Several US medical centers are witnessing a race to find an effective drug to stop the spread of the Corona epidemic, which has resulted in the death of more than 200,000 people in the United States, in addition to the injury of more than 7 million others.
At a time when millions of people around the world are waiting for positive news related to reaching an effective and safe treatment, many illusions are spread about the vaccine, its effectiveness, how to reach it, and when to administer it.
On the other hand, a Pew Public Opinion Research Institute poll conducted on 10,93 people, from 8 to 13 September, showed that only 51% of Americans agreed to receive a Covid-19 vaccine as soon as it was reached, while 49 reported % Of them have doubts about the efficacy and safety of any vaccine, and that they will not receive the vaccine as soon as it is available.
Al Jazeera Net displays 5 illusions in which millions of Americans believe about the emerging coronavirus vaccine:
First, the production of the vaccine brings huge financial gains to the pharmaceutical companies
Factions active in opposing vaccine production often claim that drugmakers will realize billions of dollars in profits as soon as they find an effective vaccine against the Coronavirus.
These opponents fear that all the focus, and the allocation of many resources to reach the Corona vaccine, will come at the expense of drug companies ignoring the production of other medicines necessary for human health.
But US government data show that the costs of developing an effective and safe vaccine often exceed its commercial price.
Pharmaceutical companies are now investing heavily in clinical trials to test the vaccine’s safety and efficacy.
The vaccine market around the world represents only between 2% and 3% of the pharmaceutical industry, and the profits of the analgesic drug (Paracetamol) and the heat reducer are many times the profits of any vaccine that will be reached.
Second: The Corona vaccine is available before the November 3 elections
President Donald Trump emphasized what he had repeated frequently, during the past weeks, that he separated us from access to an effective and safe vaccine against the Corona virus, ranging between 4 and 8 weeks.
Trump indicates that the vaccine will be widely distributed before the end of the year, which contradicts what Robert Redfield, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stated to Congress.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention is the highest government agency that oversees the strategy to confront the spread of the emerging corona virus.
Redfield testified before Congress a few days ago, stressing that the vaccine will not be available to citizens on a large scale until next spring or summer, which is confirmed by senior US health officials.
"It will take 6 to 9 months after obtaining the approval of the Food and Drug Administration for the effectiveness and safety of the new vaccine before it is distributed nationwide," he said with confidence.
Third: Once a vaccine is reached, it will reach all people quickly
The population of the earth is 7.8 billion people, and it is impossible, according to Dr. Khaled Al-Shami, an assistant professor at John Hopkins University - in an interview with Al Jazeera Net - to produce vaccines once they reach this huge number, adding, "The production of vaccines is not like photographing papers that can be printed more without Stop".
The production process of the serum requires technical specifications that will not allow the production of billions of doses of it in a short time.
The beginning will be for the citizens of the country that first reaches to produce an effective and safe vaccine, and there are several countries that accelerate their steps towards achieving the production of the vaccine.
However, reaching a vaccine is followed by the dilemma of delivering the vaccine and shipping it to the rest of the world, as huge aircraft with special specifications are required in order to preserve the vaccine during the transportation process.
Health and aviation experts expected that 8,000 Boeing cargo planes would be needed that could control the temperature of their stores to remain between 2 to 8 degrees Celsius to prevent damage to the vaccine during the transportation process.
Fourth: Availability of the vaccine will mean the elimination of Corona
During a televised interview recently, Bill Gates indicated that a vaccine would mean "saving lives, returning to normalcy and out of the economic recession."
The US President also reiterates that the year 2021 will witness an unprecedented economic boom in the country after reaching the production of a safe and effective vaccine against the Corona virus.
However, a number of public health experts assert that the vaccine will not eliminate the virus, nor will it prevent its infection from taking a dose of it.
Dr. Al-Shami returned by indicating that the expected vaccine will not provide permanent protection against the virus, but it will be like the traditional influenza vaccine for the respiratory system.
He added, "There will be preventive immunity as it reduces the chances of infection with the virus, but it will not prevent it altogether, and if an infection occurs, it will not be as strong and aggressive as the infection before the vaccination."
Fifth: Corona vaccine is neutral and has nothing to do with the presidential elections
The US President is using all means of pressure to accelerate the production of a vaccine to support his electoral fortunes.
And while Trump indicates that a vaccine can be reached within a few weeks, his rival, Democratic candidate, Joe Biden, accuses him of adopting an impulsive rhetoric against scientists.
Many observers fear that Trump's pressure will affect the rush of scientists to produce a vaccine in an urgent manner that does not meet the required safety specifications.
For its part, American pharmaceutical companies have agreed not to announce any anti-corona virus vaccine before it is strictly subjected to safety and efficacy standards.
It is a step aimed at restoring the confidence of Americans, and emphasizing that these companies will not announce the production of any vaccine in response to what is said about political pressure by President Trump in this regard.
The companies pledged to adhere to a high level of scientific and ethical standards in conducting clinical studies and manufacturing processes.
Al-Shami concluded his statements by expressing his confidence in the Food and Drug Administration, which requires obtaining its approval to launch any new vaccine. He said, praising, "a strong buffer against any attempts to politicize reaching a treatment or a vaccine serving political goals here or there."