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Lots of doom scrolling this evening, so I thought I would share some positive thoughts, after spending the afternoon prescribing in our covid vaccine clinic.....
The Pfizer vaccine has been through all the phases of safety trials, and the data scrutinised by the regulators. It is safe. This article helps explain how it jumped all these hurdles and got to patients so quickly... http://Www.theguardian.com/society/2020/dec/08/how-has-a-covid-vaccine-been-developed-so-quickly
It is a tricky vaccine to work with! It needs very cold storage, can only be moved a few times and it tricky to draw up. Our pharmacists (legends) have been drawing up 0.3ml doses into syringes all day, over 300 times per day 
It really is fun to work in the clinic, we've been vaccinating mainly those over 80 year old and care home staff/residents. They are over the moon because they know what this means to their life/their clients lives. The priority list and rationale is here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/priority-groups-for-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-advice-from-the-jcvi-2-december-2020/priority-groups-for-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-advice-from-the-jcvi-2-december-2020
We've also been vaccinating high risk staff from our hospital and @SWLNHS region. This is based on risk assessments, looking at things like age/ethnicity and comorbidities. We had some lovely visitors today from @epsom_sthelier who are setting up their hub to start this week.
The vaccine is very effective! But we remind all patients they need to come back for their second dose, and practice #HandsFaceSpace to protect themselves and others until they develop immunity and afterwards, it's not 100% effective (but close!)
The study showed it takes around 10 days to start to see some immunity, but look at the difference in incidence seen in the study, this vaccine will make a big difference 
It is a massive logistical task, in @StGeorgesTrust many many teams have pulled together very quickly. I am impressed by loads of teams, I want to name the booking staff who seem to work day and night, and have called literally thousands of people 
The imminent arrival of the 'oxford vaccine' will allow us to expand the vaccine programme further, mainly because it seems it's much easier to take out to place like care homes. This is saving lives, and will eventually help the NHS and help us out of lockdowns.
When it is my turn, I will definitely get the vaccine #docsforvax. I am happy to wait for higher risk patients and staff to go before me, but I know my vaccine will come soon, and that we have a way out of this.
Adding this on CDCs readout of adverse events: https://twitter.com/MoNscience/status/1343656254393221125?s=19
And you can help the vaccine effort either via local calls like this, or @stjohnambulance are co ordinating volunteers https://twitter.com/StGeorgesTrust/status/1343851754702700545?s=19
