Rongnongno Loc: FL

How about an entire herd?

DennyT Loc: Central Missouri woods

That’s close to the way I see it. Not that I think it is “ natures way of dealing with US”, but that it’s nature way of fighting back on the constant attack against it. We continually encroach on nature, cut more trees, clear more habitat , kill more ecosystems.

This is nature way of surviving. Man has never bested nature. Nature always finds a way .

RainierView Loc: Eatonville, WA

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

And watch out for the bull!!!

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

What is the purpose of a flu vaccine? The problem is that viruses mutate and we are always chasing the latest incarnation and not knowing what it will transform into in the future. That is why flu vaccines are not 100% effective. They offer some protection but not total protection. The same will hold true of Corona. By the time a vaccine is developed it will most likely be out of date and not as effective for the new strain of Corona. It will help in that they will not have to "reinvent the wheel" but will have a starting point that will allow more productive and faster development against the latest strain of the virus.

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

There is more and more chatter about Humoral vs. Cellular immunity in the news so here is a primer on the subject.

Although a retired physician this is a little above my pay grade as they were still calling Tetracycline a wonder drug when I trained!

HTH

drobvit Loc: Southern NV

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drobvit Loc: Southern NV

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PGHphoto Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

Vaccines prevent the infection by triggering antibody production in the human body. Most vaccines are not made from 'weakend' or non-viable viruses but by creating a partial 'replica' of virus DNA/RNA so that when the antibody comes into contact with the full RNA/DNA of the virus, it identifies it as a pathogen and encapsulates/destroys it.

The questions are: 1) how long do those antibodies continue to be produced and 2) will the virus mutate like the yearly strains of the flu ?

For certain diseases, the antibody production seems to last a long time maybe even your entire life. It has been demonstrated that tetanus and diphtheria vaccines require a 'booster' vaccine be taken about every 10 years. At this time, the vaccines being developed for COVID are appearing to have somewhat lasting effects in the body and speculation is that the body will continue to produce antibodies for more than 1 year. This is in VERY preliminary results sets but the news from the folks testing the vaccines are promising and they are encouraged.

Mutation is the big worry now. If COVID-19 acts in a similar manner as the flu, we may need to watch every year for the latest strain needing a vaccine. Fortunately, once we have a vaccine, it should be much more easily modified and ready for the current strain. There still is a lot of basic research needed for the coronavirus family in general and also specific to COVID-19. SARS and MERS are 2 illnesses that caused by the coronavirus family that are already under study and may help with future coronavirus strains.

Some interesting reading:
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/04/how-long-do-vaccines-last-surprising-answers-may-help-protect-people-longer

SalvageDiver Loc: Huntington Beach CA

WHO apparently issued this statement on Friday in their opposition to "immunity passports". On Sunday and after an 'outcry' from the scientific community, they retracted the statement and restated that "there is some level of protection". They just don't know how long it will last, duhhh.

In my opinion, the WHO is trying to lead, but leading from behind. They need to "just present the facts" and leave the policy making to others.

They were also warning about the use of serum antibody test as a means of determining immunity. I would partially agree. The sensitivity and specificity isn't as good as they should be. In the US, the FDA is only approving the best ones (currently 5) under EUA. There are a lot of junk currently out in the marketplace. I would only take a test with an FDA approved device and to improve accuracy, you'll need to take multiple tests.

PGHphoto Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

There are a number of vaccines out there in testing now specific to COVID-19 (I specifically am aware of 3 that are in testing right now). So far there is some evidence of mutation but nothing conclusive. Also, need to keep in mind that there are different forms of immune responses in the body and that antibody production may not be the only/best way to deal with the virus. I believe the vaccines in testing right now are all about triggering antibody protections but I only know for certain that is true of the one I am most directly getting information about. Only further research will guide the path

St.Mary's

Us old fuds well remember that little indented circle on everyone's left shoulder. That sure as hell worked. I'll let you younger people figure out what vaccine that was.

1Feathercrest Loc: NEPA

The sky is NOT falling in spite of the political and media driven hysteria. Annual flu kills more, yet we have become complacent about that.

kerry12 Loc: Harrisburg, Pa.