So true. Unfortunately some of these rare reactions are unpredictable and hard to understand, so the only way to find out is to take the treatment, or avoid it altogether.

Btw is there any point for people who have had Corona to take these vaccines? I mean someone like FMF?

We don’t know how long immunity lasts once you develop antibodies after infection. And, the antibody tests may not be specific enough, so it’s not necessarily clear that you even are immune to covid. Not enough is known at this point it seems.

I would think so, since antibodies developed due to having COVID usually decline after a few months, and with the vaccines, there is more chance for longer-lasting immunity, though they are still unsure how long, exactly. That's still part of the ongoing trials/study, apparently (as ennui mentioned). This seems to be a pretty good article about it, dated December 9th:

How long will Covid-19 vaccines protect you from infection?
https://qz.com/1943301/how-long-will...rom-infection/

Partial quote:

"It could also be that reinfections simply occur when individuals didn’t get sick enough to develop strong antibody responses against the virus. If that’s the case, there’s a chance vaccines could generate a stronger immune response than these weaker cases, protecting people for multiple years. Early mouse studies of mRNA vaccines targeting SARS-CoV-2 provided immunity to mice 13 weeks after they received two doses, which could translate to years of time in humans.

But the fact remains that no one really knows the answers to these questions. Scientists will just have to keep collecting information from the continued vaccine trials to know for sure.

The Pfizer/BioNTech and other trials will extend for dozens of months. Tens of thousands of trial participants will continue to check in periodically with healthcare providers, providing more data about long-term safety and efficacy and receiving supportive care should they need it. If participants who received the vaccine go on to develop Covid-19 after a year, for example, scientists will know that annual boosters may be necessary."

Nearly 140,000 vaccinations have already been administered in the UK, bravo!

Looks like there's finally been some pressure on Swissmedic to get their fingers out. Approval of Pfizer/Biontech vaccine expected same time as the EU.

https://www.20min.ch/story/schweiz-l...u-780860934201

Interesting voting in that article from readers asked whether they would get the vaccine:

23% Yes, as soon as possible

26% Yes, but I will let others go first (not sure if this is an act of chivalry or of wanting others to be guinea pigs though I suspect the latter because of the next percentage)

30% No, it is too unsafe for me

10% No, I don't get vaccinated against anything.

11% Don't know.

Says more about 20 Minuten readers. A similar one in the Tagi has 74% yes asap.

Well, 10% of the people taking part in that poll are definitely candidates for a Darwin award.

Others need the vaccine before I do. I don’t consider this chivalry, it’s just right to wait my turn. There are going to be some difficult decisions to be made over who comes first; for example cross border health workers; but I am content to wait my turn.

Well, even worse they are making those decisions for their children as well.

Children, it seems, will not be vaccinated.

More, if rather vague info here:
https://www.srf.ch/news/schweiz/coro...geimpft-werden

It makes more sense to vaccinate adults as a priority at the moment especially since the initial vaccine trials didn’t involve children so they need to hold off until they have data for those.

The official vaccination strategy is on the BAG/OFSP website:
https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/de/home...-id-81667.html

Testing needs to be done, also for pregnant and breastfeeding and the disabled. But that will happen.

Vaccination is planned in particular for the following target groups of adults (in decreasing order of priority in case of limited vaccine availability) :

1. Vulnerable persons (elderly and persons with prior illnesses, excluding pregnant women);
2. Health personnel in contact with patients and personnel accompanying vulnerable persons;
3. Close contacts (household members) of vulnerable persons;
4. People residing in a community institution that presents a risk of infection and potential for an outbreak (e.g., institutions for people with disabilities) and staff.
5. All other adults who would like to be vaccinated.

Children and adolescents are not yet part of the target groups of the vaccination strategy because the results of the corresponding studies for this age group are not yet available.

They need to add Front Line workers. Store clerks, Bus Drivers, Police. Firefighters etc, should follow Health and care home workers (including frontaliers). Then it should be vulnerable people a d family members, then everyone else.

I disagree - vulnerable should be number 1 - followed by healthcare and essential workers. If the vulnerable are protected, it will better protect those workers.

Canton Vaud says it'll be ready to start vaccinating on 11 January (so ahead of Swissmedic authorization).

They'll have 6-8 mobile teams sent to nursing homes, and a vaccination center at CHUV.

https://www.20min.ch/fr/story/vaud-s...1-681159989719

who says the vaccines will definitely be free?

and continue to be free for all time?

that would definitely be a first.

And what about the bigger picture here? If one vaccine is free, why not make some other vaccine or treatment free too? Is this the thin edge of the erosion of health insurance?

Personally I don't trust the powers that be with the ability to voluntarily relax any restrictions once people have got used to them. Thus an expiry date needs to be hard worded into any legislation. Otherwise it's permanent.