A Race for the Covid-19 Vaccine
The quest to conquer the Covid-19 virus in a lighter “vein”
Covid-19 has given the world the jitters.
A large number of companies have announced that their products are ready to combat Covid-19. Its old news that hand wash and sanitizers are considered to be extremely effective at eliminating the virus. In case you sneeze and the virus lands on the floor, we now have a floor wash that will take care of it.
In order to keep the virus out, some offices installed “disinfectant tunnels” to prevent the spread of the virus. Unfortunately, the virus did not know that it had to go through the tunnel and hence, this turned out to be a failed experiment.
The demand for air purifiers has gone up in many parts of the world. It is now said that ACs with certain type of filters will also successfully eliminate the virus.
A company has even got many a householder to repaint his house with a Covid-proof paint! It was news to me that Covid virus was on the prowl, sitting on walls and jumping on an unsuspecting passer-by!
I hear that some manufacturer has sold a gazillion pieces of UV chambers that claim to sterilise anything — keys, mobiles, wallets and even laptops!
The latest news is that one of the leading toothpastes has announced that use of paste and mouthwash will ensure that the virus will be at bay. Indeed good, but just one question, if this were working, over fifty million people would not get infected- unless of course, they missed out on the hygiene classes during childhood. Or maybe, I got it wrong. Maybe the virus needs to use it. I am searching for articles on the net which will help me to find out how to locate the mouth of the virus so that I can cajole the virus to brush and gargle.
Of course, pharma companies are not far behind. China has announced Sinovac as the vaccine that would treat Covid 19. Russia came out with Sputnik. Oxford Astra Zeneca are also ready.
Pfizer announced that they had developed a vaccine that is 90% effective. And this was soon followed by Moderna that announced a 94.5% effective vaccine.
The race for the Covid vaccine brings to my mind the 400-meter hurdle race in the 1984 Olympics where P T Usha, the Indian sprinter came whisker close to giving India it’s first track and field medal. To determine the bronze medal, a frame by frame analysis had to be done. Finally, it transpired that had P T Usha padded up, she would have breasted the tape and got the coveted medal for the country.
This race has a commonality between Moderna and Pfizer with Pfizer seeming to just inch ahead. Pfizer has just announced in the late trials that they have developed a 95% effective vaccine. Honestly, my money would be on Pfizer. You see, they are also the manufacturer of Viagra which is considered effective in raising even the so-called dead!
Finally, who wins the race is immaterial, the world needs a vaccine that will reach to the last man standing. And fast!
