Summer Plans?

[Psamathe]

My impression is that recent reports say that to be decently effective against the variant referred to as "Indian" people need both vaccinations (full course). In the UK politicians are continually throwing out numbers and %ages of people vaccinated where they are talking about having received only the 1st vaccination. Now we have the new variant and both vaccinations seem necessary that puts the UK back a bit on a the pushed "safe footing".

Ian

[Jdsk]

Dose efficacy against B.1.617.2 variant for 1 and 2 doses:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/vacc ... er-2-doses
https://khub.net/documents/135939561/43 ... 664107ac42

Jonathan

[willem jongman]

It is quite clear that the Astra Zeneca vaccine is somewhat less effective than the mRNA vaccines, and that all vaccines are somewhat less effective against later variants. So getting the second dose does seem important, to get as much protection as you can. In the Netherlands we stopped using the AZ vaccine a while ago and will only use future supplies for second doses. So these have now also been brought forward compared to the original twelve weeks interval. We have mostly used the Biontech/Pfizer vaccine, and that is what will also be used for future booster shots. I am one from a relatively small number of people who had the AZ vaccine, so I am hoping to get the second shot soon. Even so, it is clear that all vaccines protect quite well against severe illness and death.

[slowster]

It is quite clear that the Astra Zeneca vaccine is somewhat less effective than the mRNA vaccines, and that all vaccines are somewhat less effective against later variants. So getting the second dose does seem important, to get as much protection as you can. In the Netherlands we stopped using the AZ vaccine a while ago and will only use future supplies for second doses. So these have now also been brought forward compared to the original twelve weeks interval. We have mostly used the Biontech/Pfizer vaccine, and that is what will also be used for future booster shots. I am one from a relatively small number of people who had the AZ vaccine, so I am hoping to get the second shot soon. Even so, it is clear that all vaccines protect quite well against severe illness and death.

There is evidence that the longer 12 week interval results in higher levels of protection/efficacy than much shorter intervals. I presume that the specification of a shorter interval when the AZ and other two dose vaccines were released was because that was the interval used in the trials, but that short interval was probably chosen in order to complete the trials as quickly as possible. When the UK authorities increased the vaccine programme interval from 4 to 12 weeks, they did so because the experts were extremely confident that the efficacy would not reduce, and that based on the performance of other vaccines that efficacy might even be likely to increase.

From https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n326:

The analyses suggest that it is the dosing interval and not the dosing level which has the greatest impact on the efficacy of the vaccine. This is in line with previous research supporting greater efficacy with longer intervals with other vaccines such as influenza and Ebola.

The study found vaccine efficacy reached 82.4% after a second dose in those with a dosing interval of 12 weeks or more (95% confidence interval 62.7% to 91.7%). If the two doses were given less than six weeks apart the efficacy was only 54.9% (CI 32.7% to 69.7%).

Based on that, if it were me, I would not be asking for my second dose to be given sooner than originally planned. That said, if my second dose were brought forward automatically, I would probably go along with it rather than try to get it delayed.

I suspect that any difference in efficacy for different 1st and 2nd dose intervals will not be significant in the longer term. It looks likely that before the end of the year there will be programmes to deliver booster shots, probably using newer/different vaccines that are more effective against the latest variants, and annual vaccinations thereafter, at least for the more vulnerable.

[willem jongman]

I am aware that delaying the second shot gives greater protection. However, that will be achieved later. I have no idea how these two will weigh up. As it so happened, I had the similar choice of getting the more protective Pfizer/Biontech vaccine, but only some three weeks later. In that case the sums were easy, and I took the first opportunity. I just read on my GP's website that he will not bring forward the second shot, although I guess it is primarily because of the logistics. Anyway, the booster shot in the Netherlands will be a Pfizer/Biontech one, from the 1.85 billion doses ordered a few weeks ago by the EU.

[glucas]

Thought I would give this thread a bump as I was the OP. I originally said I would complete a section of the North Sea Coast Route - Route 1, and I did that from Aberdeen up to Lerwick.

I thought I would post some of my thoughts and experiences as they may be of interest to those on here. The good, the bad and the ugly!

I7th July Cambridgeshire - Aberdeen

Travelled up to Aberdeen on 2 Azuma trains (changed at Newcastle). Bike reservations were made and both times, and obviously southbound as well, the bike was put in the vestibule of coach K, where there were vertical spaces for 4 bikes. Standing the bike up was a little difficult as the front wheel could not slot into the hook at the top, as the tyres were too thick - 40mm.

Changing at Newcastle was nice and easy. Got off the train and just had to wait in the same spot on the same platform for the next train coming up behind.

Stayed overnight in the Premier Inn. They have a bike policy to welcome bikes and sure enough - I was able to wheel the bike into my room, no problems.

18th July Aberdeen - Banff

After making my way through old Aberdeen, eventually got on to an old railway track, gravel, with pretty countryside for a large part of the journey to Banff.

Arrived at a campsite about 5 miles outside Banff and pitched tent.

19th July Banff - Nairn

Some glorious coastal scenery with various unspoilt and uncommercialised fishing villages and towns along the coastal path. Was a tough day of cycling as I covered around 75 miles and there was no free wheeling on a lot of the route here- which was the quite stony no 1 path. Quite often only averaging 6 or 7 miles an hour. Arrived at campsite at 9.40pm after starting the day at 9am.

July 20th Nairn - Cromarty

Going through Inverness, this stretch featured some great views going into Inverness and then across the Kessock bridge on the A9. Then a really long incline into Cromarty with sea views on the eastern side sticks into the memory.

Overnight stay in an Airbnb in Cromarty.

July 21st Cromarty - Lairg

Crossed over to Nigg on a ferry and then largely flat countryside up to Tain and then going westward to Lairg. This was the probably the easiest section of the route.

Stayed overnight in the Lairg Highland hotel.

July 22nd Lairg - Bettyhill

This was the most spectacular stretch of the whole route. Awesome scenery in the northern highlands through Caithness and Sutherland (Flow country) and then Altnaharra with a view of Ben Hope. Amazingly the gradients were not too bad.

Arrived on the coast at Tongue, to spectacular coastal views and cycled eastwards to Bettyhill.

Stayed in a hotel at Bettyhill

July 23rd Bettyhill - Thurso

This was my least favourite section of the route. Really steep gradients all the way and too often without views of the coast.

Stayed in an Airbnb in Thurso.

July 24th Thurso - kirkwall

Took the ferry from Scrabster to Stromness and then cycled acoss Orkney to Kirkwall to take the overnight ferry to the Shetland Islands (Lerwick).

July 25th - July 29th Lerwick - Various places on Shetlands

In this period I used Lerwick as a base and visited Sumburgh Head (lots of puffins), Bressay and the isle of Noss (spectacular) and Scalloway. I tried to take my bike on the bus up to Hillswick but it was refused by the bus driver, contrary to what I had been told by others that bikes on buses were allowed.

July 29th Lerwick - Aberdeen overnight ferry.

Overnight ferry to Aberdeen and then train to Edinburgh where I stayed overnight on the 30th with friends and then came home on the 31st.

Hope that information is useful. Look forward to touring again soon!

[Oldjohnw]

Sounds most interesting and v useful informative. Thanks.

[mattheus]

Yup, useful and inspirational!

(what a lot of paragraphs without mention of v****ne, ****d and m******ns , who would have thought it possible!)

[Tiggertoo]

It would appear you camped twice on your eleven day tour, would it have been easier in hindsight to have eliminated the camping part of it so as to lighten the load - sans tent?

[glucas]

Hi Tiggerto,

Yeah - I did originally plan on camping for 4 days. But once I got Cromarty I decided to ditch my camping gear + pannier and sent it home! As I was not looking forward to some of the hills ahead. So it ended up being just 2 days. To be honest, when I looked at the stats, I was only 1 m.p.h slower per hour, but psychologically the bike seemed a lot easier to ride after it was 6kg lighter!

[glucas]

Yup, useful and inspirational!

(what a lot of paragraphs without mention of v****ne, ****d and m******ns , who would have thought it possible!)

lol - there was some mask wearing involved though, on the train!