Depends on who the 30,000 were. If it's only over 80's then it's not surprising, under 40's then very worrying. Unpleasant side effects with the Pfizer jag are not unusual, I think it's the coating of the molecules that is the problem rather than the active bit. Six of the doctors in my sons practice had it before Christmas and one ended up in her bed for 2 days, didn't bother my son other than the injection site was a bit tender.
That`s about as good as it gets but we are making progress. It will take another 12 months to reach the stage that the Chinese claim they are in now. Lying barstewards.Vaccination is not the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, but the beginning of the end
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Dr Mark Porter
Monday January 18 2021, 5.00pm, The Times
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Mutations, new strains or variants. Call them what you will, but recent changes in coronavirus are concerning scientists and governments across the world, and, if my vaccination clinic on Saturday was anything to go by, everyone else is too. “Will the vaccines protect against the new strains, doc?” was an all-too-common question. So will they?
The short answer is that we hope so. Greater minds than mine have been grappling with this and we may get a definitive answer within the next couple of weeks. Researchers I have spoken to say it’s the subject of fierce debate among the experts, with some believing that the present vaccines will continue to offer good protection, while some think that efficacy will be impaired by the recent mutations. However, the general consensus appears to be that, even with the changes to the virus, the new strains retain enough of the original characteristics to be “recognised” by the antibodies generated by the vaccines. So business as usual for now.
Since the pandemic began there have been tens of thousands of documented mutations in coronavirus. These happen by chance and occur with all viruses, but given how this coronavirus has spread around the world infecting millions of people, it is unsurprising that it has got lucky and managed to mutate into something that does confer an advantage — in this case changes to the spike protein that make it easier for it to infect us.
There are just a handful of new variants that are causing concern (see below), but even if our vaccines continue to provide good protection against these, it is probably only a matter of time before there comes along a mutation that will require a tweak to the vaccine. When that happens manufacturers should be able to get the new version out within a few months, but it does mean more vaccinations/boosters will be required. Not unlike the annual flu jabs that are matched to whichever strains are predicted to cause problems that year.
Paradoxically, the roll-out of immunisation globally could well hasten the arrival of a vaccine-resistant strain. The virus isn’t clever. Mutations happen by chance — some fortuitous for the virus, some not — but if a significant proportion of the population is protected against the more common strains, then it allows resistant strains more room to spread. Think of it as evolutionary pressure favouring the new kid on the block.
It may never happen, but I wouldn’t bet against it and the message is clear. Vaccination is not the end of this pandemic, but rather the beginning of the end and we should expect to have to live with this virus in one form or another, as we do with flu, for some time, if not for ever.
Rest assured that everyone behind the scenes — from researchers to vaccine manufacturers — is working flat out. And not just in the UK, but right across the world. While researching this article over the weekend I spoke to a number of leading immunologists and virologists, all of whom were at their desks or in their labs. Little consolation if you are still waiting to be vaccinated, but reassuring for our future, which is, at least partly, in their hands.
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Finally, a quick update on progress in our vaccine hub. As I wrote last week, our vaccine supply has been diverted to allow other hubs with higher priority groups still to vaccine to catch up. However, we did manage to get another delivery of the Oxford/Astrazeneca vaccine and administered 400 doses on Saturday morning — our fastest clinic so far, suggesting that a small hub like ours could handle 800 a day without queues or wastage. All we need now is more vaccine and supply continues to be the main limiting factor. However, I remain confident that we are going to hit the ambitious target set by the government.
The new strains at a glance
Although mutations happen all the time, five variants of the coronavirus have caused particular concern.
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August 2020 An altered coronavirus is found in mink. Worrying because it can jump species, but it has not spread widely to humans
December 2020 UK and South African Authorities report two new variants (“Kent” and 501Y.v2), both of which seem to spread more easily, increasing the reproduction “R” number.
Late December 2020 Two new variants (P1 and P2) that also appear to spread faster emerge in Brazil.
It is unlikely to be a coincidence that the first three variants emerged in countries that have some of the best genomic facilities in the world. Researchers there were most likely to be the first to identify them.
Ask Dr Mark
As with most people who have been vaccinated, my second dose (Pfizer) has been postponed. Would a private antibody test confirm that I am immune? I am happy to pay for the reassurance.
I can’t give you a definitive answer because it depends on the antibody test. Some, such as Euroimmun used by Public Health England, will pick up antibodies to the spike protein targeted by the vaccines so should test positive in people who have been vaccinated. However, others look for antibodies to different parts of the virus and will test negative even if you have good protection from the vaccine.
Bottom line? Don’t waste your time or money, and leave antibody testing to the researchers monitoring vaccine response in trial volunteers.
Think of your first dose as added protection rather than a substitute for standard measures ranging from wearing a mask to following all the restrictions/guidance. The odds are that you are well protected, but no vaccine works for everyone so please don’t change your behaviour. At least not yet.
That`s about as good as it gets but we are making progress. It will take another 12 months to reach the stage that the Chinese claim they are in now. Lying barstewards.
Well done to them keep up the good work
My friends Son a Doctor in Bristol had it and was rough after it too?
It is easier and cheaper to vaccinate every one than test every one to see who has antibodies and how effective they are
If you need to test for antibodies and how effective they are then possibly but vaccine induced immunity is potentially just as unreliable.
I rather think that the biggest danger is the vaccinated thinking they can’t give wuflu to someone who isn’t. The last I heard was that you could carry and pass it on even if you have the full vaccination course.
