So long as extending the time between doses doesn't allow for resistant mutations to occur
We are already doing that by giving people Covid antibody-rich plasma treatments.
“We saw mutations that seemed to suggest the virus was showing signs of adaptation to avoid the antibodies in the convalescent plasma treatment.” BBC
AFAIK the vaccine ought to still have *some* effect on resistant strains, I don't think it works like MRSA where a bacteria evolves complete resistance to a given antibiotic. (I hope not anyway!)
And I think they can now amend the vaccine to target the specific spike proteins of any divergent strains pretty rapidly - they probably don't need to go through such thorough testing either as it will basically be a tweaked version of the same vaccine.
Gosh what a nightmare this is. We'll be kicking ourselves about not slamming down on this virus back in March 2020 for decades to come...
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
You can't compare bacterial infections like MRSA with any viral infection. They are very different organisms.
On a brighter note we should remember that there are a number of different types of vaccines available now and more under development. All seem to be capable of some adjustment to cope with the effects of mutations so the light at the end of tunnel might not be an oncoming trains after all.
Covid is only the tip of a vast iceberg that's silently floating towards us. With 7.5 billion people on the planet - we are a very attractive evolutionary prospect for other viruses that will make this one look like a pinic.
Steephill siad:- On a brighter note we should remember that there are a number of different types of vaccines available now and more under development. All seem to be capable of some adjustment to cope with the effects of mutations so the light at the end of tunnel might not be an oncoming trains after all.
I do hope they can identify the stupid anti-vaccers (if it was them) who sent a fake bomb to the vaccine producing plant at Wrexham and I hope they get sent to prison for a nice long stretch.
Just did my antibody test for covid that I signed up for last year.forgot I fainted when I gave blood.got husband to help but he found it difficult to get enough blood out of me..dog got involved by barking .managed it myself and now feeling rather sick on the settee.i doubt very much if I've had it tho.the test up your nose was bad enough..i hope they make tests easier in the future...
Another new vaccine looks set to come on stream later this year, assuming it gets approval. Great stuff. Congrats to all involved in development and testing.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Very quick and efficient at the local surgery. Government should have given the whole Covid control job, and the money, to the NHS, who know what they are doing, but then of course their chums wouldn't have got their snouts in the trough!
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And I think they can now amend the vaccine to target the specific spike proteins of any divergent strains pretty rapidly - they probably don't need to go through such thorough testing either as it will basically be a tweaked version of the same vaccine.
Gosh what a nightmare this is. We'll be kicking ourselves about not slamming down on this virus back in March 2020 for decades to come...
The Louis Pasteur Institute in France has abandoned its Covid vaccine R&D programme and the French are now questioning the apparent demise of their former excellent record on innovation in vaccines and research - https://www.france24.com/en/france/20210126-humiliation-french-see-covid-19-vaccine-flops-as-sign-of-decline
Until everybody in the world understands what viruses are and how they mutate then nothing is ever going to change.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.