The Intelligence from The Economist Off like a shot: the race for a covid-19 vaccine
Jul 7, 2020
Natasha Loader, The Economist's health policy editor and a vaccine development expert, discusses the intense global race for a COVID-19 vaccine and the complexities of equitable distribution once it's approved. Jonathan Rosenthal, Africa editor, sheds light on Ethiopia’s ethnic tensions amidst political turmoil and how recent violence threatens its fragile democracy. The conversation also ventures into a bizarre tale of espionage in Fiji, highlighting the lengths to which some will go to manipulate political narratives.
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The Vaccine Race
- A COVID-19 vaccine is crucial for ending the pandemic, but its development and distribution are complex.
- Regulators prioritize safety and efficacy, balancing speed with thoroughness.
Oxford's Head Start
- The Oxford Jenner Institute leads the vaccine race, leveraging their experience with MERS vaccine development.
- Their recombinant vaccine uses a harmless virus containing COVID-19 genetic information.
Global Vaccine Landscape
- The global vaccine race includes various approaches, like RNA vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer.
- Chinese vaccine developers face challenges due to a lack of domestic patients for efficacy studies.