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Original poster

What do you think life will be like if there's no vaccine or cure...

103 replies

Lou0808 · 30/06/2020 09:55

Just that really?

Will our lives be lived forever having to social distance? Always having to wear masks.
Will that just be our new normal?

I know my post is a bit gloomy, and I am trying to hold onto hope that there will eventually be a vaccine.

But seriously, what if there never is?

I was so looking forward to taking my DD to a family festival next year.
Holidays, swimming.

I hope one day we can do this but it makes me sad to think of al the things she could miss out on. 😕

OP posts:
IcedPurple · 30/06/2020 18:08

There was no vaccine to the 1918 flu pandemic

They didn't even know it was a virus rather than a bacteria for a long time.

Science has developed quite a bit in the century since then, however.

Cuddling57 · 30/06/2020 18:14

@IcedPurple I think the point was that life got back to normal even though there wasn't a vaccine. Thus life will get back to normal with it without a vaccine.

simonisnotme · 30/06/2020 18:18

even if a vaccine is developed , who will want it knowing it has only been tested for a relatively short amount of time
what the long term side effects could be is a lottery

PuzzledObserver · 30/06/2020 18:36

even if a vaccine is developed , who will want it

Me! As soon as. I would volunteer for the trial if eligible, but I’m not until they start recruiting the older cohort.

PuzzledObserver · 30/06/2020 18:48

Back to the OP - if there is no vaccine, I think the price of a return to something closer to what we know is much greater engagement with test and trace and willingness to comply with local lockdowns when they are needed.

We can eradicate the virus from large areas, allowing the people in those areas much greater freedom - as long as when cases do crop up, everyone cooperates immediately to suppress the outbreak ASAP. It will probably need a new version of SSP to compensate businesses so that they can continue to pay their employees who are asked to stay at home.

In those circumstances, those who are vulnerable may well choose to be more cautious and limit their contact with others. I will.

Roselilly36 · 30/06/2020 18:56

SD will still remain I expect & learn to co-exist as safely as possible with Covid risk & any other virus that comes along.

Sadly, I don’t think a vaccine will be found for some time, if ever, as much as I would like to be proved wrong.

FedUpAtHomeTroels · 30/06/2020 19:18

That said, if we never went back to handshakes and air kissing for example it would be no great loss!

Hell yes!!

Useruseruserusee · 30/06/2020 19:22

@simonisnotme

even if a vaccine is developed , who will want it knowing it has only been tested for a relatively short amount of time what the long term side effects could be is a lottery
Me too! I am more than comfortable with having a vaccine and would like my DC to have it too.
IcedPurple · 30/06/2020 19:28

even if a vaccine is developed , who will want it

Me and countless millions others.

raviolidreaming · 30/06/2020 19:41

even if a vaccine is developed , who will want it

I'm in the Oxford vaccine trial, but me if I find out I've had the control instead! It's not brand new out of the box - it's built up around existing vaccines and science.

FizzFan · 30/06/2020 20:03

even if a vaccine is developed , who will want it

I’ll have my sleeve rolled up and my arm out as near the front of the queue as I can get and so will my kids!

Cuddling57 · 30/06/2020 20:07

@raviolidreaming I'm jealous! I am unfortunately the wrong postcode for the vaccine trails.
You may have to start an 'Ask me anything' thread soon Grin
I too think they will be safe as mostly based on existing vaccines that are proven to be safe.
Good luck 👍

Original poster
Lou0808 · 30/06/2020 20:21

@simonisnotme

even if a vaccine is developed , who will want it knowing it has only been tested for a relatively short amount of time what the long term side effects could be is a lottery
If you watch the recent seminar with Sarah Gilbert, it hasn't just been developed.

The foundations of the vaccine is something they have worked on for a very long time.
It's just been altered to be effective with Covid.

OP posts:
tobee · 30/06/2020 20:44

Sorry you're feeling bad at the moment op. I'm having a bad day too (first time in a while). I'm hopeful for a vaccine (or several) and good treatment. But I'm also hopeful for speedy result tests that aren't cotton bud up your nose/down your throat. Believe there are saliva ones with quick results? What a difference that would make.

raviolidreaming · 30/06/2020 20:44

Cuddling57 I don't ask enough questions when I'm there because I'm always in a rush to get back to work - you'd be as well googling the questions🤣🤣

Deblou43 · 30/06/2020 20:50

There will be a treatment or vaccine Chris Whitty said and I believe him .... There are lots of existing drugs being trialled

Cusano34 · 30/06/2020 21:04

We’ve already found a treatment that helps a small percentage and that’s after only 4 months, I really hope there are more in the near future. I also think a vaccine will be available

PatienceVirtue · 30/06/2020 21:07

I'm on it too raviolidreaming! I can't understand how anyone would not want the vaccine - I'm desperate to have had the real thing rather than the meningitis-placebo even at this early stage of testing it.

It's such a joy being on the trial as everything is so well run, efficient, so expert. It's the antithesis of the government. Well, the swabbing is less joyous but worth it!

LuckyMarmiteLover · 30/06/2020 21:27

I think there will be a vaccine by the Autumn, Christmas at the latest. As I’m over 50 I will get an early dose of it.

StealthPolarBear · 30/06/2020 21:37

"I'm no expert - mind you neither is anyone here - other than the inevitable MNers whose 3rd cousin twice removed is 'high up in the NHS"
You've noticed too! They're always very senior. And it's usually the husband.

bluetongue · 30/06/2020 22:43

I don’t think having spot lockdowns indefinitely is a viable solution. The economic impact is just too great. For now, yes it makes sense but if there was no vaccine long term the only options are either to try for elimination, New Zealand style or just accept there will be more more illness and death and make sure the health system can deal with it.

Of course then you get the problem where different regions / countries go for different strategies. A bit like w have here in Australia at the moment where huge parts of Australia have effectively eliminated the virus while Melbourne is having an outbreak and is partially back under lockdown. It has created big tensions between states.

Forgone90 · 01/07/2020 00:03

How much is developing the first vaccine worth to our economy? Is it enough to claw Back what has been lost?

PuzzledObserver · 01/07/2020 08:59

If contact tracing works well enough, local lockdowns won’t be needed.

How well contact tracing works depends partly on how well it’s organised, and partly on public compliance.

When they first notice a rise in a local area, as well as contact tracing they should go in and test everyone. They did this in a little town in Italy and found 40% of those who tested positive were asymptomatic.

PuzzledObserver · 01/07/2020 09:00

How much is developing the first vaccine worth to our economy?

Astra Zeneca are going to supply the Oxford vaccine on a non-profit basis.

tobee · 01/07/2020 16:04

Judging by the way the US has just behaved with remdesivir it's worth quite a lot

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