As the threat of a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic looms over various countries, the urgency for a viable vaccine is felt more acutely.

 

While vaccine development is progressing at record speeds, the likes of which have never been seen before, it is highly unlikely that a vaccine will be commercially available before the end of the current year, top health officials and scientists agree. Several clinical trials are ongoing, with promising results, but efficacy and safety profiles must be thoroughly verified before biopharmaceutical companies can consider making a vaccine available to the general public.

 

Meanwhile, as schools reopen and various business sectors continue to struggle, political officials attempt to quell anxieties with promises of accelerated timelines and boosted production for immediate availability, sending mixed messages to the public, with potentially disastrous results.

 

First concerns relate to undue pressure being made on biopharmaceutical companies. Therefore, several companies with ongoing vaccine trials released a joint statement, pledging to hold public welfare and scientific integrity above all other interests.

 

However, public trust has wavered. A vaccine’s potential effectiveness in controlling the current pandemic not only depends on its ability to produce a strong immune response, but also on the extent of vaccination of the general population. If a significant percentage of the community refuses to vaccinate, herd immunity is not achieved, and the virus will continue to propagate. A safe and effective vaccine might still only be the beginning of the end.

 

Melanie Salgado

Pharmacist and Medication Content Analyst

ALERT Life Sciences Computing