Hopes of a corona-free world have sparked up in the United Kingdom as the government took another step to help stabilize the situation created by the current pandemic. The UK government secured a deal of 90M doses of COVID-19 vaccines and millions are being invested on promising experimental vaccines in the hope to provide an immediate shot to the population as soon as it is launched.
The UK signed up for 30M doses of the mRNA vaccine that is being developed by the combined alliance of a German company BioNTech and pharmaceutical company Pfizer. This vaccine has reached phase 2 trials after the company announced positive results from phase 1 where they successfully produced an immune response with only mild side effects. Made from the coronavirus’ genetic code rather than the virus itself, the mRNA vaccine is being developed by Imperial which received research capital from the UK government.
The remaining amount of 60M will be purchased from the French company Valneva whose vaccine has a different approach from the mRNA as they use an inactive form of the virus. This dose, if it is proven safe, would then be topped by another 40M doses.
Hopefully, these measures will ensure that the UK has the best possible start to protect those at higher risk by immunizing their frontline workers and care staff. The government’s efforts in making these investments place the UK among the top of list of countries who will be able to offer a broad range of vaccines as soon as they are available in the market or even before that.
This new deal follows the one where the UK had gotten 100 million doses of the ADZ1222 vaccine from Oxford/AstraZeneca. This vaccine is being made from a genetically engineered virus and produces antibodies that will be used on the individuals who cannot be vaccinated normally, such as those who are immune-compromised. It has been adjusted to lower the risk of infections in these patients and also to make it “look” more like coronavirus. The results obtained from the trials were very substantial as an effective immune response was fruitfully produced by the drug.
In short, the UK is approaching three different vaccine formulae with the hope of finding the ‘one’ that works best. Concerns however remain about the efficacy of the vaccines, whether or not these vaccines will reach the public and if so, when will they be available? Hopefully, one of these vaccines may produce favorable results by the end of the year, but it might not be till next year that a large-scale vaccination is carried out. Prime minister, Boris Johnson addressed this by saying, “Obviously I’m hopeful, I’ve got my fingers crossed, but to say I’m 100% confident we’ll get a vaccine this year, or indeed next year, is alas just an exaggeration.” Uncertain though the outcome may seem, a vaccine is seen as the only hope of immunizing and protecting the community against the virus that has jolted the world. Finding a vaccine is truly a global endeavor as termed by the business secretary, Alok Sharma but the government is doing all it can to ensure the wellbeing of the British public by providing a safe vaccine as soon as they can.
Half a million people would be needed to take part in clinical trials for a coronavirus vaccine in the UK this winter. Photograph: Paul Biris/Getty
The UK’s government is also encouraging the public to come forward to take part in vaccine trials. An NHS COVID-19 vaccine research registry has been launched to enable people in the UK to play their part by undertaking a trial to help future vaccine studies. The government hopes to get 500,000 people signed up for the trials by October. Health secretary, Matt Hancock urges the public to “back the national effort and sign up to the NHS COVID-19 vaccine research registry to help find a vaccine as soon as possible.” Prof Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer, also addressed the public saying: “Now that there are several promising vaccines on the horizon, we need to call again on the generosity of the public to help find out which potential vaccines are the most effective.” Some of the finest scientists and researchers are doing their best to keep this project running. These trials will provide the scientists with an enhanced study on the effectiveness of each vaccine. The project will help in getting to the key of solving this pandemic problem faster.
Humanity might have to wait quite some time till a perfect vaccine finds its way to people but it can be said that the UK government is taking steps in the right direction. Let’s all play our part in the journey for finding a vaccine which promises us a bright tomorrow and a much better future.
References:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-53469839
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/20/uk-deals-doses-coronavirus-vaccine
