Europe Blocks 250,000 AstraZeneca Vaccine Doses Bound For Australia
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Australian newspaper The Age.
This is the introductory paragraph.
Officials in Europe have blocked the shipment of 250,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Australia in a ploy set to trigger a major diplomatic dispute.
It is a surprisingly calm article.
Although it does say this.
More than 150 international deliveries were authorised without a hitch over recent weeks, but Italy has now opposed the delivery to Australia. Rome’s objection was endorsed by the European Commission.
It looks to me that Australia has been singled out. Could it be because to EU officials, it is seen as a British colony?
Or is it because the EU believes that the French-born CEO of AstraZeneca; Pascal Soriot, is a traitor for taking up Australian citizenship?
Aussie comedians will have a field day.
I also suspect, that when Australia starts delivering its own locally-made AstraZeneca vaccine towards the end of the month, some will be exported to the EU to solve their self-inflicted vaccine shortage.
Some Bad Vaccine News From Italy
This reassuring article in The Times with a reassuring title of Single Covid Vaccine Reduces Risk Of Going To Hospital By 90%.
But it does contain one piece of bad news.
An Italian study has suggested that the Pfizer vaccine is less effective in overweight people.
A Thought On Low Vaccination Rates In London
Could London’s bad performance be down to difficult parking provision at vaccination centres?
There was no parking, where I went to the Francis Crick institute for my vaccination.
But I went by bus and train using my Freedom Pass. So it cost me nothing!
According to my contacts at Transport for London, there are still a lot of elderly and eligible Londoners, who don’t have Freedom Passes.
I’d love to see a graphic showing Freedom Passes against vaccination in the over 65’s in London!
There are probably other related questions to answer.
- How many no-shows at vaccination centres are down to parking problems?
- How many of the non-vaccinated couldn’t find a centre close by, that they could drive to?
- How many of the non-vaccinated object to spending money to get to the vaccination centre?
And many more! I hope a university is doing the research!
A Slight Problem With Covid-19 Vaccination
I had my first AZ vaccine five weeks ago. I have had a slight allergic reaction around the injection spot, as I did with a pneumococcal injection a few months ago.
I am coeliac on a long term gluten-free diet, which means my immune system is probably very strong. Peer-reviewed research at Nottingham University has shown that coeliacs on this diet, do have a 25 % less chance of getting cancer.
I’m no medic, but do sponsor cancer research, and like many I suspect, I am very familiar with how the AZ vaccine uses viral-vector techniques. I suspect my immune system could be reacting to the carrier.
I suspect, we’ll see a few problems like this and some other more serious problems, but I’m fairly sure they can be solved. I might be better with an mRNA vaccine.
Could We Set Up Covid-19 Vaccine Tourism?
Consider.
- We are a country, which lots of people want to visit for business and/or tourism.
- We have got lots of Covid-19 vaccine.
- It appears that the one-shot Janssen vaccine will come on stream soon from the factory on Teesside.
- We have accurate methods of detecting, if people have the virus.
I also think that in a few weeks time, it might be possible to check, that an incoming tourist from many countries, is totally free of the virus.
So could we operate a system, where incoming passengers from safe countries, go through a procedure similar to this?
- They are tested for Covid-19 before departure and aren’t allowed to fly after a positive test. This is the current procedure.
- On arrival in the UK, they go to a hotel for a night.
- On arrival at the hotel, they are tested for Covid-19.
- If the test is positive, they go straight back in the morning.
- They are then vaccinated with the Janssen vaccine.
After appropriate checks, they are allowed to leave in the morning.
- Those just coming for the vaccination could go straight back from where they came from.
- Those coming for business or tourism, would follow the normal procedure.
I’m certain, that a procedure could be developed, that would be approved by the UK Government.
It would be ideal for a low-cost airline, who could set it up with a local hotel.
Travelling From Countries On The Banned List
Those entering from countries On The banned list would out of courtesy be offered a free vaccine.
Will We Be Able To Open Up In The UK At The End Of April?
This page on Statista is entitled Population Of The United Kingdom In 2019, By Age Group.
Adding their numbers into groups gives.
- Over 70 – 9 million
- 50-69 – 16.2 million
- 30-49 – 17.3 million
- 20-29 – 8.7 million
- Under 20 – 15.6 million
This adds up to a total of 66.8 million.
Consider.
- Over the last three days, over half a million first doses of the vaccines have been given.
- In the first thirteen days of February an average of 443,525 jabs per day were administered.
- In the first thirteen days of February, half a million first doses was exceeded four times.
- Around 80-90 per cent of the four most at risk groups have had their first dose.
- There are at least 70 days to go before the end of April.
I feel it is not unreasonable to expect that we can vaccinate half a million first doses per day, so by the end of April we should administer another 35 million first doses.
If the rate is only 400,000 first doses per day, that is still 28 million first doses.
Conclusion
It looks to me, that everybody over the age of twenty could be offered a first dose of vaccine, with some to spare for those under twenty. in higher risk situations.
So will we be able to open up the UK at the end of April?
It is my view, that the computer could say Yes! It certainly doesn’t say No!
In memory of Dame Barbara and Sir Henry, we should Carry On Jabbing!
Sarah Gilbert Is On Andrew Marr Today!
Sarah Gilbert is the leader of the team behind the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine.
Should be a must-watch!
Piers Corbyn Arrested Over Vaccine ‘Auschwitz Leaflet’
The title of this post, is the same as that, of this article on the BBC.
These are the first three paragraphs.
Piers Corbyn has been arrested over leaflets comparing the UK’s Covid-19 vaccine rollout to Auschwitz.
The 73-year-old brother of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he voluntarily attended a police station on Wednesday.
He was then arrested on suspicion of malicious communications and public nuisance.
I am a confirmed atheist, but I do have Jewish ancestors. My great-great-great-grandfather was a Jewish tailor and came from Konigsberg in East Prussia.
As people related to my ancestor and therefore myself, were probably sent to Auschwitz and other similar camps and never came out, I feel very annoyed at what Corbyn has been involved in.
Corbyn and his collaborators should undoubtedly feel the full force of the law.
This
Oxford Vaccine Could Substantially Cut Spread
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This is the first two paragraphs.
The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine could lead to a “substantial” fall in the spread of the virus, say scientists.
The impact of Covid vaccines on transmission has been a crucial unknown that will dramatically shape the future of the pandemic.
The article also says you get this after one dose.
This study – on 17,000 people in the UK, South Africa and Brazil – showed protection remained at 76% during the three months after the first dose.
This rose to 82% after people were given the second dose.
It will be interesting to see, what figures drop out of the data, when millions have been vaccinated twice in the UK.
Conclusion
It looks like very good news to me!
The Jabbers Hit The Jabpot!
It has been announced that yesterday a total of 609,050 does of the vaccine were administered.
It is an incredible figure, made up of 598389 first and 10661 second jabs.
It really was a Super Jabba Saturday, with one report on the BBC, saying that in one vaccination centre in Newcastle, 2,000 people were vaccinated.
If the reported 1,400 vaccination centres around the UK, hit two thousand per day, that is 2.8 million jabs per day and we could vaccinate sixty million people twice in just 43 days. Probably, this is an unachievable time, as not all centres could handle 2000 jabs per day.
I think we’re in for a very statistically interesting few days, as the vaccinators find a level that is at equilibrium with the population and their determination to get vaccinated or not!
I feel, that vaccine supply permitting, the daily number for jabs will be around the psychologically important 500,000.
The Anonymous Widower 