COVID-19 Vaccine: An Awaited Discovery
The Coronavirus, which causes the respiratory illness COVID-19 has spread across the globe with unseen speed and ferocity. Medical scientists and doctors across the globe have collaborated with each other only to make survival possible during the pandemic. Scientists have been racing to get a better understanding of the virus’s genetic make-up and discover effective treatments and vaccines for helping mankind.
According to the “DRAFT landscape of COVID-19 candidate vaccines” released by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 4th of April, 2020, two vaccines are currently being tested on humans including a ‘Non-replicating viral vector vaccine’ developed by CanSino Biological Inc. along with the Beijing Institute of Biotechnology which helps in fighting the disease as it is developed using a virus that is killed or a part of the virus that cannot replicate itself inside the host and triggers the immune system to produce the antibodies.
The second is ‘a messenger RNA vaccine’ discovered by the Moderna and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. In such vaccines, the messenger RNA from the pathogen is used, is translated into antigenic protein which eventually produces antibodies. There are more vaccines mentioned by WHO including one developed by Inovio Pharmaceuticals and two from Shenzhen Geno- Immune Medical Institute. The WHO draft also declared that 60 candidate vaccines are in preclinical trials; the list contains the ‘DNA plasmid vaccine’ and ‘Live Attenuated Virus’ vaccine developed by Zydus Cadila and Serum Institute of India respectively.
On 11th April, a report published on ‘The Print’ stated that according to a well renowned scientist, a vaccine against the coronavirus could be ready by September. Many states and countries are collaborating with one another in order to curb this outbreak and help humans worldwide; Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL) has joined hands with Australia’s Griffith University to conduct exclusive researches for developing a lead vaccine candidate.
India- one of the largest producers of anti-malaria drug ‘hydroxychloroquine’ has even wilfully supplied it to the U.S. and Israel on their request; according to a report by ‘Economic Time’ India has agreed to supply the drug to Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh. Moreover, even a well-developed country like France believes the drug to be effective enough when combined with azithromycin.
India is very much ahead of certain countries including China, in developing a vaccine for the deadly COVID-19. However, India does not have animal models and as the manufactures are unable to perform any tests on animals they are forced to lag behind in this process. A Pune based firm- Seagull Biosolutions is the first company that is backed by the Government for coronavirus vaccine efforts, it would conduct tests on wild mice, monkeys or another small animal; manufacturing of vaccines could even be fast-tracked only if the clearances for animal testing are given on time.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the usage of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19. In China, the National Medical Products Administration of China has approved the use of Favilavir, an anti-viral drug with has been proved effective in clinical trials involving 70 patients conducted in Shenzhen, Guangdong province; the country is even using an HIV medicine- Kaletra/ Aluvia for treating affected patients. The first batch of US COVID-19 vaccine trails in humans began on the 16th March, 2020, and the clinical trial of Moderna’s vaccine started on March 27; Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) has begun testing two promising vaccine candidates performed in animals. The Remdesivir drug has been used by the US, China and Italy only on “compassionate basis” as it has not been officially approved yet.
In conclusion, this outbreak is an unprecedented one and changing behavioural patterns of individuals is mandatory in order to stop it from spreading. Medical experts worldwide are meticulously working hard to protect humans and make effective developments. It is now the duty of the society to be grateful towards them and to continue practicing good personal hygiene while promoting social distancing and self-isolating themselves through living in quarantine without any resentment so as protect the world from any more casualties.
BY-
TANISHKA GROVER and ARPITA VARMA
STUDENT REPORTER, INBA