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By Jessica Singh (‘22)
The race to create a vaccine for the virus is underway. Companies such as Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson are in the process of running vaccines through clinical trials. Some of these companies hope to release their vaccines to the public by the end of 2020, but the nation is torn, and many are wondering if these vaccines are safe?
According to an article on October 22, 2020 from News Channel 8, Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator, says that the reason most vaccines take longer than 10 months to be released is because there are long delays in between developing the vaccines and conducting clinical trials. Most of the time, pharmaceutical companies wait until they can make a substantial profit based on the market. However, Dr. Birx assures that “these large gaps” in the typical vaccine development process is not the case for the COVID-19 vaccine. If the federal government claims the vaccine works safely, they will begin manufacturing and distribution immediately. No shortcuts will be taken, either in the science or the safety of the vaccine.
Despite this reassurance, many people are still worried about the safety of this vaccine if it is approved too quickly. According to a Stat/Harris Poll Study, 75% of respondents worry that it is the upcoming election, rather than science, that could be driving the release of the vaccine. A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center found that in March 2020, 42% of adults would definitely get the vaccine. However, when asked again in September, only half this number (21%) said they would definitely get vaccinated. People are skeptical about possible side effects of the vaccine as well as its potential effectiveness at beating the virus.
Even though the election may be driving the production of the vaccine, scientists tell us that it will not be ready by early November. More tests, trials, and research have to be done before the vaccine is approved and released to the public.
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