Merlin1300 Loc: New England, But Now & Forever SoTX

Thanks TriX - I appreciate the insights. I do share your disdain for those who flaunt the simple recommendations - and don't wear masks or social distance. Heard immunity via immunization (or infection recovery - although I think I've seen vaccination is recommended even if you have recovered from Covid) is a valid goal - once the risks/benefits of the various vaccine candidates are a little better understood.
Even if it turns out receiving the MMR-II provides no benefit, as there is also essentially no risk (for most - see exclusions), nothing is lost (primum non nocere). If there IS benefit and little to no risk - well that's a win/win.
As for heavy-handedness - we are already witness to that in the closings of numerous small businesses - many of which may not recover. Whether it was justified or not will be up to the historians to determine.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

Today, the FDA advisers, voted 20-0, to approve Moderna's version of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Merlin1300 Loc: New England, But Now & Forever SoTX

Big Pharma #2 gets the Nod. Watching and waiting for the side effects (will likely be buried by the lamestream press - OK - I'm a cynic) and for the progress of the J&J vaccine. Astrazenica seems months behind the leaders.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

The “mainstream press” (CNN) immediately reported (serous) side effects by two citizens of the UK that received the vaccine today. There will be more, but you, as a physician, certainly know what a huge contribution vaccines of various types have made to our health as a civilization, perhaps only second to antibiotics - would you agree? I too have been critical of big pharma, but in this case, with >3500 dead yesterday, and the toll likely to increase, if this curtails the pandemic, the scientists at Pfizer at Moderna (and perhaps others) should share the Nobel prize for Medicine in my opinion.

Nigel7 Loc: Worcestershire. UK.

In the UK we are hoping for the go ahead on the Oxford University/AstraZenica vaccine by the end of this month. See this link for fuller details. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-55302595

Rabbott Loc: Grass Valley , California

Not just , no,, but HELL NO.

Merlin1300 Loc: New England, But Now & Forever SoTX

Both of the severe UK reactions had known severe allergies to just about anything besides air and water.
I remain unconvinced that any of the Pharma companies are doing this for "the Gipper".
They've All received billions to get this done. As such - they should not be considered for Any altruistic Prize.

Merlin1300 Loc: New England, But Now & Forever SoTX

You'd rather be dead than red?
You may get your wish.

Bill_de Loc: US

I'm still undecided. By the time they get to me we should see how bad side effects are. They reported one serious reaction occurred in Alaska that could have been life threatening. My next doctors appointment isn't until April, so I have time.

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TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I agree that there might just be a small profit motive involved

ricardo00

Just to clarify a few things, Moderna is not "big pharma", it is a start-up that had never previously brought a drug to market. And the scientists at Pfizer did not develop the COVID-19 vaccine, that was performed at another startup, the German company called BioNTech which then brought Pfizer on to help with the clinical trials and bring the drug to market. And both startups developed the vaccine based on basic research performed by two scientists at Univ of Penn, Drew Weissman and Katalin Kariko (who is now at BioNTech) followed by improvements by many others in subsequent years. However if anyone deserves the Nobel Prize for the development of these vaccines, it would be Weissman and Kariko for their basic research which led to these vaccines.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Thanks so much for the good information - much appreciated. I’m embarrassed I didn’t do my homework this time.

Gallimaufry Loc: Denver, CO

WHO CARES!!

We are part of an economy which glorifies total capitalism, right? Right? So if they make lots of money we should be happy. See the wonders of the capitalist system. The more money they make the merrier.

Oh, wait, doesn't the fact that they billions from the govmint mean there's some filthy socialism involved? Or at least a handout by the govmint to big business?

Personally I don't give a rat's ***, and I just want to get the vaccine.

ricardo00

My pleasure! Having been in pharmacology for 30 years, it is great to see so many people interested in the development of the vaccines. Unfortunately so much of the even "reputable news" is superficial or even occasionally wrong. And in some ways it is understandable to be skeptical of this new way to produce a vaccine (ie. lipid coated RNA) but in many ways it is less "scary" or not even that different than the more traditional way (ie. that used by the Oxford/Astra Zeneca vaccine) of using a stripped down virus (like the Adenovirus) containing the DNA encoding the portions of the nCOVID-19 viral genome one is trying to elicit a response to (this DNA directs the production of the RNA encoding the viral sequence). In both cases one is using people's own cells to produce a foreign protein and neither is going to genetically modify an individuals genetic material (ie. they are not genetic engineering). If anyone is interested in reading about the history of the development of this new technology, the following article gives a pretty detailed account:

https://www.statnews.com/2020/11/10/the-story-of-mrna-how-a-once-dismissed-idea-became-a-leading-technology-in-the-covid-vaccine-race/?utm_source=pocket-newtab

PS. I will get the vaccine as soon as it it is offered to me (my son who works in a hospital received it today).

Merlin1300 Loc: New England, But Now & Forever SoTX

I appreciate the background info.
To me, though, any company with major involvement in a multi-billion vaccine program qualifies as 'Big Pharma'.
As of December 2020, Moderna was valued at $60 billion. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moderna)