The COVID-19 vaccine is the great hope around the world; a formula that will allow us to live normally, without fear of infection or its consequences, and to resume our activities. For now, in the absence of a vaccine to achieve immunity against the coronavirus, governments have opted for prevention and the use of masks and social distancing.
The entire research sector has thrown itself into developing an effective vaccine . Six research approaches have been the most talked about in recent months, proposing different ways of attacking the virus. If all goes well, all of them could prove effective. These potential effective antivirals are:
– Attenuated variant of the smallpox virus. This variant was used to eradicate smallpox and has been modified with genes encoding SARS-CoV-2 proteins to induce efficient immune responses against COVID-19.
– Use of recombinant DNA technology. The induction of the S protein in mammalian cells has yielded good results and is intended to provide the body with sufficient protection against the coronavirus.
– RNA replicons. These replicons, derived from the SARS-CoV-2 genome itself, aim to eliminate the harmful parts of the virus and preserve those that aid immunization.
– Recombinant smallpox vaccine virus. Using the MVA strain, two SARS-CoV-2 genes are inserted to test their response, both in cells and antibodies.
– Development of lentiviruses from HIV. These are tools that allow genes to be introduced into cells using information from HIV, but changing the data for components of SARS-CoV-2 to determine their response.
This research appears to be yielding positive results, as experts have indicated that the vaccine solution would be available by the end of the year if everything goes according to plan.
Another question that everyone is asking is how this vaccine will be administered. Some say that older people, due to their vulnerability, should be given priority access. Meanwhile, other sectors, such as healthcare and public services, are also claiming their right to vaccination when it becomes available.
The Spanish government says it is negotiating a large-volume purchase of vaccines to ensure equitable access to doses. However, the first thing we believe we must take into account is that the vaccines are safe, and this is what should determine the subsequent vaccination plan.
What scenario could COVID-19 vaccines lead us to ? In addition to creating safe vaccines, the doses provided should be effective and guarantee long-lasting immunity or, at least, make the body more resistant to the coronavirus.
In the meantime, as always at Biosalud, we recommend prevention: hand hygiene, social distancing, and wearing a mask. You can also prevent infection by adopting healthy habits that strengthen your immune system, such as those we suggest, and by ensuring that you are not an asymptomatic carrier of the virus with appropriate tests such as those offered by Biosalud Análisis.
