Vaccines

COVID-19 Vaccine Production and Availability Issues 

Description of problem  

Ever since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2019 we have all been greatly affected by the virus to the extent much of the world is still adjusting to the new norms established by government safety regulations. Many of us have contracted the virus ourselves or have known personal family/ friends who contracted the COVID-19 virus, with thousands of them succumbing to the disease. It’s generally accepted that the COVID-19 virus first began as an epidemic in Wuhan, China on December 2019 (Bhargava, 2020). Scientists have stated that although the exact origin of COVID-19 occurrence has yet to be officially determined (heavy refutes brought on by the Chinese government), the very first cases had been established to have occurred in Wuhan, China. Specifically linked to the city of Wuhan’s notorious Huanan South China seafood market an exotic meat market that sells a variety of animal products such as bats, snakes, birds, and many other species known for their rarity as they are labeled as threated/ endangered (Dos Santos, 2020). It should also be noted that many of the animals being sold at Huanan South China seafood market are kept alive in cramped conditions next to other species that may have been already slaughtered or dealing with injuries as a result of its abuse during capture resulting in cross-contamination. Studies have shown that among the people who have initially contracted the virus are the very same who consumed bats purchased in the Huanan market, as it was discovered the bats contained the SARS-CoV-2 as well as a mutated offshoot of the coronavirus named Bat-CoV-RaTG13 (Dos Santos, 2020).  The general theory seen in the coronavirus’s establishment is through the first humans consuming bats contaminated with the virus; given enough time this resulted in COVID-19 being housed in a human host allowing transmission from person to person creating the upper respiratory disease afflicting the world as a whole today (Dos Santos, 2020).   

Quickly it resulted in the transmission among people which resulted in COVID-19 in spreading worldwide.  Soon in January 2020 the first travel related case was reported in the united states and on February 26 and 28, 2020 the first non-travel related cases had been reported which meant that it was already spreading among communities (CDC, 2020).  On March 11, 2020 COVID-19 had been declared a pandemic.  In the month of March there had already been 7,094 deaths in the United States, by June 2020 there had been 128,463 deaths, and in the year 2020 there had been 381,283 total deaths in the United States (CDC, 2021).  As a result of these statistics, this virus was not a joke and something had to be done to control the pandemic and lower the spread and death rate.   

Therefore, scientist started researching and experimenting was to come up with a vaccine.  It was a long shot to come up with up with a vaccine quick because normally vaccine take a couple of years to create, however that kept scientist positive and they began finding a way to come up with a vaccine by the end of 2020 even though it seemed a bit impossible.  Inventing a vaccine in the middle of a pandemic was very challenging and took lots of time and efforts from scientist.  However, as challenging as it was they made it possible.  On December 11, 2020 the Pfizer vaccine became FDA approved (FDA, 2020).  A week later on December 18, 2020, the Moderna vaccine became FDA approved (Moderna, 2020). 

 

 

 

 

 

Why is the problem important? 

    The manufacture and distribution of the worldwide needed Covid-19 vaccine has faced many challenges, even if its development has broken records in time. Most known vaccines have taken at least a decade to complete their whole production and final approval for human use process (Wouters, O. 2021).  The fast production of the Covid-19 vaccine is even more plausible when we take in consideration the struggle with the many economic and political obstacles that its developers had to deal with.  

     Covid-19 vaccine manufacture faced challenges on every step of the process. First, it took time for WHO to review all 150 vaccine candidates presented by worldwide manufacturers. Only ten of those candidates worldwide were later approved for clinical trials, as exposed by The Lancet article in June 2020 (The Lancet, 2020). After that, production was delayed some due to financial capabilities for the middle- and low-income countries. In addition, factories on those countries did not have the capability, nor the technological advances set up to cope with speed of production and demands. The sharing of those technologies and set up of specific equipment also took some important time on the development and production of the vaccine. For example, Pfizer manufacture stopped production sometime after Nov 2020 until Jan 2021 to expand premises and the installation of specialized equipment, ABC news made report on this matter. Finally, and the most important and determinant of the issues, manufacturers struggle with shortage of raw materials due to suppliers’ impact of the pandemic and most of the countries worldwide on strict lockdowns. Therefore, production could not begin. After months of waiting, material obstacles, and multiple political interference, Covid-19’s production started for those candidates finalizing their trials.   

     Covid-19 vaccine development suffered countless difficulties to start production, but nothing compared with the problems it faced to make it available evenly to the world. As soon as production started, the WHO created (COVAX) Covid-19 Vaccine Global Access. This program intended to provide an equal allocation of the vaccine between the countries of the world. Also, to aid with reasonable pricing that all countries could afford. High-income countries will pay up to $11 per dose, while middle- and low-income countries rates between $1.6 – $2.0 per dose (The Lancet, 2021). In the acute phase of the pandemic the idea of COVAX, and another two other programs of the world, was to ensure that all countries have enough doses to immunize the 20% most vulnerable people of their population. By doing so, they will prevent new virus’ mutations, and better and faster control of the pandemic. The issue was when high-income countries started to pre-order vaccines directly to the manufactures, compiling a total of 70% of all available vaccine for 2021. Consequently, COVAX program had very limited and reduced number of vaccines to be able to comply with one of their equal global allocation goals.  

         Other factors greatly influenced the availability of the Covid-19 vaccine. Some of the vaccine prototypes required frozen or ultra-cold mediums for conservation and transport. For example, Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Extra coordinated efforts then should follow to be able to receive the vaccines, store and secure them properly, and provide adequate and efficient training for vaccination cites and their employees. For countries of middle and low income the former tasks were three times more difficult due to low technology and difficult access to some country regions. The greatest concern of all is that failure to provide a coordination global vaccination campaign could result in the inability to control the pandemic and resume normal live conditions. 

Review of literature related to the problem 

The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) did go ahead to accept the vaccines to move forward in distribution to the public, as the benefits were more than the risks here (Kesselheim, Darrow, Kulldorff, et. al, 2021, p. 25). That could seem like a big concern for the public on the side effects or what would be so concerning if there is enough for everyone as well. It is stated that for the vaccine to have full effectiveness, it has to be considered in the risks of the vaccine contrary effects (Kesselheim, Darrow, Kulldorff, et. al, 2021, p. 27). The prediction that FDA has put on the vaccine prediction for the availability on how it comes across the public is that the COVID-19 will reduce by at least 50% (Kesselheim, Darrow, Kulldorff, et. al, 2021, p. 27). This would take a lot from the production side to make sure there are enough vaccinations to distribute to the public as there are a lot of cases of COVID in the past few months. If the FDA has this type of goal to reduce the cases and disease by a lot, then that would mean in comparison to make sure there are enough supplies for the high demand currently. 

 In addition, that can be of conflict or delay in vaccines can be when it comes to the labeling area of the vaccines that are new to (Kesselheim, Darrow, Kulldorff, et. al, 2021, p. 28). It is for the safety for the community to ensure they have enough information on the vaccines in case they do their own research too (Kesselheim, Darrow, Kulldorff, et. al, 2021, p. 28). The way the vaccines are becoming developed and produced is by the past knowledge of decades on proof and knowledge from previous vaccines productions (Kesselheim, Darrow, Kulldorff, et. al, 2021, p. 31). This carries over to the production of COVID vaccines and it does make sense since this all a new pandemic and disease the technology is developing. It is a challenging time, concept and situation to try to produce as many vaccines as possible to the public but to ensure that a prediction of in a year or so that the cases will reduce while leaving the people to be able to fight against COVID. 

Another aspect to the distribution and manufacturing, is also bringing the awareness of how important getting vaccines are as well. Bringing notice about vaccination to the community or public will allow the world to back to the normal we used to have (Vanderpool, Gaysynsky & Chou, 2020, p. 1). The access rate is very low of the distribution which does not look good as how the confidence is to bring the cases lower all over the world (Vanderpool, Gaysynsky & Chou, 2020, p. 1). It is about educating and sharing knowledge to the community on how important getting the vaccines will allow us to get on our feet again to enjoy the life we had before the pandemic (Vanderpool, Gaysynsky & Chou, 2020, p. 1). This aspect is very good and important to endure in times like this because there is a lack of misinformation going around before the vaccines can solve the problem. There can be vaccines that are made and ready for us but the second step is to gather people around to make the effect of the vaccines, effective. Time is going to allow the community to see how powerful the distribution of the vaccines will change the world nation too. 

There are concerns that will naturally present themselves, but the main goal is in hand with the knowledge of vaccines, to have the distribution of the vaccines ready to go. There must be fresh vaccines ready to go for the public as this will just make the effect better. With already seeing people getting their vaccines, this in hopes to inspire others to get their vaccination done. There could have been a better way to handle the pandemic, in terms of the nation already having some backup plan if these types of diseases arise again. The availability and distribution of the vaccines to be a 100% accurate up front will take time as mentioned above that time will take its course here. There are many observations to be made in the upcoming months, and a great positive look to hoping most of the world is vaccinated to get back to normal. 

 

As difficult as it is to elaborate on, COVID-19, the new disease is very much a novel.  This new disease has led to ongoing studies in laboratories in different parts of the world. Laboratory results are adding new data about the virus at a tremendous pace even with the shortage of laboratory technicians around the world.  It has been determined that SARS-CoV2, the coronavirus that is responsible for COVID-19 is an RNA virus (Anderson, 2020).  Because it is an RNA virus, the mutation rate is generally rather high.  In addition, there is an association with genetic instability which has long been considered to pose a challenge in the development of effective vaccines against RNA viruses. 

It is not a surprise that the Novel Corona virus pandemic has cause strong stir of emotions in society worldwide. It appears when one thinks of the virus, the first thing that come to mind is the association of the newly created vaccine.  Questions usually range from which vaccine is more effective to what the side effects are usually in the forefront.  Other questions such as who is distributing the vaccine are also common.  In other words, the public is intrigued and interested in gaining information on who is distributing the vaccine.  Individuals are reaching out through every means to find out where the vaccine can be obtained from.  Post manufacturing of the three current covid-19 vaccines, different age groups have been placed in categories to receive their doses of either Moderna, Pfizer or Janssen.  There is associated preference based on personal experiences.  Although availability was scares in the past, different counties are starting to be equipped with more vaccines. 

Because of the free availability of basic science data vaccines have been created based on very innovative platforms.  Their creations have also been directed towards extremely well-defined practical targets to have more than three different manufactured vaccines to choose (WHO, 2020).  Due to high financial support from different private and governmental groups the possibility for the governments of different nations have made it a lot more possible to develop vaccines that are new on the market in rather short period of time. 

Recommendations on policy changes that could be made to improve the problem 

Instructions

The text of the paper cannot exceed ten (10) pages (doubled spaced, usingAPA format, 6th edition) and the overall length of the paper, including notes, tables, references etc.,cannot exceed twenty (20) pages

References Requirements

Be sure to use published academic journal articles as a primary source, not less-reliable Internet web sites.Reference the paper very carefully and tightly. The group may use company websites, but do so sparingly and remember that what a company has on their own website may be positively biased in their favor. Health Affairs, Journal of Healthcare Management, American Journal of Public Health (AJPH), Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), Journal of Law, Medicine, and Ethics (JLME), Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Services.