No surprise here, but Hankie did get some heat in the Commons.

https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-...onths-12256531

Some data for today:

Cases 6,397 (6,303 last Thursday)
Deaths 63 (95)
Hospital admissions 354 (425 on the 14th)
Patients on ventilation 683 (925 on the 17th)

To give the hospital admissions some perspective, from the last figures I could find from about 3 years ago, more than 44,000 patients are admitted for all reasons on an average day. The rolling 7 day cases is still down 2% on the previous week, but it looks like that might be heading slightly upwards soon unless something changes in the next day or two.

Looks like they're keeping case rates relatively flat and deaths quite dramatically downwards!

Everything I've read about AZ suggests near as damnit 100% in preventing hospitalisation and deaths. The other vaccines seem a little ahead in the stopping you from getting it at all metric.

Well this worked, thanks!

Used my GPs econsult to drop them a message last Friday, a call back on Monday evening then a booking link on Tuesday morning. Just returned from Askham bar having received the AZ vaccine.

I couldn't believe how well organised it all was though! No queues at this time, so straight into the Park and Ride, booking SMS checked then directed to the red tent once parked up. No queues to check in, then just a short wait to be called forward for the jab. Though they did seem to have an issue finding me on the laptop in the booth! I did offer my NHS number but they said it wasn't needed.
Now just to wait for the text in 11 weeks time!

I would be very surprised if this hasn't come up in advance of his visit, as there is usually a choreographed element to what happens on the visits of British PMs to Delhi when it comes to substantive matters for deliverables. Maybe he'll come back with a plane full of vaccine doses and/or a pledge of doses that each side will play in their own way. Either way, I doubt that it changes the ground game in the UK very quickly.

This has been my busiest week, last week was my second busiest week, and next week will be my equal second busiest week. So the vaccine supply restriction isn't obvious yet. However we are doing more Pfizer next week after doing nearly 90% AZ the last 2 weeks.

To the people who got their jab in UK, how does it work to get an appointment online ? Is there a portal and a process from beginning to end that is online ?
This is just curiosity on my part to compare. I started the process in Germany and the beginning is an online portal but this is just to register with some basic information, the remaining part, including defining the date of the jab, is via snail mail.

So yours isn't one of the centres closing soon then?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-February.html

I imagine that everything's for sale at the right price.

The Independent is saying it's at the end of next month, though perhaps it has been moved earlier?

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...-b1817858.html

Goodness! The England system is two sided, but they sort-of talk to each other. The national list, which pushes people to big national vaccination centres and pharmacies, involves someone entering their date of birth and NHS number. They may get a letter or text to invite them specifically to get a jab, but they don't really need that, they can check the website at any time, and if they are not eligible they are told to wait until later. If they are in a group eligible for the jab - currently everyone over 50 - then they are referred to their nearest national centre / pharmacy. They get a list of slots and agree to it, and then that's it really.

GPs are doing most vaccinations, and they have their own systems but the most usual scenario is that you get a text message from a GP and this then clicks through to a GP hub plan on a website. Now if the GPs are ahead of the national system, they will be sending text messages out to people before they are eligible for the national system, so currently 45 years plus, and therefore that crosses them off the national system. GP centres are normally closer to people compared to national centres.

I think the key factor is that once you enter your NHS number, they know your age, generally accurately know your medical history, often know if you are (e.g.) a carer for someone, but that one isn't always accurate, particularly for people informally caring for their parents or a sick close relative. My understanding is that data priviacy in Germany means they end up asking you information which you may feel they ought to know already.

Both our sites are running at just under top speed next week at least. It's not entirely clear but I suspect these are national centres rather than GP led centres.

Does the growth in Pfizer mean a switch to more second doses?

Possibly, but I will find out more next week.

C-W-S give you the details of the process. It really is very easy from a user point of view. You just enter your NHS number or other details and if entitled can book an appointment. You get offered a list of places with available times. In my case I took one in the neighbouring town to get it sooner.