The best vaccine news we could hope for

Dorsetcupcake61, unfortunately, we have set up the ideal conditions for regular pandemics.

We'll need to make drastic changes to prevent (otherwise inevitable) further ones. We'll have to, though, as it's just too costly not to.

So we have a re-order for 40 million shots from Pfizer.

Pfizer recently moved their production from Hampshire to Brussels - because of Brexit.

Let’s hope we get a deal which includes medicines, otherwise we are going to look a tad foolish.

Not that it would take much.

I will happily have the vaccine, but will have to wait a while, as care homes and front line staff are first, then 80’s then 75 then 70+.It’s great news though.

As others have said we are going to get more and more of these viruses. And then what?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-52775386

There's lots more on this subject on the Radio 4 podcasts.

lemongrove

I will happily have the vaccine, but will have to wait a while, as care homes and front line staff are first, then 80’s then 75 then 70+.It’s great news though.

Oh really ? I heard anyone over 70 living in the north of England and who regularly plays tennis would be first ?

I am so excited about the potential of this vaccine. As someone shielded and high risk, I am desperate to get my life back and to be able to visit my small grandchildren abroad.
I’m trying not to get too carried away but feel like calling my GP and ask to put myself on the waiting list !

Thanks Petra will have a look at that.

I will be delighted to have this vaccine as soon as possible. Perhaps the only thing really unknown about it is if there are any long-term effects. And at my age, that is really not an issue for me.
Can see some light at the end of that long tunnel, and hope we can really start to think about getting back to old normal within the next year or so. For this reason I do not think we should be giving this vaccine, yet, to children and young people.
There will, of course, be other vaccines, coming out also.
I am perplexed by the anti-vaxxers (not those on here who are just concerned about having something that is so quickly developed). But those idiots/nutters who have managed to convince themselves that it is all a plot by Bill Gates, etc).

So, my arm is ready and waiting - as soon as possible, please.

You know Franbern, when I started this thread I had exactly the same thought as you. That we would see all the people who love to say they're not taking it, too many risks etc. Thankfully, there appear to be fewer than I thought.

But there's still a fair number of newly minted epidemiology experts who love to tell us that the mutations will get us; what about the minks; oh, this is just the first one, the next pandemic will get us. I get most disappointed by people like you Esspee, I'm afraid. Happy to let the rest of us, who you delightfully refer to as guinea pigs , take the risks on you behalf. Well, I'm grateful to the tens of thousands of people who have already taken part in the clinical trials and think that referring to them as guinea pigs would be a disgusting thing to say. Esspee, you might want to think about joannapiano's relative who will not be able to take the vaccine and is relying on us to help make the world a safer place.

Let's focus instead on the fact that scientists have made huge discoveries in the last few months and have shown what the human race can do when it is required. So when the next novel disease comes along, we may have learnt a better way of dealing with it. I'm so tired of this mistaken idea that the vaccine has been rushed through. If that's what you think, then don't take the vaccine, if that's what makes you happy. The rest of us will use our brains and do the right thing.

It's good that things seem to be moving as regards a vaccine. But it sounds like it will be very complicated to roll out. Masses of very low refrigerated transport units required, unable to be kept in GP surgeries etc will make the logistics of it very difficult.

We also all need two doses so however many doses they say they have got will probably need to be halved.

It would help if we had a more responsible media but sadly many of the more popular outlets are just after headlines/click bait etc. If this means twisting or misinterpreting the truth, then so be it. If and when the first people are vaccinated, we know without doubt that the media will be looking for the first example of side effects regardless of truth.

I’m sorry to dampen the mood but I don’t believe a word of it. I understand it has to be kept at minus 75 degrees. How on earth are they going to manage that? Isn’t it solid in that state? When you unfreeze it how long is it viable in the doctor’s fridge? I also question the speed with which it has been developed. There is a long history of medicines being developed that, with time, have proven to be injurious to our health.
As I am a very cynical person I wonder if it’s all a huge placebo to keep people happy and to calm the stress that people are feeling worldwide. From the reactions so far on this thread it seems to be working.
Hopefully it will work but if it doesn’t then all the manufacturers have to say is that the virus mutated. After all they cannot cure the common cold after many years of trying.
I do not trust it be either efficacious or safe in use so I will continue my shielding and keep hoping.

I've just logged in again to tell Bluebellwould how misguided she is. I'm sorry to dampen the mood? No you're not sorry, or you wouldn't have written that post. Stop telling people fake news, gaslighting people and making things up. If you don't want the vaccine, fair enough, stay in your own little world. I'm sorry you're having to shield but the rest of us are going to get on with our lives.

Bluebellwould - you stay locked down, a prisoner in your own home, relying on others who are working to keep you supplied with everything you need to make your prisoner life comfortable.
You are welcome to do this, if it will make you feel safe and happy, and watch the majority of us return to our previous normal lives.

What fake news? Why am I ‘gaslighting’? What am I making up.
I have just put forward my own thoughts based on what I have read.
If the vaccine works and is safe I would be delighted. All of my children work in either hospitals or schools, I would be very thankful if they were safe.
Please feel free to abuse me for offering up my own thoughts.

I'm less than thrilled to realise I'll be amongst the first to try the vaccine.
I wouldn't mind being further back in the queue.

This article from September is just one example of the preparation and planning that has been going on into the logistics of the issues of the cold chain. I’m afraid Bluebelle that your lack of knowledge means you are in effect contributions very negatively towards this issue. You are also denigrating thousands and thousands of decent men and women involved in scientific research by even implicitly accusing them of being part of a mass conspiracy to mislead us all. I really am shocked
theconversation.com/keeping-coronavirus-vaccines-at-subzero-temperatures-during-distribution-will-be-hard-but-likely-key-to-ending-pandemic-146071

Bluebelle thoughts are not enough on this issue. I don’t believe for one minute that your thoughts for example on maintaining the cold chain have been informed by any reputable reading at all.

Exactly what I think, MisAdventure

And criticism is not abuse

If it is a placebo, it is one hell of an expensive one! Far cheaper to just let everyone catch the virus, treat them as cheaply as possible, if at all, and wait it out until those who are going to die are all dead, and those who have "natural immunity" to it, if such a thing exists, can then inherit the world.

It would also take the co-operation of the thousands of scientists all around the world, of many different nationalities and philosophies, who have been and still are applying their various knowledge and experience of epidemiology to working against the clock to find a successful way to immunise against CoVid19. Unless you are one of the Luddites who believe all science is fake and all scientists are evil conspirators, it must be obvious that there wouldn't have been that co-operation and dedication for a mere placebo.

Crossed posts, Suziewoozie on the abuse of science and scientists shown in the accusation that it is all a placebo.

Many people have died of this virus, despite heroic work by medical staff. If someone said that THEIR efforts were "all a huge placebo to keep people happy" they would be lynched. Why denigrate the work of people in other fields?

I understand the optimism surrounding a vaccine but we should remember soldiers returning from the Gulf War with terrible symptoms caused by Gulf War Syndrome - not all PTSD - but likely caused by vaccines rushed out to 'protect' them. I know a very well respected medical physician who says he wouldn't go near the Covid vaccine until he has seen documented evidence of its safety.

I tend to agree with you Bluebellwould. It sounds wonderful, but I think we should tread cautiously. It’s right to start with the oldest and most vulnerable, and work down, to better secure the herd immunity. I’m happy to wait for now, not because I want others to take the risk, I don’t, but I have no say in that. I just want to be more certain myself.

I’m not sure either. The phrase “ too good to be true”, has been in my head since hearing about it. We shouldn’t rush in. There can’t possibly have been enough safety checks. I’d rather stay semi isolated for now, as we have been.