Covid - news and views

How does it puts those people who cannot have the vaccine due to underlying health reasons at risk, plus, at the moment, those awaiting the vaccine, plus those who are like minded and also refuse the vaccine?

The World can’t even agree on that, I found Harvard immunologists suggesting 80%, the Lancet journal suggesting 85%🤷🏻‍♂️. I’m no expert but there seems plenty out there are🙄

The more people who take up the vaccine then the quicker the virus will hopefully die out. If herd immunity isn't reached then these people will be responsible for keeping it going. 

I do understand that even if I have the vaccine that I can still transmit the virus to someone else.  My point is more the fact that if herd immunity isn't reached the possibility of the virus remaining active increases.

As you say plenty are suggesting various figures from about 70% upwards.  As somebody said up thread  "Follow the science not the idiots"

In this case the ever cautious WHO has said  "The proportion of the population that must be vaccinated against COVID-19 to begin inducing herd immunity is not known".  

Of course research is on going and we now need to wait rather than mislead.

Flu is a corona virus which spreads, mutates, and kills thousands every year despite millions being vaccinated against it and herd immunity has never been reached.  We live with it. 

SARS-CoV-2 will most likely be with the same as Flu; it will remain active and we will have to live with.  The current vaccines will for the most part prevent people getting seriously ill, although that is not guaranteed.  They do not guarantee that you will not catch the virus, nor do they guarantee that you will not spread it if you do get infected. noticeably or asymptomatically.

Bearing in mind that the primary objective of the virus is to replicate, the later mutations seem to be residing more heavily in the upper respiratory tract of those infected making it much easier for the virus to be spread by aerosol (coughs and sneezes spread diseases). 

One thing we have yet to see is the SARS-CoV-2 virus becoming less dangerous.  It can't replicate if it kills its hosts so it may yet become more able to easily spread but less of a killer.  Sneaky!

Established facts have little to do with individual decisions. Look at the deliberations in the US Senate as an example. Irrational decisions fly in the face of evidence.

The real worry is that the more cases around = a far greater capability to mutate. Remember the infinite number of chimps with typewriters producing Shakespeare argument.

You can read all about the Gov. National Flu and Covid 19 Weekly Surveillance HERE It's good to know how much work is being done on our behalf.

The information from our  Dog walking NHS ward sister, it is suspected that this seasons lower flue infection rates are the result of the much enhanced ,cleaning regime  being carried in all public places against  covid , which has reduced the contamination of surfaces, reducing the spread of many other viruses. which will need to be continued into the distant future, to keep covid at the levels, that will enable any form of the life we have left behind

Genius, I like that-‘follow the science not the idiots’, it’s catchy👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Huge excitement here today🤩 Dog has had his booster, interestingly, no booster for Kennel Cough, it’s a live vaccine and can be a risk to anyone with suppressed immune system and Covid so they are holding fire on it. While waiting at vets, phone went ping, lo and behold, Sis and I have been invited for our first jabs. Fabulous news, as neither of us were expecting to hear anything before late March. I think they are calling in those on a standby list for Pfizer, and as we are both classed as unpaid carers, probably got an early call. Good news for us though.