PANDEMIC

Why I’ll Trust a Rushed to Market Covid-19 Vaccine to be Safe

The CDC and the FDA Do Not Play Around

Didn’t this happen in a movie?

I know it’s kind of creepy to see the similarity in concept of what we’re going through dealing with the novel coronavirus and the movie I Am Legend, where a novel virus pandemic broke out and a rushed vaccine started turning people into the walking dead.

And I also know there are people right now today who are afraid of something similar happening with the COVID-19 vaccine development in rush mode.

But really? I for one think that’s a little bit too far-fetched and not cause for concern — hopefully.

The Stats

In the United States, confirmed coronavirus cases are 12,238,876 with 259,946 deaths and counting (as of the time of this writing) with Texas, California, and Florida leading the way with about 1 million cases each.

And many other states are over the quarter-million mark in cases. This disease is spreading worse than the wildfires on the west coast. Don’t believe it? Just check out the table below. Isn’t this scary?

If this isn’t scary to you, then I don’t know what rock you live under.

Needless to say, if we don’t find a way to curtail COVID’s run, then many, many more deaths will be added to the list.

And what of the COVID patients that survive but have long-term or permanent and serious damage to their lungs, brain, heart or other adverse complications?

I personally know 9 people so far who have been infected with coronavirus, one died, one was put on a ventilator and almost died, and the others ranged from mild to moderately sick. And, they tell me that even the mild form of the disease still makes you very ill.

Normal timeline to develop vaccines

According to the World Economic Forum, developing a vaccine usually takes 10+ years, going through 5 stages of development.

One of the reasons why it is such a lengthy process is because this method of vaccine development is dependent on weakening or inactivating a virus first.

But with the COVID-19 vaccine, the approach has been a bit different.

How COVID-19 vaccine development was fast-tracked

First of all, scientists had something familiar to draw upon from working with coronaviruses in the past with the original SARS virus and MERS.

But a major factor contributing to the speed of development for a COVID-19 vaccine is Chinese scientists uploading the genetic sequence to the virus on a public site.

This cut time to Phase 3 trials to six months instead of 2+ years.

How?

It also opened up opportunity for scientists to use cutting-edge approaches to piece together the right code to synthesize vaccines able to block the spike proteins that allow the virus to replicate in people’s cells, because they know the genetic sequence of the virus.

Two COVID-19 vaccine front-runners

The two big pharma companies that have vaccines ready to go are Pfizer and BioNTech. Both companies will be requesting emergency use authorization from the FDA.

Vaccine alternative in the works

What I find even more interesting that scientist are working with to fight the coronavirus is a nasal antiviral that will work more as a prevention that can catch and stop coronavirus from entering host cells.

The nasal spray has proven to work in model ferrets in preventing COVID-19 transmission, and would likely be more accepted by people, would cost much less, be more easily transported, and does not have to be kept under extremely cold temperatures.

Whatever works!

Listen, we have vaccines for other viruses including the flu, pneumonia, hepatitis, HIV, HPV, chickenpox, measles, mumps, rubella, meningitis, polio, and many others.

What’s one more?

Vaccines have done us well.

Related stories by Audrey Malone that may interest you

Get in Touch

Audrey Malone is a freelance writer, professional resume writer, and editor, including editor for Medium publication, ILLUMINATION’S MIRROR.

She’s also the owner and founder of ExpertResumeWritingServices.com.

Feel free to join her Free Writing Course Mailing List for writing tips on how to improve your writing to become a top writer.

You may also join her Acne Free Skin Care Magic Mailing List for a Free Acne Treatment Ebook.