The AstraZeneca vaccine has gained approval for use.

[2greys]

bbc.co.uk/news/health-55280671

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Such good news xx

[sassy59]

Just saw that on the news. Brilliant! Xxxx

[pegbl]

Thank goodness, that great news 👍Xxxx

[SquirrelsHolt]

Best news- now it's down to the mass production of the vaccine and sorting out the logistics for GP surgeries to be ready to rock 'n roll ASAP. The Government just cannot afford to mess this up! 🐿🌈😷💉x

[Ian1967 in reply to SquirrelsHolt]

Yes SquirrelsHolt, I totally agree, the one thing that is worrying me though is, they are now saying you won’t get the second dose until Three Months later, when they began vaccinating earlier this month, they were at pains to point out you weren’t fully covered until you received your second dose, which you would receive Three Weeks later, so that means vulnerable people people like us on this forum, will have to shield for another Three Months after your first dose!

[SquirrelsHolt in reply to Ian1967]

Golly gosh Ian1967, I've read it wrong then as I thought the 2nd injection was given 21 days- 3 weeks- after first vaccination. I never realised it was 3 months waiting to get 2nd shot. Terribly.misleading, needing lots of paperwork a freezer and being available to go and get your 2nd dose on an exact date. Hey hoe- we just do as we're told!!!🐿🌈😷x

[Jaybird19 in reply to SquirrelsHolt]

Apparently suggested by Tony Blair originally to give more people a chance and get more off those waiting lists, but has it been tested after 3 months?. Fingers crossed.

Edit -havr just read 2gs post about longer wait between each dose gives better results. Fingers uncrossed,

[Badbessie]

Excellent news. I just hope the government do not drop the ball on this one.

[Jandm]

My worry is that the efficacy is so much less than the Pfizer vaccine. There seems to be such a large variance of the figures. Some reporting 60%, others 70% and yet more at 90%. Worst cases scenario is that it’s 60%. So I’ve got a 40% chance of catching covid from my husband whose had the Pfizer vaccine and 100% chance of dying from it. I think the light at the end of my tunnel has gone out.

[2greys in reply to Jandm]

But you did not mention that a 12 week gap between having the first and then second dose brings the efficacy to over 90% (from the latest data set) and it is this how it is going to be administered.

[Jandm in reply to 2greys]

BBC news have reported that it is 62% effective after the 2nd dose

[2greys in reply to Jandm]

That was the earlier result with a full dose followed by another full dose 3 weeks later. Another result with a half dose followed by a full dose showed 90% efficacy. The later data set shows a much improved efficacy by leaving the second dose at 12 weeks bringing 94% efficacy.

[Jandm in reply to 2greys]

The information by the BBC that I am referring to was from 30 minutes ago on their BBC news online. They refer to that and liken it with the flu vaccine efficacy. The main difference between the flu and covid is you are symptomatic with the flu when you start to shed the virus as opposed to asymptomatic so I fail to see how they can draw a comparison between the 2. I think they are trying to sell its appeal when it’s not the gold standard vaccine

[2greys in reply to Jandm]

They are not correct or you may have read it wrong, it is 80% just for the first dose after 3 weeks. Try watching Dr John from 2 hours ago.

healthunlocked.com/blf/post....

[Jandm in reply to 2greys]

Thank you 2greys I will and I am going into watching it hopeful that the BBC have got it wrong

[Alberta56]

Hooray!!!

[peege]

Its just wonderful news isn't it 2greys x