Many still have concerns about the vaccines currently available. Like the German Bayern professional footballer Joshua Kimmich (26). He started a heated discussion in Germany because he still refuses an injection. Kimmich: “I want to wait for long-term studies.”
A conflict that plagues many. The previous vaccinations have been shown to offer absolutely reliable protection against a Covid 19 infection, but also in the rare cases of vaccination breakthroughs they protect against severe disease. Yet people are concerned about possible unexplored side effects of the vaccine.
Vaccine skeptics do not seem to be fundamentally against vaccinations either. After all, they carry classic, so-called dead vaccines in their bodies. There could soon also be one against Corona. The French biotech group Valneva is researching the compound VLA2001, which does well in phase 3 test studies. Side effects seem low and protection high.
Like a classic flu shot
All corona vaccines that have been approved in Switzerland so far are based on new medical technologies. The vaccines from Astrazeneca and Johnson & Johnson are so-called vector vaccines. Moderna and Pfizer / Biontech funds use mRNA technology.
VLA2001 contains complete, killed corona viruses. This is how the immune system creates antibodies against the virus. Vector vaccinations, on the other hand, provide the body with a crucial part of the corona virus in order to activate the immune system. The mRNA vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer / Biontech, in turn, instruct the body to stimulate an immune response.
The traditional approach of the Valneva vaccine could possibly move vaccination doubters to the spades. Many seem convinced that a dead vaccine poses a lower health risk than previous vaccines. Structured in a similar way to classic flu vaccines, the product should also be able to be stored in normal refrigerators.
The only one in Europe
The vaccine is expected to be approved in the UK later this year, and shortly thereafter in the EU. An order for 100 million cans is pending from London, Germany has booked 11 million. The active ingredient with killed pathogens is expected to come onto the market in spring 2022. It is unclear whether the vaccine candidate is already on the radar of the Swiss federal authorities and Swissmedic, which is responsible for approval.
The Valneva vaccine is the only one in Europe. So far, two dead inoculants have been approved worldwide in many Asian, African and South American countries: the two Chinese Sinovac and Sinopharm. Studies suggest that these dead vaccines are less protective than those that are mainly vaccinated in the rich world.
According to Valneva VLA2001 achieved a better protective effect than Astrazeca in the phase 3 tests. The French-Austrian pharmaceutical company is already researching booster vaccinations and VLA2001 tolerance for children aged 5-12 years.