Whats Happening

[teacake44]

With all the euphoria that came with the vaccine, it now seems to have died all of a sudden. Considering all the bad news we've been having I would have thought that more coverage and progress of the vaccination would be welcome.

When the vaccine was first rolled out we were told that all sorts of different bodies were going to be involved in giving the vaccine including army personal/ dentists/ special trained people.
So far the latest figure is that half a million have been vaccinated ( Boris last night) if that's the case then progress is very slow. If that is correct? then its going to take between 3/6 weeks to give them all the second dose, so for the life of me I can't see that by the spring we will be making much progress. and even worse, is this a true figure? or are we being BS like we were with the testing, not half a million people vaccinated, but half a million doses given?

[woofgang]

be sensible...how can any of the vaccinated people have had their second dose yet? So long as every dose of vaccine delivered is being used then I think its going well. There is no point turning out extra vaccinators until there is extra vaccine and also, as I understand it, where can have the vaccine is limited by the super cold storage that is required. Once other vaccines are approved and there is more supply then the program will gather speed.

[Prudie]

Hancock, Vallance and Whitty were worried that their extended 15 minutes of fame and power might be coming to an end with a successful vaccine roll-out so they've managed to bury that good news with doom mongering extraordinaire...(tic answer)

[teacake44]

How can they have had their second dose. that's the point I'm making, That why I said between 3/6 weeks they will be due for the second one, so less will get the first. Thought I'd explained that?

[woofgang]

if you know that then how can you think that they mean that "vaccinated" means both doses?

[New Judge]

You may recall, tc, that when the euphoria began I had serious misgivings about the rollout if it was to be entrusted to the NHS. I know the first couple of weeks should not be seen as typical, but half a million in a little over two weeks is not very encouraging. My GP's centre has been all but closed to personal callers since March (apart from a brief sojourn when they reluctantly opened their doors - just - to give the plague carriers their 'flu jabs). On its website all it does regarding the Vaccine is to provide a link to the NHS page. This says:

"The vaccine is being offered in some hospitals and hundreds of local vaccination centres run by GPs."

Well if my GPs are running any of the "hundreds" of local centres, they are not using their own premises as one of them. I walked past there this morning at about 9:30 and the place was in darkness and no cars were in the car park (as it has been for eight months).

I sincerely hope I proved as wrong about the rollout as I was about the development but from what I can see so far there does not seem to be any rush to get things moving. A couple of reports I have seen from people who have received the jab indicate that the process is painfully slow and mired in bureaucracy. The online "calculator" which provides an idea of how long you will have to wait for your shot gives a default vaccination rate of 1,000,000 per week. I urge users to change that to something a little more realistic at the moment.

[teacake44]

They say they have x amount of vaccines, half a million is a drop in the ocean. They also said that by the spring things will improve, there's no way that is going to happen at the present rate. So over promising again I fear.

[woofgang]

You are right about not using GP offices NJ as they mostly don't have the room for people to wait for 15 minutes post vac. Our local surgeries have banded together and are using leisure centres.

[Mamyalynne]

Clickable link to a list of vaccination hubs here.

https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/publication/local-vaccination-services/

[teacake44]

It seems very odd to me that they are not making full us of the sterile nightingale hospitals around the UK. Is it a case of no staff again? and the training of other bodies has again fell by the wayside, or just wishful thinking.

[New Judge]

//Is it a case of no staff again?//

Very probably. There have been a number of letters in the press recently, one just today from a retired doctored in North London. She offered to volunteer to help with the vaccination programme. She had no joy enquiring locally and so went to the NHS website. She completed an online form and received an acknowledgement three weeks ago. That was the last she heard.

[Hopkirk]

My parents get theirs in January, in a village hall a few miles away.

[bobbinwales]

A priority at the moment is care homes and the very elderly/vunerable. Its not easy to get large numbers done there quickly. Drive 50 miles, to do a dozen jabs for elderly possible demeture cases is a slow process. Am hopefull things will speed up when its more of a production line at the sort of centess woolfgang mentioned in january. We'll get a better idea of speed by mid January

[New Judge]

//Its not easy to get large numbers done there quickly.//

Indeed it's not. But there is nothing to stop them running a "slow" programme for care homes, etc. and a somewhat quicker one for people who are able to get out and about. Not all old people are in care homes.

[teacake44]

I get the feeling that either Boris can't count, or the people that supply him with any figures can't, Or may be he is being supplied with the right figures, then he chooses to play with them in order to satisfy the masses.
When you have 900 lorries at a standstill at the time of his statements yesterday, but comes up with a figure of 170, I'm afraid I have little faith in the figures of the vaccine.

Again we seem to be getting lie after lie, and he continues to dig a bigger hole for himself, not to mention this country heading for even deeper trouble.

[ichkeria]

The vaccination rate will speed up of course assuming there are enough unaffected people to give it and take it.
Not sure what your point is: the second part of your post largely explains the first. It hasn’t really got into its stride yet and while it was nice to see Joe Biden getting his in the tv last night I’m not sure how exciting you can make a lot of folk sitting patiently waiting for the dart.
Perhaps a new series called “Prickly Come Dancing”?

[ladybirder]

I am thinking the second vaccine won't take as long as the first as there will be fewer procedures to go through as surely all the paperwork won't have to be repeated. They'll make sure you are who you say you are, give us the jab and I don't know if we have to wait 15 minutes after the second jab. Does anybody know?

[-SharonA-]

What a joke, none in my area!!!

[teacake44]

Can't really see the problem for care homes, they all have to rely on the local doctors some time or other when there's a problem, day and night. You have a whole batch of people all in the same place. Unless the local doctors are all still hiding away