Got it Wrong Again?

Author
Discussion

JSG

Original Poster:

2,238 posts

296 months

Tuesday 30th July 2002
quotequote all
Looks like Tony and Co may have cocked up again. I phoned him for a comment and he said that he bought it from a nice Iraqi gentleman who gave him a comprehensive TVR (Totally Vacant Residual) warranty and assured him it was the right type.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2161393.stm

CarZee

13,382 posts

280 months

Tuesday 30th July 2002
quotequote all
indeed - a fine example of the competence of New Labia and the Civil (ack!) service..

mondeoman

11,430 posts

279 months

Tuesday 30th July 2002
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I'll bet they haven't even bought any vaccine - just an "option" on some at some future time.... twats!

andymadmak

15,012 posts

283 months

Tuesday 30th July 2002
quotequote all
Not only did they buy the wrong vaccine, but they bought it from Powderjet Ltd (the decision not at all linked in any way to the fact that PowderJet gave nooo labia 50k a few weeks before) on the grounds that only Powderjet could make the relevant strain. It then turns out that Powderjet weren't actually making it anyway - they were buying it in and trading it on.
Cynical - moi?

Andy 400se

plotloss

67,280 posts

283 months

Tuesday 30th July 2002
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Also nothing to do with the fact that one of the PowderJet board have a seat on the governments health advisory committee.

Matt.

gnomesmith

2,458 posts

289 months

Tuesday 30th July 2002
quotequote all
Its a question of which expert has second guessed the terrorists best and knows what, if any, bugs they will release.

The UK experts say that USA have it wrong and vice versa.

Having suffered from Smallpox I'll sit on my immunity and post back after any attack. All nominations for smug bastard award will be gratefully accepted.

JohnL

1,763 posts

278 months

Tuesday 30th July 2002
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quote:

Having suffered from Smallpox ...


Presumably it's not always fatal then?

(smug bastard ... )

gnomesmith

2,458 posts

289 months

Tuesday 30th July 2002
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No, but it pays to be in the right place when you are infected, personal recommendation you can't beat Porton Down.

JohnL

1,763 posts

278 months

Tuesday 30th July 2002
quotequote all
And are you allowed to admit what you were doing at Porton Down?

On reflection would you have caught smallpox anyway if you hadn't been at Porton Down?

philshort

8,293 posts

290 months

Tuesday 30th July 2002
quotequote all
On Radio 2 they read out an email from some Irish woman who said the Irish have already been issued personal smallpox vaccine kits, so why is the British Government taking so long.

Couldn't help thinking that the Irish might have a little more of an idea how the terrorist mind works.

Anyway, if there are mutiple strains of smallpox vaccine, why are we gambling on one type of vaccine? How about a bit of bet spreading, get some of all types and mix them up. At least some of us will survive and attack whichever strain is actually unleashed.

And am I the only one thinking that whatever we paid to whom is totally irrelevant, as any terrorist attack will be using the OTHER strain? Or are terrorists suddenly incapable of followwing the news?

gnomesmith

2,458 posts

289 months

Tuesday 30th July 2002
quotequote all
quote:

And are you allowed to admit what you were doing at Porton Down?
-----------
There are many non sinister things that go on there, I was actually having lunch!
------------
On reflection would you have caught smallpox anyway if you hadn't been at Porton Down?


------------
I had a vacination overseas that went badly wrong, I was showing some symptoms when I returned to UK but I put them down to an excess of alcohol, a situation that was not unusual at that time. Things deteriorated rapidly during a routine visit to SW Command, luckily for me there are lots of experts at Porton.

It is those experts that now consider the chosen vaccine to be the right one for UK, I believe other European countries agree with us but US doesn't. Its a heads you loose, tails you don't win situation really.

nonegreen

7,803 posts

283 months

Wednesday 31st July 2002
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quote:

Not only did they buy the wrong vaccine, but they bought it from Powderjet Ltd (the decision not at all linked in any way to the fact that PowderJet gave nooo labia 50k a few weeks before) on the grounds that only Powderjet could make the relevant strain. It then turns out that Powderjet weren't actually making it anyway - they were buying it in and trading it on.
Cynical - moi?

Andy 400se


For goodness sake can you nit smell fings wight evyone nows how stain is smelt just be a git nore kareful wiv ve smarellings oops sorry bit pissed couldn't resist ****in blair sheep shagger bastard

Fatboy

8,198 posts

285 months

Wednesday 31st July 2002
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quote:
For goodness sake can you nit smell fings wight evyone nows how stain is smelt just be a git nore kareful wiv ve smarellings oops sorry bit pissed couldn't resist ****in blair sheep shagger bastard

You been at McNab's meths nonegreen?

IIRC both types of vacine will work against both strains of Smallpox, just that some people reckon one strain is better than the other, and, on balance, I'll believe anyone but Phony Tony.

gnomesmith

2,458 posts

289 months

Wednesday 31st July 2002
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UK has purchased the Lister vaccine, knocks spots off Vipers so smallpox should be no problem.

kevinday

12,943 posts

293 months

Thursday 1st August 2002
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quote:

UK has purchased the Lister vaccine, knocks spots off Vipers so smallpox should be no problem.



JohnL

1,763 posts

278 months

Thursday 1st August 2002
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quote:

quote:

UK has purchased the Lister vaccine, knocks spots off Vipers so smallpox should be no problem.






elanturbo

565 posts

275 months

Thursday 1st August 2002
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I dont think it is as simple as 'we got the wrong one.'
It depends upon which strain of virus is unleashed. There are three main contenders for the strain of smallpox likely(?) to be used. The lister strain is the best at combating the Russian strain. There is an american strain and another which I cant remember.
However, if you and I know we have the Lister strain in the UK, that information must also have made its way to the 'bad guys.'
Bet they go for anthrax, ebola or some other nasty bug instead.
Weird coincidence about Powderjet and their contributions though.

Podie

46,645 posts

288 months

Thursday 1st August 2002
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I think there's another issue here...

Why do we advertise the fact that we are vulnerable to attack?

It was announced recently that London's emergency services couldn't cope with an a large terrorist attack... WHY announce it to the world? Just solve the bloody problem...

Like with this vaccine thing - OK, big cockup - let's not apportion blame, just get the right stuff in ASAFP!

Jeez...