Coronavirus - Page 235

Sephiroth · 08-02-2021, 12:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

It can sometimes come across like a football club owner declaring confidence in a failing manager whilst he's scrambling to find his successor.

On the other hand, what should a minister do if asked the question?

In these circumstances, the minister should set up a press conference and ensure that the explanations are given by the trusted professionals.

nomadking · 08-02-2021, 12:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

https://www.ft.com/content/82534b15-...7-de674b11079c
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-55975052
https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-...ction-12211970

South Africa will have a higher proportion of the South Africa variant. Bit obvious really.

jfman · 08-02-2021, 12:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

In these circumstances, the minister should set up a press conference and ensure that the explanations are given by the trusted professionals.

If so it should be made explicitly clear if/where Ministers have diverged from scientific advice. It's not the job of public sector employees to provide Ministers a shield to hide behind if they've forged their own path.

1andrew1 · 08-02-2021, 12:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by nomadking

South Africa will have a higher proportion of the South Africa variant. Bit obvious really.

I don't think that's in contention.

Sephiroth · 08-02-2021, 13:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfman

If so it should be made explicitly clear if/where Ministers have diverged from scientific advice. It's not the job of public sector employees to provide Ministers a shield to hide behind if they've forged their own path.

Your last sentence - yes obviously. My reading of the JVT and Whitty performances is that they do not let the ministers hide behind their advice. Same with the Oxford labs lady.

**Hugh** · 08-02-2021, 15:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by nomadking

South Africa will have a higher proportion of the South Africa variant. Bit obvious really.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

I don't think that's in contention.

FYI...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/healt...fe5_story.html

Quote:

U.K. coronavirus variant spreading rapidly through United States, study finds

The coronavirus variant that shut down much of the United Kingdom is spreading rapidly across the United States, outcompeting other strains and doubling its prevalence among confirmed infections every week and a half, according to new research made public Sunday.

Quote:

The report concludes that the variant has been 35 to 45 percent more transmissible than other strains of the virus in the United States.
“It is here, it’s got its hooks deep into this country, and it’s on its way to very quickly becoming the dominant lineage,” said Michael Worobey, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Arizona and a co-author of the new paper.

**Chris** · 08-02-2021, 15:49

The British are coming!

jfman · 08-02-2021, 16:50

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/pfi...134831267.html

Quite difficult to find this good news in the more mainstream UK press but a tiny study appears to show the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine as producing and effective response to the South African variant.

Sky's opinion piece has someone describing it as a "little more effective" than the Oxford/Astrazenica one. Obviously real world results could vary, and we hope all vaccines work regardless of where they are being deployed. However it seems nobody does vaccine nationalism quite like the Great British press.

papa smurf · 08-02-2021, 17:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfman

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/pfi...134831267.html

Quite difficult to find this good news in the more mainstream UK press but a tiny study appears to show the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine as producing and effective response to the South African variant.

Sky's opinion piece has someone describing it as a "little more effective" than the Oxford/Astrazenica one. Obviously real world results could vary, and we hope all vaccines work regardless of where they are being deployed. However it seems nobody does vaccine nationalism quite like the Great British press.

In a study of 20 vaccine recipients, researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston, America, found that the vaccine neutralises the virus with the N501Y and E484K mutations.

No wonder it's not in the mainstream press.

**Chris** · 08-02-2021, 17:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfman

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/pfi...134831267.html

Quite difficult to find this good news in the more mainstream UK press but a tiny study appears to show the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine as producing and effective response to the South African variant.

Sky's opinion piece has someone describing it as a "little more effective" than the Oxford/Astrazenica one. Obviously real world results could vary, and we hope all vaccines work regardless of where they are being deployed. However it seems nobody does vaccine nationalism quite like the Great British press.

The AstraZeneca vaccine makes up the bulk of our supply at present. Stories of its effectiveness are obviously of greater interest.

A study of 20 patients has no statistical significance whatsoever - you have consistently felt entitled to question the effectiveness of the AstraZeneca vaccine on a far larger sample of over-65s.

I think you need to decide what you believe and stick to it ...

jfman · 08-02-2021, 18:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

The AstraZeneca vaccine makes up the bulk of our supply at present. Stories of its effectiveness are obviously of greater interest.

A study of 20 patients has no statistical significance whatsoever - you have consistently felt entitled to question the effectiveness of the AstraZeneca vaccine on a far larger sample of over-65s.

I think you need to decide what you believe and stick to it ...

I acknowledge it’s a tiny study and real world results could vary - I’m not sure what’s wrong about that? It obviously needs more research, and indeed as the Pfizer vaccine rolls out in the real world further data can and will emerge.

I hope the emerging data on over 65s for the AstraZeneca vaccine is good, and I’ve acknowledged the scope for other countries to use the doubts as a way to push past the “hardest to reach” and get more vaccine out there from larger sites. I’m not sure what’s wrong about that but I find it hard to believe all these scientists in all these other countries are questioning the data simply to irk the UK as the Daily Express keep telling me.

pip08456 · 08-02-2021, 19:46

It's only the EU countries that are doing it to irk the UK. Haven't you realised that yet?

1andrew1 · 08-02-2021, 19:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by pip08456

It's only the EU countries that are doing it to irk the UK. Haven't you realised that yet?

The USA and Switzerland are both in on this dastardly conspiracy too!

jfman · 08-02-2021, 20:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by pip08456

It's only the EU countries that are doing it to irk the UK. Haven't you realised that yet?

And South Africa who have paused their rollout plans completely.

Mad Max · 08-02-2021, 21:06

Not long back from getting the Pfizer jab, had to stand outside in the snow for 45 minutes in a pretty big queue, once inside it was a pretty quick turnaround, the nurse was really nice and apologised for the delay, which she said was about an hour, no idea why there was a delay, maybe something to do with the bad weather, anyway I go back in 12 weeks for second dose.