Astrazeneca/Oxford vaccine approved

[Wreckless Rat]

This all goes to show one thing, if/when something proper deadly comes along, for all its science and tech, the human race is fucked.

I think part of the problem with Covid is precisely the fact its NOT that deadly. It makes it a lot easier to ignore doesn't it?

It does, but let’s not pretend the world and people would act all that differently..

[Horse]

, but on the other we need to make sure all the paperwork is ready before we start fighting back ..

Indeed. Especially given the sort of statements being made on here that testing of vaccines was rushed, so can't have been done correctly. Anything went wrong and the blaming would start, followed by suing.

[Mr. Dazzle]

On the one hand we are days away from the zombie apocalypse, but on the other we need to make sure all the paperwork is ready before we start fighting back ..

I honestly dunno all the ins and outs of vaccine roll out. I've been having a look because I'm curious, but details are obviously thin on the ground.

From what I can see its as much about genuine struggle to make it fast enough as it is about anything else? The UK firms which are supposed to he making these 30m doses....aren't/can't.

I imagine drugs companies are not used to rapidly scaling up and knocking stuff out. Mercedes F1 managed to design, test and manufacture a load of breathing equipment in a few weeks 'cause that's how they're used to operating...drugs companies probably don't have the systems or culture to support that kind of operation?

Kinda feels like they should just give the whole production and distribution gig to someone like Amazon and let them sort it! That would be pretty unpopular with some people, but it would get done.

[irie]

Disappointed but unsurprised to read this morning that despite being ordered and despite them promising to do so, Astra Zeneca have not got any vaccine e stockpiled and are now hoping to start producing 2 million doses a week by the middle of January ...So much for being ready to go as soon as they were approved ..

Where did you read that ^^^?

[Gedge]

Disappointed but unsurprised to read this morning that despite being ordered and despite them promising to do so, Astra Zeneca have not got any vaccine e stockpiled and are now hoping to start producing 2 million doses a week by the middle of January ...So much for being ready to go as soon as they were approved ..

Where did you read that ^^^?

Times/ Sunday Times on Newsfeed

[irie]

Disappointed but unsurprised to read this morning that despite being ordered and despite them promising to do so, Astra Zeneca have not got any vaccine e stockpiled and are now hoping to start producing 2 million doses a week by the middle of January ...So much for being ready to go as soon as they were approved ..

Where did you read that ^^^?

Times/ Sunday Times on Newsfeed

That ^^^ appears to be The Times interpretation of the below Reuters story

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-heal ... SKBN2962NT

[Horse]

Disappointed but unsurprised to read this morning that despite being ordered and despite them promising to do so, Astra Zeneca have not got any vaccine e stockpiled and are now hoping to start producing 2 million doses a week by the middle of January ...So much for being ready to go as soon as they were approved ..

Where did you read that ^^^?

Times/ Sunday Times on Newsfeed

Daily Telegraph front page (from bbc)

20210102_092237.jpg (256.33 KiB) Viewed 1172 times

[Gedge]

Where did you read that ^^^?

Times/ Sunday Times on Newsfeed

Daily Telegraph front page (from bbc)

20210102_092237.jpg

Interesting that despite the obstacles India has managed to create a stockpile ..

[Horse]

Times/ Sunday Times on Newsfeed

Daily Telegraph front page (from bbc)

20210102_092237.jpg

Interesting that despite the obstacles India has managed to create a stockpile ..

Manufactured there. Perhaps they took either an optimistic attitude during planning or a Russian view on approval?

[Docca]

You wouldn’t believe, or perhaps you would, the amount of red tape we have to be able to administer the vaccine. I’ll try and find a screenshot of the expected training - its putting a lot of returning medics and nurses and dare I say volunteers, off. It includes stuff such as fire safety.

At this stage, if the drug is approved I’d be quite happy for Barry the alcoholic bouncer to administer it. Or I’d do it myself.

I read the 2 million a week by mid Jan too. Let’s say it takes 10 minutes per person to get the vaccine- can someone else do the maths? How many staff do we need to get through 2m a week?

Then it’s working through the 15m people who qualify in the 9 riskier groups first. I’d say an optimistic finger in the air would see most of us getting the vaccine around the end of Summer, by which time we’d know full well of it causes any lasting damage.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Its about 8500 people, based on working a 40 hour week.

Ridiculous paperwork does seem well....ridiculous! I would say that's a rod the public sector has made for their own back, but it's actually a rod they've made for everyone else's back.

Edit: For scale the NHS currently has about 1.4 million staff.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Would it be provocative to say there are probably 8500 middle managers and clerical assistants who already have the appropriate terrorism/fire/sexism/child abuse certification who could be redeployed?

[Docca]

Yep- NHS England are a nightmare for red tape. We need devolved organisations and the ability to launch national NHS bodies into orbit. My view is they serve almost zero purpose and I say that as someone with now 25 years experience in the NHS.

1.4m employees, of which a much smaller percentage will be trained to administer injections. I’ve put my name down to help ( i have been swabbing too) but we’re all in a similar way of thinking at the moment: jab us first so we can serve the public need more safely.

[Gedge]

Would it be provocative to say there are probably 8500 middle managers and clerical assistants who already have the appropriate terrorism/fire/sexism/child abuse certification who could be redeployed?

The flu jab was administered by suitably trained health care workers ..the process doesn’t look much like rocket science especially if they have on hand suitable support for any adverse reactions. Pretty sure most people could Ben taught to do it within a few hours .

[Horse]

Its about 8500 people, based on working a 40 hour week.

Ridiculous paperwork does seem well....ridiculous! I would say that's a rod the public sector has made for their own back, but it's actually a rod they've made for everyone else's back.

Edit: For scale the NHS currently has about 1.4 million staff.

There's been extensive effort (now IIRC a soaraway Sun campaign) to recruit volunteers. I think it was an initial 21 hours training commitment on top of the other pre-enrollment qualifications required. I'm not surprised that many are put off.

[Docca]

Would it be provocative to say there are probably 8500 middle managers and clerical assistants who already have the appropriate terrorism/fire/sexism/child abuse certification who could be redeployed?

Nope, not at all. There are thousands of clinicians in senior roles ( I’m one of many) and I don’t know of any who are not front of the queue offering to do their bit.

I think if we all make it through this, this the NHS needs a bloody good shake. It couldn’t sustain chronic care before a pandemic and its blue-ribbon event was crisis and acute care- and now that’s fucked.

Tens and tens of thousands of shortages of staff for what the expected need is. I’m hoping someone comes in a lot stronger after Covid with a public health stick centred around the public being more responsible for their behaviour.

[Horse]

What qualities make me suitable for the volunteer role?

Under legal and NHS guidance, to be trained to safely give an injection of this type, someone needs to have achieved at least two A Levels or the equivalent during their education. For those people who do not have two A-Levels, the equivalent, or higher qualifications, then the Vaccination Care Volunteer and Volunteer Patient Advocate roles are still open.

Have experience of a paid or voluntary role caring for people, providing customer service or providing signposting and advice.

Aware that you will need to handle needles and potentially deal with blood and other bodily fluids.

Be able to follow instructions as given by clinical professionals as well as act on your own initiative within your scope of training.

Good interpersonal skills, and ability to be respectful and empathetic of individuals and their concerns which may include an ability to deal with conflict.

Be confident, calm, and reassuring to all patients prior to and after receipt of the vaccine.

Have sufficient physical fitness and mental concentration for the role (this includes standing and walking potentially for the entire shift, and having the capacity to kneel to care for a collapsed patient and press hard and fast on their chest – known as CPR).

Be able to pass all the required mandatory training associated with this role

Able to drive or use public transport to get to the training venue and vaccination site as needed

Able to wear the associated personal protective equipment (PPE) for long periods of time.

Be able to use IT and access the Internet.

Must be able to commit to attending the training programme which includes online and face-to-face elements.

Willing to complete an Enhanced DBS application.

[Mr. Dazzle]

I've given Mrs D injections at home following major surgery...fully legit, NHS issued jabs etc. They didn't train me at all, just gave me a leaflet.

Now I'm not suggesting vaccinations are as simple as that. But these are extraordinary times and it feels like a pragmatic approach is needed.

[Horse]

Training and support provided

Training requirements will be a blend of online learning and COVID-secure, face-to-face training. If your registration is successful, we require 21.5 hours of training for the Volunteer Vaccinator role over a period of four weeks covering:

Welcome programme introducing you to the project and wider charity.

Training on appropriate IT Systems and processes associated with this project.

Moving and handling.

Training in appropriate St John Ambulance policies.
St John Ambulance Safeguarding training relevant to your role.

[irie]

You wouldn’t believe, or perhaps you would, the amount of red tape we have to be able to administer the vaccine. I’ll try and find a screenshot of the expected training - its putting a lot of returning medics and nurses and dare I say volunteers, off.

Mrs irie (RGN) was going to volunteer, but after seeing the red tape and other nonsense she'd have to go through, decided not to. She left the NHS to leave all that shite behind, and has no desire to return to it.

My main kite surfing buddy is a retired orthopaedic consultant surgeon who also decided not to return for the same reasons.