Rapid vaccine development is the biggest scientific breakthrough of 2020, according to the journal Science

2020/12/21 Agirre Ruiz de Arkaute, Aitziber - Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• COVID-19
• Medikuntza
• Mikrobiologia
• Farmakologia

It has not been a year since we first met the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the first vaccination campaigns are underway. Looking back, what science has done for a year is impressive. Although it is not yet clear what immunity vaccines will give, not even to prevent the spread of the virus, despite doubts, vaccines have taken an absolute leading role in 2020. In recognition of this scientific feat, the journal Science has declared the greatest scientific breakthrough of 2020 the rapid development of vaccines.

On 31 January 2019, Wuhan's doctors reported a special diseased pneumonia to 27 people. On January 8 it was published as a coronavirus. On January 10, the complete sequence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was published. It was then that the scientific career began to develop the antivirus vaccine. These data show the speed of science in the covid-19 crisis.

It is true that so far no investment has been made in the same infectious disease in such a short time, neither economic nor personal. And there has never been so much parallel research on a subject. But new strategies have also been tested (RNA based vaccines) and new strategies have generated new hopes that have been the first vaccines that have received the approval of drug agencies. The American Medicines Agency has given the go-ahead to the vaccines of Moderna and the Pfizer and Biotech companies, and today the European Medicines Agency has given the go-ahead to the Moderna vaccine. The UK, Canada and the US have initiated the vaccination campaign with one of these rna-based vaccines.

But the journal Science has also highlighted the mistakes that have been made, especially the worrying break that has been seen between scientists and politicians. Thus, he stressed that what was learned this year should serve to strengthen the ties between science and society.

The pandemic has shown that the challenge of vaccines is not a mere scientific challenge. In the field of production and distribution there is now a great global challenge, but especially vaccines face a great communication challenge. Some have attributed the hopelessness and media spectacle, while others claim that, despite vaccination, they will not put it. Confidence in vaccines is not clear. Therefore, for vaccines to be really effective, communication will be the key. The benefits of the vaccine and the difficulties that may arise along the way should be transmitted to citizens with prudence and transparency.