CORONAVIRUS: BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE VACCINE Coopsjoshua Follow Apr 4 · 2 min read

Coronavirus has taken the world by storm. Infecting over 1,000,000 people and with one third of the world’s population on lockdown, a vaccine for the highly infectious disease is needed. So, why haven’t we got one?

NYC’s Times Square, which usually gets 330,000 visitors every day. Photo credit: CNBC.com

Well, the truth is because we know so little about it. Because it’s so new, there is so much to learn about COVID-19. Vaccines typically take 12–18 months to develop. Moreover, the vaccines can take even longer to mass produce, meaning the countries will have to stay on lockdown for even longer. The first people to get the vaccination will most likely be those who work in healthcare, and are working on the front line to help people because they are in contact with the infected every day.

However, scientists are working on a cure for the novel-coronavirus. The first human trial, funded by the National Institutes of Health, was conducted by scientists in Seattle, Washington on the 23rd of March. The first person to get the jab was 43-year-old mum of two, Jennifer Haller. She told AP “This is a great opportunity for me to do something.”

Photo credit: Adobe Stock

A vaccine for the virus is obviously essential to stopping the pandemic. The potential coronavirus vaccine works differently to other vaccines, for example, measles. Usually, they are made from a diluted or dead version of the virus. But this vaccine which scientists are working on, is made from a small part of genetic code, copied from COVID-19. However, it works the same as others. By being injected through the skin, the genetically similar, but not deadly, virus attacks the immune system so it creates proteins which can attack the actual virus, if it is contracted by the host. It’s like an obstacle course for the immune system.

Because there is no current cure for COVID-19, it’s important we protect ourselves and people who are vulnerable to the disease it causes. Avoid social contact with other people, except those living in your household, avoid leaving your house if it’s not essential, and wash your hands when returning from the outside.