Different possibilities of vaccines for COVID-19

A picture of COVID-19 Virus

Introduction

As the COVID-19 cases continue to increase, researchers and experts are working tirelessly to find treatments and vaccines to reduce the spread of the disease and the burden it puts on clinical facilities. Some of these treatments are medicines, which have been approved for viruses with similar symptoms. Experts are interested in whether available antivirals or new drugs will be effective in curing the virus. As from May 2020, a medicine that sedates people when they are on a ventilator and hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine were approved for the treatment of COVID-19. However, later on, their use was revoked after the studies revealed that they are not treating COVID-19. Though they are still being tested to determine whether they can treat COVID-19 patients. The clinical trials of any vaccine are important to ensure the drug is safe for use. The development of vaccines for COVID-19 treatment may take months or a year before they become available for use. For these reasons, the current paper discusses the type of vaccine that may succeed in treating COVID-19, the country which is ahead in developing the COVID-19 vaccine, and how the vaccine function. Furthermore, the paper addresses how vaccine trials work, and how a successful vaccine will be distributed.

Type of vaccines

There are not less than one hundred vaccines in the preclinical stage in governments, academic institutions, government agencies, and pharmaceuticals, and other institutions. Additionally, more than 70 of these vaccines are being monitored by WHO. Tens of these vaccines from more than twelve countries are currently undergoing clinical trials (Dow Jones Institutional News par. 3). Figure 1 shows countries and vaccines that are likely to succeed in treating COVID-19. 

 

Figure 1: Different countries with distinctive vaccines development

According to Figure 1, CanSino, SinoVac, SinoPharm(Wuhan), SinoPharm(Beijing), Murdoch Children’s, and Modema are likely to succeed because all have reached phase 2 of their development as compared to other vaccines. The development of vaccines occurs in three phases. In Phase 1, a small number of individuals are injected with the trial vaccine. During Phase II, individuals with the same characteristics as the intended purpose of the vaccine receive the trial vaccine. During Phase III, the vaccine is given to thousands of individuals, and the safety and efficacy of the trial vaccine are tested (Dow Jones Institutional News par. 4). The majority of the vaccines proceed to stage four upon the approval of the vaccine. Therefore, based on these vaccine development process, the mentioned six vaccines are likely to succeed because their development has reached the final stage (Phase III).

Country

Figure 1 reveals that different countries are in the journey of vaccine development. Though some of these countries are likely to succeed in COVID-19 vaccine development than others. For instance, China is better placed to develop the COVID-19 vaccine than other countries. This is demonstrated by a number of vaccines China has developed. Four out of six China’s COVID-19 vaccine trials are in their final phase (Roland, par. 5). Additionally, one of the six vaccines has been approved for limited use. As a result, China stands out among other countries such as Russia, the United States of America, Australia, and Russia. The United States of America’s COVID-19 vaccine and the Australian COVID-19 vaccine is in Phase III and none of these vaccines has been approved for limited use. Astonishingly, Russia has approved its COVID-19 vaccine for limited use even though none of its phases has been completed. For these reasons, China is likely to be the first country to develop the first COVID-19 vaccine.

How vaccines work

The vaccines function by triggering the immune system to identify and fight pathogens such as viruses and bacteria. The vaccine achieves this by introducing some molecules of the pathogen into the human body to stimulate the immune system of that person. The molecules are referred to as antigens, which are present in both bacteria and viruses. Introducing these antigens into the human body triggers the immune system of the body to identify them as hostile invaders. As a result, the immune system produces antibodies against these antigens. Furthermore, the immune system develops the mechanism of remembering these antigens in the future. Therefore, if the virus or the bacteria reinvades, the immune system identifies it and destroys it without multiply in the body to cause illness.

How vaccine trials work

A vaccine trial is described as a clinical trial, which focuses on the determination of efficacy and safety of the intended vaccine before it is licensed and approved for use. A vaccine candidate is determined through various preclinical assessments, which sometimes include selecting and screening a suitable antigen that can stimulate the immune system. The preclinical steps are significant in the determination of specific drug formulations and approximate dose ranges. The preclinical stage also involves testing the drug candidate in the laboratory before proceeding to Phase I trials. Furthermore, the determination of the safety and efficacy of the vaccine candidate drug is important in the preclinical stage. Sometimes the preclinical stage vaccine candidate drug incorporates pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the drug (Graham, 6494). Though vaccine studies require understanding the adverse effects of the vaccine candidate drug in all of its possible dosage concentration and its association with the immune system.

Vaccine trials take place in three main phases. Sometimes it involves four phases. Typically, Phase I involves introducing a vaccine candidate drug into the body system of healthy individuals to assess its safety and efficacy. In this step, the vaccine trials may involve coming up with two groups in a specific population. One group to act as an experimental group while the other group functions as a control group. Individuals in the experimental group receive the intended vaccine. On the other hand, the control treatment can be an adjuvant-containing cocktail or placebo. After introducing the placebo or vaccine into the immune system of healthy volunteers, experts obtain data on the production of antibodies, and also on the health effects. Generally, studies of Phase I of vaccines consist of escalation research, which is common in medicinal research trials.  Phase II depends on toxicity outcomes and immunogenic of Phase I. Phase II comprises of healthy volunteers. Normally, about one hundred individuals are included in the Phase II study. Moreover, Phase III continues to assess SAEs, toxicity, and immunogenicity of the vaccine on large scale (Begum et al., 3). In Phase III, the vaccine candidate drug must demonstrate that it is effective and safe for the disease condition before it is submitted for approval. Phase IV involves continuous assessment and data collection after the vaccine has been approved for use.

Distribution of successful vaccine

Upon the success of the COVID-19 vaccine, its distribution will occur through government networks instead of private entities. Different governments across the globe will acquire the vaccine and distribute it to their citizens, normally for free. For this reason, it is important for vaccine distribution to take place through government networks.

Works Cited

"Covid-19 Vaccine Development Carries ESG Risks, Opportunities for Pharma Industry -- Market Talk." Dow Jones Institutional News, Jul 10, 2020.

Begum, Jubeda, et al. "Challenges and Prospects of COVID‐19 Vaccine Development Based on the Progress made in SARS and MERS Vaccine Development." Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, 2020.

Graham, Barney S. "Rapid COVID-19 Vaccine Development." Science, vol. 368, no. 6494, 2020.

Roland, Denise. "Wanted: People Willing to Get Sick to Find Coronavirus Vaccine; British Lab is Recruiting Volunteers for Study it Says could Speed Development of Covid-19 Vaccine." Wall Street Journal (Online), Mar 19, 2020.