Update on COVID-19 Vaccine Progress

Major breakthroughs have developed since we last visited the topic of Operation Warp Speed and the race for a COVID-19 vaccine. Pfizer’s vaccine candidate has shown to be 95% effective and Moderna’s has been similar at 94.5%, rivaling some of the most potent vaccines we have.

With vaccine candidates showing a robust immune response, there is mounting anticipation for a vaccine that could bring an end to the pandemic. This news comes as community spread of the virus is raging and hospitalizations have surged across the United States.

Listen to a pediatric infectious disease specialist discuss COVID-19 vaccine progress

On this episode of Charting Pediatrics, we talk about what to expect from the public release of the COVID-19 vaccine, what it means for pediatrics and facts you can begin sharing with parents to arm them with knowledge and confidence in this vaccine.

Sean O’Leary, MD, is our guest for this episode. Dr. O'Leary is an infectious disease physician at Children’s Hospital Colorado and Director of the Colorado Pediatric Practice-Based Research Network. Dr. O’Leary is also a spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics and is regularly quoted in publications like the New York Times.

In this episode, our experts discuss:

• An update on the status of vaccine development
• Efficacy outcome measures for vaccine trials
• The adverse effects data that’s been released
• The role of kids in vaccine trials
• Where we stand regarding FDA approval, production and distribution of the vaccine
• The status of vaccine production prior to release of efficacy data
• How providers can talk to parents about the vaccine
• Whether there are any potential concerns regarding mRNA vaccine technology
• How cold storage requirements will impact distribution
• What Dr. O’Leary has taken away from the experience of watching the rapid development of the vaccine