Covid - news and views

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  • heddlo
    heddlo Forum Participant Posts: 872 ✭✭
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    edited January 2022 #2102

    Question for LLM, if you know please, as I can’t anything out from other sources!   My son and daughter-in-law have had 3 Pfizer vaccinations in Macau, they have now found out that UK doesn’t recognise Macau vaccinations!  They are due here in the next few weeks and now it appears they have to enter as unvaccinated, and do the appropriate tests and quarantine.  I may understand it if they had a Sinovac jab, or the other Chinese based one, but not Pfizer.  I have been using, and reporting on, the Zoe app since the beginning and found Tim Spectre, and John Campbell, both to be much more honest and understandable than some of the Government information.  The Zoe app Covid numbers have been very different to the ONS numbers as well. 

  • LLM
    LLM Forum Participant Posts: 1,555 ✭✭
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    edited January 2022 #2103

     Very sorry heddlo. I have not the faintest idea why Pfizer given in Macau is not acceptable to HMG.  

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited January 2022 #2104

    I can offer an insight without guarantees H-Macau is a Chinese dependency, China’s covid-19 vaccine has proved to be weak as has Russia’s so I’m thinking that if it’s not powerful enough Western Govt’s don’t trust its efficacy. In short it’s not to be trusted. That is generally how places allied to ‘rogue states’ are viewed.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited January 2022 #2105

    Heddlo. I'm not sure if my first post will appear so I'm repeating myself.

    I had a look at ukgov Covid entry requirements. It lists all the approved immunisations.

    It also states that Macau gets entry approval on Feb 4th. So hope your family visit goes well! smile

    PS best to check this for yourself in case I'm wrong.

  • LLM
    LLM Forum Participant Posts: 1,555 ✭✭
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    edited January 2022 #2106

    The requirement for volunteer vaccinators has substantially reduced.  My site is now doing just a short day per week.  I'm am now thankfully redundant.  Time to point the RV south 👍. 

  • Fisherman
    Fisherman Forum Participant Posts: 2,367
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    edited January 2022 #2107

    On a rare day out today I can report almost 100% were obeying all the Welsh rules in Llandudno today. Beautiful if cool day.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,135 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2022 #2108

    Good to hear, Fish👍🏻

  • heddlo
    heddlo Forum Participant Posts: 872 ✭✭
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    edited January 2022 #2109

    Many thanks brue, very kind of you and LLM for replying.   Yes we had recently found out this information, that’s good news.  Things are complicated enough for them at present without that extra complication!  

  • heddlo
    heddlo Forum Participant Posts: 872 ✭✭
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    edited January 2022 #2110

    As I said they didn’t have the Chinese vaccine they both had the Pfizer jabs.  In Macau you were allowed to choose your vaccine.   Anyway it’s all good now as the, ever changing, rules have changed again!  

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited January 2022 #2111

    Pleased to hear you'd also found the info. Hope you all have a lovely time together! It looks as though the vaccine entries are gradually being updated for a lot of countries.

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited January 2022 #2112

    I’m glad you got your answer eventually👍🏻. I just read a piece from a mecanese writer & posted it. He was wrong as you point out, I just tried to answer your question when no one else tried. It was only after I tried you got others weighing in. It wasn’t good enough but there you go🤷🏻‍♂️

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited January 2022 #2113

    Seems like the Latest Vaccine is even calming down the Chit-Chat on here as well !smile

  •  viatorem
    viatorem Forum Participant Posts: 645
    edited January 2022 #2114

     Good to get facts, Frank's popping up everywhere 😂

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited February 2022 #2115

    Ah, yes -- Big Honest Frank -- the politicians Friend -- saw him last week down at the tip  wink

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,589 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2022 #2116

    Our local county had some good news for us today.

    The rate per 100,000 has dropped to just 39 and we had the lowest daily rate for ages in only 44 cases yesterday so here's hoping that it can continue its downward trend.

    Are others seeing a significant drop?

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited February 2022 #2117
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,636
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    edited February 2022 #2118

    After the news that they were considering charging for lateral flow test I thought we might get a supply in before it happened. So yesterday I ordered a pack for each of us, and they were posted throughout letter box before 3 pm today. Now that's service for you.

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited February 2022 #2119

    Very pleased, nay, DELIGHTED even,  to report that both my near neighbours have reported as Covid Free at long last laughing.  Sadly they did not go  out today owing  to T'Alex being the proud ( not !) owners of a very wet Mornflake football pitch frown.  Still they got to see the Birmingham athletics ( BBC Red Button ) today whilst recuperating !

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,402 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2022 #2120

    Wise move, Nellie,  we've done the same. 

    And according to this report anyway the sharks are lining up to make big money out of Joe Public over the next few months!  yell

    https://amp.theguardian.com/business/2022/feb/22/boots-unveils-lateral-flow-test-prices-as-uk-ends-free-test-packs

  • RedKite
    RedKite Club Member Posts: 1,717 ✭✭
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    edited February 2022 #2121

    We have bought some as well because we could get them from larger supermarkets here until 15th February at cost price as now they are only sold again at Pharmacies although they are selling a bit cheaper but not cost price, not had the free give away here.

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited February 2022 #2122
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  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,039 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2022 #2123

    We have done same. Ordered a pack online.

    (Slightly off topic, but still health related. England government is looking at raising age for free prescriptions to 66. And it will include those who are currently 60-65 and at the moment receiving free prescriptions.) Not sure how it might affect those like my OH who have no option but to take life saving drugs, I know Cancer patients at one time could apply for an exemption certificate. ☹️

  • Bakers2
    Bakers2 Forum Participant Posts: 8,192 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2022 #2124

    Thanks for the heads up. Hadn't read or heard about prescription charge change. Luckily we're OK.

    I too have never understood, 'free' prescription criteria I got them for an thyroid condition but OH didn't following a heart attack. Bizarre! We used to buy a 'season ticket'. Not sure these days how many items you'd require to make it cost effective.did they ever resolve the HRT prescription conundrum where a course require 2 tablets in the one prescription? They used to charge it as 2 items......

    I've just ordered more LFT  but could only order one, I'll do another tomorrow.

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,426 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2022 #2125

    When I used to buy the 'season ticket' it was just over £100, £104 rings a bell? I see now it £108.10 and prescription charges are £9.35 so if you needed a single item monthly prescription  you'd save £4.10 by having it. Of course if you need more than one item then it is certainly a good idea.

    Someone said somewhere to me today that you can now only order one LFT pack every three days? 

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,135 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2022 #2126

    You can order test packs every 3 days, Corners, and if you do it by means of obtaining a code number which you show to the pharmacist, they usually give out 2 packs in my experience.

    With regard to prescription 'season tickets', although they last for 12 months it is possible to obtain 13 repeats in that time by ordering every 4 weeks. Once the ticket expires you can then wait until you need the next lot of pills before buying a new one so, in reality, a ticket can last 14 months or so.

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,589 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2022 #2127

    Hope Wales don't follow that trend (prescriptions), although being over the limit so to speak it won't affect either of us.

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,589 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2022 #2128

    So the great Panjandrum has declared that we must all take personal responsibilty from now on, presumably like he did. Good luck with that.

    Went to B&Q this afternoon which is in England. About 2% of people of the population were wearing masks, yep us idiots. Mix of demographics in there. Called in just over the border at Winfields in Wales and all of the customers and staff were wearing masks. In fact the staff turned 2 people away who refused to wear them.

    OH did ask me how long we would continue with them, meaning us two personally not Wales as a country. If we feel safe we won't, if we don't feel safe then we'll try to avoid going into places. Don't know how long that will last but we managed it last year on holiday but that was when institutions like NT still insisted on customers and members wearing them. Can't see them continuing for much longer.

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,426 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2022 #2129

    We've never done the pharmacist route, just get them delivered. Also the 'children' get them from work as they're supposed to test twice weekly.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,135 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2022 #2130

    I did the pharmacy thing because the first time I tried the website wouldn’t let me in to order for delivery. I know it’s hard to believe that a website could be that temperamental but….🤷🏻‍♂️

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,426 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2022 #2131

    Now I do recall we had a slight problem, something to do with the post code being written in a particular order? Now it just remembers what we put in last time.