Coronavirus - how is it/has it affected you?

[SocketRocket]

Actually I do agree with Del. Some of the analogies don't work and could mislead.

I also think the presentation of those risk-benefit measures yesterday will not work. People don't actively accept a risk now even if it is shown to be a bit lower than a later passively acquired risk. We are going to see more resistance to this vaccine in older age groups.

I didn't comment on acceptance of risk and didn't notice you suggesting Van Tam was 'Playing to the galleries'

OK, I like Van Tams explanations and see them as anything but 'Silly'

 

[drdel]

I didn't comment on acceptance of risk and didn't notice you suggesting Van Tam was 'Playing to the galleries'

OK, I like Van Tams explanations and see them as anything but 'Silly'

The suggestion "...playing to the galleries..." was my opinion and I stand by it and I believe he now uses the analogies because the media expect it, it detracts from a very serious subject. Again IMO, other opinions are available.

 

[Ethan]

I didn't comment on acceptance of risk and didn't notice you suggesting Van Tam was 'Playing to the galleries'

OK, I like Van Tams explanations and see them as anything but 'Silly'

OK, perhaps not "silly" but some miss the point and may mislead. Communicating complicated issues in simple soundbites is very tricky, though, to be fair. The message needs, above all, to reassure people that the decisions being taken on their behalf are properly thought through and prioritise their best interests. There has not been a great track record of that on Covid, although JVT has not been responsible for most of the bad stuff.

 

[SocketRocket]

The suggestion "...playing to the galleries..." was my opinion and I stand by it and I believe he now uses the analogies because the media expect it, it detracts from a very serious subject. Again IMO, other opinions are available.

Yes, mines available and I also stand by it.

 

[RichA]

Throughout this he's been the one voice of authority who pitches the message such that normal people understand it as well as possible.
I looked at what is available of his biography and I'm willing to trust that he is highly competent in his field and at delivering an accurate message.
Straight talking, normal bloke who happens to be a highly qualified expert in virology and immunology.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Rigby and Kuensberg ask questions only designed to try and trip up the presenters into saying something contradictory or controversial. And the same question one of the others has already asked.

Has Peston asked a question yet? He usually spends 10 minutes rambling and mumbling about something vaguely related to the topic being discussed, but asking the right questions? Nope. The man has all the whit an intellect of the substitute member of a 6th form debating team.

The presenters should be clear on the situation and will be well prepared to answer any question that comes their way. The experts and politicians are determining the future quality of life of every single one of us. Where there is uncertainty or lack of clarity I want that out in the open- and fortunately the experts are clearly happy to explain where there is uncertainty or where a change of direction is required. I don‘t care if similar questions are asked as it tends to be the case that a second or third question on similar subject tends to focus on any vagueness in the answer given. And that is what is required.

unfortunately i think the logic behind the change for under 30s and the AZ vaccine is not going to be understood or will be deliberately misinterpreted/misconstrued by some. Change in the relative risk of X against that of Y is different from a change in the absolute risk of either. But that’s a quite difficult thing to get head around unless I just accept what the experts are telling me - I am generally quite happy to do that with whatever level of understanding I have formed.

 

[Ethan]

Throughout this he's been the one voice of authority who pitches the message such that normal people understand it as well as possible.
I looked at what is available of his biography and I'm willing to trust that he is highly competent in his field and at delivering an accurate message.
Straight talking, normal bloke who happens to be a highly qualified expert in virology and immunology.

At the risk of being a pedant, he is neither a virologist nor immunologist. He is a trained and qualified public health doctor and epidemiologist, and has prior experience of working in pharmaceutical industry. A bit like me, in fact, albeit in the opposite order.

I think he serves a useful purpose, compared to Whitty, who seems more egg-headed and professorial, whereas VT is more like an ordinary bloke (even though in many ways he is not) who occasionally weighs in as the heavy. But don't assume they differ on strategy and the way forward. They really don't.

 

[RichA]

At the risk of being a pedant, he is neither a virologist nor immunologist. He is a trained and qualified public health doctor and epidemiologist, and has prior experience of working in pharmaceutical industry. A bit like me, in fact, albeit in the opposite order.

I think he serves a useful purpose, compared to Whitty, who seems more egg-headed and professorial, whereas VT is more like an ordinary bloke (even though in many ways he is not) who occasionally weighs in as the heavy. But don't assume they differ on strategy and the way forward. They really don't.

Whatever. I'm a layman. Funny that you should humbly compare yourself to him, while we're generally praising him.

 

[Ethan]

Whatever. I'm a layman. Funny that you should humbly compare yourself to him, while we're generally praising him.

You misunderstand, as a layman, so I was just helpfully pointing out his specialisms, which happen to be similar to mine. If you have misinterpreted that as some sort of comparative value judgement, that is your issue.

In terms of being a blokey and popular spokesman for the Govt, which was the thing for which you were praising him, the comparison is utterly non-existent.

 

[larmen]

Just been invited to book my 2nd jab in a week’s time. Gave myself all Saturday and Sunday to deal with side effects ;-)

 

[SaintHacker]

Just been invited to book my 2nd jab in a week’s time. Gave myself all Saturday and Sunday to deal with side effects ;-)

And monday to recover from the hangover?

 

[Ethan]

Just been invited to book my 2nd jab in a week’s time. Gave myself all Saturday and Sunday to deal with side effects ;-)

You might be pleasantly surprised. Most people don't have too much trouble.

 

[AmandaJR]

 

[D-S]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1380205927521980426

 

[AmandaJR]

I met my first "anti-vaxxer" today. She wasn't fully anti but didn't feel confident enough in the vaccines in their current form (Pfizer and AZ) to have one. I was surprised that I didn't think "stupid woman" rather than admiring her honesty (when asked if she'd had her first jab she said "I'll say yes...") and having some empathy and understanding. Made me realise how much the recent issues regarding blood clots has impacted my own viewpoint on their safety.

She claimed to read as much medical literature on them and that the "recipe" in production wasn't the same as that in the trials. That might be a load of old bull mind!

 

[Ethan]

I met my first "anti-vaxxer" today. She wasn't fully anti but didn't feel confident enough in the vaccines in their current form (Pfizer and AZ) to have one. I was surprised that I didn't think "stupid woman" rather than admiring her honesty (when asked if she'd had her first jab she said "I'll say yes...") and having some empathy and understanding. Made me realise how much the recent issues regarding blood clots has impacted my own viewpoint on their safety.

She claimed to read as much medical literature on them and that the "recipe" in production wasn't the same as that in the trials. That might be a load of old bull mind!

That is a load of old bull. She is not reading medical literature.

 

[DanFST]

From what I've read the contraceptive pill has a greater risk of causing blood clots. Taking a flight of 4+ hours even more so.

 

[GB72]

Not trying to denegrate the argument or belittle any points of view but is there any impact of the sheer size of the vaccination program on the number of side effects. Just wondering if any other vaccines have been applied on basically a global, whole population scale and whether the number of people vaccinated was bound to give rise to a number of side effects. Would other vaccines have a number of side effects discovered if rolled out on such a scale over such a short period. Guessing some vaccines would take decades to be applied in the numbers these are and may show similar numbers of instances of side effects just spread over a significantly longer period of time.

I have no medical knowledge, just one direction my mind was going

 

[Hobbit]

Not trying to denegrate the argument or belittle any points of view but is there any impact of the sheer size of the vaccination program on the number of side effects. Just wondering if any other vaccines have been applied on basically a global, whole population scale and whether the number of people vaccinated was bound to give rise to a number of side effects. Would other vaccines have a number of side effects discovered if rolled out on such a scale over such a short period. Guessing some vaccines would take decades to be applied in the numbers these are and may show similar numbers of instances of side effects just spread over a significantly longer period of time.

I have no medical knowledge, just one direction my mind was going

When you look at the typical % of adverse reactions it looks a little silly to be dissing the AZ vaccine, as the EU seems to be doing. Equally, let's not stick our head in the sand. Less emotion and more intelligent conversation is the way forward.

As an aside, I saw a piece in a Spanish newspaper today saying that they want the AZ vaccine here in Spain. And then you read the EU spin.... wonder if its more to do with the abject performance of the EU Commission and VDL.

 

[jim8flog]

Good question! I've been pro vaccine all the way but am starting to get a little nervous about having the 2nd AZ jab. I may not quite be in the young category but I am female!!

When it comes to females and higher risk I wonder how many who took/are taking birth control pills have actually read the leaflet that comes with those pills.

This is a side effect of birth control pills, often buried in the small-print of a leaflet. a potential 252,600 to 757,800 people are at risk of blood clots while using birth control. The FDA estimates that the risk of birth control users developing a serious blood clot is three to nine women out of 10,000, every year.16 Mar 2021