During these unsettling times it is encouraging to know there is light at the end of the tunnel. The COVID vaccines are almost here but many people are worried about these vaccines. Will they work, will harm us, which vaccine should I trust?
How does the vaccine work?
There are three kinds of vaccines being worked on; they each use a different protein to combat COVID-19. mRNA vaccines have a protein similar to the virus that the body will attack and kill, then the body will make T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes that can fight the virus. Protein subunit vaccines have the protein that causes COVID-19. The body will react and kill these proteins. It will remember these proteins, so if the subject is infected with the virus again their body will destroy the virus. Vector vaccines are a more traditional vaccine which is injects a weakened version of a virus similar to COVID-19, which the body will counteract and subsequently be able to fight the real virus. Most vaccines are of the shot variety and require more than one dose.
Timeline
This is a summary of the timeline from development to vaccination according to Operation Warp Speed. OWS goal, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “is to produce and deliver 300 million doses of safe and effective vaccines.”
Who gets the vaccine first?
High risk areas and people of the county will get the vaccine first. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a committee of CDC that was formed to make recommendations to the states, decided that 21 million health care workers in the country should have the vaccine first, along with residents of long-term care facilities like nursing homes. Second and third receivers of the vaccine are still in debate. However, access to the vaccine is ultimately determined on the state level.
How does the vaccine get from state to state?
Each state will have depots and a fleet of trucks that will deliver to the depots, whether from another state or or port. From the depots the vaccine will travel to administration sites like pharmacies, public health clinics, long term care facilities, and hospitals. Operation Warp Speed is backed by 10 billion federal dollars, split for both research and distribution.
How long until “herd immunity” is reached and a return to normal?
According to John Hopkins, 50% to 90% of a population needs immunity to achieve herd immunity. In The United states, this is anywhere from 164-300 million people. Considering that 300 million vaccines are on the way, herd immunity is possible by late spring to early summer 2021.
Hopefully this cleared some questions regarding the COVID vaccine, but if you are still curious the CDC will keep you posted about the latest development.
MOOSE PRINTS 
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