Photo: Frank Augstein/AP
As the UK High Court hears a case about the Government’s alleged failure to protect the elderly and vulnerable in care homes during the Coronavirus pandemic, I spoke with Times Radio’s Nadira Tudor on Tuesday.
Listen to Discussion from 10:10
We discuss the causes of the official toll of almost 42,000 Covid-19 deaths in care homes up to April 2021, with the actual total likely to be far higher, amid the Government’s initial pursuit of herd immunity and failure of testing as residents were returned from hospitals.
We consider issues of transparency, accountability, and action to ensure that the unnecessary deaths of tens of thousands is not repeated.
This is an open society. You need a public inquiry for transparency about what occurred so that people do not feel they were misled, so that they do not feel that politicians simply didn’t give a darn about what happened to their loved ones.
Latest figures show that more than 3000 fully vaccinated persons have died in the last 4 weeks after testing positive for Covid-19 (Table 4b): https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1031157/Vaccine-surveillance-report-week-44.pdf
541 fully vaccinated persons not in the the highest risk group (over 70s) died in this period from Covid-19.
Revealed: Thousands of fully vaccinated over 70s have died in the last 4 weeks: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/thousands-of-fully-vaxxed-over-70-s-have-died-in-the-last-four-weeks-190614615.html
“A report by the UK Health Security Agency showed 2,032 fully vaccinated over 70s have died within 28 days of positive COVID test in the last four weeks.In total, 2,447 double-jabbed people died in the period covered by the report, compared to 538 unvaccinated people.”
Varharan,
You left out the next four paragraphs in the Yahoo! report:
“The disparity between the two numbers is due to most people being fully vaccinated, with more than 95% of the people at risk of COVID having had both jabs.
The data shows the death rate was far higher among those who did not have a jab when looked at proportionately.
In the over 80s the death rate among double jabbed people was 53 per 100,000 people compared to 125 per 100,000 for the over 80s who have not had their vaccine.
In the 70-79 age group the death rate for the double jabbed was 14 per 100,000 compared to 47 per 100,000 for those who have not had their vaccine.”
S.
According to the latest data, 68% of the UK population is fully vaccinated, although for the >70s it may well be 95%. As such, the unvaccinated (overall) are not a tiny minority – they represent about a third of all Britons.
Varharan,
You apparently don’t realize that your “68%” figure is for all people in the UK, including children.
“Scotland has vaccinated 90% of those aged 12 and over with at least one dose, while Wales has reached 89%, England 87% and Northern Ireland 83%. Second doses are also being rolled out, with all nations reaching about 80% of over-12s so far.”
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-55274833
Yes, anti-vaxxers and disinformation peddlers are a problem but the vast majority of people are responsible about this situation.
S.
Ireland: Of 474 deaths from the virus between April and October, 44% were fully vaccinated: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/four-in-10-new-covid-19-cases-are-among-vaccinated-people-data-shows-1.4716340
About 90% of >12s are double vaccinated, although this was much less in April.
Ireland: Highest Covid numbers in hospital since March despite 91%+ jabbed: https://gript.ie/highest-covid-numbers-in-hospital-since-march-despite-91-jabbed/
“Ireland now has the highest number of patients in hospital with Covid-19 since March, despite over 91% of the population over-12 being vaccinated – the highest jab rate in the EU. The number of Covid-positive patients in Irish hospitals now stands at 513 – figures not seen since the end of the infamous third wave last winter. 101 of these are in ICU this week – an increase from the 74 seen last week.”
78% of Covid deaths now among the double vaccinated (Table 4b): https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1029606/Vaccine-surveillance-report-week-43.pdf
UK Covid cases and deaths soar: https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/uk-suffers-highest-daily-covid-21980970
Note: Tuesday’s figures are typically higher than the rest of the week.
Latest information (Table 4b) shows 77% of Covid-related deaths are among the fully vaccinated (2668 out of 3461) : https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1027511/Vaccine-surveillance-report-week-42.pdf
UK cases and deaths for Covid-19 shoot up: https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/
223 fatalities today and over 40,000 cases. The UK is one of the most heavily vaccinated populations in the world (certainly by the size of its population).
The weather is relatively mild right now and winter seems a long way off.
“[UK Prime Minister Boris] Johnson has strayed from much of the European Union in his approach; while a number of countries on the continent have introduced vaccine passports, England halted its original plan to do so. Mask-wearing and social distancing and other measures are no longer required by law in Britain.
That contrasts with far stricter measures in several European nations, where proof of vaccination or a negative test are needed to visits bars and restaurants or work in several fields, including healthcare.”
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/10/20/uk/uk-europe-covid-infections-cmd-gbr-intl/index.html
Exactly. A vaccine-only approach won’t work either. You need PPE, regular testing, contact tracing, proper hygiene and some self-isolation.
Varharan,
We are agreed that a “vaccine-only” approach is not and has never been sufficient.
However, your comment on the pursuit of herd immunity is appalling and dangerous and has been deleted.
S.
According to the New Scientist, everyone in Iran has been affected by Covid-19, symptomatically or otherwise. The article is outdated since the number of deaths and cases continue to fall (162 deaths reported today) but the more people who have come into contact with the virus, and had a natural immune response, the better: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2294215-nearly-every-person-in-iran-seems-to-have-had-covid-19-at-least-once/
I suspect that Iran won’t suffer any more Covid waves.
I’m glad that deaths in Iran have decreased since the summer peak but:
1) Unfortunately, the level has plateaued — and the plateau after each wave is a bit higher than after the previous one.
2) Your statement regarding natural immunity is demonstrably ill-informed, given that those who have had Covid-19 may contract it again.