Corona Virus and The Simpsons

[Ironman]

Think the frustration here comes from there not being a good reason for them refusing a vaccine in favor of another, when theres still a lot of people out there who need a vaccine. So they hear of people turning up and then saying "Well I don't want this vaccine because it's not English", and they just get frustrated. Pretty much everyone wants one, although we're getting through it, pretty much everyone knows someone who needs a vaccine. Also that those being vaccined up until now were those very, very high risk (over 70, very vulnerable), and any reopening here has been tied to the vaccine numbers. So "We've all been sat in lockdown to keep there ungrateful arses alive and they're refusing to help themselves" or similar is another one I've heard a lot.

Don't know about the tablet one, not heard of a vaccine as a tablet - but lets say we do, and it's an expensive tablet, and the vaccine costs a lot less. You have someone refusing to take a vaccine without coming up with a good reason why, but says he'd be willing to take the tablet if given to him. It's public funded healthcare, so it's the taxpayer covering that. Question will come up - why should the taxpayer cover that one for him?

Ooh, Italy now is considering getting the Russian Vaccine.

Hungary is going for the Russian vaccine, too. That is a total shame.

[Cuchculan]

There is no tablet version. Just a comment somebody made to me. They don't want the vaccine. But if a tablet version was made, they would take it. I see that as people not wanting anything injected into them. If you could turn a lot of these people around, would it be worth it? Mainly the German one used here. Can't see us rushing out to get anything from mother Russia. The old Iron Bloc countries might all stick together on this one. If they can't get nothing else. Take what you can get. Again, we won't know how well it works until the lockdown is lifted. One thing saying it looks amazing. But as we are still in lockdown, looking amazing now means very little at all. Lift the lockdown and then we see how good these vaccines really are.

[Otherside]

Worth noting same happens here with other treatments. You get two treatments that are the same. One is more expensive than the other. They give you the cheaper one generally. If you ask for the more expensive one, you'll need to give a good reason why, otherwise you'll likely be told no, citing funds. They are trying to reach out to those who are wary of it, doing what they can - but they are a small minority here. 9 in 10 are willing to have it, we'll likely get herd immunity.

Hungary was the first EU one to use the Russian one. Also seems to be using the Chinese one. A few others have followed - the Czechs and Slovakians seem to be using it. Desperate situation there, not enough vaccines to go round.

Kids are back in school here. Teachers didnt go on strike again. Got to do a test a few times a week though, and now have to wear masks. Discussion now being had as to whether to have longer days and shorter holidays to catch up on wjats been missed.

[Ironman]

It depends on the area. My town has had kids in school this whole time. I hear the buses!
We have teacher's union screaming up and down about not wanting to go back to work - kidz will Corona them if they fail tests or something. Kidz have the least problems.

My brother took his kidz to a pizza place because it was my nephew's fourth birthday. I feel bad for my 16 month old niece. My nephew was the one possibly exposed to Corona at his day care, but they test the niece! THen I see pictures of my brother and nephew wearing a mask....and my niece NOT wearing one. I got pictures of the two kidz on a carousel - TOO CUTE! It was better to see my niece's full-on smile. She's a cutie.....and now a tough cookie to boot.

SO, the EU thing. Did the head honchos want to socialized medicinally spread out the doses causing Hungary to go Orosz (Russian) and Kinai (Chinese)? That's messed up.
Not only does China commit bioterrorism, but are now making money off of countries who should be getting doses from the EU but can't. We ought to make more over here and send some over.
This is ridiculous!

Here, they are putting hints on what to do once you get the vaccine. Wear masks in areas where there are a lot of people, but small gathering can go without masks provided everybody has been vaccinated. Doses are now going to those 50 and up. I would be in the next group if it is 45 and up. I can wait, though. As I said, I would rather those in my age group who need it more than me get it first.

[Cuchculan]

There is a major lack of the vaccine here in Ireland. The government finally came clean about it. They simply can't get what they asked for. You get the normal predicted numbers of doses to arrive by a certain date. That had been going down by the week. People wanted to know why. Talking in two weeks it dropped by nearly half a million doses. So if Ireland can't get the vaccine, this might explain why some other countries are flying solo and taken up the offer of the Russian vaccine. There is not enough of what the EU has to go around. Simple as that. Ireland are now looking towards the US. Big jump from the EU to the US. Trying to get the numbers back on track. But what we have to understand is that every country in the world is trying to get as many doses of the vaccine as possible. So this was always going to happen. I fail to see why, other than money, that the likes of Germany just doesn't share how something is made. Then let countries make it themselves. I am sure a lot would have the skills needed. Should we really need to depend on other countries? They say they all want this pandemic to end. Get the world back on track. So work together. We know China have been making money off of the mess they created since day 1. But depending on the likes of Germany to be able to make enough doses to cover to most of the EU countries? Near impossible task.

Had to laugh at them saying the numbers are starting to drop here in Ireland. We have been in lockdown all of 2021. With the exception of a few days. What do they expect? Numbers had to come down at some stage. Due to lack of doses of the vaccine I can see lockdown been extended again. They have no other answer.

As for schools? It was thrown out there to have everybody wear masks. I don't think it is happening. Not for younger kids. Few schools have had cases nearly straight away. So a few schools closed again after only 1 day opened. No exams again this year. Predicted grades again. Here's hoping they get it right this year.

[Otherside]

Someone is going to ask questions about what happened with the EU Vaccine procurement when this is all over. Just doesn't seem to be enough of it. What went wrong? Likely a mixture of things - took too long to sign the contracts or because 27 different countries couldn't agree on which vaccines to go for, could be they didnt invest in manufacture, could be they didnt invest enough in manufacture - which seems to have been the key to getting enough. If theres one thing this pandemic has shown, it's that producing certain things in your own country is essential.

Idea was I think that the richer countries would have been okay to buy the western made vaccines (Germany and Ireland for example) whilst the poorer ones would have struggled and been left behind (Romania and Bulgaria). Hungary would have been okay if it had gone it's own way I think. Same as any other ex-Soviet bloc country, not as rich as Western Europe, but not really a poor country anymore.

Couple of non-EU countries got invited to that scheme. The Swiss and Norwegians joined I think. UK got an invite. We said no, because we wouldnt get a say in which vaccines were bought. Decision was criticized at the time here, said wed have problems with our rollout. Now seems like not joining was the right choice.

Ireland asked the UK to help out with vaccines as well I think. Dont know how that went, but honestly, theres little point having the North vaccinated and the republic not when theres an open border. Seems that even Arlene Foster has figured that one out.

[Cuchculan]

The latest today was the Germans have said they could not meet the demands. Thus a big hold up there. Same has happened with other vaccines. Not enough to go around. Best way to put it. We are way behind. That has been admitted at last. 2 to 3 months behind. Over 80's have not even been done yet. Few got the first shot only. More cancelled appointments this week due to no vaccine to give them. Is a Viagra making company here in Ireland. They do make one of the vaccines? So why not just make it here too.

[Otherside]

Had the vaccine this evening - got the Astrazeneca. Didn't get told which until they're about to inject it. Very surreal expierence. Seemed very efficient. In, jabbed, out. Didn't really feel the needle. Wasn't really painful or anything. Took about two minutes to go through. Get the second one in twelve weeks here.

[Cuchculan]

Let us know how things go for you. Over here we are way behind with the vaccines. Johnson & Johnson has just been approved. We already had an order in for a few million doses of that one. They have not even finished the over 80's. The vaccine doses are simply not arriving. An election is been forecast for August. People are fed up with the government. Might be a chance for Sinn Fein. Run more people and have enough to form their own government. I can't see any other options for new faces in power. One sticking point could be Sinn Fein calling for a United Ireland. Sounds good to some people. It would be a disaster. Case of waiting and watching. This government are doing themselves no favours at all. Just extended the lockdown for another 2 months. The country is ready to explode.

[Otherside]

Feel a fluish, but nothing major. Few muscle pains, headache, shivery. Been told should pass 24-48hours.

Do you ever have joke candidates standing for elections over there? Weve had Count Binface (literally a guy with a bin on his head) try to win a few times, seems to be standing for Mayor of London this year. Once had a joke candidate win a mayoral election. Guy dressed a monkey with a policy of "Bananas for all" or something once won an election.

UI is one I can see happening at somepoint, think they're a while off though. Census is this year, so that could come back with a majority catholic population identifying as Irish. 65%+ of that and Sinn Fein returning majority in 2022 might mean that they decide a border poll is needed. Probably going to take a generation or two though to decide where they want to be as a country.

[CloudMaker]

Had the vaccine this evening - got the Astrazeneca. Didn't get told which until they're about to inject it. Very surreal expierence. Seemed very efficient. In, jabbed, out. Didn't really feel the needle. Wasn't really painful or anything. Took about two minutes to go through. Get the second one in twelve weeks here.

OMG hope you don’t regret it !!!

[Cuchculan]

Glad you are not over the top bad. Johnson & Johnson one does a little bit more to people. Have seen a few Vlogs from nurses who got it and were in bits after it for a day or so. They said that was the body creating antibodies.

I would love to hear how many Irish people would want a United Ireland. It all sounds well and good. But it would lead to more bombs. Down here by Loyalists. Is that worth it? I would class myself as a republican. Those would be my views. But I am also a realist. I know what would happen if a United Ireland ever did happen. And it would not be nice. The numbers game has been happening for decades in the North. They keep track of births and deaths. What religion they are. They know that in X amount of years one area may swing from been one religion to the other. Something people don't really know that they do. They also keep track of who moves into the various areas. Africans for example would side with the Catholics. That sort of thing is a big issue too. Non Irish people living up North. Is all a numbers game.

We have a bloke once called ' Ming ' who got involved in politics. His thing was pot smoking. He is now representing Ireland in Europe. That is how high he rose. From just in Dublin at a local level, to Ireland as a TD to the EU.

Back to the virus. Numbers are worrying them here. Still the same as last October. Looked like it was going down. Then up it went again. They are lost trying to explain it. We have been in lockdown all year. Hence another 2 months have been added on.

[Ironman]

Feel a fluish, but nothing major. Few muscle pains, headache, shivery. Been told should pass 24-48hours.

Do you ever have joke candidates standing for elections over there? Weve had Count Binface (literally a guy with a bin on his head) try to win a few times, seems to be standing for Mayor of London this year. Once had a joke candidate win a mayoral election. Guy dressed a monkey with a policy of "Bananas for all" or something once won an election.

UI is one I can see happening at somepoint, think they're a while off though. Census is this year, so that could come back with a majority catholic population identifying as Irish. 65%+ of that and Sinn Fein returning majority in 2022 might mean that they decide a border poll is needed. Probably going to take a generation or two though to decide where they want to be as a country.

Uh yeah - we have a JOEjanHorse in the White House! Be VERY careful over there! You don't want what happened here in the States happening over there, too! Gas prices have already risen 40% in six weeks because he decided he didn't want us making our own energy. OPEC triggered the global recession and he throws us right back in with them!

He told us that 100,000,000 doses would be given out by now. Trump already met the doses! Our President said that everybody would get a vaccine by "May One".
At least they are down to 50 and up already in my state.

[Cuchculan]

Astrazeneca vaccine no longer been used in Ireland. Lot of it was recalled due to some bad batches. Most of those were in Ireland. Is the right move for now. Take no risks. But it will slow the vaccine roll out down even more. Lord knows we are so far behind already. They only announced they were stopping it a few minutes ago. No idea what will happen next. Probably hope for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to get here quickly.

[Otherside]

Seems to be a batch issue, yeah. Right to recall it until they figure out why thats happened. Manufacturer screwed up most likely. Not sure where the EU ones are made, know it's a different place to the UK ones though. It's been heard about here, but had little effect. Still trusted. But this whole thinot going to help persuade people to take the thing on the continent. Could well just be a coincedence though.

Don't know where J&J is coming from, but if it's the US, you're going to be waiting a while, they're not exporting until they're done.

Feels very surreal watching the rest of Europe go back into lockdowns or extend it, whilst we're starting to open up again.