Wow! I miss a free and fair press that asks relevant questions.<p>This exchange would NEVER happen in North America:<p>DER SPIEGEL: Is it also possible that the next variant will already be here before you even start production?<p>Şahin: I've been thinking hard over the past few days about why we're actually seeing a variant like Omicron right now, what caused it. In doing so, I remembered being concerned about one thing earlier this year: In people with suppressed immune systems, the virus might get too much time to accumulate mutations and evolve. It appears to me that this is exactly what happened with Omicron: The virus has been able to undergo a prolonged evolution in a small group of people.<p>DER SPIEGEL: Was that an unfortunate coincidence, or are such strongly mutated variants a constant threat?<p>Şahin: It certainly could happen more often. Basically, it’s like this: Once Omicron spreads, the virus variant that comes after it will have to come up with something new to make the leap into the next generation. We would then be constantly facing a new pathogen.
No matter what the science about the microbiology of this, the social science says that people will not comply with this.
There's also the logistics of it. There must be a better way.
Looking at the curves it only makes sense for Pfizer/Biontec.<p>Moderna holds 6 months on a 80% level. But the Moderna risk is a bit higher for younger, so the 3 months boosters are for the younger ones.<p>But this is all outdated with Omicron. They need adapted boosters first. Or wait for the real risk analysis. As it looks like COVID-19 goes the way of all such waves. The best surviving mutations get weaker and more infectious, until they end at the common cold. Omicron is extremely weak so far. Let's hope it stays that way
From 100% effective, to there's still a chance you get Covid and die, to maybe 6 months of protection, now down to needing a booster every three months. Disappointing.<p>The pfizer vaccine trials ended over a year ago[1]. Why are we only finding out about the reduced protection now? If the vaccine only works for three months, we should have known about that 10 months ago.<p>[1] <a href="https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-and-biontech-conclude-phase-3-study-covid-19-vaccine" rel="nofollow">https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-deta...</a>
This is in agreement with what my personal doctor told me: the vaccines work great for two months, lots of protection. He said, depending on individual circumstances, protection decreases rapidly after that. His concern is people thinking that they can stop being careful after getting a vaccination. I just finished a company offsite and they tested everyone every morning and sent out test kits to protest for a few days before the offsite meeting. I liked that degree of carefulness.
Do you think natural immunity has any impact? If it turns out that Omicron has mostly mild symptoms, why can’t we infect the young and physically strong and forget about endless vaccines and boosters.
I got vaccinated the first day I could and got the 3rd dose last week.<p>My mother got the 3rd dose a few weeks before me and on the 3rd day one of her lower-legs went numb. She had some therapy in the hospital and is OK now, but I'm afraid how she could react to a possible future vaccination. I'm not even sure the vaccination was the cause.<p>I have many antivaxx coworkers and I would never mention something like that in front of them. Just today the most fanatical of them called in sick with "the flu". He doesn't even want to get tested for Covid.
Recently here on HN, user 'native_samples' said, "anything based on their mRNA tech became toxic after multiple doses. That's why they refocused on vaccines".[1]<p>Now we are talking about more and more frequent vaccine booster doses. Shouldn't that be a concern?<p>[1] <a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29306624" rel="nofollow">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29306624</a>