Vaccines vs. Variants: How manufacturers are racing to get ahead of COVID-19
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- With dangerous new variants of COVID-19 appearing worldwide including California, manufacturers are racing to keep their vaccines a step ahead of the virus. And the speed at which they're able to tweak the formulas is breathtaking by historic standards.
"We've all heard how quick the messenger RNA vaccines can be made," says Prof. Bali Pulendran, Ph.D., an infectious disease researcher at Stanford
VACCINE TRACKER: How California is doing, when you can get a coronavirus vaccine
Pulendran says the cutting-edge messenger-RNA technique used to produce the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines gives both companies a powerful advantage. It's the ability to quickly rewrite genetic instructions the formulas use to trigger an immune response, rather than developing new vaccine components from scratch.
"You just have to know the sequence and you can design the mRNA very quickly, and we've seen that."
Moderna just announced that it's already designed an updated version of its COVID vaccine to combat the South African strain and sent it to the National Institutes of Health for evaluation. Pfizer and partner BioNTech, say they're also studying new booster formulas. Although the new Johnson & Johnson vaccine uses a different technique, which employs a disabled virus to carry COVID DNA into the body, experts say it can also be tweaked much faster than older vaccine methods.
VIDEO: When will I get the COVID-19 vaccine? We explain who goes 1st
"If there are differences in the spike proteins of these variants, then they can be included into newer versions of both these types of vaccines," says Dr. Philip Grant, M.D., who led the trial of Johnson & Johnson's vaccine at Stanford.
The extra protection could be delivered in several ways. Some have suggested a booster shot with existing vaccines may be enough for the short term. A variant-specific booster could also be added to the regimen to target new strains. While some researchers believe a new vaccine could target elements of both the old and new strains in what's called a multivalent booster.
RELATED: US advisers endorse single-shot COVID-19 vaccine from Johnson & Johnson
"So in this way, even though you're boosting the immune response towards the South African strain, you still make sure the immune system remembers the original Wuhan strain," explains Pulendran.
Whatever the strategy, experts we spoke with expect a quick rollout if necessary. Historic speed, to confront a fast-moving enemy.
Having trouble loading the tracker above? Click here to open it in a new window.
RELATED STORIES & VIDEOS:
- How to register for COVID-19 vaccine in every Bay Area county
- Map: CA counties that can, can't reopen under new rules
- VIDEO: When will I get the COVID-19 vaccine? We explain who goes 1st
- Updated number of COVID-19 deaths, cases in Bay Area
- Map shows everywhere you can get a COVID-19 test in the Bay Area
- How are Chinatown businesses surviving? Here's what we found
- From COVID-19 to Black Lives Matter, these 13 people defined the Bay Area in 2020
- COVID-19 Diaries: Personal stories of Bay Area residents during pandemic
- California EDD: The most commonly asked questions we get about unemployment and PUA
- How to tell the difference between seasonal allergies and coronavirus symptoms
- Here's which mask is better to protect from COVID-19
- First COVID-19 vaccine volunteers in US describe experience as Bay Area launches vaccine trials
- Coronavirus origin: Where did COVID-19 come from?
- What is a COVID-19 genetic, antigen and antibody test?
- What will it take to get a COVID-19 vaccine and how will it be made?
- What does COVID-19 do to your body and why does it spread so easily?
- Here's how shelter in place, stay at home orders can slow spread of COVID-19
- Coronavirus Timeline: Tracking major moments of COVID-19 pandemic in San Francisco Bay Area
- Coronavirus Doctor's Note: Dr. Alok Patel gives his insight into COVID-19 pandemic
