COVID-19: Vaccine/antidote and testing procedures Megathread [Mod Warning - Post #1]

TheBoyConor

shameless liberal wrote: »

Hi all,
Very much appreciate any advice on this please.

Working from home but have housemates. Limiting contacts but can't legitimately ask them to limit theirs. Heading home down country next week for first time in about 6 months (parents elderly though otherwise not especially at risk).

Hoping for their peace of mind more than my own to do a private PCR test early next week. Struggling to find any availability online. Have tried Randox (no availability) and car currently out of action meaning Ashbourne and Airport a bit tricky (though not impossible). Based in Dublin 6 but can cycle anywhere really.

TMB and CodeBlue awaiting response. Asked Mater Private (but only for patients even though they're charging, which is weird) and Beacon is €250 (absolute charlatans!)

Any hot tips? Thanks!

Could you just ring the helpline and claim to have symtoms and get your test done for free that way?

"They've rushed this through"
"No way will I be taking it"
"God knows what's in it"
"Why do we need a vaccine in the first place"
"The politicians getting it are all in on the scam"
"wake up sheeple"

and now, after all that, the latest one is

"They're not rolling it out quick enough"


FFS, folks, it must be so tiresome to be running around with all that crap in your head, it's no wonder we've a mental health problem in this country.

Take a bleedin break from yourselves, for once.

ixoy

Deleted User wrote: »

FFS, folks, it must be so tiresome to be running around with all that crap in your head, it's no wonder we've a mental health problem in this country.

The people who are asking how quickly it can be rolled out are not the same people saying they won't take it, for the very large part.

Richard Hillman

titan18 wrote: »

Ya, that's the EU, fine to be grouped with the EU, it makes the most sense. I'm pretty sure what Richard is saying though, and I think it's what's happening, is we're sharing with poorer countries who can't afford theres, so we're subsidising African countries getting a share of the vaccines when we don't have enough for ourselves anyway.

We had signed up as part of the EU to that Covax Alliance, which US and Russia did not, so that's what I thought he meant.

Maybe we're not, but if we are, I think it's silly.

I would imaging we are paying for some other countries but the point I'm making is that we are equally in the queue with a lot of ****house countries, that's why we're getting a slow roll out. When we could have just said we're wealthy, us first.

We'll probably end up with Pfizer manufacturing it here and then shipping it abroad. All for the likes of Varadkar and Martin to make themselves look good for a post Irish politics career.

Henryq.

What's the efficacy of the Pfizer and the Oxford vaccine combined?

Say I wanted the 2 would it be like 100%?

CIARAN_BOYLE

Henryq. wrote: »

What's the efficacy of the Pfizer and the Oxford vaccine combined?

Say I wanted the 2 would it be like 100%?

It hasnt been tested together.

We dont know if the people who didn't have success with one vaccine dont have success because their immune system doesnt respond rather than any flaw of the vaccine.

95% might be as good as it gets.

hmmm

Richard Hillman wrote: »

We'll probably end up with Pfizer manufacturing it here and then shipping it abroad. All for the likes of Varadkar and Martin to make themselves look good for a post Irish politics career.

The EU have pre-purchased several vaccines. If there is a glut (and hopefully there will be), the EU will donate the remaining vaccines to poorer countries. The EU have also assisted with scaling up production to ensure that cheaper vaccines like Oxford are made in large quantities.

Thankfully we are part of the EU as it has allowed us to be part of large deals which would have been hard to negotiate as a small country.

The end of Covid will only happen when the entire world is vaccinated - it's in our national interest to help the rest of the world, aside entirely from a moral obligation. As long as the poorer countries still have it circulating there is a chance of a mutation which bypasses our current vaccines or a chance that it will be reintroduced as immunity has waned.

normanoffside

shameless liberal wrote: »

Tropical Medical Bureau, Boots, Randox (Leopardstown) and Travel Health all non-runners due to lack of availability or non-response.

Thanks all

I was actually looking to get booked myself in Randox in Leopardstown and like you say there is little or no availability so i booked myself with them at the airport.
Thankfully it suits me ok due to where I'll be with work that day.

Just for anyone else interested i now notice that TMB (through some 3rd party) have a drive thru centre at Leopardstown racecourse with tests for €120.
Seems to be loads of availability:

https://customer.jrni.com/?client=tmb

shameless liberal

normanoffside wrote: »

I was actually looking to get booked myself in Randox in Leopardstown and like you say there is little or no availability so i booked myself with them at the airport.
Thankfully it suits me ok due to where I'll be with work that day.

Just for anyone else interested i now notice that TMB (through some 3rd party) have a drive thru centre at Leopardstown racecourse with tests for €120.
Seems to be loads of availability:

https://customer.jrni.com/?client=tmb

Fair play. Just now actually TMB came back to me with an apt for Monday so I'm sorted and closer to home.

So TMB, CodeBlue, Vida seem to be options and Randox at the Airport. Boots and a few others in the city fully booked.

titan18

hmmm wrote: »

The EU have pre-purchased several vaccines. If there is a glut (and hopefully there will be), the EU will donate the remaining vaccines to poorer countries. The EU have also assisted with scaling up production to ensure that cheaper vaccines like Oxford are made in large quantities.

Thankfully we are part of the EU as it has allowed us to be part of large deals which would have been hard to negotiate as a small country.

The end of Covid will only happen when the entire world is vaccinated - it's in our national interest to help the rest of the world, aside entirely from a moral obligation. As long as the poorer countries still have it circulating there is a chance of a mutation which bypasses our current vaccines or a chance that it will be reintroduced as immunity has waned.

True, but at the same time, that chance is still there when we're not vaccinated here as we're sending vaccines to other countries. I don't particularly mind us helping to subsidize other countries so that we get rid of covid long term, once we're sorted ourselves (and thats with a good 50%+ vaccinated). I do have an issue if we're going (as part of the EU) that we have 100 million doses. 70m go EU and 30m go to countries who can't afford it by themselves, as we're effectively subsidizing them to stay in restrictions here.

Henryq.

hmmm wrote: »

The EU have pre-purchased several vaccines. If there is a glut (and hopefully there will be), the EU will donate the remaining vaccines to poorer countries. The EU have also assisted with scaling up production to ensure that cheaper vaccines like Oxford are made in large quantities.

Thankfully we are part of the EU as it has allowed us to be part of large deals which would have been hard to negotiate as a small country.

The end of Covid will only happen when the entire world is vaccinated - it's in our national interest to help the rest of the world, aside entirely from a moral obligation. As long as the poorer countries still have it circulating there is a chance of a mutation which bypasses our current vaccines or a chance that it will be reintroduced as immunity has waned.

My understanding is that the risk of mutation will always be there

I'm not sure about vaccination in that scenario or how it works

CIARAN_BOYLE

Henryq. wrote: »

My understanding is that the risk of mutation will always be there

I'm not sure about vaccination in that scenario or how it works

If its circulating the risk of mutation remains.

If it's not circulating the risk of mutation will be next to nothing as it will be dead.

Henryq.

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

If its circulating the risk of mutation remains.

If it's not circulating the risk of mutation will be next to nothing as it will be dead.

Are you talking about zero-covid?

Henryq.

Henryq. wrote: »

My understanding is that the risk of mutation will always be there

I'm not sure about vaccination in that scenario or how it works

The more cases there are, the more opportunity for mutation. The more people that are vaccinated the fewer cases.

It is actually in our interest for the vaccine to be rolled out in as many countries as possible after the vulnerable have been done. If we are all vaccinated but a mutation in the infection path emerges in Moldova for example and rapidly spreads, we are back to square one.

Whereas if there is vaccine rollout in parallel in multiple countries, case levels will rapidly fall in all countries significantly reducing the opportunity for mutation, and also increasing the chance of detection of an emerging mutation as fewer countries will be in crisis mode

Henryq.

[Deleted User] wrote: »

The more cases there are, the more opportunity for mutation. The more people that are vaccinated the fewer cases.

It is actually in our interest for the vaccine to be rolled out in as many countries as possible after the vulnerable have been done. If we are all vaccinated but a mutation in the infection path emerges in Moldova for example and rapidly spreads, we are back to square one.

Whereas if there is vaccine rollout in parallel in multiple countries, case levels will rapidly fall in all countries significantly reducing the opportunity for mutation, and also increasing the chance of detection of an emerging mutation as fewer countries will be in crisis mode

That is one of the mistakes we made here

Too much focus on crude lockdowns and we are back to square one in the event of another pandemic

Other countries like Korea and Japan are better placed with advanced test and trace systems in place

titan18

Deleted User wrote: »

The more cases there are, the more opportunity for mutation. The more people that are vaccinated the fewer cases.

It is actually in our interest for the vaccine to be rolled out in as many countries as possible after the vulnerable have been done. If we are all vaccinated but a mutation in the infection path emerges in Moldova for example and rapidly spreads, we are back to square one.

Whereas if there is vaccine rollout in parallel in multiple countries, case levels will rapidly fall in all countries significantly reducing the opportunity for mutation, and also increasing the chance of detection of an emerging mutation as fewer countries will be in crisis mode

Is that not the same case here though? Like if we only vaccinate the vulnerable here, it can still get a mutation in the non vulnerable here as the spread isn't exactly going to change drastically there just less serious, so why should we vaccinate the vulnerable in Moldova first then. Morally, I understand, economically I don't see why if we're still in restrictions and paying to vaccinate others.

AdamD

https://twitter.com/rtenews/status/1338480072483868673

This is a bit bleak to be honest. I'm in my mid-twenties and franky cannot see myself nor my social group continuing to severely restrict our lives beyond another couple of months

Stheno

AdamD wrote: »

https://twitter.com/rtenews/status/1338480072483868673

This is a bit bleak to be honest. I'm in my mid-twenties and franky cannot see myself nor my social group continuing to severely restrict our lives beyond another couple of months

Whats the alternative?

Hmmzis

Looks like the final readout for the Russian Sputnik V vaccine has been done (78 cases):

https://sputnikvaccine.com/newsroom/pressreleases/the-sputnik-v-vaccine-s-efficacy-is-confirmed-at-91-4-based-on-data-analysis-of-the-final-control-po/

Still at 91.4% efficacy and no severe cases in the vaccine group (20 in the placebo). It's mentioned they'll publish their data in an international journal (The Lancet most likely).

AdamD

Stheno wrote: »

Whats the alternative?

I don't see how we can't be open sooner if the vaccine rollout is done properly.

And the personal alternative? I'll start socialising more. The likelihood of this disease being an issue for me is incredibly low, my current behavior is to stop this spreading to others. On a long enough timeline I will not continue to do so.

hmmm

Deleted User wrote: »

Whereas if there is vaccine rollout in parallel in multiple countries, case levels will rapidly fall in all countries significantly reducing the opportunity for mutation, and also increasing the chance of detection of an emerging mutation as fewer countries will be in crisis mode

West Africa has done brilliantly to control Ebola with relatively small numbers of vaccine doses. The most recent outbreak spread over a large area, and it required only 40,000 to be vaccinated before the outbreak was extinguished. And that vaccine has been successfully kept at -80C in countries which often lack much basic infrastructure.

VG31

AdamD wrote: »

I don't see how we can't be open sooner if the vaccine rollout is done properly.

And the personal alternative? I'll start socialising more. The likelihood of this disease being an issue for me is incredibly low, my current behavior is to stop this spreading to others. On a long enough timeline I will not continue to do so.

I couldn't agree more.

The (correct) narrative throughout this pandemic has been while most people will not be affected badly by the virus, you could pass it on to someone who may be.

I've followed the guidelines as much as I can; primarily so I don't spread it to elderly or vulnerable family members, not beacuse I am afraid of the virus myself (not that I want to get it, but I don't go around in fear either). If it gets to the stage where everyone I know who is elderly/vulnerable is vaccinated, I really can't see myself continuing to social distance etc.

There does seem to be a moving of the goalposts recently from protecting the elderly and vulnerable to stopping covid cases. If the hospitals are empty cases shouldn't matter. If you're not vulnerable in any way but really don't want to risk getting covid them of course you can still wear a mask or isolate yourself.

Micky 32

Henryq. wrote: »

My understanding is that the risk of mutation will always be there

RTE news app headline is reporting a new strain in the UK:

In a statement, Mr Hancock said: "Over the last few days, thanks to our world-class genomic capability in the UK, we have identified a new variant of coronavirus which may be associated with the faster spread in the South of England." 

Matt Hancock said the numbers of the new variant of coronavirus "are increasing rapidly".

He told the Commons: "Initial analysis suggests that this variant is growing faster than the existing variants.

Now the important bit :

Mr Hancock added: "I must stress at this point that there is currently nothing to suggest that this variant is more likely to cause serious disease and the latest clinical advice is that it's highly unlikely that this mutation would fail to respond to a vaccine, but it shows we've got to be vigilant and follow the rules and everyone needs to take personal responsibility not to spread this virus.“

Deeper Blue

I predict that this new strain will be like the mink thing i.e. a complete non story for RTE to fawn over for a week which will be completely forgotten in a month's time.

hmmm

I find these trucks full of vaccines and pictures of healthcare staff lining up to get them so fantastic. A great achievement for humanity.

https://twitter.com/MaxFilby/status/1338511135557955587

jackofalltrades

VG31 wrote: »

I couldn't agree more.

The (correct) narrative throughout this pandemic has been while most people will not be affected badly by the virus, you could pass it on to someone who may be.

I've followed the guidelines as much as I can; primarily so I don't spread it to elderly or vulnerable family members, not beacuse I am afraid of the virus myself (not that I want to get it, but I don't go around in fear either). If it gets to the stage where everyone I know who is elderly/vulnerable is vaccinated, I really can't see myself continuing to social distance etc.

There does seem to be a moving of the goalposts recently from protecting the elderly and vulnerable to stopping covid cases. If the hospitals are empty cases shouldn't matter. If you're not vulnerable in any way but really don't want to risk getting covid them of course you can still wear a mask or isolate yourself.

Everyone's vulnerable, just to differing degrees.
I have a neighbour in his 40s, who caught COVID back in March and is still struggling to walk around his house. He had no underlying issues.
Someone else I know got it and still hasn't got their sense of smell or taste back.
I know others who got it and were fine.

It would be madness to stop socially distancing or wearing masks in public until everyone's had a chance to be vaccinated.
It would be giving up with the finish line in sight, when you could just wait a few months more and ensure everyone is protected.
We don't hit herd immunity until we get 60-70% vaccinated, based on estimates.

hmmm

This is funny. "Do we have to sign for it?" "You betcha"

https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1338512887845969920

marno21

Very informative table from yesterday’s Sunday Business Post. Didn’t see it posted already

https://twitter.com/rachellavin/status/1338484785367408640

BeefeaterHat

Stheno wrote: »

Whats the alternative?

Well the UK reckon that measures will be done away with there by the spring so maybe its time Glynn and co. pulled the finger out and hold up their end of the bargain.

Sky King

"Vaccines will not bring an end to the pandemic" according to an RTE broadcast this evening.

https://mobile.twitter.com/rtenews/status/1338546966125547527

Here was me thinking that having the vast majority of the population immune to covid would end the pandemic. Ffs.