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Original poster

Is a vaccine imminent?

151 replies

Forgetmenot157 · 07/10/2020 23:36

Last few days there are lots of stories about a vaccine being ready to go by November. Stories about huge vaccination stations with doctors, vets, dentists etc ready to give out the vaccine, and even the head of the Who suggesting it will be ready to go in a few weeks....

Do they know More than they are letting on? At the moment I couldn't care less if it won't be the most effective vaccine long as it means a quicker return to normality. Plus I think people being able to see the finish line will motivate most for one last push to surpress the virus befor enough are vaccinated.

OP posts:
Sunflowers247 · 08/10/2020 07:34

May also mean that vulnerable can spend Christmas with families as long as they are vaccinated which would be a massive boost.

Sadly that won't be possible. Even if a vaccine is approved next year, it will take a year or so to roll out...

meditrina · 08/10/2020 07:41

Even an incompetent government can work out that administering a brand new jab to the entire country will present a logistic challenge.

Does anyone know if this is being handled as a whole UK programme, by each home nation, or via the postcode lottery of all other NHS provision?

And will the entire national supply be requisitioned for government use via NHS, or will private supplies be permitted from the outset? (ie allow the rich to leapfrog the most vulnerable and key workers)

jasjas1973 · 08/10/2020 07:54

No, mass vaccination wont happen with a vaccine that hasn't gone through rigorous trials & they last for years

Even the Chinese, who probably had a big head start on the West, have not rolled out their vaccine to the general population.

Chickenandrice · 08/10/2020 07:56

I get that impression too OP. I actually thought Nicola sturgeon hinted at it in her speech the other day

WankPuffins · 08/10/2020 10:21

@Remmy123

There is a vaccine already but which company wants to be the first to roll this out and get potentially sued years down the line when people get side effects as it's been rushed?? These things usually take years not months.
@Remmy123 you won’t be able to sue for any side effects. I don’t have time to find the many links, but Have a look.

I’d tell you my opinion on it all being dodgy as fuck, but I’d be chased away with pitchforks as a conspiracy theorist.

Dissimilitude · 08/10/2020 10:26

The next twist in the Covid saga will be when we all learn that the vaccines are less effective than we hoped - less like measles vaccines, more like flu. Partially effective, and temporary immunity. That’s my guess.

cathyandclare · 08/10/2020 10:27

@Pachonga

USA situation: According to Dr Fauci, barring anything disasterous happening, there will be vaccines available in November /December. They’re already being produced and stored in their millions and will be ready to go as soon as they get the OK from the FDA and will be distributed among the highest risk groups first (healthcare workers and the elderly) but he reckons everyone will be done within several months. The plans for delivery have already been delivered to the individual states, who will be responsible for the distribution. There will be two jabs -one inital shot and a booster 28 days later.

No reason why the UK isn’t in a similar position.

The UK is in a similar position. But like the US it depends on the results of the Phase 3 clinical trials. I think 75 of the people who have had the vaccine or placebo need to get the infection for preliminary results ( and possible early licence) and 150 for final results. the trials are still blinded so efficacy is still not clear with the Oxford or US vaccines.
Powerof4 · 08/10/2020 11:18

I think the timing of the news stories on vaccines by Christmas look to me like a carrot to help us get through the tightening of the restrictions now. It might also be true, which would be great!

Char2015 · 08/10/2020 11:22

It looks like it. I work for a large NHS trust, and much preparation is now underway. Seems like they had word of this last week. It's looking very positive here.

lughnasadh · 08/10/2020 11:26

They can't even get adequate supplies of the flu vaccine out this year.

I wouldn't hold my breath.

kittensarecute · 08/10/2020 11:32

Oh my gosh, please let this be true, please please please 🙏

Imicola · 08/10/2020 11:32

I think a vaccine will probably be available by the end of the year, but not necessarily one that would enable herd immunity...I.e. it might be protective, but not confer absolute (or near absolute) immunity. I doubt they know for certain when it will be available to use, but they clearly need to be ready to vaccinate with it when the results are in. So the vaccines are being mass produced, and the government will be sorting logistics etc for it. In terms of roll out they will have a priority list, or several options, and the general population (with no risk factors) may be at the bottom of the list, or may even not be on the list, depending on the vaccine that becomes available and how effective it is. I guess there could be vaccines that might be worth using for those with high levels of exposure such as health workers, but not for others.

SmilingAloe · 08/10/2020 11:33

@Char2015 Thankyou! That is great to hear. Why so many people don’t seem to want to believe a vaccine could be imminent I don’t quite understand. Nor do I understand those who won’t have it. It will have been subject to high levels of scrutiny and have undergone the same trials as other vaccines. I will be there with my sleeve rolled up ready to go when it is available to me.

movingonup20 · 08/10/2020 11:40

Exh's friend - a dr at the hospital but not a covid related specialty - told him all advanced leave is being refused after 1st November because they have been told to provide hcp to a centralised immunisation centre and to be sent to care homes. It's likely to slip I would add, it's that they are on standby. It's a case of it's nearly ready but we can't predict exactly when it will be released

ramblingsonthego · 08/10/2020 11:44

My other half has this morning gone for his assessment to be part of a trial for the USA vaccine. They are recruiting 10,000 for this. I think we are a lot closer to a vaccine.

movingonup20 · 08/10/2020 11:45

As for the Oxford vaccine, it's not likely to be effective like childhood vaccines, it's likely to be a case of needing two different vaccines for full immunity and it won't last long

IcedPurple · 08/10/2020 11:50

No, mass vaccination wont happen with a vaccine that hasn't gone through rigorous trials & they last for years

In normal circumstances yes, but these are not normal circumstances.

It's highly likely one if not several vaccines will be available quite soon.

IcedPurple · 08/10/2020 11:51

[quote SmilingAloe]@Char2015 Thankyou! That is great to hear. Why so many people don’t seem to want to believe a vaccine could be imminent I don’t quite understand. Nor do I understand those who won’t have it. It will have been subject to high levels of scrutiny and have undergone the same trials as other vaccines. I will be there with my sleeve rolled up ready to go when it is available to me.[/quote]
Because some people here absolutely love all the doom and drama. That's been clear for several months on MN.

mollypuss1 · 08/10/2020 11:59

@ramblingsonthego

My other half has this morning gone for his assessment to be part of a trial for the USA vaccine. They are recruiting 10,000 for this. I think we are a lot closer to a vaccine.
Is it the Novavax one? I got that last week (or a placebo).
Oly4 · 08/10/2020 12:05

I am reasonably close to this (think Govt/NHS) and yes, the hope is that a vaccine (hopefully Oxford) will be approved by Christmas/early next year. US moving a bit quicker.
Massive preparations as noted up thread for the NHS to roll it out.
And for those saying it’s rushed and not tested, do your research. Work out why it’s been rushed - billions of pounds of investment globally/doses already being manufactured just in case it works/firms and regulators working round the clock to make it happen.
Hancock has distanced himself from the comments noted above from Kate Bingham that only half of people will get the jab. The JCVI sets the priorities, not the vaccine taskforce

ramblingsonthego · 08/10/2020 12:07

@mollypuss1

Yes it is. They are recruiting locally. I also applied but haven't heard anything back locally so we shall see. I did apply a few days later than my husband so they may get round to me.

Austereorange · 08/10/2020 12:14

There are two vaccines in the U.K. which will be used. One from Oxford and one from Keele.

My DS works at keele for the biologistics company so this is first hand information.

They have names the vaccines Triumph and Ambush!

BBC leaked report on it last week also which gives more detail as to the rollout.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-54375643

Ellsbells12 · 08/10/2020 12:21

@Char2015

It looks like it. I work for a large NHS trust, and much preparation is now underway. Seems like they had word of this last week. It's looking very positive here.
I could hug you I need some positivity I don't care about me but the vulnerable
mollypuss1 · 08/10/2020 12:23

[quote ramblingsonthego]@mollypuss1

Yes it is. They are recruiting locally. I also applied but haven't heard anything back locally so we shall see. I did apply a few days later than my husband so they may get round to me.[/quote]
My DH applied at the same time as me but he didn’t hear back til a few days after me, got a call on Monday and he was in on Tuesday. He failed the screening though due to underlying health conditions which he’s gutted about. Fingers crossed you hear soon.

Oh, and you get a free shatter proof ruler!!! Grin

Ellsbells12 · 08/10/2020 12:23

[quote Austereorange]There are two vaccines in the U.K. which will be used. One from Oxford and one from Keele.

My DS works at keele for the biologistics company so this is first hand information.

They have names the vaccines Triumph and Ambush!

BBC leaked report on it last week also which gives more detail as to the rollout.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-54375643[/quote]
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