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A chip isn't a complete device. What about the rest of the machinery? The software? Construction of the devices, calibration, testing and commissioning? T

A chip isn't a complete device. What about the rest of the machinery? The software? Construction of the devices, calibration, testing and commissioning? There are probably less than 10 people worldwide capable of determining if machines like this (that probably only exist within the vaccine manufacturers) are set up correctly and working right. I suspect if you track down what's needed, you'll find that all the manufacturing capability for making more of those machines is already in use by the vaccine makers. Bespoke microfluidics devices aren't common or easy to make, although some components are.

silexia 6y ago
The argument in the article for why the vaccine could not be produced is that there are new technical innovations that can't be done by other companies. I believe this to be a straw man argument. Each new human innovation is based on a massive mountain of previous human innovation. Many, many companies are on the edge of this innovation and allowing them to use the innovations of other companies without fear of patents litigation would allow them to make that last step now. Patents are one of the most insidious harms we have in our society today. Patent defenders claim that patents protect innovators. The truth is actually the exact opposite: patents are a monopoly legal tactic most often used so that the patent obtainer does not have to innovate further or execute. Patents kill all further innovation in the area they are in. A great example of this is that hundreds of companies used to manufacture aircraft. Boeing and Airbus bought up all the companies that own patents, and now it's nearly impossible to start a new aircraft manufacturing business due to Boeing's monopoly on the patents. Aircraft have changed very little ever since. We need to eliminate the patent system and allow free trade to actually work.
- visarga 6y ago
  I agree patents are harmful, especially in this situation, but the reason there are so few aircraft companies is because the tech matured and the standards of safety raised by a lot.
- Accujack 6y ago
  >Each new human innovation is based on a massive mountain of previous human innovation. That's a general rule of thumb, but it's not a law. There are innovations that are non sequels of previous developments. Sometimes inventors think differently than anyone else. The idea that multiple companies were "almost" on the edge of mRNA vaccines is pretty much proven false by the place the two existing companies got the tech - from the pair of people who developed it, one for each company.
jackcviers3 6y ago
If you document the design and process, somebody else can copy it.
- selectodude 6y ago
  A lot of this stuff is pretty bespoke. I’m sure it’s not hard to get your hands on (especially now) but by the time it’s ready, nobody will need it.
  - skybrian 6y ago
    It seems like there are going to be a lot of mRNA vaccines?
    - selectodude 6y ago
      I certainly hope so. I imagine if Moderna wanted more machines, they're en route. They also won't be ready until 2022.
  - Robotbeat 6y ago
    unfortunately we ARE going to need it because at current rates, billions of people won't be vaccinated until 2022 or 2023: https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/01/22/959627186/until-everyone-is-safe-no-one-is-safe-africa-awaits-the-covid-19-vaccine https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/0... That's billions of people who will be incubating more mutated variants of COVID-19. And secondly, we'll need that equipment for COVID-19 variant booster shots. (And will come in handy for vaccinating with a universal flu vaccine, even HIV, etc.)
- refurb 6y ago
  No. Someone else can't copy it. With new technology like this there is often a ton of fairy dust involved - knowledge gained by the people who developed it that even they aren't aware is critical to the process. I was involved in a relatively simple tech transfer of a pharmaceutical agent to a plant in China. We pulled it back to the US because every single batch failed. And it wasn't due to shoddy workmanship since we had US people on the ground directing everything.

silexia 6y ago

The argument in the article for why the vaccine could not be produced is that there are new technical innovations that can't be done by other companies. I believe this to be a straw man argument. Each new human innovation is based on a massive mountain of previous human innovation. Many, many companies are on the edge of this innovation and allowing them to use the innovations of other companies without fear of patents litigation would allow them to make that last step now. Patents are one of the most insidious harms we have in our society today. Patent defenders claim that patents protect innovators. The truth is actually the exact opposite: patents are a monopoly legal tactic most often used so that the patent obtainer does not have to innovate further or execute. Patents kill all further innovation in the area they are in. A great example of this is that hundreds of companies used to manufacture aircraft. Boeing and Airbus bought up all the companies that own patents, and now it's nearly impossible to start a new aircraft manufacturing business due to Boeing's monopoly on the patents. Aircraft have changed very little ever since. We need to eliminate the patent system and allow free trade to actually work.

visarga 6y ago
I agree patents are harmful, especially in this situation, but the reason there are so few aircraft companies is because the tech matured and the standards of safety raised by a lot.
Accujack 6y ago
>Each new human innovation is based on a massive mountain of previous human innovation. That's a general rule of thumb, but it's not a law. There are innovations that are non sequels of previous developments. Sometimes inventors think differently than anyone else. The idea that multiple companies were "almost" on the edge of mRNA vaccines is pretty much proven false by the place the two existing companies got the tech - from the pair of people who developed it, one for each company.

jackcviers3 6y ago

If you document the design and process, somebody else can copy it.

selectodude 6y ago
A lot of this stuff is pretty bespoke. I’m sure it’s not hard to get your hands on (especially now) but by the time it’s ready, nobody will need it.
- skybrian 6y ago
  It seems like there are going to be a lot of mRNA vaccines?
  - selectodude 6y ago
    I certainly hope so. I imagine if Moderna wanted more machines, they're en route. They also won't be ready until 2022.
- Robotbeat 6y ago
  unfortunately we ARE going to need it because at current rates, billions of people won't be vaccinated until 2022 or 2023: https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/01/22/959627186/until-everyone-is-safe-no-one-is-safe-africa-awaits-the-covid-19-vaccine https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/0... That's billions of people who will be incubating more mutated variants of COVID-19. And secondly, we'll need that equipment for COVID-19 variant booster shots. (And will come in handy for vaccinating with a universal flu vaccine, even HIV, etc.)
refurb 6y ago
No. Someone else can't copy it. With new technology like this there is often a ton of fairy dust involved - knowledge gained by the people who developed it that even they aren't aware is critical to the process. I was involved in a relatively simple tech transfer of a pharmaceutical agent to a plant in China. We pulled it back to the US because every single batch failed. And it wasn't due to shoddy workmanship since we had US people on the ground directing everything.