David Kurten is indeed an ar5ehole and a Cnut - of the first order. He deserves to catch Coronavirus and have to be admitted to hospital with it. The self-important tosspot would change his tune quickly enough then. MSM? What is an elected London Assembly member even doing using conspiracy theory crap language like that? This isn't a f**king game Kurten, you pompous little pr1ck. Mayor Khan - do one useful thing while you're in office and throw this idiot out of the Assembly. It defies belief that a brainless prat like him can hold a public office position.
Assuming that you are being serious (for once), the clinically most vulnerable in society. The stats show that Coronavirus hospitalises and kills those aged 70 the most. It will relieve a massive amount of pressure on the NHS.
Let's hope Hancock's prediction is right. I have the feeling it will be well into 2021 before the virus is conquered. Originally I was hoping we'd have this thing beaten by February/March, but now I think it will be May/June/July before we are really winning. The same time the virus quietened down in 2020. By June, millions should be vaccinated - all the vulnerable groups hopefully, right down to all over 50 year-olds. When we get there we should be firmly on the way back to a normal lifestyle.
Hopefully people with serious health issues will be vaccinated early, irrespective of age. I make no apologies for putting myself in this bracket.
Looking at the way the virus is spreading I find it difficult to imagine that anyone can avoid coming into contact with it somewhere down the line. It's really a question of minimizing risk and keeping in the best health possible until the vaccine is universally available. It's rather galling that people who have never looked after themselves and have self-inflicted "underlying conditions" will get priority over those who have looked after themselves but the benefits system also rewards those who are feckless so it's not really a surprise.
I must confess I've not looked after myself over the last 20 years or so. A couple of years ago I joined a gym, and the first 45 minute work-out almost killed me I felt sick for days afterwards... I'm overweight and I have underlying health conditions, which I accept are down to my lack of self-discipline and are not anybody else's fault. If I catch Coronavirus I know there's a fair chance it will do for me, or at least hospitalise me and probably wreck what remains of my health forever. That is frightening, but I accept it's my own responsibility. This particular weakness in my character doesn't define the way I've tried to live my whole life though. In 35 years I've had a total of about 8 weeks unemployed, and I've worked very hard for many of those years. Weekends, late evenings, all-nighters during my younger days, in order to get out vital jobs for the small companies I've had the honour to work for. Pressure of work took me away from football and even family to some extent for a couple of decades. I've knocked my pan out trying to protect the jobs of folk I was managing or working alongside - some of them not putting in anything like the effort and commitment that I was. Because it was my responsibility. I'm not asking to queue-jump now for a dose of the vaccine. If it was my choice I'd want to be certain that every person who works in a hospital and care home, right down to the people who clean the floors and do the catering and take out the trash, were vaccinated before me - regardless of how much younger and fitter they are. Those people, along with carers who go out to peoples' homes (like the ones who look after my old mum) risk their health and their lives every day. They all deserve the vaccine before I get it and I hope they all do get vaccinated before me. But that decision isn't mine of course. These thoughts are not intended to offend or start an argument This is just my perspective. Too much junk food & lack of regular exercise outside work are my personal demons. But I know so many other people struggle with other demons, like drink or tobacco (or other drugs) or anxiety / other mental health issues. Our lack of ability to conquer our demons doesn't necessarily make us bad people in the round.
I do hope that everyone who works in our hospitals gets vaccinated very quickly. And other key workers too. Elderly and vulnerable folk need the vaccine quickly of course. But I hope now that the Oxford vaccine is ready to be used, that key workers in every walk of life are also protected as quickly as humanly possible. Key workers are the means by which the most basic and vital parts of our society continue to function. Saving the life of a key worker, or preventing them becoming seriously ill and having to go to hospital, benefits us all in so many ways. By the way, these are the things that I'm most concerned about right now as the peak of the Second Wave approaches. These are questions that I have not heard asked: Are there enough staff available to run the Nightingale hospitals? Is lack of staff the real reason they have not been re-opened yet. Is there enough oxygen available for the needs of all hospitals? Is there enough PPE available for the needs of all hospitals & care homes? Is the mental health of NHS staff being looked after as much as possible? They are now under incredible pressure.
My Mother who is 89 in February is still waiting for the Vaccination. She has phoned her GPs surgery twice and both times they said that someone would ring back. She is still waiting for a reply. I know that the Health service is under pressure but it is not good enough.
I think the total number of folk in the UK who have had one jab is now around 1 million, perhaps a few more. Things should accelerate greatly now the Oxford vaccine can be used, as it is so much easier to transport to locations without specialised refrigeration, like small local clinics and people's homes. I hope your mother gets her vaccination soon @Dick Plumb1 My mum (who is a bit younger but has many serious health issues) was told her jab will be in a couple of weeks time I think.
I hope I did not cause offence to you or anyone here. I had in mind the people I see here who have never worked, inhale or inject all manner of substances exist on scraps of junk food. They have every medical condition from PTSD to cubic foot and are the most likely to be vaccinared early due to their "vulnerability". Apologies if my earlier post did cause any offence.
