Preparing 2 month old for vaccinations

The vaccine roll-out has been one of the biggest logistical challenges of our lifetime, involving a legion of NHS staff and volunteers (including, it was revealed yesterday, the actor Hugh Bonneville). Here, a pharmacist who's helping in a hub in London reveals in fascinating detail what it's like on the vaccination front line (speaking anonymously for patient confidentiality) — while one of the Covid vaccine trial volunteers tells his uplifting story. One of the first patients of the day is a frail woman in her 80s — all I can see of her face are her bright, clear eyes. I go through all the formalities ('Are you unwell with a fever? Have you ever had a serious allergic reaction? Are you waiting for a Covid test result or had the virus in the last 28 days?'), and she answers, her voice muffled by the crumpled blue face mask. As I inject the Pfizer vaccine into her arm, her eyes well with tears. But these aren't tears of pain from the needle, she reassures me, but of joy at … [Read more...] about Pharmacist tells of the trials and triumphs on the vaccine front line: Twice as many people turning up as had booked. Those who wanted the ‘other’ jab. Coaxing needlephobics. And sheer joy galore

OVER 70s who've not yet had a Covid jab have been urged to contact the NHS as the Government warned it's too early to book summer holidays. Anyone over the age of 70 is eligible to chase up with the NHS, as they should be covered by their first dose as soon as possible. Yesterday, Professor Jonathan Van-Tam warned that splurging on a sunshine getaway - either in the UK or abroad - was risky because of the state of the pandemic. Meanwhile, the government has failed to sign a single contract ahead of the hotel quarantine scheme next week. Brits returning from 33 "red list" countries where new Covid variants are circulating must isolate for 10 days in specially guarded hotels from February 15 - three weeks after the plan was announced. But despite the delay, Boris Johnson's official spokesman admitted today that the government still hasn't managed to sign a single contract with a hotel firm to secure the places required in time for next week.The news comes as Britain's hopes of … [Read more...] about Covid UK news LIVE – Over 70s URGED to chase coronavirus vaccine slots as Brits told ‘too early’ to book summer holidays

The Fox News meteorologist who blames Andrew Cuomo ’s nursing home policy for the deaths of her parents-in-law slammed the governor’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout in New York, saying he’s more interested in being a ‘celebrity.’ Janice Dean appeared on the Fox News Channel on Tuesday where she blasted the governor for the botched vaccination rollout, which she called a ‘disaster.’ ‘It is just another leadership failure from this governor,’ Dean said. Richard Azzopardi, a spokesperson for Cuomo, told DailyMail.com in response: 'Every state has had issues with vaccine distribution because of lack of federal funds but we're rapidly ramping up distribution and currently have administered more than 60 percent of the vaccines we have. 'Last I checked she's not a credible source on anything except maybe the weather.' Last spring, Dean emerged as a critic of Cuomo after the parents of her husband, Sean Newman, died in March after contracting COVID-19. Dean first lost her … [Read more...] about ‘Andrew’s more interested in being a celebrity than governor’: Fox News meteorologist who blames Cuomo’s nursing home policy for in-laws’ deaths slams his vaccine roll-out – as he responds: stick to the weather, Janice

I could, at this moment, be demanding my GP get me on the list for the coronavirus vaccine on the basis of epilepsy. GPs have discretion to recategorise you if there's been a mistake, and epileptics - along with 7.3m others with conditions like Down's syndrome, heart, liver or kidney disease, and severe asthma* - should be in the next group of people due for the jab. I definitely have epilepsy. There's a scar on my lip from kissing the concrete during my last seizure. But there's been only two so far, and while that's enough to qualify for the definition and a free travelcard, it's not severe enough to make me worry that I'll kark it if I get Covid. But it seems that I'm going to be offered the jab anyway, whether I deserve it or not. According to a an unconfirmed leak from "advisers" to Boris Johnson, the over-40s could be invited for their first shot before the end of March. On the one hand, yay! It'd be great to have it. And on the other, hang on, what happened to the … [Read more...] about If people like Jo Whiley’s sister can’t get the vaccine, I’m happy to wait for mine

Standard Life Aberdeen is preparing to jettison its flagship brands in a move that will draw a line under centuries of financial services history and pave the way for a revamp of one of the City's biggest fund managers. Sky News has learnt that SLA's new chief executive, Stephen Bird, is on the brink of agreeing a deal to sell the Standard Life name to Phoenix Group, the life insurer. A source close to Phoenix said it had been working on the plans under the codename Project Hulkum, and that the transaction could be announced within days. That transaction would form part of a restructured relationship agreement between SLA and Phoenix that would include extending the terms of an asset management partnership reached in 2018, the source added. For SLA, the decision to dispose of the brand will carry huge symbolic resonance, since it will be accompanied by a move to abandon or modify the Aberdeen Standard Investments name established by the £13bn merger of Standard Life … [Read more...] about 200-year old funds giant jettisons Standard Life brand in Phoenix deal