Authors: Toby Le BMSc, Jisuvei Clayton Salano MSc, Sushma Jayarama MD MBBS
Since the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic, several vaccine candidates have entered development and received emergency authorizations. These include vaccines from companies such as Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca. Other promising vaccine candidates currently under investigation include Novavax and Sanofi. The rapid pace of vaccine development has provoked many questions concerning vaccine efficacy, logistics of distribution, and maintenance of safety standards. In the attempt to address these concerns, Dr. Scott McClelland, a principal investigator of the Novavax clinical trial, is interviewed. The resulting discussion explores his insight on the development of vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic and their impact on future vaccine advances. Perspectives on vaccine distribution in low-income countries is also highlighted. The interview concludes by reviewing vaccine distribution strategies moving forward in the pandemic.
Keywords: COVID-19, vaccine development, global health