The Graphic Truth: Untangling COVID vaccine logistics
The mammoth task of distributing COVID-19 vaccines is well underway after the US, EU and other countries approved the Pfizer-BioNTech drug for use. The Moderna vaccine has now also been authorized by the US Food and Drug Administration. Some hospitals and medical centers have even boosted security to stop line jumpers and robberies of the much-coveted doses. But many countries, particularly in the developing world, haven't secured access to the Pfizer drug, produced in the US and Belgium, and have instead inked deals with Russia and China who are working on late-stage vaccine trials of their own. The logistical challenge associated with shipping vaccines around the world — and prioritizing those who need it most — is huge. We take a look at the current state of play: who is producing the leading vaccines, what stage of the trial process have they reached — and, importantly, which nations have snatched them up?