Current Affairs Coronavirus Thread - Serious stuff !!!

[BlueToff]

it absolutely isn't, but surely there you blame the firm responsible

and in response to your other post, which I at least half agree with...

You can hold them to account, but it seems evidently clear that AZ stressed this to the EU when they were in talks. Again, their CEO makes a point of saying that they emphasised that they had already been delayed, they were already behind where they needed to be, but the EU insisted on getting their doses at the same time as the UK, despite a 3-month difference. Given this vaccine has been developed in 10-11 months, having a quarter of that as lead-time one way or the other is absolutely going to make a big difference and is certainly fair for AZ to have pointed out.

I'm seeing both sides, I just think the EU Commission have ballsed this up in the first place by taking charge of a situation it had no need to take charge of. Why in the world could it not have just said to those four nations that had an agreement back in June that they were fine to go ahead? In the meantime, the Commission could have used that deal as a basis for separate negotiations on behalf of the other member states if required?

 

[davek]

What would your plan be for reopening?

Play it safe and wait until 2022 or 2023?

My plan would have been to throttle the life out of any uncontrollable surge in this virus by shutting down tightly back in October. What we need now - because of that catastrophic decision to not do that but to murder people instead - is to wait until every vulnerable person has had their two jabs (which is why the later delay of that 2nd jab was so wrong. So, in my plan, reverse that decision and allow the manufacturer's instructions to hold sway. After that, allow a partial reopening of the economy (which is where we're at right now - but in my plan would have been reopening end of March to the levels of activity we have now).

That would have been my plan and would have saved about 20,000-30,000 people. Mr Johnson's plan was a little different: to let this virus rip through the country and break the health care system and top 100,000 deaths.

 

[Neiler]

Don’t think the FDA will be approving any use of AZ until the full Phase 3 US trials are complete later in Feb (which involve a bigger share of +65s iirc).

Perhaps EU might approve for <65s and then await that US test data and UK results to decide on expanding?

Have AZ applied in the States mate?

Its probably important to be clear on approval by regulators. What AZ are doing with the EU and likely the FDA are looking for full market approval. That is different and far more stringent from what they were approved for by the UK and the handful of other countries who are using it. Its authorized for emergency use in those countries, to the best of my knowledge. In the UK case the key criteria is as a precautionary measure during a justifiable public health crisis and can be used for an emergency until full licensing is being processed - which I'm sure it is in the UK.

 

[Billy Dean]

Depends on the contract. Which no one has seen.

I mean you are correct that supply of the stuff is 100% on AZ and Pfzior, but I find it "interesting" that the EU have piled onto one, but not the other.

They did pile onto Pfizer too. Italy threatened legal action against them. In the end Pfizer reduced their projection for the delays.

 

[peteblue]

Yeah hopefully. Could it be that might just provisionally approve for under 65s pending more data on those over?

You still don’t get them do you. It no longer has anything to do with if the vaccine works or not, the EU will be saying to AZ, give us the U.K. vaccines or we add the caveat about the over 65’s. AZ have two days to agree, or else. If they agree, it will get full approval. However, having bullied and put AZ between a rock and a hard place, AZ may just surprise them...

 

[roydo]

They did pile onto Pfizer too. Italy threatened legal action against them. In the end Pfizer reduced their projection for the delays.

All I have seen is the AZ stuff. Guess thats understandable, y'know.

 

[LinekersLegs]

Have AZ applied in the States mate?

Its probably important to be clear on approval by regulators. What AZ are doing with the EU and likely the FDA are looking for full market approval. That is different and far more stringent from what they were approved for by the UK and the handful of other countries who are using it. Its authorized for emergency use in those countries, to the best of my knowledge. In the UK case the key criteria is as a precautionary measure during a justifiable public health crisis and can be used for an emergency until full licensing is being processed - which I'm sure it is in the UK.

Not yet, application for emergency use only expected in April

When will AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine be available in the US?

It's unlikely AstraZeneca's vaccine will be authorized in the US before April. Nearly 30,000 people are volunteering to try it out first.

www.businessinsider.com

 

[BlueToff]

UK vaccination numbers up to and including Tuesday 26th Jan

 

[peteblue]

I havnt seen the contract, so no idea.

Was there a date for delivery of 100m or whatever it was? Production issues cos of internal stuff in a factory is hardly unheard of is it?

EU MEP’s have only seen a redacted version...seems like the EU are not too keen on anyone seeing it for some reason.....

 

[peteblue]

UK vaccination numbers up to and including Tuesday 26th Jan

View attachment 115617

Minor point, but they are not U.K. numbers, they are England numbers only......

 

[sbbefc]

My plan would have been to throttle the life out of any uncontrollable surge in this virus by shutting down tightly back in October. What we need now - because of that catastrophic decision to not do that but to murder people instead - is to wait until every vulnerable person has had their two jabs (which is why the later delay of that 2nd jab was so wrong. So, in my plan, reverse that decision and allow the manufacturer's instructions to hold sway. After that, allow a partial reopening of the economy (which is where we're at right now - but in my plan would have been reopening end of March to the levels of activity we have now).

That would have been my plan and would have saved about 20,000-30,000 people. Mr Johnson's plan was a little different: to let this virus rip through the country and break the health care system and top 100,000 deaths.

What I don't understand is how an Island nation outside of Schengen has the highest death rate in pretty much the world. Why wasn't the rest of the world cut off (except for very special circumstances and made to properly isolate)? It was only until very recently that they've bothered to test lorry drivers. I can understand a few cases will slip through the net due to our population and the lorry freight. But we had such an advantage with the vast majority of visitors having to enter and leave via airports.

We have a gov that allows high end business travel ffs. Utter nonsense.

 

[Neiler]

Not yet, application for emergency use only expected in April

When will AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine be available in the US?

It's unlikely AstraZeneca's vaccine will be authorized in the US before April. Nearly 30,000 people are volunteering to try it out first.

www.businessinsider.com

Thanks mate.

They really rushed to market didn't they on foot of Pfzer and Moderna, it seems almost mad how they got their outcome, that will raise a concern with regulators. I really hope the data stands up and its approved. But no point taking any risks especially with over 65s and vulnerable groups.

Friday is going to be very interesting.

Unless they provided the EU with a smoking gun of data in over 65's, its almost the logical conclusion to wait for the phase 3/FDA trial with over 65s.

Friday is going to be interesting.

 

[Billy Dean]

I don't envy those working in the EMA right now. I bet they've never had to do their jobs amid such a big poostorm before.

 

[tsubaki]

What I don't understand is how an Island nation outside of Schengen has the highest death rate in pretty much the world. Why wasn't the rest of the world cut off (except for very special circumstances and made to properly isolate)? It was only until very recently that they've bothered to test lorry drivers. I can understand a few cases will slip through the net due to our population and the lorry freight. But we had such an advantage with the vast majority of visitors having to enter and leave via airports.

We have a gov that allows high end business travel ffs. Utter nonsense.

It is a variety of factors - some of which this government are responsible for (like the flirtation with herd immunity, not taking the right decisions around lockdown early enough (twice) and encouraging behaviour which spread the virus like going on holiday), some which previous governments are responsible for (the running down of public health protection, running down of NHS capacity, failing to do anything about a recognized threat such as pandemics, failing to sort out misinformation sources) and some which are societal in nature (elderly population, a higher % of people with illnesses, densely populated etc).

What the PM (and government) must be asked about, before when the inquiry will be, whether he feels guilty etc is what he is going to do to protect us in future.

We can take steps now (and we could have in March) to hugely reduce the damage of the next waves of this. They've got to do it or this country is going to be ruined, economically and morally.

 

[BlueStevie35]

Hospital figures - 1125 deaths were announced today, up 221 on yesterday and down 41 on last Wednesday. 973 deaths were in English hospitals, up 98 on yesterday and down 54 on last week. The 7 day rolling average falls to an even 910

All settings - for the 28 day cut off, 1725 deaths were announced today, up 94 on yesterday and down 95 on last Wednesday. The 7 day rolling average falls to 1228.14

For the 60 day cut off, 1903 deaths were announced today, up 147 on yesterday and down 75 on last Wednesday. The 7 day rolling average falls to 1332.43