation) but perhaps that's a discussion for the Scottish politics thread.

Thanks for clarifying how vaccines are being distributed.

It really wasn't a political point but trying to be rational about trying to minimise the death rate across the UK, a bit like the argument about concentrating vaccine distribution across the EU. The current English death per million is running at 1,508 against a Scottish rate of 1,118 per million - 25% higher. I said in my post we should concentrate on London and the SE where the rate is highest and recognise that there are regional differences. In Scotland the death rate in Glasgow and Lanarkshire is the highest in Scotland. Number of deaths mirrors the number of cases, testing rate is as much a function of demand than anything else. I genuinely believe that we should be sending vaccines to those areas which have the highest death rates and where the NHS is under most pressure and this is clearly in parts of England. Where I am in Embra we are running at less than a 100 cases per 100,000 and deaths rates are relatively low as well, most deaths have been in care homes and these residents have now been vaccinated, so it would seem sensible to concentrate vaccination supplies and effort in those areas more at risk?

Really interesting that folk immediately jump on the Scotland v England issue when I thought I was making an entirely sensible suggestion - why not concentrate vaccination efforts in those areas of the UK, or Scotland, at highest risk and where the NHS is under most pressure? Lets look at the data rather than getting the hump?

I agree that there may be a sensible scientific rationale to do something other that per capita distribution. But I also think that there is zero chance that Nicola would permit that if it meant fewer shots per capital in Scotland.

Realpolitik is a real thing

[GogLais]

It will be what it will be but does anyone know whether the Government's target is to vaccinate everybody by 15 February or to offer everyone a vaccine by then? I thought it was the former but I'm not so sure now. I'm eagerly awaiting the call even if I won't be able to do anything that I can't do now.

My understanding is that it's to complete the vaccination by then, and that on current rates they're on track. The confusion is that the UK gov is only responsible for England vax rates. Provided Wales, Scotland, and NI are supplied with their share of vaccine there's nothing that Westminster can do beyond that

Edit - assuming you mean groups 1-4

Bad wording/laziness on my part, yes 1-4. It's just that Huge Pym was on the telly and he seemed to imply that the target was to offer it by the 15th. I cynically wondered whether I might be offered it by then but only get it a couple of weeks later.

[dpedin]

Vaccinations are being dispensed to each nation and NI on straight population share basis. As far as I know there is no adjustment for case rates in any given area at UK level and in any case Scotland is about middle ranked compared to the rest of the UK in terms of fatalities (if England is broken down into regions).

There is a political aspect to the devolved administration wanting to claim credit for lower case rates (caused by a variety of factors and marginal testing) because it means they have to own the lower vaccination rate (solely down to governance and organisation) but perhaps that's a discussion for the Scottish politics thread.

Thanks for clarifying how vaccines are being distributed.

It really wasn't a political point but trying to be rational about trying to minimise the death rate across the UK, a bit like the argument about concentrating vaccine distribution across the EU. The current English death per million is running at 1,508 against a Scottish rate of 1,118 per million - 25% higher. I said in my post we should concentrate on London and the SE where the rate is highest and recognise that there are regional differences. In Scotland the death rate in Glasgow and Lanarkshire is the highest in Scotland. Number of deaths mirrors the number of cases, testing rate is as much a function of demand than anything else. I genuinely believe that we should be sending vaccines to those areas which have the highest death rates and where the NHS is under most pressure and this is clearly in parts of England. Where I am in Embra we are running at less than a 100 cases per 100,000 and deaths rates are relatively low as well, most deaths have been in care homes and these residents have now been vaccinated, so it would seem sensible to concentrate vaccination supplies and effort in those areas more at risk?

Really interesting that folk immediately jump on the Scotland v England issue when I thought I was making an entirely sensible suggestion - why not concentrate vaccination efforts in those areas of the UK, or Scotland, at highest risk and where the NHS is under most pressure? Lets look at the data rather than getting the hump?

I agree that there may be a sensible scientific rationale to do something other that per capita distribution. But I also think that there is zero chance that Nicola would permit that if it meant fewer shots per capital in Scotland.

Realpolitik is a real thing

If not across the 4 UK countries then this could be done within each of them? Given all the politicians say the listen to the science (whatever the feck that means) then it would be interesting to hear what the epidemiologists would say about this? Not any more controversial than delaying the 2nd dose for 12 weeks? Is it not about getting the max pop benefit for the vaccine available?

[Saint]

It will be what it will be but does anyone know whether the Government's target is to vaccinate everybody by 15 February or to offer everyone a vaccine by then? I thought it was the former but I'm not so sure now. I'm eagerly awaiting the call even if I won't be able to do anything that I can't do now.

My understanding is that it's to complete the vaccination by then, and that on current rates they're on track. The confusion is that the UK gov is only responsible for England vax rates. Provided Wales, Scotland, and NI are supplied with their share of vaccine there's nothing that Westminster can do beyond that

Edit - assuming you mean groups 1-4

Bad wording/laziness on my part, yes 1-4. It's just that Huge Pym was on the telly and he seemed to imply that the target was to offer it by the 15th. I cynically wondered whether I might be offered it by then but only get it a couple of weeks later.

I can't comment on offer vs take-up but my understanding is that on raw numbers the UK as a whole is on track to hit delivered as opposed to offered.

[dpedin]

My understanding is that it's to complete the vaccination by then, and that on current rates they're on track. The confusion is that the UK gov is only responsible for England vax rates. Provided Wales, Scotland, and NI are supplied with their share of vaccine there's nothing that Westminster can do beyond that

Edit - assuming you mean groups 1-4

Bad wording/laziness on my part, yes 1-4. It's just that Huge Pym was on the telly and he seemed to imply that the target was to offer it by the 15th. I cynically wondered whether I might be offered it by then but only get it a couple of weeks later.

I can't comment on offer vs take-up but my understanding is that on raw numbers the UK as a whole is on track to hit delivered as opposed to offered.

Agree - I think we are well on track and should meet the delivered target. The issue will be those who for whatever reason refuse a vaccine. Figures I have seen suggest that most over 70s will take the vaccine and lots being done in communities to make this happen. However the anti vaccine movement seems to be stronger in the younger age groups which is a worry. Given the increase in transmissibility of the English variant then we need c80% vaccination rates to get herd immunity, previously it was thought c65-70% would be sufficient. The game changer will be when the u16 vaccine is approved then we can get c15% of the pop vaccinated, assuming their parents agree, within a matter of weeks via school vaccination programmes, as long as it is approved before the summer holidays! I remember queueing up by class for my school vaccinations many years ago - they worked!

[Enzedder]

My 46 year old brother had his second AZ jab on Friday. All day and night of Saturday he felt really achy with a migraine. Feels 100% again today.

What sort of political push does he have to have had 2 jabs when aged just 46?

[shaggy]

Clinically extremely vulnerable perhaps?

Trying a bit hard there to score internet points.

[Enzedder]

Not at all - I have very vulnerable 60 year old friends there (I assume UK) who are still waiting so if there is a way of advising them how to get to the head of the queue, I would love to pass it on.