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A new vaccine entered the pool of shots against COVID-19. This one aims to reach low- and middle-income countries, where vaccine access has lagged behind that of wealthier countries. But it's not clear what role it will play in the evolving pandemic. VOA's Steve Baragona has more.
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/ScriptNew COVID-19 Vaccine Aimed at Developing World
TEASER: The Corbevax shot is inexpensive and patent-free
PUBLISHED AT: 1/21/2022: 3:56p
BYLINE: Steve Baragona
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE:
VIDEOGRAPHER:
VIDEO EDITOR: Steve Baragona
SCRIPT EDITORS: Reifenrath, MAS
VIDEO SOURCE (S): Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, AFP, Reuters
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO __
TRT: 2:42
VID APPROVED BY: MAS
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO))
A new vaccine entered the pool of shots against COVID-19. This one aims to reach low- and middle-income countries, where vaccine access has lagged behind that of wealthier countries. But it's not clear what role it will play in the evolving pandemic. VOA's Steve Baragona has more.
((Mandatory CG: Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development))
((NARRATOR))
The new vaccine developed at Baylor College of Medicine is 90 percent effective against the original COVID-19 coronavirus and 80 percent against the delta variant. Data on Omicron is coming.
The vaccine is also cheap, refrigerator-stable and easy to manufacture in developing countries, says team co-lead Dr. Peter Hotez.
((Mandatory CG: Skype logo))
((Dr. Peter Hotez, Baylor College of Medicine))
"When you start going down the checklist, this checks all the boxes for what you need for a global health vaccine."
((Mandatory CG: Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development))
((NARRATOR))
Hotez and colleagues used the same old tried and true technology that they have used to develop vaccines against neglected tropical diseases — those that big pharma is less inclined to treat — because that's what is most available to vaccine makers in low- and middle-income countries, he says.
((Mandatory CG: Skype logo))
((Dr. Peter Hotez, Baylor College of Medicine))
"That's why I was so disheartened at the beginning of the pandemic, when everyone was focusing on new technologies. I knew that would be a barrier to access."
((NARRATOR))
Wealthier nations poured money into making new-technology vaccines. Now about 80 percent of people in upper-income countries have been vaccinated. But only about 10 percent in low-income countries have.
Hotez and colleagues are making their vaccine available without patents. He says intellectual property rights just get in the way during a global crisis.
((Mandatory CG: Skype logo))
((Peter Hotez, Baylor College of Medicine))
"If your house is on fire and you only have time to make one phone call, you don't call a patent attorney. You call the fire department. And we're the fire department."
((NARRATOR))
The Indian government recently authorized the vaccine, and Indian company Biological-E is making hundreds of millions of doses a month under the name Corbevax.
Companies in Indonesia, Bangladesh and Botswana are planning production, too.
But it is not clear whether Corbevax will hold up as well as the new-technology vaccines (flash frame about 1:42 in) against the Omicron variant, says Johns Hopkins University vaccine expert Dr. William Moss.
((Mandatory CG: Skype logo))
((Dr. William Moss, Johns Hopkins University))
"The Sinopharm, Sinovac vaccines, those are an older technology. They are not doing well against Omicron. Very much reduced vaccine effectiveness."
((NARRATOR))
Global supplies of other vaccines are improving. The United Nations-backed COVAX program recently delivered its one billionth dose. Big drugmakers are promising billions more doses this year. And other new vaccines are entering the market.
But if it holds up against variants, a low-cost vaccine like Corbevax will still be useful, because COVID-19 will be with us for years to come, Moss says.
((Mandatory CG: Skype logo))
((Dr. William Moss, Johns Hopkins University))
"We'll be transitioning into this endemic mode and more routine vaccination. And that's where these vaccines may play a role."
((NARRATOR))
Experts say a regular shot against multiple COVID-19 strains could be in everyone's future. The less it costs, the better.
((STEVE BARAGONA, VOA NEWS)
NewsML Media TopicsHealth
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateJanuary 24, 2022 20:39 EST
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
