By Ajanta Bauer
On November 9th, 2020, Pfizer and BioNTech announced that their mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine had demonstrated efficacy against the spread of COVID-19 among the study’s participants. The vaccine has proven to be more than 95% effective, and has yet to result in any serious safety concerns. As Pfizer and BioNTech continue to collect results, they plan to submit the vaccine for Emergency Use Authorization to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USDA) in the third week of November 2020. The vaccine will be administered twice to each recipient, according to Pfizer and BioNTech,
What does this potential vaccine mean for us? If accepted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine can be available for millions of Americans by the end of the year. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, these vaccines will be available to the American people at no cost. Despite this, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, predicts that masks, social distancing, and other COVID-19 precautions will still be necessary for some time following the release of a vaccine. He warns Americans to remain diligent and continue fundamental public health measures as the nation gradually returns to a state comparable to that of before the pandemic.
There is, however, a potential issue: Pfizer and BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine has to be stored at -80 degrees Fahrenheit in order to maintain its efficacy. This temperature is comparable to the coldest recorded temperature in Antarctica! Many rural hospitals and health systems lack the preparations necessary to store the COVID-19 vaccines, and there is currently no plan for freezer distribution in place by the federal government. Manufacturers have been assembling freezers since late September in order to meet expected demands, however, a shortage is expected to occur. These freezers are typically sold at $10,000 - $20,000, proving too expensive for rural clinics who already operate at a loss. George Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, is hopeful that the federal government will offer resources for federal assistance.
The vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech will require two doses, the second being administered three weeks after the initial vaccination. There is, however, an alternative vaccine that is intended to be released in December of 2020 by Moderna, an American biotechnology company. Similarly to Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine, they plan to submit for FDA approval in the upcoming weeks after recently achieving a 95% efficacy rate. Although we maintain a positive outlook and hope for a COVID-19 vaccine to be both efficacious and safe, we must continue to be diligent in our hygienic practice and considerate of public health. The American population is encouraged to remain patient as the development of a vaccine is an extensive process, and will take time to be administered to the majority of the country.
Comments