I have 45 years experience as an MD/scientist with a research interest in certain human pathogenic viruses and vaccine development, both on the developer side and on the reviewer side. I retired 2 years too early to have been involved in the fight against COVID. Based on the past 20+ year history of using RNA in a vaccine, all unsuccessful, and on what was known a priori about Coronavirus immunology, I was very skeptical about the eventual utility of an RNA vaccine in preventing COVID and particularly about the longevity of the immune response one might expect from an RNA vaccine, even if there were short term protection. So I view the success of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines as nothing short of a miracle. But it is not magic; there is solid science behind the unprecedented success of these particular RNAs. Most lay people cannot and do not appreciate how lucky we are that advanced thinking bore such fruit. Only a very few licensed vaccines achieve 95% or better efficacy in preventing disease. Think where we would be now and for the indefinite future, if the current vaccines were failing. That is why I am continually dismayed by the doubters and conspiracy theorists, although I do understand that some may be put off by the reports of side effects. What is almost never mentioned in the press is the rarity and transitory nature of these events and the fact that there are treatments and preventatives available.
