Essays

The quest to make a global vaccine in 12 months(C2)

2020 Midterm exam of _____ University

Directions(Altered): Summarize the following article in an essay of 450-550 words. You must include the main argument/idea of the article in your response. The ideas and supporting details in your summary must be organized in a logical order.

Article: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20201005-the-quest-to-make-a-global-vaccine-in-12-months

The quest to make a global vaccine in 12 months

Although the media tends to broadcast and spotlight the rapid development regarding clinical research of the COVID-19 vaccine, we also need to cast light on vital aspects related to the vaccine, such as manufacturing and distribution.

Mass-producing a vaccine to a novel virus, contrary to popular beliefs, is a "Heraculean endeavor" to quote the passage, inasmuch as the lack of approval, knowledge, and more that provides assistance for the process of vaccine manufacturing. The originally decade-long process is now compressed into 18 months of overlapping schedules and pre-analyzing of multiple stages, and with great effort from worldwide researchers and scientists alike to maintain safety as well.

However, as a consequence of carrying out various trials from numerous stages, there will be absent information from other results in the process. Moreover, manufacturing facilities are already constructed prior to any vaccine's approval as a result of considerable investments thrown in, for example Operation Warp Speed, an initiative from the US government.

In terms of upscaling the number of vaccines manufactured, the procedure must be gradual since no vaccine has been under demand at such a large scale before. The problem becomes even more compounded owing to the fact that exclusive requirements are also compulsory to the vaccination, such as the dose of the vaccine, the special electroporation devices needed for them, the additional manufacturing of containers, and more.

Moreover, refrigeration is necessary for the preservation of most vaccines, however, some of those specifically made for COVID-19 requires temperatures as low as -70°C (-94°F) or -80°C (-112°F), which Medical centers, unlike research laboratories, lack the facilities to achieve. Fortunately, distribution companies, such as UPS and DHL have secured the matter and are now building freezer farms on a global scale to effectively store vaccines.

Last but not least, during the end of the process, the so-called Last Mile Problem might also occur on the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. Due to rural areas and developing countries not having complex and expeditious traveling systems as metropolitan cities do, effective distribution to all areas will be difficult to achieve with insufficient transportation.

The vaccines are yet to be released until early 2021, and for priority cases only. Mass production is expected in late summer. In anticipation of this, a considerable amount of effort is made to ensure every stage of the manufacturing, storage, and distribution is in place to meet global demands. It is possible, after all, to tackle what seems like the insurmountable challenge of making a global vaccine in twelve months.

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* This is a legit past-year exam from a university in my country. I immediately started typing away as soon as I got my hands on it - I can see why it's difficult, but it's also really fun to write.

* If I'm not being timed for once, I wonder will my ending be better or still remain as bad as it always was.

* Also, I think this is my first summary of an article. How was it?