https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2020/12/15/a-new-strain-of-covid-19-has-emerged-in-englandhere-is-what-it-could-mean-for-the-pandemic-and-vaccines/?sh=557435b570f6

A New Strain Of Covid-19 Has Emerged In England - Here Is What It Could Mean For The Pandemic And Vaccines

Britain’s Health Secretary Matt Hancock told politicians Monday that a “new variant” of Covid-19 had been discovered in England where it had infected over a 1,000 people in the south of the country where cases have been rising dramatically, leading many to question whether the new mutant strain is capable of spreading more easily, causing worse symptoms or potentially rendering the new vaccines ineffective.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2020/12/15/a-new-strain-of-covid-19-has-emerged-in-englandhere-is-what-it-could-mean-for-the-pandemic-and-vaccines/?sh=557435b570f6

A New Strain Of Covid-19 Has Emerged In England - Here Is What It Could Mean For The Pandemic And Vaccines

Britain’s Health Secretary Matt Hancock told politicians Monday that a “new variant” of Covid-19 had been discovered in England where it had infected over a 1,000 people in the south of the country where cases have been rising dramatically, leading many to question whether the new mutant strain is capable of spreading more easily, causing worse symptoms or potentially rendering the new vaccines ineffective.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/suzannerowankelleher/2020/12/15/this-is-how-quickly-covid-19-can-spread-in-a-restaurant-per-new-study/?sh=5f0aaffa1fe4

This Is How Quickly Covid-19 Can Spread In A Restaurant, Per New Study


New research is highlighting just how risky indoor dining can be during the Covid-19 pandemic

A study from South Korea published last month in the Journal of Korean Medical Science suggests that the coronavirus can travel farther than the typical six-foot social distancing radius in a very short time if there is direct air flow.

The researchers determined that the virus can spread more than three times the six-foot range in just five minutes — a much faster window than most diners spend maskless at a restaurant table while they are eating their food.

The Korean scientists concluded that six feet of space between tables is not enough to protect diners from being infected.

The global scheme to deliver Covid-19 vaccines to poorer countries faces a "very high" risk of failure, potentially leaving nations home to billions of people with no access to vaccines until as late as 2024, internal documents say.

The global scheme to deliver Covid-19 vaccines to poorer countries faces a "very high" risk of failure, potentially leaving nations home to billions of people with no access to vaccines until as late as 2024, internal documents say.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-approval-of-pfizer-biontech-vaccine-for-covid-19?fbclid=IwAR2L52Cv7dyCPr9ZNAxw3aH933qaWXBW9Sc0_BGsU7w5TxOqQER0owFxbkI

Regulatory approval of Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine for COVID-19
Information for healthcare professionals and the public about the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.

Here’s some info from the UK government website:


1. The vaccine is not safe for pregnant women or women planning on becoming pregnant.

2. The vaccine is not safe for those that are immunosuppressed.

3. No testing has been done to determine any long-term side effects

4. No testing has been done to determine side effects if taken with long term medications

5. It is unknown if the vaccine will cause infertility

6. Taking the vaccine will not stop you spreading the virus but will only reduce your symptoms (for years the doctors told us to rest, take paracetamol and drink plenty of fluids to achieve the same result)

7. You can't breastfeed if you have had the vaccine

8.The vaccine has not been tested on children and may not be suitable for young persons under the age of 16

9. The vaccine is only 95% effective....meaning 5% of people that had the vaccine still had severe covid19 symptoms.


If the vaccine is safe....why do the government and manufacturers accept no responsibility for death or injury resulting from the vaccine?

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-approval-of-pfizer-biontech-vaccine-for-covid-19?fbclid=IwAR2L52Cv7dyCPr9ZNAxw3aH933qaWXBW9Sc0_BGsU7w5TxOqQER0owFxbkI

Regulatory approval of Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine for COVID-19
Information for healthcare professionals and the public about the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.

Here’s some info from the UK government website:


1. The vaccine is not safe for pregnant women or women planning on becoming pregnant.

2. The vaccine is not safe for those that are immunosuppressed.

3. No testing has been done to determine any long-term side effects

4. No testing has been done to determine side effects if taken with long term medications

5. It is unknown if the vaccine will cause infertility

6. Taking the vaccine will not stop you spreading the virus but will only reduce your symptoms (for years the doctors told us to rest, take paracetamol and drink plenty of fluids to achieve the same result)

7. You can't breastfeed if you have had the vaccine

8.The vaccine has not been tested on children and may not be suitable for young persons under the age of 16

9. The vaccine is only 95% effective....meaning 5% of people that had the vaccine still had severe covid19 symptoms.


If the vaccine is safe....why do the government and manufacturers accept no responsibility for death or injury resulting from the vaccine?

https://www.wsj.com/articles/vaccines-are-coming-but-they-wont-end-covid-19-anytime-soon-11607864417

Vaccines Are Coming but They Won’t End Covid-19 Anytime Soon

While some countries may be able to get shots to large portions of their populations in 2021, some in the developing world may be years away from protecting more than their highest-risk populations. That means the virus will continue to circulate and claim lives in various corners of the map.

“There’s no point having products that do not reach the majority of the world’s population,” She cited the hepatitis B vaccine, saying it took 30 years after its introduction in rich countries to reach low- and middle-income countries.

Only one disease—smallpox—has ever been eradicated from the human population using a vaccine.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/vaccines-are-coming-but-they-wont-end-covid-19-anytime-soon-11607864417

Vaccines Are Coming but They Won’t End Covid-19 Anytime Soon

While some countries may be able to get shots to large portions of their populations in 2021, some in the developing world may be years away from protecting more than their highest-risk populations. That means the virus will continue to circulate and claim lives in various corners of the map.

“There’s no point having products that do not reach the majority of the world’s population,” She cited the hepatitis B vaccine, saying it took 30 years after its introduction in rich countries to reach low- and middle-income countries.

Only one disease—smallpox—has ever been eradicated from the human population using a vaccine.

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/08/coronavirus-live-updates.html

Covid live updates: U.S. adds 1 million cases in just four days, now above 15 million

More than 200,000 Americans are testing positive for the coronavirus every day on average, as the national infection total now tops 15 million.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, warned Monday that the country is likely to see a Thanksgiving-related spike in Covid cases and hospitalizations in another week or so, in the middle of Hanukkah and just ahead of Christmas.

“The current vaccine implementation will not substantially reduce viral spread, hospitalizations, or fatalities until the 100 million Americans with comorbidities can be fully immunized.

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/08/coronavirus-live-updates.html

Covid live updates: U.S. adds 1 million cases in just four days, now above 15 million

More than 200,000 Americans are testing positive for the coronavirus every day on average, as the national infection total now tops 15 million.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, warned Monday that the country is likely to see a Thanksgiving-related spike in Covid cases and hospitalizations in another week or so, in the middle of Hanukkah and just ahead of Christmas.

“The current vaccine implementation will not substantially reduce viral spread, hospitalizations, or fatalities until the 100 million Americans with comorbidities can be fully immunized.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/coronavirus-update-pfizer-bio-n-tech-and-astra-zeneca-data-revealed-senate-hearing-highlights-medical-uncertainties-182607742.html

Coronavirus update:
Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca data revealed; Senate hearing highlights medical uncertainties

Even as the vaccine enthusiasm surges, treatments for COVID-19 are still languishing. To-date, no major breakthrough has been found.

Dr. Kevin Tracey, president of The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research at Northwell Health, told Yahoo Finance it’s both a confusing and competitive landscape right now since most drugs have only been given an emergency use authorization (EUA).

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/coronavirus-update-pfizer-bio-n-tech-and-astra-zeneca-data-revealed-senate-hearing-highlights-medical-uncertainties-182607742.html

Coronavirus update:
Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca data revealed; Senate hearing highlights medical uncertainties

Even as the vaccine enthusiasm surges, treatments for COVID-19 are still languishing. To-date, no major breakthrough has been found.

Dr. Kevin Tracey, president of The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research at Northwell Health, told Yahoo Finance it’s both a confusing and competitive landscape right now since most drugs have only been given an emergency use authorization (EUA).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUFOypaaoxo

Public Health Committee Public Hearing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUFOypaaoxo

Public Health Committee Public Hearing

https://www.rte.ie/news/2020/1205/1182611-coronavirus-vaccine-who/

WHO warns Covid-19 crisis not over as vaccine roll-out starts

The World Health Organization has warned that vaccines are no magic bullet for the coronavirus crisis.

The WHO warned about what it said was an erroneous belief that the Covid-19 crisis is over with jabs on the horizon, nearly a year after the start of the pandemic that has killed 1.5 million people worldwide.

"Vaccines do not equal zero Covid," said WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also cautioned against the "growing perception that the pandemic is over" with the virus still spreading fast, putting enormous pressure on hospitals and health care workers.

https://www.rte.ie/news/2020/1205/1182611-coronavirus-vaccine-who/

WHO warns Covid-19 crisis not over as vaccine roll-out starts

The World Health Organization has warned that vaccines are no magic bullet for the coronavirus crisis.

The WHO warned about what it said was an erroneous belief that the Covid-19 crisis is over with jabs on the horizon, nearly a year after the start of the pandemic that has killed 1.5 million people worldwide.

"Vaccines do not equal zero Covid," said WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also cautioned against the "growing perception that the pandemic is over" with the virus still spreading fast, putting enormous pressure on hospitals and health care workers.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/12/05/operation-warp-speed-coronavirus-vaccine-shortfall/

Trump’s Operation Warp Speed promised a flood of covid vaccines. Instead, states are expecting a trickle.

Federal officials have slashed the amount of coronavirus vaccine they plan to ship to states in December because of constraints on supply, sending local officials into a scramble to adjust vaccination plans and highlighting how early promises of a vast stockpile before the end of 2020 have fallen short.

Instead of the delivery of 300 million or so doses of vaccine immediately after emergency-use approval and before the end of 2020 as the Trump administration had originally promised, current plans call for availability of around a tenth of that, or 35 to 40 million doses.

The drop-off is a product of manufacturing problems, bottlenecks in the supply of raw materials and other hurdles in ramping up clinical-trial.

“There were a couple of our vaccine candidates that took significantly longer, in terms of failed batches, in terms of not having the purity we sought,”

“We have cracked the code on these things but we’re two months behind on some of them,”

“Bringing it all together in a first-time, very large-scale operation, is no simple feat,” said company spokeswoman Amy Rose. “It’s as complicated as the research-and-development piece.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/12/05/operation-warp-speed-coronavirus-vaccine-shortfall/

Trump’s Operation Warp Speed promised a flood of covid vaccines. Instead, states are expecting a trickle.

Federal officials have slashed the amount of coronavirus vaccine they plan to ship to states in December because of constraints on supply, sending local officials into a scramble to adjust vaccination plans and highlighting how early promises of a vast stockpile before the end of 2020 have fallen short.

Instead of the delivery of 300 million or so doses of vaccine immediately after emergency-use approval and before the end of 2020 as the Trump administration had originally promised, current plans call for availability of around a tenth of that, or 35 to 40 million doses.

The drop-off is a product of manufacturing problems, bottlenecks in the supply of raw materials and other hurdles in ramping up clinical-trial.

“There were a couple of our vaccine candidates that took significantly longer, in terms of failed batches, in terms of not having the purity we sought,”

“We have cracked the code on these things but we’re two months behind on some of them,”

“Bringing it all together in a first-time, very large-scale operation, is no simple feat,” said company spokeswoman Amy Rose. “It’s as complicated as the research-and-development piece.”

https://www.msn.com/en-my/news/world/most-of-california-to-be-under-stay-at-home-orders-as-covid-19-surges/ar-BB1bF7iP?li=BBr8RiH&ocid=iehp

Most of California to be under stay-at-home orders as COVID-19 surges

California's two most densely inhabited regions and its agricultural breadbasket will be under stay-at-home orders by Sunday night as the COVID-19 pandemic strains hospitals in the most populous U.S. state, officials said.

Designed to kick in when intensive care units in any of five regions have little remaining capacity, the order affecting Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley will close bars, hair salons and barbershops.

"We know that people are tired of the stringent measures, but they are the only weapons we have to combat the virus,"

The U.S. death toll currently stands at almost 279,000. The University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation now projects nearly 539,000 COVID-19 deaths by April 1, even as vaccines start to become available.

https://www.msn.com/en-my/news/world/most-of-california-to-be-under-stay-at-home-orders-as-covid-19-surges/ar-BB1bF7iP?li=BBr8RiH&ocid=iehp

Most of California to be under stay-at-home orders as COVID-19 surges

California's two most densely inhabited regions and its agricultural breadbasket will be under stay-at-home orders by Sunday night as the COVID-19 pandemic strains hospitals in the most populous U.S. state, officials said.

Designed to kick in when intensive care units in any of five regions have little remaining capacity, the order affecting Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley will close bars, hair salons and barbershops.

"We know that people are tired of the stringent measures, but they are the only weapons we have to combat the virus,"

The U.S. death toll currently stands at almost 279,000. The University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation now projects nearly 539,000 COVID-19 deaths by April 1, even as vaccines start to become available.

https://www.msn.com/en-my/news/us/virus-cases-continue-climbing-in-us-during-holiday-season/ar-BB1bFhc7?li=BBr8RiH&ocid=iehp

Virus cases continue climbing in US during holiday season

Coronavirus infections across the U.S. continue to rise and could push the numbers even higher and overwhelm hospitals.

A new daily high of nearly 228,000 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases was reported nationwide Friday, eclipsing the previous high mark of 217,000 cases set the day before, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

The seven-day rolling average of deaths attributable to COVID-19 in the U.S. passed 2,000 for the first time since spring, rising to 2,011. Two weeks ago, the seven-day average was 1,448. There were 2,607 deaths reported in the U.S. on Friday.

Johns Hopkins had previously reported Wednesday daily COVID-19 deaths at 3,157. That was later updated to 2,804 due to a change in numbers from Nevada, a spokeswoman said Saturday.

Health officials say Idaho’s attempt to hold the coronavirus in check is failing.

Hospitals are struggling not only with the increase in patients but with their own staff as health workers contract COVID-19 themselves or quit under the pressure of caring for so many infectious patients.

https://www.msn.com/en-my/news/us/virus-cases-continue-climbing-in-us-during-holiday-season/ar-BB1bFhc7?li=BBr8RiH&ocid=iehp

Virus cases continue climbing in US during holiday season

Coronavirus infections across the U.S. continue to rise and could push the numbers even higher and overwhelm hospitals.

A new daily high of nearly 228,000 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases was reported nationwide Friday, eclipsing the previous high mark of 217,000 cases set the day before, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

The seven-day rolling average of deaths attributable to COVID-19 in the U.S. passed 2,000 for the first time since spring, rising to 2,011. Two weeks ago, the seven-day average was 1,448. There were 2,607 deaths reported in the U.S. on Friday.

Johns Hopkins had previously reported Wednesday daily COVID-19 deaths at 3,157. That was later updated to 2,804 due to a change in numbers from Nevada, a spokeswoman said Saturday.

Health officials say Idaho’s attempt to hold the coronavirus in check is failing.

Hospitals are struggling not only with the increase in patients but with their own staff as health workers contract COVID-19 themselves or quit under the pressure of caring for so many infectious patients.

Could there be any long-term side effects?

According to Sheena Sullivan, an Australian representative form the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, we don't know yet.

"We haven't had a long enough term to study this," Dr Sullivan said. "We don't know enough yet.

"When I think long-term I think years.

"And nothing can be studied adequately for long-term effects for anything relating to this disease yet, as it hasn't existed long enough."

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-05/covid19-vaccine-questions-approval-and-data-requires-patience/12950608

Can a vaccinated person still spread the virus?

"This is the big unknown from these vaccines," Professor McVernon, who is also an expert in vaccine trials, said.

"So everyone is talking about herd immunity but we don't know whether these vaccines will stop infection.

https://globalnews.ca/news/7501905/canada-coronavirus-herd-immunity-unknown-tam/

It’s ‘unknown’ when Canada will reach herd immunity from coronavirus vaccine

According to WHO, herd immunity is when a population can be protected from a certain virus, like COVID-19, if a threshold of vaccination is reached. It’s achieved by protecting people from a virus, not by exposing them to it, the WHO added.

However, the percentage of people needed to be vaccinated in order to create herd immunity depends on the disease.

For example, herd immunity against measles requires about 95 per cent of a population to be vaccinated and for polio, the threshold is about 80 per cent, the WHO stated.

The percentage of the Canadian population that needs to be vaccinated in order to reach widespread immunity against the coronavirus is unknown, according to Canada’s chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/04/health/us-coronavirus-friday/index.html

Vaccines won't end Covid

Coronavirus vaccines will provide some light at the end of the tunnel, but they alone won't mean an end to Covid-19.

"I would like to say vaccines do not equal zero Covid," said Dr. Michael Ryan, the executive director of the World Health Organization's Health Emergencies Program.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/04/health/us-coronavirus-friday/index.html

Vaccines won't end Covid

Coronavirus vaccines will provide some light at the end of the tunnel, but they alone won't mean an end to Covid-19. "I would like to say vaccines do not equal zero Covid," said Dr. Michael Ryan, the executive director of the World Health Organization's Health Emergencies Program.

https://www.pantagraph.com/opinion/editorial/what-others-are-saying-americas-ppe-pipeline-still-broken/article_3737ab77-263c-5eea-af6d-4f488f9dd2f9.html

America's PPE pipeline still broken

The COVID-19 pandemic has entered a frightening new phase, picking up speed in every state and breaking new records almost daily. This new wave of coronavirus infections has hospital resources stretched close to the breaking point in several states, as seriously ill COVID-19 patients crowd critical care units.

At least we have enough medical masks, gloves and gowns to keep healthcare workers safe, right? The supply chains broken by the onset of a global pandemic in spring surely have been repaired by now?

If only that were the case.

Too many healthcare workers, particularly those not in hospitals, still lack adequate supplies of masks, GLOVES and gowns and are being forced to reuse equipment meant to be thrown away after one wearing.

"There are still many that don't have the same access to masks and gowns and face masks that a hospital system would." And hospitals remain concerned about stable supplies too, particularly nitrile Gloves, isolation gowns, N95s and testing supplies, according to the American Hospital Assn.

https://www.pantagraph.com/opinion/editorial/what-others-are-saying-americas-ppe-pipeline-still-broken/article_3737ab77-263c-5eea-af6d-4f488f9dd2f9.html

America's PPE pipeline still broken

The COVID-19 pandemic has entered a frightening new phase, picking up speed in every state and breaking new records almost daily. This new wave of coronavirus infections has hospital resources stretched close to the breaking point in several states, as seriously ill COVID-19 patients crowd critical care units.

At least we have enough medical masks, gloves and gowns to keep healthcare workers safe, right? The supply chains broken by the onset of a global pandemic in spring surely have been repaired by now?

If only that were the case.

Too many healthcare workers, particularly those not in hospitals, still lack adequate supplies of masks, GLOVES and gowns and are being forced to reuse equipment meant to be thrown away after one wearing.

"There are still many that don't have the same access to masks and gowns and face masks that a hospital system would." And hospitals remain concerned about stable supplies too, particularly nitrile Gloves, isolation gowns, N95s and testing supplies, according to the American Hospital Assn.

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/coronavirus/biden-eyes-more-muscular-use-defense-law-boost-ppe-output

Biden eyes more muscular use of defense law to boost PPE output

Manufacturers of protective gear for the fight against COVID-19 could face fresh orders to bolster supplies and greater federal oversight of where those goods get sent once President-elect Joe Biden takes office in January.

Hospitals are clamoring for additional personal protective equipment amid surging new cases. Between now and Inauguration Day, hospitals and industry groups will be watching for signs that Biden plans to follow through on repeated campaign-trail pledges to invoke the Defense Production Act to combat the pandemic.

"We need much more testing, we need much more masking, we need GLOVES," Biden said Thursday in Wilmington, Del. "We're going to move on day one."

https://www.crainsdetroit.com/coronavirus/biden-eyes-more-muscular-use-defense-law-boost-ppe-output

Biden eyes more muscular use of defense law to boost PPE output

Manufacturers of protective gear for the fight against COVID-19 could face fresh orders to bolster supplies and greater federal oversight of where those goods get sent once President-elect Joe Biden takes office in January.

Hospitals are clamoring for additional personal protective equipment amid surging new cases. Between now and Inauguration Day, hospitals and industry groups will be watching for signs that Biden plans to follow through on repeated campaign-trail pledges to invoke the Defense Production Act to combat the pandemic.

"We need much more testing, we need much more masking, we need GLOVES," Biden said Thursday in Wilmington, Del. "We're going to move on day one."

overzealous no good as it will be counter productive

overzealous no good as it will be counter productive

Vaccine 90% effective but gloves are out of stock also among others.

Vaccine 90% effective but gloves are out of stock also among others.

..o..o..

At a Costco in Vancouver, Washington - where new rules include temporary bans on indoor dining - out-of-stocks included toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning wipes, gloves and Spam canned meat.

Hey, what happened to the so called 90% effective vaccine?


https://www.msn.com/en-my/news/us/panic-buying-of-toilet-paper-hits-us-stores-again-with-new-pandemic-restrictions/ar-BB1bdun2?ocid=iehp&li=BBr8Hnu

Panic buying of toilet paper hits U.S. stores again with new pandemic restrictions

Toilet paper aisles are emptying again as COVID-19 curfews and shutdowns in states from California to New York send pandemic-weary shoppers on a new scramble for essentials.

At a Costco in Vancouver, Washington - where new rules include temporary bans on indoor dining - out-of-stocks included toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning wipes, gloves and Spam canned meat.

Hey, what happened to the so called 90% effective vaccine?


https://www.msn.com/en-my/news/us/panic-buying-of-toilet-paper-hits-us-stores-again-with-new-pandemic-restrictions/ar-BB1bdun2?ocid=iehp&li=BBr8Hnu

Panic buying of toilet paper hits U.S. stores again with new pandemic restrictions

Toilet paper aisles are emptying again as COVID-19 curfews and shutdowns in states from California to New York send pandemic-weary shoppers on a new scramble for essentials.

https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.02054

Clinical Outcomes Of A COVID-19 Vaccine: Implementation Over Efficacy

The effects of any COVID-19 vaccine are highly dependent on the effective reproductive number of the virus (Rt) at the time a vaccine is deployed. Even the effects of a vaccine with 90% efficacy relies heavily on the background Rt at the time of its introduction.

For a highly infectious disease, even a vaccine with seemingly adequate efficacy, pace, and coverage may be insufficient to alter the fundamental population dynamics that produce high disease prevalence.

Results show that the effectiveness of a COVID-19 vaccine will be shaped by the success or failure of efforts to deliver a trusted vaccine quickly to the public. The pace of vaccination—how quickly the vaccine is introduced—will be determined by a combination of manufacturing capacity, the development of distribution systems and infrastructure, the creation of mass vaccination clinics in diverse locations, and related logistical considerations.

The efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines currently being studied in phase 3 trials and soon to be reviewed by the FDA, while important, will be only one contributor to the overall effectiveness of the vaccination programs

https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.02054

Clinical Outcomes Of A COVID-19 Vaccine: Implementation Over Efficacy

The effects of any COVID-19 vaccine are highly dependent on the effective reproductive number of the virus (Rt) at the time a vaccine is deployed. Even the effects of a vaccine with 90% efficacy relies heavily on the background Rt at the time of its introduction.

For a highly infectious disease, even a vaccine with seemingly adequate efficacy, pace, and coverage may be insufficient to alter the fundamental population dynamics that produce high disease prevalence.

Results show that the effectiveness of a COVID-19 vaccine will be shaped by the success or failure of efforts to deliver a trusted vaccine quickly to the public. The pace of vaccination—how quickly the vaccine is introduced—will be determined by a combination of manufacturing capacity, the development of distribution systems and infrastructure, the creation of mass vaccination clinics in diverse locations, and related logistical considerations.

The efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines currently being studied in phase 3 trials and soon to be reviewed by the FDA, while important, will be only one contributor to the overall effectiveness of the vaccination programs

Polio

Polio is a contagious viral illness that in its most severe form causes nerve injury leading to paralysis, difficulty breathing and sometimes death.

In the U.S., the last case of naturally occurring polio was in 1979. Today, despite a worldwide effort to wipe out polio, poliovirus continues to affect children and adults in parts of Asia and Africa.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises taking precautions to protect yourself from polio if you're traveling anywhere there's a risk of polio.

Adults who have been vaccinated who plan to travel to an area where polio is occurring should receive a booster dose of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV).

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/polio/symptoms-causes/syc-20376512

Polio

Although polio vaccine is more than 90% effective since many many year s ago but it is still endemic in some part of asia and Africa.

So who said polio is already eradicated?

Although polio vaccine is more than 90% effective since many many year s ago but it is still endemic in some part of asia and Africa.

So who said polio is already eradicated?

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/polio/symptoms-causes/syc-20376512

Polio is a contagious viral illness that in its most severe form causes nerve injury leading to paralysis, difficulty breathing and sometimes death.

In the U.S., the last case of naturally occurring polio was in 1979. Today, despite a worldwide effort to wipe out polio, poliovirus continues to affect children and adults in parts of Asia and Africa.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises taking precautions to protect yourself from polio if you're traveling anywhere there's a risk of polio.

Adults who have been vaccinated who plan to travel to an area where polio is occurring should receive a booster dose of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV). Immunity after a booster lasts a lifetime

https://scroll.in/article/978838/a-safe-and-effective-coronavirus-vaccine-could-still-go-on-to-fail-if-the-virus-evolves

Covid-19: Even a safe and effective vaccine could still go on to fail if the virus evolves

The first drug against HIV brought dying patients back from the brink. But as excited doctors raced to get the miracle drug to new patients, the miracle melted away. In each and every patient, the drug only worked only for a while.

It turned out the drug was very good at killing the virus, but the virus was even better at evolving resistance to the drug. A spontaneous mutation in the virus’ genetic material prevented the drug from doing its work, and so the mutant viruses were able to replicate wildly despite the drug, making the patients sick again. It took another decade before scientists found evolution-proof therapies.

Could the same thing happen to a Covid-19 vaccine? Could a vaccine that is safe and effective in initial trials go on to fail because the virus evolves its way out of trouble? As evolutionary microbiologists who have studied a poultry virus that has evolved resistance to two different vaccines, we know such an outcome is possible.

https://scroll.in/article/978838/a-safe-and-effective-coronavirus-vaccine-could-still-go-on-to-fail-if-the-virus-evolves

Covid-19: Even a safe and effective vaccine could still go on to fail if the virus evolves

The first drug against HIV brought dying patients back from the brink. But as excited doctors raced to get the miracle drug to new patients, the miracle melted away. In each and every patient, the drug only worked only for a while.

It turned out the drug was very good at killing the virus, but the virus was even better at evolving resistance to the drug. A spontaneous mutation in the virus’ genetic material prevented the drug from doing its work, and so the mutant viruses were able to replicate wildly despite the drug, making the patients sick again. It took another decade before scientists found evolution-proof therapies.

Could the same thing happen to a Covid-19 vaccine? Could a vaccine that is safe and effective in initial trials go on to fail because the virus evolves its way out of trouble? As evolutionary microbiologists who have studied a poultry virus that has evolved resistance to two different vaccines, we know such an outcome is possible.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2020/11/19/commentary/world-commentary/covid-19-mutated-can-vaccines-keep/

COVID-19 mutated. Can vaccines keep up?

One of the factors that will drive the future of the COVID-19 pandemic is how the virus evolves. And last week, scientists announced the first evidence that the virus has evolved to be more transmissible.

Will the G strain find a way to evolve resistance to vaccines? It’s possible, Baric says. Once immunity builds up, the virus will be under pressure to change. As time goes on and more people develop immunity, evolution favors the viruses that are best at evading antibodies.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2020/11/19/commentary/world-commentary/covid-19-mutated-can-vaccines-keep/

COVID-19 mutated. Can vaccines keep up?

One of the factors that will drive the future of the COVID-19 pandemic is how the virus evolves. And last week, scientists announced the first evidence that the virus has evolved to be more transmissible.

Will the G strain find a way to evolve resistance to vaccines? It’s possible, Baric says. Once immunity builds up, the virus will be under pressure to change. As time goes on and more people develop immunity, evolution favors the viruses that are best at evading antibodies.

https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20201113/study-new-coronavirus-mutation-accelerates-spread

Study: New Mutation Sped Up Spread of Coronavirus

The virus that causes COVID-19 is not the same strain as what first emerged from China. A new study shows it has changed slightly in a way that makes it more contagious to humans.

Compared to the original strain, people infected with the new strain -- called 614G -- have higher viral loads in their nose and throat, though they don’t seem to get any sicker. But they are much more contagious to others.

Baric and his team also wondered if the changes to the structure of the virus would affect how future therapies -- including a vaccine -- might work against it, since all the treatments now in development have been designed to counter the original strain that emerged from China.

There’s work being done to confirm that at least one of those strains -- the so-called cluster 5 virus -- may have evolved enough changes to its spike proteins that help it escape the vaccine.

Baric says the research needs to be verified, but early work suggests that the virus appears to have changed to help it infect minks more efficiently, while also keeping its ability to infect humans.