A vaccine. Light at the end of the tunnel.
Of course, caution is required. This isn't the end but it might be the end of the beginning, or something. It'll be at least a few months.
Still - this is a great day.
Here are the not-dumbed-down actual facts (thus far), instead of the BoJoSchpiel.
(, Mon 9 Nov 2020, 18:27, Reply)
It needs to be stored at below -80 degrees C
"No problem" I thought - dry ice is readily available. The bloody stuff sublimates at -78.5!
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tarka_dall Like normal dall, only a bit more spicy, Mon 9 Nov 2020, 19:22,
Reply)
Light
But this won’t be the vaccine that you and I get due to some rather problematic handling requirements:
From the BBC:
“There are also massive manufacturing and logistical challenges in immunising huge numbers of people, as the vaccine has to be kept in ultra-cold storage at below minus 80C.”
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wheresthefish Partly filled with wrong, Mon 9 Nov 2020, 19:24,
Reply)
We can handle that
See freezer farms.
I mean, sure, it's a logistics thing.
Not a showstopper though.
It's fine.
The major concerns are;
a) Are there side-effects?
Probably nothing much, and so far, no. There's no reason to think there will be - but eh, caution. c/f thalidomide.
It was a relatively small trial, over a very short time.
b) Does it work for a long time?
We don't know. It was tested over a week.
Other similar vaccines tend to provide immunity for months or years; some need a "booster". We won't know that until months/years have passed.
(, Mon 9 Nov 2020, 20:31, Reply)
We *can* handle it
But it puts the cost per dose way up. This will get rolled out to the NHS and frontline services. The general population is far more likely to receive one of the other vaccines that will be far easier to handle.
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wheresthefish Partly filled with wrong, Mon 9 Nov 2020, 20:52,
Reply)
Oohhh!
I hope I get it right in the ass!
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ivesb Highly specialised Clinical Physiologist crapbag, Mon 9 Nov 2020, 21:38,
Reply)
Don't worry about the -80C cold chain.
The vaccine can be safely stored at -20C (in the realms of a normal freezer) for shortish periods of time, and needs to be defrosted before injection anyway.
The -80C cold chain will only be needed for the backbone of storage and delivery to hubs. A standard cold chain infrastructure will do for the spokes to vaccination points.
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sm.pl.crt.rs I don't fucking know, do I?, Mon 9 Nov 2020, 23:42,
Reply)
Normal refrigerator for a few days now.
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FeralCatMan Long ads need comments sections, Tue 10 Nov 2020, 16:51,
Reply)