Would you take the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccination?

in a heatbeat. it's a no-brainer.

comparatively, it appears (on the surface) to have been done quickly. but in reality it hasn't.
1. the scientific world has known what Covid is about since it's first appearance almost 50 years ago. "19" is another strain of it, so they knew what they were working toward as soon as the first cases occurred this time last year.
2. most (straightforward) vaccines are 3yrs+ in the making. however, this year has been different. every Lab, Drug Company and Research Organisation has been working to the same goal. Many ongoing researches and vaccine programs - and the work (so far) have been temporarily shelved during 2020 to focus solely on Covid.

I think that once we take into account volume of percentage of World focus and work on this, the 9 months probably equates to about 5yrs+ of normal time.

and, even if it's only 80-95% effective, I'd rather take that chance than the alternative. it's an 80-95% better chance of being okay isn't it?

Yes, yes, yes. I was initially a little apprehensive, but things are so bad here in the US that I don't see a return to normalcy until there is mass vaccination. Count me in.

It was quick because every government and drug company was 100% focused on it, not because any corners were cut.

I'm happy to take it (in the UK by the time they finish category 1, the over 85s and health care, ill be in category 9 - the over 50s), but don't expect to get the option until mid 2021.

I do have lingering questions about unknown long term side effects, but not enough to risk catching covid in the next 10 years while we wait for long term side effects to appear...

I suspect that there will be some overlaps, and therefore logically, some gaps or rather perceived inconsistencies.

I didn't mean to suggest that I was beating a path to the queue, merely that I'd take it when my turn comes.

Until then, I'll continue to live as sensibly as I can, instead of demanding to be allowed to go to pubs like it was written into Magna bloody Carta...

I know what you mean, but the vaccine stopping transmission is no help if the youth are unvaccinated! You'll have to avoid them for a little longer...

You make a good point about being on the cusp - my only other risk factors are being male and overweight, so I should be after you in the queue, but it seems inevitable that unless GPs are given allocations for "at risk, irrespective of age" and your GP includes you in that, you'll be in the same batch as me with no underlying conditions.

We can only hope that's in time, hence in the interim I'm treating everyone except the wife as a leper!

Yeah, I probably will. Although I have my doubts about rushed-out vaccines (notably the 2009 swine flu vaccine which caused en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandemrix#Adverse_outcomes), I work in the healthcare sector in an office job which kind of guarantees I'm in the first batch of people who will be receiving a vaccine in this country. And it seems it's the only way we'll be able to return to "normal life".

Interesting link. It isn't clear how soon the narcolepsy came to light, which is clearly relevant to your point, but it seems to have affected 5 people per 100,000. Currently, 100s of people per 100,000 are getting Covid in the UK.

So, while I share your nagging doubt, I see the example you gave of why it's still worth taking!

The vaccine has not been “rushed out”. It has been made available once, and only when, it has been through extensive development, massive testing volumes, and strict independent verification and approval.

The several strands of development, testing trials, manufacturing, approval etc have taken place concurrently rather than one after another, and funding and approval has been prioritised beyond normal timelines, which is why the beginning to end process has been contracted - no “rushing” at all.

There has been no corners cut and nothing not done that would normally happen during drug development - in fact the vaccine has seen more testing than most other drugs/vaccines.