Has the news of a potential vaccine made you more or less cautious?

I wasn't exactly reckless before, but I wasn't paranoid about COVID either.

I mostly followed the rules -- wear my mask, wash my hands, social distance, work from home, etc.

But I still used public transport and wasn't too worried about going to pubs and restaurants when they were open. When the rules permitted, I also preferred going to the office than working from home. And I didn't particularly care if other people chose to ignore the mask.

But now that the promise of a vaccine seems to be edging closer, I find myself getting more and more cautious and concerned.

It's like ... I've made it this far! -- wouldn't it be just my luck to catch the virus NOW!

Just wondering if others have done the same.

Neither.* It's changed fex all as yet. I wouldn't trust this government to run a tap in a timely and efficient fashion. Chances of 40mil inoculated by Easter?!

* I do what I should already I might add. The world don't need another single selfish person.

I'm generally more pessimistic than optimistic, more cautious than reckless. So at the start really careful, verging on paranoid, briefly had a bit of a hand washing OCD, then as time went on I think I found a better balance.
Recently I've become much more careful, my area escaped the worse of it last time, but infection rates have been quite high in the last few weeks.
I've paid to have a flu jab, first ever, taking some vitamin supplements. No slacking needed now the end could be in sight. January & February are are coldest months so a critical time.
To those selfish minorities who carry on as if people aren't losing their lives from this & those who are anti-vax. Imagine another surge in cases, with hospitals full. They might just need our NHS if they have an accident or other serious health problem & not receive treatments or operation they need with hospitals at breaking point.

"Tis the season to be jolly, careful" - Boris Johnson

(24-11-2020 16:40 )Goodfella3041 Wrote:  I wasn't exactly reckless before, but I wasn't paranoid about COVID either.

I mostly followed the rules -- wear my mask, wash my hands, social distance, work from home, etc.

But I still used public transport and wasn't too worried about going to pubs and restaurants when they were open. When the rules permitted, I also preferred going to the office than working from home. And I didn't particularly care if other people chose to ignore the mask.

But now that the promise of a vaccine seems to be edging closer, I find myself getting more and more cautious and concerned.

It's like ... I've made it this far! -- wouldn't it be just my luck to catch the virus NOW!

Just wondering if others have done the same.

That's my exact same feeling. Having survived this long since March, it would be foolish to ease up on the precautions now. I won't be going back to doing 100% of the things I've done before until I get vaccinated.

I think we all hoped that the vaccine is the shot in the arm we needed (sorry for pun!) that will save us from this virus but I am hopeful that as time goes on, the aine will evolve to adapt to any new strain of the virus I would say around 96% effetctiveness would persuade me to take the virus.

^ I’m sure you didn’t mean “take the virus” but if you are saying you will only have the vaccine if it is 96% effective then more fool you because you will be at risk for a lot longer than most of us will be.

(24-11-2020 19:21 )lovebabes56 Wrote:  I would say around 96% effetctiveness would persuade me to take the virus.

If you were offered the chance to buy a lottery ticket with even a 75% guarantee that it would win, you'd be shoving prams and old people off the pavement in your rush to get to the shop.

70% effectiveness means that 7/10 people will get the virus but not show any symptoms while the other 3 could get sick or die.
Thats basically not much different to how it is anyway without a vaccine. Most people who get the virus don't get sick or die.
It's the transmission of thats the important thing and they don't know yet whether or not the vaccine has any influence in stopping the virus from spreading.
If it doesn't, then the virus will continue to spread, and therefore potentially mutate, just the same as it is now and 3/10 people are gonna suffer with it just exactly as it is now.
Would the drug companies really want to wipe the virus out completely, even if they could? or would they prefer to make millions every year by allowing the virus to spread and mutate so they can keep selling a new vaccine every year?

The news of a vaccine has not changed my behaviour patterns one jot.
I am in my mid 40s with no pre existing health conditions. This means I am unlikely to get the vaccine for quite a while. Therefore I have a responsibility to eliminate as much likelihood of contracting and passing on the virus to anyone else as possible irrespective of the potentially growing number of people to be vaccinated against it.
I do not want the health, hospitalisation or death of anyone else on my conscience.
I know of people who have lost focus on the guidelines and rules and paid the price of virus contraction. I know others who were quite frankly reckless in their behaviour suffering the same fate.

I stick rigidly to the social distancing rules as much as I am physically able although on a crowded bus to work as a key worker it can be impossible at times.
Socializing has been virtually wiped off my agenda in most of 2020. I keep communication virtual and electronic.
I wear a mask in all indoor locations apart from work where social distancing and routemaps are set around the building and at home.
I often wear it outside too in locations where I feel there are a large number of folk.

Finally I would say this.
My father is a retired consultant physician of the NHS. He has long extolled the virtues of the NHS as someone who worked in it.
In recent years he has seen the benefits of it as a cancer patient.
He and I too have every reason to be grateful that he is still around.
When I was at my lowest ebb the NHS was quite literally part of my salvation.
So I owe the NHS and all its workers nothing but gratitude, respect and reverence.
Even accounting for a vaccine roll out anyone in any doubt about the importance of taking the relevant precautions should reflect deeply on any ensuing impact on the health both physical and mental on staff having to deal with Covid patients in hospitals.
The idea that NHS admissions could reach a level where clinicians have to make a choice between who lives and who dies is unacceptable.
My ask of the public is simple.
Do not be complacent about Coronavirus. Do not assume it won't hit you or those close to you.
Do not assume the NHS will cope.
It has struggled desperately. Trust me I know.
Protect the NHS and each other.
If that sounds like a rather pompous plea well so be it. I make no apologies.
Enough people have suffered and continue to do in so many ways.

Wear a mask, engage in social distancing.
Be responsible in your interactions.
Save lives and don't be a panic buying cunt.
There are plenty enough other cunts already.

More or less the same, although maybe of a mind to be more so as I have come this far as a quote: vulnerable person, and see no point in pushing my luck this close to a solution. Debating whether to take it when available - not at all - bring it!