Featured image of post Texas scientists’ new Covid-19 vaccine is cheaper, easier to make and patent-free

Texas scientists’ new Covid-19 vaccine is cheaper, easier to make and patent-free

Dr Maria Bottazzi says their vaccine, called Corbevax, is unique because they do not intend to patent it

Dr Maria Bottazzi says their vaccine, called Corbevax, is unique because they do not intend to patent it

Summary

  • The process to create the vaccine involves the use of yeast – the same method by which hepatitis B vaccines are produced.
  • The Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines currently authorized in the US use different technologies, or vaccine “platforms”.
  • Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine introduces immune cells to the spike protein through an otherwise harmless cold virus, a technology called viral vector.
  • The Corbevax vaccine uses a platform called recombinant protein sub-unit technology, which places an actual piece of Covid-19’s spike protein in yeast cells.
  • Therefore, you don’t ask your body to do any major manipulation of the coding.”Crucially, storing the Corbevax vaccine only requires standard refrigeration, unlike the Pfizer vaccine, which requires ultra-cold storage in transit.