Promising New Coronavirus Vaccine

[Alan Klein]

...and preventative measures like masks and isolation work against transmittable airborne diseases.  That's why I've done that for two years.  Aside from that, my point was I can't use colds against COvid as someone suggested because I haven't gotten any in two years because I've been careful.

...and?

[TechTalk]

Imperial College study concluded that making it through a common cold may protect you from covid.

LONDON, Jan 10 (Reuters) - High levels of T-cells from common cold coronaviruses can provide protection against COVID-19, an Imperial College London study published on Monday has found, which could inform approaches for second-generation vaccines.

The study, which began in September 2020, looked at levels of cross-reactive T-cells generated by previous common colds in 52 household contacts of positive COVID-19 cases shortly after exposure, to see if they went on to develop infection. It found that the 26 who did not develop infection had significantly higher levels of those T-cells than people who did get infected. Imperial did not say how long protection from the T-cells would last.

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/t-cells-common-colds-can-provide-protection-against-covid-19-study-2022-01-10/

"Imperial College study concluded that making it through a common cold may protect you from covid." As you said, it may. Well, there may be some possibility of some degree of protection. I can understand why that's what a lot of people will take away from this general news article. But, it's dependent on too many unknown factors and the small sample study basically suggests that vaccines that can generate cross-reactive T-cells are worth exploring as a possibility. As always, the devil is in the details.

The first thing that I would point to is the term "common cold". The common cold is common among people and has a common set of symptoms, but has no common cause. There are over 200 different viruses that cause common colds including rhinoviruses, coronaviruses, adenoviruses, and enteroviruses. Within each of those virus types are several specific viruses which can cause common cold symptoms. Only about 15% of common colds are caused by coronaviruses, the family of viruses that causes COVID-19. The overwhelming majority of common colds are caused by some other type of virus, primarily rhinoviruses.

The study analyzed a group of 26 people that previously had a cold from a coronavirus and who were also exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19 disease, but did not become infected. The researchers looked at a specific type of cross-reactive memory T cell (IL-2-secreting) as one possible factor limiting infection in that group.

Like all small studies of this type, the researchers included in their study report a number of limitations of the study. I'll cite a few of those. "It should be noted that 19/26 exposed uninfected contacts had no appreciable IL-2 response (i.e. >22 SFC/106 PBMC) to our cross-reactive pool." [Only 7 of the group of 26 displayed the cross-reactive memory T cell response.] "This is consistent with the inevitability that the mechanisms behind the phenomenon of exposed uninfected individuals are polyfactorial." [They recognize that there are many other factors that could limit infection in individuals.] "Shedding characteristics of index cases and the behavioural choices of the contact will contribute to the level of exposure" [Individual behaviors and level of exposure are unknowns in the study.]

All of the above is just to caution against giving too much weight to general news reports with regard to small studies. The Reuters report is accurate, but limited in scope and could lead some to jump to unwarranted conclusions.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_cold

https://www.nature.com/articles/Cross-reactive memory T cells associate with protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection in COVID-19 contacts

[TechTalk]

It would be interesting to know if regular flu shots also provide some protection. We've been getting annual flu shots since forever and we've noticed that we're far less bothered by colds (not to mention flus) than people we know who do not receive flu shots. Makes me wonder if this seeming resistance doesn't carry over to other infections more generally.

You're not alone in asking that question...

The Journal of Infectious Diseases - Published: January 5, 2022

Effect of influenza vaccination on risk of COVID-19 – A prospective cohort study of 46,000 health care workers

Summary

This cohort study of 46,112 health care workers examined the effect of influenza vaccination on hospitalization and symptoms due to COVID-19, and development of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Influenza vaccination had no effect on the specified outcomes.

https://academic.oup.com/jid/advance-article/Effect of influenza vaccination on risk of COVID-19

[TechTalk]

In recent vaccine news...

https://www.biospace.com/article/jpm-day-1-pfizer-bms-illumina-and-novavax

JPM Kicked Off with Fresh News from Pfizer, BMS, Illumina and Novavax - Published: January 11, 2022

The 2022 virtual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference got off to a roaring start Monday with deal announcements and plans to drive biopharma companies through the coming year. BioSpace takes a look at some of yesterday's presentations...

Novavax at a Turning Point

Maryland-based Novavax came into the conference with a bounce in its step as the company is poised to seek Emergency Use Authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine in the United States, as well as abroad. The company has already received authorization for the vaccine in several markets, including Europe, India, Indonesia and the Philippines. Within the next three months, the number of authorizations could include the U.S., the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan and others. Chief Executive Officer Stanley Erck said the company is at a major turning point.

"Over the past two years, we have built a company that is now a key player in the vaccines market. We have used our expertise with our validated and highly efficacious technology platform to make tremendous strides in delivering our protein-based COVID-19 vaccine to the world. Today, we have transitioned into a company that is poised to deliver our vaccines to all four corners of the world and we have expedited our progress in the last quarter of the year with broad authorizations and more to come," Erck said during his presentation Monday.

In addition to its COVID-19 vaccine, Novavax continues to develop its COVID-NanoFlu combination vaccine candidate, a significant component of the company's pipeline. The company plans to announce data from a Phase I/II study in the first half of this year. A Phase II study that will include a NanoFlu only arm is expected later this year.

[TechTalk]

And...

https://www.biospace.com/article/pfizer-triple-partners-for-future-mrna-vaccines-and-genetic-medicines

Pfizer Triple-Partners for Future mRNA Vaccines and Genetic Medicines - Published: January 10, 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light the incredible power of collaboration in the life science industry. Together, we get more done. Around 40% of Pfizer’s portfolio was realized through partnerships, and Monday, the pharma giant announced three more collaborative deals. 

Pfizer’s current spotlight, of course, is from its mRNA vaccine in the fight against the novel coronavirus. Developed in collaboration with Germany’s BioNTech, Comirnaty was the very first COVID-19 vaccine approved by the FDA. 

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine already uses Acuitas Therapeutics’ lipid nanoparticle technology. With a new agreement struck between the companies, Pfizer will “harness the power of the mRNA-LNP technology and deliver potential new breakthrough vaccines and therapeutics that address significant unmet needs for patients,” CSO and President of Worldwide R&D Mikael Dolsten said. The company plans to explore more projects in its existing vaccine areas and expand to new areas using the tech... 

Historically, Pfizer played a pivotal role in eradicating polio and smallpox. Current programs focus on preventing pneumococcal disease, influenza, RSV, Lyme disease, and more childhood, adolescent, and adult infections. The company shows 17 vaccine projects in the pipeline. 

Vaccines, once thought of as the red-headed stepchild compared to more lucrative drugs that require daily doses, have shot up in recent years with a few blockbuster vaccines like the one administered to prevent HPV. COVID-19 has swung the numbers wildly to the other side, with Pfizer expecting to make nearly as much from its vaccines in 2021 as it earned in total in 2020. Indeed, vaccines have become a lucrative industry, thanks to a global pandemic. 

[Alan Klein]

And...

https://www.biospace.com/article/pfizer-triple-partners-for-future-mrna-vaccines-and-genetic-medicines

Pfizer Triple-Partners for Future mRNA Vaccines and Genetic Medicines - Published: January 10, 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light the incredible power of collaboration in the life science industry. Together, we get more done. Around 40% of Pfizer’s portfolio was realized through partnerships, and Monday, the pharma giant announced three more collaborative deals. 

Pfizer’s current spotlight, of course, is from its mRNA vaccine in the fight against the novel coronavirus. Developed in collaboration with Germany’s BioNTech, Comirnaty was the very first COVID-19 vaccine approved by the FDA. 

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine already uses Acuitas Therapeutics’ lipid nanoparticle technology. With a new agreement struck between the companies, Pfizer will “harness the power of the mRNA-LNP technology and deliver potential new breakthrough vaccines and therapeutics that address significant unmet needs for patients,” CSO and President of Worldwide R&D Mikael Dolsten said. The company plans to explore more projects in its existing vaccine areas and expand to new areas using the tech... 

Historically, Pfizer played a pivotal role in eradicating polio and smallpox. Current programs focus on preventing pneumococcal disease, influenza, RSV, Lyme disease, and more childhood, adolescent, and adult infections. The company shows 17 vaccine projects in the pipeline. 

Vaccines, once thought of as the red-headed stepchild compared to more lucrative drugs that require daily doses, have shot up in recent years with a few blockbuster vaccines like the one administered to prevent HPV. COVID-19 has swung the numbers wildly to the other side, with Pfizer expecting to make nearly as much from its vaccines in 2021 as it earned in total in 2020. Indeed, vaccines have become a lucrative industry, thanks to a global pandemic. 

Lucrative for the pharma companies but not for the rest of the economy which has lost trillions, caused inflation, raised the debt, and put millions of people out of work.  Never mind the million killed and sick.  That kind of wealth we can do without.

[TechTalk]

Been there—done that.

[digitaldog]

You just can't make this (like Alan's) nonsense up:

US anti-vaxxers are now urging people to drink their own urine to fight coronavirus. Over the weekend, Christopher Key, the leader of an anti-Covid-19 vaccine group called the “Vaccine Police”, posted videos online extolling the health benefits of what he described as “urine therapy”. According to the wizard of wee, there is “tons and tons of research … [and] peer-reviewed published papers on urine”; so if you do your own pee-search you will discover it is God’s own antidote to Covid-19. “This vaccine is the worst bioweapon I have ever seen,” Key said. “I drink my own urine!”

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jan/11/anti-vaxxers-covid-drinking-urine-misinformation?CMP=oth_b-aplnews_d-1

It goes on:

Now, along with urine, the right seems to be fixated on Viagra and colloidal silver. Fox News’s Tucker Carlson, who has repeatedly questioned the efficacy and safety of Covid vaccines, recently dedicated a portion of his show to hyping the potential of Viagra as a potential cure. Carlson seized on the story of a British nurse reportedly recovering from a Covid-19 coma, after being given a dose of Viagra, to sing the little blue pill’s praises. “Is there anything [Viagra] doesn’t cure?” Carlson joked. Yes, I am afraid it does not appear to cure stupidity.

[Robert Roaldi]

Lucrative for the pharma companies but not for the rest of the economy which has lost trillions, caused inflation, raised the debt, and put millions of people out of work.  Never mind the million killed and sick.  That kind of wealth we can do without.

When the next and possibly more lethal virus shows up, we might be really grateful for the advances in vaccine tech.

[Alan Klein]

When the next and possibly more lethal virus shows up, we might be really grateful for the advances in vaccine tech.

I agree with you. Vaccines are great.  I was just pointing out that what is lucrative for the vaccine manufacturers means that the rest of the country is probably suffering.  Such is the case with Covid.

[Peter McLennan]

Lucrative for the pharma companies but not for the rest of the economy which has lost trillions, caused inflation, raised the debt, and put millions of people out of work.  Never mind the million killed and sick.  That kind of wealth we can do without.

I, for one, hope they get filthy rich from their endeavours.  That way, they'll have lots of money to do more research to bail out our collective ass again and maybe stop millions of kids from dying of malaria.  Every year.

Better money goes to them than Zuckerberg or Fox News.

[Peter McLennan]

I was just pointing out that what is lucrative for the vaccine manufacturers means that the rest of the country is probably suffering.

Horse poo.  Economics: It's not a zero sum game.

[Alan Klein]

The government's flip-flopping on what to do, how it works, what's the best regarding Covid, isolation, testing, vaccinations, etc. is getting more confusing day by day.  It seems they're following the economics and polling rather than the science.  There's no clear message going out?  Even Democrats are complaining.  What are the rest of us supposed to think and do?

Decoding what Biden health officials told Congress about Omicron
In contrast to previous oversight hearings on the administration’s Covid-19 response, Dems raised sharp questions and complaints on the state of the resurging pandemic.
Senators on Tuesday demanded clear answers from the Biden administration health officials on the state of the resurging pandemic and the government's short- and long-term plans for combating it. They mostly got jargon.

In contrast to previous oversight hearings on the Biden administration's Covid-19 response, Democrats on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee raised sharp questions and complaints about widespread “confusion and frustration” around who should isolate and for how long after a Covid exposure or diagnosis, or where and when to get tested.

“We want the Biden team to take advantage of the opportunity to speak directly to those frustrations and anxieties,” a senior Democratic aide told POLITICO heading into the hearing.

The answers may not assuage their fears.
https://www.politico.com/news/2022/01/11/covid-health-officials-congress-omicron-526950

[Alan Klein]

I, for one, hope they get filthy rich from their endeavours.  That way, they'll have lots of money to do more research to bail out our collective ass again and maybe stop millions of kids from dying of malaria.  Every year.

Better money goes to them than Zuckerberg or Fox News.

No one's arguing they shouldn't earn money. Yet, it's the Democrats who want to control their profits by law which will mean less research and fewer drugs.  Biden already proposed they should be forced to develop vaccines for no or little profit.   Who's side is he on? (As an aside, you and other Canadians pay less for the same drugs we get here in America for a lot more.  They really stick it to us.)

[Alan Klein]

This is in my home state here in New Jersey.  I have spoken to two friends just tonight who had Omicron and also both had the vaccines.  One said it was just like a bad cold but his wife got hit harder.  The other guy said he was down and out for four days.  I think I'm going to isolate but I have a feeling that this thing is going to hit everyone. 

Today, I had to go with my wife to NYC for some medical tests, standard stuff, not related to Covid.  The main highways are still relatively empty even during morning rush hour.  I flew through the Lincoln tunnel from NJ into Manhattan at 50mph.  No wait at the toll booth; just flew through. That's not a good sign for the economy. 

New Jersey declares state of emergency over omicron variant
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) declared a state of emergency on Tuesday due to the omicron variant of the coronavirus, which has caused cases to spike around the country.

The governor said the state of emergency will allow local hospitals to access state resources easier as facilities have begun to be overwhelmed.

Murphy said New Jersey was recording 35,000 new coronavirus cases a day with more than 10,000 current hospitalizations.
https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/589257-new-jersey-declares-state-of-emergency-over-omicron-variant

[LesPalenik]

No one's arguing they shouldn't earn money. Yet, it's the Democrats who want to control their profits by law which will mean less research and fewer drugs.  Biden already proposed they should be forced to develop vaccines for no or little profit.   Who's side is he on? (As an aside, you and other Canadians pay less for the same drugs we get here in America for a lot more.  They really stick it to us.)

The drugs are even cheaper in Mexico. So are the dental procedures. The government of Utah is now paying public employees to travel to Mexico to fill their prescription medications in a program aimed at reducing the high cost of prescription drugs

Ann Lovell had never owned a passport before last year. Now, the 62-year-old teacher is a frequent flier, traveling every few months to Tijuana, Mexico, to buy medication for rheumatoid arthritis — with tickets paid for by the state of Utah’s public insurer. Lovell is one of about 10 state workers participating in a year-old program to lower prescription drug costs by having public employees buy their medication in Mexico at a steep discount compared to U.S. prices. The program appears to be the first of its kind, and is a dramatic example of steps states are taking to alleviate the high cost of prescription drugs.

The cost difference is so large that the state's insurance program for public employees can pay for each patient’s flight, give them a $500-per-trip bonus and still save tens of thousands of dollars.

https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/utah-sends-employees-mexico-lower-prescription-prices-68861516

[Alan Klein]

The drugs are even cheaper in Mexico. So are the dental procedures. The government of Utah is now paying public employees to travel to Mexico to fill their prescription medications in a program aimed at reducing the high cost of prescription drugs

https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/utah-sends-employees-mexico-lower-prescription-prices-68861516

Here's an interesting take on reducing costs.  It's basically a fine for causing higher costs in Canadian hospitals for the unvaccinated.  But that begs the question.  Why not impose penalties on people who smoke, are fat, who drink, who used toxic chemicals to develop film, etc.?  Do we want the government to penalize us for our social habits? Where does it end?

Covid: Quebec to impose health tax on unvaccinated Canadians
The Canadian province of Quebec announced Tuesday that residents who have refused a Covid-19 vaccine will soon have to pay a fine.

The fines will be a way for the unvaccinated to contribute to an overburdened public health care system, authorities said.
"Right now, these people, they put a very important burden on our health care network, and I think it's normal that the majority of the population is asking that there be a consequence," Quebec Premier François Legault said at a news conference Tuesday.
https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/11/americas/quebec-vaccine-mandatory-fine-canada-intl/index.html

[LesPalenik]

That Quebec policy should work.

[TechTalk]

Get comfortable, it's gonna be a long ride.

[Robert Roaldi]

You're not alone in asking that question...

The Journal of Infectious Diseases - Published: January 5, 2022

Effect of influenza vaccination on risk of COVID-19 – A prospective cohort study of 46,000 health care workers

Summary

This cohort study of 46,112 health care workers examined the effect of influenza vaccination on hospitalization and symptoms due to COVID-19, and development of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Influenza vaccination had no effect on the specified outcomes.

https://academic.oup.com/jid/advance-article/Effect of influenza vaccination on risk of COVID-19

Thanks very much.