Appalling stats from the NHS on waiting hours for patients - how many people die prematurely just from not getting to their treatment in time is certainly also horrifying. I am surprised that England has not had wastewater monitoring on Covid since 2022, I thought it was also standard as in the US or other English-speaking countries such as Australia and New Zealand (in Germany we will soon be no better off as data collection will stop at the end of the year). I first read this fact in Violet Blue's brand new Covid Safety Handbook and could almost not believe it in view of the otherwise very good data situation provided also by UKHSA. Ok, at least Scotland.
Covid is a systemic vascular disease and unfortunately the narrative that Covid is a respiratory disease is promoted when you put it alongside RSV and flu. Covid is more than that for many people and causes far more damage to all organs especially the brain, which people like me want to avoid as much as possible until there is finally a vaccine that gives us all mucosal immunity.
Does JCVI consider the knock-on effects of A&E waits when recommending seasonal vaccination groups? It seems that broadening the groups might well reduce seasonal admissions that, while not fatal themselves, cause delays to ambulances leading to MI and stroke deaths.
Its beyond crazy that only 40% in the under 65 clinically vulnerable group are topping up their covid booster. And though no stat is stated, i suspect in the under 65 group NOT entitled to FREE booster, comprising 40 million or two thirds of entire population, the "take up", given need to pay around £60 minimum for top up booster at Chemist, might be as low as 10%. Its a sure recipe for mass disablement of that able bodied population we NEED ( NEED, NEED, NEED , NEED ) in the future to power our workforce and look after the elderly. IT MUST become no2 priority for this Labour govt after no 1, maintaining commitment to battling global warming) to BOOST covid booster rates in the United Kingdom able bodied 65% of population from current 10% to OVER 50%, ideally over 70%.
It doesn't help matters, that we clinically vulnerable folks have to juggle our need for boosters against the risk of attending vaccination clinics, when most medical staff appear to have completely abandoned infection control measures.
Have you tried ringing round different venues to find somewhere where the vaccinator is willing to wear a mask? I think a lot of people will if you explain that you have health problems/are vulnerable and ask whether they would be willing. Have also encountered people who were unhelpful, but then you know where to avoid.
A complete and utter failure of the media has allowed 3 years of over 90% bed occupancy, 12-hour A&E waits, delayed ambulances…. This should be a national outrage. Now we hit winter again, healthcare rationing will increase again and people will suffer. It is a ridiculous state for the U.K. to be in (note: Scotland is a bit better with occupancy of around 86%)
Is it worth a mention that MHRA appears to have taken so long to approve the Novavax covid vaccine that Novavax have not supplied it to the UK? This means that people who cannot take an mRNA vaccine are left with nothing, and others, who might have preferred a protein-based vaccine which seems generally to be considered superior, are denied the choice.
Nuvaxovid was approved by the MHRA in February 2022. An updated (JN.1) version was approved this year. I'm not sure why you're saying it hasn't been approved in the UK?
I think the JN.1 version was only approved in November, which was rather late? Not sure why it needed separate approval, but Pharmadoctor who were offering it earlier in the year now aren't. Think the NHS has alternatives to mRNA, but not sure any of them are available privately for the many who are ineligible for NHS jabs. Really fed up with lack of provision, agree with Elizabeth re lack of choice.
Appalling stats from the NHS on waiting hours for patients - how many people die prematurely just from not getting to their treatment in time is certainly also horrifying. I am surprised that England has not had wastewater monitoring on Covid since 2022, I thought it was also standard as in the US or other English-speaking countries such as Australia and New Zealand (in Germany we will soon be no better off as data collection will stop at the end of the year). I first read this fact in Violet Blue's brand new Covid Safety Handbook and could almost not believe it in view of the otherwise very good data situation provided also by UKHSA. Ok, at least Scotland.
Covid is a systemic vascular disease and unfortunately the narrative that Covid is a respiratory disease is promoted when you put it alongside RSV and flu. Covid is more than that for many people and causes far more damage to all organs especially the brain, which people like me want to avoid as much as possible until there is finally a vaccine that gives us all mucosal immunity.
Do Friday's figures change the position? Some more headlines Saturday claiming NHS is being overwhelmed:
https://inews.co.uk/news/health/flu-cases-soar-infection-rate-three-times-3405087
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/11/30/bad-winter-pensioners-risk-unprepared-nhs-overwhelmed/
And another shocking story about a 95-year-old woman left lying on a pavement for hours with a broken hip: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/pensioner-ambulance-hip-christchurch-winifred-soanes-b2656742.html
What do you make of this post from TACT about the XEC variant's ability to evade immune responses? https://substack.com/@tact/note/p-152224201?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=2042b1
Does JCVI consider the knock-on effects of A&E waits when recommending seasonal vaccination groups? It seems that broadening the groups might well reduce seasonal admissions that, while not fatal themselves, cause delays to ambulances leading to MI and stroke deaths.
Its beyond crazy that only 40% in the under 65 clinically vulnerable group are topping up their covid booster. And though no stat is stated, i suspect in the under 65 group NOT entitled to FREE booster, comprising 40 million or two thirds of entire population, the "take up", given need to pay around £60 minimum for top up booster at Chemist, might be as low as 10%. Its a sure recipe for mass disablement of that able bodied population we NEED ( NEED, NEED, NEED , NEED ) in the future to power our workforce and look after the elderly. IT MUST become no2 priority for this Labour govt after no 1, maintaining commitment to battling global warming) to BOOST covid booster rates in the United Kingdom able bodied 65% of population from current 10% to OVER 50%, ideally over 70%.
It doesn't help matters, that we clinically vulnerable folks have to juggle our need for boosters against the risk of attending vaccination clinics, when most medical staff appear to have completely abandoned infection control measures.
Have you tried ringing round different venues to find somewhere where the vaccinator is willing to wear a mask? I think a lot of people will if you explain that you have health problems/are vulnerable and ask whether they would be willing. Have also encountered people who were unhelpful, but then you know where to avoid.
A complete and utter failure of the media has allowed 3 years of over 90% bed occupancy, 12-hour A&E waits, delayed ambulances…. This should be a national outrage. Now we hit winter again, healthcare rationing will increase again and people will suffer. It is a ridiculous state for the U.K. to be in (note: Scotland is a bit better with occupancy of around 86%)
Is it worth a mention that MHRA appears to have taken so long to approve the Novavax covid vaccine that Novavax have not supplied it to the UK? This means that people who cannot take an mRNA vaccine are left with nothing, and others, who might have preferred a protein-based vaccine which seems generally to be considered superior, are denied the choice.
Nuvaxovid was approved by the MHRA in February 2022. An updated (JN.1) version was approved this year. I'm not sure why you're saying it hasn't been approved in the UK?
I think the JN.1 version was only approved in November, which was rather late? Not sure why it needed separate approval, but Pharmadoctor who were offering it earlier in the year now aren't. Think the NHS has alternatives to mRNA, but not sure any of them are available privately for the many who are ineligible for NHS jabs. Really fed up with lack of provision, agree with Elizabeth re lack of choice.