Current Affairs Coronavirus Thread - Serious stuff !!!

[roydo]

Is it available, at cost, for other groups?

Not sure. Hang on, will ask Nikki.

 

[roydo]

Not sure. Hang on, will ask Nikki.

When she worked there, it was actually the over 78s and under 88s (or similar), and At Risk patients who get a free jab.

One from Boots would cost about £40.00

@LinekersLegs

 

[LinekersLegs]

Maybe the wrong thread but I wonder your view on the demonstrations in several US state capitals. Tens of thousands of people crowded together protesting against anti covid lockdown measures. Armed protesters taking over the capitol in Michigan?. Just one shot and it's frightening to think about how it could have turned out.
How uncivilised!. They'll never get the thing under control over there with that attitude.
Until they do, UK should ban all flights from there.

Mostly been doing my comments on them in the politics threads but they are dangerous idiots that don’t represent the bulk of US opinion (at least according to the surveys I’ve seen) but obviously will have a disproportionate affect both on the spread of the disease and the politics of when we open back up - “Rusty wheel gets the most greace” etc

 

[LinekersLegs]

When she worked there, it was actually the over 78s and under 88s (or similar), and At Risk patients who get a free jab.

One from Boots would cost about £40.00

@LinekersLegs

You’d think there might be a public health advantage in changing that for the upcoming season to reduce strain on NHS - or at least encouraging those younger who could afford it to get it.

 

[Neiler]

I’m wondering if how seasonal flu is treated is going to change this year?

Here in the US the flu jab is advised for everyone, at least in my experience you can’t go to the doctor past August without it being strongly encouraged. https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/pages/immunization/influenza.aspx
Some of that might be financial (not sure what $ the doctors get) but it is free to most patients under health plans and has the twin goals of reducing individual risk and to try to stop the spread to the most vulnerabl/those who can’t get the jab. I’d hope that there is a even more obvious public campaign to increase uptake given those worries about dual covid/seasonal flu.

As I understand it for the NHS and Ireland it is only the over 65s and at risk that get it free - is that correct?

I suspect we will see a huge demand & uptake for the vaccine this year by the worried well mate, people who never bothered before will seek it this year, if covid is still as live as it is now. Our leader is already marking our card here.

From a social protection point of view, i really hope its pushed hard this year and people understand its importance. A bad dose of the flu would have very similar symptoms to covid and could be a huge draw on testing, PPE and general health resources as well as just managing the flu. I would hate to think of the scene if there was an out break of both. Its going to be frightening this year for anyone who picks up the flu, wondering if its covid or not.

Weirdly though we might never have been this well prepared, with people (in the main) very conscious of their hand and respiratory hygiene and social distancing and the like.

Over here in Ireland, its free for anyone with a medical card - a card that gives you free health care, its means tested or based on age - so usually low income households, people with disabilities or pensioners would have one.

Health care workers get it free of charge to. There are a couple of other groups who are entitled to it for free - over 65's, expectant mothers, have a long term chronic condition, carers, or residents in long term residential care home, or anyone who works with pigs or poultry. The last group, while the vaccine is free, you might have to pay your GP for the consult. Everyone else has to pay. Like the states GPs are usually very good at pushing and contacting those in vulnerable groups.

The aim every year in our health service is to have 60% of heath workers vaccinated, honestly we are poor, the uptake was below 40% this year, i dont think we will have the same problems come Oct 2020 though.

 

[LouReedwalkonthewildside]

Luckily I've never had to take regular medication other than the odd course of antibiotics. I'm taking daily tablets for hay fever at the moment, and despite them being tiny I still have to chew them into smaller pieces before I can swallow them.lol

God knows what I'd be like with a bloody big spatula stuck down my throat.

I've often asked the missus what's it like to have a massive 'spatula' stuck down her throat. lol

 

[roydo]

You’d think there might be a public health advantage in changing that for the upcoming season to reduce strain on NHS - or at least encouraging those younger who could afford it to get it.

As mad as it sounds, flu is just not considered that much of an issue for the NHS.

Like you say, this coming winter could change that.

 

[Toast]

Is it available, at cost, for other groups?

Tesco pharmacy do the flu jab for £9

 

[Neiler]

No I work in HR mate. Home kits are great if they're being sent to people too ill to attend a test centre. Unfortunately though in my experience, people just want a test for tests sake though and they'll be the people determined to be tested.

The "worried well" mate - we had that problem over here, initially we wasted huge resources in the first few weeks testing people who were anxious when Covid first appeared - we had to narrow our criteria to anyone displaying two confirmed symptoms in the general community.

 

[LinekersLegs]

I suspect we will see a huge demand & uptake for the vaccine this year by the worried well mate, people who never bothered before will seek it this year, if covid is still as live as it is now. Our leader is already marking our card here.

From a social protection point of view, i really hope its pushed hard this year and people understand its importance. A bad dose of the flu would have very similar symptoms to covid and could be a huge draw on testing, PPE and general health resources as well as just managing the flu. I would hate to think of the scene if there was an out break of both. Its going to be frightening this year for anyone who picks up the flu, wondering if its covid or not.

Weirdly though we might never have been this well prepared, with people (in the main) very conscious of their hand and respiratory hygiene and social distancing and the like.

Over here in Ireland, its free for anyone with a medical card - a card that gives you free health care, its means tested or based on age - so usually low income households, people with disabilities or pensioners would have one.

Health care workers get it free of charge to. There are a couple of other groups who are entitled to it for free - over 65's, expectant mothers, have a long term chronic condition, carers, or residents in long term residential care home, or anyone who works with pigs or poultry. The last group, while the vaccine is free, you might have to pay your GP for the consult. Everyone else has to pay. Like the states GPs are usually very good at pushing and contacting those in vulnerable groups.

The aim every year in our health service is to have 60% of heath workers vaccinated, honestly we are poor, the uptake was below 40% this year, i dont think we will have the same problems come Oct 2020 though.

That figure really surprises me, especially given it is healthcare workers.

 

[LinekersLegs]

Tesco pharmacy do the flu jab for £9

If you can get people to avoid work and lock themselves in their house for a month to spare the NHS, you’d hope a ten quid flu jab wouldn’t be too much of a reach in comparison.

 

[Harryflashman]

I suspect we will see a huge demand & uptake for the vaccine this year by the worried well mate, people who never bothered before will seek it this year, if covid is still as live as it is now. Our leader is already marking our card here.

From a social protection point of view, i really hope its pushed hard this year and people understand its importance. A bad dose of the flu would have very similar symptoms to covid and could be a huge draw on testing, PPE and general health resources as well as just managing the flu. I would hate to think of the scene if there was an out break of both. Its going to be frightening this year for anyone who picks up the flu, wondering if its covid or not.

Weirdly though we might never have been this well prepared, with people (in the main) very conscious of their hand and respiratory hygiene and social distancing and the like.

Over here in Ireland, its free for anyone with a medical card - a card that gives you free health care, its means tested or based on age - so usually low income households, people with disabilities or pensioners would have one.

Health care workers get it free of charge to. There are a couple of other groups who are entitled to it for free - over 65's, expectant mothers, have a long term chronic condition, carers, or residents in long term residential care home, or anyone who works with pigs or poultry. The last group, while the vaccine is free, you might have to pay your GP for the consult. Everyone else has to pay. Like the states GPs are usually very good at pushing and contacting those in vulnerable groups.

The aim every year in our health service is to have 60% of heath workers vaccinated, honestly we are poor, the uptake was below 40% this year, i dont think we will have the same problems come Oct 2020 though.

I get offered the vaccine every year and I’ve never taken them up on it , in line with what you’re saying I suspect I will this year .

 

[Minimeister]

I’m wondering if how seasonal flu is treated is going to change this year?

Here in the US the flu jab is advised for everyone, at least in my experience you can’t go to the doctor past August without it being strongly encouraged. https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/pages/immunization/influenza.aspx
Some of that might be financial (not sure what $ the doctors get) but it is free to most patients under health plans and has the twin goals of reducing individual risk and to try to stop the spread to the most vulnerabl/those who can’t get the jab. I’d hope that there is a even more obvious public campaign to increase uptake given those worries about dual covid/seasonal flu.

As I understand it for the NHS and Ireland it is only the over 65s and at risk that get it free - is that correct?

You are absolutely hounded to have it if you work in the NHS because it comes with a lot of funding!

 

[roydo]

If you can get people to avoid work and lock themselves in their house for a month to spare the NHS, you’d hope a ten quid flu jab wouldn’t be too much of a reach in comparison.

I honestly have never given it a thought.

And I certainly didnt realise you could get one at Tescos! Like most folk, unless you get a letter from the GP surgery, just assumed I didnt need one.

 

[zzr45]

I get the flu jab for free. Not entirely sure why, but I get the letter through the post and a text. Should probably get one this year, but also, I weirdly enjoy having the flu.