Johns Hopkins researchers warn COVID vaccine delivery, distribution problems are looming

WASHINGTON (WJLA) — Johns Hopkins University researchers are warning that a viable coronavirus vaccine isn’t the end of the race but the passing of a baton in the pandemic relay.

Biotechnology company Moderna and National Institutes of Health vaccine Phase 3 trial began Monday and more clinical trials will start soon. Public trust in a new vaccine is waning and researchers say that’s just one of the many issues with combating the virus.

“It’s one thing to have it in the headlines that we found a vaccine, it’s quite another before your grandmother gets it in her arm,” said Dr. Naor Bar-Zeev, deputy director of the International Vaccine Access Center at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

The university’s school of public health released a new study calling for drastic changes in the U.S. approach to COVID-19. "Unlike many countries in the world, the United States is not currently on course to get control of this epidemic. It’s time to reset," the study said.

Even if current vaccine candidates are shown to work and be safe and a “reasonable” number of doses is made by later 2021, Bar-Zeev said delivering those vials creates a new set of issues.

“So, what’s going to be important for state and local officials and federal authorities is to help set realistic public expectations about the timing of availability,” explained Dr. Monica Schoch-Spana, senior scientist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

After delivery, the next hurdle is the distribution of what will be a limited supply to start. Researchers said the elderly population is most likely to get the inoculation first.

“The question then becomes, what about essential workers, what about getting the economy going and if you include them, do you include their families? Should teachers be counted as essential workers?” said Bar Zeev in a Zoom media briefing.

The Johns Hopkins study suggests the federal government should guarantee the doses will be free for everyone.

“Clearly there needs to be a commitment to deliver this vaccine in a way that is equitable and that means to deliver it without expectation of co-payment of participants because that means people who can afford it will get it and people who can’t afford it won’t get it,” he said.

With months still to go on getting a vaccine approved, researchers said public trust needs to be fostered immediately because a vaccine won’t work if the public decides not to receive it.

“Some U.S. residents, particularly those most at risk of infection, may miss out on or opt-out of a potentially life-saving public health measure due to a variety of concerns,” said Schoch-Spana.