Vaccine Megathread - See OP for threadbans

stephenjmcd wrote: »

Open to correction but I don't think the FDA pause has been lifted yet.

Also I don't mean to be flippant by saying its only 14k doses but there is just 14k in the country. Wouldn't exactly take long to use them when the decision is made.

It'd be a different story if there was 80 or 90k for example waiting clearance.

Agreed, with so few supplies in the country at the moment they are better off taking a few extra days to get this right, than having to back track in few weeks time.

Washington Post reporting FDA likely to give unrestricted approval of J&J with additional side effect warning
https://twitter.com/bylenasun/status/1385245214688821249?s=20

Amirani wrote: »

The Minister for Health isn't on NIAC. If they tell him they need more time or information to make their decision, then there's nothing he can do; he's not the expert here.

I'm not sure if it would even be legal for him to "force" an earlier decision. Would certainly open the State up to all sorts of additional liability.

We need to be asking why they are taking so long. It's not a secret.

Nothing like the sense of dynamism and urgency we see in the UK.

ixoy wrote: »

The volume we have means it's not going to make a big difference. Main thing is they're ready to go as soon as approval is given, whatever form that is.


We're also above the EU average for fully vaccinated, which shows we're focused a little differently. I'd prefer the first dose approach and spreading the second but at least acknowledge the full dosage.

There's different dosing schedules, which are one thing, but we are falling behind on the most basic metric of all, which is doses in arms. Supply is largely out of the governments hands, but managing logistics is not and we are showing signs of faltering relative to countries with the same supply constraints.

Deusexmachina wrote: »

We need to be asking why they are taking so long. It's not a secret.

Nothing like the sense of dynamism and urgency we see in the UK.

The report said that members of NIAC are involved in meetings with international colleagues about the vaccine and they were awaiting the outcome of these meeting before issuing their guidance. Seems eminently sensible I think, no ?

You could just as easily replace "dynamism and urgency" with reckless abandon when it comes to the UK's approach of ignoring the manufacturer's guidelines about the Pfizer jab. They took a gamble, hopefully it works but it was still a gamble.

stephenjmcd wrote: »

Open to correction but I don't think the FDA pause has been lifted yet.

Also I don't mean to be flippant by saying its only 14k doses but there is just 14k in the country. Wouldn't exactly take long to use them when the decision is made.

It'd be a different story if there was 80 or 90k for example waiting clearance.

Also wasn't it J&J that paused it themselves I understood? Until the reviews had been carried out?

Goldengirl wrote: »

Also wasn't it J&J that paused it themselves I understood? Until the reviews had been carried out?

FDA and CDC paused the administration but yeah J&J paused deliveries.

Pretty sure they said they'll resume the delvieries in the coming days but even still they aren't delivering big numbers

iamwhoiam wrote: »

I was never a big fan of the HSE organisation . But hats off to them in City West . It is incredibly organised , stewards everywhere , queue area well marked and distanced . Registration is calm and efficient and again stewards everywhere to guide you . The booths are spotless with hand sanitizers at every corner , the vaccinators are reassuring and kind
They guide you to the observation area , again well organised and spaced with two nurses looking after everyone
I was very impressed today . Well done to all there

Delighted for you, iamwhoiam!
Hope you are feeling OK.

My husband who would be group 7 was told yesterday he will be vaccinated on Saturday! Pfizer as high risk by GP.
We are celebrating

SheepsClothing wrote: »

The UK recognised the urgency of the situation and took an educated gamble based on the data available, a decision they have been completely vindicated on. In Ireland we have to wait until an EU rep makes the decision for us.

Why in the world have we not extended the dosing schedules for the Pfizer vaccine yet? It's the obviously correct decision, which would save lives, but it hasn't happened for some bizarre reason.

Why are we giving Pfizer vaccines to 60 - 69 year olds, when there are 70+ year olds who are yet to receive a first dose and when we can only use our AZ allocation on that group?

First. it is AZ being given to 60 to 69 year olds.
Second, UK or anyone else don't know yet that it was ' the right decision' to space the doses as they did. That remains to be seen as they have so few with second doses for their population and have to now start catching up there as well and they are worried about variants starting another wave before they can fully vaccinate, same as everywhere else.
Thirdly. it is not obvious that it is the only decision to space out doses yet and may be only a last resort by adding another fortnight on to the present interval.
It's very likely that J& J will be approved with a warning by NIAC for most age groups as the risks appear to be only one sixth of the already small AZ risk for CVST and thrombocytopenia.

Its questionable why we need a decision from NIAC when we already have the EMA. Im also not sure what they can add to the debate on spacing of pfizer vaccine when we have live evidence from our nearest neighbour with 13 times our population of the clear benefits of doing so.

SheepsClothing wrote: »

Well we have a poster on the last page, saying their relatives are in that age group and got vaccinated with Pfizer, so unless they are lying, what's going on?

They are most likely in the high risk cohort

I have read several reports on these boards and elsewhere over the last couple of weeks of people in their sixties getting Pfizer from their GPs. I don’t think this is an ideal situation to be honest when AZ must be given to over 60s only. But I don’t want to be too critical since I know it is difficult to have a perfect system. The approach in Germany now is that GPs will have access to AZ and only Pfizer will be given in the mass vaccination centres.

revelman wrote: »

I have read several reports on these boards and elsewhere over the last couple of weeks of people in their sixties getting Pfizer from their GPs. I don’t think this is an ideal situation to be honest when AZ must be given to over 60s only. But I don’t want to be too critical since I know it is difficult to have a perfect system. The approach in Germany now is that GPs will have access to AZ and only Pfizer will be given in the mass vaccination centres.

It's not ideal. The volume will be relatively low vs. the MVC and the AZ supply has been so patchy it would risk a lot of vulnerable people not being covered while younger groups plough ahead with Pfizer doses.

The other thing that could happen is that NIAC revises the AZ recommendation now that the rare condition and treatment for it is well understood.

So great to see so many reports of people getting vaccines!
My mam (75) got her second Pfizer this afternoon - that's her and my Dad (83) both done. The weight and fear that's been lifted is unreal!