Care Homes

[Barsel]

It seems there are still a lot of deaths from Covid in the care homes even though a large number of residents have had the vaccine. As the vaccine is supposed to protect us from becoming seriously ill or dying, can this mean that there are deaths from people who have had the vaccine or is that information not available yet?

https://www.carehomeprofessional.com/breaking-news-covid-deaths-surge-again-in-care-homes/

[emmie]

i heard this on news the other night, quite worrying, i don't know the answer to your question barsel. what is worrying is the take up of the vaccine by the staff in these care homes, particularly in the capital, not nearly enough to make them safe. i wouldn't like to have a relative in one of these places, or be in one myself.

[emmie]

that problem about staff take up of the vaccine is in your link -
you can't make them have it, but i would have thought for their duty of care to the residents its a must.

[Barsel]

I agree emmie. Quite surprising how many people are saying they won't have the vaccine, and I do wonder why, especially as they are working in a place where there is a good chance of them catching the virus.

[bobbinwales]

Possible factors;
-has been difficult to organise vaccinnes in some homes- some logistical delays, some still not done
-some not well enough or able to be vaccinnated against there will
-vaccinnes take 3 weeks to be effective
-some who die may already have had covid before the vaccinnation and are already weak
-vaccinnes are only around 70% effective altho risk of serious illness/dying is much lower
-take up of care staff for vaccinnes is not high

[postman44]

A lot of care home safe are refusing to have the vaccine and are still working that is the problem even though residents have been vaccinated

[emmie]

two care home staff members were on the news a week ago, saying they both had had covid 19 and weren't planning on getting the vaccine, scared of the after effects perhaps, but can't understand this thinking at all.

[bobbinwales]

The article says "The figures for the week ending 22 January mark a 546 rise in deaths in the previous week, the biggest jump since mid-May. " (There talking about in Care Homes)
Some of those deaths could of occured earlier in January. Vaccinnations genrally hadn't been done or had time to take effect for many of those. The benifits should come in second half of February
Am sure this is being monitored but as JVT said yesterday its too early to draw conclusions yet on effectiveness in practice

[KARL]

As already pointed out, the effects of immunity conferred by vaccines take time to show up in the statistics. That said, transparency is in too short supply and we shouldn't expect the statistics to be obviously available unless and until the politicians (who, in the UK, are in charge of everything Covid) decide either the figures make them look "successful" or else they have to publish them because a whiff has reached the media, or they have simply leaked out. If the figures turn out to look bad then the efficacy of the vaccines needs to be reassessed - the figures will be carefully guarded for as long as it takes.

[roslyn251254]

Two million people who are over 70 or work in healthcare have not yet been vaccinated ....reported in Times today.....that's a large number....

[naomi24]

Roslyn, perhaps they’re refusing the vaccine. There’s considerable concern at the numbers from ethnic minorities who are refusing it.

[Barsel]

Karl, I totally agree.
roslyn I saw that too and yes, 2m is a lot, and I don't think there will ever be a time when everyone will have accepted the vaccine so I don't know where that leaves us.

[Sunk]

The AstraZeneca vaccine is 62% effective. Possibly less in older people. So some people who have had the vaccine will still catch it.
The winter months are when older people are more vulnerable to respiratory problems.

[bednobs]

There are many younger people in care homes. These people are likely to be in group six or below and will not have been called for their vaccines yet.

[emmie]

the women interviewed who have so far refused the vaccine were in their forties and older. They are care home nurses, who should by rights have the vaccine, both are from BAME backgrounds, where many work in the care industry, as assistants, nurses.

[emmie]

i should have added that they work particularly in the capital.

[bednobs]

I had a leaflet through the door yesterday advertising that all staff and residents at a local care home had had the jab, so if you needed care you could trust them. Perhaps in future, people will use that criteria to chose their care home. Although what happens when someone wants to live there who's not vaccinated, or one of their staff leaves, I dunno!

[emmie]

as been said its a minefield..

[Barsel]

It is a minefield emmie, has been from the beginning. Always conflicting reports, not knowing who to believe. When I read things like how many care homes have had the vac, I'm assuming they mean everyone in the care home. Unless they make it mandatory for everyone in the caring profession to have it, I can't see how they can move forward.

[emmie]

but they haven't made it mandatory for anyone to have it, nor i think can they. If they chose not to have the vaccine they are putting their residents at risk.