Covid Pfizer vaccine approved for use next week in UK

[KingKhanWC]

Big drug companies with billions of $$ and reputation at stake and potential lawsuits and extensive scrutiny can't afford to say anything unproven, so they are not saying what they have not tested in trials and will come to know months after starting the widespread use of the vaccine.

But, theoretically the vaccinated person will be unlikely to spread the disease as virus will not be able to replicate in the presence of anti-virus antibodies in a vaccinated person to make him/her infectious .

Please keep, the UK government has confirmed vaccine manufacturers are safe from any lawsuits or any legal action due to immunity given to them.

The CEO simply said, he cant be certain transmission wont be passed on. Of course this means he is confident it wont be passed on but at the same time cant be certain. So we have a vaccine which MAY not work on the person taking it and MAY not stop transmission. If it does great but there is a genuine chance it wont in either direction, thats all.

 

[Robert]

Please keep, the UK government has confirmed vaccine manufacturers are safe from any lawsuits or any legal action due to immunity given to them.

But UK Gov are not. Check out the gov.uk page relating to this.

The CEO simply said, he cant be certain transmission wont be passed on. Of course this means he is confident it wont be passed on but at the same time cant be certain. So we have a vaccine which MAY not work on the person taking it and MAY not stop transmission. If it does great but there is a genuine chance it wont in either direction, thats all.

Well you could say that of BCG, but I would insist on my kids getting it because it reduces the chance of them contracting TB, which is a killer or at least highly debilitative.

 

[KingKhanWC]

But UK Gov are not. Check out the gov.uk page relating to this.

The UK government has granted pharmaceutical giant Pfizer a legal indemnity protecting it from being sued, enabling its coronavirus vaccine to be rolled out across the country as early as next week.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/...egal-indemnity-safety-ministers-b1765124.html

Well you could say that of BCG, but I would insist on my kids getting it because it reduces the chance of them contracting TB, which is a killer or at least highly debilitative.

Your choice but we all should have info and do what is right for us. Hope your kids stay well.

 

[moghul]

Please keep, the UK government has confirmed vaccine manufacturers are safe from any lawsuits or any legal action due to immunity given to them.

The CEO simply said, he cant be certain transmission wont be passed on. Of course this means he is confident it wont be passed on but at the same time cant be certain. So we have a vaccine which MAY not work on the person taking it and MAY not stop transmission. If it does great but there is a genuine chance it wont in either direction, thats all.

More than covid , some people need vaccine against negative mindset.

 

[KingKhanWC]

More than covid , some people need vaccine against negative mindset.

As a doctor, you should be aware of medical ethics, not forcing or pressuring anyone when it comes to medication or vaccines. I guess doctors have become extreme too now.

 

[Kroll]

<iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/8qb72q" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width:100%;height:100%;positionsolute;left:0px;top:0px;overflow:hidden;"></iframe>.

 

[Giannis]

More than covid , some people need vaccine against negative mindset.

You should keep an open mind, there are numerous people that have real concerns about the vaccine. Most people I speak to IRL don't want to take it, and this opinion cuts across race and religion. I think there needs to be more longitudinal studies about its affects.

 

[MenInG]

A 90-year-old woman has become the first person to be given a Covid jab as part of the mass vaccination programme being rolled out across the UK.

Margaret Keenan, who turns 91 next week, said it was the "best early birthday present".

She was given the injection at 06:31 GMT - the first of 800,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine that will be given in the coming weeks.

Up to four million more are expected by the end of the month.

Hubs in the UK will vaccinate over-80s and some health and care staff - the programme aims to protect the most vulnerable and return life to normal.

Matron May Parsons administered Ms Keenan's vaccine at University Hospital in Coventry.

Ms Keenan, who is originally from Enniskillen, said: "I feel so privileged to be the first person vaccinated against Covid-19, it's the best early birthday present I could wish for because it means I can finally look forward to spending time with my family and friends in the new year after being on my own for most of the year."

 

[Gabbar Singh]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The UK has begun a mass immunisation campaign using the newly approved vaccine made by Pfizer/BioNTech. Margaret Keenan, 90, and William Shakespeare, 81, were the first two people to get the jab in Coventry. <a href="https://t.co/mmxO6sJbRd">https://t.co/mmxO6sJbRd</a> <a href="https://t.co/wsBxQqnZ0r">pic.twitter.com/wsBxQqnZ0r</a></p>— New Scientist (@newscientist) <a href="https://twitter.com/newscientist/status/1336275302734049280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[moghul]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The UK has begun a mass immunisation campaign using the newly approved vaccine made by Pfizer/BioNTech. Margaret Keenan, 90, and William Shakespeare, 81, were the first two people to get the jab in Coventry. <a href="https://t.co/mmxO6sJbRd">https://t.co/mmxO6sJbRd</a> <a href="https://t.co/wsBxQqnZ0r">pic.twitter.com/wsBxQqnZ0r</a></p>— New Scientist (@newscientist) <a href="https://twitter.com/newscientist/status/1336275302734049280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Wonderful, good to see that , I will be getting the same in couple of weeks, hopefully . Expected to be approved by FDA on Thursday.

 

[MenInG]

The Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine is safe and effective, independent analysis has confirmed.

Researchers say the jab will have a "big impact" on the coronavirus pandemic.

The study, published in the Lancet, is the first peer-reviewed analysis looking into phase 3 data from a vaccine trial.

Scientists working on the vaccine stressed the importance of "transparency" and data sharing within the scientific community.

They hope the vaccine will be approved for use in the UK "within the coming weeks".

Nearly 12,000 volunteers have been taking part in the trial in both the UK and Brazil.

The results show, on average, the vaccine efficacy was 70.4%.

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In a group which received two standard doses, the efficacy was 62.1%.

But in a group which by accident, received a half dose, then a full dose, the efficacy rose to 90%.

The data has been submitted to regulatory bodies around the world for approval.

Professor Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group and Chief Investigator of the Oxford Vaccine Trial, said: "Today, we have published the interim analysis of the phase III trial and show that this new vaccine has a good safety record and efficacy against the coronavirus.

"We are hugely grateful to our trial volunteers for working with us over the past eight months to bring us to this milestone."

The vaccine is both simple and cheap to produce, and can be manufactured in large quantities at low cost.

Unlike the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, it does not need to be kept at ultra low temperatures.

Professor Sarah Gilbert, Professor of Vaccinology at the University of Oxford, described today as "probably the best day of 2020".

She said "Following the demonstration of vaccine efficacy in many preclinical studies, we now have clear evidence of efficacy in the trial results presented in a peer-reviewed publication today.

"Now under regulatory review, we hope that this vaccine will shortly be in use to start saving lives."

The trial is still ongoing and questions remain about how long it provides immunity, and whether people might need a booster jab.

It will be up to independent regulators to decide which dose people might be given.

The UK has ordered 100 million doses of the Oxford vaccine.

https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19...effective-independent-analysis-finds-12155304

 

[Gabbar Singh]

Well done Martin Kenyon.

“No point in dying now when I have lived this long, is there?” Lol.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Martin Kenyon, a 91-year-old UK resident, received a dose of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine today and says he hopes to hug his granddaughters soon.<br><br>“I want to live a long time to enjoy their lives,” he said. “No point in dying now when I have lived this long, is there?” <a href="https://t.co/AJVW5pX2oN">pic.twitter.com/AJVW5pX2oN</a></p>— CNN (@CNN) <a href="https://twitter.com/CNN/status/1336352635935469574?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[moghul]

Don't understand the priority list in UK. Health care worker , doctors and particularly nurse should have received the vaccine first, they are the one on the frontline of the battle field.

In USA the priority list makes more sense. Hospital staff, doctors, nurse, respiratory therapist will get it first. There have been so many doctors and nurses I know who were infected, more in the 2nd wave. I have been among the lucky ones so far. Thank God, vaccine is almost here.

 

[moghul]

FDA released the report of its detailed analysis of the Pfizer's covid 19 vaccine today. I read the 51 pages report.

Bottom line : The FDA found that there are no specific safety concerns from Pfizer's vaccine by race, age, ethnicity, medical co-morbidities, or a prior COVID infection.

 

[IndoorCricket]

Great day for Humanity. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.

 

[HitWicket]

Don't understand the priority list in UK. Health care worker , doctors and particularly nurse should have received the vaccine first, they are the one on the frontline of the battle field.

In USA the priority list makes more sense. Hospital staff, doctors, nurse, respiratory therapist will get it first. There have been so many doctors and nurses I know who were infected, more in the 2nd wave. I have been among the lucky ones so far. Thank God, vaccine is almost here.

The only people in the priority group above general healthcare workers in the UK are those in care homes and their carers, where some of the worst outbreaks have been.

 

[Giannis]

FDA released the report of its detailed analysis of the Pfizer's covid 19 vaccine today. I read the 51 pages report.

Bottom line : The FDA found that there are no specific safety concerns from Pfizer's vaccine by race, age, ethnicity, medical co-morbidities, or a prior COVID infection.

What about the Moderna vaccine?

I'm personally going to be waiting for the Johnson&Johnson vaccine since it's not mRNA based.

 

[MenInG]

UK regulators have issued a warning that people who have a history of "significant" allergic reactions should not currently receive the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.

Two NHS staff members who had the jab yesterday experienced allergic reactions.

Both are understood to have a significant history of allergic reactions to the extent they carry adrenaline with them.

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Shortly after having the jab, they developed "anaphylactoid reaction" symptoms, and are understood to be recovering.

The pair are among thousands of people who received the first dose of the jab yesterday, as the biggest vaccination programme in the UK's history got underway.

The UK became the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer vaccine last week, and yesterday began vaccinating care home and hospital patients and NHS staff, among others.

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The NHS in England said all trusts involved with the vaccination programme have been informed.

The regulator is likely to investigate what may have caused the reactions. The vaccine contains RNA - the genetic material of the coronavirus, as well as a liquid to stabilise and dilute it during the injection.

Some vaccines already carry health warnings for people prone to allergic reactions - people who have an egg allergy are told not to have certain brands of flu vaccine because they are grown in eggs.

Many scientists believe RNA vaccines are "purer" and less likely to cause side effects.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has given precautionary advice to NHS trusts that anyone who has a history of "significant" allergic reactions to medicines, food or vaccines should not receive the vaccine.

From Wednesday, all patients scheduled to receive the Pfizer vaccine will be asked if they have a history of allergic reactions.

Dr June Raine, the head of the MHRA, told a joint select committee hearing that "real-time vigilance" would continue even now the vaccine had been deployed.

"Even last evening we were looking at two case reports of allergic reactions.

"We know from the extensive clinical trials that this was not a feature, but if we need to strengthen our advice now that we have had this experience in vulnerable populations, the groups selected as a priority, we get that advice out immediately."


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A spokeswoman for Pfizer said its vaccine was "well tolerated" during the trials, with "no serious safety concerns".

"We have been advised by MHRA of two yellow card reports that may be associated with allergic reaction due to administration of the COVID-19 BNT162b2 vaccine.

"As a precautionary measure, the MHRA has issued temporary guidance to the NHS while it conducts an investigation in order to fully understand each case and its causes. Pfizer and BioNTech are supporting the MHRA in the investigation.

"In the pivotal phase three clinical trial, this vaccine was generally well tolerated with no serious safety concerns reported by the independent Data Monitoring Committee. The trial has enrolled over 44,000 participants to date, over 42,000 of whom have received a second vaccination."

 

[Robert]

What about the Moderna vaccine?

I'm personally going to be waiting for the Johnson&Johnson vaccine since it's not mRNA based.

What's your objection to mRNA vaccines?

 

[Firebat]

Israel PM vows to take Pfizer vaccine as first doses arrive

Israel has received its first shipment of coronavirus vaccines from Pfizer, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing to take the first jab.

Netanyahu said the delivery was a “great celebration” for Israel as he stood on the tarmac at Ben Gurion airport, where batches of the vaccine were unloaded from a cargo plane.

“I want to serve as an example to them and I intend to be the first to be injected with this vaccine in the state of Israel,” Netanyahu told reporters.

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine has yet to receive regulatory approval for use in Israel, but Netanyahu said he expected it to receive clearance "in the very near" future. The first Pfizer jabs were given to people in the UK on Monday.

"The end is in sight," Netanyahu said of the pandemic, during which almost 350,000 infections and 3,000 deaths have been recorded in Israel.

The country imposed a second nationwide lockdown in September, when the country had one of the world's highest per-capita infection rates.

Netanyahu will hope the vaccine provides a political as well as a medical turning point, with his cabinet widely criticised for its handling of the epidemic, the BBC's Middle East correspondent Tom Bateman reports.

Israel’s government has not yet commented on whether the vaccine procurement will cater for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank or the Gaza Strip, our correspondent adds.