SEATTLE, Washington — The emergency program executive director for the World Health Organization, Michael Ryan, reported that results from A2D1222 lead researchers to believe that A2D1222 could cure COVID-19. However, many WHO representatives feel there is a way to go before a vaccine can help the world’s poorest nations. Still, researchers believe that there will be enough research collected by the end of 2020 to decide if they should move forward with the manufacturing of this specific strand of the vaccine.
COVID-19 and Stopping the Spread
The current Coronavirus needs a new vaccine because it is a new variation first identified in Wuhan China in 2019. The WHO dubbed the virus Coronavirus Disease 2019, otherwise know as COVID-19 on February 11, 2020. When infected individuals are within 6-feet of non-infected individuals small particles could travel via a sneeze, a cough or as a result of talking. Those who inhaled these particles could face deadly consequences.
The need for a vaccine for the deadly COVID-19 is present. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) urge individuals to avoid actions that could result in them getting COVID-19. Yet, it is often hard for individuals living below the poverty line to adhere to the CDC recommendations such as staying at home as much as possible and washing one’s hands. The CDC also recommends that individuals wear a cloth face covering and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
The Effects of COVID-19
Poverty makes it harder for individuals to follow the CDC health guidelines. This challenge has spread from Europe to America and now to the southern continents. There is devastation in each region that has the largest number of COVID-19 cases. Citizens have died at increasing rates and felt tighter financial burdens as a result of some businesses being closed.
The world Bank has projected a baseline and downside scenario of the economic effects of COVID-19 internationally. The baseline scenario, where the current level of virus activities continues, predicts COVID-19 effects will push 71 million people into extreme poverty ($1.90 per day). However, the downside scenario, the worst-case virus activity, predicts COVID-19 will push 100 million people into extreme poverty.
COVID-19 in Different Nations
With fast-growing populations and the spread of COVID-19, the World Bank calculated that the percentage of those in extreme poverty globally would rise from 8.23% to 8.82% in 2020. Under the downside scenario, the percentage of individuals in extreme poverty would reach 9.18%. According to the World Bank, global extreme poverty has not risen since 1998.
South Asia had struggles with poverty before and it will be home to around 50% of all new cases of extreme poverty. In 2020, sub-Saharan Africa will have more than one-third of all individuals in extreme poverty. The baseline and downside scenario would both show an increase in extreme poverty following increased inequality such as income gaps widening due to COVID-19.
How A2D1222 Could Cure COVID-19
Due to the high amounts of increased extreme poverty that will ensue globally, it is crucial that the UK be able to test individuals in a uniform manner before concluding that A2D1222 could cure COVID-19. Initially, AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford were obligated to produce 100 million doses of A2D1222. In addition to this, BioNTech, Pfizer and Valneva had agreed to produce 90 million doses of the potential vaccine.
The latest deal signed with GSK (GlaxoSmithKline) and Sanofi Pasteur required them to produce 60 million doses of A2D1222. No other two pharmaceutical companies combined could match the output of GSK and Sanofi Pasteur. With the production outlined in these deals, the UK could allow for human vaccination as early as the summer of next year.
Data collection is crucial during this time period. Testing could lead to vaccination in 2021 and thus, halt the spread of extreme poverty. Rises in inequality would increase the effects of global poverty. However, there is a light in the distance since A2D1222 could cure COVID-19. The diligence of the vaccine manufacturing companies will allow the target populations to receive this life-saving vaccine first. Then the rest of the world can receive it and get back to life as they know it.
– DeAndre Jakar Robinson
Photo: Flickr