The Latest News on Vaccines
Here’s some good news: Moderna’s final-stage COVID-19 vaccine test began on Monday, according to The Wall Street Journal (subscription). The company’s researchers intend to conduct a nationwide, 30,000-person trial of its experimental vaccine, with the goal of testing whether two doses of the product can safely protect against COVID-19.
The timeline: Moderna is hoping that, with positive results, a vaccine could be available as early as this fall.
And more good news: Pfizer and German biotech BioNTech have also started their 30,000-person trials, which will extend around the globe. Their timeline? To get the vaccine into regulatory review by the fall.
So once a vaccine is ready, what happens next? A whole bunch of logistical challenges is what. The Atlantic details some of the complications involved:
- A vaccine probably won’t offer complete protection, though it will prevent severe cases.
- Production will be a challenge, with manufacturers seeking to make hundreds of millions of doses in record time and jockeying for supplies like glass vials.
- Distribution will face major hurdles as federal and state governments are forced to coordinate vaccine delivery.
- One in five Americans say they will refuse to get a vaccine even if it’s available, while nearly a third say they haven’t decided.
And one last PSA: STAT News gives us a heads-up that these vaccines may create some physical discomfort. That may actually be good news—the reaction could be a sign of your immune system going to work—but it’s probably best not to expect an entirely pleasant experience from a potentially lifesaving vaccine.
As always, your best bet for now is to follow CDC guidelines, wash your hands, maintain social distancing and wear a face covering.