tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33696095.post3973223496118876926..comments2024-03-20T16:27:56.522+00:00Comments on Norfolk Blogger: How dim is Sir Liam Donaldson ?Nich Starlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04237390959601973501noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33696095.post-14770703752530948112009-09-30T16:25:52.690+01:002009-09-30T16:25:52.690+01:00" 'I think we are tantalisingly close to ..." 'I think we are tantalisingly close to being able to win the battle against this pandemic,' he said. " <br /><br />I think this statement was based on being proportionately prepared for (the risks of) the outbreak, not that the government's policies had resulted in a reduction in transmission rates of the flu (which, as you pointed out, was affected by the school holidays)!<br /><br />In terms of benefit versus disrutption, I think it was right that the kids went back to school as normal.<br /><br />I wasn't aware that the UK had put pressure on WHO to delay the announcement of phase 6. What would that achieve?<br /><br />But I don't want to get involved in a ding dong battle over all your opinions on what the government has or hasn't done right, I just thought you had essentially misinterpreted Sir Liam Donaldson's statement to the media.<br /><br />Keep up the healthy blogging/debating!<br /><br />cheersAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33696095.post-9589997818454228172009-09-29T17:31:42.816+01:002009-09-29T17:31:42.816+01:00If you don't know the difference between gover...If you don't know the difference between government actions beating the flu and the school holidays starting then you seem to be in a delirious flu fever as the governments actions so far have been slow, ham fisted and show a shocking disregard for public health.<br /><br />It was the UK government who put pressure on the WHO to stop them delcaring a pandemic by several weeks. This means swine flu vaccine is several weeks late in arriving.<br /><br />It was the UK government who appointed a company on a "pay as they phone" basis to run the pandemic helpline employing 16 year olds with no medical knowledge handing out Tamiflu like packets of sweets.<br /><br />It was the UK government who failed to impose travel restrictions on flights to Mexico which may have halted the swine flu spread in this ountry in the early critical stages.<br /><br />As for Tamiflu itself, the government ordered this for H5N1 avian flu but it is almost useless against this strain of flu.<br /><br />I could go on but I fear you don't want to listen and are instead making a party political point.Nich Starlinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04237390959601973501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33696095.post-71917226845422917442009-09-29T17:14:03.378+01:002009-09-29T17:14:03.378+01:00i think the choice of words was aimed at the gener...i think the choice of words was aimed at the general public (not intellectuals) to put a more positive spin on the success of the swine flu response as opposed to it all seeming to be a great big over-reaction.<br /><br />and yes, the uk is 'beating' swine flu. vaccination nearly ready for the risky groups, national pandemic flu service and antivirals at the ready...<br /><br />well done the government!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33696095.post-22198793644247392382009-09-26T22:31:00.799+01:002009-09-26T22:31:00.799+01:00Obviously I am old enough to have known some of Je...Obviously I am old enough to have known some of Jenner's milkmaids, but even then I think it was taken that vaccines vary. <br /><br />I suppose the WHO site is a next point of call.Quietzapplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15422598703061456846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33696095.post-71513786772523844922009-09-26T20:58:05.620+01:002009-09-26T20:58:05.620+01:00I am completely confident about vaccines. I took t...I am completely confident about vaccines. I took the polio vaccine when little. My sone had MMR (remember only one survey ever highlighted a problem with MMP and the doctor who did it has since been struck off after he was found to be in the pay of a single vaccine producer).<br /><br />In the US they vaccinate against Chicken Px. Why ? Becuase in the UK children are blinded each year by catching Chicken Pox.<br /><br />So, in short, yes.Nich Starlinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04237390959601973501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33696095.post-83539368507421952442009-09-26T20:53:42.358+01:002009-09-26T20:53:42.358+01:00Are you quite sure that the vaccine will assist ra...Are you quite sure that the vaccine will assist rather than adversely affect the under 5s as a whole?<br /><br />Please bear in mind that under 5's are brought into hospital more readily than the rest of us. Small = vulnerable, and often unknown.<br /><br />My wife had a handicapped 4 yr old child in her school. It was not until he died unexpectedly that it was realised that he had no pancreas.<br /><br />Right to take extra care with little ones.Quietzapplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15422598703061456846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33696095.post-55024689718536193002009-09-25T19:57:29.697+01:002009-09-25T19:57:29.697+01:00I wouldn't be too hard on Sir Liam - he is the...I wouldn't be too hard on Sir Liam - he is the Chief Medical Officer, not The Minister for Health. His appointment and position is different as he has actually experience in medicine. Unlike most in the Goverment.Sir Edward Heathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10015408685370714759noreply@blogger.com