A CNBC article announced that AstraZeneca is developing its potential COVID-19 vaccine in collaboration with the University of Oxford and that the vaccine has produced a similar immune response in older and younger adults. The World Health Organization has said that older people, in addition to people of all ages with pre-existing medical conditions, appear to develop serious illness on contracting the coronavirus more often than others.

It is encouraging to see immunogenicity responses were similar between older and younger adults and that reactogenicity was lower in older adults where the COVID-19 disease severity is higher” an AstraZeneca spokesman told CNBC via email.

Drugmakers and research centers are scrambling to deliver a safe and effective vaccine in an attempt to bring an end to the coronavirus pandemic that has claimed over 1.15 million lives. The vaccine being developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca is thought to be one of the frontrunners to secure regulatory approval.

At the end of the day, it matters little to most of us which organization finds a vaccine that works, but it is great to see some healthy competition! If the pandemic is to be brought to its knees, we need a vaccine and we need people to “take” the vaccine when it is available. We have traveled a long and weary journey, could the end be in sight? Let’s pray it is so!

Stay the course, stay strong, stay well, mask up and stay tuned!