This vaccine could be considered “obsolete” in the near future

COVID-19 vaccines developed extremely quickly. While there was only one to choose from at the beginning of the year, there are now several vaccines that have received FDA emergency approval and full FDA approval. The three main vaccines that are in circulation at least in the United States are Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson. While the first two use mRNA technology, the latter is a viral vector vaccine. According to experts, this could mean the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is on the way to becoming obsolete.

Speaking to Yahoo Finance, Arnaud Bernaert, former head of Global Health and Healthcare at the World Economic Forum, said that viral vector technologies will soon become obsolete. It is expected that mRNA vaccines will then dominate and become the vaccines most people use to stay protected from a wide variety of viruses.

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“I think the game is over. I think it’s mRNA or nothing. [Other technology] is taking too long, ”said Bernaert, adding that mRNA vaccines have long been recognized for their low cost, safety and ability to develop rapidly.

According to the CDC, mRNA vaccines “teach our cells to make a protein that triggers an immune response in our bodies.” In contrast, vector vaccines are the vaccines that most of us grew up with. They work by introducing a controlled version of the virus into humans; Once in the cells, the virus tells the body to make antibodies and white blood cells. Currently, mRNA vaccines make up 60 to 70% of the market.

Another benefit of mRNA vaccines, particularly valuable given the state of the pandemic, is the adaptability of these formulas. Scientists are able to make small changes to these vaccines, tackle new variants, and make them stronger and more resistant to different strains of the same virus.

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Johnson & Johnson is not the only vector viral vaccine on the market; AstraZeneca is also a viral vector and is widely used to vaccinate humans in a variety of countries. Despite the hurdles these vaccines face, they are both safe and effective against COVID-19. However, it seems that the use of mRNA vaccines is increasing and more and more companies want to get involved.