COVID-19: Vaccine/antidote and testing procedures Megathread [Mod Warning - Post #1]

cgcsb · 14-12-2020 12:03PM

seamus wrote: »

He's just setting realistic expectations. Some people will assume vaccine approval means game over, and restrictions can start being lifted.

Every country will (does) have a severely limited supply until mid-Spring at the earliest. Japan will have half of their population vaccinated by the end of June (120 million doses). We're planning on 80% by September. Which is about the same, if not slightly ahead.

It's incredible that before we even start anything, Irish people are so desperate to declare ourselves a failure.

Agreed, there's a propensity for negativity in Ireland at the best of times so during a pandemic, obviously it's going to be worse.

I would hope that by spring time there'd be enough vaccinations to justify lifting of restrictions and we can have a normal summer. There'll be some rush on the holiday industry I bet.

bridest · 14-12-2020 12:05PM

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166354220302011

https://youtu.be/Tq8SXOBy-4w

begbysback · 14-12-2020 12:23PM

Henryq. wrote: »

We seem to be very short on detail at this late stage

We should have a national plan ready to go by now

How many are trained and enlisted to administer the vaccine?

There’s plenty of lads along the boardwalk who could assist with their expertise.

shameless liberal · 14-12-2020 12:52PM

Hi all,
Very much appreciate any advice on this please.

Working from home but have housemates. Limiting contacts but can't legitimately ask them to limit theirs. Heading home down country next week for first time in about 6 months (parents elderly though otherwise not especially at risk).

Hoping for their peace of mind more than my own to do a private PCR test early next week. Struggling to find any availability online. Have tried Randox (no availability) and car currently out of action meaning Ashbourne and Airport a bit tricky (though not impossible). Based in Dublin 6 but can cycle anywhere really.

TMB and CodeBlue awaiting response. Asked Mater Private (but only for patients even though they're charging, which is weird) and Beacon is €250 (absolute charlatans!)

Any hot tips? Thanks!

nialldinho · 14-12-2020 12:55PM

shameless liberal wrote: »

Hi all,
Very much appreciate any advice on this please.

Working from home but have housemates. Limiting contacts but can't legitimately ask them to limit theirs. Heading home down country next week for first time in about 6 months (parents elderly though otherwise not especially at risk).

Hoping for their peace of mind more than my own to do a private PCR test early next week. Struggling to find any availability online. Have tried Randox (no availability) and car currently out of action meaning Ashbourne and Airport a bit tricky (though not impossible). Based in Dublin 6 but can cycle anywhere really.

TMB and CodeBlue awaiting response. Asked Mater Private (but only for patients even though they're charging, which is weird) and Beacon is €250 (absolute charlatans!)

Any hot tips? Thanks!

There is a Vida drive through just set up in the car park behind the Coach House pub in Ballinteer if that’s any use. I’m assuming it’s for COVID testing!

https://vidacare.ie/

jellybear · 14-12-2020 12:59PM

Boots are doing them in select stores. You can book online.
Dublin, Dawson St
Cork Half Moon Street
Galway, Knocknacarra
Donegal, Letterkenny Retail Park
Kildare, Naas Monread Shopping Centre
Meath, Ashbourne
Offaly, Tullamore

shameless liberal · 14-12-2020 01:04PM

nialldinho wrote: »

There is a Vida drive through just set up in the car park behind the Coach House pub in Ballinteer if that’s any use. I’m assuming it’s for COVID testing!

https://vidacare.ie/

Brilliant thanks - taking a look now! This one wasn't as well advertised!

shameless liberal · 14-12-2020 01:05PM

jellybear wrote: »

Boots are doing them in select stores. You can book online.
Dublin, Dawson St
Cork Half Moon Street
Galway, Knocknacarra
Donegal, Letterkenny Retail Park
Kildare, Naas Monread Shopping Centre
Meath, Ashbourne
Offaly, Tullamore

Thanks a million. Looks like the Dawson St one is booked up certainly until after Christmas. Same as many options at the minute! Appreciate the post.

The chan chan man · 14-12-2020 01:05PM

I thought the tests weren’t accurate until 5-6 days after exposure? As such it still leaves a risk/doubt in your mind.

shameless liberal · 14-12-2020 01:08PM

The chan chan man wrote: »

I thought the tests weren’t accurate until 5-6 days after exposure? As such it still leaves a risk/doubt in your mind.

For sure you're right. My risk is low given distancing from housemates. The only unknown variable or risk really is from them. Not fool proof and you're right, but it's something and I've been following these rules for so long my folks and I are happy with that smidgeon of risk.

Richard Hillman · 14-12-2020 01:18PM

We signed up to a system where vaccines won't just go to the wealthiest countries first. The alpha countries like UK, Japan, USA, Russia, China etc will go first because they prioritise their own countries before others.

We are a globalist beta country.

Sky King · 14-12-2020 01:38PM

seamus wrote: »

. We're planning on 80% by September..

Where did you get this?

I have been looking out for information like this and it's been very hard to come by.

brisan · 14-12-2020 01:49PM

BrianD3 wrote: »

Yes, Martin was saying on RTE radio that he "wants" and "hopes to be in a position to" start vaccinating within a week of EMA approval. A lot of other non committal language also.
https://www.rte.ie/news/2020/1213/1184225-ronan-glynn-vaccines/

Given the HSE's track record, hoping for and wanting a particular outcome are likely to result in not achieving that outcome.

I'd say there' s a good chance now that we will f*ck up the logistics, hopefully I'm wrong. Getting close to Christmas now too, at this time of the year there's a culture in the public service of winding down and putting things off until the New Year, maybe things will be different this time.

As for the EMA, good to see they are getting some flak. The British will be giving their vulnerable and healthcare workers booster shots while the EMA is having a meeting. Lots of anti British sentiment out there including some on this forum. This is clearly an emergency situation and while the EMA will do a very thorough appraisal of the vaccine, there would seem to be a danger of allowing the "near perfect to become the enemy of the excellent".

The faster the vaccine gets approved, the higher the chances of the HSE/Ireland and other countries getting caught with their pants down re: logistics. We might be more exposed than most given that Ireland was one of only 2 countries of the EU 27 that didn't respond to the EU HSC survey on vaccine rollout preparations.

Its not as the need for a vaccine rollout plan was sprung on the HSE last minute
It was known from last March that a vaccine was the only way out of this
So why wait till late November to form a committee to have meetings to decide a plan to give to Government
This should have been set up in the summer just waiting to be launched when the vaccine became available
I know no one knew the -70 storage and 2 dose necessity but plans should have been in place
I do agree however remote and difficult a way to mess up the plan the HSE will find it and use it

brisan · 14-12-2020 02:00PM

seamus wrote: »

He's just setting realistic expectations. Some people will assume vaccine approval means game over, and restrictions can start being lifted.

Every country will (does) have a severely limited supply until mid-Spring at the earliest. Japan will have half of their population vaccinated by the end of June (120 million doses). We're planning on 80% by September. Which is about the same, if not slightly ahead.

It's incredible that before we even start anything, Irish people are so desperate to declare ourselves a failure.

Past experience tempers all expectations

cgcsb · 14-12-2020 02:13PM

It'll be interesting to see how it pans out, most people and the media are only talking about this particular vaccine. mRNA technology is brand new and represents a radical advancement in medicine, not just vaccines but a whole host of new treatments for all sorts of illnesses particularly cancer and age related illness. If the C19 vaccine proves safe and effective then there's a lot more where that came from, exciting times. Particularly exciting for moderna share holders.

ixoy · 14-12-2020 02:23PM

brisan wrote: »

I know no one knew the -70 storage and 2 dose necessity but plans should have been in place

The cold-storage requirements were known too, such that they could have featured in a plan.

titan18 · 14-12-2020 02:24PM

Richard Hillman wrote: »

We signed up to a system where vaccines won't just go to the wealthiest countries first. The alpha countries like UK, Japan, USA, Russia, China etc will go first because they prioritise their own countries before others.

We are a globalist beta country.

Yup, we're morons imo. People will call it being selfish, but feck it should look after ourselves first rather than paying for vaccines for other countries when we're putting people out of work with the restrictions here.

14-12-2020 02:27PM

titan18 wrote: »

Yup, we're morons imo. People will call it being selfish, but feck it should look after ourselves first rather than paying for vaccines for other countries when we're putting people out of work with the restrictions here.

What do you think the buying power of Ireland means to Pfizer? The EU agreement was the best way to ensure a stable supply of vaccine to smaller countries, including Ireland

titan18 · 14-12-2020 02:33PM

Deleted User wrote: »

What do you think the buying power of Ireland means to Pfizer? The EU agreement was the best way to ensure a stable supply of vaccine to smaller countries, including Ireland

Ya, that's the EU, fine to be grouped with the EU, it makes the most sense. I'm pretty sure what Richard is saying though, and I think it's what's happening, is we're sharing with poorer countries who can't afford theres, so we're subsidising African countries getting a share of the vaccines when we don't have enough for ourselves anyway.

We had signed up as part of the EU to that Covax Alliance, which US and Russia did not, so that's what I thought he meant.

Maybe we're not, but if we are, I think it's silly.

Supercell · 14-12-2020 02:36PM

Deleted User wrote: »

What do you think the buying power of Ireland means to Pfizer? The EU agreement was the best way to ensure a stable supply of vaccine to smaller countries, including Ireland

Morocco aim to have 80% of their adult population vaccinated THIS month, we are aiming for next September.... Where there is a will, there is a way.

14-12-2020 02:38PM

titan18 wrote: »

Ya, that's the EU, fine to be grouped with the EU, it makes the most sense. I'm pretty sure what Richard is saying though, and I think it's what's happening, is we're sharing with poorer countries who can't afford theres, so we're subsidising African countries getting a share of the vaccines when we don't have enough for ourselves anyway.

We had signed up as part of the EU to that Covax Alliance, which US and Russia did not, so that's what I thought he meant.

Maybe we're not, but if we are, I think it's silly.

We are not behind other countries on access to the virus. As soon as we have it approved, it will be available. Any excess ( existing agreements in place will be far more than we need) will go to poorer countries

titan18 · 14-12-2020 02:40PM

Deleted User wrote: »

We are not behind other countries on access to the virus. As soon as we have it approved, it will be available. Any excess ( existing agreements in place will be far more than we need) will go to poorer countries

Ya, my opinion is the excess should go after we're mainly sorted ourselves. I know there's a moral argument we can prevent deaths elsewhere if we share amongst the most vulnerable globally, but when we'd be subsidizing it and have people here out of work as we have to lockdown, I think nah, sort ourselves first.

14-12-2020 02:48PM

Supercell wrote: »

Morocco aim to have 80% of their adult population vaccinated THIS month, we are aiming for next September.... Where there is a will, there is a way.

They have ordered 10million of the Chinese vaccine (which has not applied for approval in EU). They have 40 million people. Their target is 80% but they have not said by when, just that they wish to start this month

ixoy · 14-12-2020 02:50PM

Deleted User wrote: »

We are not behind other countries on access to the virus.

Ah, our numbers are pretty good so we're behind most of the EU

stephenjmcd · 14-12-2020 02:56PM

Moderna saying they expect EU approval early January with distribution to start immediately after

Russman · 14-12-2020 02:58PM

stephenjmcd wrote: »

Moderna saying they expect EU approval early January with distribution to start immediately after

Isn't their production capacity a lot lower than some of the others ? Maybe I'm confusing them with someone else. Will they be able to give a decent supply of doses ?

Supercell · 14-12-2020 03:02PM

Deleted User wrote: »

They have ordered 10million of the Chinese vaccine (which has not applied for approval in EU). They have 40 million people. Their target is 80% but they have not said by when, just that they wish to start this month

Ah, fair enough the article I read said completed but looking around that does not appear to be accurate. Thanks for the correction.

Sky King · 14-12-2020 03:14PM

Russman wrote: »

Isn't their production capacity a lot lower than some of the others ? Maybe I'm confusing them with someone else. Will they be able to give a decent supply of doses ?

According to BBC in November, Moderna hopes to have 1B doses by the end of 2021.
https://www.bbc.com/news/health-54902908

BioNtech / Pfizer hope to have 1.3B by the end of 2021 (New York times)
J & J if approved hope to have at least 1B by end of 2021 (New York times)

AstraZeneca has said their total annual manufacturing capacity for the vaccine, if approved, stands at two billion doses [don't know the timeframe this relates to] (New York times)

shameless liberal · 14-12-2020 03:19PM

Got sorted with CodeBlue in Cabra/Glasnevin. Got back to me quickly by email with a day that suited. Handy.

I see that Vida Health as posted above has lots of availability too.

Tropical Medical Bureau, Boots, Randox (Leopardstown) and Travel Health all non-runners due to lack of availability or non-response.

Thanks all

TheBoyConor · 14-12-2020 03:24PM

shameless liberal wrote: »

Hi all,
Very much appreciate any advice on this please.

Working from home but have housemates. Limiting contacts but can't legitimately ask them to limit theirs. Heading home down country next week for first time in about 6 months (parents elderly though otherwise not especially at risk).

Hoping for their peace of mind more than my own to do a private PCR test early next week. Struggling to find any availability online. Have tried Randox (no availability) and car currently out of action meaning Ashbourne and Airport a bit tricky (though not impossible). Based in Dublin 6 but can cycle anywhere really.

TMB and CodeBlue awaiting response. Asked Mater Private (but only for patients even though they're charging, which is weird) and Beacon is €250 (absolute charlatans!)

Any hot tips? Thanks!

Could you just ring the helpline and claim to have symtoms and get your test done for free that way?

COVID-19: Vaccine/antidote and testing procedures Megathread [Mod Warning - Post #1]

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