Re: Coronavirus
 

Also having a reasonably compliant, young and healthy population helps. The UK’s average age is high, our incidence of obesity is high (a known risk factor), and, frankly, we’re a belligerent lot who won’t be told.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Compared to other countries in Europe, I think we're a pretty compliant bunch - just look at our acceptance of vaccines and lack of rioting. But I agree on the age/obesity aspect.

But to state that if you have a lower number of infections in the first place as if this is somewhat dealt out randomly is flawed.

Re: Coronavirus
 

If it holds up in the population as a whole, yes.

The most obvious question is the methodology that gave them their sample size, which has a test positivity rate at over 60% for the unvaccinated 80+ year olds. This at face value seems high.

I’m surprised we don’t have something using population wide data by now breaking down cases, hospitalisations and deaths by age tracking back to the start of vaccinations. All of these figures will be reducing due to lockdown but a nice graph should show a clear and increasing effect of the vaccine in older age groups compared to the population as a whole.



---------- Post added at 04:07 ---------- Previous post was at 04:06 ----------

Evidently you only hear what you want to hear.

Re: Coronavirus
 

There was ample inferred evidence but insufficient direct evidence, that's the point. The UK, the EU in the form of EMA and WHO recommended use in over 65s and a lot of countries were not convinced. Hey, Switzerland sent the application back and said try again. Some countries are more stringent than others when it comes to drug safety. That's the remit of the regulatory bodies. Of course, the current picture with infections and the options for other vaccines in each country will influence the decision and that's more health policy. I guess in this country that will be the MHRA and JCVI - MHRA says the vaccine is safe and effective and JCVI decides how the vaccine will be implemented.

If there's an alternative that is proven to be effective in over 65s rather than inferred, then the pressure is off to take the chance, however small.

Re: Coronavirus
 

5 taxis and several cars outside a nearby house piqued police interest early this morning. All in the "high risk" category.

Immigration officers are there now.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Here you go. This is daily deaths in England for under and over-60s (data from ONS). I've scaled the 0-59 graph by a factor of 10 to make them roughly the same height. You'd expect the over 60s to be better at complying with the lockdowns so any difference isn't entirely due to vaccines. However in the first spike the over-60s deaths came down slower than the under-60. This time the over-60s are coming down quicker.

https://www.cableforum.uk/images/local/2021/03/3.jpg

Re: Coronavirus
 

I've been catching up on some work related news websites to see what's new and found this article - Top 7 Best Selling COVID-19 Vaccines and Drugs of 2020 . This has 2020 sales figures and forecasts for 2021.

There's a lot of money out there for the pharma companies (and their suppliers :D )

Re: Coronavirus
 

It’s worth remembering that sales revenue is not the same as profit. Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are significantly more expensive than most of the others listed there, especially the AZ vaccine which by some measures is the cheapest of the lot, although this may be partly due to the not-for-profit basis on which AstraZeneca was given the formulation developed at Oxford University.

There’s a decent infographic here, detailing what unit price the pharma companies are selling covid vaccines at:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-55170756

Re: Coronavirus
 

Novavax is also being sold to the African Union at the same price as Oxford-AstraZeneca's vaccine at $3 per shot. The Russian Sputnik V vaccine is $9.75 a shot so considerably more expensive, but not Pfizer and Moderna levels.

So I guess the West is winning on soft diplomacy thanks to the two $3 vaccines.

Re: Coronavirus
 

The most important coronavirus information you need today - https://onewayroadtobeer.com/

Re: Coronavirus
 

Except for viewers in Scotland :(

Re: Coronavirus
 

Aye. :mad:

Re: Coronavirus
 

You'll have less moderating to do as a lot of your posters will be entertaining themselves in English beer gardens. :D :beer:

Re: Coronavirus
 

Yeah, arguing about the finer details on non-tariff barriers to trade and pharmaceutical regulation vs who is getting the next round in.

Let me think about it....:scratch:

Re: Coronavirus
 

A third study has further substantiated the claim that a single dose of either the Pfizer or the AZ vaccine reduces hospitalisation by 80% in those aged over 80.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-56267473

I can't help thinking that this latest piece of research still won't be enough for anyone still desperately hoping that the British government and the devolved administrations made a horrible mistake in opting for the 12-week dosage gap...