Trump news conference, 4.30pm. I think he's found a vaccine...

[Helenj1977]

Did you hear that on BBC? How amazing would that be.

[HoldMyLobster]

This thread is pleasing in so many ways.

[Verite1]

I think there are a few vaccines where testing is expected to start this month or next. The problem is that it is the testing which takes the time and cannot be shortened. I have read that one concern is that there is always a potential that a vaccine could worsen rather than improve, which is why such rigorous testing is required.

[CoffeeHere]

[DGRossetti]

There are some early trials going on in China and in two locations in the US. Very early. They involve previously unexposed victims/volunteers being injected with the trial vaccine. There is then a wait. Then they are exposed to the virus. Then they are monitored. Then all this has to be peer-reviewed and replicated.

Which is how any vaccine gets made anyway ...

The problem is side-effects, contra-indications, and unforeseen interactions with the panoply of genetic variations that exist in humans. Which can't but help take years to be bottomed out. And even then some could be missed with devastating if not fatal results.

[titchy]

[Helenj1977]

He's still calling it the Chinese virus 😂

Maybe he's found the source.

[buttonmoonb4tea]

@DGRossetti 😂😂

[SubordinateThatClause]

Making vaccines great again

[AvocadoOwl]

Several vaccines have been found already. They still have to go through extensive and lengthy testing though.

[JesusInTheCabbageVan]

It's a beautiful vaccine.

[AvocadoOwl]

The idea of Trump doggedly pushing through an inadequately tested vaccine is quite scary actually and I'd think not beyond the realms of possibility.

[Forgone90]

Possible vaccine ready for the summer ready for mass production come autumn

[thepeopleversuswork]

Making vaccines great again...

Not holding my breath.

[Musicforsmorks]

Will it be an orange pill?

[Helenj1977]

Side effects could include orange skin, wispy hair and taking to yourself when you really shouldn't.

[TheLinerunner]

It will lead to small hands

[TheLinerunner]

And strange little mouths with foam and incoherence spewing out

[JesusInTheCabbageVan]

All wonderful, beautiful side effects. The best.

[Butterymuffin]

I read on Twitter than some company has tried using anti malarial drugs as treatment and results looked good. That might be more promising if there are drugs that don't have go through approval. I could even put up with the orange one taking the credit somehow.

[boatyardblues]

I was going to namecheck DGR but you are all making me laugh. Thank you!

[ChardonnaysPetDragon]

I read on Twitter than some company has tried using anti malarial drugs as treatment and results looked good

Sanofi in France have been using it successfully.

[RuffleCrow]

Your faith in The Donald is touching.

Even if he says 'he's' found a vaccine - wtf is going to believe him. If i stood up and said my cat had found a vaccine people would be more convinced.

[Helenj1977]

Maybe he's found the cure...

He just likes talking. It's the funniest thing to watch, it will make me laugh so I'm looking forward to that!

[Lunde]

I read in the Swedish press today that scientists at Erasmus Medical Centre in the Netherlands believe that they have identified an antibody against coronavirus that is possibly could be developed into a vaccine

[DGRossetti]

I read on Twitter than some company has tried using anti malarial drugs as treatment and results looked good

was "The Lancet" full ?

hydroxychloroquine

Quite aside from a deep deep scepticism about "just so" cures (or "cures") the nastiness in quinine should make it a least-preferred option. Although you might be able to distract the terminally dim by saying: Look ! Tonic water ! as a distraction whilst you hit the Andrex aisle.