Current Affairs Coronavirus Thread - Serious stuff !!!

[grandjoeblue]

Interested to hear whether many people have made changes due to the new variant? Is anyone avoiding bars/restaurants?

I've heard from family about a few businesses cancelling Christmas parties, the logic seems to be along the lines of we can't risk large amount of staff members being ill at once.

 

[tsubaki]

Sounds as though at least 50% are “falling for this crap” in Manchester airport. I was on the tube in London yesterday and I’d say mask wearing was near enough 100%. I saw about 3 people not wearing one

Rare that, but welcome.

 

[Tree13]

Probably 90% of the nurses in my wife's team are BAME and the unvaccinated rate is extremely high.

Interesting. I wonder if there's anything about the area of specialty that has an influence, or the part of the country in which they work?

Most of the Doctors in my mother's clinic are BAME: all vaccinated. Of course, BAME covers a wide range of cultures and backgrounds, from West Africa to Sri Lanka to The Philippines, and all points in between.

 

[bluelife]

In Manchester airport now, not messing I would say mask wearing is around 50% possibly below. Half the staff and police aren’t wearing them, bars and shops are packed.

No one is falling for this crap anymore.

Not falling for this crap, or their very small portion of generosity was used up last year?

 

[woomy]

This is fascinating to read. My mother is a nurse, as are around half a dozen of my friends. I also have several old uni friends who have gone on to become Doctors - each and every single one of them is vaccinated as far up to date as possible, and strongly advocates for others to do the same. I've given blood twice in the last year - every member of staff I spoke to (five or six at each session) was fully vaccinated. I've been to the Dentist and the Hygienist a couple times too: all vaccinated.

I'm not suggesting for one second my anecdotal evidence (given the small sample size) is in any way of greater value than that of the research the Nursing Times has (presumably) done, but I find it interesting that my own experience of NHS staff is 100% vaccinated, 100% pro-vaccine, and none of them knew of a colleague who was anti.

There really are loads that are not vaccinated. I know my trust is in a bit of a panic about it. We normally struggle for staff around late march. Everyone trying to get annual leave in, those that don't have any left, going on sick cause they know permanent staff are going off so they don't want to work with bank/agency. Now this.
There are moves to literally get anybody in to a position.
I personally know of of around 20ish who just point blank refuse to have the jabs and are willing to lose their jobs over it. It is tending to be the older staff. So maybe they take early retirement and it goes as natural turnover of staff.
But they still need replacing. That is just those that I know about in one hospital.

 

[Tree13]

There really are loads that are not vaccinated. I know my trust is in a bit of a panic about it. We normally struggle for staff around late march. Everyone trying to get annual leave in, those that don't have any left, going on sick cause they know permanent staff are going off so they don't want to work with bank/agency. Now this.
There are moves to literally get anybody in to a position.
I personally know of of around 20ish who just point blank refuse to have the jabs and are willing to lose their jobs over it. It is tending to be the older staff. So maybe they take early retirement and it goes as natural turnover of staff.
But they still need replacing. That is just those that I know about in one hospital.

I'm not doubting you mate. I just find it fascinating that my own experience is so absolute.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Interesting. I wonder if there's anything about the area of specialty that has an influence, or the part of the country in which they work?

Most of the Doctors in my mother's clinic are BAME: all vaccinated. Of course, BAME covers a wide range of cultures and backgrounds, from West Africa to Sri Lanka to The Philippines, and all points in between.

Yes, I wouldn't want to draw conclusions from a very small sample, but given the well documented risk BAME folk face from Covid it's noticeable how few around here wear masks either. The area around me has a huge number of churches, and I have a sense that many of the patrons heavily tie their lives to that of their local church so perhaps get their information and habits from there rather than the kind of channels used by the government to communicate with people. It will certainly be interesting to see what happens in March or whenever it is that frontline staff need to be vaccinated though.

 

[Tree13]

Yes, I wouldn't want to draw conclusions from a very small sample, but given the well documented risk BAME folk face from Covid it's noticeable how few around here wear masks either. The area around me has a huge number of churches, and I have a sense that many of the patrons heavily tie their lives to that of their local church so perhaps get their information and habits from there rather than the kind of channels used by the government to communicate with people. It will certainly be interesting to see what happens in March or whenever it is that frontline staff need to be vaccinated though.

In wider society I guess I can see how that all comes about, but when we are talking about NHS staff it just seems bizarre to me.

 

[Walken]

Not falling for this crap, or their very small portion of generosity was used up last year?

Or the lads a liar, airport mask wearing has been a constant pretty much

 

[Runub]

Just on Sky News ....Germany will make vaccines mandatory in February - Merkel

 

[LinekersLegs]

 

[Bruce Wayne]

In wider society I guess I can see how that all comes about, but when we are talking about NHS staff it just seems bizarre to me.

I know there were a few campaigns earlier in the year to increase vaccination rates in these communities. Again, purely anecdotally as my wife's colleagues are the main source of information, but the general consensus among even those that have had it is that they're only doing so so they can travel rather than any real health-related motivations.

UK faith leaders join to counter fears over vaccine in BAME communities

Campaign is launched in places of worship to dispel concerns and anxieties in groups where jab acceptance is low

www.theguardian.com

It's a funny one, but then I guess many of the motivations around this issue are. My uncle is fully down the anti-vaxx rabbit hole, so doesn't have it, but he's also quite far gone with MS so if he did catch Covid I reckon he'd be done for. That's mad enough, but neither of his grown up daughters have it either, and you'd think they'd do all they could to protect him if nothing else.

 

[tsubaki]

Just on Sky News ....Germany will make vaccines mandatory in February - Merkel

Daft decision that

 

[coollino]

Interested to hear whether many people have made changes due to the new variant? Is anyone avoiding bars/restaurants?

I've heard from family about a few businesses cancelling Christmas parties, the logic seems to be along the lines of we can't risk large amount of staff members being ill at once.

we didn't have a full one this year but going to the team lunch tomorrow - we've been given £30 each, not bad.

was meant to be in the office at 9 or so for the first time since March 2020 but sadly there is a train strike and i can't get there until 11 lol

I semi avoid pubs as it gets closer to christmas as they get a bit annoying (pre covid) anyhow

 

[woomy]

In wider society I guess I can see how that all comes about, but when we are talking about NHS staff it just seems bizarre to me.

I tell you what. NHS staff are no angels.
A quote from somebody I work with. I don't want to take the vaccine, but I want my life back, go to the pub, Take my kids to the cinema, go on a family holiday. I don't want that in me, but if I have to, to get my life back, then I will get it.

We are talking about one of the world's largest employers. There is no way everyone has the same view on vaccination. If you just look at the scale of the organisation and jobs involved. There are a ton of people who never see a patient. Admin, maintenance, managers, etc. Then you have your old timers who are set in their ways.

It will be interesting come March. 1 month away from the deadline, to see how many staff we stand to lose. I wouldn't be surprised if talk of a big payrise gets leaked around then. Just to make people think.