Economist Podcasts More needles in the haystack: vaccine candidates proliferate
Feb 1, 2021
LaVeya Chankova, a Healthcare correspondent for The Economist, discusses the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines and the challenges posed by variants. She highlights the importance of global vaccination strategies, especially in underserved areas. Meanwhile, Greg Karlstrom, the Middle East correspondent, delves into the complex landscape of Palestinian politics, focusing on the potential elections and the stronghold of Mahmoud Abbas. They also touch on the intriguing rise of lab-grown meat, presenting it as a sustainable food future.
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Rapid Vaccine Development
- Several COVID-19 vaccines are now approved, a remarkable feat given the usual development timeline.
- New vaccines from Novavax and Janssen are highly effective, especially against severe illness.
Virus Mutations and Vaccine Efficacy
- The South African variant reduces vaccine effectiveness, but not completely.
- This highlights the need for ongoing variant surveillance and potential vaccine modifications.
Vaccine Rollout Challenges and Hope
- The new vaccines are good news for global vaccine rollout due to easier storage and distribution.
- Production and logistical challenges still exist, but the situation is expected to improve by the end of the year.