A vaccine from Pfizer, BionTech and Moderna may win regulatory approval this year. The Pfizer vaccine uses a brand new technology called messenger-RNA or mRNA. Instead of using bits of virus to provoke an immune response, the mRNA trains the immune system to target the spike protein on coronavirus. This would be the first mRNA vaccine to be used in humans so it’s important to look carefully at the safety data. It’s also uncertain how long the immunity might last. It is unclear whether people who received the vaccine were less likely to be contagious.
Pfizer’s CEO said that they will follow their participants for two years to analyze their safety. Still, the unanswered questions should not bring down the excitement about these early findings. If the vaccine is proven safe and effective it may transform a serious illness into something that resembles a common cold
