Brexit, for once some facts.

Jesus H Christ

Esteemed Pedelecer
Dec 31, 2020
1,363
2,206
The speed of the vaccine rollout is indeed very good, but the reasoning for interfering with the dosage dates not based on science at the time, it was a political gamble, and as to the reason they chose that course?
Expediency much more likely than humanitarian, after all look at the stunts they pulled with PPE.

Fascinating "Don't shoot the messenger?" recommended advice!
As to how to eliminate poverty?
Change to a more representative voting system so this aberration never happens again
Rejoin the EU
Make the country productive in a modern way
Close down offshore Tax dodging

Find a balance between Socialism and capitalism that favours the best aspects of both
I don’t think the extended dose interval is political. It was contrived by medical experts as a strategy to take pressure off the NHS. I can’t see anyone in this government having the necessary intelligence to come up with it.
 

Zlatan

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 26, 2016
8,086
4,290

Interestingly the Brits working in Belgium can't have vaccine, under directions from Belgium (EU?) even tho they have access to them from UK. (the Brits must follow local vaccination schemes, ie wait another 2 or 3 months)
Contrast that with Spanish workers going into Gibraltar get vaccinated under UK regime. (and all now vaccinated)
 
Last edited:

Zlatan

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 26, 2016
8,086
4,290
I don’t think the extended dose interval is political. It was contrived by medical experts as a strategy to take pressure off the NHS. I can’t see anyone in this government having the necessary intelligence to come up with it.
It wasn't a political decision Jesus, you are right. Even Peston, normally a devout critic of Johnson can see that.
Even Guardian quoted medical experts saying same as Sage.
And that bastion of Tory cronyism WHO has vindicated decision, so far.

And below is quote from representative of WHO (Nabaro?) on TV last weekend.
Screenshot_20210306_090446.jpg


But no doubt we, ll have a better informed expert on here.

But our expert could be right. Nabaro should probably have said.
"Thank you Mr Johnson".
I don't think so.
 
Last edited:

oyster

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 7, 2017
10,422
14,609
West West Wales


It wasn't a political decision Jesus, you are right. Even Peston, normally a devout critic of Johnson can see that.
Even Guardian quoted medical experts saying same as Sage.
And that bastion of Tory cronyism WHO has vindicated decision, so far.

And below is quote from representative of WHO (Nabaro?) on TV last weekend.
View attachment 41126


But no doubt we, ll have a better informed expert on here.

But our expert could be right. Nabaro should probably have said.
"Thank you Mr Johnson".
I don't think so.
But an interesting divergence is occurring:

EnglandWales
Received second
598,345​
154,819​
Total vaccinated
17,777,836​
967,042​
3.37%​
16.01%​

Of those vaccinated, 598,345 people have received a 2nd dose, taking the total number of vaccinations given to 17,777,836
https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/COVID-19-weekly-announced-vaccinations-4-March-2021.pdf

A total of 967,042 people in Wales have been given a first dose of Covid vaccine, while 154,819 have now been given the full course.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-52380643

(If the England figures actually mean number of vaccinations - rather than number of people vaccinated - the percentage rises to 3.8% - an ignorably small increase in the context.)

Just fixed the Wales quote/link.
 
Last edited:

Jesus H Christ

Esteemed Pedelecer
Dec 31, 2020
1,363
2,206
Vaccinations are now being rolled out to 56 year olds & over. Booked my first jab next week and the second in May. My 70 year old friend in France still has no vaccination date!

I can’t wait, by mid June I can start licking door handles and buttons on pedestrian crossings again. It’s been so long since I’ve been able to do that. I might see if POLLY wants to buddy up with me and join in.
 

Zlatan

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 26, 2016
8,086
4,290
But an interesting divergence is occurring:

EnglandWales
Received second
598,345​
154,819​
Total vaccinated
17,777,836​
967,042​
3.37%​
16.01%​

Of those vaccinated, 598,345 people have received a 2nd dose, taking the total number of vaccinations given to 17,777,836
https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/03/COVID-19-weekly-announced-vaccinations-4-March-2021.pdf

967,042 people in Wales have been given a first dose of Covid vaccine, while 154,819
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-55855220 06/03/2021

(If the England figures actually mean number of vaccinations - rather than number of people vaccinated - the percentage rises to 3.8% - an ignorably small increase in the context.)

All looking positive tho. Talk in here of delivering 3 million 2nd jabs a week yet still maintaining 1st jab roll out. Must be a logistical nightmare.
 
  • Informative
Reactions: oldgroaner

oldgroaner

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 15, 2015
23,461
32,613
80
I don’t think the extended dose interval is political. It was contrived by medical experts as a strategy to take pressure off the NHS. I can’t see anyone in th :D is government having the necessary intelligence to come up with it.
I agree on the point about intelligence, but then they don't usually employ it in decision making anyway
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,157
30,573
I don’t think the extended dose interval is political. It was contrived by medical experts as a strategy to take pressure off the NHS. I can’t see anyone in this government having the necessary intelligence to come up with it.
The experts, medical or otherwise, never apply policy, they advise. The extended dose was one of a number of courses which the medical experts will have advised had various advantages. I've already explained some of those choices. This government certainly has the political intelligence to choose the one that suits them most.
.
 
  • Agree
Reactions: oldgroaner

oldgroaner

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 15, 2015
23,461
32,613
80


It wasn't a political decision Jesus, you are right. Even Peston, normally a devout critic of Johnson can see that.
Even Guardian quoted medical experts saying same as Sage.
And that bastion of Tory cronyism WHO has vindicated decision, so far.

And below is quote from representative of WHO (Nabaro?) on TV last weekend.
View attachment 41126


But no doubt we, ll have a better informed expert on here.

But our expert could be right. Nabaro should probably have said.
"Thank you Mr Johnson".
I don't think so.
Still taking sly little digs hiding behind a block? naughty boy Zlatan, but all of this self congratulation is far too convenient to ring true.
Desperate people take desperate measures in the hope of getting lucky, and perhaps they have.
Perhaps......
 
  • Agree
Reactions: flecc

oldgroaner

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 15, 2015
23,461
32,613
80
The experts, medical or otherwise, never apply policy, they advise. The extended dose was one of a number of courses which the medical experts will have advised had various advantages. I've already explained some of those choices. This government certainly has the political intelligence to choose the one that suits them most.
.
Well played there
"This government certainly has the political intelligence to choose the one that suits them most."

Never a truer word spoken!
A request for casualty reports to ONS returned this
"
We are currently analysing data and will include these figures in the Monthly Mortality Analysis publication.

As such, the information you have requested is considered exempt under Section 22(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, whereby information is exempt from release if there is a view to publish the information in the future. Furthermore, as a central government department and producer of official statistics, we need to have the freedom to be able to determine our own publication timetables. This is to allow us to deal with the necessary preparation, administration and context of publications. It would be unreasonable to consider disclosure when to do so would undermine our functions.

This exemption is subject to a public interest test. We recognise the desirability of information being freely available and this is considered by ONS when publication schedules are set in accordance with the Code of Practice for Statistics. The need for timely data must be balanced against the practicalities of applying statistical skill and judgement to produce the high quality, assured data needed to inform decision-making. If this balance is incorrectly applied, then we run the risk of decisions being based on inaccurate data which is arguably not in the public interest. This will have an impact on public trust in official statistics in a time when accuracy of official statistics is more important to the public than ever before."

Rather different to the Israelis eh?
Obviously they are better at body counts than we are :oops:


.
 
Last edited:

oyster

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 7, 2017
10,422
14,609
West West Wales

All looking positive tho. Talk in here of delivering 3 million 2nd jabs a week yet still maintaining 1st jab roll out. Must be a logistical nightmare.
The one million is UK-wide whereas the figures for England I quoted are England-only. Something like a third of second doses seem to have been given in Wales and Scotland. Have not checked NI.
 
  • Informative
Reactions: oldgroaner

oyster

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 7, 2017
10,422
14,609
West West Wales
They're having a Funny turn at the Daily Mail

Strange that this smaller transgression makes such as splash when there far bigger multiple cases of Government corruption currently exist
Amazing that a Headline about expensive decor is used to gaslight them, are we supposed to see this as investigative journalism?
Agreed about the relative importance.

£200,000 seems a lot of money to spend on a four bedroom flat, especially one that is only being occupied temporarily.

If Johnson stopped being PM - for any reason - but had not paid this off, I can't see many of the richer element being that keen to support him.
 
  • Agree
Reactions: oldgroaner

oyster

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 7, 2017
10,422
14,609
West West Wales
Agreed about the relative importance.

£200,000 seems a lot of money to spend on a four bedroom flat, especially one that is only being occupied temporarily.

If Johnson stopped being PM - for any reason - but had not paid this off, I can't see many of the richer element being that keen to support him.
And it is much less than:

Downing Street has spent more than £2.6 million on refurbishments to hold White House-style press briefings, it has emerged.

The cost of the renovations for the televised question and answer sessions with journalists was revealed as Boris Johnson faces pressure over the funding of a separate revamp to his official residence.

Labour questioned the PM’s priorities for shelling out millions on “vanity projects” while “picking the pockets” of NHS workers, amid growing anger at the government’s proposed pay rise for health staff of just 1%.

An extensive overhaul in No. 9 Downing Street began last year as the government announced the plans to hold the televised briefings, with their launch long delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In response to a freedom of information (FoI) request submitted by the PA news agency, the Cabinet Office on Friday issued a breakdown of the costs totalling £2,607,767.67, largely excluding VAT.
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/downing-street-2-million-renovations-white-house-press-briefings_uk_60434beac5b69078ac6b472d
 

Zlatan

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 26, 2016
8,086
4,290
The experts, medical or otherwise, never apply policy, they advise. The extended dose was one of a number of courses which the medical experts will have advised had various advantages. I've already explained some of those choices. This government certainly has the political intelligence to choose the one that suits them most.
.
Totally agreed. Never said anything different. Sage advise but ministers ultimately make the decision.
Your point reinforces my opinion. Those involved have the political expediency (your political intelligence) to know full well a failed roll out outweighs quite easily any early benefits.
Crux of matter revolves around what constitutes a failed roll out. You see that is not an option. I don't, I, m pessimistic by nature and do think a failed vaccine roll out even now is possible.
My grandkids go back to school next week. What if that causes a wave we can't deal with? Hospitality is due to come back starting 12th April. What if infections, deaths and hospitalisation spiral as previously.
We all know T and T seems to have little effect. The only difference we have this year is vaccine roll out. If we get back to normal it will not be because T and T suddenly works, or because millions have been invested in NHS /PHE (Well its replacement). It will simply be down to vaccine.
If this carries on as now, roll out works, vaccines get us back to "normal" the government will be seen as successful and in power for next 10 years.
If we don't get back to an acceptable level of normality, vaccine and govt will be seen as failing, probably with dire consequences for latter.
We are all wanting, needing a successful vaccine roll out. The government as much as rest of us.
As I keep saying, so far so good.
We are up 2 nil (against Covid not other countries) but its not even half time yet. Govt can't afford own goals like ruining vaccine roll out.
 
  • Informative
Reactions: oldgroaner

Danidl

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 29, 2016
8,611
12,256
73
Ireland
I don’t think the extended dose interval is political. It was contrived by medical experts as a strategy to take pressure off the NHS. I can’t see anyone in this government having the necessary intelligence to come up with it.
Your definition of political is even political... I can accept that it wasn't the worst call made, but it wasn't on based on Science. ..but on expediency
 

Zlatan

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 26, 2016
8,086
4,290
Your definition of political is even political... I can accept that it wasn't the worst call made, but it wasn't on based on Science. ..but on expediency
Sage endorsed decision (by a fine margin,its explained in one of my earlier links)
It was not political expediency. It was medical. (again all explained in detail in links)
Political expediency would have been to go slow and certain without an election in next 3 months.
As I keep saying a failed roll out would destroy Tory opinion. A fast roll out is simply short term popularity... If it fails. That is not political expediency. Its political suicide. Johnson/Tories are way to astute politically for that.
Johnson doesn't need popularity at moment. He needs it come next election. When all this is just a memory. Hopefully.
I think point I, m making is that political and medical expediency are one of same in this case. Johnson can't pretend people are are allowed out of house when they aren't. They can ration the truth with PPE, they can't say football grounds are open when they need to be shut.
We have got so far away from normality an assessment of its (partial?) return is going to be easy.
 
Last edited:
  • Informative
Reactions: oldgroaner

Danidl

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 29, 2016
8,611
12,256
73
Ireland


It wasn't a political decision Jesus, you are right. Even Peston, normally a devout critic of Johnson can see that.
Even Guardian quoted medical experts saying same as Sage.
And that bastion of Tory cronyism WHO has vindicated decision, so far.

And below is quote from representative of WHO (Nabaro?) on TV last weekend.
View attachment 41126


But no doubt we, ll have a better informed expert on here.

But our expert could be right. Nabaro should probably have said.
"Thank you Mr Johnson".
I don't think so.
.look back at the dates of these.
 
  • Agree
Reactions: oldgroaner

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,157
30,573
My grandkids go back to school next week. What if that causes a wave we can't deal with? Hospitality is due to come back starting 12th April. What if infections, deaths and hospitalisation spiral as previously.
Still no problem, as I posed there will not be and cannot be a failed roll out caused by the government. If any of the above occur, the government will say it's for one or more of the following reasons:

New variants.

Vaccine refusnicks.

Failure of the public to stick to level 4 lockdown, no shortage of evidence for that.

The vaccines proving to have a limited period of effectiveness like the 'flu vaccine, as well as not being able to cope with all the new variants.

Weather. Winter/Summer, Too hot, too cold, too humid, too something or other. Remember leaves on the rails stopping trains when we were informed there are wrong kinds of leaves!

And they'll support the excuses by quoting the other countries similarly suffering.
.
 

Advertisers