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( 10th August)
I realise that members may have seen reports that " a number of leading scientists in the fight against coronavirus are giving evidence to MPs around vaccines and the future of the pandemic.
Experts will be speaking to politicians in the All-Party Parliamentary Group on coronavirus during an evidence session today. "

The Manchester Evening News has been giving a running summary of what has been said so I am posting a link as there have been several interesting points covered. For those who want a brief idea of some of the main points .......

Quote:

Seven things we learned from leading Covid scientists today - from 'mythical' herd immunity to 'inevitable' vaccine-escaping variants
Herd immunity is 'not a possibility' with the Delta variant, while new variants that can escape the protection of a vaccine are 'inevitable', leading scientists have told MPs today.

A number of the UK's leading experts gave evidence to members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Coronavirus about vaccines and the future of the pandemic.

Professor Sir Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, said the idea of her immunity was 'mythical' as he warned that 'anyone who’s still unvaccinated, at some point, will meet the virus'.

The group also heard from Professor Paul Hunter, from the University of East Anglia, who said it was 'absolutely inevitable' new variants that can escape the protection of the vaccine will emerge in the future.

He predicted that seasonal coronaviruses will infect people repeatedly - on average every four or five years.

Scientists also encouraged the government to focus additional effort on assisting with the pandemic overseas.

Some suggested that excess vaccine supplies should be sent abroad before they are considered for use in a booster programme in the UK.

While there were warnings that the UK faced a 'bumpy' period through winter, Prof Pollard suggested that the next six months will see a period of 'increasing confidence' as people learn how to live with Covid-19 post-lockdown.

Actual figures that have been supplied, and other topics can be read in the full article.
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co...id-19-21271745

JCVI now talking down boosters for over 50s. Clearly they must be under pressure to use the limited supply of Pfizer on the weans.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfman (Post 36089379)

JCVI now talking down boosters for over 50s. Clearly they must be under pressure to use the limited supply of Pfizer on the weans.

Haven't they just placed an order costing over $1bn with Pfizer (they hiked their prices)

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrmistoffelees (Post 36089383)

Haven't they just placed an order costing over $1bn with Pfizer (they hiked their prices)

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/14...lion-pound-ont

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrmistoffelees (Post 36089383)

Haven't they just placed an order costing over $1bn with Pfizer (they hiked their prices)

It’s good to know they are planning ahead, but the chances of those being delivered any time soon must be extremely small.

In the meantime political appointed academics of the JCVI will provide all the political cover the Government needs.

As an add on its now been confirmed this is 35m doses for an Autumn 2022 booster campaign.

At least it confirms that a booster campaign will be valuable, even if we don’t have the doses to do it now.

*phew* thank goodness the experts say we will need a booster, otherwise they'll be a waste eh

A booster for an as yet unknown variant, if there is one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carth (Post 36089430)

*phew* thank goodness the experts say we will need a booster, otherwise they'll be a waste eh

Well Carth it’s slightly more complicated.

While we don’t have enough doses “the science” says we don’t. We should give it to poor people, but thankfully when we say “we” we mean other people, or the Oxford vaccine we won’t give to under 40s. However, once we take delivery of millions of shiny new Pfizer doses, “the science” recommends them for us.

but ... but .. isn't that like a shop selling brand new 60" TV's for £50 when they have none, but selling them for £600 when they get more stock in?

There's not enough detail here on the 2022 boosters - will they be the same formulation as the current vaccine or a new spike sequence to cover any variants? It would be smart to cover your bases and allow a 'new and improved' vaccine to come through now the principle has been proved.

Clearly the current vaccines are 'leaky', allowing infections and even severe disease in a very small number of cases so improvements could potentially be made.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonbxx (Post 36089437)

Pfizer are certainly working on a version of their vaccine to increase efficacy against Delta.

https://cdn.pfizer.com/pfizercom/202...nal_7.8.21.pdf

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonbxx (Post 36089437)

There's not enough detail here on the 2022 boosters - will they be the same formulation as the current vaccine or a new spike sequence to cover any variants?

I suspect that they will be tailored towards the most prevalent and dangerous variants, as they already do with 'flu jabs.

But, as always, W.H.O. will advise, but it's up to individual governments to choose the strains they want to protect us from.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfman (Post 36089441)

Pfizer are certainly working on a version of their vaccine to increase efficacy against Delta.

https://cdn.pfizer.com/pfizercom/202...nal_7.8.21.pdf

I should imagine the other vaccine producers are doing the same.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pip08456 (Post 36089450)

I should imagine the other vaccine producers are doing the same.

Certainly, AZ are, they confirmed this some weeks ago.

The scientists are looking at whether those who have had the AZ vaccines would benefit from the Pfizer booster and vice versa. I’m still considering whether I trust Pfizer, but there are no worrying ill effects yet.