Covid - news and views

Mine will is on Friday, but this is what happens when you bring in the Military to handle the logistics of moving the vaccines around the country etc, and a Captain of industry to manage the procurement.

"Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said it was "only sensible" to cancel his trip to India, due to take place on 26 April, given the Covid situation in the country.
India has been reporting more than 200,000 cases daily since 15 April."
 sensible under the circumstances, wonder if he would have moved into a hotel for 10 days at a cost of £1750 on his return

David

Don't think it a case of human error because for most injections/vaccinations it probably wouldn't make any difference. It is just the fact that COVID vaccinations seem to have thrown up this oddity of blood clots so it's probably worth looking at all aspects. The requirement, as I understand it,  is for the vaccine to be injected into the deltoid muscle at the top of the arm. Most blokes usually have a good muscle mass in that area but often women don't so there is more risk of it being put in the wrong place. They have shown on TV vaccinations being given all over the world and in some countries they seem a bit low to me. Having said that those I have seen being given in the UK all seem to be in the right place. It may prove nothing in the end but worth looking even to just eliminate it as a risk.

David

Wow what a lot of questions.  Here’s some answers based on my very limited knowledge.  I’m no expert. 

David K the needle is not aspirated.  I’m not sure but I think that procedure is used when giving intravenous injections to stop air bubbles getting into the system.  Thinking about it, it can’t be that important as loads of people give themselves injections regularly, me included, and most are ready packaged with no means of doing as you suggest.  Many of the Flu vaccines are like that and auto injectors. 

I was taught to inject into a small triangular target area on the upper arm.  If you have had the vaccine you will know where.  It is an area of muscle and no major veins, certainly no arteries to worry about. 

Like me many of the jabbers are just reasonably experienced first aiders trained up by St Johns and others.  The details are on line if you want to look up how it is done. 

Frankly The UK has done wonders with the numbers vaccinated in such a short period and I don’t think it would have been possible without the volunteers.  Perhaps someone would like to do the maths and say just how many jabbers are needed to do [say] 600,000 people per day at a rate of about six per hour per jabber over 12 hours.  Then double it at least as jabbers don’t do 12 hour shifts. 

As far as risk and insurance is concerned I think it all comes under Crown immunity because all of the vaccines are technically only approved for emergency use, but I’m no expert. 

Saddened to see the state of C19 in India at this time

Hoping beyond Hope that International Aid gets going swiftly .

It is sad and distressing to see the state India is now in. But it was always possible given the sheer population, culture and living conditions of many that such a tragedy might happen. Same with other heavily populated countries as well. At least some help is being given by other nations.......

Hopefully meaningful aid does get through. Good to see the USA are releasing solutions so that India can produce more vaccine which will help.

Sad to say that India is the author of its own misfortune with poor leadership which has lulled everyone into a false sense of security and they are now paying a terrible price. 

David

The Covid 19 devastation in India could have been the same in the UK, but of course in terms of numbers, correspondingly lower.  I hope that the Covidiots in the UK take note and don't spoil what we have achieved so far.  We now need to provide as much help to India and other countries as we are able to do.  The world war against SARS-CoV-2 is far from over.  

Very sad also because the vaccine take up has been low and the present consequences are devastating.

Our local pub was packed outside this weekend, families and friends mixing. I agree with some degree of caution being needed. Hope there's going to be a good take up of the vaccine amongst the younger age groups.

I too hope there is a good up take in the younger age groups but I think things will now slow down.  Our little hub is now down to about one third of the staff numbers (volunteers) that it had back in Jan / Feb.  Many have gone back to jobs and good luck to them.  Others, me included, are just worn out and I have decided to finish.  The last straw for me was a load of abuse from a forties something who insisted nothing less than a doctor must give her her vaccination.