Oxford/AstraZeneca Scientists Discuss Rethinking Vaccine Development During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The team of scientists and managers responsible for the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine against COVID-19 discuss how the extraordinary circumstances in which the vaccine was developed. It required a concerted effort at all levels of their organizations, with vaccine trials taking place concurrently. The team experienced manufacturing issues, efficacy and safety concerns, theft, protests, and exhaustion. Despite these challenges, the team was able to produce a highly effective vaccine, now used worldwide.

Postdoctoral Researcher Mustapha Bittaye remarks, “The development of the vaccine in a year is like the modern-day equivalent of landing a human on the moon. It’s a massive achievement. And it all happened on the back of an unprecedented public-private sector collaboration.” Read more here.

(Source: Oliver Franklin-Wallis, The Guardian, 8/28/21)