Coronavirus vaccines: The billion dose dash

In the article, the author takes a deep dive into the current vaccine landscape, examining the challenges facing pharmaceutical companies in the development and widespread production of an effective vaccine for the novel coronavirus. The article also looks at potential roadblocks and lingering questions surrounding creating and distributing a vaccine.

In discussing the growing geo-political positioning of vaccine production among a number of countries, the article notes a growing concern that frontline workers and high-risk people will not be given priority access to a vaccine when it is created. Fatema Rafiqi, Research Programme Manager for the Antimicrobial Resistance Benchmark, is quoted: “We have to make sure that those that need this vaccine get it first, and we don’t get into some of the situations we’re seeing with PPE.” 

The article wraps up by discussing how the current race for a COVID-19 vaccine could influence the way in which vaccines are developed in the future in terms of speed and best practices.