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Today's UK and global vaccination update for those interested.

279,757 additional people in the UK were vaccinated on Monday, giving a total of 6,853,327 vaccinated, potential Saga travel customers. These fine people will be ready to roll by May 20th at the absolute latest. This is calculated as the second jab date plus 14 days for those receiving their first jab only on Monday – so the vast majority will be ready way before this date. Indeed, 472,446 had already received their second jab by Monday.

Further updates coming from Bloomberg regarding the biggest vaccination campaign in history.

More than 68.1 million doses in 56 countries have been administered, according to data collected by Bloomberg. The latest rate was roughly 3.44 million doses a day, on average.

Today's UK and global vaccination update for those interested.

220,249 additional people in the UK were vaccinated on Sunday, giving a total of 6,573,570 vaccinated, potential Saga travel customers. These fine people will be ready to roll by May 19th at the absolute latest. This is calculated as the second jab date plus 14 days for those receiving their first jab only on Sunday – so the vast majority will be ready way before this date. Indeed, 470,478 had already received their second jab by Sunday.

Further updates coming from Bloomberg regarding the biggest vaccination campaign in history.

More than 65.7 million doses in 56 countries have been administered, according to data collected by Bloomberg. The latest rate was roughly 3.37 million doses a day, on average.

The end of the economically restricting period of this pandemic is getting nearer with every day.

Travel restrictions today are clearly bad news for travel companies trying to offer travel today and airlines trying to fly today.

As a Saga shareholder, I'll only be concerned if such restrictions are in place from May onwards when we are trying to offer travel .

I'm more than happy for the strongest possible restrictions to be in place during this winter to accelerate progress against the pandemic well before Spring.

Sometimes the way our markets work make me laugh. Especially when my monthly top-up coincides with these happy events as per this morning. :)

Today's UK and global vaccination update for those interested.

491,970 additional people in the UK were vaccinated on Saturday (again, the highest daily total to date), giving a total of 6,353,321 vaccinated, potential Saga travel customers. These fine people will be ready to roll by May 18th at the absolute latest. This is calculated as the second jab date plus 14 days for those receiving their first jab only on Saturday – so the vast majority will be ready way before this date. Indeed, 469,660 had already received their second jab by Saturday.

Huge congratulations to the wonderful NHS and all others involved.

Further updates coming from Bloomberg regarding the biggest vaccination campaign in history.

More than 63 million doses in 56 countries have been administered, according to data collected by Bloomberg. The latest rate was roughly 3.21 million doses a day, on average.

The end of the economically restricting period of this pandemic is getting nearer with every day.

Covid-blocking nasal spray could be in chemists by summer

hTTps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/01/23/covid-blocking-nasal-spray-could-chemists-summer/

Extract

A nasal spray which can prevent a coronavirus infection for up to two days could be available in high street pharmacies by the summer, researchers have said.

Scientists at the University of Birmingham have been developing the spray since April last year and are currently in discussions with shops and pharmaceutical giants on the next steps to mass produce it. ...

The nasal spray, which has not yet been named, is made from ingredients that are already approved for medical use, meaning it is safe for use by humans and does not require further approval.

The formula helps prevent infection by capturing the virus in the nose and encapsulating it in a coating which it cannot escape from. As a result, it would be safe for a person to breathe out - even if inhaled by another person - because the virus would be inactive and harmless.

In November last year, the researchers announced that laboratory experiments showed the spray prevented a coronavirus infection from spreading for up to 48 hours.

The team believes using the spray four times a day would be enough for general protection, although it is safe enough to be applied every 20 minutes if in a high-risk, densely populated environment such as schools. ...

Last year Professor Liam Grover, the study's co-author, said: "Although our noses filter thousands of litres of air each day, there is not much protection from infection and most airborne viruses are transmitted via the nasal passage.

“The spray we have formulated delivers that protection but can also prevent the virus being passed from person to person."

Are these updates useful? If they are annoying anyone, please let me know and I'll stop them.

478,248 additional people in the UK were vaccinated on Friday (the highest daily total to date), giving a total of 5,861,351 vaccinated, potential Saga travel customers. These fine people will be ready to roll by May 17th at the absolute latest. This is calculated as the second jab date plus 14 days for those receiving their first jab only on Friday – so the vast majority will be ready way before this date. Indeed, 468,617 had already received their second jab by Friday.

Further updates from Bloomberg.

More than 60.3 million doses in 55 countries have been administered, according to data collected by Bloomberg. The latest rate was roughly 2.95 million doses a day, on average.

363,508 additional people in the UK were vaccinated on Wednesday, giving a total of 4,973,248 vaccinated, potential Saga travel customers. These fine people will be ready to roll by May 15th at the absolute latest. This is calculated as the second jab date plus 14 days for those receiving their first jab only on Wednesday – so the vast majority will be ready way before this date. Indeed, 464,036 had already received their second jab by Wednesday.

The greatest thing is that these totals are only going to go up every single day - what a superb position to be in.
Further updates coming from Bloomberg regarding the biggest vaccination campaign in history.

More than 56.7 million doses in 52 countries have been administered, according to data collected by Bloomberg. The latest rate was roughly 2.85 million doses a day, on average.

The end of the economically restricting period of this pandemic is getting nearer with every day.

Yet more good coverage of the story at lunchtime on BBC One South East News.

If Roger's trying to keep the good news quiet for the sneaky takeover suspected by some (and not by me), he's going a funny way about it. :)

I was musing this morning about how good a fit with Saga’s typical cruise demographic the new 2-dose vaccination requirement may prove to be.

Assuming that:
1. the Saga cruise demographic is broadly 65 and above;
2. that 2 doses plus 14 days is the acceptance criteria;
3. the first 3 months of cruises aboard Spirit of Adventure comprises 2 departures in May, 3 in June and 2 in July;
4. the first 2 months of cruises aboard Spirit of Discovery comprises 2 departures in June and 2 in July;
5. a reduced capacity of guests onboard to a maximum of 800.

That means that Saga merely need to find 11 x 800 = 8800 passengers that wish to cruise before August 2021.

What do we know for sure so far?

343,163 additional people in the UK were vaccinated on Tuesday giving a total of 4,609,740 vaccinated up to the 19th Jan.

Those in this group of 4,609,740 people will ALL have had their 2nd doses at the latest 12 weeks from 19th Jan, so will qualify for Saga cruises (if they are also over the age of 50) at the latest by May 7 including the 2 weeks added as required.

Within that group we also know (due to published data) that 460,625 of these people have already had their second doses.

These are exceptionally large groups out of which to find just 8800 potential cruise customers.

Saga have played a blinder here and the massive publicity is a huge additional bonus.

On the program called Rip-Off Britain - don't worry about the title, it was all good:

Angela Rippon, whilst holding to camera a newspaper page with two colour pictures, one of "Dazzling Danube: A Saga river ship in Austria's Wachau Valley", the other of "Drop anchor: A Saga ship in Malta":

"All of the papers are reporting that cruises could be sailing once again for those that have been vaccinated. 'Cruises back ... if you've had a jab' says The Mail and it follows cruise operator Saga's announcement that it plans to resume its river cruises in May and its ocean cruises in June.

Now the government is still advertising against cruising but Saga meanwhile says that there will be a blanket 'No to boarding' if you haven't had both injections. I think that's going to be good news for people."

ALL travel is always subject to government approval during this pandemic. Why should Saga state the completely obvious.

With regards to Saga cruise customer age profiles - I would say definitely toward the higher two-thirds of Saga's demographic.

Over the years I worked for Saga, I enjoyed several lunches aboard the previous Saga ships whilst they were on turnaround days at Dover. These lunches were always superb and were meant as a little treat for certain employees from time to time.

On each occasion, our presence aboard would inevitably overlap with some customers either leaving or joining the ship. I would say they were typically 65 and above, rather than in the 50 to 65 age group.

Anecdotal, granted, but I thought I'd add that personal observation to the discussion.

Yes, sorry about the sloppy wording.

Definite intention by the company to sail but subject to travel being permitted by May - which seems reasonable.

I think they've been rather cautious on this and rightly so.

343,163 additional people in the UK were vaccinated yesterday - the most ever in one day so far - giving a total of 4,609,740 vaccinated, potential Saga travel customers - ready to roll.

The greatest thing is that this grand total is only going to go up every single day - what a superb position to be in.
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Update flashed on Bloomberg regarding the biggest vaccination campaign in history.

More than 51.9 million doses in 51 countries have been administered, according to data collected by Bloomberg. The latest rate was roughly 2.35 million doses a day, on average.

The end of the economically restricting period of this pandemic is getting nearer with every day.

Yawn.

Don't tell me - the misleading Israel story that is doing the rounds.

I'll save you the effort. In that story, it turned out that the practice in Israel is to ALWAYS provide the second vaccine at three weeks. They had no data on with-holding the 2nd vaccine, but yet they made some story out of a fictitious 33% effective rate when not administering the 2nd dose.

... and in The Telegraph.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/01/20/travel-news-covid-restrictions-ban-corridors-tests-uk-holidays/

Live - Travel news latest: Saga Holidays to refuse travellers who haven't been vaccinated

Commentary:

Refusing non-vaccinated travellers is 'sensible'

Is Saga right to say no to non-vaccinated travellers?

James Cole, founder and managing director of Panache Cruises, thinks they are. He told Telegraph Travel:

As a retailer of cruise, we will support whatever the cruise lines believe is the most sensible course of action that they need to take to ensure their ships are the safest way to travel – and that customers have the best possible cruising experience.

Considering every adult in the UK will be offered a vaccination for free, and medical research shows the vaccine to be exceptionally safe, the move seems to be a very sensible one.”

Yep, it looks like that will be a pretty perfect match for the 65 to 75 demographic.

Ages 70 and up all done by Feb 15th (first jab). 12 weeks maximum to 2nd jab gives May 10th.

Ages 65-69 (assume plus 2 weeks) all done by March 1st (first jab). 12 weeks maximum to 2nd jab gives May 24th.

First 2 Spirit of Adventure cruises are May 4th and 20th.
First 2 Spirit of Discovery cruises are June 17th and 25th.

Great news - our expectations for a May restart for cruising met with firmed up guidance for guests to ensure maximum safety.

All looks set and ready to roll ....

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Update January 20, 2021

A message to all guests booked on cruises aboard Spirit of Discovery from April 2021, and cruises aboard Spirit of Adventure from May 2021 to December 2021.

First and foremost, I hope this message finds you well. Since I last wrote to you, we have welcomed the news that the COVID-19 vaccination programme has started to be rolled out across the country, with many of our guests amongst the first groups of people being offered the vaccine.

It is with this in mind that we have once more reviewed our health and safety procedures to ensure we are providing the safest possible cruise experience. We have taken the decision to introduce the requirement that all guests must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at least 14 days before sailing with us. This new measure will be in addition to the detailed arrangements we have already made in preparation for our return to service, which have been recognised and led to us being the first operator to receive the highest possible standard of health and safety protocols from Lloyd’s Register.

In order to allow our guests sufficient time to be fully vaccinated, we have decided to delay the restart of our cruise programme which was due to commence on 3rd April with Spirit of Discovery. Instead our programme will begin with Spirit of Adventure’s inaugural voyage on 4th May and our Secrets of Corsica and Sardinia cruise aboard Spirit of Discovery will now sail on the 2nd June. We will be contacting all guests affected to discuss their options.

Https://travel.saga.co.uk/travel-updates/coronavirus-cruise-passengers.aspx

Confirmation today that Saga's programme will begin in May as we expected.

Specifically with Spirit of Adventure’s inaugural voyage on 4th May and the Secrets of Corsica and Sardinia cruise aboard Spirit of Discovery will sail on the 2nd June.

New data on the progress of vaccinations.

204,076 additional people in the UK were vaccinated yesterday, giving a total of 4,266,577 vaccinated, potential Saga travel customers - ready to roll.

The greatest thing is that this grand total is only going to go up every single day - what a superb position to be in.

Update on Bloomberg regarding the biggest vaccination campaign in history.

More than 44 million doses in 51 countries have been administered, according to data collected by Bloomberg. The latest rate was roughly 2.27 million doses a day, on average.

The end of the economically restricting period of this pandemic is getting nearer with every day.