Monday, January 25, 2021

Covid Vaccine Updates...

TheRaceAgainstThe
VariantsVille


Merck's two viral vector-based vaccines our out. As the company explains they both failed early at Phase I in that they did not initiate a robust immune response:

Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today announced that the company is discontinuing development of its SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 vaccine candidates, V590 and V591, and plans to focus its SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 research strategy and production capabilities on advancing two therapeutic candidates, MK-4482 and MK-7110. This decision follows Merck’s review of findings from Phase 1 clinical studies for the vaccines. In these studies, both V590 and V591 were generally well tolerated, but the immune responses were inferior to those seen following natural infection and those reported for other SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 vaccines...


We are still waiting on phase III results with the J&J so called 'one shot' vaccine* as our go-to drug development guy Derek Lowe notes:

...We’re still waiting on clinical trial data from J&J, and it’s still expected any day now. The efficacy numbers on their one-dose protocol are highly anticipated, and the news this morning that Merck’s two vaccine candidates have been shelved just adds to that. Anthony Fauci said on Friday that he would be surprised if a regulatory decision were not made on this one within two weeks. Frankly, it had better work – we need it...


_____
I say 'one shot'
in air quotes, above, because it turns out that two shots of the J&J vaccine actually gives better neutralizing antibody numbers.
Have been super busy with a regular day job science geek panel the last couple of weeks...Only bonus was no cigar tube back-and-fort to Ottawash in one of those aging Mulroney-Schreiber creak machines...Should be returning to regular blogging over the next few days...



.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

here's a stupid question, but I'm a stupid guy...
- how do you get on the vaccination list? I'm 73 yrs old and have always been pretty healthy. Last time I saw a doctor was in 1965 for a physical; haven't been near a hospital since early youth. No family doctor, nothing nut a health card. Since I've been "invisible" to the system until now what steps should I be pursuing to rectify? Any counsel or advice is very welcome (don't want to fall off a ladder here)

Thanks
Mike

RossK said...

Anon-Above--

I'm assuming you are in BC. Given your age you will be at the top of Phase 3, which begins in April.

You will be able to pre-register for this in March through a gov't website.

Here is what they've laid out so far......

How to get immunized

The process to get immunized happens in three steps. More details about the registration process will be made available in late February.
Step 1: Pre-registration

Pre-registration helps us book appointment reservations quickly and easily. When you pre-register, you select your preferred method of communication. This is how we will contact you to reserve a vaccine appointment.

You can pre-register two to four weeks before you are eligible to reserve a vaccine appointment. Eligibility is based on your phase and age, working backwards in five year increments.

Pre-registration opens March 2021. There will be two options to pre-register:

Online
By phone

Step 2: Appointment reservation

When you are contacted to reserve a vaccine appointment, you must:

Complete a pre-screening
Select a location, date and time

You can complete your appointment reservation online or by phone.
Step 3: Appointment day

Come prepared to your appointment and arrive a few minutes before your scheduled time. At the immunization clinic you will:

Complete a check-in process
Get your vaccine dose
Wait in an observation area for about 15 minutes

Getting the second dose

People who get their first vaccine dose will be notified by email, text or phone call when they are eligible to book an appointment for their second dose.


.

Anonymous said...

Thank you, Good Sir! This answers my questions perfectly!

Mike

RossK said...

You got it Mike.

Will be following up on this stuff as the phases roll out.


.