The race for Covid-19 vaccine

The Tribune     9th June 2020     Save    
QEP Pocket Notes

Context: The global competition in vaccine development is as much about prestige as about saving millions of lives and earning billions of dollars and will make biotechnology as a major element in global power equations 

Various Vaccine development Efforts:

  • USA’s efforts: US’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), $1.2 billion support to Oxford University-AstraZeneca to deliver doses of their potential vaccine .
  • Triggered China:
  • China became the only country to have advanced to phase II of the trials.
  • China’s efforts are directed towards redeeming itself of the blame of  pandemic spread
  • Other leading candidates: Pfizer and BioNTech of Germany, Moderna and Inovio in the US.
  • Military involvement: in both the US and China to fast track vaccine development.
  • Innovative approaches for global use:
  • Advance agreement for drug purchase: by the US with Oxford-AstraZeneca to ensure quick availability of drugs.
  • Bilateral engagement: Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness (CEPI) is being sponsored by Norway and India to finance new vaccines is a major player. 
  • Serum Institute of India; being the biggest vaccine maker in the world is sharing the effort of CEPI and GAVI in making the timely availability of vaccines to all.

Conclusion:

  • Fear remains : 
  • Vaccine nationalism: due to extreme competition between the nations in light of prestige.
  • A ‘gold standard’ vaccine: giving protection of six months, at least 50 per cent effective and able to prevent the transmission of the virus—will take time.
  • Effect of global power equations: The continuing tussle between US and China is seen to be venting out through vaccine development and biotechnology as their weapon.
QEP Pocket Notes