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There was a period towards the start of the vaccination programme where, yes, the UK Government took a number of chances that seemed to pay off regarding vaccin

There was a period towards the start of the vaccination programme where, yes, the UK Government took a number of chances that seemed to pay off regarding vaccine approval and purchasing. However is the Hurclean efforts of thousands of NHS staff and volunteers which should be the subject of most praise. It was and is an amazing an effort from a vast group of people who weren't in the VIP lane. The UK has fallen well down the ranks regarding 1st, 2nd, and booster delivery compared to Europe. As for the endless announcements of changes to government policy to the press before Parliament ... this Government has been on the receiving end of the sort of dressing down from the House Speaker that would have resulted resignations and party explutions in the past. But it has had the desired effect of making people think the Government is doing well, so I'll give him that.

secondcoming 5y ago
> The UK has fallen well down the ranks regarding 1st, 2nd, and booster delivery compared to Europe. Why though? It's not because there's a shortage of vaccines, or logistics problems distributing them. It's because some sections of the community won't take them, for whatever reason. It's not the government's fault. We'd have the same stats if Labour were in power.
- verytrivial 5y ago
  The Government know that that there are millions of people wandering around unvaxinated and additionally these are largely the group that have started voting "Conservative" since 2016 because Facebook and feelings equals facts etc. The Government know only a small fraction of these people will actually die because of COVID so they can still be relied upon at the next election. The main collateral damage in all this is, of course, the NHS. If I have to point out the Governents actions (not their words) on the operation on the NHS in the last decade, then I'm not sure we are speaking the same language. And if I hear "Labour would have been bad/worse" one more time ... I won't be surprised at this stage.
  - CodeGlitch 5y ago
    > these are largely the group that have started voting "Conservative" That's not been my experience - it's the people who are distrustful of the government (any party) that aren't getting vaxxed. I think people have a very short memory regarding the conservative vote in the last election: It was to unstick the whole Brexit issue and to stop a hard left party getting into power. Hardly anyone I know thought Boris would be a good PM, but at least those 2 mentioned things would happen.
  - secondcoming 5y ago
    > these are largely the group that have started voting "Conservative" since 2016 because Facebook and feelings equals facts etc My understanding is that the lowest vaccine uptake is in BAME communities who, I don't think, are largely Tory voters.
- toyg 5y ago
  > It's not because there's a shortage of vaccines No, it's because we didn't really push the equivalent of the European Green Pass. In some countries, you can be refused your salary if you don't get the pass, which in practice introduces de-facto compulsory vaccination. That is squarely a governmental responsibility. You can argue that public opinion here is too individualist to ever agree (particularly now, so late), but that was definitely a political choice that is impacting vaccination rates.

secondcoming 5y ago

> The UK has fallen well down the ranks regarding 1st, 2nd, and booster delivery compared to Europe. Why though? It's not because there's a shortage of vaccines, or logistics problems distributing them. It's because some sections of the community won't take them, for whatever reason. It's not the government's fault. We'd have the same stats if Labour were in power.

verytrivial 5y ago
The Government know that that there are millions of people wandering around unvaxinated and additionally these are largely the group that have started voting "Conservative" since 2016 because Facebook and feelings equals facts etc. The Government know only a small fraction of these people will actually die because of COVID so they can still be relied upon at the next election. The main collateral damage in all this is, of course, the NHS. If I have to point out the Governents actions (not their words) on the operation on the NHS in the last decade, then I'm not sure we are speaking the same language. And if I hear "Labour would have been bad/worse" one more time ... I won't be surprised at this stage.
- CodeGlitch 5y ago
  > these are largely the group that have started voting "Conservative" That's not been my experience - it's the people who are distrustful of the government (any party) that aren't getting vaxxed. I think people have a very short memory regarding the conservative vote in the last election: It was to unstick the whole Brexit issue and to stop a hard left party getting into power. Hardly anyone I know thought Boris would be a good PM, but at least those 2 mentioned things would happen.
- secondcoming 5y ago
  > these are largely the group that have started voting "Conservative" since 2016 because Facebook and feelings equals facts etc My understanding is that the lowest vaccine uptake is in BAME communities who, I don't think, are largely Tory voters.
toyg 5y ago
> It's not because there's a shortage of vaccines No, it's because we didn't really push the equivalent of the European Green Pass. In some countries, you can be refused your salary if you don't get the pass, which in practice introduces de-facto compulsory vaccination. That is squarely a governmental responsibility. You can argue that public opinion here is too individualist to ever agree (particularly now, so late), but that was definitely a political choice that is impacting vaccination rates.