Vaccine Megathread - See OP for threadbans

A good few European countries set to hit 30 shots per 100 by the end of the weekend: Germany, Spain, Denmark, Finland, Austria, Estonia, Lithuania and Belgium. We will probably be a week later, we should get there by the 2nd of May. We are by no means the worst but we have fallen significantly behind the pack best performers in the EU.

B2021M wrote: »

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.

Our government will respond to NIAC only and whatever they say just as other EU countries have responded to their respective bodies.

snotboogie wrote: »

A good few European countries set to hit 30 shots per 100 by the end of the weekend: Germany, Spain, Denmark, Finland, Austria, Estonia, Lithuania and Belgium. We will probably be a week later, we should get there by the 2nd of May. We are by no means the worst but we have fallen significantly behind the pack best performers in the EU.

I have many friends in Berlin . Friend 71 has a date for mid of June for his first dose
We are ahead of them for over 70,s

B2021M wrote: »

I understand that and accept it but what additional factors are NIAC taking into account that the EMA didn't? What additional knowledge do they have?

They are free to demur from the EMA's recommendations. The EMA merely issues advice (and authorises vaccines for general usage)....Ireland is free to introduce its own guidelines for usage.

They wouldn't necessarily be 'disagreeing' with the EMA's expertise, just taking a different course of action.

B2021M wrote: »

I understand that and accept it but what additional factors are NIAC taking into account that the EMA didn't? What additional knowledge do they have?

The EMA commentary has been very general - benefits outweigh risks. I'm guessing they want to clarify if some age cohorts are disproportionately affected. So it'll either be for everyone or just the over 60s. If it's limited then that 80% by June is off the table.

Deusexmachina wrote: »

What is it about us Irish that we seem compelled to sneer at the British? I am sure they are not too bothered as they continue to be miles ahead of us on the road to recovery.
Yes, their response has been dynamic and urgent. They see this as a national emergency and have responded accordingly.
Meanwhile we get nightly updates from committees and diktats about what freedoms we will be 'allowed'.

In vaccinations Britain has done very well, in other things very poorly. As for us it's just different strategies at work and we like glacial.

Deusexmachina wrote: »

What is it about us Irish that we seem compelled to sneer at the British? I am sure they are not too bothered as they continue to be miles ahead of us on the road to recovery.
Yes, their response has been dynamic and urgent. They see this as a national emergency and have responded accordingly.
Meanwhile we get nightly updates from committees and diktats about what freedoms we will be 'allowed'.

Totally agree. A country that fought two world wars will always have a better response to a crisis. They have a different psyche and approach to risk.

B2021M wrote: »

Which is fine and understandable in 'normal' times. Im not sure further delays are justified given current circumstances.

Absolutely not. The about 1 in a million chance of getting a blood clot from this vaccine is a hell of a lot lower than the chances of getting blood clots from COVID-19. Isolating the use of this and wasting hundreds of thousands of vaccines would be absolutely ludicrous.

Str8outtaWuhan wrote: »

How can they say Astra for >60 but j&J >50 if they use the same method of delivery and both have the same side effect, does it come down to politics??

Comes down to common sense. J&J will be useless to us if restricted to over 60

Deusexmachina wrote: »

This thread is discussing vaccines.

Yeah but you can't just dismiss the other stuff. On vaccines they took a gamble which seems to have worked out very well for them. TBH I'd hold off on too much praise for anyone until we get to large numbers vaccinated, like 70%+.

Deusexmachina wrote: »

What is it about us Irish that we seem compelled to sneer at the British? I am sure they are not too bothered as they continue to be miles ahead of us on the road to recovery.
Yes, their response has been dynamic and urgent. They see this as a national emergency and have responded accordingly.
Meanwhile we get nightly updates from committees and diktats about what freedoms we will be 'allowed'.

I’m not for a second sneering at the British. I honestly hope it works out for them, but at the same time really don’t give a hoot what they do one way or the other. I could just as easily ask what is about us Irish that we always have to compare ourselves to the British for ?

I don’t think miles ahead of us either, there won’t be a whole lot in it by the time we’re all fully vaccinated, a few weeks either way.

My guess is there are purposely delaying the announcement on the J&J vaccine because it will appear that their extra thorough for pr reasons, when in reality there is only 15k doses in the country and it will have no big effect on the roll out in the near future.

Gael23 wrote: »

Looks like the government are expecting an age 50 restriction for J&J.

If this was the case, I wonder would they hold off doing the 50s until the J&J arrives in country, or plow on through them with the mRNA shots ? And potentially have a good portion of them done before the big deliveries of J&J arrive.

Russman wrote: »

I’m not for a second sneering at the British. I honestly hope it works out for them, but at the same time really don’t give a hoot what they do one way or the other. I could just as easily ask what is about us Irish that we always have to compare ourselves to the British for ?

I don’t think miles ahead of us either, there won’t be a whole lot in it by the time we’re all fully vaccinated, a few weeks either way.

A few weeks is huge.

NIAC should pull the finger out and for once act with a bit of haste.

Well done to our nearest neighbours. It's great to see them being so competent with their roll out.