Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine
With healthcare degree interviews starting soon, it’s always a good idea to be keeping up to date with the latest health news! So I thought I would give you a quick overview about the recently approved, Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine.
What is the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine?
This vaccine is the first coronavirus approved for use in the UK.
Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the U.K. granted authorisation for use of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine on the 2nd of December 2020.
It is 95% effective in preventing coronavirus (Pfizer, 2020).
How does it work?
An mRNA vaccine uses a small section of the genetic code (RNA) from the virus that causes COVID-19 to teach the body how to fight it and build immunity (BBC News, 2020).
It tells the body’s cells to make copies of the virus’s spike protein.
This does not lead to the person developing the disease.
It causes the person’s immune system to learn how to fight the virus and produce an immune response against it.
How is it given?
2 doses - 3 weeks apart
Who will get it?
It is currently being given to (NHS, 2020):
some people aged 80+ who already have a hospital appointment in the next few weeks
people who live or work in care homes
health care workers at high risk
Extra info
The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine needs to be stored at -70 degrees celcius which poses logistical challenges.
The companies expect to make globally up to 50 million vaccine doses in 2020 and up to 1.3 billion doses by the end of 2021.
References
BBC News (2020) Covid: FDA approves Pfizer vaccine for emergency use in US. Available from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-55265477 [Accessed 15/12/20].
NHS (2020) Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccine. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/coronavirus-vaccine [Accessed 15/12/20].
Pfizer (2020) Pfizer and BioNTech Conclude Phase 3 Study of COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate, Meeting All Primary Efficacy Endpoints. Available from: https://www.pfizer.co.uk/pfizer-and-biontech-conclude-phase-3-study-covid-19-vaccine-candidate-meeting-all-primary-efficacy-endpoints [Accessed 15/12/20].