We might have a vaccine for COVID19 in the near future.

[guillaumeb]

And that is good, but what do we do, what can we do, about the epidemic of stupidity that is running rampant among GOP politicians and voters?

Are the people behind the Lincoln Project ads the only sane Republicans left?

I am speaking a bit hyperbolically here, because I know a few sane GOP voters in my area, but so few.

Can anyone even reach those who speak of a plandemic, or those who follow QAnon?

Or the Infowars cultists?

Or is this merely a loud minority of 37%?

[Nevilledog]

1. I think a vaccine is wishful thinking. Would be happy to be proved wrong.

[guillaumeb]

2. I am generally an optimist.

So on both counts, I hope that this is a temporary condition.

[Nevilledog]

5. My optimism has been badly beaten by my cynicism.

[guillaumeb]

6. And we are all victims of Trump's narcissism. eom

[Hortensis]

15. Next summer available to us would be "soon." Is that what you meant?

Acceptable efficacy in trials to move forward with a vaccine is 50%. But if that's what they came up with first, my husband and I would have to get the vaccine and then stay self isolated while others who have to work continued to die at reduced rates.

I've always been an optimist, and in this situation choosing to believe there will be an effective vaccine, at least for half a year, is optimism.

[guillaumeb]

21. Yes, within a year would be soon. eom

[uponit7771]

27. I'm optomistic but realistic relative to the science of the day. There hasn't been a cure for common

... cold and CV19 base makeup is the common cold is my understanding.

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. Agreed. This isn't a very vaccine friendly bug.

[Initech]

14. The virus is not showing significant mutations.

Which is why people are so optimistic about a vaccine. Hopefully we can get one that will work at some point in the future.

[Nevilledog]

17. Stories about mutations. It IS mutating.

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/coronavirus/article244093332.html

https://www.biospace.com/article/mutated-covid-19-viral-strain-in-us-and-europe-much-more-contagious/

https://www.healthline.com/health-news/what-to-know-about-mutation-and-covid-19#The-new-coronavirus-is-mutating,-but-very-slowly

[kurtcagle]

25. There are at least two mutations of note already

Viruses mutate in direct proportion to the spread of the virus. The more the virus spreads, the more mutations survive to spread, and the more likely that the mutation will make it stronger rather than weaker. It's already a very effective spreader, though, and lethality is not necessarily a survival advantage (it can in fact be a disadvantage), so the fact that it is not mutating very quickly may very well be because it's current form is likely near optimization at this point.

[Miguelito Loveless]

3. I doubt we will have a vaccine any time soon.

I would be highly wary of any vaccine developed under Trump.

The people behind the Lincoln Project ads are somewhat saner than the current GOP, but that is a REALLY low bar. Many of the people behind the LP are pretty vile when using normal standards of ethical, legal, and moral conduct.

As to who might take a vaccine once a safe one is developed, only people who believe in science, which means maybe around 60%-67% of the nation.

[uponit7771]

28. +1, 3 of the last 4 vaccines that were developed under a year during a plague killed a lot of people

... or were later deemed worthless and killed a lot of people cause they thought they were safe.

[Miguelito Loveless]

30. Agreed. Vaccines tamper with the most sensitive mechanism of human physiology,

the immune system. Get it wrong and people die fast.

[Lochloosa]

4. I don't see a vaccine for a year if then.

It would be the first Corona virus they have been able to create one for.

[uponit7771]

29. +1, my understanding is the base make up for CV19 is a similar to common cold which no cure has

... been developed.

We should stomp it out with Test/Trace/Isolate and keep rates low with quick turn around test for up close activities.

S Korea has done a good job at the quick walk up test ... the virus never gets a foothold there.

[JCMach1]

8. We have lots of vaccines. What we don't have yet is a safe

And effective one

[Caliman73]

9. The sad truth...

It is a very loud minority of 37% or less backed by a larger but typically silent and likely apathetic group who don't pay any attention to politics till right around election time, then vote Republican because, "that is what I always do".

In 2016 46% of people who are eligible to vote, did not cast a ballot. A very consequential Presidential Election in which the first woman could have been elected.

In 2018 people were "wowed" at that a fraction over 50% of eligible voters turned out only because they compared it to only 36% turnout in the next highest non-presidential election.

The problem is that we have such an apathetic voter base, that turning out 37% or less highly motivated dumb people can win you the electoral college.

[hunter]

12. They are also backed by amoral oligarchs who think they will win something...

... like it's a television game show.

[guillaumeb]

18. Who is to blame?

The apathetic, often uninformed voters?

The media, for badly informing the public of the issues?

[Jim__]

11. Even if they found and successfully tested a vaccine, does anyone have an idea of ...

... how long it would take to "grow" enough vaccine for general use? I remember a few years back, it may have been when H1N1 was the threat, that they said it would take a fairly long time to produce enough for general use. At that time, I think they had to go through a significant number of generations of some type of biological growth.

[Tanuki]

16. I've read that several of the contenders are planning to produce a vast amount

of their vaccine "on spec" ahead of time, knowing that they could lose millions of dollars if theirs doesn't pan out. That way, if it turns out to be safe and effective and gains approval, they can immediately start distributing it with no further delay. Even though there would be many millions of doses immediately, there wouldn't be enough to go around for a while, and there are ongoing discussions of how distribution would be prioritized, e.g. giving it first to health care and othrr essential workers, the elderly and other at-risk populations, etc.

[Jim__]

23. Thanks.

[guillaumeb]

19. True.

And of course, in the US for profit system, price would be a huge issue.

[Jim__]

24. Thanks.

[Initech]

13. I worry if Trump is reelected he'll play favorites with it.

He will put states in competitions for doses and those who kiss his ass will get it first, while states like California or Minnesota will get broken shards of glass vials as an insult.

[guillaumeb]

20. I live in Illinois.

Broken glass for me.

[Initech]

22. I live in California.

Yeah we'd get the shards for sure.

[Mr. Ected]

26. As long as FOX and OAN and the right wing radio network continue to pump out unmitigated propaganda

That virus will continue to propagate and infect a large swath of America.

[guillaumeb]

32. Sadly, that is true. eom

[scarytomcat]

31. There is only one for sure solution

Track it down and quarantine
Time to start