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Scientists at two universities in Virginia are developing a coronavirus vaccine candidate that has shown promising results in animal experiments.
Scientists at two universities in Virginia are developing a coronavirus vaccine candidate that has shown promising results in animal experiments.
The vaccine was developed by virus experts at the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech, and so far it has only been tested in pigs.
“Pigs are very similar to humans in their genetics, physiology and anatomy, perhaps the closest model to humans next to non-human primates,” according to an article written by the researchers, which has yet to been peer reviewed.
Scientists have made two vaccines, one for the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 and another to protect against the swine coronavirus.
They found that both vaccines produced a “potent” immune response in subjects and “offered significant protections against clinical disease.” The vaccines did not prevent getting sick, but they did observe “significant protections against serious illness,” according to the results.
The candidate vaccine would cost only $ 1 per dose, U.Va. Health Dr. Steven Zeichner, one of the researchers, told the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
And while the currently approved vaccines are free for most of the United States, they cost the United States between $ 10 and $ 19.50 per dose.
The Virginia / Virginia Tech vaccine would also be “easy to store and transport, even to remote parts of the world, and could be produced in large quantities at existing vaccine manufacturing plants,” Virginia Tech Daily reported.
Pfizer vaccine should be stored at ultra cold temperatures, -112 to -76 degrees Fahrenheit; Moderna between -13 and 5 degrees Fahrenheit; and Johnson & Johnson between 36 and 46 degrees Fahrenheit.
“The new vaccination platform uses a small-genome bacteria to express the coronavirus vaccine antigen on its surface. Such a vaccine platform can be manufactured at low cost in existing facilities around the world, which could meet pandemic demand, ”Virginia Tech Professor XJ Meng told Virginia Tech Daily.
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Looking for more information? DC, Maryland and Virginia each publish more data every day. Visit their official websites here: Virginia | Maryland | DC
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