BBC news today report , perhaps it will be relevant to CML patients although the technical details are above my pay grade.
Regards,
Graham.
You are here
Possible good news for a vaccine.
Hi Graham,
Thanks for the interesting posting.Likewise I dont have a strong science background nor a medical one but I have gleaned a few pieces of advice and clarification.
My specialist, who has an impressive research track record, who I met with a few days ago suggested that there is no specific evidence that CML patients are strongly immuno- suppressed-they may be mildly so.In addition we are still not sure whether or not imatinib and dasatinib (as per lab studies) offer some form of defence against the Covid virus ;there are various trials going on to see if imatinib offers Covid patients any relief from respiratory symptoms or whether it might offer front line workers some protection-an intravenous version is being manufactured I believe for use in trials in intensive care situations.
None of the current Covid vaccines being developed are live so my specialist advice was to go ahead.The Pfizer/BioNTech version known as mRNA uses radical and new technology and I believe UK government has ordered 10 million doses;it has to be stored at a very low temperature so distribution is an issue.I grapple to understand the relation between DNA and RNA but given that my DNA has already been compromised by the Philadelphia Chromosome I am very happy to have this one especially as it wont modify my genetic make up-its efficacy is very high it seems ,over 90%. Remember flu vaccines are only 40-60% efficient.The Oxford Vaccine now in the news and being rolled out by Astra Zenica uses more traditional vaccine technology of the common cold virus etc and UK has ordered 100 million doses.It all depends on regulatory approval but I hear that from my GP surgery that we will be offered the first one that is approved and we will have no choice to state a preference -it is unlikely that we as CML patients will have it before Christmas I am told.The provisional priority list will be care homes ,carers, medical staff then over 80 s followed by over 65s and those who are at risk with health conditions such as ours.
The antibody research which the article refers to will take a while to come to fruition and each dose will cost over £200 so I assume once trialed and approved would only be offered to those with proven risks to their immune systems such as transplant patients for instance.
With best wishes
John
Hi John,
Thanks for the précis, it covers a lot of interesting ground.
I believe that the Oxford/Astra Zenica vaccine is the easier one to distribute because it does not have to be stored at such a low temperature and also it costs around 10% of the Pfizer/BioNTech type vaccines.
Additionally AZ have been manufacturing and stockpiling it since earlier this year on the basis that it would work and so, hopefully, if all goes well there will be plentiful supplies available.
I was made aware of the antibody type some months ago and was told that process was well proven but that the cost of production was prohibitive at that time, perhaps now the cost has been reduced significantly as the trials are going ahead.
All in all a more positive outlook than a few months ago.
Best regards, Graham