Year of the Rat fears over new Corona Virus

[charon]

Thanks, useful.

[TheVat]

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/202 ... riant.html

Detailed article on how some mutations in a particular coronavirus lineage work in the spike proteins, helping the virus to infect human cells more easily. Cool graphics, which I found very helpful.

[toucana]

My spouse and I both received our first stage COVID-19 vaccination shots within the last few days. All part of the 15,000,000 roll-out target the British government had set itself to achieve by 15 February - they were targeting the top four priority groups set out by the Joint Committe on Vaccination and Immunisation.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/14/uk-hits-target-of-offering-first-covid-jab-to-four-most-vulnerable-groups

Although we both received our shots at the same vaccination centre, (a school hall in a road by the side of the Clifton Zoo), we were actually given different versions of the vaccine in different weeks. She received the Oxford Astrazenica version, while I received the Pfizer vaccine. It wasn’t entirely clear whether this was simply an artefact of the ever changing logistics of the vaccine supply chain, or whether there was some clinical fine tuning going on - I have heard that the Pfizer vaccine is not recommended for anyone with a history of acute allergies, and that anyone who carries an Epipen will be given the Astrazenica version instead.

In UK, the process of contacting patients and notifying them of their vaccination appointments is being handled via the NHS, and the local networks of GP doctors surgeries. Basically if you have an NHS card and number, and are currently registered with a local family practice, then you are already in the system. They already have your contact details, phone numbers and medical history online - One of the benefits of living in a country that has a centralised National Health Service.

The vaccination itself is simple. You turn up for your appointment at the vaccination centre, and identify yourself. You are handed a tick-box form pre-printed with your name and contact details which runs-down a list of possible contraindications that might preclude you from receiving the shot. Once the form is handed in, you are led to a table where the medic is preparing the shot. They normally perform an intramuscular injection in the shoulder of whichever arm you don’t normally use for writing.

If you receive the Pfizer version of the COVID-19 vaccine, you are then given a small digital timer device in a transparent ziplock bag, and sent to sit in a holding area for 15 minutes until the timer goes off. At which point you are free to leave. This apparently is a precautionary observation delay in case anyone who has just received a Pfizer shot collapses and goes into anaphylactic shock immediately after receiving it. They don’t follow this protocol when administering the Oxford Astrazenica vaccine because the risk of an allergic reaction is deemed to be much lower.

You are issued with a COVID-19 vaccination card with the details of your vaccination which you are supposed to carry with you in your wallet. At present UK policy is to recall all patients for their second shot three months after the first one. That at least was the advice given to me at the vaccination centre last week.