From a lack of vaccine doses to an excess in a few months, the United States has managed an incredible feat of vaccine creation and distribution. However, the fact that a vaccine was made in under a year is even more awe-inspiring. This success is owed largely to new technologies in vaccine creation used by Pfizer-BioNtech and Moderna.
With a 95 percent efficiency rate in preventing COVID-19, the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine stole the show early on. The American and German collaboration brought about Comirnaty, the first COVID vaccine approved by the FDA.
The novelty was recognizing the spike proteins on the surface of the Sars-Cov-2 virus that allows it to enter human cells. This was exploited by having the vaccine carry the genetic part of the virus that codes for these spike proteins. Wrapped in an oily bubble to protect them from breaking apart, the genetic piece coding for the proteins fuses into a human cell.
Our bodies, now equipped with the desired genes, start producing spike proteins. The genetic piece inserted by the vaccine is now destroyed, and the human cell becomes recognizable by the immune system. The vaccinated cell then dies and an antigen-presenting cell, a type of immune cell, sucks up the protein spikes left in the debris.
The antigen-presenting cell displays these spike proteins on its surface when a T-cell, one of our immune system’s defenses, detects the unusual spike proteins. The T-cell calls for backup from the immune system to fight the invader. B-cells arrive to the rescue and attach to these spikes.
These B-cells are now able to release antibodies, which are defenses meant to destroy invaders. Finally, these antibodies attach to the spikes and mark it for destruction, which is carried out by T-cells. They also prevent other infections by attaching to these spikes.
The immune system now remembers this attack and can quench any new invasions carried out by the actual virus. The vaccine requires two doses to prime the immune system to effectively destroy the Sars-Cov-2 virus
The Moderna vaccine works in the same way, using parts of the virus’s gene to prime our bodies to fight off the real intruder. With a 94.1 percent efficiency rate in preventing COVID infections, Moderna’s vaccine showcases how the new technology is incredibly effective and impressively fast to create.
It is worth mentioning that the British-Swedish vaccine Astrazeneca used a similar method in creating its vaccine, which is approved in Europe and other countries but is yet to be approved by the FDA. Astrazeneca, instead of injecting the genetic code in an oil bubble, uses a monkey adenovirus that is harmless to us. The adenovirus carries the genetic code for the COVID spike proteins, and the same immune system reaction takes place.
The limits of this new technology are endless. Previously, we used to inject dead or ineffective viruses into our bodies to prime our immune system to fight the virus off when we get infected. However, we may now easily snip a part of the vaccine that forms spike proteins and inject it into our bodies to offer protection.
Obviously, many questions, such as for how long is it effective, still linger. Other questions that deal with patenting such technologies and making it practically impossible for poorer countries to create their vaccines or get it for cheaper are also worth asking. For now, let us admire the remarkable achievements of scientists all over the world and offer comfort for our healthcare workers who have suffered more than anyone during this pandemic.
