Monday 21 March 2022

Reaching the Parts of the World That Other Vaccines Can't Reach?

The Oxford/Astra-Zeneca vaccine for Covid-19 (ChAdOx1nCov-19) is now known as 'Vaxzevira' or 'Covishield'. This vaccine had a difficult genesis, with its early reputation being "battered by a toxic mix of misinformation, miscommunication and mishaps". The Oxford/Astra-Zeneca vaccine is, however, cheaper than other alternatives, as well as being easier to store and transport. This vaccine is now gearing up for its final act, which is (hopefully) to 'save the rest of the world' (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/mar/20/oxford-covid-jab-vaccine-astrazeneca). 2.6 billion doses of the Oxford/Astra-Zeneca vaccine have been delivered to 183 countries. Covid-19 vaccines have not, however, been reaching substantial numbers of people in low and middle income countries. Around 3 billion people in poorer nations, have not yet been offered a single jab. The hope is to roll out the Oxford/Astra-Zeneca vaccine to protect these neglected parts of the world. This would include locations where temperature control of medications is difficult. Such a move would also protect the rich, currently well-vaccinated areas of the globe. It would reduce the chances of yet more problematic (e.g. vaccine resistent) variants of the virus arising. That would be a brillient epitaph for the vaccine.

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