What if we can’t find a successful vaccine?

[LegoBloodyHurts]

Does it concern anyone else the possibility we may not be able to find a successful vaccine for this?

It’s a scary prospect, but not entirely unreasonable, given we still haven’t cured some other viruses with years of research.

[SansaSnark]

Malaria isn't really a fair comparison either. Malaria is a protist with a very complex lifecycle, which means single antigen immunity which works for most viruses doesn't work for malaria at all.

We have a lot of expertise in developing vaccines for viruses, and it's very early in the day to start worrying about what happens if we can't develop one OR find any sort of effective treatment.

But I suppose if we don't manage to find one, and we don't get long term immunity, then we will find a way forward.

I think for a lot of younger people, life will go back to being close to normal, but large gatherings will probably become a lot rarer- we may never go back to the days of massive stadium pop concerts, for example.

Mask wearing in public will become the norm.

For some people, with long term illnesses, life will change a huge amount, unless they are willing to take the risk of catching the virus- for some, it may have to be a trade off.

Life expectancy will probably go down. Older people may have much more limited lives.

I think schools and the NHS will be changed forever.

[ListeningQuietly]

If you really think that a slight risk of infection will stop young people going to sporting and music and arts events
you are deluded
The risk to those under 30 is minimal

And the idea that a mass vaccination campaign will go smoothly
is deluded as well

[Meredithgrey1]

If you really think that a slight risk of infection will stop young people going to sporting and music and arts events you are deluded

I imagine the PP who said massive stadium concerts may not happen meant that they wouldn't be allowed to happen, not that no one would buy tickets if they were going ahead.

[AbsolomChautney]

I find it so weird that we have really little idea of who has already built up antibodies to this. Why isn’t there more random testing across the wider population? Surely if we had a good idea of the population percentage who’ve already been exposed, then we know better how to move forward. It could be that we’re already looking at a 20% infection rate across the whole country.

[WhenYouveAFirstInEnglish]

We haven’t got an antibody test yet.

[Random18]

DS has had Scarlet Fever twice. Both cases mild although last time he did need a 2nd lot of antibiotics. But even then he wasn't very ill, just his tonsils a mess.

If he had got that 100 years previously outcome may have been different.

If we don't get a vaccine I guess we will just learn to live with it.

Even if you don't have immunity it may be that your symptoms are generally milder on subsequent infections.

Or we'll learn how best to not catch it, we'll wear masks, wash our hands all the time, be a lot more careful when we have contact with others. We will probably all take lots of Vit d.

And HCP will learn the best way to treat it.

[AbsolomChautney]

No I appreciate that but even if we were doing sample testing in the way that countries like Iceland are then we’d be able to extrapolate data on infection rate (I know, much smaller population. Still)

[Sunshinegirl82]

I’m not entirely sure it’s deluded to think it would be possible to vaccinate those people who are normally entitled to an annual flu vaccine in under 10 years once a vaccine is approved and being mass produced. The entire population is obviously a much bigger undertaking. It wouldn’t be straightforward but I’m sure it would be possible.

[derenstar]

I don’t think we’ll get a vaccine anytime
soon; my understanding is flu viruses are notoriously difficult to develop vaccines for. I’m think it’s far more probable that we find an effective treatment than a vaccine.

[GrumpyHoonMain]

There will definitely be a vaccine. A lot of money has been pumped into developing one fast. Remember the Ebola vaccine was developed in months (despite the illness running rampant in Africa for decades) as soon as it started to risk wealthy / western nations.

[Sunshinegirl82]

We are doing antibody sample testing as I understand it. A lab based test exists but not a home test that can be widely distributed.

[Sunshinegirl82]

This isn’t a flu virus and we can and do develop vaccines for flu.

[titchy]

You only need 65% of the population to be vaxxed dont forget.... so it doesn't really matter if some communities don't get it.

[ListeningQuietly]

so it doesn't really matter if some communities don't get it.
which communities do you propose not getting it ?

[Frompcat]

my understanding is flu viruses are notoriously difficult to develop vaccines for

How is that relevant, given this isn't a flu virus?

How is it that the general public know so little?!?! No wonder swathes of completely inaccurate information are touted on this board as fact.

[Frompcat]

which communities do you propose not getting it ?

Presumably the ones who choose not to take up the vaccination.

[titchy]

I wasn't proposing any communities are singled out

Just commenting on some posts that have said you can't force people to have it therefore you can't get the entire world immunised, whereas actually you don't need the entire world immunised to eradicate C19.