Global pandemic ‘Coronavirus’ or ‘COVID-19’ is what panicking the world since there is no other pandemic in the history that spread too fast worldwide. This largest known RNA virus is the smallest to be visible to the human eye has kept the world on hold for quite a long time. While the Mamma earth is breathing and rejuvenating from the damage of human activity, we are at the edge of ‘get-set-go’ in the race towards building economies bored of less movement and working from homes. At this hour, the most profound question that burdened everyone’s heart for sure is ‘Till When?’: are we safe? will this persist? And until when we need to live along? Adding on to the panic situation, “Vaccine to corona” is soothing to hear at present. It is a fact that speculations were spreading around with just one click forward in social media- our very own parallel world these days.
Nature of the virus
Viruses consist of molecules like proteins, nucleic acids, lipids and carbohydrates, for multiplication they need a living host cell. Surviving through the unfavourable conditions is the principle of Nature, fittest will survive. A mutation is a unique feature of the virus. As a response to the host immunity virus mutates their form. RNA virus mutates at a higher rate and these mutations may be deleterious, neutral or favourable. It was reported that coronavirus of COVID-19 is a mutating virus. Over 200 genetic mutations identified in SARS-COV-2 virus globally but only one mutation, D614G is of urgent concern. Approximately 82 strains analysed in India. A presumably slow rate of this viral mutation is beneficial and mutants have a nearly similar genomic sequence. This is an added advantage of vaccine production.
Coexisting with the virus!
Lessons learned from the past epidemics suggest that we need ‘live along with corona’. For instance, AIDS which is caused by a virus too and has no vaccine yet, many Anti-retroviral drugs are treating the condition the fact is it did exist even today. Likewise, the influenza virus spread 1918- Spanish flu, 1957 Asian flu and 1968 Hong Kong flu caused by influenza virus subtype H1N1, H2N2, H3N3. Vaccination and treatment exist for influenza virus but still, people get infected by the seasonal influenza flu. Polio, is caused by a virus, has no cure instead, polio is prevented by periodical vaccination. WHO reports polio is controlled 99% since 1988 but few cases are reported in recent times Smallpox another viral epidemic which believed to have originated several centuries ago, the success of immunisation through vaccination made it possible to completely eradicate naturally occurring smallpox by 1980. History evidenced survival through many viral outbreaks like yellow fever, dengue, chicken guinea, measles, hepatitis B, SARS, MERS, Ebola and many more. ‘Living along with virus’ is nothing new but being precautionary is the key to protect us and our loved ones.
Till when are we safe? Is Vaccination is the only remedy?
Remembering the words of the father of immunology Dr Edward Jenner, “I hope that someday the practise of producing cowpox in human beings will spread over the world-when that day comes there will be no smallpox”. Vaccination is a great rescue but vaccines do not cure or treat a condition but they immunise the organism. Many pharmaceutical and biological firms are on the race to bring out the vaccine as soon as possible for the pride of their nation. Vaccine development is a laborious process involving many stages. To sum up they include exploratory, pre-clinical, clinical development, regulatory reviews and approvals, Manufacturing and quality control. Vaccines are complex biological products that need more careful control processes and lengthy manufacturing process. We need to understand that any drug that is available in the market is not made overnight as a miracle drug. A vaccine to corona may not come soon but, in the crisis, to protect the uninfected drug regulatory authorities will have some relaxation in the process of clinical trials to meet the present-day need. There were almost 110 companies in vaccine race but WHO says of all 8 candidates in clinical evaluation. Check the link for reference. (DRAFT landscape of COVID-19 candidate vaccines – 15 May 2020).
The best way anyone can deal with the situation is being precautionary, by face mask, hand wash, sanitizer, lockdowns and not touching the ‘T’-zone of our face. Comparatively COVID -19 is not so severe as Ebola. Vaccination to this virus is yet to come, hopefully soon. To treat the infected with existing drugs can be the best option to treat the symptoms and reduce the viral load, just like an antimalarial drug, Hydroxychloroquine showed positive results. There is no quick escape, no Thanos glove to swipe off corona at one snap. Deal with the crisis, be responsible and compassionate for the world around us. We surely will survive this better than the past epidemics, we will win over the virus for sure. There is no escape than to deal with it.
–Aubine Molly.B
M.Pharm (PhD)