Oct 15, 2020, 6:45 pm
Local lockdowns in the UK
Jan 26, 2021 | 3:06 am
#931
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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It's intriguing that Germany/ the EU are objecting strongly to the UK's supply of AZ vaccines being far greater than the EU's (and using this to "justify" cutting off the UK's supply of Pfizer), and at the same time saying that the AZ data is suspect. Clearly they are thrashing around, trying to make as much noise as possible, to distract from their abject failure in vaccine procurement. In both Macron's and Merkel's minds, as they hang on tenuously to their grip on power and with their legacies looking in ruins, it's the equivalent of dropping a dead cat in the middle of the conference table.
It's sad to see that operating a high tech plant in Germany is becoming similar to operating one in a banana republic.
It's sad to see that operating a high tech plant in Germany is becoming similar to operating one in a banana republic.
Jan 26, 2021 | 3:43 am
#932
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Manchester, United Kingdom
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Posts: 8,616
It's intriguing that Germany/ the EU are objecting strongly to the UK's supply of AZ vaccines being far greater than the EU's (and using this to "justify" cutting off the UK's supply of Pfizer), and at the same time saying that the AZ data is suspect. Clearly they are thrashing around, trying to make as much noise as possible, to distract from their abject failure in vaccine procurement. In both Macron's and Merkel's minds, as they hang on tenuously to their grip on power and with their legacies looking in ruins, it's the equivalent of dropping a dead cat in the middle of the conference table.
It's sad to see that operating a high tech plant in Germany is becoming similar to operating one in a banana republic.
It's sad to see that operating a high tech plant in Germany is becoming similar to operating one in a banana republic.
Jan 26, 2021 | 4:05 am
#933
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Manchester, United Kingdom
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From the Twatsphere - the German government apparently clarified:
Jan 26, 2021 | 5:36 am
#934
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 8,119
Today we have learned that ze Germans aren't to be trusted with numbers, the Dutch are rioting with such abandon not seen since the times of Greece's debt crisis and as for Britain, well, I'm sure we can find something on Boris or Hancock or Priti (if not, there's still the fish).
I can basically troll all my colleagues
However, leaving jingoism and my infantility aside, here's a good summary of issues in the EU sourcing of vaccines at the moment:
The head of BioNTech, Uğur Şahin, told the German magazine Der Spiegel, that the delay was caused because the EU wrongly assumed that several different vaccines would be ready at once and therefore spread its orders. He also said his company was ramping up its manufacturing capacity.
Other countries that have so far been more successful in vaccinating their populations approved the Moderna or Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine as well.
The EU has now approved the Moderna jab and is doubling its order of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to 600m doses.
But vaccinations in parts of Europe have had to be paused after Pfizer temporarily cut deliveries to increase capacity at its processing plant in Belgium.
[...]
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is expected to approve the Astrazeneca vaccine, developed with Oxford University, this month. The EU signed a deal for 300 million doses in August.
But last week the UK-Swedish pharmaceutical firm announced that due to "reduced yields at a manufacturing site within our European supply chain" the number of initial doses for EU members would be lower.
The EU has warned that it could tighten the export of vaccines produced in the bloc. This could affect the UK, as Pfizer's Belgian plant supplies the UK.
The EU placed export controls on personal protective equipment in March 2020 that lasted for about two months. It said it was making sure member states had enough supplies by requiring the authorisation of sales outside the bloc.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-52380823
I can basically troll all my colleagues
However, leaving jingoism and my infantility aside, here's a good summary of issues in the EU sourcing of vaccines at the moment:
What's the problem?
The EU approved the purchase of 300 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine in December. But the company was not able to supply the 12.5 million vaccines it promised the EU by the end of 2020, due to supply chain issues.The head of BioNTech, Uğur Şahin, told the German magazine Der Spiegel, that the delay was caused because the EU wrongly assumed that several different vaccines would be ready at once and therefore spread its orders. He also said his company was ramping up its manufacturing capacity.
Other countries that have so far been more successful in vaccinating their populations approved the Moderna or Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine as well.
The EU has now approved the Moderna jab and is doubling its order of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to 600m doses.
But vaccinations in parts of Europe have had to be paused after Pfizer temporarily cut deliveries to increase capacity at its processing plant in Belgium.
[...]
What is the row over the Astrazeneca vaccine?
Supply problems have also been announced by Astrazeneca, provoking criticism from the EU after hearing it would receive a reduced number of vaccines.The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is expected to approve the Astrazeneca vaccine, developed with Oxford University, this month. The EU signed a deal for 300 million doses in August.
But last week the UK-Swedish pharmaceutical firm announced that due to "reduced yields at a manufacturing site within our European supply chain" the number of initial doses for EU members would be lower.
The EU has warned that it could tighten the export of vaccines produced in the bloc. This could affect the UK, as Pfizer's Belgian plant supplies the UK.
The EU placed export controls on personal protective equipment in March 2020 that lasted for about two months. It said it was making sure member states had enough supplies by requiring the authorisation of sales outside the bloc.
Last edited by 13901; Jan 26, 2021 at 6:24 am
Jan 26, 2021 | 7:12 am
#935
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LHR/ATH
Posts: 4,492
Today we have learned that ze Germans aren't to be trusted with numbers, the Dutch are rioting with such abandon not seen since the times of Greece's debt crisis and as for Britain, well, I'm sure we can find something on Boris or Hancock or Priti (if not, there's still the fish).
I can basically troll all my colleagues
However, leaving jingoism and my infantility aside, here's a good summary of issues in the EU sourcing of vaccines at the moment:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-52380823
I can basically troll all my colleagues
However, leaving jingoism and my infantility aside, here's a good summary of issues in the EU sourcing of vaccines at the moment:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-52380823
he is bringing in NHS England Director so except at least some focus on vaccine fiasco
Jan 26, 2021 | 7:58 am
#936
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London, UK
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Meeting on hotel quarantine now to happen tonight and likely announced tomorrow it seems according to the BBC and Sky.
Jan 26, 2021 | 8:17 am
#937
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LHR/ATH
Posts: 4,492
Its already a foregone conclusion for high risk areas the rest is how its dealt with. The bigger issue now is vaccine deliveries, it has gone to number one on the domestic priority list. I dont expect any announcements on lockdown lifting until a week before Feb 15 or so, but the preliminary news from Israel is extremely good regarding vaccines so just need to be patient now.
Jan 26, 2021 | 8:22 am
#938
Join Date: Jan 2003
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Its already a foregone conclusion for high risk areas the rest is how its dealt with. The bigger issue now is vaccine deliveries, it has gone to number one on the domestic priority list. I dont expect any announcements on lockdown lifting until Feb 15 or so, but the preliminary news from Israel is extremely good regarding vaccines.
Jan 26, 2021 | 8:39 am
#939
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LHR/ATH
Posts: 4,492
I'm waiting on Welsh, Scottish and NI death tol for today, and I'm hoping the aggregate is somewhat lower than last Tuesday. And I'll be doing the same Wednesday and Thursday (and again next week). Given who this disease kills, I'm hoping we see the death figures drop off a cliff in the next 2-3 weeks. This would be in stark contrast to the curve we saw towards the end of lockdown 1, pointing to vaccines saving the most vulnerable lives right now. I think Israel is pretty much already there, but I understand they've gone Pfizer only; no idea if that makes a difference.
Scotland today: 1049 new cases (1165 last week), 87 deaths (71 last week)
Northern Ireland today: 550 new cases (713 last week), 16 deaths (24 last week)
Jan 26, 2021 | 8:46 am
#940
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And Guardian reports 877 deaths in England, so 968. Last Tuesday (Worldometers): 1610. Blips are things and I think we've all learned to be a little wary by now but hopefully we see this turning into a trend.
Jan 26, 2021 | 8:49 am
#941
Join Date: Jan 2016
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It's obvious, cases falling rapidly, hospitalisations sustained fall, and deaths just starting to fall. Unless cases randomly start increasing, this trend will continue.
Jan 26, 2021 | 9:55 am
#942
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Jan 26, 2021 | 10:06 am
#944
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If the priority is to stop the health service being overwhelmed, then cases is less important than daily admissions and total people in hospital. You can view these figures here
https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/healthcare
It is clear numbers appear to be starting to fall but we are still at around 38k in hospital which is nearly double the peak last year in mid April of about 21k. This is going to take a few weeks just to fall below the 2020 peak, never mind to a level which is more like those seen last summer.
There are signs of going in the right direction on cases/admissions/deaths, but I am afraid any let up on restrictions before end of February at the earliest looks extremely remote.
https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/healthcare
It is clear numbers appear to be starting to fall but we are still at around 38k in hospital which is nearly double the peak last year in mid April of about 21k. This is going to take a few weeks just to fall below the 2020 peak, never mind to a level which is more like those seen last summer.
There are signs of going in the right direction on cases/admissions/deaths, but I am afraid any let up on restrictions before end of February at the earliest looks extremely remote.
Jan 26, 2021 | 10:25 am
#945
Join Date: Feb 2010
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I think cases falling is a great sign and we all hope it keeps falling drastically. But until deaths and hospitalizations drop significantly, nothing will be eased. If restrictions begin easing in March I'd say that is a good result.
Vaccine is the other important item that needs to continue at a high rate, although vaccine supply may soon be a big concern.
Vaccine is the other important item that needs to continue at a high rate, although vaccine supply may soon be a big concern.