# Corona Virus vaccine? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [March 12, 2020, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corona-virus-vaccine/849374 "2020-03-12T23:44:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corona-virus-vaccine/849374/21 "2020-03-14T13:07:59Z")
Also, how safe is “safe enough” depends on how bad the disease is. If this virus turns out to be much worse than expected, they’ll approve the experimental treatments much faster. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corona-virus-vaccine/849374/22 "2020-03-14T13:27:39Z")
Israel is very close to having a vaccine , they got lucky since they have been working on a similar one for 4 years [https://www.jpost.com/HEALTH-SCIENCE/Israeli-scientists-In-three-weeks-we-will-have-coronavirus-vaccine-619101](https://www.jpost.com/HEALTH-SCIENCE/Israeli-scientists-In-three-weeks-we-will-have-coronavirus-vaccine-619101) ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corona-virus-vaccine/849374/23 "2020-03-14T13:32:37Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > A top Iranian cleric has [opined](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/iranian-cleric-says-coronavirus-vaccine-from-israel-would-be-ok-to-use) that it would be permissible to use a vaccine developed by the Israelis if there are no other options. This makes me laugh for whatever reason ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corona-virus-vaccine/849374/24 "2020-03-14T13:57:52Z")
> [@joema](#): > > To avoid raising undue expectations, availability of COVID-19 vaccines is generally described as being 12-18 months away. However there are at least 35 different pharmaceutical and genetic engineering companies working on different vaccines. Some of them say it’s theoretically possible with expedited testing and approval to have one ready by around December. Sure, it’s theoretically possible. Don’t get your hopes up on “theoretically.” What is essentially certain is that no vaccine will be approved for use while this outbreak lasts. > [@LAZombie](#): > > I honestly believe a placebo would be just as effective as an actual vaccine at this point in terms of stopping the real problem: panic. Even yearly regular flu vaccines have low effective rates Such an approach would result in people dying. That is an astoundingly terrible idea. The real problem with COVID-19 is that it results in people dying. This “panic” is not the real problem; what, you couldn’t find our favourite brand of toilet paper? Who cares? Giving people a phony vaccine, aside from being a violation of the fundamental principles of the Helsinki Declaration and basic morality, would cause them to be careless in their behaviour, and for people who are infected with the virus to assume symptoms are something else and not seek medical attention or avoid infecting others. You sound like one of the people back in 1918 who wanted to pretend Spanish flu wasn’t a problem. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corona-virus-vaccine/849374/25 "2020-03-14T14:31:14Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > A top Iranian cleric has [opined](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/iranian-cleric-says-coronavirus-vaccine-from-israel-would-be-ok-to-use) that it would be permissible to use a vaccine developed by the Israelis if there are no other options. What if it’s not for sale? (No appropriate emoji) > [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Parvovirus in dogs had a vaccine developed fast , I think in around 2 years. _But_, before it was available, some veterinarians offered vaccination with mink enteritis vaccine, thinking it might confer immunity. Not only did it not, but it caused all sorts of problems including vaccine site granulomas. It’s also good to remember that despight the existence of a vaccine against Canine Parvovirus, there are still dogs that are infected and die. Availability is great, but it needs to be used. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corona-virus-vaccine/849374/26 "2020-03-14T14:50:49Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **RickJay** : > > Such an approach would result in people dying. That is an astoundingly terrible idea. Panic also results in people dying. Calming the panic while doing absolutely nothing about the disease itself would be a net positive. ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corona-virus-vaccine/849374/27 "2020-03-14T16:00:42Z")
The real problem is the virus. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corona-virus-vaccine/849374/28 "2020-03-14T20:34:42Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Israel is very close to having a vaccine , they got lucky since they have been working on a similar one for 4 years > > [Israeli scientists: 'In a few weeks, we will have coronavirus vaccine' - The Jerusalem Post](https://www.jpost.com/HEALTH-SCIENCE/Israeli-scientists-In-three-weeks-we-will-have-coronavirus-vaccine-619101) The USA is very close to having a vaccine , they got lucky since they have been working on a similar one for years. [https://www.marketwatch.com/story/inovio-shares-rally-after-biotech-says-human-trials-of-coronavirus-vaccine-will-start-in-april-2020-03-03](https://www.marketwatch.com/story/inovio-shares-rally-after-biotech-says-human-trials-of-coronavirus-vaccine-will-start-in-april-2020-03-03) Also Moderna, European companies, and at least one Australian group. There is a long way between having a “vaccine”, and “having a vaccine”. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corona-virus-vaccine/849374/29 "2020-03-14T22:11:45Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Panic also results in people dying. Calming the panic while doing absolutely nothing about the disease itself would be a net positive. What panic are you speaking of? Hoarding toilet paper? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corona-virus-vaccine/849374/30 "2020-03-14T22:38:54Z")
Economic pressures: How many people aren’t getting paid because their workplace is closed (or so sparsely attended that they might as well be closed)? What happens when those people can’t afford food or rent or other essentials? School closures: How many of those kids are now left unsupervised, because their parents weren’t able to make arrangements on such short notice, especially since some of them are facing financial hardship? How many of those unsupervised kids will do something stupid that gets someone killed? Psychological health: How many people will commit suicide, with the panic as a contributing factor? Looting: How many people will go into full-on apocalypse mode, and turn to crime to get the things they need (or that they think they need)? Overwhelming of public services: How many people who have very mild symptoms that they could just wait out at home (whether they’re actually coronavirus or not) will be clogging the emergency rooms and walk-in clinics, crowding out people who actually need help? Exacerbation of the disease itself: Stores being out of hand sanitizer and protective masks because people are hoarding them isn’t going to make things any better. ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corona-virus-vaccine/849374/31 "2020-03-14T22:39:43Z")
So you think we should start delivering fake vaccines just in case?! You can’t see how this could be disastrous? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corona-virus-vaccine/849374/32 "2020-03-15T12:22:40Z")
No, I said that calming the panic would be a net positive. I didn’t say that mailing out a fake vaccine would calm the panic (it might in the short term, but them make it worse in the long term). ---
**Author:** ![LAZombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b38774/32.png) [@LAZombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LAZombie)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corona-virus-vaccine/849374/33 "2020-03-15T14:51:55Z")
> [@Chingon](#): > > So you think we should start delivering fake vaccines just in case?! > > You can’t see how this could be disastrous? The effectiveness of the flu vaccine has ranged from 10% in 2004 to 60% in 2010. Most of the time it is well below 50%. Some doctors even claim none of them are effective at all. I would treat a real vaccine as if it were fake and still keep all of the hygiene protocols other than the closure of so many events and institutions. > **[Influenza vaccine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Influenza_vaccine)** > > Influenza vaccines, colloquially known as flu shots, are vaccines that protect against infection by influenza viruses. New versions of the vaccines are developed twice a year, as the influenza virus rapidly changes. While their effectiveness varies from year to year, most provide modest to high protection against influenza. Vaccination against influenza began in the 1930s, with large-scale availability in the United States beginning in 1945. > Both the World Health Organization and the US Cente... ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corona-virus-vaccine/849374/34 "2020-03-15T16:05:43Z")
Well you and Chronos have a very bad idea. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corona-virus-vaccine/849374/35 "2020-03-15T17:57:38Z")
Again, what bad idea do I have? My idea is “don’t panic”. ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corona-virus-vaccine/849374/36 "2020-03-15T18:01:04Z")
Distributing a fake vaccine instead of the social distancing measures currently in place is a bad idea. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corona-virus-vaccine/849374/37 "2020-03-15T21:00:28Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Again, what bad idea do I have? My idea is “don’t panic”. You agreed with the fake vaccine post. This fake vaccine is going to magically stay a secret? Right. Esp. when vaccinated people start getting the disease? The consequences of this becoming public, and it will in very little time, are going to bad. Even in the long term when people get even more skeptical about flu, measles, etc. vaccines. Panic and conspiracy theories are close cousins, and the result will be to foment more of the latter? This is a class-AAA horrible idea at best. ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corona-virus-vaccine/849374/38 "2020-03-15T21:14:35Z")
Want a vaccine? For the US only? [Trump ‘offers large sums’ for exclusive access to coronavirus vaccine](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/mar/15/trump-offers-large-sums-for-exclusive-access-to-coronavirus-vaccine) - _German government tries to fight off aggressive takeover bid by US, say reports_ (Guardian) ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corona-virus-vaccine/849374/39 "2020-04-04T02:37:53Z")
Here is a summary of vaccines in development: > **[Coronavirus vaccines – massive list of vaccine candidates for COVID-19](https://www.skepticalraptor.com/skepticalraptorblog.php/coronavirus-vaccines-massive-list-vaccine-candidates-covid-19/)** > > Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the interest in coronavirus vaccines has been quite high (to say the least). I have been keeping an updated list ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corona-virus-vaccine/849374/40 "2020-04-04T12:25:46Z")
There are a couple of drugs in phase 3 testing which is the last test phase. They could be approved this year. Pre clinical is a long way from being approved. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corona-virus-vaccine/849374.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corona-virus-vaccine/849374.md?page=3)