South African Variant

[jillydabrat]

Is it just me or does anybody else think the government are not telling us everything about this South African variant of Covid. Everything seems panicked regarding it and to go door to door delivering thousands of testing kits and then picking them up. Something just doesn’t seem right

[Tico]

Just listening now to it Jill on GMB, My Daughter and family live in one of the effected areas where it appears to have shown up. She lives in Walsall in the West Midlands. They are talking about going door to door in these areas to test for it. Their appears to be no let up to this lot, i'm in a bubble with then and have no physical contact with no one, not even a single friend and I live alone with my 2 cats. You hear, Matt Hancock and Boris talking about a glorious summer, it seems so far away at the moment. Have you had your jab yet or have a date for it? Tina.🤗

[jillydabrat in reply to Tico]

No jab yet my lovely. My GP practice are not doing it so I hope I am not lost in the system. All you hear about the SA variant is “Its not thought to be this”, “It’s not thought to be that”, I really wish bumbling Boris and sly as a cat Matt would just be honest.

[jillydabrat in reply to Tico]

Had my phone call yesterday afternoon luv, I go Saturday for my vaccination. Can’t wait. Only negative thing is my husband is my carer but he has to wait for the over 50’s time slot which doesn’t make sense but since we won’t be going anywhere unless essential nothing will change xx

[Tico in reply to jillydabrat]

So pleased for you Jill, I know how much you wanted it. I don't undestand the reasoning behind not doing the carers at the same time, more so when they live together. Oh well as long as the majority get done as soon as possible, thats the main thing. Let us know how you get on and which vaccine you have. Tina.x🤗

[Paul_1971]

Seems to me more like they have seen first hand the damage caused by the variant found over here and seen how its spread.

The SA variant is believed to be far more transmissable too with some suggestions that the vaccine wont protect to the same degree.

I personally think it will be hard to prevent the spread but trying to do so seems logical.

[Mostew]

I , maybe stupidly, thought they might be learning at last , from past mistakes!!!?

[Tico in reply to Mostew]

Its a bit like, locking the stabke door after the horse as bolted. Boris Johnson ignored the advice of SAGE and again we are again facing the consequences for the lack of action at the time. Tina.🤗

[Mostew in reply to Tico]

YES ..... x

[jillydabrat in reply to Tico]

Spot on

[JediReject]

Some guy (doc or politician , missed it) from SA on tv said vaccine only 49% efficacy there so maybe there is urgency to contain it here. Why are folk traveling in and out of UK ?

Also UK variant has mutated again. , , great !!

I jokingly said to my daughter in laws mum I would love to see our 6 mth old granddaughter before she starts school , , , hmm I WAS joking wasn't I ?

Chris

[Paul123456]

I feel a bit more sympathy for the Govt than most here! CV-19 the ultimate poison chalice and no easy solutions. I’m sure lots of mistakes have been made but we can’t escape the reality that England is densely populated (and CV-19 spread by close social interaction) and we are most obese in Europe - 26% obesity versus 10% Italy according to OCED. Current ICU beds about 50% obese.

Re timing Lockdowns, Wales went early last September but poor compliance.

Re a vaccine bashing mutation, this is an ongoing risk and could occur anytime anywhere. A complete Lockdown may work short term but how long can we sustain this? In some ways it’s better we get the mutations now whilst in Lockdown, then have the Spring/Summer to modify and roll out better vaccines.

Our medics appear confident that current vaccines will still have significant efficacy even if a bit muted. Hopefully this will significantly reduce mortality rates but we will find out over next month with real life results. It’s one thing to say that vaccine efficacy reduced from say 70% to 50% (ie 50% now infected versus 30% old mutation) but the more critical issue is whether deaths/severe Long Covid increase pro rata compared to old mutation.

[cythemia in reply to Paul123456]

The issue here is not the virus mutation (they all do) The issue is reaction rather than action. If our borders were shut to every other country it would be a temporary move but it would stop any other variations getting into the UK. Interestingly SA and Brazil is where most of our vaccines were tested and this was done because they had the greatest number of infections (there's a clue there for the scientists if all vaccines mutate. it makes sense that they will mutate in the places that have the most infections) Why would we not close the borders to these countries at the time they were on the trials??

[Hannah52 in reply to Paul123456]

I agree with everything you said Paul

[Mostew]

Supposed to be having jab tomorrow.

Wondering if it’s worth having with talk of mutations . Better to wait ?

[Paul_1971 in reply to Mostew]

having mine Friday and can't think of any reason not to have it, the thought process seems to be that even if the vaccine doesn't offer the same level of protection it's still going to be significant and better than nothing.

The virus will mutate all the time.

[JediReject in reply to Paul_1971]

Totally agree Paul, , much better to have it if/when offered esp in light of mutation (s) , , the aim is to prevent / dramatically reduce hospitalisation and it's becoming harder to avoid these 'stickier' variants going by the numbers of positive results. Got my jab booked for next Saturday!

Take care - Chris

[Wyebird in reply to Mostew]

I don’t think we should wait, the jabs offer protection even if efficacy is reduced. They’ve always said Covid could mutate. Flu mutates hence a flu vaccine every year. I personally think it’s my duty to have a vaccine. Our armed forces at present, are the medical staff key workers and scientists. To think they need my support.

[Mostew in reply to Wyebird]

Thanks for your thoughts

I agree with first half..

Don’t forget we have been constantly told THIS IS A WAR. Therefore it’s good the army is doing there job and protecting us !!!!

I think my main problem has been how we are being spoken to . Sounds to me Condescending .

BUT I have decided to have it . Going to do arm exercises as recommended by Dr Claire . To help immune response to it .xx

[Wyebird in reply to Mostew]

Arm exercises , do you mean prof Claire Harrison? What are the arm exercises? I’m curious. I’m learning such a lot on this site

[Mostew in reply to Wyebird]

Yes Claire Harrison. But she just reccomended arm exercises of any sort. I do qi gong and there is a repetitive one I can do more of.Not up to press ups!!!!!

[Tico in reply to Mostew]

🤣🤣🤣

[Tico in reply to Mostew]

What time you due to have it Mostew?

[Mostew in reply to Tico]

Just going now it's at 11.30. X

[Tico in reply to Mostew]

Good luck. Tina.🤗

[HanaleiBa in reply to Mostew]

Def do not wait. The first is a primer does that your body needs for any variation. They are developing a booster now that will address the main change on the spike protein that’s the same for Brazil, SA, and the “new” Kent. It may be ready for dose 2 that many will receive in April and beyond. Either way, you need initial protection for now...and to ensure the booster works as planned.

[Mostew in reply to HanaleiBa]

Thank you for your advice . I have decided to have it . Yes hadn’t thought the second dose might be including new protection.

I’m just not used to having jabs . Always said no as I have happily relied on natural meds as much as possible.

This is different I guess x

[HanaleiBa in reply to Mostew]

I totally hear you! I’m a natural meds person. A scientist I work with shared his thoughts that were interesting for me. The vaccine is very targeted. Very. Limited symptoms etc. whereas COVID can I filtrate all systems in the body and cause systemic, potentially long term damage. His point was you’ll either have get the vaccine or likely get COVID. Which is preferable? For me, that was clarifying. But I absolutely understand how you feel! I am similar.

[Mostew in reply to HanaleiBa]

That's the conclusion I came to!!!Great to feel your support x

[Tico in reply to Mostew]

Good luck for today. Let us know how you get on. Tina.x🤗

[Mostew in reply to Tico]

Thank u. Will let u know later.. X

[Jenny_F]

I think they are trying their best to stop the spread and lets hope they are successful, esp as I am in one of those postcode areas. If the government had shut the borders for all travel apart from cargo we would probably be like Australia and NZ now but they didn’t and the 100k plus have paid the price. Viruses do mutate which is why we have the flu jab every year so I would think people in vulnerable groups will need to have the vaccine every 6 months but I am so glad its being rolled out in the UK and at such a pace.

[Mostew in reply to Jenny_F]

Indeed they didn't. They certainly let the horse bolt.

[Mostew in reply to Jenny_F]

Ps I don't get flu and never had jab.

[Jenny_F in reply to Mostew]

You haven’t had flu yet I think you need to state

[Mostew in reply to Jenny_F]

Oh thanks. I'm sitting in car park. Good job I looked at your post...

[beetle]

Firstly I have to say that I am glad you are still with us on the forum. Maybe the government doesn’t want to alarm us into rejecting the vaccine because of “what’s the point?” I think when they release new information about what’s happening with covid we do start to ask ourselves what they are not saying but in fairness they have a horrendous job managing this thing that they never signed up to! I am relieved that my partner’s and my vaccine are both booked for Saturday but one of my sons asked me if there was a way to get tested for antibodies after the second jab as my immune system is pretty knackered. It got me thinking and it is something that I will certainly investigate as it would be useful for me to know how effective the vaccine has been for me personally but also might shed light for other people’s benefit too Take care and stay safe - vaccine or not!