(03-22-2021, 12:52 PM)DJC link Wrote:Come on EB! 

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is an agency of the European Union (EU) responsible for the scientific evaluation, supervision and safety monitoring of medicines in the EU.  It is probably world's best practice in ensuring independence with a management board of 36 who are completely independent of government and the private sector. 

EMA has seven scientific committees that are drawn from the relevant government agencies of each member country and they rely heavily on networks of scientific experts.  They have relatively few staff and don't employ ex-"big pharma" employees.

The European Ombudsman found that the complaint about EMA's safety review of HPV vaccines was without foundation and its "examination of scientific evidence was complete and it was independent."  Of course, the HPV vaccines have been in widespread use for some time now and are safe and effective.

Pharmacy companies contribute funding for the operation of EMA, as they should.  Why should taxpayers foot the bill for research into the quality, safety and efficacy of human and veterinary medicines?

Finally, the EU legislation that set up the EMA requires it to provide all EU citizens with access to all documents with the exception of personal, sensitive and commercially confidential information - almost exactly the same as our Therapeutic Goods Administration restrictions on releasing information.

Quote:‘People are spooked’: Patients snub COVID shots amid unproven blood clot fears

Healthcare experts say European regulators’ move to ‘jump the gun’ and halt rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine will have a lasting impact on patient confidence.

(03-22-2021, 09:15 PM)madbluboy date Wrote:My auntie in the UK got her first jab, like Thry's brother was sick as a dog for 3 days.

(03-23-2021, 12:40 AM)Thryleon link Wrote:0 active cases in the state.

Well done everyone.  Any chance we can resume 100% capacity crowds, and drop the masks?

We aren't getting much of a say either way, which is why so many get frustrated with the response.

I think most would happily flip between mask and no mask if required, but this seems a bit too much to continue with at this point.

(03-23-2021, 12:40 AM)Thryleon link Wrote:0 active cases in the state.

Well done everyone.  Any chance we can resume 100% capacity crowds, and drop the masks?

We aren't getting much of a say either way, which is why so many get frustrated with the response.

I think most would happily flip between mask and no mask if required, but this seems a bit too much to continue with at this point.

(03-23-2021, 01:23 AM)cookie2 link Wrote:Masks gone by Fri midnight apart from public transport is what I hear.