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It does not compute. "I (the govt) will give you (the pharma) billions for free if you work on a vaccine. If you fail, no worries. If you're successful, you can

It does not compute. "I (the govt) will give you (the pharma) billions for free if you work on a vaccine. If you fail, no worries. If you're successful, you can sell it however you want." It's like the opposite of VC. Can anyone explain such logic and why it's still in place?

mola 6y ago
Because vaccines are not good business for pharma companies (single dose, no return customers) but it is very good for society at large (and specifically for the economy) So government, which represents the public good invest the money so this will happen. But free market fanatics like gates cannot allow any solution which "does not compute" from that (your) perspective.
- jacknews 6y ago
  I think selling 7bn of anything, is going to be profitable.
scrollaway 6y ago
It's a huge incentive to work on a product that is good for society, but not good for business.
- guscost 6y ago
  “Good for society” is a con, and you fell for it. These companies (and/or their investors) squashed[0] a project to find other possible COVID-19 vaccines through human challenge trials. These companies do nothing to increase general health awareness, instead advertising “magic pill for X” directly to consumers. These companies finance a TV news industry that does nothing but harm to public health. They are as much to blame as any other player in this mess, and now they’re making billions selling a pathetic half-solution. It’s disgusting. [0] https://www.statnews.com/2020/06/23/challenge-trials-live-coronavirus-speedy-covid-19-vaccine/ https://www.statnews.com/2020/06/23/challenge-trials-live-co...
  - scrollaway 6y ago
    What on earth are you talking about? A COVID vaccine isn't good for society?
    - guscost 6y ago
      A vaccine to mitigate an endemic disease hyped up by the very same military-industrial-etc complex, their latest mediocre product once again marketed as the silver bullet for public health, while they squash all alternatives and silence all disagreement. If you think that, in totality, is good for society, then we ought to (and probably will eventually) live in different societies.
      - scrollaway 6y ago
        Maybe we should. I'm flagging your comments. Quick pro-tip I probably shouldn't share with you: If you have extremely contrarian views to communicate, work on your communication skills, otherwise you'll look like a rabidly insane troll.
        guscost 6y ago
        You’re at the other extreme with the milquetoast takes. But that is just another kind of insanity, to blind yourself to obvious and monstrous corruption, and then I guess try to gaslight people who point it out. Hopefully we can avoid war during the breakup, and history will show which society does better in the long term.

mola 6y ago

Because vaccines are not good business for pharma companies (single dose, no return customers) but it is very good for society at large (and specifically for the economy) So government, which represents the public good invest the money so this will happen. But free market fanatics like gates cannot allow any solution which "does not compute" from that (your) perspective.

jacknews 6y ago
I think selling 7bn of anything, is going to be profitable.

scrollaway 6y ago

It's a huge incentive to work on a product that is good for society, but not good for business.

guscost 6y ago
“Good for society” is a con, and you fell for it. These companies (and/or their investors) squashed[0] a project to find other possible COVID-19 vaccines through human challenge trials. These companies do nothing to increase general health awareness, instead advertising “magic pill for X” directly to consumers. These companies finance a TV news industry that does nothing but harm to public health. They are as much to blame as any other player in this mess, and now they’re making billions selling a pathetic half-solution. It’s disgusting. [0] https://www.statnews.com/2020/06/23/challenge-trials-live-coronavirus-speedy-covid-19-vaccine/ https://www.statnews.com/2020/06/23/challenge-trials-live-co...
- scrollaway 6y ago
  What on earth are you talking about? A COVID vaccine isn't good for society?
  - guscost 6y ago
    A vaccine to mitigate an endemic disease hyped up by the very same military-industrial-etc complex, their latest mediocre product once again marketed as the silver bullet for public health, while they squash all alternatives and silence all disagreement. If you think that, in totality, is good for society, then we ought to (and probably will eventually) live in different societies.
    - scrollaway 6y ago
      Maybe we should. I'm flagging your comments. Quick pro-tip I probably shouldn't share with you: If you have extremely contrarian views to communicate, work on your communication skills, otherwise you'll look like a rabidly insane troll.
      - guscost 6y ago
        You’re at the other extreme with the milquetoast takes. But that is just another kind of insanity, to blind yourself to obvious and monstrous corruption, and then I guess try to gaslight people who point it out. Hopefully we can avoid war during the breakup, and history will show which society does better in the long term.