[Oldmanmatt]

Having had a boring evening (they’re watching “I’m a Celeb”, ffs).

I ended up reading the latest vaccine surveillance reports, as y’do…

Anyway, despite “knowing” already, it’s actually shocking to see the difference in the effects of the disease between vaccinated and unvaccinated.

We’re standing at ~90% of the population over 12 years old, having had at least one dose and some 80%, two.
Check out the difference in admissions and deaths between week 42 and 45.
Discount the eldest and youngest age groups and look at the “healthy” middle ground.



And deaths:



Almost 50% of admissions and deaths in the “healthy” band are unvaccinated!

Overall around 35%, but that’s so misleading, since it’s heavily skewed by the extremely vulnerable upper age groups.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1034383/Vaccine-surveillance-report-week-46.pdf


Edit: to be clear, I know it’s not 50%, I just mean it’s a frickin big chunk that is bigger than I actually expected. Apologies for the hyperbole.

[Will Hunt]

Richard Madeley has been taken to hospital from the set of I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here. He is reported to have become suddenly unwell.

Hilariously, the anti-vaxxers are adamant that this is because he's had the vaccine, not because he was swimming around in rotting fish a few hours earlier.

[SA Chris]

So, is it proving that giving the UK population up to 3 doses of vaccines while neglecting to given support to other countries with their vaccination program is going to backfire spectacularly if this Omnicron varint proves to be particularly virulent and we are back to square 1?

[Oldmanmatt]

So, is it proving that giving the UK population up to 3 doses of vaccines while neglecting to given support to other countries with their vaccination program is going to backfire spectacularly if this Omnicron varint proves to be particularly virulent and we are back to square 1?

Bit of yes and no, innit.
Apparently SA has had massive hesitancy issues, coupled with a large HIV denial movement/problem etc. I’ve read too much the last few days to recall which article to quote, but I’m sure they even had to slow deliveries from suppliers etc as stocks were expiring before they could be used.

Our biggest threat will be the anti-vacc movement as a whole, closely followed by vaccine nationalism. As a combination, we’re probably screwed.

[spidermonkey09]

So, is it proving that giving the UK population up to 3 doses of vaccines while neglecting to given support to other countries with their vaccination program is going to backfire spectacularly if this Omnicron varint proves to be particularly virulent and we are back to square 1?

No, because: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/exclusive-south-africa-delays-covid-vaccine-deliveries-inoculations-slow-2021-11-24/

Also there is next to zero chance this will push us back to square 1 from what I've read.

[BrutusTheBear]

I think we should probably mention the whole patent issue too. Share the technology and information so that others can produce their own.  Surely the vaccine developers (publicly funded) aren't interested in profit before the wellbeing of people? 

[Adam Lincoln]

From what I've read online on social media in last few days seems like getting people to wear masks again will be a tricky one.

Hopefully the walls won't follow suit with forcing masks on us again.

[abarro81]

From what I've read online on social media in last few days seems like getting people to wear masks again will be a tricky one.

Hopefully the walls won't follow suit with forcing masks on us again.

I don't really get why people in the UK object so much to wearing masks in shops etc. Seems a pretty trivial inconvenience. Wearing one while climbing would be a PITA but was never a thing anyway as far as I recall. Wearing one in reception or similar seems pretty easy and low hassle.

[petejh]

Won't be much of a hassle here as we never stopped wearing masks in Wales, perhaps there was some data showing how much spittle is emitted merely saying a place name.

I'm uncertain if the data from Wales or Scotland conclusively shows a beneficial impact on rates, versus non-mask England? Anyone?

[Adam Lincoln]

From what I've read online on social media in last few days seems like getting people to wear masks again will be a tricky one.

Hopefully the walls won't follow suit with forcing masks on us again.

I don't really get why people in the UK object so much to wearing masks in shops etc. Seems a pretty trivial inconvenience. Wearing one while climbing would be a PITA but was never a thing anyway as far as I recall. Wearing one in reception or similar seems pretty easy and low hassle.

Most walls was a, everywhere except actually on the wall policy. So constantly putting it up or down as you step on, for me reverted back to having it on all the time, it was just easier.

Anyway, time to run for the hills (Spain at least).....

[joel182]

I was very grateful for my session at Rainbow Rocket last summer which seems to have been the only wall in the UK that required mask wearing at all times (and also had all of their shutters open to give plenty of ventilation).

[Oldmanmatt]

Won't be much of a hassle here as we never stopped wearing masks in Wales, perhaps there was some data showing how much spittle is emitted merely saying a place name.

I'm uncertain if the data from Wales or Scotland conclusively shows a beneficial impact on rates, versus non-mask England? Anyone?

Not seen any comparative studies, but this popped up in my inbox:

https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj-2021-068302

Make of it what you will.

[lagerstarfish]

In amongst all the death and misery, I do appreciate the nod to RoboCop by the team that came up with the name for the new variant.

[SA Chris]

So, is it proving that giving the UK population up to 3 doses of vaccines while neglecting to given support to other countries with their vaccination program is going to backfire spectacularly if this Omnicron varint proves to be particularly virulent and we are back to square 1?

Bit of yes and no, innit.
Apparently SA has had massive hesitancy issues, coupled with a large HIV denial movement/problem etc. I’ve read too much the last few days to recall which article to quote, but I’m sure they even had to slow deliveries from suppliers etc as stocks were expiring before they could be used.

I think Omnicron is not limited to South Africa alone, but has been detected in several Southern African countries, where the availability and take up has been even lower.

[petejh]

Won't be much of a hassle here as we never stopped wearing masks in Wales, perhaps there was some data showing how much spittle is emitted merely saying a place name.

I'm uncertain if the data from Wales or Scotland conclusively shows a beneficial impact on rates, versus non-mask England? Anyone?

Not seen any comparative studies, but this popped up in my inbox:

https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj-2021-068302

Make of it what you will.

Thanks. Associated with a 50% reduction..

[SA Chris]

Won't be much of a hassle here as we never stopped wearing masks in Wales, perhaps there was some data showing how much spittle is emitted merely saying a place name.

I expect the same applies with pronouncing west coast place names, or ordering whisky. Mask wearing never went away here.

[Oldmanmatt]

So, is it proving that giving the UK population up to 3 doses of vaccines while neglecting to given support to other countries with their vaccination program is going to backfire spectacularly if this Omnicron varint proves to be particularly virulent and we are back to square 1?

Bit of yes and no, innit.
Apparently SA has had massive hesitancy issues, coupled with a large HIV denial movement/problem etc. I’ve read too much the last few days to recall which article to quote, but I’m sure they even had to slow deliveries from suppliers etc as stocks were expiring before they could be used.

I think Omnicron is not limited to South Africa alone, but has been detected in several Southern African countries, where the availability and take up has been even lower.

Yes. I think I read that the first case was seen in Botswana, but a lot of the same conditions apply (across sub Saharan Africa) except compounded with even greater poverty, no? Similar mistrust of Western medicine etc.
Still *our* fault, in the West, it’s fairly fair to say, I guess.

[slab_happy]

From what I've read online on social media in last few days seems like getting people to wear masks again will be a tricky one.

Hopefully the walls won't follow suit with forcing masks on us again.

I don't really get why people in the UK object so much to wearing masks in shops etc. Seems a pretty trivial inconvenience. Wearing one while climbing would be a PITA but was never a thing anyway as far as I recall. Wearing one in reception or similar seems pretty easy and low hassle.

I've found wearing a mask while bouldering weirdly educational, in terms of showing up my bad breathing habits when climbing.

If I keep breathing, it's fine; if I hold my breath through a problem when I'm climbing hard, that's when I end up gasping and unable to get my breath back afterwards.

I've been sticking with it to punish myself until I learn to fucking breathe!

[spidermonkey09]

I find bouldering in a mask pretty unpleasant and wouldn't support that. Happy enough to wear one everywhere else over the winter though.

[Fiend]

I don't really get why people in the UK object so much to wearing masks in shops etc. Seems a pretty trivial inconvenience. Wearing one while climbing would be a PITA but was never a thing anyway as far as I recall. Wearing one in reception or similar seems pretty easy and low hassle.

Quoted for truth.

[jwi]

I remember when I lived in Japan almost 20 years ago. A lot of climbers bouldered in face mask during flu season. Even outdoors.

[BrutusTheBear]

People have been using face masks as a matter of course in Japan for a very long time. I went in 1998 and remember asking my sister whether they were being worn because of the pollution.  Nope they are wearing them because they have a cold to protect other people!
My nieces whom have spent most of their lives spending summers in Japan attending Japanese school had a personal supply of face masks at home pre pandemic.
Makes some of us seem like whiny babies that don't give a shit about other people.

[AJM]

I was very grateful for my session at Rainbow Rocket last summer which seems to have been the only wall in the UK that required mask wearing at all times (and also had all of their shutters open to give plenty of ventilation).

Wall in Poole also had masks at all times incl when climbing.

[Oldmanmatt]

Just had jab 3 and 16 yo daughter had jab 2.
I had Pfizer this time, to add to my AZ collection…

We told the guys at the Bunker to switch back to masks while moving around, but not climbing.
When I say “back to” I mean switch from “strongly encourage” to “really insist quite strongly” and insist on temperature measuring for those that refuse.
There will be loud protests.
Usually Goop loving middle class mum, bringing little Farquhar in for the first time, while she shops online for Himalayan salt enema kits (or whatever it is currently in vogue).

[Fiend]

Usually Goop loving middle class mum, bringing little Farquhar in for the first time, while she shops online for Himalayan salt enema kits (or whatever it is currently in vogue).

I believe Lattice do a reasonably priced version with Lattice-coloured salt crystals, for pre-redpoint detox and weight-loss - you should stock them in your wee wall shop along side the finger tape and liquid chalk