Community Chat

[on the bay]

Everyone can read more, but the scientists at Oxford plan to test the vaccine (which so far showed no side effects) on 6,000 people by the end of this month.

There are other scientists working to produce a vaccine in many countries but these in Oxford had a head start by actually being able to test on the monkeys, who were not harmed from the vaccine.

[pitdakota]

@suzyQ3, as for pulling the thread...there is absolutely no reason to do that.

Remember a while back when I posted about research studies and how they would stop a study if the results of the experimental arm far outweighed either standard practice or placebo (depending on what they use in the design)?

They immediately stop the study when they have evidence that subjects in the experimental arm are outperforming the control group because it then becomes unethical to not allow subjects in the other group (control arm) to have the benefit of the treatment.

They stop the study, publish initial findings and start giving all their patients the experimental treatment.

I posted that back when everyone was talking about hydroxycholorquine.  If it is that effective and amazing, they would stop the study, publish the findings, and change treatment guidelines.  At that time, I said we should be hearing something soon if it was that effective. 

Well, that is what happened with the Remesdivir study.  They felt the results were so positive for decreasing hospital stay, along with making a clinical difference in mortality rates....they electively stopped the study to give the control group access to the medication.  No longer ethical based on what they were seeing to withold the medication from those that would have received the placebo.

So yes, it is very promising.  But as with all research we will see.  Without seeing the entire study, can't put much stock into respiratory failure as a side effect.  That is what the majority of Covid-19 patients die of, period.  So don't know how that would be distinguished as a side effect.  Would have to read the entire study when it is published for that kind of information.