Are vaccines the light at the end of the tunnel?

[TeeRick]

There was a news story at least in the financial press on the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines causing "serious" side effects.  But in reality the side effects were fever and chills in a few patients, resolved within 24 hours.  By any definition these are not serious adverse events and would not pause a vaccine trial.

 

https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/10/05/report-moderna-and-pfizer-vaccine-trial-participan/

 

On a good news front, Pfizer has already started the EMEA (europe) submission and approval process for the review and approval of their COVID vaccine.

https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/biontech-pfizer-start-rolling-ema-approval-filing-for-covid-19-vaccine

Edited October 6, 2020 by TeeRick

[TeeRick]

19 hours ago, Doris&Nereus said:

Hi, Pres. Trump is taking the monoclonal antibodies from Regeneron. Dr. Peyer Hotez who is an expert on Vaccines and coronavirus from Baylor college in Houston was on CNN today, and he said that monoclonal antibodies may have saved Trump's life. And that they are the most powerful meds we have. He didn't mention that they are still being studied.

Yes you keep bringing up mAB's on this thread about vaccines.  And you have received a number of responses previously so I will not repeat them here.  Folks interested can go back and look at them.  

[TeeRick]

13 hours ago, mimbecky said:

 

This got me to thinking.  I volunteer weekly both at Navy/Marine Corps Relief Society as well as the USO (currently one employs  a walk up window and the other is currently serving outside).  I wonder if that would be somehow considered in the prioritizing, or if because it is voluntary and my choice, it would not. I am not yet 65 and have no underlying so figured I would be dead (oops, let's hope not) last.

M

Perhaps-  Who really knows at this point what the rules will be?  Maybe volunteers like yourself and at hospitals will be included in those programs when available.  Makes sense to me anyway!

[TeeRick]

News today that Moderna is slowing its Phase III trial because it is having a difficult time recruiting minority volunteers.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-vaccine-moderna-ex-idUSKBN26R1SP

[TeeRick]

I found this story very informative from a person who volunteered for the Moderna vaccine trial.  A short read if interested.

I am hoping that others will come forward as well to remove the fear and hesitancy out there of getting a COVID vaccine.

https://www.businessinsider.com/i-volunteered-moderna-covid-19-vaccine-trial-antibodies-2020-10

Edited October 8, 2020 by TeeRick

[mimbecky]

Another article regarding live vaccines (BCG, measles and some flu) and COVID

 

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/10/08/917831035/could-the-live-flu-vaccine-help-you-fight-off-covid-19

[ABoatNerd]

I thank all you very knowledgeable posters for posting.

This is one of my key spots to go to learn more about this virus.

The amount of knowledge you have is amazing. Thank you for your service in the health related field and taking the time to post here to help us non medical people learn more.

Regards,

[dreaminofcruisin]

More for those who continue to look for sources of information:

Webinar:

The Review Process for Vaccines to Prevent COVID 19:  A Discussion

Michael T. Osterholm, PhD, MPH, Regents Professor, University of Minnesota, Director CIDRAP (Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy)

Stephen M. Hahn, MD Commissioner; US Food and Drug Administration

Margaret A. Hamburg, MD, Former Comminssioner; US Food and Drug Administration
The link is on the page below---scroll down a bit ---couldn't paste it as I got a note that you tube links cannot be pasted or something like that.....

https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/

 

Dr. Osterholm also has a weekly Podcast regarding various topics related to Covid-19:

This week’s episode:

https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/podcasts-webinars/episode-27

 

[TeeRick]

15 hours ago, dreaminofcruisin said:

More for those who continue to look for sources of information:

Webinar:

The Review Process for Vaccines to Prevent COVID 19:  A Discussion

Michael T. Osterholm, PhD, MPH, Regents Professor, University of Minnesota, Director CIDRAP (Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy)

Stephen M. Hahn, MD Commissioner; US Food and Drug Administration

Margaret A. Hamburg, MD, Former Comminssioner; US Food and Drug Administration
The link is on the page below---scroll down a bit ---couldn't paste it as I got a note that you tube links cannot be pasted or something like that.....

https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/

 

Dr. Osterholm also has a weekly Podcast regarding various topics related to Covid-19:

This week’s episode:

https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/podcasts-webinars/episode-27

 

Thanks very much for posting this information here.

[TeeRick]

Johns Hopkins / U Washington  COVID vaccine symposium this week addressed the progress of the vaccine efforts and focused on the integrity of the efforts and of the regulatory and approval process.  For those of you scientists and science geeks here who want to hear directly from the world experts including Fauci and Corey and Slaoui and others.  But it is 3 hours!  But see below.

https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/live/events/covid-19-vaccine-symposium

 

Many well known ID and Vaccine Scientists offered their rather positive take on these efforts and good news it was summarized in the journal Science this week.  Most are stressing to forget about political statements and posturing and just trust the science.

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/10/calm-down-about-political-mischief-around-covid-19-vaccines-scientists-say

Edited October 10, 2020 by TeeRick

[Shadow9612]

13 hours ago, TeeRick said:

just trust the science

Words to live by.....

 

Thank you @TeeRick for all of your great posts.

[K.T.B.]

2 hours ago, Shadow9612 said:

Words to live by.....

 

Thank you @TeeRick for all of your great posts.

 

 I second BOTH comments!

[TeeRick]

So the news now is that J&J put their "one shot" vaccine trial on temporary pause as their independent medical board sorts out an adverse event report.  Much of the media reports that the trial is on hold.  But it is paused which is built into the protocol.  Here is an accurate account (IMO) of what is happening from NPR.  It also discussed an issue with the therapeutic mAB/remdesivir combination study (Lily).   Of interest the Russian "approved" Sputnik vaccine uses the same human ad-vector approach as J&J.  We might not know if they are seeing any adverse events.

 

https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/10/13/923225994/johnson-johnson-vaccine-trial-paused-due-to-unexplained-illness-in-participant

[TeeRick]

Facebook/Instagram bans ads from anti-vaxxers!

 

https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/10/13/923331982/facebook-bans-ads-discouraging-vaccines-in-latest-misinformation-crackdown

[nocl]

2 hours ago, TeeRick said:

Facebook/Instagram bans ads from anti-vaxxers!

 

https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/10/13/923331982/facebook-bans-ads-discouraging-vaccines-in-latest-misinformation-crackdown

As much as I disagree with the anti-vaxxers and as much as I think that social media has been a main contributor to the growth of extreme views (prior to social media someone with extreme views was an outlier in the norms of their community and somewhat moderated, today with social media those can find people online with similar views, reinforcing those views) the limitation of speech, no matter how much one disagrees with it, is a very slippery slope.

[mimbecky]

I have read about a few cases of reinfection where the second infection is much worse than the first opening the "hypothesis of a mechanism known as antibody dependent enhancement—that is, when antibodies actually make subsequent infections worse".  I know that has been a concern with a vaccine from the get go.  Thoughts?

 

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-10-covid-reinfection-virus-immunity.html

[K.T.B.]

6 hours ago, nocl said:

As much as I disagree with the anti-vaxxers and as much as I think that social media has been a main contributor to the growth of extreme views (prior to social media someone with extreme views was an outlier in the norms of their community and somewhat moderated, today with social media those can find people online with similar views, reinforcing those views) the limitation of speech, no matter how much one disagrees with it, is a very slippery slope.

 

Agreed about free speech, but these are advertisements, which are somewhat less protected.  if it's determined that these ads are "deceptive", then they should be banned.

[nocl]

7 minutes ago, K.T.B. said:

 

Agreed about free speech, but these are advertisements, which are somewhat less protected.  if it's determined that these ads are "deceptive", then they should be banned.

under that criteria most ads could be banned.

[nocl]

1 hour ago, mimbecky said:

I have read about a few cases of reinfection where the second infection is much worse than the first opening the "hypothesis of a mechanism known as antibody dependent enhancement—that is, when antibodies actually make subsequent infections worse".  I know that has been a concern with a vaccine from the get go.  Thoughts?

 

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-10-covid-reinfection-virus-immunity.html

while ADE has occured with some other corona viruses, the number of reinfection so far has been pretty small, some milder, some more serious. The one case of death after reinfection  was a special case with the person being treated for cancer.

 

the best example of ADE is with Dengue fever where if someone gets infected with one strain, then at a later date gets infected with a different strain the second infection is often much worse due to ADE. That caused problems with the Dengue vaccine produced by Sanofi Pasteur.

 

As with many other things with Covid 19, too early to tell.

Edited October 14, 2020 by nocl

[cruise kitty]

On 10/6/2020 at 6:23 AM, TeeRick said:

There was a news story at least in the financial press on the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines causing "serious" side effects.  But in reality the side effects were fever and chills in a few patients, resolved within 24 hours.  By any definition these are not serious adverse events and would not pause a vaccine trial.

 

https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/10/05/report-moderna-and-pfizer-vaccine-trial-participan/

 

On a good news front, Pfizer has already started the EMEA (europe) submission and approval process for the review and approval of their COVID vaccine.

https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/biontech-pfizer-start-rolling-ema-approval-filing-for-covid-19-vaccine

 

Rick, I appreciate the good info that you & many others are providing on this forum.   DH & I will both be part of the phase 3 Pfizer trials.....as long as I'm allowed to, I'll post anything interesting here.  

[Arizona Wildcat]

9 hours ago, nocl said:

As much as I disagree with the anti-vaxxers and as much as I think that social media has been a main contributor to the growth of extreme views (prior to social media someone with extreme views was an outlier in the norms of their community and somewhat moderated, today with social media those can find people online with similar views, reinforcing those views) the limitation of speech, no matter how much one disagrees with it, is a very slippery slope.

The problem with the anti-vaxxers on social media is the political nature of their attack.  Thankfully the CDC and FDA approve medicines and vaccines.

[nocl]

35 minutes ago, Arizona Wildcat said:

The problem with the anti-vaxxers on social media is the political nature of their attack.  Thankfully the CDC and FDA approve medicines and vaccines.

If there is any principle of the Constitution that more imperatively calls for attachment than any other, it is the principle of free thought — not free thought for those who agree with us but freedom for the thought we hate.

”

— Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., (United States v. Schwimmer

[Sam.Seattle]

If the ship is sailing, I am going....

#1,000 Reply!

 

Cheers.....

Edited October 15, 2020 by Sam.Seattle

[TeeRick]

Folks let's try to avoid political and US-Constitutional discussions here and get back to vaccines and science.  Again these type of discussions get heated and a really valuable thread could be closed quickly.

 

Mea Culpa!  I truly regret posting the news item link about Facebook - but I posted only because it was about vaccines and there is a tremendous reluctance particularly in the US on getting a COVID vaccine once available.  This will increase the time at the very least for safe cruising to happen again.  

[TeeRick]

12 hours ago, cruise kitty said:

 

Rick, I appreciate the good info that you & many others are providing on this forum.   DH & I will both be part of the phase 3 Pfizer trials.....as long as I'm allowed to, I'll post anything interesting here.  

I used to work there developing vaccines.  I tried to volunteer for their Ph 3 trial but some recent health issues that I have had put me out of the acceptable subject criteria.  But good luck with the trial and please report everything on your thoughts here!  If it is an approved vaccine eventually- you will be ahead of the game and won't have to wait like the rest of us!

 

For what it's worth here is an update from Pfizer's CEO on the vaccine you will be injected with.  No safety issues so far.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-14/pfizer-biontech-covid-vaccine-trial-remains-on-track-ceo-says

 

Edited October 15, 2020 by TeeRick