Coronavirus Thread (Off Topic, Politics) (235 Viewers)

wingy

Well-Known Member
What I meant is that, as well as being higher risk, the older age groups vaccination immunity was waning first so they needed the booster which might be reflected in lower hospitalisations currently. The younger age groups (maybe not as young as under 18s) will still need a booster for when their immunity wanes, whether that’s now or early next year.

I’ll rephrase what I said earlier, I think the recentish double jabbed ie under six months and boosters are maybe helping present Omicron as a milder variant
While fading antibodies are often mentioned what of t-cells?
Never really thought about these days but permenant as far as I know?
 

Marty

Well-Known Member
You clearly know fuck all about teaching Maths.

Wow, that really showed me! For one, why would I lower myself to become a teacher? The point was that all the memorising of equations is a complete waste of time when we have the answer to everything we ever need at our finger tips. That's not the same as saying that students shouldn't know how these equations work and what they're used for. Like I said, Maths hasn't seemed to move on from what it was from when I was at school. Children are leaving school at 15 without any knowledge of things like basic finance because they've had to spend 2 weeks learning the equation for quadratic sequences (which they'll never use again) to get 2 marks on an Exam. It's like the Exam board have never heard of the internet or books.
 

Ian1779

Well-Known Member
Even when my kids was at primary I was amazed at how many methods they were taught to come to the same answer. I was at primary late 70’s early 80’s and maths had moved on so much by the time I had kids in primary I was unable to help them with their homework.
Very few maths specialists in Primary over the years, have contributed to an array of different methods to solve problems. Whilst it may have some good aspects, they rarely become fluent in any method.

Something also missed is that it also relies on literacy and comprehension relative to Maths specifically.
 

Ian1779

Well-Known Member
Wow, that really showed me! For one, why would I lower myself to become a teacher? The point was that all the memorising of equations is a complete waste of time when we have the answer to everything we ever need at our finger tips. That's not the same as saying that students shouldn't know how these equations work and what they're used for. Like I said, Maths hasn't seemed to move on from what it was from when I was at school. Children are leaving school at 15 without any knowledge of things like basic finance because they've had to spend 2 weeks learning the equation for quadratic sequences (which they'll never use again) to get 2 marks on an Exam. It's like the Exam board have never heard of the internet or books.
Whilst you may have a point in some regards, surely Maths personifies the very ‘problem solving/critical thinking’ that is absent?
Ask yourself why there is time dedicated to the Quadratic Formula over basic finance as you put it? Because the people responsible for directing the curriculum at a national level are useless - not the exam boards.
One of my biggest frustrations as a Maths teacher is the obsession of tiered entry. Kids are streamed into 2 tiers, and schools are leaned on to have more kids doing Higher than Foundation. You end of with a lot of Higher tier students scraping a 5 or just manage a 6 that actually aren’t that good at the subject. They lack the skills you’ve referenced because they are trained to do an exam. We should be looking at 2 different ways to teach Maths. Core modules that give everybody the critical components of numeracy and a Maths curriculum that will allow them to operate as an adult. And then an additional/elective aspect that allows them to pursue the skills needed for Maths at a Higher Level for use in the next step of their education (or even if they just enjoy it) that will use that Maths.
 

Marty

Well-Known Member
Whilst you may have a point in some regards, surely Maths personifies the very ‘problem solving/critical thinking’ that is absent?
Ask yourself why there is time dedicated to the Quadratic Formula over basic finance as you put it? Because the people responsible for directing the curriculum at a national level are useless - not the exam boards.
One of my biggest frustrations as a Maths teacher is the obsession of tiered entry. Kids are streamed into 2 tiers, and schools are leaned on to have more kids doing Higher than Foundation. You end of with a lot of Higher tier students scraping a 5 or just manage a 6 that actually aren’t that good at the subject. They lack the skills you’ve referenced because they are trained to do an exam. We should be looking at 2 different ways to teach Maths. Core modules that give everybody the critical components of numeracy and a Maths curriculum that will allow them to operate as an adult. And then an additional/elective aspect that allows them to pursue the skills needed for Maths at a Higher Level for use in the next step of their education (or even if they just enjoy it) that will use that Maths.

We seem to be singing from the same hymn sheet.
 

Skybluefaz

Well-Known Member
Do they do a stat on people testing positive within a week of their booster?

Having done a quick Google this seems to be the best study that matches your query. The source seems to be a legitimate study.
 

Sick Boy

Super Moderator
Wow, that really showed me! For one, why would I lower myself to become a teacher? The point was that all the memorising of equations is a complete waste of time when we have the answer to everything we ever need at our finger tips. That's not the same as saying that students shouldn't know how these equations work and what they're used for. Like I said, Maths hasn't seemed to move on from what it was from when I was at school. Children are leaving school at 15 without any knowledge of things like basic finance because they've had to spend 2 weeks learning the equation for quadratic sequences (which they'll never use again) to get 2 marks on an Exam. It's like the Exam board have never heard of the internet or books.
When was the last time children left school at 15? 1970s?
 

Nick

Administrator
Ah I was looking to see if there was one that included Omicron. A few people I know have their booster and then test positive or even getting Omicron symptoms, even LG on this thread is an example. Booster Sunday, Positive Tuesday.

Would be interesting to see if it gives the immune system a kick and it opens people up to Omicron a bit.
 

CCFCSteve

Well-Known Member
Ah I was looking to see if there was one that included Omicron. A few people I know have their booster and then test positive or even getting Omicron symptoms, even LG on this thread is an example. Booster Sunday, Positive Tuesday.

Would be interesting to see if it gives the immune system a kick and it opens people up to Omicron a bit.

I just assumed booster didn’t have time to fully kick in. I had no symptoms at all though, whereas my mate was only double jabbed and he felt a bit ropey for 3-4 days with some standard Covid symptoms

Not sure the vaccines are stopping Omicron contagion much either way.
 

Sick Boy

Super Moderator
I just assumed booster didn’t have time to fully kick in. I had no symptoms at all though, whereas my mate was only double jabbed and he felt a bit ropey for 3-4 days with some standard Covid symptoms

Not sure the vaccines are stopping Omicron contagion much either way.
Doesn’t it take a couple of weeks for a vaccine to be fully effective?
 

Marty

Well-Known Member
I did too and the official leaving age was 16 - you could only leave at 15 if you turned 16 before the end of the summer.
They now have to stay in some kind of education/training until 18.

So apprenticeships would be covered. Just like I did. Thank you for confirming I'm correct. :ROFLMAO:
 

Liquid Gold

Well-Known Member
Ah I was looking to see if there was one that included Omicron. A few people I know have their booster and then test positive or even getting Omicron symptoms, even LG on this thread is an example. Booster Sunday, Positive Tuesday.

Would be interesting to see if it gives the immune system a kick and it opens people up to Omicron a bit.
Mine was probably picked up going out for work drinks the end of last week. Between getting the poster and testing positive I hadn't actually left the house.
 

Skybluefaz

Well-Known Member
Ah I was looking to see if there was one that included Omicron. A few people I know have their booster and then test positive or even getting Omicron symptoms, even LG on this thread is an example. Booster Sunday, Positive Tuesday.

Would be interesting to see if it gives the immune system a kick and it opens people up to Omicron a bit.
@Brighton Sky Blue can probably tell you if that is a possibility. Although common sense would probably tell me that you can multiply the numbers in the study I linked by whatever the increased transmissibilty of Omicron is and you'd get a decent idea of the numbers.

Failing common sense you can try fatso, baldy or the spectator.
 

Nick

Administrator
@Brighton Sky Blue can probably tell you if that is a possibility. Although common sense would probably tell me that you can multiply the numbers in the study I linked by whatever the increased transmissibilty of Omicron is and you'd get a decent idea of the numbers.

Failing common sense you can try fatso, baldy or the spectator.

Both options would be complete guesses.
 

Brighton Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
Ah I was looking to see if there was one that included Omicron. A few people I know have their booster and then test positive or even getting Omicron symptoms, even LG on this thread is an example. Booster Sunday, Positive Tuesday.

Would be interesting to see if it gives the immune system a kick and it opens people up to Omicron a bit.

The simple answer is that the booster still takes time to take effect, perhaps as long as 2 weeks, so you haven’t got full protection in that timeframe. Even after that time it’s still estimated as absolute maximum 80% protection against symptomatic infection.
 

Nick

Administrator
The simple answer is that the booster still takes time to take effect, perhaps as long as 2 weeks, so you haven’t got full protection in that timeframe. Even after that time it’s still estimated as absolute maximum 80% protection against symptomatic infection.

Is there no chance it could reduce protection if it's doing stuff in your immune system?

A fair few people seem to have avoided COVID the last couple of years, been to get their booster and now tested positive for Christmas.

Another science question, if you can't get boosted for a while after you have COVID. Won't it cause issues if they boost people who have it?
 

Brighton Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
Is there no chance it could reduce protection if it's doing stuff in your immune system?

A fair few people seem to have avoided COVID the last couple of years, been to get their booster and now tested positive for Christmas.

Another science question, if you can't get boosted for a while after you have COVID. Won't it cause issues if they boost people who have it?

Assuming you got an mRNA booster it will be getting your body to make the spike protein, then your immune system reacts with antibodies and after that producing memory cells for longer term immunity.

One thought I had which I haven’t looked into is whether PCR is actually identifying the vaccine itself, if it’s within a few days of the jab. After then the vaccine itself pretty much disappears. Then though in those few weeks you’ll be making spike protein yourself and getting positive LFTs from these or otherwise being infected.

The last question is a good point, Omicron is likely to have already been present in people arriving to get jabbed. There the honest answer is we don’t really have the data. My best guess is that it would probably help having even more antibodies in your system at the same time as actual virus.
 

Nick

Administrator
I just didn't get why you can't be boosted for a couple of weeks after you have had COVID but there's actually nothing stopping people who currently have it without knowing.

That's why I didn't know if there was a mainstream stat that said in the UK x or y people tested positive within 7 days of having the booster.
 

fernandopartridge

Well-Known Member
Ah I was looking to see if there was one that included Omicron. A few people I know have their booster and then test positive or even getting Omicron symptoms, even LG on this thread is an example. Booster Sunday, Positive Tuesday.

Would be interesting to see if it gives the immune system a kick and it opens people up to Omicron a bit.
It's more likely just coincidence given the booster programme is being driven by a surge in Omicron infections just as the expected seasonal peaks start accelerating. The booster isn't fully effective immediately either but won't make your overall immunity decline initially even so.
 

rob9872

Well-Known Member
I knew you were a teacher @Ian1779 but didn't realise in Maths. I have an issue with the curriculum that my daughter his going through, which must frustrate the hell out of you as a teacher.

The curriculum moves at such a pace to cram everything in, that they move on before some basic aspects have been fully grasped. The gaps mean they struggle further on. With the exception of one teacher (who was so good it was like day and night) most seem less than bothered as they have a schedule to get through. Such a shame. We do what we can, but she complains at our dinosaur methods and won't have it that if you can get the correct answer it will ultimately be more important. Some great online tools we've discovered too, but I sympathise with my daughter and the teachers to an extent who have their targets to hit. It appears far more complicated and unnecessary than when I was learning albeit a lifetime ago.

Good to know you have a passion for Maths, proving we do at least have one more thing than our football team in common, being poles apart on so much else :) I do have a tiny claim to fame as one of the very youngest people alive with an O'level, taking early entry at 14 in the November and as an August birthday in the year before they started GCSE's. Sadly not quite the youngest as there are a couple of child geniuses who took the same exam aged around 8 or 9!
 

Ian1779

Well-Known Member
I knew you were a teacher @Ian1779 but didn't realise in Maths. I have an issue with the curriculum that my daughter his going through, which must frustrate the hell out of you as a teacher.

The curriculum moves at such a pace to cram everything in, that they move on before some basic aspects have been fully grasped. The gaps mean they struggle further on. With the exception of one teacher (who was so good it was like day and night) most seem less than bothered as they have a schedule to get through. Such a shame. We do what we can, but she complains at our dinosaur methods and won't have it that if you can get the correct answer it will ultimately be more important. Some great online tools we've discovered too, but I sympathise with my daughter and the teachers to an extent who have their targets to hit. It appears far more complicated and unnecessary than when I was learning albeit a lifetime ago.

Good to know you have a passion for Maths, proving we do at least have one more thing than our football team in common, being poles apart on so much else :) I do have a tiny claim to fame as one of the very youngest people alive with an O'level, taking early entry at 14 in the November and as an August birthday in the year before they started GCSE's. Sadly not quite the youngest as there are a couple of child geniuses who took the same exam aged around 8 or 9!
I totally agree with your second paragraph - the intent to rattle through things so quickly is so frustrating (something I see at my daughters school too who teach a topic in 3 lessons I would spend 2 weeks on) some schools have an obsession to teach the whole curriculum in a year at breakneck speed and then do exactly the same the following year with slightly harder questions.
I’ll be honest - most experienced and good teachers will simply ignore it and teach at their own pace and the needs of the kids. It’s a hard thing to encourage newer teachers to do because they feel so pressurised to follow the schedule. I do get questioned on it sometimes, but I would always argue that without secure base knowledge it is impossible to teach new concepts that rely on these skills. A student that has a solid numeracy base, as well as an understanding of comprehension and how to apply their knowledge is what we are always aiming for.
Well done on the O’Level - I’m a bit younger so it was GCSE all the way for me 😊
 

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