COVID-19 Vaccine Updates

STEPHEN JOSEPH – Vaccine development is usually a lengthy process that takes several years, and often doesn’t produce safe or effective vaccines. However, there is widespread optimism that a vaccine can be ready for mass distribution by early 2021. This is due to a combination of factors including international cooperation, significant funding, streamlining the approval process, and preemptive vaccine manufacturing. Despite the financial risk, the US government is providing funding for the mass production of candidate vaccines before they pass all human trials. This means doses will be available for distribution as soon as human trials are completed in late 2020 and early 2021.

Operation Warp Speed

Operation Warp Speed (OWS) is the US government’s official initiative in vaccine development, with the goal of delivering 300 million doses of the vaccine by January 2021. The role of the US federal government is to fund and support private companies as they develop their own versions of the vaccine while providing oversight for safety and efficacy standards. 

The Major Players

There are five major vaccine candidates which can realistically start distribution by January 2021, the target date of OWS. Some of these are collaborations between independent organizations. They include Moderna, BioNTech and Pfizer, AstraZeneca and University of Oxford, Johnson & Johnson, and Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline. 

Moderna

Moderna is moving at record pace and is currently in the midst of Phase 3 trials. This candidate is using a previously unproven mRNA vaccine, which works by delivering genetic instructions through mRNA in a lipid nanoparticle.

BioNTech and Pfizer

Pfizer is working with German company BioNTech and is currently in combined Phase ⅔ trials. Like Moderna, this vaccine candidate is also of the mRNA variety.

AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford

After this vaccine’s Phase 3 trial was briefly suspended because of one suspected serious adverse reaction for a participant in the UK, it is back in active trials. This collaboration was one of the earliest to start vaccine development and has benefited financially from the accompanying international attention. It expects to have the first of its supplies available in November or December of this year.

Johnson & Johnson

Johnson & Johnson was slow to start but is working with federal officials to streamline their transitions between the three phases. It started clinical trials this month and is using a non-replicating viral vector to provide immunity.

Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline

This collaboration between two of the largest vaccine manufacturers was also slow to start and only started human trials this month. While it won’t be the first to deliver doses, it is still slated to start mass manufacturing in the first half of 2021.

When can you get vaccinated?

In the unlikely event that one or more of these vaccine candidates fails completely, there are many other alternatives that can be quickly mass produced. If all goes according to plan, doses should be available to the general public starting early 2021. Until then, it is important to get your annual flu vaccines to limit pressure on the hospital system from a combined seasonal flu and COVID-19 outbreak.

Copy Editor: Ishan Vaish

Photography Source: Hima Patel