Posts
The wildly differing
narratives on covid-19 from
western mainstream media
On the one hand, we are being told by Dr. Fauci there WILL be a vaccine but it might mean regular jabs without guarantee of immunity.
While Dr. Anthony Fauci says he's hopeful that a COVID-19 vaccine will be available 'by late fall or early winter,' it may not be as simple as one jab for a lifetime of immunity, according to the LA Times.
For starters, a COVID-19 vaccine can be released if it's 'safe and proves effective' on as few as 50% of those who receive it, according to recently released federal guidelines. What's more, the definition of "effective" means that it simply has to 'minimize the most serious symptoms,' according to the report.
"We should anticipate the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine to be similar to the influenza vaccine," said Dr. Kathleen Neuzil, director of the Center for Vaccine Development at the University of Maryland. "That vaccine may or may not keep people from being infected with the virus, but it does keep people out of the hospital and the ICU."
Because of this, experts say that the first round of COVID-19 vaccines probably won't eliminate the need for masks, social distancing and other measures. So - after all the promises made by government officials, a vaccine may only reduce symptoms, and may turn into a recurring shot that only works on half the population.
Developing a vaccine capable of inducing “sterilizing immunity” — that is, the ability to prevent the virus from causing an infection — takes time and research, which might not be possible as death tolls continue to rise and the recession grows deeper. Yet with so many companies on the hunt for that vaccine, there is hope one of them might actually achieve it.
...
Scientists had studied other coronaviruses — SARS and MERS — and mapped the novel coronavirus' genome not long after the first COVID-19 deaths were recorded.
They identified the spike protein on the virus’ outer shell, which the virus uses to infiltrate the host cell and created a three-dimensional model of the virus to see how antibodies block infection by binding onto the spike protein.
Even so, scientists don't yet know what immunity against the virus looks like. That information typically comes from studying the body’s natural response to disease. The number of T-cells and neutralizing antibodies that fight off an infection can become a blueprint for a vaccine. -LA Times
The problem is that "the novel coronavirus hasn't been around long enough", according to Dr. Mark Feinberg, CEO of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative - who noted that an Ebola vaccine went from Phase 1 to Phase 3 clinical results in just 10 months and was nearly 100% effective within 10 days of a single dose being administered.
On the bright side, it could reduce the spread of the virus, creating pockets of immunity throughout the country according to Dr. Peter Hoetz, dean of Baylor College of Medicine's National School of Tropical Medicine.
"Ideally, you want an antiviral vaccine to do two things," said Hotez. "First, reduce the likelihood you will get severely ill and go to the hospital, and two, prevent infection and therefore interrupt disease transmission."
For the current pandemic, "the bar does not seem that high," he added.
Meanwhile, Operation Warp Speed - the Trump administration's program to accelerate a vaccine, has a goal of delivering 300 million doses by January. The program has identified 14 'promising candidates' - of which seven have been identified as front-runners. Of those, three have had early clinical trials evaluated independently.
The vaccine being developed by Moderna and the National Institutes of Health was deemed “promising” in an editorial published in the New England Journal of Medicine, and two studies in the Lancet delivered a similar message for vaccines being developed at Oxford University and by the Chinese company CanSino.
These vaccines have induced an immune response in people participating in early tests, but inducing an immune response does not always mean success in fighting a disease. For instance, scientists recently developed a vaccine for another respiratory virus that increased antibodies but failed its Phase 3 clinical trial. -LA Times
Other issues puzzling vaccine researchers include why some people produce high levels of neutralizing antibodies to COVID-19, while others do not.
Dr. Tedros says that there may NEVER be a vaccine
There may never be a 'silver bullet' for treating Covid-19, according to the head of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Countries around the world are locked in a race against time to test and produce a safe and effective vaccine for the coronavirus.
But Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the UN agency, said today that scientists may never find one that works.
He said for now, stopping outbreaks 'comes down to the basics', urging nations to continue with test, trace and isolate schemes.
It comes as the WHO's top epidemiologist today said the infection kills 0.6 per cent of all patients — making it six times deadlier than seasonal flu.
Dr Maria Van Kerkhove admitted the estimate 'may not sound like a lot but it is quite high', killing one in 167 people.
Official statistics show the pandemic already killed almost 700,000 people since it began in the Chinese city of Wuhan last December.
But the estimated mortality rate suggests 115million people worldwide have had the virus — nearly seven times more than the current figure of 17.6m.
Researchers are hopeful a potential vaccine will be proven to work, allowing it to be administered to the global population.
Russia's health minister announced at the weekend that the country is planning a mass vaccination campaign for October.
Dr Tedros noted a number of vaccines are now in phase three clinical trials — the last stage of human testing.
The forerunners include Oxford University, which is still confident it could have some form of vaccine by the end of this year, and US-based firm Moderna.
But experts have repeatedly dampened expectations, warning that it won't be until 2021 at the earliest that a jab could be ready.
In a media briefing today, Dr Tedros asked recommended countries participate in relevant clinical trials, and prepare for 'vaccine introduction'.
He said: 'We learn every day about this virus and I’m pleased that the world has made progress in identifying treatments that can help people with the most serious forms of Covid-19 recover.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8588299/World-Health-Organization-says-Covid-19-kill-0-6-patients.html
https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/coronavirus-we-may-never-find-a-vaccine-that-works-says-world-health-organisation/news-story/86b4f2600b27e40dd8d7ea54bc1653f4?fbclid=IwAR0TyhuaX7LgUKdrLNm2OjvuURgiBBDG5LhNBhkDqGwGb1RFVdbiIedSZSE
Russia says it ALREADY has a vaccine after the Brits accused the Russians of stealing the information from them.
So if they have it how is this possible?
https://www.msn.com/en-ae/news/other/russia-trying-to-steal-covid-19-vaccine-data-western-nations/ar-BB16QQju
The Russian government is reportedly fast-tracking a questionable COVID-19 vaccine that will be put into “large-scale phase three trials this month” and distributed on a mass scale in October.
Whether or not the rushed vaccine will be effective remains a mystery, according to CNBC.
Moscow says teachers and medical professionals will be among the first tested before vaccinations are provided nationwide.
Health Minister Mikhail Murashko reportedly declared early clinical trials were complete on a vaccination that showed an immune response among those tested and had no side effects. The large scale application of the vaccine will determine whether or not the Russians have found a cure for the spreading pandemic, which has killed nearly 700,000 people.
The nation's top scientists, having examined key data and research, have declared there is no firm evidence to back the use of face coverings. Indeed, they argue that wearing the wretched things may actually hamper the fight against disease.
'Face masks in public places are not necessary, based on all the current evidence,' said Coen Berends, spokesman for the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment. 'There is no benefit and there may even be negative impact.'
This is a bold but highly controversial stance – especially as fears grow of a second wave sweeping through Europe. Last week, Downing Street joined the global stampede to enforce face masks in public spaces such as shops, supermarkets and stations, following Scotland, Spain and France, along with Holland's neighbouring nations of Belgium and Germany.
'We think masks have a great deal of value,' said Boris Johnson. 'Scientific evaluation of face coverings and their importance in stopping aerosol droplets has been growing. People should wear them in shops.'
But the Dutch disagree – to the delight of all the citizens I spoke with in Amsterdam. 'I hate wearing them,' said Aicha Meziati, 29, in the hip fashion store Das Werk Haus. 'They are horrible. People look like they have nappies on their faces.'
Margriet, a 24-year-old sales assistant in a pop-up drink shop, said it was hard to read people's facial expressions when they wore masks. 'You make contact with people better without them and it is easier to talk to them in the store.'
Is there REALLY a second coronavirus wave rolling across...
Holland's position is based on assessments by the Outbreak Management Team, a group of experts advising the government. It first ruled against masks in May and has re-evaluated the evidence several times, including again last week.
It believes they detract from a clear three-pronged message that has kept deaths from coronavirus down to less than half the rate in Britain: wash hands regularly, maintain social distancing of 1.5 metres and stay at home if suffering any symptoms.
The one exception outside of the medical frontline has been on public transport, where masks are mandatory on the basis it is difficult to stay apart on crowded buses, ferries and trains. 'We have seen this approach works,' said Christian Hoebe, a professor of infectious diseases in Maastricht and member of the advisory team. 'Face masks should not be seen as a magic bullet that halts the spread.
'The evidence for them is contradictory. In general, we think you must be careful with face masks because they can give a false sense of security. People think they're immune from disease or stop social distancing. That is very negative.'
Hoebe, head of infectious disease control in Zuid-Limburg, the region hit hardest when the pandemic struck Holland, pointed to a Norwegian study showing 200,000 people must wear surgical masks for one week to stop a single Covid-19 case.
https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1318192/coronavirus-uk-cases-england-covid19-infections-testing-local-lockdown-latest?fbclid=IwAR1X0Pbdo2gSsxQwwFayqFhdvZaezOo_Fg_xQIgpVtdj1J-4YPukKIRzH6o
Melburnians now endure some of the strictest lockdown conditions in the world, as the Victorian government battles to contain hundreds of new coronavirus infections every day.
Many countries that were initially hit hard by the deadly virus are now reopening for the sake of rebuilding their economies, with social gathering limits dropped and dining establishments reopened.
Others, which had early success in containing the virus, are now being forced into secondary lockdowns due to infections rising beyond control.
Still, other leaders whose countries have skyrocketing infections and death tolls are refusing to implement lockdowns.
https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/retail/melbournes-lockdown-could-spark-lengthy-coronavirus-recession/news-story/b79cfe1de3e94624be439d19189906c3
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