Update on a vaccine

[SpokaneCY]

Good news is good!

It's such a tug-and-pull with the vaccination side of things. You want it available immediately, but I really hope they're able to properly test it. I'd probably try to get one right away, but there'd be a part of me tempted to wait a bit and see how it initially goes.

I've signed up for a 30,000 person vaccine trial and am waiting to hear back from the clinic here in CoSprings.

 

[Bigman38]

I don’t think the testing was really fast tracked, development and production will be obviously, but I think they’re following mostly the same testing guidelines as any vaccine.

 

[brett108]

Developing a vaccine is one thing, being able to get production of it is another. I have no idea how long it would take to set up a production line at an acceptable capacity for the nation.

Moderna is already manufacturing the vaccine for distribution( they are assuming its going to pass the last phase of the trials). They expect to have 400 million doses available at approval and 2 billion by next year. Thats a whole lot. And Pfizer is also neck and neck with their Oxford based vaccine, which is showing even a stronger antibody response. Its already in the final phase of its trial.

 

[Sigmapolis]

you think those who are cautious of a fast tracked vaccine are "antivax herpes" ???

You and I both know there is a heartbreaking number of people out there who are never going to take a COVID vaccine in particular or any vaccines at all.

And we have some of those types on here (unfortunately). You are right that some prudence is warranted, but try not to sound so much like them.

 

[CTTB78]

If this were available next week, would you get it?
.....

Absolutely.

 

[mj4cy]

Any good news trending towards a vaccine is something I'll take. Even one that can be effective in most people is good.

I get so impatient but I realize there is a process and we just need to trust the smartest minds on this planet are working on it.

 

[Clone9]

Vaccines are safe and effective because they are properly tested before being approved. I am 100% pro-vaccine but I worry a little that the fast-tracking of everything will allow an inferior product to hit the market. The de-regulation of the serological antibody tests have basically proven that a bunch of garbage will hit the market if we remove all regulatory approvals. It's a delicate balance and certainly something I do not trust politicians with a looming election to handle properly.

 

[spierceisu]

I am not trying to be a negative nancy about this, but I saw an article a few weeks ago that Dr. Fauci stated he wasn't sure how effective a vaccine would even be. I am guessing that it comes from the fact that a person can get COVID multiple times. If they have already had it, they should have anti-bodies already and they still will get it. All I am trying to say is that a vaccine may not be the savior everyone thinks it will be.

 

[CloneJD]

The downside is immunity fades in months so you would have to take the vaccine over and over. This isn't like the measles or mumps in which you have immunity for life.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/tommyb...irus-may-fade-away-within-weeks/#24e8024821bc

 

[madguy30]

I am not trying to be a negative nancy about this, but I saw an article a few weeks ago that Dr. Fauci stated he wasn't sure how effective a vaccine would even be. I am guessing that it comes from the fact that a person can get COVID multiple times. If they have already had it, they should have anti-bodies already and they still will get it. All I am trying to say is that a vaccine may not be the savior everyone thinks it will be.

There's been some stuff popping up about getting it multiple times but you'd think there would be more cases like that reported. It's not guaranteed one way or another.

Fauci hailed the recent vaccine stuff as good news...and nobody knows their effectiveness because we don't know how long the immunity would last.

 

[madguy30]

The other good news of late involves observed strong T- cell response in spite of low antibody titers:


https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(20)30610-3

Too many big words and numbers to sift through but a question I have is if T-cells kick in, do they fight off initial infection or just help keep it mild, but still have the person be infectious/contagious.

 

[Tri4Cy]

Developing a vaccine is one thing, being able to get production of it is another. I have no idea how long it would take to set up a production line at an acceptable capacity for the nation.

That is the typical procedure. However, if I recall maybe it was Moderna but I'm almost certain Oxford that were breaking typical protocol and have already started manufacturing their vaccine ahead of actual approval. The demand for such a product is going to be nuts and while the companies can spin it as doing what they can to help humanity, them also having the first large supply to provide I'm sure won't hurt the bottom line.

Edit: link https://www.sciencealert.com/2-bill...ronavirus-vaccine-could-soon-become-available

 

[brett108]

Vaccines are safe and effective because they are properly tested before being approved. I am 100% pro-vaccine but I worry a little that the fast-tracking of everything will allow an inferior product to hit the market. The de-regulation of the serological antibody tests have basically proven that a bunch of garbage will hit the market if we remove all regulatory approvals. It's a delicate balance and certainly something I do not trust politicians with a looming election to handle properly.

I am pretty sure no steps are being skipped. My guess is far more scrutiny is being paid to the results than most novel vaccines. It is simply not going to sit on the corner of a desk of a bureaucrat at the FDA for months waiting for them to sign off on something they dont understand.

 

[cyfan92]

 

[Jer]

It’s great news, period.

With that said... I’m more interested in knowing how long the antibodies will hold up for.

There is some preliminary study work that shows possibly only 60% of naturally infected patients get a healthy antibody buildup, and that natural antibodies peak within 2-3 weeks and are mostly gone after 2-3 months. While a booster could help, it’s possible it would need to be an annual type of solution.

I’m way out of my depths when it comes to vaccine development, but I think there should be some expectation setting that 1) it will take time to distribute and administer, 2) it likely won’t be a once and done solution, and 3) it won’t remove the virus from the face of the earth entirely.

Those should be expectations people understand and are comfortable with, but this is also the same place that can’t be infringed upon to put a piece of cloth over their mouths in order to earn back sports and daily life.

 

[madguy30]

That would be more than enough to get herd immunity if it works. Besides if it works then why would anyone who gets it care?

Those that are immunocompromised can still be at high risk even if vaccination helps at least with some protection.

 

[CloneJD]

You and I both know there is a heartbreaking number of people out there who are never going to take a COVID vaccine in particular or any vaccines at all.

And we have some of those types on here (unfortunately). You are right that some prudence is warranted, but try not to sound so much like them.

This isn't a virus in which we will ever have herd immunity even with a vaccine so vaccinating the entire populous is less important. It's more important to get it to those that have pre-existing conditions that make them more susceptible to severe Covid-19 outcomes.

 

[cyfan92]

Interesting point at the end about medical advances during COVID. Processes that used to take 3-9 years are happening in months.

 

[cyfan92]

Not to be a downer here, but even if we had a great vaccine right now ready to go, it would still take months to manufacture, distribute, and administer it on a global scale. I hope we get there (obviously), but even an end to the scientific process of producing a vaccine begins a large scale industrial, logistical, and medical process of bringing it to the world -- and I am not even going to try to seriously talk about the pockets of our society that will, umm, "resist" such a breakthrough. So you have to bake in time for that.

That time is probably not in time for college football in early September.

The US already has millions of dosses ready to go for some of the leading vaccine candidates. If further testing results continue to come back positively. We will have billions of doses by next year



https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/science/coronavirus-vaccine-tracker.html

 

[Acylum]

Too many big words and numbers to sift through but a question I have is if T-cells kick in, do they fight off initial infection or just help keep it mild, but still have the person be infectious/contagious.

This article https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/05/t-cells-found-covid-19-patients-bode-well-long-term-immunity
explains the role(s) of T-cells well. First three paragraphs.