The first "jab" of our vaccine was administered commercially (outside of a clinical trial) today.
I've followed the development of the vaccine from it's infancy.
It's a new technology utilizing mRNA as the vehicle.
This means that the vaccine can be "adjusted" to compensate for natural viral mutations, should "Covid-20, or 21" rear it's head.
I've been in the pharma industry for over twenty years, working primarily in infectious disease, and this was the finest government/private partnership I've ever witnessed.
It's truly a scientific collaboration and achievement on the scale of the moon landing.
In addition to the vaccine's astonishing effectiveness, what's also interesting to note is that in the studies -- including the Moderna vaccine -- the very few who were both vaccinated AND demonstrated active infection, the sequelae of the infection was very mild.
Thus, it's worthwhile to get the vaccine as it primes the immune system to resist active Covid-19 infection; however, if the action is insufficient in some patients' immune systems, the immune systems are still prepared sufficiently to mount a solid defense which may (likely) preclude disease severity that would require hospitalization.
The reason why there never has been a vaccine for the common cold -- also a Coronavirus -- is twofold:
Thus, it's worthwhile to get the vaccine as it primes the immune system to resist active Covid-19 infection; however, if the action is insufficient in some patients' immune systems, the immune systems are still prepared sufficiently to mount a solid defense which may (likely) preclude disease severity that would require hospitalization.
The reason why there never has been a vaccine for the common cold -- also a Coronavirus -- is twofold:
- the first is financial. In the late 90's the US Government became the dominant purchaser of vaccines after they largely became mandatory. Monopoly PURCHASING power is equally as bad as monopoly PROVIDING power -- it drove the prices down so low that vaccines became largely profit-less and consequently interest in research for them dried up.
- Second, is technology. The new mRNA technology did not yet exist. Infectious disease research and threats to human beings isn't limited to viruses: the same thing is happening right now with antibiotics. Bacteria are busy mutating away as well, and there are strains of certain bacteria for which there are no treatments.
The "all hands on deck" "wartime" urgency to create a successful Coronavirus vaccine holds much promise for other therapies in battles against viruses, bacteria, and even cancer.
Polio was assigned the dustbin of infectious disease history due to the work of Jonas Salk.
Polio was assigned the dustbin of infectious disease history due to the work of Jonas Salk.
So may the Coronavirus, and not just Covid-19, either.
For further reading about the technology, it's here:"
For further reading about the technology, it's here:"
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