With COVID cases on the rise in many countries,
the race to find an effective vaccine
is becoming a more pressing concern every day.
The pharmaceutical company Pfizer
has just announced
that they have succesfully produced
a COVID-19 vaccine in the lab
which is 90% effective against the virus.
Could this be our solution to the pandemic?
And, where do I sign up?
This is WHAT IF, and here's what would happen
With over a million deaths and counting,
COVID-19 has hit hard.
In order to stop it in its tracks,
we'll need vaccines to be distributed worldwide.
But, how can we determine which countries
get the vaccine first?
Would the richest nations get access
before the poorest ones?
With lockdowns stifling
many countries' economies,
could everyone afford it?
Some of the richer countries like the UK
have signed expensive agreements
with six potential coronavirus vaccines.
This has sparked controversy,
as hogging a vaccine before it's made
could leave vulnerable countries behind.
Luckily, the WHO or World Health Organization,
has created the Covax plan
to level the playing field.
Its aim is to raise two billion dollars
by the year 2021 to help buy
and fairly distribute a vaccine worldwide.
Many countries are pooling their resources together
and they hope to guarantee 92 lower-income countries
in Africa, Asia, and Latin America
fast and fair access to the vaccine.
If this Covax plan works,
all the countries involved
will receive enough doses
to vaccinate 20 percent of their population,
starting with the most vulnerable people first.
This would include healthcare workers,
the elderly in nursing homes and their caretakers,
as well as people with medical conditions putting them at risk.
Then, people over 65 would be next in line.
And finally, people under the age of 50 will get it last.
These vaccinations will be distributed
to convenient locations
like schools, pharmacies and even train stations.
While we won't know for sure
how bad the pandemic will get
before the vaccine is readily available,
researchers suggest that the death count
could reach two and a half million by January.
But if we step up our acts,
wear masks and keep our distance,
this number could be a lot smaller.
So how exactly will this vaccine get approved?
First, it must go through rigorous testing
to ensure that it's safe.
This can be a long and expensive process
and normally only about 10% of vaccine trials are successful.
Before a vaccine can be tested,
it has to first undergo screenings
and evaluations to determine
which antigen should be used.
Antigens are like the secret weapons of the vaccine.
They contain a small amount of the disease
or virus-causing organism
to trigger an immune response.
In this preclinical phase,
antigens are tested on animals
which share similar genetic makeups to us.
If all goes well,
scientists will then start Phase 1,
where a small group of human volunteers
are given the vaccine.
Researchers and doctors
will monitor if the right immune response is triggered
and figure out the correct dosage for humans.
In Phase 2,
the vaccine is given to several hundred volunteers of varying age groups.
And finally, in Phase 3,
thousands of volunteers will be tested.
These tests will be conducted
across multiple countries
to assure the results of the vaccine
apply to many different populations.
After all is said and done,
each country will review the study data
and decide whether to authorize
the vaccine for use.
Once it is made public,
the vaccine will need to be constantly monitored
to ensure it works as it should.
So what's so special about this Pfizer vaccine,
and when can we get it?
The Pfizer vaccine is currently in phase 3 of testing,
meaning it's being tested worldwide.
Companies are wating for more data
to come in before they begin manufacturing.
Unlike traditional vaccines,
the Pfizer vaccine uses a novel genetic technology
that is on the forefront of science.
Using synthetic mRNA,
the immune system is activated
and fights the virus.
mRNA vaccines are unique
and have never been licensed
for an infectious disease.
Traditionally, vaccines inject small doses
of the disease-causing organism.
But mRNA vaccines trick the body
into producing some of the viral proteins itself.
Think of it as a tiny cellular magician,
except instead of rabbits,
he's pulling coronaviruses out of his hat!
Abra-corona!
So far the vaccine has been tested
on 43,500 people with only mild side effects.
It will require two doses, three weeks apart.
Pfizer has reported that up to 50 million doses
could be available globally
by the end of the year.
And they expect to have 1.3 billion doses ready in 2021.
While this all sounds hopeful,
one of the challenges will be distributing it.
The vaccine must be kept at -70 °C (-94 °F) or below in order to last six months.
This can eat up a lot of energy and money,
and can be a challenge for top hospitals,
let alone rural communities.
Hopefully, the Covax plan will cover the costs.
Even if the vaccine is ready to go,
it will not be a quick fix,
and will likely take years before
everyone is vaccinated.
I hope it doesn't take more than two years.
Well, guess what?
That's a story for another What If.