COVID-19 >> New Drug Activity & VACCINE TRACKING!!

[Anonymous]

Trump administration health officials on Wednesday told reporters that every state across the country will have access to some doses of a CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus vaccine within 24 hours of proper authorization.



"Every jurisdiction will have access immediately upon the initial push of the vaccine," Gen. Gustave Perna, chief operating officer of the Trump administration's Operation Warp Speed, said during a call with reporters.

[cc]

China's Sinovac coronavirus vaccine induces quick immune response: study



Sinovac Biotech's experimental coronavirus vaccine CoronaVac triggered a quick immune response but the level of antibodies produced was lower than in people who had recovered from the disease, according to preliminary trial results.

A top doc yesterday mentioned that both Pfizer & Moderna produced "considerably higher" antibody levels than was found in people who had the virus



It was on TV so I don't have link - I believe it was the former CDC head I quoted on other material yesterday

[Anonymous]

The Pfizer vaccine will be extremely difficult to transport and store becuase of the extremely cold temperatures that are required.

[cc]

Even our military says they can do it. The US military is already on it along with other entities



I read yesterday that Danby and many other freezer companies already have built the units needed .. they jumped on it months ago





Also, it's not a bad as it sounds .. the liquid can survive less cold freezing  temps for weeks .. and even for a week at refrigerator temps



It's only very long term storage that needs the number stated .. and the plan is for a network to get it into use rapidly, not store it for long

[Anonymous]

Even our military says they can do it. The US military is already on it along with other entities



I read yesterday that Danby and many other freezer companies already have built the units needed .. they jumped on it months ago



Also, it's not a bad as it sounds .. the liquid can survive higher freezing  temps for weeks .. and even for several days at refrigerator temps



It's only very long term storage that needs the number stated

Okay, thank you for clarifying that cc.

 ac_smile

[cc]

This whole thing has been a challenge in many ways .. but the right humans with good leadership are problem solvers



problem solving is what most aspects of life is all about

[Anonymous]

This whole thing has been a challenge in many ways .. but the right humans with good leadership are problem solvers



problem solving is what most aspects of life is all about

Our leadership in Canada is comprised of problem creators, not problem solvers.

[Anonymous]

Good news with the British vaccine.



AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine produces strong immune response in older adults



AstraZeneca and Oxford University's potential COVID-19 vaccine produced a strong immune response in older adults, data published on Thursday showed, with researchers expecting to release late-stage trial results by Christmas.



The data, reported in part last month but published in full in The Lancet medical journal on Thursday, suggest that those aged over 70, who are at higher risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19, could build robust immunity.



"The robust antibody and T-cell responses seen in older people in our study are encouraging," said Maheshi Ramasamy, a consultant and co-lead investigator at the Oxford Vaccine Group.



Late-stage, or Phase III, trials are ongoing to confirm the findings, researchers said, and to test whether the vaccine protects against infection with SARS-CoV-2 in a broad range of people, including people with underlying health conditions.



Results of those trials should definitely be known by Christmas, the Oxford Vaccine Group's director, Andrew Pollard, said, adding it was too early to know whether and how well the vaccine works in preventing COVID-19 disease.

https://globalnews.ca/news/7471839/coronavirus-vaccine-astrazeneca-oxford-results/">https://globalnews.ca/news/7471839/coro ... d-results/">https://globalnews.ca/news/7471839/coronavirus-vaccine-astrazeneca-oxford-results/

[cc]

That's great because because Moderna found the same  .. in many cases stronger in older adults



There is no reason to think Pfizer is different as the 2 are quite similar in origin and structure .. both being DNA processes



Whether they would work for older people has been a question until now when we have real results

[Anonymous]

That's great because because Moderna found the same  .. in many cases stronger in older adults



There is no reason to think Pfizer is different as the 2 are quite similar in origin and structure .. both being DNA processes



Whether they would work for older people has been a question until now when we have real results

I read most vaccine candidates are similar in origin.

[cc]

That's great because because Moderna found the same  .. in many cases stronger in older adults



There is no reason to think Pfizer is different as the 2 are quite similar in origin and structure .. both being DNA processes



Whether they would work for older people has been a question until now when we have real results

I read most vaccine candidates are similar in origin.

I have searched a lot just now and can't confirm that (or if any, which others) use the  mRNA process

[Anonymous]

That's great because because Moderna found the same  .. in many cases stronger in older adults



There is no reason to think Pfizer is different as the 2 are quite similar in origin and structure .. both being DNA processes



Whether they would work for older people has been a question until now when we have real results

I read most vaccine candidates are similar in origin.

I have searched a lot just now and can't confirm that (or if any, which others) use the  mRNA process

I can't remember where I saw it, but all the vaccine candidates came from the same basic ingredients, for lack of a better way to word it.

[cc]

I finally found some info on the construction of  the leading 5



 https://labblog.uofmhealth.org/rounds/top-5-covid-19-vaccine-candidates-explained">The Top 5 COVID-19 Vaccine Candidates Explained



A Michigan Medicine expert describes the science behind the most promising vaccines for the coronavirus pandemic.

Kelly Malcom - Lead Research Communicator Michigan Health Lab



Malcom is lead research communicator for Michigan Medicine's basic science departments, as well as pulmonary and critical care medicine, infectious disease, urology, pathology and anesthesiology. She has more than 20 years of experience in strategic communications, marketing, and health and science writing.





Two of the vaccine candidates (from Johnson & Johnson/Janssen Pharmaceuticals and AstraZeneca/University of Oxford) use something called an adenovirus. What is that and why is it used?



Adenoviruses are viruses that can cause the common cold. We as humans have them, monkeys have them, as do other animals. For years, people have been using these viruses to deliver DNA, which are instructions for proteins. For the COVID-19 vaccine, researchers swap in a gene from SARS-CoV-2. When the vaccine is given to someone, the modified cold virus makes the SARS-CoV2 protein, which stimulates the immune response.





One company is using a cold virus from a monkey to deliver DNA while another is using a human cold virus. Why?



Each company kind of develops its own system, but the rationale is the same: Find a virus that not a lot of people have been exposed to before. By using a monkey adenovirus, a human won't have been exposed to it. In humans, there are a lot of different types of adenoviruses, some a lot more common than others. The vaccine is likely made from a rare one. If you use a common virus, there's always a chance someone will have been infected naturally and their immune system will attack the vaccine before it can work.





One of the vaccine candidates (from Merck, Sharpe & Dohme/International AIDS Vaccine Initiative) uses recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus. What is that?



Vesicular stomatitis virus is a virus that primarily infects livestock (cows, horse, pigs). Here, it is being used as a vector delivery system, much like the human or chimpanzee adenoviruses. The modified vesicular stomatitis virus delivers the instructions for the SARS-CoV-2 protein into cells. This recombinant candidate works really well against Ebola and has been proven in the field; people developed immunity to Ebola pretty quickly after getting vaccine.





The final two vaccine candidates (from Moderna and BioNTech/Fosun Pharma/Pfizer) are mRNA vaccines. What are those?



First it helps to remember that DNA is the gene and RNA gives instructions for certain proteins. So an mRNA vaccine is the instructions for the SARS-CoV2 protein. Once inside the cell, the protein is made and that triggers the immune response. Just like the vector vaccines which use viruses to deliver the protein instructions, here you are delivering the instructions alone. It's another way of getting the protein made inside of you.





Are antibodies the only form of immune protection?



No. We do know that other immune responses are important and helpful. One, to develop a good antibody response it helps to have a good T cell response. T cells in your immune system help stimulate B cells, which can make antibodies better. There's also parts of your immune system that you can train so that they recognize when a cell is infected with the virus so that your immune cells can kill them off. A lot of these vector vaccines are thought to be good at triggering multiple arms of the immune system.





https://labblog.uofmhealth.org/">Home page for Michigan Health Lab

[Anonymous]

I finally found some info on the differences



 https://hidedoor.com/servlet/redirect.srv/slxv/sqdwmrvbvfm/sajhyzzl/p2/rounds/top-5-covid-19-vaccine-candidates-explained">The Top 5 COVID-19 Vaccine Candidates Explained



A Michigan Medicine expert describes the science behind the most promising vaccines for the coronavirus pandemic.

Kelly Malcom - Lead Research Communicator Michigan Health Lab



Malcom is lead research communicator for Michigan Medicine's basic science departments, as well as pulmonary and critical care medicine, infectious disease, urology, pathology and anesthesiology. She has more than 20 years of experience in strategic communications, marketing, and health and science writing.





Two of the vaccine candidates (from Johnson & Johnson/Janssen Pharmaceuticals and AstraZeneca/University of Oxford) use something called an adenovirus. What is that and why is it used?



Adenoviruses are viruses that can cause the common cold. We as humans have them, monkeys have them, as do other animals. For years, people have been using these viruses to deliver DNA, which are instructions for proteins. For the COVID-19 vaccine, researchers swap in a gene from SARS-CoV-2. When the vaccine is given to someone, the modified cold virus makes the SARS-CoV2 protein, which stimulates the immune response.





One company is using a cold virus from a monkey to deliver DNA while another is using a human cold virus. Why?



Each company kind of develops its own system, but the rationale is the same: Find a virus that not a lot of people have been exposed to before. By using a monkey adenovirus, a human won't have been exposed to it. In humans, there are a lot of different types of adenoviruses, some a lot more common than others. The vaccine is likely made from a rare one. If you use a common virus, there's always a chance someone will have been infected naturally and their immune system will attack the vaccine before it can work.





One of the vaccine candidates (from Merck, Sharpe & Dohme/International AIDS Vaccine Initiative) uses recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus. What is that?



Vesicular stomatitis virus is a virus that primarily infects livestock (cows, horse, pigs). Here, it is being used as a vector delivery system, much like the human or chimpanzee adenoviruses. The modified vesicular stomatitis virus delivers the instructions for the SARS-CoV-2 protein into cells. This recombinant candidate works really well against Ebola and has been proven in the field; people developed immunity to Ebola pretty quickly after getting vaccine.





The final two vaccine candidates (from Moderna and BioNTech/Fosun Pharma/Pfizer) are mRNA vaccines. What are those?



First it helps to remember that DNA is the gene and RNA gives instructions for certain proteins. So an mRNA vaccine is the instructions for the SARS-CoV2 protein. Once inside the cell, the protein is made and that triggers the immune response. Just like the vector vaccines which use viruses to deliver the protein instructions, here you are delivering the instructions alone. It's another way of getting the protein made inside of you.





Are antibodies the only form of immune protection?



No. We do know that other immune responses are important and helpful. One, to develop a good antibody response it helps to have a good T cell response. T cells in your immune system help stimulate B cells, which can make antibodies better. There's also parts of your immune system that you can train so that they recognize when a cell is infected with the virus so that your immune cells can kill them off. A lot of these vector vaccines are thought to be good at triggering multiple arms of the immune system.

Thank you cc.

[Anonymous]

Ottawa prepares for an unprecedented vaccination campaign



Like a military campaign, advance planning and clear communications will be keys to making sure things go as quickly and smoothly as possible.



It is the final leg of a marathon that began when Chinese scientists released genetic information about the COVID-19 genome back in early January, allowing work to begin on vaccines.



This week, immunization became more real when Health Minister Christine Elliott announced that Ontario expects to receive 2.4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna in the first quarter of 2021, just weeks away. Other vaccines are likely coming soon.



But experts warn the immunization campaign will be complex — especially with some vaccines requiring more than one dose — and full of potential pitfalls. Among other things, the Pfizer vaccine must be stored at -70C, which requires special super freezers and dry ice.



Some of that advance planning is already paying off. Canada has secured more than 400 million doses of vaccine with multiple manufacturers — more per capita than any country in the world. It has also secured tends of millions of syringes and swabs. And enough freezers to store 33.5 million doses of ultra-frozen and frozen vaccines.



The provincial government has, among other things, put a committee in place to work closely with local health units on COVID-19 immunization logistics, said Eastern Ontario Medical Officer of Health Dr. Paul Roumeliotis. Those logistics will include how to secure an extreme cold chain for the Pfizer vaccine, which has to be stored around -70C. Those discussions are underway, he said.



Among Roumeliotis's concerns are having the ability to run up to six vaccination clinics at the same time — not an easy feat in a rural health region that covers a broad geographic area



"We don't want to do Cornwall first and then Casselman a week later."



Beyond on-the-ground logistics are questions about how to keep track of multiple vaccines requiring more than one dose, possible adverse effects and the possibility of vaccine access worsening socio-economic gaps.



Dr. Kumanon Wilson said there will need to be systems to keep track of who gets which vaccine to ensure those who need a second dose get the correct one. Proof of vaccination may also be needed for people to travel or even for work, in some cases.



"The case with COVID-19 is going to be really compelling that people need to know which vaccine they got."



And there has to be a real-time system of tracking any adverse reactions to the vaccine, he said.



He advises government and health officials avoid publicly shaming people who are hesitant about getting the vaccine. It doesn't work and can turn other people off.

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/ottawa-prepares-for-an-unprecedented-vaccination-campaign">https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-ne ... n-campaign">https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/ottawa-prepares-for-an-unprecedented-vaccination-campaign