Read on Twitter
1/9
I've seen a lot of posts similar to the screenshot on my social media questioning the validity of the #covidvaccine,and figured that as a medical researcher myself I'd write a response. Whilst I'm not an immunologist, I hope this thread will be useful to read.
I've seen a lot of posts similar to the screenshot on my social media questioning the validity of the #covidvaccine,and figured that as a medical researcher myself I'd write a response. Whilst I'm not an immunologist, I hope this thread will be useful to read.
2/9
I choose to believe that a lot of the anti-vaccine sentiment comes from fear of the unknown. In fact, there has been a significant increase in anti-vax content across SM, yet I have seen little effective communication from companies/news outlet refuting the inaccuracies.
I choose to believe that a lot of the anti-vaccine sentiment comes from fear of the unknown. In fact, there has been a significant increase in anti-vax content across SM, yet I have seen little effective communication from companies/news outlet refuting the inaccuracies.
3/9
It's important to understand the reasons behind the short development timescale for the covid vaccines. These include unprecedented levels of international cooperation in information sharing, expedited publication of covid research, and huge amounts of funding and resources.
It's important to understand the reasons behind the short development timescale for the covid vaccines. These include unprecedented levels of international cooperation in information sharing, expedited publication of covid research, and huge amounts of funding and resources.
4/9
Under "normal circumstances", researchers will spend a SIGNIFICANT amount of their time on applying for grants, writing grant proposals, waiting on ethics proceedings, administrative processes etc.
Useful link for more info: https://theconversation.com/less-than-a-year-to-develop-a-covid-vaccine-heres-why-you-shouldnt-be-alarmed-150414
Under "normal circumstances", researchers will spend a SIGNIFICANT amount of their time on applying for grants, writing grant proposals, waiting on ethics proceedings, administrative processes etc.
Useful link for more info: https://theconversation.com/less-than-a-year-to-develop-a-covid-vaccine-heres-why-you-shouldnt-be-alarmed-150414
5/9
In the case of covid, the international community vocally supports the effort to find a vaccine. The funds and resources are there, there's little to no wait for committees, theres public support in the trial phase. The process has been accelerated, no steps have been skipped
In the case of covid, the international community vocally supports the effort to find a vaccine. The funds and resources are there, there's little to no wait for committees, theres public support in the trial phase. The process has been accelerated, no steps have been skipped
6/9
This thread was kickstarted by seeing a post relating the vaccine to the thalidomide incident in 1957 (see screenshot)
There are so many safety checks and ethical procedures in place, particularly in the 60 years since the incident.
This thread was kickstarted by seeing a post relating the vaccine to the thalidomide incident in 1957 (see screenshot)
There are so many safety checks and ethical procedures in place, particularly in the 60 years since the incident.
7/9
In fact, most things in society have changed since the 1950s! If a car manufacturer were to bring out a new product in <10months, that had passed all safety checks and procedures, there would be no comparison to the vehicles of 60 years ago. So why do so with the vaccine?
In fact, most things in society have changed since the 1950s! If a car manufacturer were to bring out a new product in <10months, that had passed all safety checks and procedures, there would be no comparison to the vehicles of 60 years ago. So why do so with the vaccine?
8/9
Particularly when the system of checks and balances in the pharmacy industry is rigid and updated so often, precisely to prevent incidents like the thalidomide case from occurring again. There are rigorous checks at all stages, especially with vaccines.
Particularly when the system of checks and balances in the pharmacy industry is rigid and updated so often, precisely to prevent incidents like the thalidomide case from occurring again. There are rigorous checks at all stages, especially with vaccines.
9/9
It shouldn't be a case of questioning why a vaccine has been produced so quickly, but why is this not the case with all diseases. For myself, this vaccine is a prime example of what international cooperation and putting aside monetary gain can and does achieve in medicine.
It shouldn't be a case of questioning why a vaccine has been produced so quickly, but why is this not the case with all diseases. For myself, this vaccine is a prime example of what international cooperation and putting aside monetary gain can and does achieve in medicine.
As my friend @sciencerobyn has pointed out to me, "it's important to note that thalidomide wasn't a vaccine, had no clinical trials and existed at a point in time where we thought smoking was perfectly safe"
