COVID-19: Vaccine/antidote and testing procedures Megathread [Mod Warning - Post #1]

Capt'n Midnight · 12-10-2020 08:54PM

hmmm wrote: »

Not Covid, but great to hear that a trial has had good success in lowering the risk of Dengue.

This one is more Covid lockdown related.

The southern hemisphere skipped flu season in 2020

Gael23 · 12-10-2020 08:55PM

c.p.w.g.w wrote: »

Sure most nurses won't take the flu vaccine... hardly going to see those same nurses take a vaccine that is new on the market...also most nurses still recommend people brake arnica(for me that should lead to then having their nursing credentials removed)

It can’t legally be made mandatory but there should be some consequences like reduced sick pay if you refuse a vaccine and go on to contract Covid at work

timsey tiger · 12-10-2020 09:07PM

Gael23 wrote: »

It can’t legally be made mandatory but there should be some consequences like reduced sick pay if you refuse a vaccine and go on to contract Covid at work

What do you think this policy would result in?

My two cents on your proposal - Health care staff with mild covid 19 symptoms (the vast majority of those even aware of getting it in the working age cohort) hiding them and coming to work anyway, what could go wrong?

3xh · 12-10-2020 10:30PM

timsey tiger wrote: »

What do you think this policy would result in?

My two cents on your proposal - Health care staff with mild covid 19 symptoms (the vast majority of those even aware of getting it in the working age cohort) hiding them and coming to work anyway, what could go wrong?

Yes, indeed.

And going further, if they don’t take the flu vaccine, dock pay for that sick period too?

What do we do with the staff who take the flu one but not the Covid one, get sick, take a test, it comes back as Covid positive but it’s actually a false positive? They’d be docked unfairly.

It’s just too much hassle.

And I’m not in anyway linked to the med profession.

XsApollo · 13-10-2020 07:25AM

Johnson and Johnson have paused their vaccine trial due to an unexplained Illness in one of the participants.

stephenjmcd · 13-10-2020 08:00AM

I see RTE highlighting the pause for J&J, I recall they did the same with Oxford but little publicity on the restart. No surprise

is_that_so · 13-10-2020 09:16AM

Some thoughts on China's ability to deliver large volumes of vaccines.

But even if a vaccine is ready soon, some scientists question whether the country will be able to produce enough doses to meet its international commitments, and if deals with individual countries are the best way to ensure equitable vaccine distribution.

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02807-2

seamie78 · 13-10-2020 09:24AM

If anyone can scale up at an unprecedented speed it is the Chinese, they are currently in the process of testing a city of 9 million over 5 days. Remember the early days in Wuhan and the hospital built in days. Its a pity there is not more coverage of whats going on in relation to the various Chinese vaccine candidates. Some of which look very promising

Santy2015 · 13-10-2020 10:13AM

https://twitter.com/oxfordvacgroup/status/1315941527932342273?s=21

Gael23 · 13-10-2020 11:22AM

Is there any reason to hope this might be the announcement of some good news?

XsApollo · 13-10-2020 11:25AM

I guess we are gonna find out how it’s going?
Hopefully they give information on what they are actually seeing already and not what they are hoping to achieve.
Case numbers in both groups , what the efficacy is at currently , what the current timeline is, and how quickly after approval can they roll out and the number of vaccines they have already produced and capacity.

We need some good news , the year is nearly over now, that’s crazy to look back On.
Proper good news is needed.

Santy2015 · 13-10-2020 11:29AM

I’d assume it is some sort of good news. Bad news leaks quicker then good news as we’ve all noticed over the past 8 months or so.

Gael23 · 13-10-2020 11:30AM

On reading the tweet again it’s not actually with Oxford researchers

MerlinSouthDub · 13-10-2020 11:47AM

Gael23 wrote: »

On reading the tweet again it’s not actually with Oxford researchers

I think it is? Professor Andy Pollard is part of the Oxford Vaccine Group.

Sweet.Science · 13-10-2020 12:38PM

It could be that they are wrapping up phase 3 trials ? Here's hoping. Strange to provide an update during phase 3 trials

hmmm · 13-10-2020 12:48PM

Sweet.Science wrote: »

It could be that they are wrapping up phase 3 trials ? Here's hoping. Strange to provide an update during phase 3 trials

I imagine there is no news at all, it will be general information on trial progress.

A quoted company like Astra Zeneca can't release very sensitive data in a random interview.

When the first data is available from the trial (good or bad), it will be released in a very tightly controlled and formal press release.

funnydoggy · 13-10-2020 03:06PM

We knew it anyway, but it's good to see in writing that we signed up to the EU advance purchase agreements for potential vaccines.

Gael23 · 13-10-2020 07:07PM

Did anyone join that Zoom call?

JTMan · 13-10-2020 07:37PM

Interesting to read about how various countries are preparing for the vaccines. WSJ report on Mexico here (paywall).

- President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said he hopes Mexico can start innoculating people in December “or in the first quarter of next year at the latest.”
- Mexico has advanced orders for 39 million units from AstraZeneca PLC, 17 million from Pfizer Inc. and 35 million from China’s CanSino Biologics Inc.
- Mexico will participate within days in the phase 3 clinical trials being carried out by CanSino.

13-10-2020 07:43PM

Gael23 wrote: »

Did anyone join that Zoom call?

I did. As Hmmm suggested it was just a general discussion on the trial. They talked about some of the potential challenges and potential outcomes of vaccination. Was very interesting and well worth a watch.

As for the million dollar question regarding a timeframe. Nothing new I'm afraid.

Santy2015 · 13-10-2020 08:04PM

Few articles going about at the moment. All positives to me anyway..
https://twitter.com/14wombat1/status/1316076015924412417?s=21
https://twitter.com/marykapadia/status/1316076554326339584?s=21

MerlinSouthDub · 13-10-2020 08:10PM

I see that Eli Lilly have paused the trial of their antibody treatment, due to a safety concern.

Santy2015 · 13-10-2020 08:19PM

MerlinSouthDub wrote: »

I see that Eli Lilly have paused the trial of their antibody treatment, due to a safety concern.

Yeah saw that as well on CNN, Astra Zeneca still haven’t been allowed resume trials in the US either

moonage · 13-10-2020 09:10PM

The esimated completion of Phase 3 trials for AstraZeneca's vaccine is October 2022!

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04516746

Dr Malcolm Kendrick takes a look at the trial process and observes:

At this point I feel the need to point out that preventing deaths from COVID19 is not even a secondary end-point for this trial either. So, whatever else we will find out, we are not going to know if AZD1222 saves any lives. Or, to be technical, the trial is not sufficiently ‘powered’ to reach statistical significance for overall mortality.

https://drmalcolmkendrick.org/2020/10/10/a-sars-cov2-vaccine-dont-hold-your-breath/

13-10-2020 09:20PM

Hardyn wrote: »

I did. As Hmmm suggested it was just a general discussion on the trial. They talked about some of the potential challenges and potential outcomes of vaccination. Was very interesting and well worth a watch.

As for the million dollar question regarding a timeframe. Nothing new I'm afraid.

Just to add some details. Unfortunately I missed the start and a few bits throughout but I'll try to summarise as much of the key points as I can. Apologies if I missed anything:

He was blinded and had no knowledge of any data or a timeframe.
While the trial is on a shorter timescale than regular trials it does have many more participants eg. a trial would normally have roughly 2,500 participants over a number of years. They have over 30,000.
The vaccine will not end the pandemic overnight. Measures such as mask wearing/social distancing etc. will likely continue for some time.
Treatments will likely play as much as if not greater role than a vaccine.
Acknowledged the logistical issues of rolling out a vaccine. One thing he mentioned was a potential shortage of glass vials.
They are testing to see if the vaccine will prevent infection or just prevent disease. Participants are tested weekly for the presence of the virus.
Could not say how long immunity will last but said that their Ebola vaccine uses similar technology and lasts at least a year.
Trial stoppages are a part of the process. They are an opportunity to learn and are not regarded as a setback.
It isn't right to say one vaccine is any better or worse than another. Different vaccines will likely play different roles eg. one may be more suitable for the elderly.

Santy2015 · 13-10-2020 09:22PM

https://twitter.com/chochilinoradio/status/1316103144934309888?s=21

Gael23 · 13-10-2020 09:38PM

The last paragraph would put me off getting the vaccine. He says it won’t put us in a position where social distancing can be dropped. For me the point of getting a vaccine is so life returns to what it was before March , don’t see a point otherwise

13-10-2020 09:44PM

Gael23 wrote: »

The last paragraph would put me off getting the vaccine. He says it won’t put us in a position where social distancing can be dropped. For me the point of getting a vs vine is so life returns to fest it was before match, don’t see a point otherwise

It will. Just not immediately. There are 7 billion people in the world. Even if the vaccine was approved tomorrow it will take some time to vaccinate everybody and build up immunity in the population.

Gael23 · 13-10-2020 09:47PM

Hardyn wrote: »

It will. Just not immediately. There are 7 billion people in the world. Even if the vaccine was approved tomorrow it will take some time to vaccinate everybody and build up immunity in the population.

Are we talking months/years after a vaccine is produced? We can’t live like this for much longer

jackboy · 13-10-2020 09:47PM

Hardyn wrote: »

It will. Just not immediately. There are 7 billion people in the world. Even if the vaccine was approved tomorrow it will take some time to vaccinate everybody and build up immunity in the population.

Also, if it only lessens the severity of symptoms rather than preventing spread of infection then masks and social distancing will need to continue.

COVID-19: Vaccine/antidote and testing procedures Megathread [Mod Warning - Post #1]

Comments