Qld Vaccine trials in world view

The eyes of the world will be looking in our direction as human trials of the University of Queensland’s COVID-19 vaccine begin, writes The Editor.

THE eyes of the world are on Queensland as our brightest minds take the next big step that could free us from the curse of COVID-19.

Tomorrow, human trials of the University of Queensland’s COVID-19 vaccine begin.

More than 133 vaccines are in the works around the world, but UQ’s work is believed to have shown great success in the preclinical setting.

In the shadow of the Victorian lockdown and the millions of cases around the world, it is the hope Australia, and the world, needs.

Just yesterday, in the dreaded daily update that has come to shape our COVID way of life, Victorian authorities revealed 216 new cases and one death. We can only hope the southern authorities make up for their past mistakes and can carry the Victorian population with them to choke off this latest outbreak.

And while Queensland has, so far, been able to reopen for business and return to cherished elements of our lives – junior and professional sport, a drink at a bar, a meal at a restaurant – we should not fool ourselves that we have contained the threat of the monster for good.

Such is the virility of COVID that it can seize any opportunity to come roaring back.

And once this wicked genie is out, it will cost us billions before we get it squeezed back into its bottle. That is why the UQ progress is such good news.

Some of the great minds working on the coronavirus vaccine at UQ, Professor Paul Young, Dr Keith Chappell and Professor Trent Munro. Picture: Glenn Hunt/The Australian

While we work to keep the curve flattened, our researchers are looking for a permanent form of protection. And there is good reason to hope.

While other COVID-19 vaccines are under development around the world, renowned scientist Ian Frazer says the work being done at the University of Queensland used the best technique and had the best chance of success.

And he would know. Professor Frazer developed the lifesaving human papilloma virus HPV vaccine, Gardasil, which prevents cervical cancer.

If Gardasil was big, a successful COVID-19 vaccine could be beyond measure.

It would put Queensland and our researchers front and centre of world scientific excellence.

Crucially, a vaccine is the key to a COVID-19 exit strategy that would remove the health threat, restore some semblance of normality to our lives and help the economy roar back to full throttle.

The human trials work that will occur over the coming weeks offer reason for optimism as Queenslanders get back to business while abiding by the restrictions that do remain necessary.

HEALTH INSURERS GAIN FROM OUR COVID PAIN

QUEENSLANDERS are leery of insurers at the best of times.

Whether it’s from lessons learnt after heartless arguments over the muddy brown waters that covered Brisbane being it from floodwaters or inundation, or the north Queenslanders who wait months for their roofs to be replaced after cyclone damage they had paid big money to be covered against, it is often with good reason.

Now the latest scandal is the health insurers who have profited while the rest of us struggle under COVID-19.

While we were locked down and unable to access services because they were closed, health insurers have continued to pull full whack out of the pockets of their customers. The companies should have shown the same decency as several car insurers, who gave customers discounted premiums.