The emergence of vaccines that effectively block Covid-19 is actually a manifestation of years of research.
Dr. Abigail Hafer of Bedford said on a New York City radio program Friday that scientists “knew in principle how to develop the vaccine, how to put together those pieces. Then the questions are: Is it safe and will it work?”
“There has been safety research going on since March,” Hafer pointed out. “The vaccines were developed rather quickly because of the technology we now have. The tools were already in the scientific toolbox.”
She explained that the genome for the virus “was actually sequenced in January. Genomic technology has become so good that it was relatively easy for scientists to figure out which bits of the RNA code for those characteristic spike proteins to snip that off.”
“And then it was just a question of how to get that small genetic sequence delivered to our cells. That’s the basis for messenger RNA technology.”
Hafer, who teaches at Curry College and holds a doctorate in zoology from Oxford, appeared on the weekly WBAI program “Eco-Logic.” She was joined by her Bedford High School friend Dr. Chuck Kaplan, now a physician in Tucson.
The principle behind the vaccine has been on scientists’ radar for some time, Hafer said. “Because people had already been working on MRNA technology in general, a number of possibilities had already been developed for delivery to our cells.”
“Our cells take that RNA and make the proteins that are coded for it. And then your immune system gets a good look at those proteins, which they do not like,” she continued. “The immune system will figure out how to make antibodies that will attack that protein. If you get exposed to Covid, if you already have antibodies developed against those viruses, then your immune system will attack before it has time to multiply and do you harm.”
“I give the vaccines very high marks,” Kaplan said. The developers have been “transparent with their data. I had reservations about some political issues but am very happy about how the rollout is progressing.”
Asked about the risk of the virus mutating, Hafer pointed out that influenza works that way “and that’s why you need your annual flu shot.” Kaplan added, “The virus has already mutated several times but the spike protein doesn’t seem to mutate. It’s a little more likely that a vaccine will be effective against all the mutations, at least in the short run.”
He explained, “One of the reasons why this vaccine has come on board so rapidly is most vaccines historically have been brewed as living or inactivated virus organisms in cultures. Messenger RNA vaccines are synthetic and can be manufactured rather quickly.”
Regarding possible side effects from a vaccination, Hafer pointed out that “your body is mounting an immune response and that is actually a good thing, though you may feel bad. It’s a lot better than getting the disease and a lot more predictable. Maybe we call that a side effect but in a way it’s a direct effect.”
Kaplan added, “We can learn about immediate side effects but not everyone will manifest at the beginning. So there’s always a small risk of a side effect showing up years later. Balance that vs. the likelihood of a problem when you are not vaccinating.”
“The only way we can find out whether a vaccine works is through a phase three trial, and that’s exactly what has been published. So far, we are up to 70,000 humans who have received a vaccine, and in each group compared recipients and non-recipients. They were able to see a significant difference in the rate of infection and so far the numbers look very good.”
Hafer said her involvement with WBAI and “Eco-Logic” began at a Boston science fiction convention a few years ago. “They always include a series of lectures on real science,” she related. Her talk was on evolution, and that’s where she met the host of “Eco-Logic.”
“I have made occasional appearances on his show over the years,” she continued. “I contacted him as Covid was coming down hard because I had done a lot of research for my students. There’s a lot of misinformation out there.” She said she and Kaplan “have become exceedingly interested in the science of Covid-19. He has insights of actually treating patients.” Their joint appearances on the air “have worked out incredibly well.”
Mike Rosenberg can be reached at [email protected], or 781-983-1763
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