How could the COVID vaccine be developed so fast, whereas it takes much longer for other drugs or vaccines!
The question has been often asked; raising doubts, flaming controversies, and most importantly slowing down the vaccination drive.
Here are some scientific and other evidence that explain this unprecedented feat, as follows.
Were the COVID vaccine trials rushed ahead of time?
The vaccine trial can’t be rushed ahead because the immune system takes a certain amount of time to generate immunity. What can be rushed, however, is paperwork, manufacturing of the vaccine doses, and reduction of bureaucratic steps. These took place at the same time as the trials were underway. Normally they would wait until after completion, but the pandemic led to many steps being undertaken simultaneously.
What is emergency use authorization?
Internationally, the regulatory authorities look at two things in the clinical trials, before approval of a vaccine or drug for general use:
- a) safety of the participants b) data quality and integrity
- a) All medicines go through comparative trials with medicines given to half and placebo (substance with no therapeutic effect) to the other half.
- b) Vaccines were approved after their efficacy (chances of not getting COVID after the vaccine) and safety (chances of harm) were found to be satisfactory.