NEW VACCINES GO VIRAL New mRNA vaccines bring expectations of ending COVID-19 pandemic
MIKA KIPNIS news staff
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fizer and BioNtech, a biopharmaceutical company partnership, announced Nov. 9 that their new mRNA-based vaccine had 90% efficacy after two doses according to their first Phase 3 interim analysis. Nov. 9 will not only be remembered as the day that the U.S. surpassed 10 million COVID-19 cases, but also the day that created a breakthrough in science and restored hope for normalcy in our daily lives. “I think we’re on the cutting edge of medicine and science,” Ladue nurse Nikki Harrison said. “Of all the bad that’s happened with COVID-19 and not being able to get a handle on it yet, this is something that has made doctors and scientists shine.” A few days after Pfizer confirmed that their vaccine efficacy rate was 95% in preventing COVID-19, another mRNA-based vaccine developed by Moderna confirmed a 94.1% vaccine efficacy rate. Both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines show promising results from their Phase 3 clinical trials of 43,538 and 30,000 participants respectively. Pfizer was the first vaccine approved for emergency use in the U.S. for COVID-19 by the FDA Dec. 11. “I was really surprised and excited when I saw that this vaccine came out that quickly and had that high of an effectiveness rate,” science teacher Molly Mannix said. “Historically, vaccine development takes a long time and early trials don’t have as high of effectiveness rates.” While previous vaccine techniques relied on injecting antigens or weakened versions of the virus into the body to create immunity, the new mRNA-based vaccine only requires the pathogen’s genetic code. After injecting an mRNA into the body, cells produce millions of spike proteins — a protein found in COVID-19 that is LADUEPUBLICATIONS.COM
harmless without other viral comachieved by November 2021 if 60-70% ponents — prompting the immune of the population has COVID-19 imsystem to create munity, whether that antibodies that build be from contracting COVID-19 immunity the virus or receivand resistance. ing the vaccine. I think we’re on the “All of these dif“We’re getting cutting edge of medicine close, which is ferent mechanisms and science. in which vaccines incredible because work is like a trial it hasn’t even been NIKKI HARRISON | nurse and error process,” a year since we’ve Mannix said. “We first heard about need to decide which mechanism is COVID-19,” Harrison said. “Hopefulgoing to be the most effective and ly, we’re going to see the light at the safe for human use.” end of the tunnel.” p One of the biggest differences between Pfizer and Moderna is that Pfizer’s vaccine must be stored at negative 70 degrees Celsius, while Moderna’s ork W vaccine can be s e stored at 4 deaccin V 9 1 grees Celsius. This OVID C makes transporting w body Ho o t n and managing Moddi ecte j n erna’s vaccine much i A mRN easier for local clinics and pharmacies. o A int “To come up with N R a vaccine that’s so ate m l s n a tr effective is a hard thing Cells proteins to do and I think it’s groundbreaking,” senior spike Shriya Koneru said. “For scientists to be collabostem 19 y s e rating with peers when it’s un IDImm ces COV dangerous is commendable.” u According to American prod dies infectious disease expert o antib Anthony Fauci, vaccine distribution is estimated to begin as early as December and will prioritize those who have underIS lying medical conditions, are over IPN K A 65 or are healthcare or frontline MIK & L workers. Fauci believes that the REL OR vaccine will be readily available for G LE CO the general public by June 2021 and I N | by herd immunity in the U.S. could be on i t a str illu 12.14.20
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