The COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Australia has begun

[Oneworldplus2]

We will see soon enough what herd immunity looks like.

England

19th July (if all goes to plan)

Dubbed by some as 'Freedom Day'.

England will move to the final stage of easing Covid restrictions on 19 July, ministers have confirmed.
It means almost all legal restrictions on social contact will be removed.
But the prime minister said it was vital to proceed with "caution", warning "this pandemic is not over" .
The peak of the current wave is not expected before mid-August and could lead to between 1,000 and 2,000 hospital admissions per day, according to government scientists.
Central estimates from modellers advising the government also show that Covid deaths are expected to be between 100 and 200 per day at the peak, although there is a large amount of uncertainty.

Covid: England lockdown rules to end on 19 July, PM confirms

.​

 

[JB expat]

We will see soon enough what herd immunity looks like.

England

19th July (if all goes to plan)

Dubbed by some as 'Freedom Day'.

Covid: England lockdown rules to end on 19 July, PM confirms

.​

Very interested in seeing what it looks like for the vaccinated and the unvaccinated...and I have my fingers crossed for those too young or unable to be vaccinated. And of course the healthcare workers who will have to take care of the unvaccinated.

 

[bcworld]

Yup...estimated to be 17 million people without the benefit of vaccination or antibodies from prior COVID in the UK.

 

[serfty]

Yup...estimated to be 17 million people without the benefit of vaccination or antibodies from prior COVID in the UK.

Here's an interesting BBC article - 87% of adults 19+ have had at least one jab.

Covid vaccine: How many people are vaccinated in the UK?

A look at progress made in vaccinating the country, as more than 52 million people have received at least one dose and 38 million have had a booster or third dose.

www.bbc.com

 

[bcworld]

Here's an interesting BBC article - 87% of adults 19+ have had at least one jab.

Covid vaccine: How many people are vaccinated in the UK?

A look at progress made in vaccinating the country, as more than 52 million people have received at least one dose and 38 million have had a booster or third dose.

www.bbc.com

Yes that's correct...and still leaves the 17M with no antibodies (which is based on a generous assumption that 20% of the unvaccinated have previously had COVID).

Some.of the concerns are expressed in this article:

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01589-0/fulltext

 

[Pushka]

Yes that's correct...and still leaves the 17M with no antibodies (which is based on a generous assumption that 20% of the unvaccinated have previously had COVID).

Some.of the concerns are expressed in this article:

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01589-0/fulltext

School holidays start in UK this Friday for several weeks so that might reduce the spread. .

 

[bcworld]

School holidays start in UK this Friday for several weeks so that might reduce the spread. .

In England yes, in Scotland I assume about 2 weeks ago...but yes, with the 4 week delay to freedom day that is a good thing.

 

[drron]

ATAGI provided science based recommendations.

Scott Morrison et al have been changing the spin to suit the political circumstances.

Imagine that if the Australian Govt had acted like 21 of the 33 countries who ordered Pfizer in large (relative to their populations) quantities prior to Australia's last order.

So that today, and for the last 13 weeks or more, anyone over 40yrs of age could either have Pfizer or AZ vaccinations.

Would you still be criticising ATAGI?

As a great sign given to me to hang up on the approach to my desk early in my career said:

"Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine."

Also her advice to hold my pair of scissors in a 'Psycho' movie-like way wouldn't hurt either while certain recalcitrants approached....She was right.

I applaud ATAGI for refusing to be brow-beaten & stand by their earlier recommendations made on the basis of science & not poll-driven pressures. Imagine the total loss of credibility if they'd done otherwise.

Yes from the news articles I posted earlier by the 5th november the USA had a firm order for 100 million Pfizer doses.Enought to vaccinate 50 million people or 14% of their population
The EU 100 million doses of Pfizer enough for 11% of their population.
The UK 30 million doses enough for 23% of their poulation.

And of course Australia a miserly 10 million doses or just 20% of our population covered.

And now ATAGI have modified the advice for those in Sydney due to the increased risk of covid based on the science not political pressure.

 

[mviy]

Front Page of tomorrow's Australian includes an article called Hotspot 'young' urged to get AZ
On the Front Page of The Age is For Young, an age-old question about risk.

 

[Princess Fiona]

As far as I am concerned ATAGI when they first released the guidelines on the AZ vaccine should have added the statement that if there was a significant outbreak occurring the risk evaluation may change leading to a change in the AZ guidelines.

ATAGI did release a 10 page document recently updated which did say this although somewhat buried in the 10 pages and figures.

“To help providers and consumers make informed decisions, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has looked at three scenarios that show the benefits and risks of vaccination with COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca. The benefits and risks vary depending on how many COVID-19 cases there are in the community, and the age of the person being vaccinated.
Individual and societal benefits of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca
In these 3 scenarios, the benefits of vaccination with COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca in preventing severe COVID-19 outweigh the potential risks in:
 older adults in the low exposure risk scenario
 all adults in the medium and high exposure risk scenarios.

Unfortunately the latter part (with my bolding) wasn’t really publicized.
Sydney, especially SW and W Sydney being well into the medium and high risk exposure scenario they have detailed

ATAGI

 

[drron]

In England yes, in Scotland I assume about 2 weeks ago...but yes, with the 4 week delay to freedom day that is a good thing.

Scotland case numbers are rising.

Welcome to Precision Vaccinations News

Precision Vaccinations News publishes vaccine news patients can trust to make informed immunization decisions in partnership with doctors, nurses, and pharmacists.

www.coronavirustoday.com

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Well in France a little incentive has caused a surge in those booking in to get vaccinated.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1414866734734094345

 

[MooTime]

Yes from the news articles I posted earlier by the 5th november the USA had a firm order for 100 million Pfizer doses.Enought to vaccinate 50 million people or 14% of their population
The EU 100 million doses of Pfizer enough for 11% of their population.
The UK 30 million doses enough for 23% of their poulation.

And of course Australia a miserly 10 million doses or just 20% of our population covered.

And now ATAGI have modified the advice for those in Sydney due to the increased risk of covid based on the science not political pressure.

So on those figures, Australia's 20% capability of pfizer is very comparable to other majors.
Now we'll have 40M Pfizer doses by years end, lot more than the original mentioned 10M.
So by years end all that want a vac, especially Pfizer or even others coming onboard will have no issue getting it, avoiding the roll of the dice age group relevant AZ shambles.

6 months of 2021 remaining, but imo we'll only continue to see vac uptake.

 

[DC3]

… we'll have 40M Pfizer doses by years end, lot more than the original mentioned 10M …

If that’s the plan, let’s hope that it comes about. Something has to start going right.

Edit: Then, in the new year, there will be the booster shots?

 

[MooTime]

If that’s the plan, let’s hope that it comes about. Something has to start going right.

Edit: Then, in the new year, there will be the booster shots?

well its been very very clearly stated, amazed me how so many simply fail to read behind the headlines.

always bewilders me that so many can't read & see the plan ahead, but happy to kick everyone who stands in their way of travelling o/s.

aussies such bigger wingers than the poms.

 

[Lynda2475]

Edit: Then, in the new year, there will be the booster shots?

According to ABC last night, Feds have only ordered a small number of Moderna for boosters, they have not yet ordered any Pfizer boosters for next year. It seems short sighted to not be planning ahead.

In contrast the EU has already placed orders for enough Pfizer boosters for their entire population for both for 2022 and 2023 (plus also orders for J&J as a back-up).

This isnt a short game, its a long game. We need to have ordered enough MRNA boosters for 2022 for 100% of our population and get moving on manufacturing facility so can start making our own.

 

[mviy]

According to ABC last night, Feds have only ordered a small number of Moderna for boosters,

How is that news?

We have ordered Novavax and CSL can produce AstraZeneca and is doing so right now. We may also be able to produce Novavax locally. Plenty of options for boosters.

 

[mviy]

I suspect the government would want Pfizer to bring forward further the timeline for existing contracted doses for this year as a sweetener for any order for boosters. I wouldn’t be surprised if that is a sticking point for negotiations.

 

[Lynda2475]

How is that news?

Because once again the feds are being short sighted and not properly planning ahead.

We have ordered Novavax and CSL can produce AstraZeneca and is doing so right now. Plenty of options for boosters.

AZ is being retired and will not be used for boosters. Novavax is not yet approved, it is still in trials - no where actually has Novavax to use, it could stumble at last hurdle.

Pfizer and Moderna however already developing and taking orders for boosters specific to emerging variants of concerns.

We need MRNA boosters, not old tech. You may be happy to put all our eggs once again in the dud AZ basket, BUT we should not.

There is absolutely no excuse for not putting in more orders for next year already (up the moderna orders and add some Pfizer), most other countries already have, we are already really far down the queue.

 

[drron]

According to ABC last night, Feds have only ordered a small number of Moderna for boosters, they have not yet ordered any Pfizer boosters for next year. It seems short sighted to not be planning ahead.

In contrast the EU has already placed orders for enough Pfizer boosters for their entire population for both for 2022 and 2023 (plus also orders for J&J as a back-up).

This isnt a short game, its a long game. We need to have ordered enough MRNA boosters for 2022 for 100% of our population and get moving on manufacturing facility so can start making our own.

Well they have ordered 15 million doses of the booster vaccine.Seeing that we have only used 10 million doses so far and the majority are first doses it means less than 3 million booster doses needed early next year so the 15 million should last into the second half of next year.

Added to that they are discussing with Moderna the possibility of onshore manufacture of their vaccines.

Australia secures Moderna vaccines

The Australian Government has secured 25 million doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to further diversify our vaccine portfolio as well as provide access to a booster or variant vaccine should this be required in the future.

www.health.gov.au

So 15 million booster doses and a delivery of 10 million doses of their current vaccine which was announced 2 months ago I think makes that ABC report a bit OTT IMHO.

PS the Novavax Phase 3 trials have been completed.The problem is with the manufacture with many ingredients and equipment in short supply.