How do the new vaccines fight Covid-19 and when will they be ready?
Coronavirus has destroyed our way of life for almost 12 months now but according to Boris Johnson there is a light at the end of the tunnel in the form of vaccines.
Three major vaccinations are in development by three different organisations: Pfizer-BioNtech, Moderna and the UK developed Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine are all in stage three of clinical trials and are waiting for official approval to be rolled out to the public.
Let’s take a look at how effective the vaccines are, their storage requirements and other important details.
These vaccinations are being bought by countries all around the world in an effort to end the coronavirus pandemic.
The UK Government, after having pre-ordered 40 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine, at a cost of $19.50 per dose, is expected to approve its distribution by the first week of December dependent on the outcome of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s (MHRA)review.
To that end, Health Secretary Matt Hancock also announced that the government has procured seven million doses of the similar Moderna vaccine but with one added bonus — it must be transported at -20.C but can be stored in a normal refrigerator for up to two days and should be ready by December upon approval of the MHRA.
But the US Moderna vaccine has only been bought in small amounts by the UK Government (costing $20 per dose) in the hope that the British developed Oxford University-AstraZeneca vaccine will be available by the new year.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam is hopeful of this British made vaccine as it is cheaper to store, due to its possibility to be stored and transported at refrigerator temperature (2.C-5.C), and is being given to the UK public at cost price by the organisations involved. The Prime Minister also hopes it will promisingly boost jobs in the healthcare sector.
According to medical professionals, these early vaccines should expel the need for further lockdowns and the Government is hopeful that due to the development of these Covid vaccinations, we should return to normal life by the spring.
