Japanese drugmaker Shionogi targets annual vaccine output of 30 million

They’re quite ambitious, I’ll give them that. Just hope they’re safe and effective.

“Ching! Ching!” Cash up!

What vaccine? The one that hasn’t been developed, tested or given approval? That one?

I'll pass. Vaccine is probably worst than the disease in the long run...

It's an odd attitude and policy -- specific moves to boost manufacturing capacity of something that doesn't exist. And it may never exist. Where's the vaccine for HIV and Sars, among quite a few others?

For those wondering why this is being done now i.e. before a possible vaccine is developed...

If/when a vaccine hits the streets gvt's and pharmas need to be prepared to manufacture and distribute asap. Taking steps to do so is sensible at this time.

Additionally Covid isn't just a domestic issue. It's to a gvt's advantage to provide other countries with a possible vaccine as well (such as the UK has agreed to do for e.g.)

IMO 'enough for 30 million people annually' is insufficient considering the population of Japan. I'm hoping the article just neglected to mention other pharmas in Japan preparing to ramp up production as well.

People in Japan shouldn't be at 'the risk of being heavily reliant on imports'. That's just going to create a price war with imported vaccines here being very expensive and poorer countries not being able to afford sufficient doses.

Hope they can develop a vaccine and verifiable cure soon . . . . people in the United States need the help.  While the Japanese population is in the US is small (750k to 1.3 million according to Google), perhaps Japanese drug companies can start by offering their trials with the JA population . . . .

30 million doses ain't much. That will barely cover Tokyo.

Read the article again, by the end of the year, if there is a vaccine available for production.

30,000,000, by the end of the year, and quadruple that by the middle of next year, and THAT will cover everyone in Japan.

As noted by a previous poster, these companies have to be up to speed to produce the volume needed, and one can't just "snap their fingers" and expect it to be available for everyone.

30 million wont cover Tokyo either, as the population in Tokyo is closer to 38 million. But you can bet any money Tokyo will be first before us folks down here in Okinawa get any!

By the end of 2021...

There is still no guarantee that a safe vaccine can be produced or how long the vaccine will last. Studies are showing antibodies only last 3 to 12 weeks. That could mean 4 vaccines per year.

Studies are showing antibodies only last 3 to 12 weeks. That could mean 4 vaccines per year.

That could also mean you only need one ever. Or you could need one a day.

You don’t think that antibodies need to be present after 3-12 weeks for a vaccine to work on one shot, do you? If so, time to do some more reading.

There is still no guarantee that a safe vaccine can be produced or how long the vaccine will last.

So why are you speculating on what could be then?

Studies are showing antibodies only last 3 to 12 weeks. That could mean 4 vaccines per year

Current influenza vaccines developed on an annual basis are only 40% effective, mostly due to viruses constantly mutating. We're going to need effective therapeutic treatments.

The topic is entirely speculation.

A couple of things make me not as optimistic as the drug companies, even though I hope we'll have one soon.

One is that the companies are drip feeding good news and not talking about side effects. They're carefully selecting test subjects.

Another is that executives have cashed out $30 million of stock that rose so high after the ocean of money thrown at them. If they're so confident, shy are they cashing out now?

Current influenza vaccines developed on an annual basis are only 40% effective, mostly due to viruses constantly mutating

How is this comment supposed to relate to a coronavirus vaccine?