Researchers looking for a COVID-19 vaccine to prevent both disease and viral infections

Another day, another announcement about the COVID-19 vaccine.Whether it’s a result story Clinical trial, Urgent approval Or the plan the country does Prioritize specific groups For vaccination.

However, it is not yet known whether current vaccines will prevent or prevent the disease. People who infect the virus To others.

This affects not only the vaccines we have heard recently, but also the vaccines that are still under development.

This is why it is so important to prevent viral infections.And this is what we still have to do while we wait vaccine Prevents virus infection.

Prevention of illness and viral infections

Pfizer / BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Shown Be safe and effective Late clinical trials Prevention of COVID-19, including serious post-infection disease. However, it remains to be seen whether the vaccine will prevent the transmission of the virus from infected to healthy people.

New crops of the COVID-19 vaccine have promising results in combating symptoms, but will they also help control viral infections?Former KSJ Fellow @jetjocko (’03) is investigating this question in a recent article. @Wired..https://t.co/1j2fxqRA2l

-MIT’s KSJ (@KSJatMIT) December 7, 2020

In fact, according to previous reports, this is Not an endpoint or result measurement Of that trial. In other words, vaccine trials were not designed to find this.

However, it is not surprising that this information is not available at this stage.It Not executable To determine if the vaccine prevents spread in a study involving approximately 43,000 participants. This requires regular testing of test participants and is a large task.

Therefore, to get this kind of information Pharmaceutical company, Public health programs and researchers need to work together to collect data once vaccinated Expand to the community..

This may be part of disease monitoring in the population. Alternatively, you can monitor specific groups or locations that include people at high risk of being infected with the virus. In any case, this group (or cohort) should be monitored over time and will compare the status of infection against whether or not they have been vaccinated.

next, Oxford / AstraZeneca Vaccine trial. There are early signs that this vaccine may reduce the transmission of the virus from person to person.Investigator Observed reduction To Asymptomatic infection Among vaccinated people.

However, it is not yet clear how much asymptomatic people can infect the virus and how much reduction in person-to-person transmission can be attributed to the vaccine.Is required Further analysis To know for sure.

Not yet known if herd immunity is possible

It is not yet known if the COVID-19 vaccine is suitable for all community members, including a particular vaccine Health Or who Pregnant.. However, the theory is that vaccination of a significant proportion of the population can protect unvaccinated people through herd immunity.

But at the moment Herd immunity In a particular community Achievable By COVID-19 vaccinationGiven that we have never seen solid evidence that current vaccine candidates have stopped the virus.

It is also premature to know how well the COVID-19 vaccine works in different populations, including the elderly and children. Pregnant woman, And in some racially and ethnically diverse populations, these groups are not a major part, Clinical trial We are currently getting results from.

Finally, it is not yet known how long the immunity generated by the COVID-19 vaccine will last.

What is the impact?

The difference between a vaccine that prevents the onset of a disease and a vaccine that also prevents a viral infection has many implications.

For example, because we have not yet seen solid evidence that current vaccine candidates are declining. Virus infection, Vaccinated people think that the vaccine provides more protection and are at risk of spreading the virus to Unvaccinated peoplePerhaps they are not maintaining proper hygiene, are socially distant, or wear masks as needed.

There is also a risk that unvaccinated people will have a false sense of security. They may think that the vaccinated people around them have developed immunity by vaccination to prevent infection, or that they are protected by herd immunity.

Therefore, future COVID-19 vaccines should focus more on prevention. Infection; infection Of the virus plus Prevents the onset of illness.

One example is Novavax vaccine, Australia have Signed the contractShould it be proven safe and effective after late clinical practice? trial Has completed.

To Preclinical and early stage clinical trials, The vaccine shows a high level of immune response, Infectious diseases and illnesses.. However, further analysis is needed to find out more.

Our life has not yet “returned to normal”

Given these uncertainties, it is important to be realistic when considering what 2021 will look like.

Even if the vaccine is released, we have just returned to normal. The need for hygiene, physical distance, COVID-19 testing and other public health measures remains important.

This article will be republished from conversation Under a Creative Commons license.Read Original work..