Corona Virus

[EvilNed]

So, yesterday the UK began trials of a vaccine - http://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2020-04-23-...an-trial-stage Alas, this still means it's six months (I believe) away from actual use I believe similar trials are being carried in China, the US and Germany? If it's available in 6 months it would be the world record by like 3 years or something like that. Flu vaccines don't count, they are strains of the same virus. I'd be wary of taking any vaccine that hasn't undergone rigorous human testing. I am not an anti-vaxxer, but vaccines that are rushed to the market can have long term consequences. The swine-flu vaccine caused narcolepsia down the line.

[Neil]

If it's available in 6 months it would be the world record by like 3 years or something like that. It's that long? Eek! I'll swear some of the articles I read implied tests would take six months? Not multiple years? I'd be wary of taking any vaccine that hasn't undergone rigorous human testing. Why? What's the problem?

[EvilNed]

It's that long? Eek! I'll swear some of the articles I read implied tests would take six months? Not multiple years? I am no expert at calculating how long it takes to develop a vaccine, but I've heard from multiple sources that if it took as little as 18 months from the initial stages of development (let's assume January, 2020) then it would be a world record. HIV has been around for around 40 years, there's still no vaccine and that virus has a 100% mortality rate. There's no vaccine for either SARS or MERS, both of which are on paper way more dangerous than Covid-19. Just because something is tested doesn't mean it will work.

[Neil]

HIV has been around for around 40 years, there's still no vaccine and that virus has a 100% mortality rate. Not so sure about that entirely correct/fair? I believe they are treating high risk groups with drugs that help prevent it being caught. And now at least two people have been "cured" - https://www.livescience.com/second-p...astillejo.html

[EvilNed]

Not so sure about that entirely correct/fair? I believe they are treating high risk groups with drugs that help prevent it being caught. And now at least two people have been "cured" - https://www.livescience.com/second-p...astillejo.html A cure and vaccine are different things.

[Neil]

A cure and vaccine are different things. Agreed, but as regards "that virus has a 100% mortality rate"...

[EvilNed]

Agreed, but as regards "that virus has a 100% mortality rate"... Oh. Well it did have for a very long time, at least.

[Neil]

Oh. Well it did have for a very long time, at least. It's amazing how much of a fairly short term death sentence it initially was, compared to how now, it seems people can live with it for decades. Freddie Mercury died of it fairly early on, but then Holly Johnson was diagnosed with it nearly 30yrs ago!

[EvilNed]

It's amazing how much of a fairly short term death sentence it initially was, compared to how now, it seems people can live with it for decades. Freddie Mercury died of it fairly early on, but then Holly Johnson was diagnosed with it nearly 30yrs ago! I haven't kept pace with it, but there is a guy who's on Bill Maher sometimes who was diagnosed 17 years ago. So yeah. But on the other end of the spectrum, they have to be wary not to catch this Covid thing...

[shootemindehead]

These days, it's possible to manage HIV for a long(ish) period. When it becomes full blown AIDS, though, that might be a different story.

[EvilNed]

Why do I say "I haven't kept pace with it" as if I was there when it first erupted in the 80's? I absolutely wasn't. - - - Updated - - - For whatever reason that few seem to write about, China has put the city of Harbin into lockdown. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-outbreak.html

[Neil]

For whatever reason that few seem to write about, China has put the city of Harbin into lockdown. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-outbreak.html I would just love to know how truthful China's figures are, and how accurate are the accounts of the position of the virus in their country is... I suspect very not!

[shootemindehead]

I'd throw that suspicion on every country. Even Britain are fiddling their numbers. They still aren't counting care home deaths from Covid-19.

[Neil]

I'd throw that suspicion on every country. Even Britain are fiddling their numbers. They still aren't counting care home deaths from Covid-19. I doubt that's down to the same reasoning/ethos/degree though is it My sister now has suspected symptoms... :/

[shootemindehead]

It's still all about saving face, no matter what country's doing it. Sorry to hear about your sister. Has she been tested? Hope she's not in the most vulnerable age bracket.