CureVac's COVID-19 shot just failed in a large trial, a major setback for the Gates-backed biotech

[nitpicker]

https://www.businessinsider.com/curevac-vaccine-efficacy-late-stage-trial-covid-bill-gates-2021-4

CureVac's COVID-19 shot just failed in a large trial, a major setback for the Gates-backed biotech
Andrew Dunn 12 minutes ago

A COVID-19 vaccine candidate developed by the German biotech CureVac failed in a critical late-stage study, the company said Wednesday.

It's the first failure of a major vaccine candidate in a final-stage trial. CureVac said an interim analysis showed the shot was 47% effective, falling short of the company's target and health officials' standards for coronavirus vaccines. European officials had already secured more than 225 million doses of the shot.

The trial is still ongoing and the final vaccine efficacy figure may vary as more COVID-19 cases are tallied. The interim analysis is based on 134 illnesses. In a statement, CureVac leaders said that virus variants played a role in the result.
(snip)

[LonePirate]

1. This virus can mutate faster than clinical trials can be conducted.

I think we’ve reached a point where a vaccine can be developed relatively quickly (in days); but months long clinical trials will continue to throw monkey wrenches into things once the virus “outsmarts” the vaccine. The lengthy clinical trials are necessary so I am not sure what can be done here. Construct better vaccines that are more insulated against variants?

[Midnight Writer]

2. We could slow the spread of the virus by wearing masks and other basic measures

but that would make conservatives sad.

[LonePirate]

3. True but the variants have been coming from all corners of the world so it's not a US problem.

There have been at least four countries across four continents which have identified major variants of concern during the past 18 months. It’s likely at least 1 or 2 more will surface before we can vaccinate enough of the world to slow it down. Unless I am woefully uninformed, it seems like resistance to wearing masks is largely an American phenomenon due to 45 and right wing media.

[sabbat hunter]

4. Since the vaccines

don't use weakened or 'inactivated' viruses but instead use mRNA. that makes it a LOT harder for viruses to evade the vaccine.