Question

Why is it expected to take at least a year to develop a COVID-19 vaccine for the general public? List the steps that must be taken.

Answer 1

Vaccines prepare the body's natural defense system to recognise, fight and destroy bacteria, viruses and other disease causing pathogens. In response to vaccine, the body accumulates immune cells to fight this pathogen. The first time body encounters with a virus or bacteria, it takes time to generate immune response. But, once the foreign invader is eliminated, certain immune cells(memory cells) remain that recognise and protect the body from secondary invasions of the same pathogen in the future. Chinese scientists have developed and shared genetic sequence of SARS-Cov2, virus that causes Covid-19. Certain cells in the body take up this genetic sequence and produce virus elements without infecting the person and by just triggerng the immune response of the body. Compared to the traditional vaccine preparation, a faster approach is preparation of vaccines at lab instead of using deactivated or weakened virus. Vaccines are given to healthy people to prevent diseases. Therefore, rushing a vaccine into the market without appropriate testing could put healthy people at risk. Developing and testing a vaccine is different from developing an antiviral to treat a patient who is infected. While treating a patient with an antiviral, the outcome of the patient is observed immediately. Whereas in case of vaccine, the patient must be observed for immune responses and have enough people naturally exposed to the virus to determine whether the vaccine prevents diseases.

Key steps in vaccine marketting is the production of vaccine itself. Next, the vaccine is evaluated in animals. The vaccine undergoes trials of clinical testing under the oversight of USFDA(United States Food and Drug Administration), Institutional Review Borads, Data Safety and Monitorig Boards, typically first in small numbers of healthy younger adults and then in larger groups with broad age ranges. Once a vaccine is shown to be safe and effective, bringing the vaccine to market is complex effort that requires investment in manufacturing and distribution. In case of COVID-19, there's a fast development of vaccine from getting sequence information to vaccine products available for clinical trials. However, it takes time to develop immune response to vaccine, and it also takes time to evaluate the safety of these vaccines.  

In order to speed up vaccine production early and robust manufacturing is required. If the manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccines begins during the trials, then the vaccine will be available to the public upon approval. However, a manufacturer loses significant resources if the vaccine is no longer needed in a market place or the vaccine is not approved. To mitigate this risk, CEPI, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness innovation calls for $2 billion in funding to support vaccine development, trials and enhanced manufacturing. However, vaccines are critical to halt corona virus pandemic, but it is not an overnight solution.