The rapid development process of vaccines has raised concerns in the public, but there is no room for it • If enough of the population is vaccinated, we can put the corona behind us • There is nothing to compare the complications from the vaccine to the high mortality and morbidity rates from the virus • Interpretation
A year into the outbreak of the plague, one can begin to finally see light at the end of the tunnel.
The world of science and medicine recorded a fantastic achievement this week when the corona vaccine developed by Pfizer received FDA approval.
Did not wait for official approval. Corona vaccination campaign in the UK // Photo: Reuters
In the coming week, a modern company will also begin an approval process with the FDA, and later more companies.
The rapid development of the vaccine should not be a cause for concern, as no irresponsible shortcuts have been made.
Furthermore, the FDA accompanies companies all the way and publishes the findings in full transparency.
Technologies based on mRNA are not new, but have not broken through so far due to the difficulty of inserting the RNA that breaks down easily into the cells.
Finding delicate greasy envelopes made it possible to complete this development.
In addition, maximum collaboration between governments allocating unlimited resources to key companies, and the scientists using advanced technologies currently available to science and medicine, have also enabled the rapid development.
While the UK began the vaccination campaign even before FDA approval, Israel, and other countries in Europe and the US, waited for official approval, and upon receipt began vigorous preparations for the vaccination campaign.
At Sheba Medical Center, we conducted a preliminary exercise to administer the vaccines that are expected to arrive at the hospitals over the coming week, and set ourselves a goal of vaccinating ten staff members per hour.
Every day when there is no vaccine for corona, more than ten thousand people around the world die from it.
At this stage, the State of Israel has not yet formulated a clear policy regarding the order of the vaccinated.
This decision depends, among other things, on the amount of vaccines that will come to Israel and the number of people who will come to be vaccinated.
In the first stage, it is worthwhile to vaccinate populations at risk.
In the first phase, pregnant women, lactating women, children under the age of 16 and people suffering from severe allergies that require immediate treatment are not vaccinated.
Although the study did not examine the efficacy of the vaccine in immunocompromised patients, these patients are prone to develop a serious disease, and therefore this vaccine has not been prevented from immunocompromised patients who are in a stable stage.
According to calculations, in order to achieve herd immunity, 70% -60% of the population needs to be vaccinated.
I am optimistic and believe that this is not an impossible task.
For those undecided on whether to get vaccinated, I suggest remembering that there is nothing to compare the complications from the vaccine to the high mortality and morbidity rates from Corona.
It is a dangerous virus that has long-term effects even among those who recover from it.
One fact is indisputable - throughout history, the only thing that has stopped epidemics is vaccines.
At a good time we have reached a day when the world has an opportunity to put an end to the corona plague that has shaken our lives and harmed health, the economy and society.
Cooperation, responsibility and demonstration of solidarity on the part of each and every one of us, are the key to the success of the vaccination campaign in particular, and to eradication of the virus in general.
Prof. Galia Rahav, Director of the Infectious Diseases Unit, Sheba Medical Center
