Pfizer vaccine works!! 90% effective

[WindChimeTinkle]

Fucking brilliant news. I could cry.

How do they know it works?

@herecomesthsun

Can I ask out of genuine curiosity what is the risk, do you think, that would put you off?

They are still doing risk analysis, and that work won't finish for years

A general principle is that the vaccine must have a much lower risk to the patient than their being unvaccinated

I would take it, as the risks should be low,

there may be longer term undocumented risks, in which case I will be adding to scientific knowledge whilst helping life get back to normal for everyone. I am not a great risk taker in general

Is the vaccine in phase 3 trials already?

There's about 9 vaccines now in PhIII, the Pfizer and AZ(Oxford) vaccines are the furthest ahead.

@TheAdventuresoftheWishingChair yes this confuses me too. I get people have other things in their lives but this is so important to many aspects of all our lives. Maybe there is a bigger mistrust of vaccines than we think?

Maybe people are too exhausted by having their optimism extinguished by those who feel you owe them a full and detailed account of your hope so that they can rip it to shreds for their own pessimistic satisfaction?

Who discovered this vaccine, I mean which country? Just interested.
I just want my parents (79 and 80) to get it so I can see them again. I feel very tearful with this possibility.

I had that today already, lots of poured scorn re the refrigeration of the vaccine and the government’s incompetence. I suppose I’m thrilled science if offering a way out of social distancing - even if it takes a while. Plus it’ll be good to work again as my career has gone to crap!

@Izzysays

Is the vaccine in phase 3 trials already?

Yes, it's coming out of phase 3 , they have started to "unblind" the data and do the analysis on effectiveness and any other potential risks. Major risks should already have been picked up , when anything major happens ( eg death or hospitalisation ) the trial would have stopped for a fuller investigation

I have such mixed feelings. Very happy that normality, for the UK at least, is on the horizon. But I feel a bit sick knowing that many countries can't afford it, including where some of my family lives.

This is great great news! One already coming out of phase 3, and others following closely
I am very very happy about this, even if I will not be getting it. At least NHS and other priority sectors will, either this one or one of the others!
I would not worry mich about the -80C for UK at least. It may mean that we have to go to a hospital or vaccination centre, instead of bringing the vaccine to GPs or schools.
Also thanks a lot for the science links.
I am not expert, but if this vaccine builds immunity to the RNA of the virus instead of the external capsule of the virus, this should last for a long long long time! Even if the virus changes its spikes yearly.

@RuthW
'You all seem very keen to have it. Are you all from the very vulnerable group'

You do realise it isn't just about us though? I want it in a heartbeat. I won't be offered it, at least not initially, but it is really important that those who can, do.

Can't stand all the negativity. This is great news.

I would have it too! Tomorrow if I could! My daughter too!

Definitely reason to celebrate.
We KNOW that this isn’t the magical panacea or the ‘silver bullet’ - the cynics keep reminding us.

But I’ll be fucked if this isn’t something to feel happy about.

@herecomesthsun

Can I ask out of genuine curiosity what is the risk, do you think, that would put you off?

Yes. I have extreme reactions to drugs, to the extent that they've had to be added onto the drug info, I've been hospitalized with some, psychosis from others, all sorts of very bad and more than once life threatening reactions. The upshot is, I'm not allowed to have new medications for the chronic illnesses I have due to the fact that I never react the way others do, and so I definitely wouldn't be having a new vaccine. I'm not anti vax or anything but for me personally I think the risk is too great for anything that's new. It does have a massive impact on my life though - because I'm now looking at multiple major surgeries simply because I can't use most drugs for my conditions.

No I'm not in the very vulnerable group
I am strongly socially minded though

@Ethelfleda

Definitely reason to celebrate. We KNOW that this isn’t the magical panacea or the ‘silver bullet’ - the cynics keep reminding us.

But I’ll be fucked if this isn’t something to feel happy about.

I dunno, a vaccine that's safe and over 90% effective is about as silver as bullets get. But I do look forward to being Eeyored at for being happy about it on here. "My DH's aunt's dogsitter's dad works in pharma and he says that the vaccine won't actually fix anything, I'm afraid. Sorry."

I work for a logistics company who has been engaged in trying to contribute towards the logistical issues. There are experts at supply chain solution design who are experts at fixing this kind of issue. Many of them will already have plenty of experience in pharma supply chains. They will solve it:

It sounds very hopeful. It's been a good week - the world is hopefully changing for the better ♥️

I'm a teacher and I'd love it as soon as possible. I hope people in education settings are offered it fairly early on; I've had to SI twice since Sep due to two separate positives in our bubble and had to SI myself again due to waiting on test results. It would be great to know I can go into work and have less worry about the education of the kids in my class being impacted so often and just get on with my job. Otherwise, as a healthy 30-something I'm a long way down the list.

@PurBal

I have such mixed feelings. Very happy that normality, for the UK at least, is on the horizon. But I feel a bit sick knowing that many countries can't afford it, including where some of my family lives.

@PurBal rich countries are buying it for poorer countries

Today is a good day. For the first time in months I'm actually feeling a teeny bit optimistic about the future. The naysayers aren't going to burst my bubble today!

I'm thrilled. I know it's not a silver bullet, yada yada alas. But it's great, hopeful news. I'm ECV and will have it like that.

What do people mean when they say it’s not a silver bullet?

Won’t the vaccine make things go back to normal?

@Izzysays

What do people mean when they say it’s not a silver bullet?

Won’t the vaccine make things go back to normal?

Ultimately it could but there are still lots of what ifs that could go well or badly. For a start if it doesn’t last very long we won’t be able to repeatedly vaccinate enough people to get back to normal. We are aiming to vaccinate 50% of our population but that is a huge undertaking especially since this particular vaccine needs to be stored at extremely low temperatures so cannot simply be distributed to gp surgeries.

@Izzysays

What do people mean when they say it’s not a silver bullet?

Won’t the vaccine make things go back to normal?

It’s not guaranteed that it will let things get back to normal, no, and if it dies then not for a long time. It may not be as effective as they’re predicting, And it won’t be able to be rolled out to the whole population soon (not enough made, other countries need it too). We will need a combination of things to get us back to normal. It’s a huge help though so definitely something to get excited about it it works!