Coronavirus vaccine with 90% protection was just announced.

tstorm823

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Do you actually think they would delay it just for some insignificant influence in some election ? And yes, delaying publication of test results would delay the drug itself.
I don't believe it would delay the drug itself. These are still early results of ongoing trials that need to be finished regardless.

They did delay the results. We know they delayed it. They originally planned to announce with fewer infections, and then delayed until more occurred. They had to have told the people working with them "hey, we're holding out results until we get some more infections". This isn't an improbable event, it's nearly certain that happened. The only missing information is why.
I did a bit more reading on this, and there's a significant problem with the Pfizer virus.

Apparently as a novel mRNA-based vaccine, it needs to be stored exceptionally cold. Like, -80C freezer cold. It's fair to say that an awful lot of surgeries won't have one, as they cost about ten times what a conventional -20C freezer does (and with considerably higher running costs). This makes it significantly harder to roll out, verging on all but useless in countries with less developed health systems.

It should get some decent use particularly early on whilst there are so few options, but in the long run we might be using other ones for mass vaccination.
My father is a pharmacist. He doesn't particularly expect to have access to this specific vaccine potentially ever, but if they do end up giving these vaccinations at the pharmacy, they will be scheduled in advance and the vaccine will be delivered on dry ice the day of vaccination, because they definitely do not have that freezer.

And if the vaccine announcement could have been a few days earlier or even a month earlier, how does that change how bad Trump did with regards to the pandemic? It's not like the vaccine was ready months ago and being stored until after the election just so Trump would lose.
It doesn't change the truth of things. It might change the lies. The lies told about Donald Trump live larger in the minds of Biden voters than the truth does.
 

Phoenixmgs

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It doesn't change the truth of things. It might change the lies. The lies told about Donald Trump live larger in the minds of Biden voters than the truth does.
You can say the exact same thing swapping Trump and Biden in that sentence. At the bar on Friday, a friend of a friend said Biden is a communist, there just ain't talking to those type of brainwashed people.
 

Agema

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My father is a pharmacist. He doesn't particularly expect to have access to this specific vaccine potentially ever, but if they do end up giving these vaccinations at the pharmacy, they will be scheduled in advance and the vaccine will be delivered on dry ice the day of vaccination, because they definitely do not have that freezer.
Yeah, I read that Pfizer's also been working on logistics for a lot of specialised refrigeratored delivery. Dry ice by my experience doesn't last long: leave a litre or two in a sealed 1-2 inch wall polystyrene box overnight and there'll be little if any left a day later, but it'll be enough get the goods to the location. It's not totally awful - apparently the vaccine reliably lasts 5 days if kept cold - but it's a limitation nonetheless.
 

stroopwafel

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Yeah, I read that Pfizer's also been working on logistics for a lot of specialised refrigeratored delivery. Dry ice by my experience doesn't last long: leave a litre or two in a sealed 1-2 inch wall polystyrene box overnight and there'll be little if any left a day later, but it'll be enough get the goods to the location. It's not totally awful - apparently the vaccine reliably lasts 5 days if kept cold - but it's a limitation nonetheless.
Sounds like a logistic nightmare. Apparently some of the bigger courier services also have cold storage so maybe they can set up vaccination posts around these premises to keep the lines with the distributor short. From what I undertand even most pharmacies don't have refrigirators that freeze below -70. Really a bummer that genetic material degrades so easily.
 

Kwak

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-80C...
That's going to feel extremely unpleasant going into the bloodstream.
 

Agema

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Just for reference, at what temperature other vaccines have to be stored?
Varies, but they'll usually last a few weeks in an ordinary fridge ~5C. A -20C freezer should keep them longer.

RNA is particularly unstable and prone to spontaneously breaking down compared to stuff like proteins.
 

tstorm823

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Yeah, I read that Pfizer's also been working on logistics for a lot of specialised refrigeratored delivery. Dry ice by my experience doesn't last long: leave a litre or two in a sealed 1-2 inch wall polystyrene box overnight and there'll be little if any left a day later, but it'll be enough get the goods to the location. It's not totally awful - apparently the vaccine reliably lasts 5 days if kept cold - but it's a limitation nonetheless.
I had this press release pop up for me today:

" The companies have developed specially designed, temperature-controlled thermal shippers utilizing dry ice to maintain temperature conditions of -70°C±10°C. They can be used be as temporary storage units for 15 days by refilling with dry ice. Each shipper contains a GPS-enabled thermal sensor to track the location and temperature of each vaccine shipment across their pre-set routes leveraging Pfizer’s broad distribution network."

So they are talking dry ice, but GPS enabled constantly temperature monitored dry ice. Which makes one wonder if gps enabled thermometers that measure to -70C are really so cheap and available as to be practical for mass distribution, but I'll take their word for it.
 

SupahEwok

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Which makes one wonder if gps enabled thermometers that measure to -70C are really so cheap and available as to be practical for mass distribution, but I'll take their word for it.
All it probably means is a thermometer that connects to the mobile-network connected GPS unit that shipping trucks already have for their corporate overlords to track them. Which is basically just a Bluetooth thermometer with a basic call-home program. Should be quite available.
 

tstorm823

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All it probably means is a thermometer that connects to the mobile-network connected GPS unit that shipping trucks already have for their corporate overlords to track them. Which is basically just a Bluetooth thermometer with a basic call-home program. Should be quite available.
Fair enough. I was imagining a gps unit for every case, but that is super unnecessary.
 

Gergar12

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Now the Pfizer plus Germany Biotech companies one is 95% effective but needs colder storage conditions than the Moderna one which is 94% but can be stored at freezing temperatures.

Also thank you Germany, even if I trash Merkel they generally have high-quality products like BMW, Volkswagon, and H&K.
 

Fieldy409

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Has anyone mentioned yet that Pfizer holds the record for the biggest settlement of a health fraud lawsuit?

Anti vaxxers will have a field day with that.
 

Redlin5

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Good news: Canada is working very very hard to prep logistics for roll out of Pfizer and the second one that's close to phase 3 approval (always forget its name) with doses already purchased. Glad to know there's a big hustle to do it right.

Bad news: I'm probably in the demographic to get it last. I mean, I want the vulnerable to get it before me naturally but it does little to help my personal dread of the damn virus.
 

tstorm823

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Good news: Canada is working very very hard to prep logistics for roll out of Pfizer and the second one that's close to phase 3 approval (always forget its name) with doses already purchased. Glad to know there's a big hustle to do it right.

Bad news: I'm probably in the demographic to get it last. I mean, I want the vulnerable to get it before me naturally but it does little to help my personal dread of the damn virus.
Good news: if you're last in line, it's because you shouldn't be personally dreading the virus in the first place.
 
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