The pandemic is going strong, and the second wave has hit Europe, and people are struggling to cope-up with it. France and the United Kingdom have announced the second lockdown, taking a toll on the people. In these challenging times, there is a positivity surrounding the vaccine, which seemed difficult at the start of the year. According to the United State Infectious Disease Expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the first US COVID-19 vaccine is expected to be shipped in late December or early January.
Moderna Inc and Pfizer Inc are the current front-runners to develop a COVID-19 vaccine fully enrolled and collecting data on safety and efficacy. At the same time, the other six candidates are at different stages of clinical trials and testing.
The issue of vaccines is good news at a time of considerable concern and stress about the outbreak. As we get into November and then maybe into December, we will get an answer as to whether one or more of these candidates are safe and effective. I am cautiously optimistic, – said Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
After the clinical trials conducted by the companies, they are yet to release the data for the public. Once the companies release the data, they will be checked and authorized by the likes of the US Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Suppose the results of the trials deem to be fit. In that case, the government and FDA will look for the perfect strategy to distribute the vaccines amongst the population.
Pfizer recently disclosed that its vaccine is 90% effective in the final stage of clinical trials, which Fauci called it ‘extraordinary’. While the high efficacy shows the optimism of a safe vaccine in the near future, Fauci emphasized that if the COVID-19 vaccine is available, no one is certain about its protection and how long it will be effective.
The masks, sanitizers and handwashes have become the part and parcel of life since the start of 2020 and are expected to stay for a while. With vaccines yet to be available in the market, coronavirus damage will linger on, and people should take precautions and maintain social distancing.
Despite the pandemic hitting hard, people are able to put up a strong show with the limited resources they have. The main concern is the unavailability of the COVID-19 vaccine. With many companies sharing regular updates about the development of the possible solution, the news of the vaccine’s availability in the coming weeks brings joy to the people.
