At a time when the citizenry of the country and the state is bored and disgusted by the back-to-back lockdowns, on late Monday evening the news that the vaccine that is being developed by the University of Oxford is showing most-promising results, will soothe the frayed nerves to a great measure. The entire world is desperately looking for the vaccine and although there are as many as 160 simultaneous efforts at various labs across continents, the level of expectation from Oxford is at a high, entirely because of the varsity’s golden track record in developing vaccines for various fatal diseases over the decades.

The most convincing aspect of the much-awaited research study that was published on Monday in The Lancet, the medical journal of international repute is that the said vaccine is showing the capability of triggering a dual immune response mechanism involving making of antibodies as well as T-cells that can launch an attack against the coronavirus in duo. This has been one of the principal targets of all vaccine developers and Oxford has done it and as per the findings, almost all the 1,077 people on whom trials were conducted have exhibited the desired immune response. Placing the success under the lenses of virology research it can be said that even though it’s not the most comprehensive indicator that the vaccine ultimately will turn out to be effective, placing it in the overall context of the general methodology of vaccine making, it can be said without a trace of doubt that an initial yet vital hurdle involving human trials have been successfully traversed. It needs recounting that the preceding stage i.e. trials on animals had also been hugely encouraging. The breakneck speed with which the entire procedure was going on over the last three months had raised eyebrows and it was feared that extra speed and the tendency to compress trial tenures may prove detrimental in the long-run. But, after Monday’s revelations, much of the doubts have been put to rest.

Reading the Lancet report, there are specific reasons to be hopeful. The next step will involve mass trials, with more than 10,000 people in the UK itself along with larger trials involving 30,000 plus in the US and other countries. The million-dollar question which is when the vaccine finally hit the market is still hazy as of now. But what elicits confidence is that Oxford hasn’t gone for sensationalism nor has resorted to outlandish claims that it will be available within immediate month(s). But, with the veils of uncertainties getting lifted one by one, the medical world is sanguine that it will surely be by the end of the year.

More than 6 lakh have died globally and it’s counting. Amid this darkness, a solid ray of hope has finally arrived.  

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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