Amid the tragedy of the pandemic, one marvel is hiding in plain sight. The development of a working vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 is happening at breakneck speed, a triumph of ingenuity and efficiency that has few precedents.
However, even if researchers and pharmaceutical companies succeed on the scientific front, policy makers will then have to pick up the baton. Unfortunately, if the poor management of the pandemic in Europe and the United States is any guidance, the potential for policy failure is enormous.
The race for a vaccine remains uncertain, as no company has yet completed a large-scale randomized controlled ("Phase 3”) trial to ensure safety and effectiveness. However, considering that the new coronavirus only began circulating among humans a year ago, the progress that has been achieved so far is astonishing.