Vaccine priorities

The roll out here is based on age groups and vulnerability, just as it is in the UK.

As of last night Spain had vaccinated around 1.5 million people.

The UK is doing well with the jabs, and it has ordered/optioned around 3 times more vaccine than it needs (while others have insufficient).

It will be interesting to see where all those surplus jabs end up, and at what price.

That’s an interesting question. Have you heard something about Spain having a different policy? 

Kerlvin1960. Boris announced yesterday that surplus jabs will be offered to Ireland. Then other countries in need. There was no mention of price. His only other comment, and that of Liz Truss, was that it was pointless vaccinating an island that is surrounded by countries whose populations had not been vaccinated. A comment which, to me, makes a lot of sense. As an aside the UK at the end of last week had 300 million vaccines on order, about 5 times their population. However they ordered a further 40 million of the Scottish produced vaccine yesterday I believe.

The EU has also ordered double what it needs. I think it's a prudent strategy given not all vaccines are approved and as such available. I can see no reason why the UK wouldn't redistribute surplus vaccines without cost to those who can't afford them or at cost for those that can.

Wealthy countries will likely all play a certain amount of vaccine diplomacy in the coming months/ years.

This from an article in the Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/10/gp-england-drop-common-cold-flu-cases-coronavirus-restrictions.

"During December, rates of common cold symptoms reported to GPs were 0.3-1.2 per 100,000 persons, while for influenza-like illness this was 0.5-1.3 per 100,000 persons – well below the five-year average for this time of year. The incidence of other common infections including intestinal disease, strep sore throat and inner ear infections (often linked to respiratory illness) is also well below the five-year average, and may similarly reflect increased hand hygiene and decreased social mixing".

Interesting in that it may highlight a lack of personal hygiene in the general populace contributes significantly to one of the major causes of winter illnesses in the UK. I don't know how the flu impacts on other countries however.

That is interesting. I may have misunderstood (or not) the ratio of need to purchase, as some vaccines need 2 jabs, while some of the latest ones only need one.

I don't know the context of the "island" comment, but if I governed an island dependant on trade/contact with surrounding countries, I would absolutely see the value in vaccinating my population.   

Kelvin. I think the island comment was metaphoric rather than being actual, and was to highlight the fact that although you can be covid free its pointless if you cannot mix with the rest of the world around you because they are not. I don't think there was anything sinister in the context of the comment, however I may be too trusting.

Fair point.

None of us is safe until all of us are safe.

7 billion of us.