It appears that at least two and possibly even more coronavirus vaccines will soon be available. It’s the first indication there may actually be a light at the end of the very dark and deadly COVID-19 pandemic tunnel.
The pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Moderna both say clinical trials show their vaccines are more than 90% effective. Pfizer expects to produce up to 50 million doses this year with about half going to the United States. Moderna says it can deliver about 20 million doses in the U.S. by the end of 2020.
The early results are also promising for a vaccine under the development of Oxford University and AstraZeneca.
But there are still challenges ahead.
Sci NC talked with Julie Swann, head of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE), at North Carolina State University about the issues facing vaccine distribution. Swann works in the area of mathematical modeling to enable supply chain systems and health care to become more efficient, effective, and equitable.
Hear more from Swann about the challenges of vaccine distribution:
There are also logistical issues. Both Pfizer and Moderna are working out how to keep their products safe and effective because each version of the vaccine needs to be kept cold.
Pfizer's vaccine must be kept at about 94 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. So, it’s developing a way to transport and store its vaccine at sub-arctic temperatures. That’s not easy if it’s being shipped to rural areas. The extreme cold is also challenging because not all pharmacies or doctor’s offices can handle expensive refrigeration equipment.
Moderna said its vaccine is stable at standard refrigeration temperatures, which could prove critical in getting more people vaccinated more quickly.