UPDATE: I expect a recommendation for the general public to continue wearing masks EVEN AFTER a #coronavirus vaccine is rolled out. This is rarely mentioned in discussions of Operation Warp Speed, but the first #COVID19 vaccines may offer only moderate protection. Some thoughts:
1. Approval of a #COVID19 vaccine does not mean a quick return to normal. Volunteers who receive a "successful" vaccine may still get sick. (In June, the FDA set target efficacy at 50%). There will be protection, but it could be leaky. We haven't prepared the public for that.
2. Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca have paused trials to explore illnesses in volunteers. We should be reassured by this transparency, not alarmed. Adverse events are an expected part of any large study. Potentially noteworthy that both use adenovirus vectors to deliver genes.
3. The first vaccine isn't always the best. Expect to see months (or years) of jockeying between the lead vaccine candidates. We may not declare a winner for a long time.
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