Current Affairs Coronavirus Thread - Serious stuff !!!

[Chris O'Connor]

You think they’ll be a variant more deadly than the original virus that will completely evade the vaccine to such an extent it will cause mass death?

That’s some prediction, I must say. What’s your reasoning for this?

I mean, we all know variants are a danger, but they’re just the nature of this virus and it would surprise me to see mass deaths as the result of a new variant.

The methodology of all the current vaccines in use basically depend on the structure of just one of the proteins that exist on the surface of the Covid virus remaining largely intact.

Any protein has its own DNA and specific structure unique to that protein, so any mutations that significantly change that structure will in effect mean it will 'look different' and have a different 'shape'.

Currently the vaccines in production trigger the body to produce antibodies which will recognise the surface protein's current 'shape' and will therefore attack and destroy the virus which has that protein on its outer surface.

(antibodies are the body's natural defence mechanism - the body's naturally produced attack weapons against the virus if you like - the vaccines are currently successful because they induce the body to produce these antibodies specifically against the Covid virus's CURRENT surface protein 'shape' )

The South African and Brazilian mutations are so dangerous because they significantly change the 'shape' of the Covid virus's surface protein in more than one place on the protein. The body's vaccine induced defenders - their attack weapons - the before mentioned antibodies are looking for a particularly shaped protein but have difficulty recognising that protein if it's significantly changed it's 'shape', and therefore are far less effective in targeting the protein and subsequently killing the Covid virus which has the protein on its surface.

This may sound long winded but is simpler to demonstrate with pictures tbh but I've had to try and just use words.

The new generation of super vaccines being developed will not target that surface protein at all, so any change of 'shape' shouldn't matter, instead it will target a protein that exists within the core of the virus itself which is far less susceptible to changes from mutations than proteins sticking out on the surface of the virus. The super vaccines will therefore hopefully be far more resilient and lasting without having to be supplemented by boosters at a later date.

The work currently going in at Oxford envisages a timescale of something far less than a year before they're ready for production. With techniques and testing scenarios already in place it could be fast tracked through and ready for next January.

 

[davek]

Thats one of the many scenarios that could happen.

You talk about it like it’s inevitable, it isn’t.

They’ll be bumps along the road and I’ll be surprised if this roadmap happens in the timeline stated, but a variant that completely bypasses the vaccine and causes another load of mass deaths seem highly unlikely to me.

Not unlikely. Very possible. And as such we need to be cautious about ending restrictions and more forceful with suppression strategy.

 

[davek]

Every day is like Sunday
Every day is silent and grey
Come Armageddon
Come

* good to see your crystal ball is up and running again.

Top scientists are saying this. I dont think they rely on crystal balls.

 

[davek]

As I said. Let's give it a month and see which one of us is right. You predict a spike. I predict a slowdown in the reduction to the infections

I think we can hear in the words of the government now that they're rowing back on the impact vaccines will have.

What they should also be doing is taking to task their own death cultists the Covid *Recovery* Group and underlining that the June 21st end of the lockdown date is only happening under perfect conditions and that there will be delays if there isn't a suppression of the virus or its variants.

 

[davek]

Some scientists are saying things could 'possibly' happen.

If we are going off real hard evidence all evidence points towards the vaccine preventing death from every known variant. The simple fact is everyone has to reopen. In my opinion I'm starting to think certain things such as pubs should be reopened sooner as the vaccine results are brilliant. 700,000 tests a day with positive rates of around 1%. The vaccine has saved us and its time to rejoice.

This is ridiculous and will result in massive fatalities.

 

[Barnfred 55]

I think we can hear in the words of the government now that they're rowing back on the impact vaccines will have.

What they should also be doing is taking to task their own death cultists the Covid *Recovery* Group and underlining that the June 21st end of the lockdown date is only happening under perfect conditions and that there will be delays if there isn't a suppression of the virus or its variants.

Dave. I'd rather wait and see what happens than lose any sleep over your scaremongering. But please carry on preaching to your disciples on here

 

[grandjoeblue]

This is ridiculous and will result in massive fatalities.

Dave its time for reopening. Even the lockdown states such as New York in USA have realised that certain things have to be opened. Outdoor activity is 100% safe. Every outdoor activity should be open straight away as risk is minimal.

 

[davek]

Covid-19: EMA to review Russian-developed vaccine as part of first step towards EU approval

Russia said it is ready to provide vaccines for 50 million Europeans.

www.thejournal.ie

The Cold War BS shelved because they're desperate for supplies.

"Soft power" my arse.

 

[davek]

Dave. I'd rather wait and see what happens than lose any sleep over your scaremongering. But please carry on preaching to your disciples on here

There is no scaremongering, unless you count linking an article from Reuters from bona fide scientists as scaremongering.

You sound like one of those people who complains about news programmes because they don't have enough stories about cats stranded up trees or the world face gurning championships.

You cant remain a Pollyanna while all this is going on.

 

[peteblue]

Covid-19: EMA to review Russian-developed vaccine as part of first step towards EU approval

Russia said it is ready to provide vaccines for 50 million Europeans.

www.thejournal.ie

I keep reading this about Russia giving X,Y and Z so many millions of Vaccines. So how come Russia has only given 5 million to its own people ?.......

 

[davek]

Dave its time for reopening. Even the lockdown states such as New York in USA have realised that certain things have to be opened. Outdoor activity is 100% safe. Every outdoor activity should be open straight away as risk is minimal.

I think we'll see in the next few weeks after the schools reopen and infection levels rise a real struggle over the dates of ending lockdown. Johnson will tend to cave to his "libertarian" right and open, but it'll be the biggest decision of his life and it'll define his premiership. The political stakes are massive. Even a piss poor LP would start to romp away from the Tories if they balls this up a third time and hand us another 100,000 dead.

 

[davek]

I keep reading this about Russia giving X,Y and Z so many millions of Vaccines. So how come Russia has only given 5 million to its own people ?.......

They've produced just 10 million doses and handed 4 million jabs out. Production is the issue, not efficacy.

 

[spectateur]

Dave,there won't be 100k deaths next time round. A large proportion of those came from the virus ripping through care homes full of fragile people. They can only die once.

 

[Barnfred 55]

There is no scaremongering, unless you count linking an article from Reuters from bona fide scientists as scaremongering.

You sound like one of those people who complains about news programmes because they don't have enough stories about cats stranded up trees or the world face gurning championships.

You cant remain a Pollyanna while all this is going on.

Yes it is scaremongering Dave. You quote the one publication that agrees with your warped views whilst totallly ignoring the other 19 that state the opposite. The scientific data coming out is overwhelmingly positive as is the general optimism across the U.K. Go and hide behind the settee if you want. It's your life and if you want to live it being negative and miserable that's your call.

 

[davek]

Dave,there won't be 100k deaths next time round. A large proportion of those came from the virus ripping through care homes full of fragile people. They can only die once.

Let's hope so. But we need to be guarded over variants that can place us in a worse position than even this.