COVID Vaccine !

[lane]

I'm confused.

If the world knew about the vaccine rollout and it is a relatively straightforward matter, why are most countries comparable with UK in terms of development and resources unable to ramp up their vaccination program thus far?

Maybe it's not quite so straightforward as you suggest?

I had the impression it is because of our early approval of the Oxford vaccine and access to more supplies of that.

 

[lane]

I'm confused.

If the world knew about the vaccine rollout and it is a relatively straightforward matter, why are most countries comparable with UK in terms of development and resources unable to ramp up their vaccination program thus far?

Maybe it's not quite so straightforward as you suggest?

Probably more helpful to find out how countries that have done it quicker than is have managed to

 

[BoldonLad]

I had the impression it is because of our early approval of the Oxford vaccine and access to more supplies of that.

From memory, we didn't approve the Oxford Vaccine early, the Pfizer Vaccine was approved and in. use 2 or 3 weeks before the Oxford Vaccine.

 

[lane]

From memory, we didn't approve the Oxford Vaccine early, the Pfizer Vaccine was approved and in. use 2 or 3 weeks before the Oxford Vaccine.

Were we the first country to approve Oxford though

 

[BoldonLad]

Were we the first country to approve Oxford though

Don't know, I just recall that the Pfizer Vaccine was in use, and, it seemed to take quite a while for the Oxford Vaccine to obtain approval.

 

[vickster]

Probably more helpful to find out how countries that have done it quicker than is have managed to

Much smaller countries with much smaller and younger populations (Israel/UAE)?

 

[vickster]

Were we the first country to approve Oxford though

Yes

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Are people (who) suggesting that an area/region 'stop' vaccinating? Just because they have done well, presumably with good supply and good organisation to administer the doses (bravo!).
From a 'levelling-up' PoV, it makes sense to pull levers to keep regions within England roughly in step. The devolved (for health) administrations have taken different approaches to Groups 1 and 2, because of the special needs of Group 1 (mobility of residents, their dependency on carers, Pfizer vaccine cold storage complexity).
But for England, it would make sense to me for 'Vaccine Central England' to reprofile weekly supply volumes increasing them to a region (or area within) that is behind the curve, inevitably at the expense of other regions, a region (or area within). This assumes that the poorer performing region vaccination rate is being constrained by supply, and not less good organisation. Of course concurrently I trust that the good organisational practice is being shared to allow any regions/areas lagging or with other difficulties to 'level up'
Given the primary aim (vaccinate in order of vulnerability, nationally) the downside of regions (or areas within) complaining their supplies have been reduced is inevitable but justifiable.

I was originally commenting on @Blue Hills post #1496 (which I had liked).

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Third day in a row now with over 400k vaccinations (as at 23 Jan).

Only 8k short of half a million on the day @ 491 970

Total first dose now at 6 353 321 and second dose @ 469 660
Sky News (Breaking Live) reporting this:

Matt Hancock says 75% of all over-80s in the UK have been vaccinated so far

(Not checked this in the official data yet.)

 

[Julia9054]

Many will be in groups 1-5 though. Similar to other clinically vulnerable groups

And many are children so won't be vaccinated

 

[vickster]

And many are children so won't be vaccinated

I was responding to a post that quoted the number of adults at 4m (I assumed that was an accurate validated figure). Presumably many have very mild/transient/seasonal symptoms and may not even need regular treatment And may be almost no more at risk than the non asthma population

 

[Julia9054]

Based on my age (53) and assuming I am not in group 6 then, the calculator is saying first dose between 28/03 and 07/04. Still quite encouraging if accurate

 

[Julia9054]

I was responding to a post that quoted the number of adults at 4m (I assumed that was an accurate validated figure). Presumably many have very mild/transient/seasonal symptoms and may not even need regular treatment And may be almost no more at risk than the non asthma population

Oops - I should read better!
Yes, asthma is a huge range. Many of the classifications are based on how severe your symptoms would be without your regular preventative medication. Not hugely helpful as I have no intention of finding out!

 

[SpokeyDokey]

 

[Ajax Bay]

If the world knew about the vaccine rollout and it is a relatively straightforward matter, why are most countries comparable with UK in terms of development and resources unable to ramp up their vaccination program thus far?

The reason UK has got going promptly and ramped up faster is (together with no doubt other factors) because:
1) Vaccine Supply. Our VTF (procurement) in the summer outperformed (at some cost) to secure early supplies of a variety of vaccines under development ('made bets' in some people's speak)(led by Kate Bingham) - see earlier posts - NB Edit: unshackled from its EU counterpart the EMA choosing not to join the EU vaccine procurement (VMT @srw ). @mjr has previously pointed out we could have been 'IN' the EU scheme and procured our own as well (aka having our cake and eating it). It's likely we would have delayed and missed the boat: look at the angst caused when Germany became frustrated by the cock-up and bought some 'extra', with difficulty and at a cost.
2) Authorisation. Our authorisation body, the MHRA (Edit: unshackled from its EU counterpart the EMA after @roubaixtuesday comment below) had its act well and truly together and in bed with Pfizer and Oxford-AZ (which had become the front runners in terms of Phase 3 trial progress) and so once those trials could declared a(n outrageous) success (effectiveness over ?60% threshold (WHO?)) data was being exchanged (in trust) so that the MHRA could get on with authorising first Pfizer (in early December) and then Oxford-AZ in late December. History and investigation will no doubt reveal what affected the EMA's ability to get on and authorise the various vaccines, but it won't be a happy tale (and will have resulted in thousands more deaths in Europe than if they'd been as well served as we've been by the VTF and the MHRA.
3) NHS. I don't think we can judge whether UK has particular circumstances (cf other nations) which favour efficient delivery (ie from bulk storage to arm, population density, geographic factors) but surmise that having a National Health Service (including W, S and NI) must be a positive.
4) Vaccine acceptance. And finally let's add in national confidence that the brilliant British (and NI) population have overwhelmingly recognised the merits of taking a vaccination, and have treated anti-vax falsehoods with the contempt that they deserve. Look at the concerns in France and the friction and delays caused there. On this last point, there is work still required to reach out and communicate the benefits and the miniscule size of the risk to some ethnic minorities in UK (especially in urban areas where they are generally concentrated) which need to receive 'facts' from people they trust.