Britain hits milestone as half of all adults get first vaccine dose

[rooster59]

By Sarah Young

People gather at a viewpoint in Greenwich Park, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in London, Britain, March 19, 2021. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain has hit a COVID-19 vaccination milestone with more than half of all adults having had at least one injection, health secretary Matt Hancock said on Saturday, making it the world's first major economy to achieve that level of innoculation.

Britain's vaccine roll-out, which has raced ahead of those in the European Union and the United States, means the country is on track to ease lockdown measures and re-open the economy in line with its plan, Hancock said.

"The vaccination programme is our route out of the pandemic," Hancock told Sky News on Saturday. Official data showed 26.9 million had received a first dose of vaccine, up from 26.3 million the previous day.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who had AstraZeneca's vaccine on Friday, tweeted "Let's keep going" after the announcement that half of all adults had had a first shot.

Yet worries were also growing about a new wave of infections in continental Europe as cases rise in countries including Germany and France. A scientist who advises the government warned on Saturday that holidays abroad were "extremely unlikely" for most Britons this summer due to the risk of importing new variants of COVID-19.

Asked if infection rates elsewhere in Europe concerned him, Hancock said Britain had to stay vigilant but saw no threat to plans to gradually re-open shops, pubs and restaurants from April 12. "There is no sign that we won't be able to make progress as set out in the roadmap," Hancock said.

Britain's vaccination roll-out, using the AstraZeneca and Pfizer jabs, is one of the fastest in the world. Israel tops the world in terms of the proportion of its population it has vaccinated, followed by the United Arab Emirates, Chile, then the UK.

By comparison, 23% of the U.S. population has received at least one dose of a vaccine, and less than a 10th of the EU population has been vaccinated.

ON TRACK FOR TARGETS

Britain's government has said it is aiming to give at least one shot to everyone aged over 50 by mid-April and to every adult by the end of July, targets which Hancock said would be met.

Famous London landmarks like Westminister Abbey and the Science Museum as well as local mosques and football stadiums have hosted vaccine clinics.

The state-run health service also said that 2.1 million people, or 4% of the population, have had a second dose and almost 95% of people aged over 60 have been vaccinated.

The EU meanwhile is trying to get its vaccine programme back on track after at least 13 countries temporarily suspended the use of the AstraZeneca shot last week over safety concerns.

The European Medicines Agency has since said the benefits of protecting people outweighed the possible risks from the vaccine, but the damage to the AstraZeneca jab's reputation could further slow the pace of the roll-out.

The struggle to secure vaccine supplies has left Britain and the EU at loggerheads over vaccine exports. The EU threatened to ban shipments to Britain on Wednesday.

Come April, Britain has warned its roll-out will slow due to a supply crunch caused by a delayed shipment from India and the need to retest one batch of vaccines.

(Reporting by Sarah Young; Editing by Andrew Heavens and David Holmes)

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-03-21

 

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[Jeffr2]

Let's hope this strategy of a single dose works, and doesn't create vaccine resistant variants.  It's possible.

[Deli]

Well done, guys. Here the people in charge are still believing in their amulet and closed borders...

[candide]

4 hours ago, Jeffr2 said:

Let's hope this strategy of a single dose works, and doesn't create vaccine resistant variants.  It's possible.

It seems to be a good strategy to quickly reach a significant herd immunity level. Now the issue is to make sure these people will get a second dose on time, as supply disruptions are not excluded.

[Stargeezr]

Half done, keep up the good work, and inject the other half.  I hope to take a trip to the UK, when the pandemic

is over.  

Geezer

[sammieuk1]

The equivalent doses given in the last 24hrs is everyone living in Liverpool, Oxford and Southampton according to the BBC 810,000 looks like we are getting a grip at last????

  

[polpott]

17 hours ago, Jeffr2 said:

Let's hope this strategy of a single dose works, and doesn't create vaccine resistant variants.  It's possible.

Is that your professional opinion as one of the worlds leading virologists?

 

Here's mine. The AZ and Pfizer vaccines produce good immunity from a single dose, great immunity from 2 doses with the right spacing. Ergo, if you vaccinated the population with a single dose, you would produce something close to herd immunity and that community would be far less likely to produce mutations.

 

I think you need to go back to virology school for a refresher.

[faraday]

13 hours ago, Deli said:

Well done, guys. Here the people in charge are still believing in their amulet and closed borders...

 

Whether the gubmint do or not is irrelevant. 

 

We have had less than 100 deaths.

 

Take your Thai bashing elsewhere.

[Jeffr2]

1 hour ago, polpott said:

Is that your professional opinion as one of the worlds leading virologists?

 

Here's mine. The AZ and Pfizer vaccines produce good immunity from a single dose, great immunity from 2 doses with the right spacing. Ergo, if you vaccinated the population with a single dose, you would produce something close to herd immunity and that community would be far less likely to produce mutations.

 

I think you need to go back to virology school for a refresher.

What?  Do some research.  Perhaps no different than not taking the full regiment of penicillin.  Which has lead to resistant versions of a virus.  Same goes for many other drugs requiring a multi-dose regiment.

 

https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/will-delaying-vaccine-doses-cause-a-coronavirus-escape-mutant--68424

 

Will Delaying Vaccine Doses Cause a Coronavirus Escape Mutant?

 

With many millions of people waiting several weeks to receive a second COVID-19 vaccine dose in some countries, experts consider the possibility that SARS-CoV-2 could evolve vaccine resistance.

[polpott]

1 hour ago, Jeffr2 said:

What?  Do some research.  Perhaps no different than not taking the full regiment of penicillin.  Which has lead to resistant versions of a virus.  Same goes for many other drugs requiring a multi-dose regiment.

 

https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/will-delaying-vaccine-doses-cause-a-coronavirus-escape-mutant--68424

 

Will Delaying Vaccine Doses Cause a Coronavirus Escape Mutant?

 

With many millions of people waiting several weeks to receive a second COVID-19 vaccine dose in some countries, experts consider the possibility that SARS-CoV-2 could evolve vaccine resistance.

From your link:

 

"In general, vaccine resistance among pathogens is rare. Famously, vaccines have succeeded in keeping the highly infectious measles virus at bay since the inoculations were first introduced in the 1960s. And Meyer notes that, while influenza viruses are known to mutate rapidly, their many variants are not generally thought to have evolved as a result of vaccination programs."

[Bkk Brian]

1 hour ago, Jeffr2 said:

What?  Do some research.  Perhaps no different than not taking the full regiment of penicillin.  Which has lead to resistant versions of a virus.  Same goes for many other drugs requiring a multi-dose regiment.

 

https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/will-delaying-vaccine-doses-cause-a-coronavirus-escape-mutant--68424

 

Will Delaying Vaccine Doses Cause a Coronavirus Escape Mutant?

 

With many millions of people waiting several weeks to receive a second COVID-19 vaccine dose in some countries, experts consider the possibility that SARS-CoV-2 could evolve vaccine resistance.

Actually the example you are using of penicillin is wrong on all counts as penicillin is never used for virus only for bacteria infections which is why it has to have the full dose. 

 

The AZ vaccine is not being delayed in time between doses. The UK government and scientists based on scientific data have determined its efficacy is higher at up to 3 month interval. Studies confirm this. 

[Jeffr2]

19 minutes ago, polpott said:

From your link:

 

"In general, vaccine resistance among pathogens is rare. Famously, vaccines have succeeded in keeping the highly infectious measles virus at bay since the inoculations were first introduced in the 1960s. And Meyer notes that, while influenza viruses are known to mutate rapidly, their many variants are not generally thought to have evolved as a result of vaccination programs."

It's widely proven that not taking the full regiment of a drug has a chance to allow the virus to mutate and become vaccine resistant.  Just look at malaria.  It happened there, could happen here, as the article states.  It's a possibility and we won't know for sure for some time.  But, it's a risk.

[Jeffr2]

9 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Actually the example you are using of penicillin is wrong on all counts as penicillin is never used for virus only for bacteria infections which is why it has to have the full dose. 

 

The AZ vaccine is not being delayed in time between doses. The UK government and scientists based on scientific data have determined its efficacy is higher at up to 3 month interval. Studies confirm this. 

Yeah, never happens....LOL.

 

 

[Bkk Brian]

2 minutes ago, Jeffr2 said:

Yeah, never happens....LOL.

 

 

Whats that got to do with the example of penicillin killing a virus you gave and which I was responding to? 

[Jeffr2]

16 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Whats that got to do with the example of penicillin killing a virus you gave and which I was responding to? 

Same thing.  Some bugs are now resistant to penicillin.  Thus, the very controlled use of some some drugs for treating infections like MRSA. 

 

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/antibiotic-resistant-bacteria

 

And Tuberculosis.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multidrug-resistant_tuberculosis

[Bkk Brian]

1 minute ago, Jeffr2 said:

Same thing.  Some bugs are now resistant to penicillin.  Thus, the very controlled use of some some drugs for treating infections like MRSA. 

 

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/antibiotic-resistant-bacteria

 

And Tuberculosis.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multidrug-resistant_tuberculosis

You still don't get it, here's what you said:

 

"Perhaps no different than not taking the full regiment of penicillin.  Which has lead to resistant versions of a virus.  Same goes for many other drugs requiring a multi-dose regiment."

 

Penicillin does not kill a virus.

[Jeffr2]

8 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

You still don't get it, here's what you said:

 

"Perhaps no different than not taking the full regiment of penicillin.  Which has lead to resistant versions of a virus.  Same goes for many other drugs requiring a multi-dose regiment."

 

Penicillin does not kill a virus.

OK.  Bacteria.  But same concept.  Jeez, grammar police at it again.

[Bkk Brian]

Just now, Jeffr2 said:

OK.  Bacteria.  But same concept.  Jeez, grammar police at it again.

Wow, finally, hardly a Grammatical error claiming that penicillin kills a virus, rather a dangerous mistake in real life.  

 

However if thats what you think then I'll be more cautious in the posts you make for further grammatical errors on that scale.

[Jeffr2]

15 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Wow, finally, hardly a Grammatical error claiming that penicillin kills a virus, rather a dangerous mistake in real life.  

 

However if thats what you think then I'll be more cautious in the posts you make for further grammatical errors on that scale.

In the end, both bacteria and viruses can become drug resistant.  I hope you agree with that?

 

When replying to you, I'll make sure to have dictionary on hand. LOL

Edited March 22, 2021 by Jeffr2

[Bkk Brian]

Just now, Jeffr2 said:

In the end, but bacteria and viruses can become drug resistant.  I hope you agree with that?

Of course, that is well known and goes without saying, however that is not what I was responding to.

[Jeffr2]

9 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Of course, that is well known and goes without saying, however that is not what I was responding to.

And thus, the reason some are concerned about only giving a partial dose.  Vaccine resistant versions of CV19. Dang...this could have been resolved much easier....LOL

[Bkk Brian]

28 minutes ago, Jeffr2 said:

And thus, the reason some are concerned about only giving a partial dose.  Vaccine resistant versions of CV19. Dang...this could have been resolved much easier....LOL

You are easily amused but the UK is not delaying its second vaccine shot with AZ, its is merely following the best scientific advice for better efficacy.

[Jeffr2]

4 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

You are easily amused but the UK is not delaying its second vaccine shot with AZ, its is merely following the best scientific advice for better efficacy.

Easily amused by the opinions of experts?  Come on.  I'm all for what the UK is doing.  Just saying there may be consequences.  As said by some experts. 

 

Not delaying the second shot?  You're not aware of this?  Come on....

 

https://www.medpagetoday.com/special-reports/exclusives/91056

 

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00455-4/fulltext

Delayed second dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine: innovation or misguided conjecture?

We strongly support vaccination against COVID-19 with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA vaccine BNT162b2 when adhering to the 3-week dosing schedule that was found highly effective in the phase 3 randomised clinical trial—regarded as the gold standard. However we do not support the second dose being delayed to 12 weeks, as implemented by UK Chief Medical Officers.

 

The latter followed recommendations by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), based on unplanned, retrospective analysis and unwarranted assumptions.

 

https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n710

At the time, Pfizer did not support the decision, stating that high efficacy could not be guaranteed.6

Efficacy in elderly people seems excellent after two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.7 A longer gap between doses may improve the long term immune response, as seen with AstraZeneca’s vaccine.38 However, as many people in priority subgroups have not yet received a second dose, any substantial waning of protection during the 12 week interval will create problems as the UK starts to reopen.

Edited March 22, 2021 by Jeffr2

[Bkk Brian]

10 minutes ago, Jeffr2 said:

Easily amused by the opinions of experts?  Come on.  I'm all for what the UK is doing.  Just saying there may be consequences.  As said by some experts. 

 

Not delaying the second shot?  You're not aware of this?  Come on....

 

https://www.medpagetoday.com/special-reports/exclusives/91056

 

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00455-4/fulltext

Delayed second dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine: innovation or misguided conjecture?

We strongly support vaccination against COVID-19 with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA vaccine BNT162b2 when adhering to the 3-week dosing schedule that was found highly effective in the phase 3 randomised clinical trial—regarded as the gold standard. However we do not support the second dose being delayed to 12 weeks, as implemented by UK Chief Medical Officers.

 

The latter followed recommendations by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), based on unplanned, retrospective analysis and unwarranted assumptions.

 

https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n710

At the time, Pfizer did not support the decision, stating that high efficacy could not be guaranteed.6

Efficacy in elderly people seems excellent after two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.7 A longer gap between doses may improve the long term immune response, as seen with AstraZeneca’s vaccine.38 However, as many people in priority subgroups have not yet received a second dose, any substantial waning of protection during the 12 week interval will create problems as the UK starts to reopen.

Like I said the UK is following the best scientific advice and is administering the AZ vaccine in the time periods advised by the company and by the scientific studies from which they got their approval from both WHO and government bodies, how many links would you like.........here's just a handful:

 

The Lancet, which reported that ‘vaccine efficacy was higher, after the second dose, in those with a longer prime-boost interval, reaching 82.4% in those with a dosing interval of 12 weeks or more’.

http://www.pmlive.com/pharma_news/azoxford_university_vaccine_shows_82.4_efficacy_with_extended_dosing_schedule_1362673

 

In fact, the efficacy rate rose with a longer interval between the first and second doses.

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/03/delaying-second-astrazeneca-vaccine-dose-does-work-study-shows.html

 

Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, with a regimen of two standard doses given with an interval of 4–12 weeks.

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00432-3/fulltext

 

Approved by the MHRA – with a variable interval (4-12 weeks apart) 

https://www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-reaction-to-the-oxford-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine-being-approved-for-use-in-the-uk-by-the-mhra/

 

 

[Jeffr2]

5 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Like I said the UK is following the best scientific advice and is administering the AZ vaccine in the time periods advised by the company and by the scientific studies from which they got their approval from both WHO and government bodies, how many links would you like.........here's just a handful:

 

The Lancet, which reported that ‘vaccine efficacy was higher, after the second dose, in those with a longer prime-boost interval, reaching 82.4% in those with a dosing interval of 12 weeks or more’.

http://www.pmlive.com/pharma_news/azoxford_university_vaccine_shows_82.4_efficacy_with_extended_dosing_schedule_1362673

 

In fact, the efficacy rate rose with a longer interval between the first and second doses.

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/03/delaying-second-astrazeneca-vaccine-dose-does-work-study-shows.html

 

Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, with a regimen of two standard doses given with an interval of 4–12 weeks.

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00432-3/fulltext

 

Approved by the MHRA – with a variable interval (4-12 weeks apart) 

https://www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-reaction-to-the-oxford-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine-being-approved-for-use-in-the-uk-by-the-mhra/

 

 

Did you read the Lancet article?  Doesn't seem so....

[Bkk Brian]

9 minutes ago, Jeffr2 said:

Did you read the Lancet article?  Doesn't seem so....

Yes of course, here's a snippet:

 

"Exploratory analyses showed that vaccine efficacy after a single standard dose of vaccine from day 22 to day 90 after vaccination was 76·0% (59·3–85·9)"

 

Here's the full of its Interpretation of its findings to avoid back and forth with snippets:

 

"The results of this primary analysis of two doses of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 were consistent with those seen in the interim analysis of the trials and confirm that the vaccine is efficacious, with results varying by dose interval in exploratory analyses. A 3-month dose interval might have advantages over a programme with a short dose interval for roll-out of a pandemic vaccine to protect the largest number of individuals in the population as early as possible when supplies are scarce, while also improving protection after receiving a second dose."

 

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00432-3/fulltext

Edited March 22, 2021 by Bkk Brian

[vinny41]

Of the vaccinations administered on Saturday, 752,308 were first doses and 91,977 were second, meaning 2,228,772 people in the UK have now been fully vaccinated.

So 2,228,772 in the UK have received their 2nd vaccine

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-56477291

[Jeffr2]

23 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Yes of course, here's a snippet:

 

"Exploratory analyses showed that vaccine efficacy after a single standard dose of vaccine from day 22 to day 90 after vaccination was 76·0% (59·3–85·9)"

 

Here's the full of its Interpretation of its findings to avoid back and forth with snippets:

 

"The results of this primary analysis of two doses of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 were consistent with those seen in the interim analysis of the trials and confirm that the vaccine is efficacious, with results varying by dose interval in exploratory analyses. A 3-month dose interval might have advantages over a programme with a short dose interval for roll-out of a pandemic vaccine to protect the largest number of individuals in the population as early as possible when supplies are scarce, while also improving protection after receiving a second dose."

 

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00432-3/fulltext

Blew right past the part where they said they didn't recommend this....

 

Jeez....

[Bkk Brian]

24 minutes ago, Jeffr2 said:

Blew right past the part where they said they didn't recommend this....

 

Jeez....

I gave you the FULL professional interpretation and recommendation of the complete study as carried out and sanctioned by over 70 scientists and doctors.

 

Here it is again for you:

 

"The results of this primary analysis of two doses of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 were consistent with those seen in the interim analysis of the trials and confirm that the vaccine is efficacious, with results varying by dose interval in exploratory analyses. A 3-month dose interval might have advantages over a programme with a short dose interval for roll-out of a pandemic vaccine to protect the largest number of individuals in the population as early as possible when supplies are scarce, while also improving protection after receiving a second dose."

 

However please feel free to enlighten me where these 70 scientists said "they didn't recommend this" despite it being their recommendation?

 

 

Edited March 22, 2021 by Bkk Brian

[Jeffr2]

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/22/business/astrazeneca-covid19-vaccine-us-trials.html

 

 

AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 Vaccine Found to Be 79% Effective in U.S. Study

The vaccine maker is preparing to apply for emergency authorization from the Food and Drug Administration. But the vaccine may not be needed in the United States.