What do the anti vaxxers think is actually being put in the vaccines?

[eenymeenyminyme]

Serious question

How can you know the percentage risk of a vaccine that hasn't even been developed yet? That's the point - they might no the extent of potential side effects at the point when they start wide spread vaccination.

I never claimed to know the risk of a COVID-19 vaccine specifically; I was talking in broader terms. In the absence of that data, it's reasonable to assume any vaccines that pass testing to the point of being rolled out will carry a comparable level of risk.

It's reasonable to assume that any vaccines subject to the standard safety tests will carry comparable risk.

I'm not sure it's possible to assume that vaccines developed without all of the standard testing can be assumed to have comparable risks.

I'm not aware of any standard safety tests that are being skipped? My understanding is that vaccine development is being sped up by:

• Drawing upon existing vaccines that have already been licensed and proved to be safe

• Testing the safety of the vaccine on animals, but not using animals to test the effectiveness, as would usually be the case

• Testing on animals and humans in parallel, when this would usually be done sequentially

I think they wanted to manufacture the Oxford vaccine before the end of the trials so that if it works there is no delay in getting the first batches to people.

I would imagine that Oxford university has a reputation to uphold and they will be following the procedures. Even if they are sped up.

They can dispose of it if it does not pass the human trials. Which are starting in Southampton and Oxford over the next couple of weeks.

People are welcome not to get vaccinated as long as they continue to shield to protect the general population not just themselves.

Has anyone seen contagion?

Yes I am aware it is a dramatised Hollywood film but most of the dramatisation was speeding up the sequence and worldwide effects of the virus, not changing the science behind it. Plus it was years in the making and many experts were consulted to get it as close to accurate as possible.

At the end of the film, once a vaccine is developed and begins to be doled out, people get 'tagged' when they receive the vaccine (in this case with a wristband) to show that they have immunity and are able to go back to going out into the world and interacting with society. I truly hope something similar happens for COVID at the start, people have to prove they are immune (through vaccination or antibodies) in order to use public services and be able to stop social distancing. This allows those who are sceptical and don't want to get vaccinated to do so without putting the rest of us at risk.

Obviously people who have a genuine medical exemption to being vaccinated shouldn't be ostracised from society but those who merely don't want to be vaccinated shouldn't benefit from herd immunity and put others at risk just because they don't want it.

I truly hope something similar happens for COVID at the start, people have to prove they are immune (through vaccination or antibodies) in order to use public services and be able to stop social distancing.

I agree - rights and responsibilities go hand in hand. Sadly, this crisis has shown just how selfish many people are though. Vaccines aren't the only example - I'm shocked at how much resistance there is to the mere concept of a contact-tracing mobile app (heaven forbid the government know where you do your grocery shopping - keeping that private is far more important than saving lives!)

At the end of the film, once a vaccine is developed and begins to be doled out, people get 'tagged' when they receive the vaccine (in this case with a wristband) to show that they have immunity

That would be fine but as yet we don't know what level of immunity someone gets after having the virus - is it short-lived or does it last for years? What about new strains, how often will they develop and will a new or modified vaccine be required? As usual, nothing is black and white - proving one is immune might not be as straight-forward as we hope.