Today more than ever, the world is racing to develop a vaccine to protect us against SARS-CoV-2 and it is clear that it is urgent, given the magnitude of the pandemic.

Several vaccines with promising results are still in initial trials and dozens of pharmaceutical companies are competing to create the solution to restrain the virus, which has caused more than 500,000 deaths worldwide and has infected more than 10 million people.

This is one of the most catastrophic scenarios in the last years and, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), the pandemic is far from over.

In the midst of this worldwide crisis, the importance of vaccines is more evident today, because, despite the opposition of many groups around the world, there is no doubt that they are the most effective, safe and economical tools for worldwide public health and for saving millions of lives every year.

It is clear that their role has been crucial in the eradication of major diseases. Thanks to their contribution, around three million lives are saved each year and, although, for the moment, vaccines have not been developed against some of the main scourges of humanity, if the scientific community continues working as it has done, in the future we could have vaccines against diabetes, hypertension, lipids and Alzheimer’s.

Despite the obvious benefits that vaccines have brought, in recent years opposition groups have expressed their rejection of vaccines, considering them harmful to health, when in reality, they are the most effective tool for the prevention of diseases such as tuberculosis, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and measles, among others.

Today, we are all anxiously awaiting the arrival of the vaccine against the dreaded COVID-19, because we are clear that, without it, the consequences in the long term would be more catastrophic.

So, this is the most appropriate moment to remember that, without the existence of vaccines, we cannot live. Without them, we would not be able to face serious diseases and the life expectancy of all humanity would be reduced.

Unfortunately, support for the development of vaccines is often influenced by political, economic and market reasons. Currently, there is a sector of the population that has expressed its rejection of their children receiving vaccines, and this is due to a lack of information, fake news, myths or beliefs.

This type of attitude has been considered by the WHO as one of the 10 main threats to Public Health and, of course, they are generating fear, doubts and uncertainty through the use of information without scientific character.

I must make it clear that, like any medicine, vaccines can cause adverse events, but most are very mild. Even serious reactions are extremely rare and the benefits undoubtedly surpass the risks.

For example, brain damage from measles is 10,000 times more likely than from a vaccine. These data are the product of years of studies and constant monitoring by national and international organizations that supervise and guarantee the safety of vaccines for the world’s population.

That is why, as a scientist who has dedicated his life to find a cure and preventing diseases such as cancer, today I want to call for calm and absolute support for the development of vaccines. Everyone hope that this pandemic will end, but for that to happen, the arrival of a vaccine is essential, which must be prioritized for health workers and risk groups. Once created and approved, its mass production and distribution to the populations that require it will be the greatest challenge.

Dr. Rolando Herrero Acosta
Scientific Director of the
Costa Rican Agency for Biomedical Research