It was hinted at by Rt Hon Grant that NHS LFTs were going to be allowed for the return to the UK test but that idea seems to have died a death.

There's no way that's going to change, even though it could probably take a big dent out of the test and trace money black hole if the NHS were to charge.. but that idea has been discussed on here and it won't change as long as there's a govt approved testing company donors list to be on.

My iPhone is now showing six bars. Enough of this conspiracy nonsense. Feel the radio waves. Embrace them!

I happen to disagree with the individual personally, but surely those who have chosen to get vaccinated (and receive the 90-odd percent protection that entails) are well enough protected now that it shouldn't matter what a small minority do?

I'd ignore NWIFlyer 's rather condescending judgement - I find myself in the same boat as you - frequently caught behind and unaware of the latest minutiae change in govt policies here there and everywhere. Given they're now giving LFDs out to Brits like hotcakes (from what my family report), I'd have thought it a fairly reasonable use for them if you're a British taxpayer and have no need for them otherwise and are paying for them somehow. I think it's only fair if that's the only way you intend to use them, thank you very much (presuming there is no shortage, but they're not exactly ventilators...) You're paying for them just as much as the next Tom, Dick and Harry. For something as widely-available as LFDs, which you can readily order without providing any reason, what business is it of the Government to decide? They do the same bloody thing whether you buy them online or order them from the NHS?

With the greatest respect, I don’t do condescending, I do factual and I think my record of providing helpful advice to those who need it speaks for itself.

It’s been very clearly stated, throughout a number of threads on FT including this one - on many occasions - that you cannot use a free-issue NHS test for any sort of travel purpose. Not departure, not arrival, not for the 5-day release. What type of test it is doesn’t come into the equation, and generally test types are where confusion arises.

We can speculate all we like about the motives, although they’re probably obvious in terms of travel, but I’d think it’s exceptionally well known to pretty much everyone that’s absorbed information from those threads what the government’s position is, how unlikely it is to change in the foreseeable future, and that it’s even less likely to do so for a non-UK taxpayer!

I preface my remarks by pointing out all those in intensive care in the North East tonight with COVID are under 40 years old. The one exception is a vaccine refusenik who thought he had Covid once already. I bet he gets jabbed when he is well enough, typically they do. In there is a bus driver and a railway staff member. There is also an overseas worker who is on his own, with no family member to support him, speak his language and encourage him. There is no such thing as a worthy victim, I really hope and pray that even the refusenik gets better but they are all costing you and me around £1,000 an hour while they are there. I keep referring to the Swiss Cheese Model, we need to erect as many barriers as we can, and 90% is simply not good enough, the virus will find someone and perhaps kill them in a way which is both horrible and avoidable. It can be avoided if everyone thinks of others as well as themselves and gets the jab - the biggest barrier we can get in the Swiss Cheese. Even utter idiots can help their friends, their relatives, those that support them, by getting the vaccine and helping all of us to get back the freedoms that we once took for granted.

Oh and I am reminded of two anecdotes from our mega Pfizer day earlier in the week, when we gave first doses to those (officially at least) 30 years old. Apart from all the youngsters fainting due to a lack of breakfast, something that didn't happen at all to those over 90 years old, one person was there for his second jab. He was a roofer, around 25 years old, I doubt he has much in the way of educational qualifications. But he told me he managed to beg an early dose out of his GP due to having a 3 year old lad who has severe asthma, something that seems quite endemic in the North East. But he was wise beyond his years - he said his son was the only thing that matters to him and he would do anything to protect him. The vaccine was important to him, to his lad. He was banning all family members from seeing his son until they have had both doses.

Another young man said "well I think this vaccine is a load of rubbish for someone my age, but if you (CWS) are wrong all I get is a sore arm. But if I'm wrong, I and me mam will be up (word) creek". Which is a good way of looking at it.

Speaking as a guy who has family in the EU and Australia, the take up in the UK appears to me to be much higher here than many places around the world - even in those countries that have plenty of vaccine like the US. Just to reiterate, this is my experience based on what I've seen and what it appears like for me.

What I'm starting to see however is people not planning to get a second dose because they believe it is not worth it and that it won't help them do what they want at all I'd say half the people I talk to are those who are very keen on travelling and who have loved ones overseas. The same thing is something I have noticed in many people I have spoken to in Australia, because there is no incentive.

In Australia the problem is they have had a very good pandemic in terms of infections and deaths. If there are only a handful of cases in the whole country and entry is very limited, some feel there is little incentive to have it. Having a bad pandemic in the UK at least provides a very clear incentive to get vaccinated.

I would have to say there is absolutely no logic in missing a second dose. Whilst we have to wait to see what happens in the UK regarding allowances for vaccinated travellers, it is very clear that already some countries are allowing for fewer restrictions for those fully vaccinated. If those you talk to do want to travel they would be well advised to complete their doses - regardless of the main reason for having it of course which is to stop themselves getting ill.

Which is stupid, given that they cost a bomb, are often the same LFDs or similar with respect to their sensitivity and specificity requirements as per the Gov.uk requirements, and giving them out when the Govt has enough supply might just disincentivize people from forging tests elsewhere. Taking NHS freebies overseas might enable the safe resumption of the travel industry to green countries were they to be coupled with testing on immediate arrival like in HKG and then you're on your way - it'd be a damn-sight more reliable than dodgy PCR tests (I seem to remember CWS advising there was a particularly 'accurate' set arriving from India pre-Red list). This already looks to be the future given the Green list protocol at present, which just drags it out by two days.

Perhaps I misread the tone, but I'd beg to differ when you're publicly exclaiming your surprise at the fact that someone didn't know - we're not all as clued-up as some of the incredibly dedicated FTers here. Anyway, it's neither here nor there, the individual now knows! Frankly, I don't think it makes sense either way - if a UK taxpayer is contributing to their cost, what business of yours is it as to how I use a test that I am just as entitled to and have paid for through the same means? As I said, given governments are now handing them out and can't get enough people using them to start with, it might be a start to get people using the freebies that they're otherwise paying for when travelling, which is a nominally higher risk activity, as opposed to encouraging them to forge tests instead. Who knows, just because something is the law doesn't mean it's right - just look at statute governing all this...!

Well that settles it for me then - if there still is a statistically significant risk to the fully-vaccinated even at 90% uptake, that is being selfish. The fact it's costing you (not me, anymore, although I'm sure it applies here too) a 1k/hour does make it a tad more convincing, too.

It's ridiculous - vaccines have been billed as our passport to freedom and, as that narrative erodes, so too are the main incentives for those at limited risk from COVID to actually get them. Mercifully it still lives here in the EU, although I'd still caution saying they've got the travel rules right when the UK is on the black list...


A good story and well-put. At the end of the day, Pfizer, AZ and co. would cease to exist - if not financially then at least their reputation - were they to be caught up in a long-term side-effect scandal. That's enough convincing for me. It's more likely to be water (or vodka!) than something even mildly discomforting over the long-term. They know full-well that it would be the end of them, so it's not worth the billions they're doubtlessly making out of this.

You're right about Australia, but that will come back to bite them, as for example Victoria is currently going through a 2-week strict lockdown.

I agree about the second dose, however, at the same time, we see no evidence whatsoever that travel restrictions will be eased for fully vaccinated people in the UK (not even a discussion about it) - even though this is the case for many countries that haven't vaccinated any more people than us.

Furthermore, if we look at the situation right now, the EU has overall vaccinated less than the UK on a percentage basis, and many countries are currently doing better than us right now in terms of case-rate. Look at Germany as one example. And travel restrictions around Europe are and have been more lax.

When everyone in the UK is seeing loosening up of restrictions for fully vaccinated people all over the place, people will undoubtedly question why and consider if it is worth it or not. Just for the record I fully plan on getting my vaccine, but it is completely understandable to see the anger and frustration - especially when now we can see it is just political reasons that are holding this up.

Quick question - has a decision been made about dropping the gap between Pfizer doses for the under 40's? I understand GPs are booking people in 8 weeks after their first dose now.

I'm currently booked in bang on 11 weeks, but if I could get it around the 8-week mark I'd be delighted. Any tips?

Wait.. You're not supposed to eat before the jab??? Serious question

On paper it is only groups 1 to 9 (over 50s etc) who are eligible for 8 weeks but if you check again around week 7 I bet you will be offered an early date. Not least because we have got to do secondary school children in August, almost certainly.

cws, what is happening with the supply, do you know? I thought this past week was meant to be a proper bumper week esp with Delta floating about in the air, but the numbers weren't particularly impressive.

In Scotland I got mine at week 7 (more by luck than anything else), but both my friends who got Pfizer (under 30, actually) have already had their 2nd doses appear in the system, bang on (to the minute) on the week 8 mark.

It's quite busy from my perspective, I have gone from 2 days a week to 6.5 days a week. I guess it's not showing with headline high numbers but we have had many weeks of B+ levels of jabs.