Koji Kabuto
In a surprising move, the Trump administration has invested $500 million in a vaccine technology that many scientists consider outdated. The decision has puzzled experts in the field, who question the effectiveness of this approach in combating the ongoing pandemic.
The technology in question is known as “inactivated virus vaccines,” which have been around for decades but have largely been replaced by newer and more efficient methods. Inactivated virus vaccines use a killed version of the virus to stimulate an immune response in the body, whereas newer technologies like mRNA vaccines use genetic material to produce a protein that triggers the immune system.
While inactivated virus vaccines have been used successfully in the past for diseases like polio and hepatitis A, some scientists are skeptical about their efficacy in combating COVID-19. They argue that the virus mutates quickly, and a vaccine based on an inactivated version of the virus may not provide long-lasting protection.
Despite the skepticism, the Trump administration has decided to make a substantial investment in this technology as part of Operation Warp Speed, the government’s initiative to accelerate the development of a COVID-19 vaccine. The decision has raised eyebrows among the scientific community, with many questioning the rationale behind this choice.
As the race for a COVID-19 vaccine continues, it remains to be seen whether the Trump team’s $500 million bet on old vaccine technology will pay off. In the meantime, scientists are closely monitoring the development of these vaccines and hoping for a safe and effective solution to the global pandemic.
Source: KFF Health News
