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THIS WEEK THE companies behind one of the Covid-19 vaccine front-runners announced encouraging results from its Phase 3 trial, stating that the vaccine is 90% effective.
Though health officials and politicians have been cautious in their optimism – the full data hasn’t been published, peer reviewed or assessed by regulators yet – they have said it is a positive indication as we head towards the end of 2020.
Following the announcement from Pfizer/BioNTech about their vaccine candidate, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said the Commission will authorise a contract for up to 300 million doses.
She described the vaccine as “the most promising so far” out of all the potential vaccines.
The Commission has also reached agreements with three other companies that have a vaccine in development:
England’s chief medical officer this week said he was hopeful the first vaccine could be seen by Christmas. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he expects to have 10 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine by the end of the year if it is authorised by regulators and the NHS has reportedly been told to prepare for mass vaccinations in December.
Health officials and political leaders in Ireland have held back on these kinds of ambitious commitments.
Speaking to RTÉ’s News At One yesterday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he believes priority groups will receive a vaccine towards the first half of 2021. He said those who are not considered at high risk will likely have to wait until the middle of the year or later.
“I don’t have precise knowledge on this yet because a lot depends on the clinical trials, coming through the regulatory authorities in Europe and the FDA in the United States, and then you’re into distribution, logistics, manufacturing as well.
Now some of the companies are manufacturing in advance, and Europe has entered into pre-purchase agreements and we’re part of that.”
Earlier this week HSE CEO Paul Reid said health services across the world will face a number of logistical challenges once vaccines are approved for use.
“Glass vials, which are needed for the manufacturing and distribution will be in high demand across the world,” he said.
“Right now there’s a lot of manufacturing processes that will be in high demand. The transportation between ports to storage locations, there will be a mass demand for vehicles and trucks that can have that storage capacity and they’re not widely available.”
He said there is some capacity in large pharmaceutical companies for the type of storage needed for the Pfizer vaccine and others that would need a very low temperature.
The new taskforce which has been established to oversee the rollout of a vaccine will look at all of these issues, he said.
The high-level vaccine taskforce will be tasked with co-ordinating preparations and ensuring the nationwide roll out of a Covid-19 vaccine when one is safe and ready to be distributed.
The group will be chaired by Professor Brian MacCraith, the former president of DCU. Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan will also be on vaccine taskforce, as will the HSE’s Paul Reid.
Senior civil servant and chair of the senior officials group on Covid-19, Liz Canavan; Barry Lowry, the government chief information officer; and Paul Quinn, the government chief procurement officer, will also sit on the taskforce.
In addition, there will be a nominee yet to be confirmed from the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, who will be a logistics cold chain expert and a project management expert.
This vaccine uses molecules called ‘messenger RNA’ (mRNA) and is a vaccine approach that has never reached approval before.
Many traditional vaccines involve injecting people with a small amount of the virus.
With this new approach, the immune system never has to be exposed to the actual virus. Instead, it makes human cells grow what is know as spike proteins, causing the immune system to produce antibodies against the virus.
The Pfizer/BioNTech Phase 3 study enrolled 43,538 participants, 42% of whom have ‘diverse backgrounds’, according to the companies.
This included participants aged 65 to 85. It said no “serious safety concerns” have been observed. There have been 94 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in trial participants.
Pfizer/BioNTech said the vaccine was found to be more than 90% effective in preventing Covid-19 in participants.
The vaccine, like many of the others currently at Phase 3, require two doses. Clinicians have said this could cause logistical difficulties as it means twice the number of visits to a vaccination centre or wherever it is administered.
At best it could result in resource and administrative challenges in developed countries, but it presents a much more serious barrier for less developed countries.
Another serious roadblock is the temperature at which this vaccine needs to be stored: at -80 degrees.
For temperatures as cold as the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccination requires, dry ice has to be brought into the mix. Currently, the vaccine is shipped in coolers that can be fed with dry ice to keep it frozen for 15 days. After this it can be refrigerated for up to five days before being diluted and injected.
The medical community is already well familiar with the use of the ‘cold chain’ for vaccinations such as flu. But while laboratories have some experience with the use of dry ice, GPs and pharmacists who play a significant role in the vaccination programme do not have this kind of infrastructure. This is an obstacle – but not an insurmountable one.
This vaccine uses a different process to the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. It is what’s known as a a non-replicating viral vector vaccine.
Viral vector varieties use other forms of live virus to deliver DNA into human cells, triggering an immune response. A measles virus modified with a coronavirus protein, for example, could be deployed against Covid-19.
It only requires one dose, something that is likely to make it one of the most appealing candidates. The vaccine also does not require the intense cold temperatures needed for mRNA vaccines.
In September, trials on this coronavirus vaccine were paused after a UK volunteer developed an unexplained illness. British regulators and an independent review concluded the illness was not a side effect of the vaccine.
Last month it was confirmed that a volunteer participating in clinical trials of the vaccine developed by Oxford University had died, but the man had received a placebo, rather than the active vaccine.
The vaccine’s developers have said it produces an immune response in older age groups as well as in younger people. AstraZeneca and Oxford University have said data from their late-stage clinical trials are expected by the end of 2020.
This is also a non-replicating viral vector vaccine. It uses a dose of a cold-causing adenovirus, modified so that it can no longer replicate. This is combined with a part of the new virus, SARS-CoV-2, called the spike protein that it uses to invade human cells.
In October, the trial was paused over safety concerns after one patient became sick. The company has since said no clear cause was identified, but based on “information gathered to date and the input of independent experts”, it found no evidence that the vaccine candidate caused the event.
At the end of last month it said it was preparing to resume Phase 3 of its trial, for which it is enrolling up to 60,000 people across 180 sites. The company said this will include “significant representation from those who are over age 60″.
Pre-clinical testing on rhesus macaque monkeys that were published in the journal Nature showed this vaccine provided complete or near-complete protection against virus infection in the lungs and nose.
French company Sanofi and British firm GlaxoSmithKline’s vaccine candidate is still undergoing Phase 1 and 2 trials, with the first results expected at the end of this month or in early December.
The companies have signed an agreement with Covax, the global inoculation scheme backed by the World Health Organisation, to supply 200 million doses. It has also signed a US deal to supply more than 100 million doses.
This vaccine uses the same approach as one of its seasonal flu vaccines and is combined with a substance which boosts the vaccine.
Sanofi is also working with US company Translate Bio on an mRNA vaccine but this is at an earlier stage.
- With reporting by Christina Finn.
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Great to know. You don’t stop being a citizen when you lose your home.
Remember to answer the religion question honestly folks!
If you don’t practice, it’s ‘None’.
If in doubt.. Catholic’.
I’m with bopter that’s why I put down pastafarian
Make sure and wear a colander on your head when filling it out. Might as well look the part.
Indeed. The CSO on its website says you should answer with any religion you currently practise, not the one you were born into. If you do not practise a formal religion, please tick No Religion. The annoying thing is that it does not make this clear on the form, so many people will not understand and will just tick a religion because they were baptised.
The problem with that is that the state uses to census to plan for future services and weirdly they extrapolate that if you state a religion you will want your children to go to a state school where they will spend the entire school day having ‘faith formation’ in one narrow belief system only and substantially kept from discussion of anything that strays from the dogma.
The fact that so many who may identify as somewhat religious, and the growing numbers who are ditching religion, say in polls that they do not want that will likely not have as much weight. So if you want to see any kind of separation of church and state in our state services like education and health, tick No Religion!
The other reason that census results are always out of step with what people say about their beliefs in every other poll, survey and forum is that many older adults will complete the form for all adults in their household, including adult children, without asking them what they want to put down for their religion. That is wrong.
Anyone under my roof tomorrow night is going into the ‘Catholic’ box.
This is my right as head of the household.
Lies make baby Jesus cry, Cal.
Wow Cal you’re always banging on about atheists and feminists brainwashing people and ramming their opinions down other peoples throats, and yet here you are gloating about denying others the right to freedom of expression and freedom of religion.
Typical hypocritical thinking from a religious fanatic, and by the way you have no such right as “head of the household” to deny others their rights.
Them’s the rules fiachra.
Thems not the rules Cal…
Cal I will be completing the census in our household and as an atheist I will tick no religion but my husband wants to be marked RC, though non practising per se and as my children are in a Catholic school and take part in the religious curriculum, they will be marked Catholic. I hope someday we will all be marked no religion but for now I am being honest on the form. I could do what you’re doing but I don’t see that as my right
Just because you dont practice a religion doesn’t mean your not catholic. For some its a social thing. Don’t believe myself but still will probably get married and have a funeral in a church. Its a society thing. For some its about belonging.
cal: you sound a a gawbsh!te from dark ages ruled by patriarchal BS!
Can you be penalised for not doing it?
No.
It’s like the TV license. All talk and no action.
From the 2011 census, countrywide there was all of 5 convictions for not filling out the census. And the max fine from those 5 convictions was €500.
You would be breaking the law
Why not fill it in? From a market research point of view it actually is interesting.
According to the law no you can’t. 24.—(1) The Director General or an officer of statistics may invite any person or undertaking to— (a) complete a form, questionnaire or other record, (b) answer any questions, (c) provide any information or records, on a voluntary basis and any information so obtained shall be subject to the restrictions on use and prohibition on disclosure of information specified in sections 32 , 33 , 34 and 35 of this Act. (2) Persons and undertakings may provide information and records, or copies thereof, which they may possess to the Director General or officers of statistics on invitation under the provisions of this Act notwithstanding anything contained in the Data
Fines up to 44,000
Census 2016 Micro Analysing peoples lives to further ways of more taxation and control our freedoms.
Why is this census different to the previous census’ that practically has been around since the dawn of time?
Its every 5 years, it gets filled, forgotten until the next one. I don’t see why the uproar its causing to some people.
How exactly will the census ‘control our freedoms’?
The lizard people are using the census to compile information on us before they carry out their plot for world domination.
Is there a question on whether you own a tin foil hat?
I for one welcome our new lizard overlords
The whole of page 2 is a tax trap.
Strangest thing every happened me today, met John Denver after he awoke from the dead had a good chat with him, we hit it off great, long story short he said he’s going to call round to my house tomorrow and Fill Up My Census.
He’s leaving on a jetplane this evening.
He’s been smoking something that’s got him Rocky Mountain High….
With ya there Martin! Unfortunately someone in our house accepted the Census in our gaff. But it’ll be filled up with garbage. Anyone who believes that the census is a way of streamlining services is, to my mind anyway, naive. How did the 2011 census work out in relation to “streamlining” services. The census is a stock take (with us being the stock) and a way of seeing what the stock possesses…. with a view to introducing new taxes & charges.
“How did the 2011 census work out in relation to “streamlining” services.”
referring to what?
Seeing as the RCC uses the figures from the census to justify their grasp on schooling, for instance, it does have an impact on policy.
@Joe.
Dead right Joe.
When has any government EVER used this data for forward planning?
If it truly was the case why is our health service in meltdown and our housing programme non existent?
Makes no real difference at the end of the day.
This data will only be used to impose further taxation on an unwitting public.
They use it to analyse population demographics, ie is the population young in an area. Will they need more school places etc.. It’s easy enough when you stop moaning and actuality think of its benefits.
If you believe you should keep watching sky news
Those homeless will be delighted to feel so included in our society, I’m sure.
The statisticians must get their data, they just don’t give a damn how they get it,
Fake or made up is useless data. Whats the point?
Will the census include people in hospital and on trollies ? Serious question.
Of course.
Hotels, B n Bs, hostels, everywhere.
Everyone, even if youre just on holiday. Heads of IMF were legally oblidged to fill the last one out last time.
Haha…funny how you could face a fine up to 44,000 if you do not answer questions truthfully…yet if I run over a 2 yr old out of my.mind on drugs and drive off I face less than 5yrs in prison…funny country
While I understand the point of the CSO wishing to know whether you own your own home, either outright or by mortgage, or are renting either Local authority or private, I fail to see why they are entitled to know how much rent you pay. That and other financial questions do not appear to have anything to do with ‘demographics’ or indeed planning.
Rashers – look at the clamour for rent controls. If you think the state can’t ask for statistical purposes then surely the state has no right to interfere with private rental market like Kelly did ?
Food for thought, lavbeer. I shall ponder the question again. Many thanks.
I don’t pay/agree with water charges or the census, which we’re paying for already…
Good news – proper order.
Statistics Act 1993, Art 24 says “Voluntary Basis” What about Data Protection Act 1988, section 32, 33,34 and 35?
Leave nobody uncounted? It will leave six counties full of Irishman and women uncounted.
What about those who have left these shores for work???
The government says they want them to return but if they did then the government would have no record of them at all and what if they took home their new families, does that not prove this census is a joke?
have your say