"We don't have this under control at the moment".

[Workingman]

Those words were spoken by Sir Patrick Vallance, the government's chief scientific adviser, this afternoon.

So I am sat here wondering when the moment will come when we will have it under control - 6 months, a year, two years? And what does "control" actually mean? Does it mean that we can go back to normal or does it mean we are still in and out of lockdown? Let's face it, it can never be no cases and no deaths.

If we cannot go back to normal then all we are doing is prolonging the agony for an unknown length of time, and in the process killing the economy - with all the problems that will bring.

It would not take much to persuade me that the best course is to protect the vulnerable (people like me) as best we can and then let the damned thing rip.

[jenniren]

It would not take much to persuade me that the best course is to protect the vulnerable (people like me) as best we can and then let the damned thing rip.

I'm beginning to think that way too WM, but I don't think any government will be prepared to say it. Too many people would be up in arms and complain it discriminates against the vulnerable. It's a case of damned if you do and damned if you don't.

[medsec222]

Everyone would have to play their part if we went back to a near normal existence. There would be a big temptation for certain groups of people to continue having their rave ups and protest marches in London. That is the biggest danger to the most vulnerable amongst us. However, there is a lot to be said for keeping social distancing, wearing masks, careful washing of hands etc., and trying to go about our usual daily living. We can't keep ourselves locked away indefinitely.

[jenniren]

My thoughts exactly Medsec.

[cromwell]

It would not take much to persuade me that the best course is to protect the vulnerable (people like me) as best we can and then let the damned thing rip.

This is the way I feel too; it has been for a while.

[Workingman]

It's a case of damned if you do and damned if you don't.

And this is why I think

.... there is a lot to be said for keeping social distancing, wearing masks, careful washing of hands etc., and trying to go about our usual daily living.

will be the middle ground we end up taking.

We are never, well not in the near future, going to get to the stage where we have no cases, hospitalisations and deaths so we are just going to have to accept that they will happen. We are in a much better position now than when the pandemic started with such things as the Nightingale hospitals, PPE, ventilators, different treatments and a possible vaccine. Whether we like it or not there will come a time when we have to open up.

Today there has been an announcement that England is looking at a standardised three tier system for local lockdowns based on the 100 cases per 1,000,000 formula. Lower and the rule of six is in place, slightly higher and you get the lockdowns seen in the northwest and northeast and well above it goes to full lockdown as per the original national one. At least it's easy to follow.

[Suff]

Whilst not wanting to be a scratched record...

Oxford-Astra Covid Vaccine Review to Start in Europe

European regulators are set to start an accelerated review of a Covid-19 vaccine front-runner from the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca Plc, according to a person with knowledge of the situation, in a sign the shot could be the first to seek approval in the region.

The European Medicines Agency is expected to announce the “rolling review” as soon as this week

The EMA’s head of vaccines, Marco Cavaleri, said in July the agency would start rolling reviews of potential candidates after the summer

The approach means that a final approval could be granted a matter of days after the review period ends.

The Oxford vaccine review period was due to end at the end of October. This has probably been delayed by a week because of the halt to assess the _one_ person in the UK who developed an issue.

It is something which is worth watching and anticipating. This is also in line with Indian authorities who had estimated that they would approve the Oxford vaccine on Nov 3rd (before the halt).

There are more than 100 vaccines in trials for Covid-19. Whilst I don't expect it to totally halt the pandemic in a month, I do expect that they will manage to get life and the economies back on track.

To add to that, I know that people who are certified to give injected vaccines have been contacted for a roll-out.

[Workingman]

Yes, but....

The review process during emergencies is pretty normal and it will deliver a verdict at some point. Hopefully the verdict will be "go, go go!". The UK already has 30 million doses ready for the off. However, only a couple of weeks ago, Hancock said that the roll-out in the UK would most likely be in early 2021 though he hoped for the end of the year if possible and people were being recruited to give the injections from early September.

As for the ONE person who had an "issue". It was transverse myelitis which affects the spinal nerve column. It can lead to permanent disabilities and there is no cure. It is not to be passed off lightly. Translated from the trial to 30 million it would give a potential 3,000 victims in the UK.

There are reasons for both optimism and caution.

[Kaz]

It would not take much to persuade me that the best course is to protect the vulnerable (people like me) as best we can and then let the damned thing rip.

I'm beginning to think that way too WM, but I don't think any government will be prepared to say it. Too many people would be up in arms and complain it discriminates against the vulnerable. It's a case of damned if you do and damned if you don't.

Another here who is starting to think that way

[Workingman]

Here's a realistic appraisal of what might be the case with the vaccine - any vaccine. The report the article is about is highlighted at the start of paragraph three. But be warned, it is from the Royal Society and is written by experts.