V-2 day

A lovely bright sunny morning for our car journey to Cardiff's football stadium grounds for our second covid inoculation. In contrast to the wintry grey overcast morning of out first jab visit. On the Today programme we heard from Professor Sarah Walker of the national covid infection survey research project. She reported on findings from people tested after vaccination, illustrating how mass vaccination is paying off in the population in terms of sustained high antibody levels after single and double doses. Along with continuing precautions, restrictions, test and trace, this is fast driving down infection and death rates. 

And on this day of good cheer, excellent news of the development of a much more potent anti-malarial vaccine. Roughly half to three quarters of a million people have died of malaria annually for decades, if a more effective vaccine is rolled out globally, it will transform the health and economy of many poor tropical countries.

The speed and efficiency of the UK vaccine roll-out has helped enormously. But she also presented facts that warn us against complacency. Once vaccinated you can still get covid infected a second time, albeit a milder dose, which might still make you a carrier of contagion if you're unaware of being infected. It may be a one in fifty chance of this occurring instead of one in five let's say, but this could trigger off another spike in infections if not nipped in the bud. 

The epidemic may be on its way out, but the virus will still be endemic; i.e. not totally eliminated, and therefore some level of on-going precaution will be required. like mask wearing and social distancing in enclosed public spaces. In many South East Asian countries this became habitual in any case decades ago, during the SARS pandemic, and helps to explain why their covid infection rates have been low in comparison to others. The 'new normal' is going to include mask wearing, like it or not.

We shared in cooking a pizza for an early lunch, which turned out superbly thanks to perfect dough made by Clare. Then I drove to Thornhill for the funeral at which I was to officiate. The hearse arrived just in time, instead of being ten to fifteen minutes early, which is normal - due to sporadic traffic congestion as a result of city centre restrictions on all but public transport along Castle Street. Both my journeys today, at the same time as on Wednesday this week, were un-delayed, unlike Wednesday. It's not sol easy to predict and plan journeys around the city as it was previously.

When I got home afterwards, I went for my daily walk. Kath called me and we chatted for half an hour. Then I settled down to catch up on writing emails to people from whom I have heard recently, but been too busy to respond to. After supper, another episode of 'New Amsterdam', more photos to upload and edit, and then bed.