Punkdoc's comments are very valid and should be reread. Distancing, track and trace etc are all going to be required for a long time. However these will also help with other viruses etc.
However, to give some "feel good" info on a couple of things.
The storage temperature requirement isn't as big or insurmountable an issue as it may seem, especially for "modern" first world countries. The current ebola vaccine must also be stored at similar temperatures, and the Arktek system has been doing this successfully in tropical countries for several years. First world countries will be able to leverage existing tech and supply chains. A hurdle, but a solvable one, especially in the northern hemisphere.
@star gaze lily the concept of "too early" is arbitrary. If the vaccine is proved to be effective and safe via the data, please don't let concerns about this prevent you from taking it.
The vaccine candidate also produces t-cell response, which in other corona viruses has been shown to lead to longer lasting immunity. This may not be true for this virus, and tcells alone do not "create immunity", but it is a pertinent interesting fact.
We cannot make any assertions about efficacy until we see the data. However, remember that Pfizer is a public listed company, with a reputation. This is not a Russian sputnik situation. We can have a little more confidence that those who have access to the data believe this will work. Western governments have had access to some more of the data since yesterday, so at first glance there is positivity here from sources wider than may be expected.
All in, there is still a long road ahead, it is still NOT a magic bullet, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. If I had to make a prediction, life will return to 2019-style normal by mid-2022.
We will learn more in about 2 weeks or so, when the next FDA milestone is reached.
Anyway, the fact that a mRNA vaccine has been developed so quickly and proven to have at least some efficacy is game-changing news for the future of humanity, regardless.
I'm an awful cynic/ disillusioned idealist but ,unfortunately, the question we must always ask is : where's the money? Who gains rather than how do we pay for it? It's always where's the money. First past the post will cash in but it will not necessarily be the best option.
I'll admit to being cynical but I think it'll be many months, maybe years before most of us can get a COVID-19 vaccination. It's been months since the government announced that everyone over 50 could have a free flu vaccine this year. I've asked at a local pharmacy and was told they only have it available for over 65s and clinically vulnerable people. They said they weren't able to give it to anyone else even if they paid. Hopefully that will change before the flu season really gets going, butI have little faith in the government being able to deliver on what they've already promised, let alone on what they're still being very cautious about.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
In the US they have stated that health care workers will receive the first round of vaccinations.. then the elderly.. and downward from there. That makes perfect sense to me.. protect those we depend on to save us, and then protect those that most need it.
It is positive news that vaccines are being developed but I personally think it was a mistake of the Daily Briefing to suggest that something may be avaialable before ‘Christmas’. It’s too emotive to give people false hope about ‘Christmas’. The reality is that a vaccine may be produced, but the logistics of rolling this out are complex and only certain sets of people will be given the first batch. If it’s the over 85s (as some sources predict) then how will those people travel to the limited vaccination centres?? This isn’t an off-the-shelf jab that GPs and supermarkets can dish out. Don’t forget, the vaccine is really just to limit hospital admissions, in many ways, not a cure-all. I will keep positive, but we are nowhere near the virus going.
I didn't think they did give hope for Christmas - I thought Van Tam said that when the vaccine could be sourced it was a three step process. Day One - first jab (some immunity), day 28 second jab, 14 days later full immunity. That's 6 weeks from 1) when enough can be produced for the UK to get a meaningful share, 2) pass the approval standards in the UK and 3) then when the delivery logistics and target 'audience' have been sorted. I also thought Van Tam said that it was still unclear at this stage whether the Pfizer vaccine stopped the vaccinated person still potentially shedding the virus.
We pre-ordered 40 million units, Pfizer will have produced 30-50 million in 2020 - and it's unclear who has dibs on that - and over a billion next year. I didn't hear that the UK would get the full Pfizer production - just that 'n' million was the number of units potentially being produced (again with Van Tam's proviso that vaccine production isn't without its issues).
I also thought that when Boris was asked if the current lockdown would mean a more normal Christmas, he ducked the question given that they can't say at this stage as no one knows what the effect of the lockdown on the numbers will be yet.
Odd how we get different things out of the briefings.
To me the whole point of the briefing seemed to be (given that it was not to introduce any new gov initiative) was to say to the people '...OK, you've all heard of this vaccine, but it's not here and won't be here yet - so don't take your eye off the ball and relax. You have to continue to be vigilant and adhere to the rules...'. I think Boris et al were just worried that, like the effect of ending lockdown, the people would see the vaccine news and just stop taking precautions.
I am assuming a health worker is a doctor or nurse or someone in a hospital? I personally won’t be taking a vaccine, I am mid 50s with absolutely no health problems so although I work in a pharmacy and may be considered a priority I think it’s more complex than that, there are people for whom it will be a life saver and it would be very selfish of me to take one. I know it’s small steps but I am really optimistic about this vaccine.
Posts
However, to give some "feel good" info on a couple of things.
The storage temperature requirement isn't as big or insurmountable an issue as it may seem, especially for "modern" first world countries. The current ebola vaccine must also be stored at similar temperatures, and the Arktek system has been doing this successfully in tropical countries for several years. First world countries will be able to leverage existing tech and supply chains. A hurdle, but a solvable one, especially in the northern hemisphere.
@star gaze lily the concept of "too early" is arbitrary. If the vaccine is proved to be effective and safe via the data, please don't let concerns about this prevent you from taking it.
The vaccine candidate also produces t-cell response, which in other corona viruses has been shown to lead to longer lasting immunity. This may not be true for this virus, and tcells alone do not "create immunity", but it is a pertinent interesting fact.
We cannot make any assertions about efficacy until we see the data. However, remember that Pfizer is a public listed company, with a reputation. This is not a Russian sputnik situation. We can have a little more confidence that those who have access to the data believe this will work. Western governments have had access to some more of the data since yesterday, so at first glance there is positivity here from sources wider than may be expected.
All in, there is still a long road ahead, it is still NOT a magic bullet, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. If I had to make a prediction, life will return to 2019-style normal by mid-2022.
We will learn more in about 2 weeks or so, when the next FDA milestone is reached.
Anyway, the fact that a mRNA vaccine has been developed so quickly and proven to have at least some efficacy is game-changing news for the future of humanity, regardless.
If I had to make a prediction, it would be, that this will not be the most significant vaccine for COVID, but that one will be found.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
Who gains rather than how do we pay for it?
It's always where's the money.
First past the post will cash in but it will not necessarily be the best option.
I will keep positive, but we are nowhere near the virus going.
Keep safe and hopeful all.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border