https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2022/02/coronavirus-miq-soon-to-be-a-thing-of-the-past-but-covid-wounds-run-deep.html

Batman:

 

from guardian feed

 

Europe in Covid ‘ceasefire’ that could bring end of pandemic – WHO

 

Two years after the outbreak of Covid, Europe could soon enter a “long period of tranquility” due to high vaccination rates, the milder Omicron variant and the end of winter, the WHO said on Thursday.

 

“This period of higher protection should be seen as a ceasefire that could bring us enduring peace,” the WHO’s Europe director, Hans Kluge, told reporters. “This context, that we have not experienced so far in this pandemic, leaves us with the possibility for a long period of tranquility,” he added.

 

Europe would also be in a better position to fend off any resurgence in transmission, “even with a more virulent variant” than Omicron, he added.

 

“I believe that it is possible to respond to new variants that will inevitably emerge – without reinstalling the kind of disruptive measures we needed before,” Kluge said.

 

NZ is probably in a better position. High vaccination rates, Winter. With Omicron everywhere, and Winter, many will probably self isolate at home, in the warm through the wet and cold season

UK seems to have plateaued at the moment. Circa 90,000 cases per day, 14,000 in hospital (hospitalizations dropping very slowly).

That seems to be the unknown at the moment is how fast this will go down.
How big and long the tail would be.  

Already celebrating as the peak is hit is perhaps understandable, though early to say its over.
Omicron has not infected everyone so if this is to happen ?

Japan seem to have started an unintended experiment to test 2 dose vaccination only.
Having done so well considering their population density and age so far.

New COVID cases in Tokyo surge past 20,000 for the first time as Osaka logs 19 deaths
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/02/02/national/covid-tracker-feb-2/

""
The unprecedented surge has many wondering about booster shots, with Japan having the dubious distinction of being home to the developed world's slowest rollout of third shots. That prompted Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to promise increased capacity at a mass vaccination center in the capital run by the Self-Defense Forces. He also vowed to take charge of the lagging program.
""

after the first two months ended with less than 4% of all residents in the country having received their third shot
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/02/01/national/japan-slow-booster-rollout/

Only just starting children sometime this month.

Hopefully, New Zealand will keep it current agenda of reopening. All other countries have already done that....

Batman:

 

verbatim ad from TV

 

"(that's why) it's important to get your booster 4 months from your second dose"

 

Not the only place that needs to be updated - I just tried to book an earlier booster shot as the new shortened period coming into force today, but the booking system still enforces the four-month gap. I can't find differentiated dates between walk-in and booking availability anywhere so had thought the booking system should have changed today. I'll try again after midday or just do a walk-in I suppose.

Note: This is despite me having double pfizer and the website stating "We have automatically calculated the soonest date you can book a booster. For Pfizer this is 3 months after the primary course was completed, and for AstraZeneca this is 4 months" and vaxx.nz indicating large numbers of booking spots available.

tieke:

 

Not the only place that needs to be updated - I just tried to book an earlier booster shot as the new shortened period coming into force today, but the booking system still enforces the four-month gap. I can't find differentiated dates between walk-in and booking availability anywhere so had thought the booking system should have changed today. I'll try again after midday or just do a walk-in I suppose.

 

I've just changed mine this morning.  Earlier in the week it wouldn't let me do anything but the 4 month gap, which was on the 21st feb, but at 9.40 this morning I was able to move it to tuesday morning... I'd try again if I was you.

Benoire:

 

tieke:

 

Not the only place that needs to be updated - I just tried to book an earlier booster shot as the new shortened period coming into force today, but the booking system still enforces the four-month gap. I can't find differentiated dates between walk-in and booking availability anywhere so had thought the booking system should have changed today. I'll try again after midday or just do a walk-in I suppose.

 

 

I've just changed mine this morning.  Earlier in the week it wouldn't let me do anything but the 4 month gap, which was on the 21st feb, but at 9.40 this morning I was able to move it to tuesday morning... I'd try again if I was you.

 

Tried again on different computers, with different browsers and trying to book a new date rather than change an existing appointment - every location I choose has the first date available be the four-month gap. Maybe it's a DHB thing? (I'm trying Capital Coast Health)

The fourth location I tried had dates available a couple of days before my four month interval, so maybe it's just that everywhere booked up this morning and vaxx.nz hasn't got current information.

tieke:

 

Tried again on different computers, with different browsers and trying to book a new date rather than change an existing appointment - every location I choose has the first date available be the four-month gap. Maybe it's a DHB thing? (I'm trying Capital Coast Health)

 

hmmm odd, I'm Waitamata DHB (Auckland) but I would have thought it was all centralised?  Best doing a walk in or phone the book my vaccine number and let them know?

vietdung126:

 

Hopefully, New Zealand will keep it current agenda of reopening. All other countries have already done that....

 

yes but they also think that it is ok to have thousands of cases a day and lots of deaths a day , that is normal for them and nothing to worry about. we , as a country, dont think that  it is ok yet

well it seems the projections from the modellers for 50,000 cases by Waitangi day might be slightly off.

Covid-19: Novavax vaccine gets provisional approval for adults

"Medsafe granted provisional approval of the two-dose Novavax Covid-19 vaccine, Nuvaxovid, for adults aged 18 and over. The Government already has a pre-purchase agreement for 10.72 million doses which could be delivered by April."

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/127689486/covid19-novavax-vaccine-gets-provisional-approval-for-adults

Good to have another option potentially on the table (subject to government approval). But sounds like delivery will be too late to be used as a tool in our omicron wave.

vexxxboy:

 

well it seems the projections from the modellers for 50,000 cases by Waitangi day might be slightly off.

 

It was to be 200 a day on Wednesday and 400 cases a day by today

Wife and MIL went to get the booster today, (not due to the 3 months). Booked out, taking walk ins only, too many waiting, so they will try this avo when its apparently quieter. Rush hour no doubt