According to the Media, scientists will be working on getting One vaccine covering all the corona viruses (flu, sars, mers, covid-19 ). Sounds good!
Perhaps, they'll also try to reach the goal of One dose instead of two; One bottle for one dose (not 6 doses out of one little bottle); Vaccination - Once in five years , not once a year or twice a year (the present vaccine for covid-19, is valid for half a year only, and then what? There's talk about a third dose in summer...)
Now the storage issue, Pfeizer has just announced -15 degreeC freezing temperature will be enough, no need for -70 degree. Wow! What happened, that's a huge gap! Difficulty with logistics, I presume, fear of losing customers to Moderna, Astra Zeneca, and others...
"Something is rotten in the land of Science" ( to paraphrase Hamlet's saying on Denmark).
Scientists are only secondary players; they are in the hands of those who fund the research - usually the pharmacy companies - and play by their rules. In fact, they are called 'pharmaceutical scientists'. They spend most of the time in a laboratory, performing tasks related to the research, development, and testing of pharmaceutical drugs.
The pharma companies are good at manipulating and making us dependent on them. The flu vaccine, for example, does not prevent one from getting the flu; it just makes the flu milder, if, and when one gets it. That's what they promise. So, we live on promises, and we obediently go for the yearly jab.
Worth mentioning - the mask that we are supposed to wear now for covid-19 is quite effective against the flu virus; almost no cases of flu this year! Unbelievable! I probably won't give up the mask ( at least during winter) even if we'll be allowed to do so.
As for covid-19, they tell us the same story : the vaccine causes the illness to be lighter, and easier to handle. However, this time - urgency times - in order to encourage people to come and get the vaccine (vaccination open here to all ages), they've added something of which they are not entirely sure about, namely, that it also prevents spreading of the virus , helps achieving herd immunity, and puts an end to the pandemic.
We're having general elections next month, and , sadly, corona's part of the campaign of all politicians. It looks rather ugly with lots of fake news and disinformation. Doctors and top Health Ministry officials, are also IN; after they get the budgets they want for their hospitals, they'll say whatever one wishes them to say.
Restrictions are being lifted , and there's worry about the outcome. A rise in the number of corona cases is expected by the end of the month. May God help us!
Hopeful times!
ReplyDeleteThe hope is the end of the pandemic,but nobody knows when this will come.
DeleteIn spite of new discoveries and how to get the vaccine, it can still be worrisome. It is hard to keep calm during all of this. Thanks so much for the update!
ReplyDeleteIt is worisome, ellie.
DeleteThere's a rise in cases of children and teens. The british variant loves them young. Schools were mostly closed, but parents exert pressure to open them. So, there's a feeling of upcoming disaster in the air.
I have noticed an increase in people coming to the library. But our curbside service for books has increased too. Everyone does wear a mask and we still have up other barriers in place. And someone always finds time to write on the women's bathroom wall. And still we do our best to keep our distance from each other. At least the snow has melted a little.
DeleteSo, what you're saying is that things seem to go back to normal, yet..still distancing, barriers, masks. So, it should be, everything with caution. The pandemic is not over yet.
DeleteIt has always been a bit of a question for me as to how big companies gain so much power. When we say Monsanto did this, or Pfizer did that, what we really mean is that people - people like you and me - did it. What happens to individuals who get into positions of authority with major corporations that causes them to their moral compass, lie, conceal the facts, misrepresent the truth and mercilessly persecute those who dare to act on their conscience? These people go home to their families, knowing all the while that they are doing bad things. It has happened with the tobacco industry, the fossil fuel industry, the pharmaceutical industry.... and on and on. And there is no indication that it will ever stop.
ReplyDeleteHow? Quite simple. These companies exploit the aspirations of politicians,scientists,doctors,journalists, and others in line.
DeleteThe vaccine is part of a whole bargain that includes: mask, distancing, lockdown. It cannot defeat the virus alone.(The virus might go away the way it came, naturally, but if you want to make it go away, you have to use the entire tool box).
Now, take a look at our country. The PM cannot or doesn't want to control his coalition pals, the ultra-orthodox, who have ignored all restrictions and turned their neighborhoods into red zones endangering the whole population, so he comes up with what he sees as the ultimate solution - vaccines.
Since we're before general electioms (next month), he wants everyone vaccinated before that date, hoping he will appear as some kind of savior. Doctors and others seem to cooperate with him, altough they know the truth. People who refuse to get vaccinated are threatened with all kinds of laws.
Big business is always a problem. WIth big corporations able to lobby governments...
ReplyDeleteI think the scientists are learning so much, and will prevail. The vaccine doesn't prevent COVID, either. It lessens symptoms, which is good.,
Yes, 'big' can be quite a problem: big companies, big governments, big lobbies...
DeleteThe covid-19 crisis has opened the eyes to many, me included. In 'normal' times, because we're under attack of a lot of slogans, even if we see things, we ignore them : the government doesn't rule, the nation is divided, the police is impotent, education's a facade etc..During a pandemic all this gets the right proportions, but it's usually too late.
There are so many advances in such a short time. We can only hope. I heard some promising research out of Israel that even just one of Pfizer (I think) is 80 percent effective. I hope so. You're right about the funding. All the science in the world won't help if they can't get the money for it.
ReplyDeleteYou'll hear a lot of these things: 80%, 90%,95.5% effective etc..These numbers tell nothing, only the beds in the hospital reflect the situation.
DeleteThe vaccine hasn't been available to me yet. They are still vaccinating health care workers and people over 65 here. So I'm still waiting.
ReplyDeleteMary dear, In Israel they'll beg you to get vaccinated.
DeleteHealth care workers, teachers, elderly people, have priority everywhere.
Now the emphasis seems to be on young people as there's a rise in corona cases among them.
...and the pandemic continues.
ReplyDeleteHere in the UK the vaccination programme seems to be going well but we are still in lockdown.
There is talk that we may be able to see our families outside in the garden or park at the end of March, we wait to see what will be announced.
In the meantime thank goodness for the internet connection we have with loved ones.
All the best Jan
Yes, it does. we are not even near to see the end of it.
DeleteHere, they've started to lift restrictions, and...at the same time talk about a probable fourth lockdown. One doesn't have to be a prophet to know that with places open and all kinds of festivities on - the rise in corona cases will be significant.
I wish journalists had more integrity. I'm tired of fake news.
ReplyDeleteWe're all tired and even disgusted of their lack of integrity and use of fake news.Sadly, no chance things are going to improve in the near future.
DeleteGreat post which is unfortunately true Science often in the pockets of money and power.
ReplyDeleteIt is al a bit scary. When the vaccine can't prevent to pass the virus on we will have to live with it. Life changed forever. Here they just started vaccination. If I want to visit my family one day then vaccination will be compulsory. We are blessed to be Corona free in NZ for now. In Holland it's bad and they have a curfew at night and shops are still closed. Mmm don't know where it is al heading
That's what many say: we'll have to live with it, adjust to it, whatever that means.
DeleteNew Zealand should be a model to all countries; she has acted quickly and efficiently. It has good government and quality, obedient population. May it go on like this - namely, to be corona free.
It's all very confusing...and in too many instances, hypocritical. It is a topsy-turvy world we are living in...more so at the moment, in my opinion. It's difficult and uncomfortable living in a state of confusion. One day it is one thing...the next day another...
ReplyDeleteTake good care, DUTA. :)
Indee, confusion all around, and it's going to be like that for quite a while. We'll need patience and strong nerves to help us overcome the present state of things.
DeleteI think everyone is fed up with Covid, for many reasons, mostly the confusing messages we are getting from the governments. I can't help but feel that there is a hidden agenda going on...
ReplyDeleteHere, it 's clear that covid-19 has become a political matter, and that is quite frightening. It can lead to very dangerous consequences which have nothing to do with ending the pandemic.
Deletei think that good vaccine will be our hope for returning fo normal life...
ReplyDeleteHi Kathy,
DeleteVaccine is good, and people should get vaccinated. It can bring us near to normality of life.
It's just that I'm against trying to deceive the public the way politicians do.
I heard your country will be 100% vaccinated.
ReplyDeleteSounds great!
Sounds great, but actually it might not be that great as there are people who for some reason or another (mainly medical ones)refuse to get vaccinated.
DeleteWell, they are threatened with all kinds of retaliations.
Johnson and Johnson already has a one does vaccine. I'm waiting until I can get that one.
ReplyDeleteJohnson and Johnson sounds good - one dose vaccine, all the other are two-dose vaccines (and there will be a third dose too for full efficiency).
DeleteHowever, it will depend on whether your Health Care Authority buys it and distributes it. It's not what you want but what they plan.
Even after getting vaccinated, I do not expect things will be changing in the near future. To say that everyone is in this for the longer haul is perhaps not an exaggeration.
ReplyDeleteThat's the right attitude, Beatrice! We've got to be cautious about our deeds and plans as the pandemic is not over yet, and we have no idea when and how this will happen. We can only hope for the better.
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ReplyDelete