Isabela Gee
2020 has been a whirlwind of a year, what with the coronavirus maintaining its rampant presence worldwide. This, however, is subject to change very soon! Biotech and pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and BioNTech have recently developed a potential vaccine, which will be available to the public very soon. Read ahead to find out some more details on this promising new update!
How exactly does this COVID-19 Vaccine work?
This vaccine’s main active component is messenger RNA. This type of vaccine has never been approved for human usage until now. The RNA in the COVID-19 vaccine contains the instructions for the body to produce an artificial spike protein of the virus. Once this vaccine is administered, the body begins producing this spike protein of the virus, which is soon recognized by the immune system as foreign, attacking the proteins. The body’s immune system has now learnt and retained the necessary information to recognize and quickly defeat the coronavirus in the event of infection. Over time, the body will develop immunity to the virus as a result of this occurrence. The effect of this virus is expected to last “months or even years” according to chief executive of BioNTech, Ugur Sahin.
How effective is this vaccine?
Phase 3 Trials testing the vaccine involved 42000 participants, which revealed a 95% efficacy. This statistic is extremely reassuring and promising, especially considering that the World Health Organization has previously stated that a 50% efficacy would have already been promising. Tests and trials are still ongoing, therefore these numbers may vary over time, however the current prospects seem positive.
How will the vaccine be transported to me? How is it administered?
Transportation of the COVID-19 vaccine will prove to be a challenging task in the coming months, mainly due to the fact that it must be maintained at extremely cold temperatures. Firstly, it must travel to countries in special dry ice packs, and stored in freezers that are capable of maintaining a temperature of -70 degrees celsius. Additionally, these vaccines can only be stored for approximately half a year before they must be taken to health centers and institutions where they are kept at temperatures of 2-8 degrees celsius before finally being distributed to patients. The vaccine is administered in two shots, taken about a month apart from each other.
Are there side effects? Will it work on everyone?
Yes, there are potential side effects such as fatigue or headache; these are fairly uncommon and only 4% of subjects reported any negative side effects, most being mild. An even smaller percentage of 2% experienced high fevers. In line with most vaccines, this one has a high efficacy, and has the same lasting effect on everyone, regardless of age, sex or condition. Those with existing conditions such as diabetes and cancer as well as the elderly were seen to respond the same as everyone else.
Are there any other preparations in place before this vaccine can be distributed?
Yes! Trials are still ongoing, and researchers have yet to determine just exactly how long the effects of this vaccine last for. Also, mass production of this vaccine needs to begin, and the trials must definitively prove that this vaccine is a safe option for all before it is released to the general public.
We have all endured such difficult and unexpected times; it is delightful to hear that a possible solution has finally been discovered and is set to become readily available to all in the near future! Thanks to the dedicated researchers and scientists who have likely spent months working towards this vaccine, we are now on track towards a covid-free future.