The prestigious Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been bestowed upon two scientists whose groundbreaking discoveries played a pivotal role in the development of mRNA vaccines during the global Covid-19 outbreak.
Esteemed researchers Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman were announced as the recipients of this esteemed accolade by the Nobel committee on Monday. Both scientists made invaluable contributions in elucidating the intricate workings of mRNA vaccines and their interaction with the immune system.
In a press release statement, the committee highlighted that “the laureates contributed to the unprecedented rate of vaccine development during one of the greatest threats to human health in modern times.” The extraordinary breakthroughs made by Karikó and Weissman have undoubtedly revolutionized our understanding and approach to vaccines.
This exceptional achievement is paired with a prize of approximately $1 million, which will be shared by the two deserving scientists.
It is worth noting that the pioneering research carried out by Karikó and Weissman was instrumental in the development of the highly successful Covid-19 vaccines by Pfizer (PFE) and BioNTech (BNTX), as well as Moderna (MRNA).
The United States has made remarkable progress in its vaccination efforts, with a staggering 676.7 million doses already administered, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Covid-19 vaccine tracker. Furthermore, an impressive 81.4% of the nation’s population has received at least one dose of the vaccine.
