Coronavirus Vaccine: Top Five Leading COVID-19 Vaccine Candidates
Amid a surge in coronavirus cases, the race to develop a vaccine is on, across the world. While a typical vaccine could take years to develop, drugmakers are aiming to bring a COVID-19 vaccine into the market within one year of the outbreak. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), roughly 150 coronavirus vaccines are currently in development globally. Here are top five vaccine candidates that currently lead the race, as per the vaccine landscape document prepared by the WHO.
Oxford University And AstraZeneca's AZD1222, United Kingdom
DDeveloped by Oxford University And AstraZeneca, AZD1222 is in Phase 3 of human trials. In India, the vaccine will be produced by Serum Institute of India (SII), Pune and will be known as Covishield in the country. SII has also started clinical trials of Covishield in the country. The researchers working on AZD1222 have claimed that the vaccine has been able to produce optimistic results with no or mild side-effects.
Moderna's mRNA-1273, United States Of America
Vaccine candidate mRNA-1273 has been developed by biotech firm Moderna along with investigators from the US NIH (National Institute of Health). Data from the trial showed that participants appeared to produce an immune response similar to the one seen in those who have recovered from coronavirus infection. Early results also indicated that the vaccine could trigger antibodies against the novel coronavirus. The company claimed that its mRNA-1273 vaccine had been ?generally safe and well-tolerated'.
BioNTech, Fosub Pharma And Pfizer's BNT162b1, Germany
Developed by biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies BioNTech, Fosub Pharma And Pfizer, vaccine candidate BNT162b1 is in the Phase 3 of human trials. The developers claim that in the earlier phases, the vaccine candidate has produced neutralizing antibodies and exhibited moderate side-effects like pain at the injection site, fatigue, headache, chills, muscle and joint pain, fever.
CanSino Biological Inc./Beijing Institute Of Biotechnology's Adenovirus Type 5 Vector, China
CanSino's vaccine, has also been successful in producing antibody and T-cell immune responses and has not prompted any serious side-effects. After showing positive results, the vaccine is undergoing Phase 3 trials.
Nearly 20 lakh children live on the streets of India, without an identity, a name to call their own, a place to call home, sleeping on empty stomachs for days and nights. These twenty lakh are children, who have dreams, who have rights, who are our tomorrow. They are living in the shadows today.
During these unprecedented times, not everyone can afford the privilege of social distancing. And not everybody can stay home during the lockdown, simply because they don’t have a home. Those living in poverty are extremely vulnerable, struck with a sudden lack of funds, food, mobility and a struggle for survival. And, as with all humanitarian crises, it is the children who have been affected the most.
It is always the children on the street who are subjected to some of the harshest realities of life. Today they are battling a catastrophic crisis, and it’s time we step in to protect them.
As a part of our COVID-19 response, Save the Children is working across various regions and has already directly reached over 18,000 children and adults to cover their basic needs. The organisation is ensuring their daily needs and their dignity and hygiene are also being cared for. Save the Children has identified 2.5 lakh children in cohorts, across 10 cities in India. Reaching out to these children with emergency relief is a top priority. But this cannot be done alone.
Save the Children and NDTV join hands to bring focus to the lives of children living in street situations. As India fights the Coronavirus, we must not forget one of the most marginalised and excluded groups whose lives have been long ignored – street-connected children. The 21-day campaign will generate public interest and raise funds to ensure these 20 Lakh+ children who live, earn, sleep and eat on our streets are cared for and protected. Amidst the crisis the world is facing, they are most vulnerable, exposed to infection and disease.