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The discussion over vaccines in Ireland is centered on what day it rolls out.
Looking at some of the comments, it appears some people have absolutely no clue of the complexities of it - or what vaccinations are even going to achieve.
You get it and life is normal again? NO. /1
Looking at some of the comments, it appears some people have absolutely no clue of the complexities of it - or what vaccinations are even going to achieve.
You get it and life is normal again? NO. /1
2 doses, weeks apart.
That means it can take up to 6 weeks to achieve a comparative level of immunity from the clinical trials.
In those intervening weeks, you can still get Covid, you can still get sick and you can still die.
All of the Public Health measures apply, still.
That means it can take up to 6 weeks to achieve a comparative level of immunity from the clinical trials.
In those intervening weeks, you can still get Covid, you can still get sick and you can still die.
All of the Public Health measures apply, still.
The real world is not a clinical trial.
How a vaccine is rolled out can influence its level of effectiveness.
Logistics are crucial in ensuring the vaccine is stored correctly, transported and administered correctly.
If you make a hames of it, overall effectiveness can drop.
How a vaccine is rolled out can influence its level of effectiveness.
Logistics are crucial in ensuring the vaccine is stored correctly, transported and administered correctly.
If you make a hames of it, overall effectiveness can drop.
From moment it comes off Pfizer's production line in Puurs, Belgium it's part of a cold chain.
Cold chain experts deem mass-vaccination as the biggest logistical effort since World War 2.
If any step of the chain fails, the vaccine can degrade or get contaminated with bacteria.
Cold chain experts deem mass-vaccination as the biggest logistical effort since World War 2.
If any step of the chain fails, the vaccine can degrade or get contaminated with bacteria.
"Keeping cold products cold is notoriously difficult. A quarter of the fresh produce that leaves the farm gate doesn't make it to the supermarket due to a break in the cold chain," - Mark Mitchell, Australian Cold Chain Council
Germany are already having Cold Chain issues, causing rollout delays in Augsburg and much of Bavaria, and every country will experience some of these problems.
It's not easy to keep cold things cold while transporting, so you don't go until you're ready. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-europe-vaccines-germa/cold-chain-doubts-delay-covid-19-vaccinations-in-some-german-cities-idUSL1N2J7083
It's not easy to keep cold things cold while transporting, so you don't go until you're ready. https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-europe-vaccines-germa/cold-chain-doubts-delay-covid-19-vaccinations-in-some-german-cities-idUSL1N2J7083
What day can it be rolled out?
That question is irrelevant and the answer is a non sequitur. Nobody should care about that.
The question is:
What day can it be rolled out with maximum trust in the complex logistics from Puurs to Dublin to Kerry and into your arm?
That question is irrelevant and the answer is a non sequitur. Nobody should care about that.
The question is:
What day can it be rolled out with maximum trust in the complex logistics from Puurs to Dublin to Kerry and into your arm?
Beyond that, the herd immunity threshold is 'theory'.
Fauci puts the upperbound estimate at 90%, the University of Texas large study put it at 80%.
Studies in future years will seek to find out what it actually turned out to be but for now, rest assured, it is a lot of people.
Fauci puts the upperbound estimate at 90%, the University of Texas large study put it at 80%.
Studies in future years will seek to find out what it actually turned out to be but for now, rest assured, it is a lot of people.
Is it over if we reach herd immunity?
"People think herd immunity is an off switch and the pandemic will end. Public Health measures will be in place for many months after herd immunity" - Dr. Jon Klein, University of Louisville, School of Medicine.
"People think herd immunity is an off switch and the pandemic will end. Public Health measures will be in place for many months after herd immunity" - Dr. Jon Klein, University of Louisville, School of Medicine.
Clinical trials focused on illness, not transmission.
The vaccine will offer great protection from getting very sick, it is unclear and uncertain if they will decrease viral transmission and prevent mild illness.
Experts are hopeful it will do both, but they are not sure.
The vaccine will offer great protection from getting very sick, it is unclear and uncertain if they will decrease viral transmission and prevent mild illness.
Experts are hopeful it will do both, but they are not sure.
“My feeling is that once you develop some form of immunity with the vaccine, your ability to get infected will also go down,” said Akiko Iwasaki, an immunologist at Yale University. “Even if you’re infected, the level of virus that you replicate in your nose should be reduced.”
What does all this mean?
That mask will be staying on your face for much of 2021, long after you're vaccinated.
You won't just get 2 injections and be on the dancefloor in Coppers at 1am on Paddys Day.
Life will be 'a lot more normal' than today but not 'previous normal'.
That mask will be staying on your face for much of 2021, long after you're vaccinated.
You won't just get 2 injections and be on the dancefloor in Coppers at 1am on Paddys Day.
Life will be 'a lot more normal' than today but not 'previous normal'.
All of which is why it is absolutely essential to prioritize safety over speed.
You achieve maximum effectiveness by getting the logistics right. You achieve reduced effectiveness by making a balls of it.
I am aware people have relatives they love and want them vaccinated ASAP.
You achieve maximum effectiveness by getting the logistics right. You achieve reduced effectiveness by making a balls of it.
I am aware people have relatives they love and want them vaccinated ASAP.
You have tremendous power right now today to prevent spreading infection to them.
-Stay at home
-Wear a mask
-Physical distancing
-Ventilate rooms
A vaccine is ultimately just one more tool in a big toolkit.
We can do many things in the meantime to protect people we love.
-Stay at home
-Wear a mask
-Physical distancing
-Ventilate rooms
A vaccine is ultimately just one more tool in a big toolkit.
We can do many things in the meantime to protect people we love.
