Interesting comments from one of the guys who invented it. Personally I found it highly disturbing that it wasn't tested on anyone over 60 and felt the reason it was OK'd so fast was a media and publicity motives rather than health ones. I also felt that this new variant of Coronavirus (Covid19) required more intelligent examination about possible side effects. So I was pleased to get the Pfizer jab. Also because that seems to be a new and different way to treat something as opposed to the AZ which seemed to be just an extension of the old "give them a minor dose of it" method. However, for me the important thing was that all vaccines appear to lessen the effects. I would have taken AZ if that was the one offered. As a member of the "vulnerable" category twice - OLD and DIABETIC - I obeyed self isolation in early 2020, washed hands (never singing Happy Fucking Birthday), wore a mask when out shopping though not during my one hour a day exercise in the park. Got the Pfizer the moment it arrived (Jan and Feb 2021). Then the booster (Sept 2021). No bad effects; not even a sore arm (and I hate jabs). I did get pneumonia in October and reckon that was a result of this new variant on a cold - mutating - though I tested negative every day. I think that is the true danger of Covid - the way it adapts to affect different functions of the immune system. Indeed, I think I got it in Feb 2020 (at an Upstart Crow stage show - woman behind me coughed all through first act so I left in the interval though I loved the show) - several symptoms like Flu - and had "long Covid" aches and pains for 18 months afterwards.

I still cannot understand why AZ wasn't tested on the over 60s (the most vulnerable). But all those countries refusing to use it are quite within their rights if (as they are) they have alternative vaccines. This trivial virus (for most) appears easily beaten by almost all vaccines (Morocco has been using the Chinese vaccine with very few deaths). My hope is that the next "killer plague" is NOT a really serious virus like EBOLA and that it doesn't come within the next 20 years - my expected remaining life cycle.

JK2006 wrote:
My hope is that the next "killer plague" is NOT a really serious virus like EBOLA and that it doesn't come within the next 20 years - my expected remaining life cycle.

Let's hope not although it won't be through lack of media trying:

news.sky.com/story/amp/lassa-fever-uk-de...nd-deafness-12537596

Lassa fever is here!!!!

Lassa comes from rats - not bats (like Covid, allegedly). And causes deafness, rather than a lack of smell. What it shares with Covid is a very high infection rate.

Allegro wrote:
Lassa comes from rats - not bats (like Covid, allegedly). And causes deafness, rather than a lack of smell. What it shares with Covid is a very high infection rate.

New virus; new Barney

Wyot wrote:
Allegro wrote:
Lassa comes from rats - not bats (like Covid, allegedly). And causes deafness, rather than a lack of smell. What it shares with Covid is a very high infection rate.

New virus; new Barney



I wonder if Barney, is scared of finding work from the Job Centre and wants lockdowns again to avoid looking for work. Or that he wants more furlough ?