Call
+918447748545

Published on: Apr 04, 2020
3 minute read
By: Dr Rajan Choudhary

Developing A Vaccine For COVID-19? Part 1

It is often stated vaccination has made the greatest contribution to global health of any human discovery, other than clean water and sanitation, and their impact on everyday life is immediately evident. We have managed to completely eradicate two major infections from existence (smallpox and rinderpest) , and the WHO are working towards adding polio to that list.

In these cases the numbers speak for themselves. It is estimated that the eradication of smallpox in 1980 has saved 5 million lives per year, adding up to 150 to 200 million by 2018. Common vaccination programmes for polio, measles, mumps, rubella, rabies and hepatitis A have prevented nearly 200 million cases from occurring in the US alone over the past 50 years, and 4.5 billion instances of the diseases worldwide.

We have achieved a 99% immunisation rate against polio, preventing children from suffering crippling paralysis, and only 3 countries remain. Sadly, around 1.4 million children under 5 still die from preventable diseases each year as they do not have access to these life saving vaccines, but charities and public health organisations around the world are working hard to improve access.

So what are vaccines? And how will they help is in the face of the latest pandemic? Here we will go into the challenges behind making vaccines, and why a vaccine against COVID-19 is unlikely to be ready in the next few months, or even this year.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4024226/ contribution of vaccination

https://www.who.int/features/factfiles/polio/en/ polio eradication

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170303163208.htm study article

WHAT IS A VACCINE

The human body’s immune system is incredibly smart. It is able to distinguish between infective organisms, such as bacteria, viruses and parasites, from our own body’s cells, target these invaders for destruction and keep our bodies healthy. Even better, the body remembers any previous infections it has had before, recognise these previous infections even quicker and even eradicate the disease before we know we are infected.

Vaccines target the immune system’s memory by presenting them with pieces of these infective diseases. The small amounts do not cause any infective symptoms, but if the person is infected later in life their body will mount a quicker response and prevent them from falling ill. These vaccines can contain broken up parts of the organisms, “dead” organisms or “live” versions that have been severely weakened so they cannot cause any harm.

In summary, medicines treat us when we get an infection. Vaccines make sure we never suffer from an infection in the first place.

https://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center/making-vaccines/how-are-vaccines-made Making Vaccines

THE HURDLES WE FACE IN RESEARCH

Making a vaccine is a difficult process, one that can take 3–5 years and cost hundreds of millions of dollars, sometimes billions of dollars. This is because there are many difficult steps to be taken in the process of creating a vaccine that is effective, but more importantly one that is safe.

To start with the troubling organism has to be identified. For COVID-19 it took a few weeks to recognise the virus responsible, and some time more to understand its genetic code and grow the virus in lab conditions. We then have to understand the virus, how it infects, how it causes symptoms, and how it has mutated compared to the coronaviruses responsible for SARS and MERS.

After this, we have to isolate parts of the virus our immune system will recognise. This is usually the outside coat of the virus. The DNA responsible for making these parts need to be found in the virus’ genetic code, and put inside other “skeleton” viruses. This will force the dummy virus to look like coronavirus, without the ability to infect and kill someone.

These dummy viruses can be injected into animals to see if it causes an immune reaction, whether the immune system recognises it as the coronavirus responsible for COVID-19, and whether it will protect the animal from the real COVID-19. Up to now the research has likely cost a few million dollars. The next step is when the price inflates up to billions.

If the vaccine appears safe in animals, it can be tested in humans. This can be dangerous at first, since we don’t know whether a vaccine that works in an animal will work in a human. And we don’t know if there will be any side effects to the vaccine. Human testing has to be very thorough, very careful, and safe for use. If you give too much of the virus it might make the person sick, too little and it wont immunise the person. These clinical trials can take years, and if the vaccine fails at this point its back to the drawing board, to try another step.

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/10/how-to-make-an-ebola-vaccine-5-simplified-steps/454443/ ebola vaccine

Now we have a basic understanding of what vaccines are and why it takes so long to make a vaccine. In the next part we will look at why viral vaccines can cause even more problems, and how far we have come with the COVID-19 vaccine,

Dr Rajan Choudhary, London UK

Read Blog

Chest Pain While Breathing: Causes, Warning Signs, and When to Seek Urgent Care

Chest pain is one of the most alarming symptoms a person can experience, especially when it worsens during breathing. Chest pain while breathing, also known as pleuritic chest pain, often indicates involvement of the lungs, chest wall or surrounding structures. While some causes are mild, others can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention.

In India, respiratory infections, air pollution, sedentary lifestyles and delayed medical care contribute significantly to chest-related symptoms.

What Does Chest Pain While Breathing Mean?

Chest pain while breathing refers to pain that:

worsens with deep inhalation or exhalation
may feel sharp, stabbing or burning
can be localized or spread across the chest

Pain intensity often increases with coughing or movement.

Common Causes of Chest Pain While Breathing

Lung Infections (Pneumonia)

Pneumonia inflames lung tissue and surrounding membranes.

Symptoms include:

chest pain while breathing
fever
cough
breathlessness

ICMR data identifies pneumonia as a major cause of respiratory illness in India.

Pleuritis (Inflammation of Lung Lining)

The pleura are thin membranes surrounding the lungs.

When inflamed:

breathing causes friction
sharp chest pain occurs

Pleuritis often follows viral infections or pneumonia.

Pulmonary Embolism

A blood clot in the lungs causes:

sudden chest pain
rapid breathing
severe breathlessness

This is a medical emergency requiring immediate care.

Chest Wall Muscle Strain

Muscle strain due to:

heavy lifting
intense coughing
poor posture

can cause pain during breathing or movement.

Costochondritis

Inflammation of rib cartilage causes:

localized chest pain
pain worsened by breathing or pressing on the chest

This condition is painful but not life-threatening.

Pneumothorax (Collapsed Lung)

Air leakage into the chest cavity causes:

sudden sharp chest pain
breathlessness

Often seen after trauma or in individuals with lung disease.

Heart-Related Causes

Though heart pain usually does not worsen with breathing, conditions such as:

pericarditis (heart lining inflammation)

can cause chest pain that changes with respiration.

Acid Reflux and Esophageal Spasm

Gastrointestinal causes may mimic chest pain.

However:

pain usually relates to meals
breathing-related pain should be evaluated carefully

Anxiety and Panic Disorders

Anxiety can cause:

chest tightness
rapid breathing
discomfort while breathing

Medical causes must be ruled out before attributing pain to anxiety.

Warning Signs That Require Emergency Attention

Seek immediate medical care if chest pain while breathing is associated with:

sudden onset
severe breathlessness
bluish lips or fingers
dizziness or fainting
sweating
coughing up blood

These may indicate life-threatening conditions.

Risk Factors for Serious Chest Pain

Higher risk occurs in people with:

smoking history
recent surgery or long travel
lung disease
heart disease
clotting disorders

Early evaluation is critical.

Diagnostic Evaluation

Doctors may recommend:

physical examination
chest X-ray
ECG
blood tests
CT scan

Timely diagnosis saves lives.

Why Chest Pain Should Not Be Ignored

Ignoring chest pain can lead to:

delayed treatment
worsening respiratory failure
preventable complications

WHO emphasises early symptom recognition for better outcomes.

Impact of Air Pollution and Lifestyle

Air pollution increases:

lung inflammation
infection risk

Sedentary habits reduce lung capacity, worsening symptoms.

Preventive Measures

Helpful preventive steps include:

avoiding smoking
staying physically active
managing respiratory infections early
maintaining good posture
staying hydrated

Preventive care reduces risk.

Role of Preventive Health Checkups

Regular health screening helps detect:

early lung disease
heart risk factors
chronic inflammation

Early intervention prevents emergencies.

When Chest Pain Is Less Likely Serious

Pain may be less concerning if:

localized
reproducible on touch
improves with rest

However, medical confirmation is still necessary.

Importance of Timely Medical Consultation

Chest pain should always be evaluated by a healthcare professional.

Delaying care can:

increase complications
raise mortality risk

Early action saves lives.

Conclusion

Chest pain while breathing is a critical symptom that should never be ignored. While causes range from muscle strain and infections to serious lung and heart conditions, only proper medical evaluation can determine the exact cause. Early diagnosis, timely treatment and preventive care are essential to protect respiratory and cardiovascular health. When it comes to chest pain, it is always safer to act early than to wait.

References

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) – Respiratory and Cardiovascular Health Reports
World Health Organization (WHO) – Chest Pain and Respiratory Symptoms Guidelines
National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) – Adult Respiratory Health Data
Lancet – Pulmonary Embolism and Chest Pain Research
NITI Aayog – Preventive Healthcare and Early Symptom Recognition

Request A Callback

+91

By using this website/app, I confirm that I am at least 18 years old and consent to the processing of my personal data in accordance with the Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Declaration.