I think it’s going to get worse...

[Silverthorny]

...I don’t want to be doom and gloom, but I think the virus will mutate to evade the vaccine - and potentially become more deadly. I think we will face a third wave.

@Silverthorny

...I don’t want to be doom and gloom, but I think the virus will mutate to evade the vaccine - and potentially become more deadly. I think we will face a third wave.

Happy days ;) The experts say the virus will mutate, that's what they do. Worst case scenario is if one pops up that is effective at hiding itself from immunity then the vaccines will be tweaked. That would mean another full or partial lockdown to give them time to manufacture it.

The hard work has been done, the vaccine's should be good to deal with most mutations currently. As long as they don't rush opening up or ignore rising infection levels then we'll be ok. Next autumn/winter will probably be a testing time but it won't be as bad as 2020. :)

bored insects used to be much much bigger in prehistoric times - more oxygen about so they could manage to be heavier, or something

higher CO2 levels are good for something

@Silverthorny

...I don’t want to be doom and gloom, but I think the virus will mutate to evade the vaccine - and potentially become more deadly. I think we will face a third wave.

Scaremongering isn't helping at all. Do clear off with your stupid thinking, based on absolutely nothing.

It is always possible that Covid19 might mutate to have side-effects like:

• your BMI naturally resistant to over/under eating
• killing cancer cells
• reversing high-blood pressure
• preventing heart-disease
• protecting us from other viruses (can anyone remember their last cold?)
• making hair and skin 20 years younger

Anything could happen in the future. :)

Of course I’m not a virologist, although I do have a degree in Biology. I was accused of being paranoid last summer when I thought a second wave would come. I do read widely about it. A lot of my friends, family have a science background and they do feel the same I’m afraid. Germany is what has worried me today.

@Silverthorny

...I don’t want to be doom and gloom, but I think the virus will mutate to evade the vaccine - and potentially become more deadly. I think we will face a third wave.

Well, look on the bright side of life OP, at least you'll know what you are going to die of.

We are all doomed

A lot of my friends, family have a science background and they do feel the same I’m afraid.

GCSE science doesn't count!

I’m not sure simply vaccinating our country well is going to conquer all when it’s a worldwide problem - with variants popping up all the time. I do believe it will eventually die down, but I think it’s going to blast against our vaccine attempts. And we have Covid fatigue, which allows it to get us by the balls.

The difference between and now and last year is that we now have VACCINES, do you not watch the news OP?

I was very pessimistic last year too. but I have had Covid, and one dose of a vaccine and am feeling optimistic now, the rates in UK are falling not just due to lockdown but due to the vaccine.

AND the vaccines are shown to work against the variants

@PhilCornwall1 no! One has Cambridge Degree, my partner Physics degree, me Biology, sister Maths/Physics.

Sorry - I have a child climbing over me...

Even if the virus mutates, I would bet 5p on it becoming less deadly. Because less deadly viruses spread more, it is an evolutionary advantage not to kill your host unless they are very weak.

But I am not an epidemiologist hence the 5p bet.

But why don't we look at reality as it is today: cases going down. Vaccines having positive effect. Inflation, unemployment, lost generation, mental health issues. And soon we will be able to have a cup of tea with friends!

Work against variants....so far, but they were desperate to find the Brazil carrier...

It's the "i'm afraid" for me...

Germany haven't vaccinated anywhere near as many people as we have, or % of population. There you go, solved your worry for you 👌

[quote Waxonwaxoff0]@LucilleTheVampireBat never![/quote]

I'm not saying you can't be part of our group, just don't expect to be Negan's right-hand woman, that's all.

So Germany today...

Germany has not vaccinated anywhere near as many people as we have. Better to look at Israel who are leading with the vaccination programme.

All the scientists I follow on Twitter are very hopeful about the vaccines. The virus does mutate, but often in the same way which suggests there are limits to how far it can mutate. T-cell immunity in the real world seems to be working better against the variants than lab data suggested based on antibodies alone.

We're not out of the woods yet, but things are looking hopeful.

That’s what worries me! Partly vaccinated Germany, start of third wave - opportunity for mutations to evade it...

Hurrah!

I think what you are really worried about OP, is life going back to normality, this pandemic has been the gift that keeps on giving for people who revel in the misery of it all, but we are on the home straight now so you are going to have to find something else to be miserable about. People who say they don’t want to be doom and gloom really, really do!

@ZaraCarmichaelshighheels - I know I’m moaning on here, but I’m strangely not miserable. I do want a better future for my children, and I do want to think long term.