To say that news traveled fast yesterday about the releasing of a COVID-19 vaccine would be an understatement. The wait has been brutal and very stress-inducing for everyone. The spectators of this global pandemic are confident that a vaccine will be the solution. On November 12, it was announced by Pfizer that an early analysis showed its vaccine candidate was more than 90 percent effective and they will now work on distributing the vaccine immediately.
This news could never have come at a better time as the holidays as well as the new year of 2021 are approaching. It was extremely relieving to hear this, personally, because of all the students that will be traveling back home and later returning after winter break.
COVID-19 has been doing gradually worse as well. It was predicted by public health experts just recently that December and January will be the worst months the United States has seen so far during this entire pandemic. We are currently looking at a rapid occurrence of exponential growth in the virus’ pattern and it will get worse. There are more than 100,000 new cases every day and hospitalizations and deaths are rising. As we transition into winter, the weather is getting colder and drier, allowing for viruses of all types to spread more easily. Especially with people staying indoors more, the spread is inevitable. Because we are aware of how severe COVID-19 will get, it is in our hands to trust the power of prevention. This involves commiting to our individual responsibilities of social distancing, wearing a mask, washing our hands, and avoiding crowds.
One of the greatest concerns with this vaccine is the uncertainty revolving around the distribution of it. Because demand will be so high, the drug maker, the government and the public health community will have to develop efficiency in quickly making millions of doses of the vaccine and getting them to hospitals, clinics and pharmacies. Now, we wait for Pfizer to receive authorization for its vaccine from the Food and Drug Administration in the coming weeks. Following this, Pfizer will most likely be able to vaccinate millions of Americans by the end of the year.
References:
- https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/12/business/pfizer-covid-vaccine-coronavirus.html
- https://news.yahoo.com/covid-19-vaccine-may-unpleasant-100438136.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAANVCndP3mAZ8qOxmwTyv2u0q2l9sKwmwUUbkuZvFQnKANlwgrZiGqK44–QMwRANmRhpoCfnW0WAusbmeLzMASxuImhRiW_DpD9JtS2tggiZrkxBrMYSV63Te69WLcNoXi8cpUwswr2JlbcXU89qye4hNC-XlZfk5BnDQVSbFVxC
- https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2020/11/10/covid-cases-rising-and-winter-worse-experts-say/6226184002/
