- The Moderna vaccine is very similar to the Pfizer vaccine (mRNA for the virus spike protein). It should have a high likelihood of success, which will increase supplies if both are available. Also, it does not require the extreme refrigeration of the Pfizer vaccine. This may open wider distribution.
- Presuming no safety problems, supplies should be available early next year (January) for first responders and at risk care providers, followed by seniors and individuals with predisposing conditions and health problems. The general population should see adequate supplies by the spring (April-May). Students will be vaccinated before returning to school next fall.
- While the vaccine is a true game changer, it makes staying safe in the short term really important! If you are an at-risk person with medical problems it would be a tragedy to get infected with SARS-Cov-2 when an effective vaccine is only months away.
Like this:
Like Loading...
Related
Published by jbakerjrblog
Immunologist, former Army MD, former head of allergy and clinical immunology at University of Michigan, vaccine developer and opinionated guy.
View more posts
Pandemic Pondering 
Love your blog. Thanks for helping us through this. 🙂
Please excuse my brevity and any typos; this message was sent from my wireless device
>
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jim
I’m an allergist in Northern California and a big fan of the blog and you. Isn’t it important to discuss the prespecified parameters of the vaccine trials. 90% effective in preventing mild Covid-19 infections. Is there any data on effectiveness in preventing hospitalizations or deaths?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the important question. Data as of now only show decrease in symptomatic infections. While looking at hospitalizations and deaths will be valuable, if we decrease infections we will decrease transmission to at-risk individuals thereby decreasing likelihood of death or serious illness. It should be like flu vaccine, where immunizing young people protects the elderly (only better if the 90% number holds up).
The biggest issue will be whether people can still carry and spread the virus despite vaccine immunity. In a study we are publishing, that does not seem to be the case after natural infection, but we will want to see if this holds true with the vaccine. If the vaccine does not prevent this we will likely have to immunize almost everyone to prevent illness.
LikeLike
How does the strain(s) of the virus impact efficacy? I’m 6 months out and still antibody positive, any further data on long term natural immunity and likelihood of transmitting virus?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you are good to go. No evidence of strain difference or drop in immunity at the present.
LikeLike