On: Why the second wave of the 1918 Spanish flu was so...

[flarg]

Do you think a vaccine is the right answer? Surely development and stockpiling of anti virals is the key, Tamiflu or similar. The lead time for vaccines will also be far too long and the protection against flu like illnesses is variable over time. What do you think?

[wbl → flarg]

Tamiflu blocks neuramidase from releasing the viral particles. Coronavirus does not bind to salic acid so neuramidase is irrelevant.

[andyjohnson0 → flarg]

> Surely development and stockpiling of anti virals is the key, Tamiflu or similar.

Tamiflu doesn't have any effect on Covid-19. There might be antivirals that are effective, and testing is happening now. I'd argue we should be trying to find ways to speed that process up for next time.

> The lead time for vaccines will also be far too long and the protection against flu like illnesses is variable over time.

Thats what I was saying: can we (humans) get better/faster at doing this?

[flarg → andyjohnson0]

I think we can if we start to try and treat viral illnesses in the animals in wet markets

[46Bit → flarg]

The protection of antivirals is variable too. The value of Tamiflu itself still seems controversial.