WHO director general says there might never be a 'silver bullet' against coronavirus

[brooklynite]

Source: Washington Post

Despite growing momentum in the search for a safe and effective coronavirus vaccine, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned Monday that “there’s no silver bullet at the moment, and there might never be.”

In a live-streamed briefing, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that “a number of vaccines are now in Phase 3 clinical trials, and we all hope to have a number of effective vaccines that can help prevent people from infection.”

He cautioned, however, that “of course there are concerns that we may not have a vaccine that may work. Or its protection could be for just [a] few months, not more. But until we finish the clinical trials, we will not know.”

“For now, stopping outbreaks comes down to the basics of public health and disease control,” Tedros said.


Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/08/03/coronavirus-covid-live-updates-us/

[no_hypocrisy]

1. I tend to agree there may never be that "silver bullet," if only for these reasons:

1. There are six varieties of Covid-19 and that number could not be the definitive number. That could mean six or more vaccines needed.

2. There is a notable number of anti-vaccine people who would rather die and let their children die, rather than partake of any vaccine. Even if there were a dependable vaccine, there will be a contingent of virus-spreaders out there. Thus, the virus and the tragedies will live past the expected reductions.

[Blues Heron]

3. Six types of the disease

There’s only one virus though. The mutations so far seem irrelevant except for tracking purposes and there are far more than six mutations

[NutmegYankee]

6. Only one virus.

There are 6 different symptom types - probably more related to viral dose and overall health condition.

Public law and even SCOTUS decisions allow the government to vaccinate people against their will. If need be, we can either arrest them and stick 'em or stuff 'em in a crowded prison and allow the antibodies to develop by alternate means. I have zero fucks left to give for anti-vaxxers.

[Merlot]

2. Which is why I hope they can create an instant test

If we had an instant test employees and students could be checked every morning on their way in.

I had to wait a week to get a check from a company because the only person who sign the check was quarantined while waiting for test results. 7 days later the test was negative and I got my check. That's just a stupid waste of resources.

Instant testing is our only way out of this. Even if we do get a vaccine, distribution and cost will assure that not everyone gets access.

[napi21]

7. There isn't an instant test but there is one that gives results in less than 15 mins. That's what

they've been using at the WH & Congress. From what I've heard they're using the same tests in several locations but but there's ad shortage of whatever the tests are made from. I don't know if there's only one mfg. or what the problem is but I do know they're trying to expand usage everywhere. If you loistened to the Docs in the news in the recent days they all said when test results take nore than 4 days they're useless.

[Merlot]

8. 15 minutes is instant, when compared to 7 days.

I don't think we can be a functioning society without 15 minute tests being widespread.

[world wide wally]

4. Do we have a cure for the common cold yet?

[Initech]

5. So does that mean that we're doomed to live like this forever?

I hope not, because this COVID world blows, and it can bite me. And no, I will never, EVER get used to it, or accept reality for what it is right now. Pandemics are the worst.

[napi21]

9. If theres never a vaccine, sooner or later we'll all have gotten the virus and have the antibodies

our internal system creates thus we'll have immunity. Not a great solution but it's the only one I see.

[Yavin4]

10. And this is why we should be concentrating more on treatments instead.

We don't have a vaccine for HIV, but we do have treatments that lessen the mortality rate. That's what the world should be concentrating on. You may contract the virus, but you won't die.