The Prepping Thread - A Newer Beginning ;)

r.a.i.n.b.o.w

maryb said:

I know this is only anecdotal, but my 80 year old sister was one of the first to get the Pfizer jab, on Friday 11 December, only three days after they started rolling it out.  A week later on Friday 18th she had to go to A&E.  Nothing to do with Covid.  They kept her in overnight and tested her as a matter of routine.  The test came back positive Saturday morning.  BUT  she has been completely asymptomatic, despite having a tendency to chest infections.  She's now out of self isolation and has an appointment for a second jab next week.  I don't know if that will still go ahead

Obviously, I can't know how she would have been if she hadn't had the vaccine.  But it seems to me it must have been offering some protection within the week.  

The thing that's not being made clear by the gov is that the vaccine doesn't stop you catching this coronavirus. You can still catch it and infect other people. It just helps to stop you (the person who had the vaccination) developing full blown Covid-19. So even if you have the vaccine (half or full doses) you can still catch it and test positive and be infectious to other people, and should still do all the usual Covid precautions (hands-face-space, etc).

r.a.i.n.b.o.w

Floss said:

Over 994,000 doses have been given - to over 80s, nurses, doctors, other associated health care & front line staff. The fact that the vaccine needs to be kept at extremely low temperature and the full batch must be used within a short period once defrosted is not proving to be a huge barrier to the vaccination programme so far.

It is a huge barrier. Many (most?) care homes can't get the Pfizer vaccine because they don't have the facilities to store anything at such low temps.

3secondmemory

r.a.i.n.b.o.w said:

maryb said:

I know this is only anecdotal, but my 80 year old sister was one of the first to get the Pfizer jab, on Friday 11 December, only three days after they started rolling it out.  A week later on Friday 18th she had to go to A&E.  Nothing to do with Covid.  They kept her in overnight and tested her as a matter of routine.  The test came back positive Saturday morning.  BUT  she has been completely asymptomatic, despite having a tendency to chest infections.  She's now out of self isolation and has an appointment for a second jab next week.  I don't know if that will still go ahead

Obviously, I can't know how she would have been if she hadn't had the vaccine.  But it seems to me it must have been offering some protection within the week.  

The thing that's not being made clear by the gov is that the vaccine doesn't stop you catching this coronavirus. You can still catch it and infect other people. It just helps to stop you developing full blown Covid-19. So even if you have the vaccine (half or full doses) you can still catch it and test positive and be infectious to other people, and should still do all the usual Covid precautions (hands-face-space, etc).

There was a very good analogy on the BBC this morning explaining that although children don’t seem to be adversely affected by the virus, it’s a bit like glitter. Even if they are not sick, but have been playing with it, they will still come home covered in the stuff, spreading it everywhere. We all know what glitter is like! 😀 

the whole thing is doing my head in 

I’ve got a very long email from my surgery/practise but I need to read through it again. I think it is saying that as soon as the vaccine is available, they will vaccinating as many people as possible so there will be a gap of up to 12 weeks between jabs. I was more reassured when I read tamtams explanation that it was better to offer both grandparents a fair level of protection than to provide one with excellent protection and the other, none at all. I hadn’t thought of it in those terms and this also makes sense to me. I wish I could remember the name of the poster who explains things really well when it comes to the vaccine – I don’t think I’ve seen him in awhile. 

I need to get bread and milk today. I will take my trusty shopping trolley to the corner shop shortly and buy two  x 2 L milk as they are always on offer. I will make a couple of pints of cheese sauce – I have a surplus of very strong cheddar and a nice cauliflower to use up. It’s a relief to have my appetite back and a little more energy. 

It’s a new week and a new year - let’s geddon as they say back home 😃

Thriftygifty

That's the thing, how many people who will have the vaccine will see it as I am immune back to normal now and then spread it about, people will very easily slip back into old habits. The amount of heated conversations I have had with my Mum at the start of all this not to go anywhere that you don't need to just because you fancy it, everyone will be everywhere and there will be a clear divide.

The whole children debate makes me so angry, all you hear from PM the risk to children is very low yet he ignores what others are actually saying that the risk is to their families and teachers, don't even get me started on Kirsty Allsop, I feel a bit thrown under the bus with regards to school.  DS is 5 it is very difficult dodging the parents getting him into school, I time it so that we get there 5 mins before school starts as most people will have gone by then, I drill it into the children before we get out of the car to not touch any surfaces on the way in, then at pickup I tell middle son not to touch said 5 yr old, we hand sanitise before we get in the car, he gets undressed in the porch everything from school is left in the porch and he gets straight in the shower to wash anything off, his hair is washed everyday and clean clothes every day.  This is very stressful with 3 small children, and 5yr old is really tired after school, I feel so cruel making him do all of this but what choice do I have?  The thing that shocked me was that those who were key workers children at the start were told to please wash all uniform every day. Come Sept and no longer told to do that, I know of quite a few in DS class who only have one school jumper for the whole week, uniform is expensive.  Then yesterday whilst looking at the school website I see a photo of DS class with everyones coats hanging next to each other/on top of each other crammed in, and yet schools are safe and not spreading the virus?  Would you hang your coat on top of your colleagues coat?  

3secondmemory

Thriftygifty said:

That's the thing, how many people who will have the vaccine will see it as I am immune back to normal now and then spread it about, people will very easily slip back into old habits. The amount of heated conversations I have had with my Mum at the start of all this not to go anywhere that you don't need to just because you fancy it, everyone will be everywhere and there will be a clear divide.

The whole children debate makes me so angry, all you hear from PM the risk to children is very low yet he ignores what others are actually saying that the risk is to their families and teachers, don't even get me started on Kirsty Allsop, I feel a bit thrown under the bus with regards to school.  DS is 5 it is very difficult dodging the parents getting him into school, I time it so that we get there 5 mins before school starts as most people will have gone by then, I drill it into the children before we get out of the car to not touch any surfaces on the way in, then at pickup I tell middle son not to touch said 5 yr old, we hand sanitise before we get in the car, he gets undressed in the porch everything from school is left in the porch and he gets straight in the shower to wash anything off, his hair is washed everyday and clean clothes every day.  This is very stressful with 3 small children, and 5yr old is really tired after school, I feel so cruel making him do all of this but what choice do I have?  The thing that shocked me was that those who were key workers children at the start were told to please wash all uniform every day. Come Sept and no longer told to do that, I know of quite a few in DS class who only have one school jumper for the whole week, uniform is expensive.  Then yesterday whilst looking at the school website I see a photo of DS class with everyones coats hanging next to each other/on top of each other crammed in, and yet schools are safe and not spreading the virus?  Would you hang your coat on top of your colleagues coat?  

I feel for you. I’m glad I don’t have to make those decisions 

I wish I could thank your post more than once as your first point is excellent as well 😃

MingVase

Thriftygrifty yes they're supposed to filming another two episodes back to back in Shetland this year. Virus permitting

[Deleted User]

Oxford vaccinations being given today, another step towards eventual normality even though it will take time, we'll still have to socially distance and wear masks and be very careful to stay out of crowds and confined places BUT it's a tiny gleam of hope on the far horizon and a feeling that perhaps we might see an eventual ending to this awful life turning upside down pandemic.

Floss

r.a.i.n.b.o.w said:

Floss said:

Over 994,000 doses have been given - to over 80s, nurses, doctors, other associated health care & front line staff. The fact that the vaccine needs to be kept at extremely low temperature and the full batch must be used within a short period once defrosted is not proving to be a huge barrier to the vaccination programme so far.

It is a huge barrier. Many (most?) care homes can't get the Pfizer vaccine because they don't have the facilities to store anything at such low temps.

I work in an internationally renowned hospital and we don't (yet) have a freezer for that temperature. What IS happening is that the vaccine is stored in hospitals with the cold storage facility, and batches are removed for dispatch to vaccination centres, who will defrost & use it.
Basically it's the same principle as for any other deep-frozen vaccine or treatment, but on a MUCH bigger scale.

Thriftygifty

Thank you 3secondmemory I feel like I am a minority within the school parents though with my thoughts. I questioned the class size bubble and was shot down 60 seems like to many to me, I was met with well that's the bubble size, I just feel as though the majority haven't made the connection that a bubble of 60 actually most will have at least 4 people per person they are in contact with so actually that's 240 people you are relying on to be sensible. 

Borris announcement at 8pm, if you need anything get it now but carefully! 

Karmacat

Thriftygifty, thanks for your post at 8.24 this morning in particular - it shows the moment by moment reality of waht people are going through - it also shows the difference in the advice between now and March - not because the situation is different, but because what you're doing is probably beyond what most people think they need to do.

All power to your elbow.