By Dean Ormsby

Opinions Editor

   Many vaccines are currently being tested by researchers globally in order to save future lives from being lost to the COVID-19 pandemic.

   More than 170 candidate vaccines are going through testing by various researchers, according to the World Health Organization (who.int).

   Despite this progress, many credible sources don’t anticipate a widespread distribution of the vaccine before the upcoming election. According to CBS News, “Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel said Wednesday that his company’s coronavirus vaccine won’t be ready for widespread public distribution until spring of next year…The drugmaker also won’t seek emergency authorization for the vaccine for frontline medical workers and other at-risk individuals until November 25 at the earliest” (cbsnews.com).

  According to The Guardian, “In the preclinical stage of testing, researchers give the vaccine to animals to see if it triggers an immune response. In phase one of clinical testing, the vaccine is given to a small group of people to determine whether it is safe and to learn more about the immune response it provokes. In phase two, the vaccine is given to hundreds of people so scientists can learn more about its safety and correct dosage. In phase three, the vaccine is given to thousands of people to confirm its safety, including rare side effects and effectiveness” (theguardian.com).

  It usually takes many years of research and testing before a vaccine is ready to be distributed to the public, but given the circumstances, things have been rushed. To make sure these hurried vaccines are safe, a multiphase series of testing has been implemented (theguardian.com).

   Moderna’s vaccine is one of the most well tested COVID-19 vaccines produced; it is one of only 11 vaccines that have reached the third stage of clinical testing (theguardian.com).

   While many vaccines are on the brink of being ready, researchers do not want to rush the process and risk human safety. However, according to the New York Times, “Russia registered its first vaccine, one based on common cold viruses, in August, and is now offering a small number of doses outside of trials to people at elevated risk of infection, like health care workers. Western vaccine experts have criticized the Russian approach as being potentially dangerous” (nytimes.com). 

   Russia is not the only country that has rushed through vaccine testing. According to The New Yorker, “Many Chinese citizens haven’t waited for full approval before getting injected. The state press has reported that hundreds of thousands have already been vaccinated by China National Biotec Group, under an emergency-use approval granted by the government” (newyorker.com).

   “I really hope we can deploy a vaccine soon, but I don’t think we should rush it like other countries. We should take the time to make sure it is safe for everyone,” said Senior Austin Manning.