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The corona virus vaccine, which will be distributed to the world as a result of the BioNTech and Pfizer partnership, has been on the world’s agenda for a week. Many things have been written and drawn about the company that developed the vaccine and the founders of the company. At this point, there are many questions about the vaccine. This compilation we put together on the vaccine, which is 90 percent effective against the Corona virus, seeks answers to the questions that people have in mind.
1) How do we know if it will have long-term side effects?
There has been skepticism on this issue among people around the world. First of all, it is necessary to say this. Professor of Immunity at Imperial College London. Robin Shattock notes that most of the adverse events associated with vaccination occur very soon after vaccination, not months or years. Going back to the corona virus vaccine developed by BioNTech, the reliability of the vaccine is based on clinical trials with thousands of volunteers.
The safety of vaccines, their ability to generate an immune response, is authorized based on data from clinical trials. The BioNTech Pfizer vaccine goes through that process. The vaccine, which has been applied to more than 43,000 people so far, was first tested in April. Paul Hunter, professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia, says there is a new type of vaccine: “It is not impossible for someone to be allergic to a component of the vaccine. However, this will happen shortly after the vaccine is given. “
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2) Does it pose a risk of unknown health problems?
Even after the vaccine is licensed, scientists will continue to monitor the safety of the vaccine to identify rare side effects from clinical trials. Prof. Shattock also points to the possibility: “If you have a health condition deep down that causes you to react adversely to the vaccine, the same disease will likely react much worse to Covid-19.” Shattock says that at this point people have to make a decision. However, we still have time for that decision phase.
We’re sure finding the vaccine gets people excited in terms of the corona virus outbreak. But we don’t know how you will react to an unknown heart condition or autoimmune disorder. When any vaccine is approved and launched on the market, answers to these questions have already been sought. It is known that people with health problems are followed especially after. If there is any reason to suspect that a particular group may be adversely affected by the vaccine, vaccine institutions and organizations worldwide are requesting a sub-study to assess safety in that group.
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3) Will the vaccine really return us to normal?
So far only enough doses have been produced to vaccinate 5 million people. This amount is not enough to return to normal. Stating that it is not possible for society to return to normal overnight thanks to the vaccine, Prof. “This will be a gradual process and I suppose it will regain some degree of normality at least until summer,” says Shattock. Furthermore, no vaccination strategy has yet emerged in any country in the world. From this point it is unknown how the approach will be adopted, including Turkey. The most common opinion is: “It seems that priority will be given to the elderly and vulnerable people with chronic diseases. As the number of vaccines increases, perhaps we can see that life begins to return to normal. Because it is said that the number of seriously ill patients will decrease. With fewer people needing intensive care and fewer people, it looks like a future awaits us in which patients will receive better quality treatment.
4) If you have the Corona virus, does it make any sense to get vaccinated?
A question mark also arises regarding people caught in the corona virus. For example, Bill Dixon, a retired physics professor from Madrid, asked the question: “Six weeks ago I became Covid-19. So I may or may not be immune. I have no idea if it makes sense to get vaccinated. “
Until now, vaccine trials have focused on people who have not been exposed to the corona virus. Therefore, the impact of vaccination on people exposed to the virus is unclear. It is claimed that those infected in the past can also be vaccinated, as immunity against the virus decreases over time. Prof. Shattock said: “The level of immunity that occurs as a result of a natural infection is variable. This is why some people develop very strong immunity. Some develop very weak immunity, ”he says. Shattock says the vaccine will stimulate the immune response. It is also said that people are likely to need additional booster doses to boost their immunity even after vaccination.
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5) What type of infrastructure is required to transport and store at the right temperature?
One of the most important questions regarding vaccines is the issue of transportation and storage. Because it is stated that the vaccine should be stored below -70C. While there may be problems with storing traditional vaccines in the refrigerator, it is a question of how the world will overcome the -70 ° C problem. Prof. Dr. Although Uğur Şahin recently made a statement on this issue and said that they are working to keep the vaccine in the normal refrigerator for five days, there is still no clear result.
Transportation, storage and application of the vaccine will not be easy. The current view is in this direction. However, work has begun on the infrastructure. Pfizer reportedly designed suitcase-sized shipping containers that can hold between 1,000 and 5,000 doses at the required temperature for up to ten days when the vaccine is transported to local or regional storage facilities, such as hospitals. They will probably take it out of these containers for immediate use. It is indicated that the vaccine will remain valid for 24 hours after leaving the freezer. Prof. Shattock, on the other hand, says it is possible to establish centers that can produce many vaccines, especially in times of heavy use.
It is also worth mentioning that other vaccines that do not require cold storage are being studied in addition to the BioNTech Pfizer vaccine. So while our only hope is not the BioNTech Pfizer vaccine, there is currently no approved or reliable corona virus vaccine.
(This article is compiled from the Guardian article in which readers answered questions about the vaccine.)
Top 7 risks of the BioNTech vaccine
In addition to the safety and efficacy associated with the vaccine, there are obstacles that can delay treatment:
Security
There is still no security issue. However, all necessary safety data must be collected for Pfizer to manufacture the vaccine. More data is needed for people at high risk, such as the elderly. This data is expected to be released next week.
Effect
BioNTech Pfizer’s vaccine has been shown to be effective in nine out of ten people in global drug trials. However, a final immunity test may be required for the level of efficacy. Philipp Rosenbaum, an analyst at GlobalData, says it will take months to answer the question of how well the vaccine can prevent severe cases of Covid-19. There is also the question of whether the vaccine will be effective in the elderly population.
Production
According to experts, the advantage of mRNA technology used in vaccines is being able to produce a potentially faster and easier vaccine. Professor André Spicer from the City University of London says it can also be difficult to learn how to make the vaccine and share information: “Vaccine manufacturers tend to preserve their expertise because it gives them a competitive advantage. However, sharing this technical knowledge among competitors will increase production. “
Logistics
UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock admitted that the logistical complexities associated with transporting the vaccine from manufacturing facilities to patients will cause complications. According to Professor Toby Peters, professor of cold economics at the University of Birmingham, there is currently no logistical capacity anywhere in the world to distribute vaccines at this temperature on a large scale.
Distribution
We may have problems with vaccine distribution and how to get equal access to vaccines. The vaccine must be thawed and stored at a temperature above -70 degrees a few days before use. This can create problems for poor areas where refrigerators cannot be accessed by healthcare.
Communication and education
Public trust is essential for the purchase of vaccines. Educating and communicating people about the benefits of vaccination is more important than ever. Spicer of the City of London University points out the importance of running education campaigns related to vaccines.
Competitive threat
BioNTech Pfizer is not the only player offering a vaccine to fight the corona virus. AstraZeneca, who developed the vaccine with Oxford University to BioNTech Pfizer, was seen as the first to cross the finish line. If the confusion regarding the distribution of BioNTech Pfizer’s vaccine cannot be resolved in the coming weeks, rival companies may give BioNTech Pfizer an advantage.
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