the end of the common cold?

[GoodTaste]

Is "the end of the common cold?" expressing a doubt or a sarcasm? Is it expressing that Dawkin doesn't believe a vaccine for the coronavirus wil be successful? Because common cold is too elusive to conquer.

------------------------------
Richard Dawkins: Coronaviruses are among the causes of that family of ailments called “colds”. The “cold” has seldom been seen as serious enough to warrant much research. Could the massive effort to beat the more virulent Covid-19 variety have a fortunate spin-off: the end of the common cold?

 

[jutfrank]

No. No.

He's suggesting it may be possible that research on Covid-19 leads to ways to eradicate the common cold.

 

[Raymott]

In any case, Dawkins is wrong. But again, maybe British usage calls pneumonia requiring a respirator a "cold family" illness. It is in the family of acute respiratory illnesses, though it's not usual in medicine to speak of families of illnesses.

 

[GoesStation]

He's not wrong. He's expressing the possibility that research into vaccines and treatments for covid-19 will as a side effect lead to successful vaccines or treatments for the common cold, which is caused by a closely-related virus.

 

[GoesStation]

As Ray is, or was, a medical practicioner,, I will take his word on that.

Ah. Me, too. Another pre-coffee observation escaped. Apologies.

 

[jutfrank]

I understood that Raymott was talking about the first sentence only when stating that Dawkins is wrong. GoesStation's interpretation is correct.

 

[Tdol]

According to Wikipedia:

Well over 200 virus strains are implicated in causing the common cold, with rhinoviruses being the most common.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_cold

So Mr Dawkins may be a little optimistic.

 

[Raymott]

I don't want to argue with Dawkins; he's a biologist. Maybe biologists have their own jargon about "cold-like illnesses" and the rest. I also don't want to be arrogant.
But I don't see why making a vaccine for coronavirus will lead to a vaccine for colds. We have already had an influenza vaccine for x years, but surely in Dawkins' terminology, that is a "cold family" illness too. Why should a coronavirus vaccine lead to a cure for the cold when the influenza vaccine hasn't?
Anyhow, I haven't read Dawkins original comments. So, we'll wait and see.

Was there a reference for the OP?

 

[Tdol]

It would be good if he were right.