Covid-19 Knowledge Updates

[Bob8]

Incidentally, Astra are not doing that much from what I understand, just commercialising. The work is done by Oxford University, production partners (FujiFIlm, AGC) and other smaller companies such as NovaVax.

[Damien]

19 hours ago, ckn said:

The NHS will not roll out without full approval. If that gets delayed then there will be no vaccination through the NHS. The unions alone would veto it, never mind the professional bodies, as it'd be an ethical violation. Or so I'm told.

I know amongst the NHS workers I know that there is real concern that they will be used as guinea pigs for this and they are very concerned about being the first ones to take a rushed through vaccine. I say rushed through as I wouldn't want to say untested, because to some extent it obviously is, but maybe not tested quite to the same extent and over the normal period of time to see the full effects. They are also worried what happens if they refuse to take it. None of these are anti-vaccination type people at all but they do have real concerns.

[LeeF]

4 hours ago, Damien said:

I know amongst the NHS workers I know that there is real concern that they will be used as guinea pigs for this and they are very concerned about being the first ones to take a rushed through vaccine. I say rushed through as I wouldn't want to say untested, because to some extent it obviously is, but maybe not tested quite to the same extent and over the normal period of time to see the full effects. They are also worried what happens if they refuse to take it. None of these are anti-vaccination type people at all but they do have real concerns.

Your post raises an interesting question and one that would probably require a poll!

If you were offered a vaccine either next month or early Q1 would you accept it? This is on the basis that it has been approved albeit not with a longer term testing period?

[ckn]

6 hours ago, Damien said:

I know amongst the NHS workers I know that there is real concern that they will be used as guinea pigs for this and they are very concerned about being the first ones to take a rushed through vaccine. I say rushed through as I wouldn't want to say untested, because to some extent it obviously is, but maybe not tested quite to the same extent and over the normal period of time to see the full effects. They are also worried what happens if they refuse to take it. None of these are anti-vaccination type people at all but they do have real concerns.

The science of vaccines has come along a very long way since I had four in one day prior to going to Saudi Arabia just over 30 years ago.

By the time the UK authorises this, the only serious question will be how long it lasts as an effective vaccine. The major risks will be known because of the sheer number of people involved in the Phase 3 tests. Of course there could be exceptions and unforeseen reactions in some, but they'll be statistical anomalies.

I would take the vaccine without question if offered on those terms.

To do anything else is to play into the hands of the scare-mongers and anti-vaxxers. (To discuss this point, take it to the politics forum!)

On what happens if you don't take it as a NHS employee is TBC. I have an exceptionally strong view on the flu vaccine, unless someone has a medical reason why they can't have it then I can't see any excuse for rejection by a NHS worker, especially a clinician. I can't see my view changing on this for a COVID vaccine. I am in a minority though in this and I can't see any way this will be made mandatory. It may mean that some are removed from roles involving immunosuppressed individuals or those who are at very high risk of complications, I doubt even the most feral of union shop stewards would oppose that.

[Spidey]

3 minutes ago, ckn said:

The science of vaccines has come along a very long way since I had four in one day prior to going to Saudi Arabia just over 30 years ago.

By the time the UK authorises this, the only serious question will be how long it lasts as an effective vaccine. The major risks will be known because of the sheer number of people involved in the Phase 3 tests. Of course there could be exceptions and unforeseen reactions in some, but they'll be statistical anomalies.

I would take the vaccine without question if offered on those terms.

To do anything else is to play into the hands of the scare-mongers and anti-vaxxers. (To discuss this point, take it to the politics forum!)

On what happens if you don't take it as a NHS employee is TBC. I have an exceptionally strong view on the flu vaccine, unless someone has a medical reason why they can't have it then I can't see any excuse for rejection by a NHS worker, especially a clinician. I can't see my view changing on this for a COVID vaccine. I am in a minority though in this and I can't see any way this will be made mandatory. It may mean that some are removed from roles involving immunosuppressed individuals or those who are at very high risk of complications, I doubt even the most feral of union shop stewards would oppose that.

I saw a Dialysis nurse reject an offer from a colleague for the flu jab. I was a bit surprised, given their role I would have thought it was a requirement to have one. I don’t know whether a condition dictated it but the way they declined didn’t suggest so

[Bob8]

There is fuss in Denmark, as corona virus got into mink, mutated, and then back to humans:

https://www.ssi.dk/aktuelt/nyheder/2020/smitte-hos-mink-og-mennesker

- I suggest opening in Chrome, right click to translate into English (if your Danish is rusty).

[Les Tonks Sidestep]

12 hours ago, Bob8 said:

There is fuss in Denmark, as corona virus got into mink, mutated, and then back to humans:

https://www.ssi.dk/aktuelt/nyheder/2020/smitte-hos-mink-og-mennesker

- I suggest opening in Chrome, right click to translate into English (if your Danish is rusty).

In case anyone's Danish is rusty and the translate won't work

 

 

[Les Tonks Sidestep]

Another cheap as chips drug that may help 

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/nov/07/aspirin-tested-uk-coronavirus-treatment-recovery-blood-clot

[Red Willow]

Greater Manchester has decided to stop non urgent ops  and treatment  due to Covid

[Bob8]

A database of the development of Covid-19 vaccines and therapies:

https://covidvax.org/

 

[Les Tonks Sidestep]

Another existing drug to help in the fight https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-55002339

The rheumatoid arthritis drugs tocilizumab appears to treat people who are critically ill with Covid-19, early trial data shows.

Trials of the drug were stopped two days ago as independent monitors said there was enough evidence, from the first 303 patients, to show it was working.

However, interpreting the results is complex.

They show an improvement in "outcomes", but this is a statistical conflation of other measures such as survival rates and time in intensive care. Doctors know the drug is doing something, but it will take time to know whether it is saving lives or just speeding up recovery.

[Les Tonks Sidestep]

More existing, approved for human use materials, to help

Anti-COVID-19 nasal spray 'ready for use in humans' (birmingham.ac.uk)

A nasal spray that can provide effective protection against the COVID-19 virus has been developed by researchers at the University of Birmingham, using materials already cleared for use in humans.

 

[Bearman]

The first man in the world to be given the Covid vaccine is an old work mate of mine.

He had us in stitches one day as he retold the story of how the police pulled him over in Stratford upon Avon for speeding.

They threatened  to arrest him on the spot when he gave them his name. He didn't have his licence on him  ( this was well before everything was computerised and before mobile phones ).

Eventually they believed that he really was called William Shakespeare.

 

[Les Tonks Sidestep]

More information to help tackle the disease

Covid: Genes hold clues to why some people get severely ill - BBC News