The Amazing Work of Scientists and Researchers During the Covid-19 Pandemic

This last weekend, I watched a phenomenal show on CNN--- basically a time-lapse of 15 months and the development of various vaccines for COVID-19. This included the works done by Moderna and Pfizer, as well as overseas with work in the United Kingdom and China. It was fascinating to listen to the scientists trying to figure out all the different options regarding their discovery process for their intended outcome, a vaccine that works.

Science-- it’s truly an amazing process. While the work I do surrounds part of the science world, it’s not something where I have great strengths. The amazing dedication of these researchers, sleeping on the floors of their labs for two and three months at a time, working 18-to-20-hour days, knowing that their work would be the salvation of the human race when it came to fighting COVID-19 is awe-inspiring. There was no complaining, just a description of both the science that they embraced and the responsibility that they accepted.

As exhilarating as the faces were when the first results came from Pfizer and Moderna testing, the exact opposite was seen in the faces of the researchers in Australia when they realize their vaccine caused a false positive indicator related to AIDS. That essentially shut down their entire research program.

No matter the positive or the negative in terms of results, the dedication to using data, staying true to facts, and driving the appropriate process forward is a reassurance that humankind‘s knowledge is a worthwhile and triumphant endeavor. And while no one wanted this pandemic and its horrific outcomes, I’m sure glad that these scientists do what they do for all of us.