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> We've only had mRNA vaccines for two years. First off, mRNA was discovered in the 1960s, first used for drug delivery in the 1970s, and vaccines in 1975. [1]
by arcticbull 5y ago
> We've only had mRNA vaccines for two years.
First off, mRNA was discovered in the 1960s, first used for drug delivery in the 1970s, and vaccines in 1975. [1] The work to create these vaccines has been under way for almost 60 years. It also builds off the work of other coronavirus vaccines that have been in development since SARS and MERS about 20 years ago.
If that's for some reason not sufficient, J&J, Covishield and AstraZeneca vaccines are not mRNA but instead adenoviral vector vaccines that have similar histories.
[edit] Most vaccines take a long time to test due to the low prevalence of the disease in the population but given half of America is currently infected, it takes very little time to determine the safety and efficacy. Most drugs and vaccines were released publicly after a few thousand participants tried it. You're looking at billions of doses administered.
You are not early.
[1] https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02483-w https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02483-w
- salawat 5y ago>given half of America is currently infected Point of order: the ideal test of a vaccine is: Given uninfected || infected but early When disease runs course Then Side effects minimized/non-existent Symptoms and severity of disease minimized. The worst time to test a vaccine is when everyone is in the "Oh snap, infected" situation, as it allows for teasing out of long cycle problems (like say unintentional sterilization or birth defects inducement) before introducing it to the majority of the population. Life hardly ever is that accommodating however.