The HfP chat thread – Thursday 3rd June

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• Anna says:

  3 Jun3 June 14:22

  Ok, new game. Self-isolating on return not going to be a problem for me and the teenagers so it might just be me and them going to an Amber country in August. Where do we think is least likely to be red by then?!

  • Colin MacKinnon says:

    3 Jun3 June 14:28

    Scotland?

    • Anna says:

      3 Jun3 June 14:56

      We’re not actually allowed to travel to Scotland just now where I live Colin 🤣

      • Anna says:

        3 Jun3 June 15:13

        Probably better to ask where are flights actually likely to go to ….

  • Simon says:

    3 Jun3 June 16:19

    Find a country BJ has a trip booked to and unless it becomes the world’s biggest Covid hotspot you should be ok.

• will says:

  3 Jun3 June 14:26

  What’s changed in Portugal, are the case rates up or prevalence of variant of concern up?

  If it’s simply a case of the UK deciding it should never have been on the green list then chalk that up as another shambles.

  Frankly, I’d rather the policy just to be that foreign travel is banned until we’re clear in the UK and then understand clearly how we can make it work without messing around every few weeks based on secret forumlas.

  • Craig says:

    3 Jun3 June 14:27

    The emergence of new scariants.

  • meta says:

    3 Jun3 June 14:31

    Based on fake data about a new variant from Nepal in Portugal. WHO confirmed this morning there is no such variant, it’s the same as Delta variant.

    It is frankly another backtracking from government given that they said that countries will be put on watchlist for more than few days before being moved to a different lust.

    • meta says:

      3 Jun3 June 14:32

      *list

    • Paul Pogba says:

      3 Jun3 June 16:30

      The WHO have said they’re not aware of a Nepalese variant not that it doesn’t exist, but it’s run by Tedros Adhanom who knew nothing of the arbitrary killings undertaken by the Ethiopian security services while he was in charge there and has also tried to coverup cholera outbreaks. He often seems to be looking the other way.

      • kitten says:

        3 Jun3 June 19:24

        Someone said the WHO looked the other way when a lab they contracted to do genetic research on viruses in Wuhan let one escape.

        Does anyone seriously believe the transmission from pangolins theory on this??!!

  • John T says:

    3 Jun3 June 14:42

    ‘In the clear’ in the UK could be years away.

    • will says:

      3 Jun3 June 16:52

      By ‘In the clear’ I mean adult population double vaccinated and some real world evidence that neither the variants of concern are a problem and evidence that the vaccinations have not pushed the virus down an evolutionary path of circumventing the current vaccines.

      There’s a reasonably sensible theory that a partially vaccinated population is a very good environment for vaccine resistance to emerge in the virus, who knows how big a risk that is but why take it?

      Also given the Delta variant is now the most common in the UK and appears to be very transmissible I think its dangerous for brits to be risking taking that to countries who are not fully vaccinated.

      I know there’s testing involved but really how rigorous is it? ie if you feel a bit ill but want to go on holiday is there a way to get someone else to give the sample? If I’ve thought of it other people have done it.

      • TGLoyalty says:

        3 Jun3 June 18:51

        Real world evidence like the fact the latest scary variant has been in the country since April and infections have only risen from c2k a day to c3k a day 6 weeks later?

        • Will says:

          4 Jun4 June 01:22

          7 day average of positive test results is up 50% in a week.
          If you have 7 weeks of that you’ll have record numbers of daily cases.

          The risk is we’re a mutation or sequence of mutations away from vaccine resistance and also possibly a more deadly version of the virus.

          No one really knows the risk of those becoming reality.

  • Sandra says:

    3 Jun3 June 15:34

    I read the concern is their population is only about 10.5 million with about 20% vaccinated and, although cases are low compared to UK, as a % they have higher infection rate as our population is about 60 million – make of that what you will since visitors probably affect them more than us! But I agree, since there seems to be no rhyme or reason to decisions it would be less disruptive to ban all none essential travel overseas until someone comes up with a sensible policy for decisions.

    • meta says:

      3 Jun3 June 15:40

      20% both doses, 40% one dose. Very few deaths, even lower than UK. Cases slightly elevated yesterday from the week before. UK is on track to surpass Portugal with number of cases…

      • meta says:

        3 Jun3 June 15:43

        Regarding sensible policy – government did form Global Travel Taskforce which created a policy and government agreed to that. Now they are backtracking. If they had concern, as per taskforce recommendation they should have put Portugal on watchlist for 1-2 weeks and then decide.

        • Rhys says:

          3 Jun3 June 15:46

          The whole thing is bizarre.

          Of course, this is the same day they also announce that 50% of all UK adults have now had both doses of the vaccine…75%+ one dose….

          So much for ‘following the science’!

        • JRC says:

          3 Jun3 June 15:57

          I think people on here need to read the BBC. They published an article that showed the vaccines are only 33% effective at the Indian variant after 1 dose https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57216683
          That basically means we (the UK) are not protected until probably over 70% of people have had BOTH doses. That’s probably some time around end of July.

        • kitten says:

          3 Jun3 June 19:26

          would have ruined the football though

  • Alan says:

    3 Jun3 June 15:50

    We might never be clear in the UK, our rates are already going up and we haven’t fully opened up yet.

    Why is our much touted world leading vaccination rate not enabling us to travel in the same way as US citizens can? The only two possibilities I can think of is BJ thinks he can gain some political advantage from preventing foreign travel or the government does not have confidence in the AZ vaccine.

    Two possibilities

    • Sandra says:

      3 Jun3 June 16:01

      Well we all know it’s Carrie Antoinette calling the shots and if she can’t have a honeymoon in the Caribbean at a donors expense why should anyone else have a holiday 😂

      • kitten says:

        3 Jun3 June 19:27

        @Sandra miaow.

    • Yuff says:

      3 Jun3 June 16:22

      We’ve already seen the figures for the Delta variant and they are very good in terms of preventing illness.
      What they can’t sort out is border control and the flak they are going to get for being so incompetent so try and stop travel……….I find it pretty irritating that they con everyone to get a vaccine then don’t open up because of every excuse under the sun…….plonkers

• Russ says:

  3 Jun3 June 14:31

  Looking at some of the photos travelers seem to be too young to have had both jabs?

  • meta says:

    3 Jun3 June 14:34

    Everyone can/could have two jabs if they want. There hasn’t been a problem with supply ever given that we are now also donating half a billion doses to other countries. It was just another made up story for media.

    • barnaby100 says:

      3 Jun3 June 14:38

      In which country?

      My 26 year old daughter in the UK cant get a jab yet despite spending her working day with 11-16 year olds .

      • meta says:

        3 Jun3 June 14:43

        In the UK. There have been mass vaccination drives (in my borough there were three free for all weekends without appointment in April). If you come at the end of the day at any vaccination centre they’ll have leftovers. It’s been like that since March. Some of my friends who are under 30, no underlying condition, not a carer, even goy Pfizer at the end of January as local GPs had many leftovers. Your daughter hasn’t really tried hard enough.

        • HAK says:

          3 Jun3 June 14:50

          Not sure where you live but it is certainly not true in my area.

        • Jody says:

          3 Jun3 June 15:19

          My daughter (22) tried going to her local vaccination centre one Friday evening a couple of weeks ago, but they said no, and that all spares are accounted for and offered to emergency services. She is desperate to be vaccinated, wish there was somewhere near us that was doing any age vaccinations.

        • barnaby100 says:

          3 Jun3 June 16:24

          Not here. I can assure you.
          There is no inividual GP vaccination- they have joined together to set up a mass site.
          How do you suggest she tries harder? Lies about being a carer?

      • Dave says:

        3 Jun3 June 14:45

        My daughter’s University is starting to vaccinate all their students on Tuesday.

        • HAK says:

          3 Jun3 June 14:49

          What university is that then?

      • DT says:

        3 Jun3 June 15:00

        My wife booked her appointment in when the NHS reached my age (I’m 32, she’s 28). There were no problems booking it in and when we were at the vaccine center they mentioned that they were vaccinating down to 25 year olds with no underlying health concerns. This was in London.

        • Dave says:

          3 Jun3 June 15:06

          The one where the service station is better known than the University!

      • Rob says:

        3 Jun3 June 15:07

        Rhys got one weeks ago just by pitching up and asking, and he’s younger than that.

        • JRC says:

          3 Jun3 June 15:51

          I know this site is very London centric, but the vaccine roll out in London is completely different to the rest of the UK. I expect thats due to age demographics and lower take up from ethnic minorities. They were inviting 36 so there are massive discrepancies. @Meta Nothing to do with “Your daughter hasn’t really tried hard enough”.

        • JRC says:

          3 Jun3 June 15:54

          For some reason half of my post was deleted. In north london they were vaccinating 26 year olds 2 weeks ago, whilst literally across the M25 in Hertfordshire it was over 36. So very big discrepancies unfortunately. Also if you want/need Pfizer you generally need to book online given the cold supply chain. On AZ you are right, every Tom, Dick and Harry can get that but the advice has been to have Pfizer if under 40.

        • HAK says:

          3 Jun3 June 15:55

          @JRC:

          Yup: the Londoncentric nature of this site is shining through.

        • meta says:

          3 Jun3 June 16:13

          @JRC I wasn’t talking entirely about London either. Plenty of reports from friends and colleagues outside London getting jabs weeks/months ago all under 30 or 40. It is not just about pitching in front of a vaccination centre, it is also being on all neighbourhood groups, following discussions, etc. GPs routinely have leftovers. It is also not just going once or to one single vaccination centre.

      • Chris Heyes says:

        3 Jun3 June 18:12

        barnaby100 or is it your daughters to lazy to queue for an hour at a vac station to get a vac at end of the day ?
        My two grandchildren queued up for 45min 3 week ago aged 19 (twins)
        Vac no problem another aged 25 queued bank holiday Monday ok hour 15 but got it no prob

        • Binnie says:

          3 Jun3 June 18:53

          Husbo (I call him houseboy, he’s 75 and eventually got used to my ways) both got our first vaccinations in January (Pfizer), with the second a couple of months later.

          Great feeling when the jab went in and we clapped the staff like they did something great. Though I think most of them were volunteers.

          The person I’d most like to clap is Matt Hancock, he has done great.

    • Mr. AC says:

      3 Jun3 June 20:41

      Took my wife 4 days waiting for hour+ each day at the local vaccination center to get lucky with a leftover jab (she really needed to get it sorted because we had a trip to visit relatives overseas coming up). Central London. Not a lot of people have this sort of time.
      Thankfully I didn’t need it myself since I got a jab overseas in December.

  • Super Secret Stuff says:

    3 Jun3 June 14:36

    Can you always judge based on age? Many people with underlying health conditions or front line health and social care…

    Obviously fair to assume under 18s are not vaccinated

  • bafan says:

    3 Jun3 June 14:49

    I’m 28 and had my first in Feb, and the second a few weeks ago because of pre-existing conditions. I can count on one hand the amount of people who know I have said conditions so – don’t judge a book by its cover IMHO.

    • Binnie says:

      3 Jun3 June 19:07

      I don’t blame you, bafan.

      My sister also possibly invented some pre-existing conditions so that she could get her jab a month early, I don’t really blame her as she was worried about dying from Covid-19 etc.

      So she possibly had mental health issues and getting the jab a bit early solved that.

      Get rid of the stressor, I believe the docs advise.

  • stevenhp1987 says:

    3 Jun3 June 15:05

    I’m 33 and my wife is 32.

    We’ve had both jabs of AZ.

    Cannot look at people and judge based on their age, that’s like judging a book by it’s cover.

    I am ECV and my wife got it because I take immunosuppressants.

  • Harry T says:

    3 Jun3 June 15:33

    Young people who are healthcare professionals or extremely clinically vulnerable could well have been vaccinated…

    I have been fully vaccinated along with numerous people I know, due to working in healthcare. I am 30, so almost young 😉

    • TGLoyalty says:

      3 Jun3 June 16:23

      I’ve said this before but it all depends on your local authority.

      I’m midlands not London and everyone I know over 18 has had 1 dose and the vast majority 2 (month post dose 2 here) so you can’t judge a book by it’s cover.

      There seem to be more mass vaccination drives for all ages going on in smaller towns than he big cities round here.

• Jason says:

  3 Jun3 June 14:53

  Portugal … when do you need to be back 7th or 8th to avoid quarantine?

  • HBommie says:

    3 Jun3 June 16:04

    It’ll be announced this evening

• John says:

  3 Jun3 June 14:56

  2026!

  (Even the existing pay rates are low for ludicrously expensive Dublin)

  https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2021/0603/1225857-aer-lingus-proposes-pay-cuts/

• Miles. On point says:

  3 Jun3 June 15:18

  Has there been any mention of Madeira being exempt from (mainland) Portugal’s move to the UK’s amber list?

  • Rhys says:

    3 Jun3 June 15:47

    No official announcement yet – just slow leaking to the press.

  • bafan says:

    3 Jun3 June 16:40

    1 day after I finally booked Funchal – guess I’m the cursed one this time 😙.

• Aaron says:

  3 Jun3 June 15:23

  Now that it seems Iceland is the only realistic Green destination how likely is it that BA will put on more flights? They currently have none before late June and I had a Portugal holiday booked for the week after next which I think I’m going to cancel rather than having to do the amber procedures. IcelandAir are an option but that will leave us with 2 sets of BA travel vouchers and no clear idea of when they may be used.

• Jody says:

  3 Jun3 June 15:55

  Well, I’ve just phoned BA asking to move my cancelled flights to next year (so out of the 12 month ticket validity they’re obsessed with) and predictably got told no. I’ve not been able to do it in MMB (it won’t let me change to any date at all, whether inside or outside 12 months).

  Told by lady on phone I’d have to raise a complaint in the first instance, so have just done that. Obviously I expect them to tell me no as well. Took me about 45 minutes to get answered, so didn’t really fancy trying the hang up and try again trick!

  Fun times ahead, not.

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