As 2020 comes to an end, most of us would like to wipe out the tragic experiences of this year. But 2020 finale brings a new ray of hope!
The first coronavirus vaccine was administered in the USA on Monday, December 14, 2020.
With an estimated 300,000 Americans been killed by coronavirus so far, the vaccine authorized by USFDA is the answer we have been all eagerly waiting for.
“…it didn’t feel any different than taking any other vaccine..” said Sandra Lindsay, the ICU nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens, New York City who received the first shot of the vaccine. The vaccine is to be administered in two shots, 21 days apart.
As the first batch gets shipped from Pfizer to over 600 sites across 50 states in the USA, there is a huge sign of relief for the front line healthcare workers, senior citizens, nursing home residents and staff who will get the first initial doses.
The vaccine is the first ever RNA vaccine approved to be used in humans. Scientists have worked on the genetic code of the virus that is converted into vaccine which is injected in humans. The vaccine tells the human cells to produce coronavirus spike protein to which the body’s immune system reacts and creates antibodies. T-cells get activated which destroy the cells with spike protein which also get triggered if the patient catches coronavirus again later. We still need to learn a lot more about the vaccine and look forward to learning over the next few weeks.
Moderna, which has similar type of vaccine like Pfizer has also had successful trials so far.
Hoping with the vaccines, social distancing and mask wearing will put an end to the lockdown earlier than estimated.
I stand for W.E
