Nov 26 (Reuters) – Novavax Inc said on Friday it had started working on a version of its COVID-19 vaccine to target the variant detected in South Africa and would have the shot ready for testing and manufacturing in the next few weeks.
The company’s COVID-19 shot contains an actual version of the virus’ spike protein that cannot cause disease but can trigger the immune system. The vaccine developer said it had started developing a spike protein specifically based on the known genetic sequence of the variant, B.1.1.529.
“The initial work will take a few weeks,” a company spokesperson said. Shares of the company closed up nearly 9% on Friday.
Strange. Omicron was first reported to the WHO 72 hours ago. It was officially designated by WHO 24 hours ago. And Novavax is already saying a ‘vaccine’ will be ready in a fortnight – less time than home brew companies advise customers to ferment amber ales and light lagers. Sure. I’ll have that injected into my body. Not.
The ‘safe injecting rooms’ have become compulsory.
Novovax is a nice, simple concept which is just a tiny ball of grease, studded with genetically engineered spike proteins, to construct something that looks a bit like a corona-virus (both physically and chemically). Thus, it gives a false target for the human immune system to lash out at, and build up some antibodies. Starting with that concept, it’s very easily to change the code of whatever protein you want to stuff in there, and given that the RNA analysis tools are so good these days … I’m not in the least bit surprised they can update so quickly. The computer security world has been running that treadmill for decades … fast updates vs new and creative virus types turning up. Anything that can be encoded, can also be transmitted around the world in a few seconds these days.
It’s kind of astounding that humans can engineer anything so small, especially in bulk production. Of course, testing is quite another matter … but they said they can START testing in a few weeks, not that it will all be done and dusted.
They type of auto-immune problems that we see from mRNA should be a lot more rare with Novovax, since it does not generate any spike protein inside the human cells … in theory at least.
Yes it’s clever concept Tel, even includes extra lines of code aka graphene oxide for use with future updates.
But no matter how clever the concept if it doesn’t work – and the numbers show it surly doesn’t – it’s a failure. These pharma companies have earned the big F this time.
Tel’s reply ended up on the Biden/Africa thread:
https://thecurrencylad.com/2021/11/27/historical-democrats-who-dont-want-to-import-africans/comment-page-1/#comment-6389
I’m not sure I really buy that, Tel.
Not the technicalities you ably describe but from a properly scientific, watch and learn perspective. Just because something can be done, it doesn’t mean it should be done, should be done now or is even necessary.
That’s a question of the testing, not the design. That’s why they call it “emergency use trials” and do not call it “finished product”.
IMHO any sane person would fully support the Nuremberg Treaty requirements that such tests are made with full informed consent of all parties. Of course there are risks involved … every virus is different, and we have seen a mix of both successful and unsuccessful vaccination development in the past … taking risks is necessary for human progress.
And sure … I also support the various non-vaccine treatment protocols (e.g. Dr Zelenko’s protocol, ziverdo protocol, I-MASK protocol, and the emphasis on early treatment by America’s Frontline Doctors) in every case on an informed consent basis only … since none of them are 100% guaranteed, and ultimately it is the patient himself or herself who will be the one who carries the cost or benefit. The real dangerous people are the ones claiming to know everything and who get to push their wonderful universal knowledge onto others whether they like it or not.
So they say #believeallvaccinecompanies
All these supposed new Covid variants are an absolute boon to Big Pharma, and overreaching governments such as we have in Australia.