[slab_happy]

Official line on the gov.uk website is now that "all adults will be offered a vaccine by the autumn", which does indicate they are planning to provide vaccines for everyone (which was previously unclear):

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-publishes-plan-for-the-largest-vaccination-programme-in-british-history

[duncan]

My Mum (80+) got a Pfizer this week. Done at a polyclinic in N Somerset that sounds like it’s now dedicated to just providing vaccines. She described it as very quick and efficient.

[slab_happy]

My Dad (also 80+) got his first shot yesterday.

Apparently he's in bed today feeling flu-ey and rubbish, but that's extremely common (and should only last a day or two) -- I briefed my folks in advance that this was possible so not to be freaked out by it.

Think he might be using it as an excuse to hog the TV for West Wing-watching purposes, though.

[Offwidth]

Well that's encouraging. I've seen a lot of comment suggesting they'll only vaccinate the old and its herd immunity for the rest.

I think several factors may have influenced this including a large minority who won't have the vaccine (worrying survey here. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/16/covid-vaccine-black-people-unlikely-covid-jab-uk ) and hospitalisation rates have near doubled for young adults for the new variant.

Both my parents double dosed with Pfizer now and mother-in-law first dose today (delayed by heavy snow in W Yorkshire)

[tomtom]

My folks were due to get their second dose on Weds - but was cancelled on Monday. Standard I think now.

MrsTT also had her second Pfizer cancelled too.

Mother in law was convinced she was supposed to phone up a number at Guys (london) to get her jab (she's 70) and when she got through unsurprisingly they said it was only over 80's....

[Oldmanmatt]

My Dad (also 80+) got his first shot yesterday.

Apparently he's in bed today feeling flu-ey and rubbish, but that's extremely common (and should only last a day or two) -- I briefed my folks in advance that this was possible so not to be freaked out by it.

Think he might be using it as an excuse to hog the TV for West Wing-watching purposes, though.

Why would anybody watch “West Wing” now (on premium for sure) when you can just put on CNN? Possibly the CNN plot is more ludicrous and unbelievable, but...

[tomtom]

MrsTT has recently watched ALL of ER (for at least the second time) and is 70% through the Buffys.... it’s her comfort blanket at the end of every day...

My parents are quite into the Crown “I remember that happening don’t you know” 🥱

[Oldmanmatt]

MrsTT has recently watched ALL of ER (for at least the second time) and is 70% through the Buffys.... it’s her comfort blanket at the end of every day...

My parents are quite into the Crown “I remember that happening don’t you know” 🥱

Mrs OMM and I were working through “The Ship”, this time last year.
By the end of Feb, she decided it was starting to look too much like a documentary and still haven’t finished...

[IanP]

Why would anybody watch “West Wing” now (on premium for sure) when you can just put on CNN? Possibly the CNN plot is more ludicrous and unbelievable, but...

As an escapist view of some not really believable liberal utopia  ? (and its free on All4 atm)

[Simon W]

Guys were offering it to over 70s. My mum called up today and is booked in for next week. 77 though so maybe they’ve changed it to over 75s now.

Certainly feels liked it’s picked up. I’m booked in next week (NHS) and this week lots of people around me have either had it or booked it.

My folks were due to get their second dose on Weds - but was cancelled on Monday. Standard I think now.

MrsTT also had her second Pfizer cancelled too.

Mother in law was convinced she was supposed to phone up a number at Guys (london) to get her jab (she's 70) and when she got through unsurprisingly they said it was only over 80's....

[slab_happy]

As an escapist view of some not really believable liberal utopia  ?

THAT.

[cheque]

My other half’s Dad (84, no pre-existing conditions) had his first one just before Christmas. Date for the second is in March. My Mum and Dad (73 & 83 respectively, both have pre-existing conditions, my Dad’s also my Mum’s full time career) haven’t heard anything yet. Different areas though.

[Offwidth]

As an escapist view of some not really believable liberal utopia  ?

THAT.

Or maybe because it's some of the best written TV ever, with high production values. There must be a massive gap at present in taking the themes of the show crossed with those other American greats, The Wire  and The Sopranos  on an anti utopian theme (not that I see Westwing as anything like utopian.. more like US politics when things were more 'normal')

[slab_happy]

Or maybe because it's some of the best written TV ever, with high production values.

I think it can be both! But for him, I think part of the appeal is a picture of politics where liberal decency triumphs and the good guys get the good lines (and he's spent some of his life in the political trenches over here, so he's allowed to dream ...).

[IanP]

As an escapist view of some not really believable liberal utopia  ?

THAT.

Or maybe because it's some of the best written TV ever, with high production values. There must be a massive gap at present in taking the themes of the show crossed with those other American greats, The Wire  and The Sopranos  on an anti utopian theme (not that I see Westwing as anything like utopian.. more like US politics when things were more 'normal')

Indeed, a wonderful show, though obviously it is biased to liberal view of US politics (which is great by me but it is good to be aware of your own biases    ).  Hopefully the emoji made it clear that my liberal utopia comment was based on comparisons to the US political shitshow of the last few years.

[Offwidth]

  OK, for balance, here is a Tory MP talking some sense on covid:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jan/17/id-love-to-ignore-covid-sceptics-and-their-tall-tales-but-they-make-a-splash-and-have-no-shame

[spidermonkey09]

All 4 grandparents and girlfriend jabbed this weekend, which was a bit of good news.

In slightly deflating news, albeit probably makes sense from an scientific perspective, was listening to Zahawi on the radio just now suggesting that "gradual tiered easing of lockdown will start 2/3 weeks after top 9 priority cohorts vaccinated.' The planned timetable for that is end of March if all goes smoothly, which would suggest mid April before anything gets loosened up. Quite a big change from gradual easing after top 4 cohorts vaccinated (65% of deaths) to top 9 (99% of deaths and majority of pressure on NHS). Will be interesting to see whether that holds as suspect it will come under quite a lot of pressure from Tory right and public tbh.

[tomtom]

In slightly deflating news, albeit probably makes sense from an scientific perspective, was listening to Zahawi on the radio just now suggesting that "gradual tiered easing of lockdown will start 2/3 weeks after top 9 priority cohorts vaccinated.' The planned timetable for that is end of March if all goes smoothly, which would suggest mid April before anything gets loosened up. Quite a big change from gradual easing after top 4 cohorts vaccinated (65% of deaths) to top 9 (99% of deaths and majority of pressure on NHS). Will be interesting to see whether that holds as suspect it will come under quite a lot of pressure from Tory right and public tbh.

I think Zahawi has been naughty this morning - starts talking in one interview about teachers, police, shopworkers etc.. being vaccinated before the age groups this morning "its my instinct" they should be I think were his words... before a mini backtrack that its actually set by an independent group (IIRC). Got a bit of Boris "wanting to please the person who's interviewing him"-itis....

Interesting opinion polls in the Sunday papers showing an overwhelming support for continuing and stronger measures amongst the public... that will not have gone un-noticed too.

Universal credit cut U-turn imminent too I bet... 

[spidermonkey09]

I think Zahawi has been naughty this morning - starts talking in one interview about teachers, police, shopworkers etc.. being vaccinated before the age groups this morning "its my instinct" they should be I think were his words... before a mini backtrack that its actually set by an independent group (IIRC). Got a bit of Boris "wanting to please the person who's interviewing him"-itis....

Interesting opinion polls in the Sunday papers showing an overwhelming support for continuing and stronger measures amongst the public... that will not have gone un-noticed too.

Universal credit cut U-turn imminent too I bet...

The British public would doubtless support full blown Stasi surveillance, snooping, capital punishment, child labour, benefit claimants being put to work on the railroad etc in an opinion poll.  I do think they are heavily biased towards the old and right wing, especially the non-online ones.

The sunday newspapers seemed v clear that the cabinet was united in wanting to start unlocking in March so will be interesting to see whether that has changed or whether Zahawi has gone off piste/ got confused.

The UC thing is a car crash. Sunak is being made to look like the child catcher (correctly). If even Therese Coffey thinks you're acting like a dick you probably are...

[J_duds]

At the start of Lockdown 3, we had Boris say it'll last to mid Feb, the next day Gove said end of Feb, and some one else from UK Gov I'm sure said say it be over by Easter (which is early April).  Whilst I realise we need to see how it pans out before opening up, it does make it difficult to plan ahead and also to stay motivated when we don't know the end date!  Anyone like to guess on when we will open up again?

[SA Chris]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-16/norway-vaccine-fatalities-among-people-75-and-older-rise-to-29

Mildly worrying, seems not the panacea it was hoped to be.

Also found out yesterday an old classmate from SA has died due to CV-10 related illness.

[Duma]

In slightly deflating news, albeit probably makes sense from an scientific perspective, was listening to Zahawi on the radio just now suggesting that "gradual tiered easing of lockdown will start 2/3 weeks after top 9 priority cohorts vaccinated.' The planned timetable for that is end of March if all goes smoothly, which would suggest mid April before anything gets loosened up. Quite a big change from gradual easing after top 4 cohorts vaccinated (65% of deaths) to top 9 (99% of deaths and majority of pressure on NHS). Will be interesting to see whether that holds as suspect it will come under quite a lot of pressure from Tory right and public tbh.

not sure what definition of the cohorts you're using here? the cohorts I've seen are these:

and that gives 88% of deaths from the top four cohorts. 65% is from the top 1 and a half cohorts? 

[ali k]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-16/norway-vaccine-fatalities-among-people-75-and-older-rise-to-29

Mildly worrying, seems not the panacea it was hoped to be.

I know someone going through treatment for throat cancer at the moment who’s been told he won’t be getting the vaccine any time soon due to the risk of adverse effects from it. I would have thought the risk of catching covid in hospital would outweigh the risk from the vaccine itself but clearly the doctors don’t think so.

[Bradders]

In slightly deflating news, albeit probably makes sense from an scientific perspective, was listening to Zahawi on the radio just now suggesting that "gradual tiered easing of lockdown will start 2/3 weeks after top 9 priority cohorts vaccinated.' The planned timetable for that is end of March if all goes smoothly, which would suggest mid April before anything gets loosened up. Quite a big change from gradual easing after top 4 cohorts vaccinated (65% of deaths) to top 9 (99% of deaths and majority of pressure on NHS). Will be interesting to see whether that holds as suspect it will come under quite a lot of pressure from Tory right and public tbh.

Haven't seen that interview, but that was always my interpretation of how long this lockdown would last; the legislation says 31st March so I took that as the most reliable indicator of when it might end / restrictions might start being lifted. Especially given a) how long the first lockdown was, and b) that things are worse now than they were then.

[SA Chris]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-16/norway-vaccine-fatalities-among-people-75-and-older-rise-to-29

Mildly worrying, seems not the panacea it was hoped to be.

I know someone going through treatment for throat cancer at the moment who’s been told he won’t be getting the vaccine any time soon due to the risk of adverse effects from it. I would have thought the risk of catching covid in hospital would outweigh the risk from the vaccine itself but clearly the doctors don’t think so.

Fine line to walk... I believe if they are getting chemo then your immune system is compromised too making you more susceptible, but could it as easily be the vaccine could compromise the cancer treatment as the other way round?