[Aileen]

Influenza mutates rapidly and significantly. The COVID-19 mutations are relatively minor from a structural perspective, so there's good reason to believe the existing vaccines will work against them.

Fair enough but I still think that Boris was unwise to stop people from meeting on Christmas Day in small groups, particularly as I suspect that there will be many who will break the rule anyway.

[Aileen]

He hasn't stopped them from meeting on Christmas Day ........

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-55056375

Thanks.  I hadn't realised that.

[Aileen]

The rules have a tendency of changing every other minute - it's hard to keep up !

I know!

[ChrisMac]

I think it was a bit later in the day to stop family meeting up at Christmas

Thanks.  I hadn't realised that.

You can meet up with one household but only on Christmas Day and must return home. No good for me and lots of other Mum's, as my son rang on Sunday and
said he can't come home because of the travel ban. He lives in Manchester and was meant to be arriving today until 28 Dec. All that extra food shopping and a very large Turkey will have to stay in the freezer, as we are only two here. Got a Roast Halibut to pick up from M&S on Christmas Eve and it serves 4, we will have to eat this for 2 days as it's not
frozen and can't be frozen. A Very sad Christmas for me with all the illnesses I've had this year so wanted to hold my boy.

[ChrisMac]

Thank you Aileen for your post and virtual hug, it mean a lot. 

[moonglow]

I think it was a bit later in the day to stop family meeting up at Christmas
You can meet up with one household but only on Christmas Day and must return home. No good for me and lots of other Mum's, as my son rang on Sunday and
said he can't come home because of the travel ban. He lives in Manchester and was meant to be arriving today until 28 Dec. All that extra food shopping and a very large Turkey will have to stay in the freezer, as we are only two here. Got a Roast Halibut to pick up from M&S on Christmas Eve and it serves 4, we will have to eat this for 2 days as it's not
frozen and can't be frozen. A Very sad Christmas for me with all the illnesses I've had this year so wanted to hold my boy.

Oh so sorry Chris - that's so sad that you can't see your son this Christmas time - it's a shame that Boris left things so late before telling everyone the latest restrictions.
I know how much you'll have looked forward to seeing your son, this year has been worrying for you, and you weren't at all well earlier in the year, your son will miss spending the holiday with you.

[Elly]

Neither do I, but please let us know how she gets on.

Apologies for late response here, but due to hiccups along the way, my daughter only got first vaccine on 29th December.  She said she felt achey and as if she had a temperature that evening, but took paracetamol and was fine next day.  She said it was a stinger and her arm was sore for a couple of days.  All in all - nothing more than you’d expect from any vaccine. 

[Elly]

So that’s mainland Scotland locked down fully, including schools, until Feb at least.  It won’t affect me too greatly as don’t have school aged kids and am extremely lucky to still be in a job that allows me to work from home.  This must be a blow for many working parents, not to mention those whose source of income is affected.