Covid-19: Myth and mythology

There is so much misinformation/ disinformation and frankly, some utter crap, being written about the C-19 vaccines. So, I decided to do a couple of days research to try to bring some clarity and facts to the discussion.

Here's what I've found:

Claim: A vaccine takes 10 years to be developed and proven therefore this has been rushed:

Not true. Each year, a vaccine is produced, tested, trialled, assessed and validated in a period of 3-4 months. We call it the flu vaccine (but in reality it is much more than that). There are a number of vaccines that have been produced within a few months and others that have been produced over years. Some have still yet to be developed. It depends entirely on the problem they are trying to solve.

The sheer depth of knowledge we have about the flu vaccine is one of our greatest strengths in finding an effective coronavirus vaccine. We have decades of research, testing, trialling, validation and experience supporting the development of the C-19 vaccine. The reality is that there is already 50 years of exhaustive research into this vaccine in addition to the most intensive research effort in history across the world over the last 12 months. No vaccine in history has had more research, testing or trialling.

It is also worth noting that Coronavirus has been around since the 1960s -although it is true that the current strain (Covid-19) has only been seen since last year. That said, they are the same family genetically so all of the initial 'hard slog' work has already been done. Put it this way - once you know how to use a screwdriver, it is the same process for all screws - you just need to discover which size screwdriver fits the bill for this particular screw you're trying to loosen. You don't need to learn how to use a screwdriver every single time you want to loosen a screw.

Claim: The vaccine is unsafe and has not been tested:

Incorrect on both points. Firstly, the vaccines are all put through a series of clinical trials and go through precisely the same process as any other vaccine. Secondly, every vaccine is compelled to go through a rigorous and exhaustive testing process.

Claim: We don't know if it is safe:

This is largely an immunology expertise issue. The C-19 vaccine will be based on existing immunology science and vaccines which have been tested and proven over decades of research and follow up. It is not a brand new vaccine - it is an adaptation of existing immunology knowledge to match the mutated strain of coronavirus that we know as Covid-19. We have vaccines for other strains of Coronavirus - it is simply a matter of finding the right combination to beat this strain. Put another way, if you know that full fat milk doesn't make you ill, you can also be certain that semi-skimmed milk won't make you ill either.

Claim: MPs all have shares in the companies producing the vaccine.

Absolutely untrue. According to the members' register of interests, fewer than 10% MPs have a financial interest in the companies who have so far declared a vaccine. There is a high probability that many more have an interest in these companies but are unaware of it - most of those are related to blind investments (ie pensions funds, independently managed investments etc).

The chances are that YOU are more likely to have an investment in Pfizer or one of the other companies. Pharmaceutical firms are hugely popular with retirement fund managers. Therefore, if you contribute to or receive a pension, you are almost certain to have a financial interest in these companies.

Claim: MPs are awarding PPE/ Vaccine contracts to their mates:

This claim represents a failure to understand how govt works. The granting of contracts is conducted by the cabinet's procurement office which is populated by ordinary decent hard-working men and women. They make their procurement decisions independent of politicians. Boris and his mates don't sit there and decide who to award contracts to any more than they sit there and design the track and trace app.

Claim: Most vaccines are not 90% effective so the claims of 95% effectiveness are rubbish:

Not true. The basis of this claim is usually that the flu vaccine is only 58% effective (on average). However, the MMR vaccine is 99% effective and various other vaccines are 100% effective. The 90% claims made by the companies have been scrutinised, independently audited, subjected to challenge, validation and effectiveness. To suggest that the 90% claim of effectiveness is inaccurate is a bit like suggesting that 1+1=2 is also inaccurate.

Claim: Most people don't trust the virus:

There is absolutely no evidence to support this claim. But as one of the scientists said yesterday - "just because someone believes some myths about the eventual vaccine being a danger doesn't change the fact that it is safe and fit for purpose. You can argue as hard as you like and spread spurious stories about your belief that the sea is red but it doesn't change the fundamental fact that it is still blue."

Claim: Pfizer's ethical conduct is appalling:

Tenuous at best. Like all organisations, they have made mistakes over the years. Does that constitute a pattern of unethical conduct? Absolutely not - Such claims seem to be rooted in a need to justify a personal or political bigotry.

Claim: Its just a way for big pharmaceutical companies to make money:

The company/ companies who find the vaccine will make a lot of money. But let's also remember the billions that has gone into research which they can only recoup by selling the vaccine. I recently saw a post by a left wing group claiming that Astra-Zeneca had made £1.2 billion from a particular drug. What they failed to mention was the £1.05Bn they had invested into researching that particular drug over the previous 11 years. It's all about balance.

But look at this another way - if the big pharmaceutical companies (or the research institutes that they sponsor) do not come up with the vaccine, who will? Who else has all the research, immunology and epidemiology expertise? When you've got a leaking tap, you don't call a dentist.

It's also worth looking at how much profit pharmaceutical companies make and how much of that is ploughed back into research and development of new drugs and treatments.

I hope that's been helpful useful. It's not designed to make any point or support/ undermine anyone's opinion. I just wanted to put some facts out there to help people to make informed decisions.

Personally, I'll be at the front of the queue for the vaccine.

I don't want to take the chance that someone else's beliefs cost me my life.

Stay strong. Fight hard. Laugh lots.