STOCKHOLM: Scientists behind COVID-19 vaccines could be in the running to win the Nobel Prize for Medicine even though the pandemic is far from over.
Some scientists say it is just a matter of time: If the work that went into developing the vaccines is not recognised when this year's prize is announced on Monday, it will win the award in years to come.
More than 4.7 million people have died from COVID-19 since the first cases of the novel coronavirus were registered in 2019, and many countries still live under severe restrictions intended to curb its spread.
But COVID-19 vaccines have helped some wealthy states return almost to normality while others are yet to receive vaccine doses in large quantities.
Among those seen by other scientists as potential winners of the Nobel Prize for Medicine are Hungarian-born Katalin Kariko and American Drew Weissman for their work on what are known as Messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccines.
The mRNA vaccines developed by Moderna and by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech have revolutionised the fight against the virus. They are quick to produce and highly effective.
"This technique will get the prize sooner or later, of that I am sure," said Ali Mirazami, professor at the Department of Laboratory Medicine at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. "The question is when."
Traditional vaccines, which introduce a weakened or dead virus to stimulate the body's immune system, can take a decade or more to develop. Moderna's mRNA vaccine went from gene sequencing to the first human injection in 63 days.
The mRNA carries messages from the body's DNA to its cells, telling them to make the proteins needed for critical functions, such as coordinating biological processes including digestion or fighting disease.
The new vaccines use laboratory-made mRNA to instruct cells to make the coronavirus' spike proteins, which spur the immune system into action without replicating like the actual virus.
DECADES OF WORK
The mRNA was discovered in 1961 but it has taken scientists decades to cure the mRNA technique from problems such as instability and causing inflammatory conditions.
Developers now hope it can be used to treat both cancer and HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) in the future.
"In addition to the fact that they have been shown to generate a very effective immune response, you do not have to tailor the production every time you make a new vaccine," said Adam Frederik Sander Bertelsen, Associate Professor at the University of Copenhagen and chief scientific officer at vaccine company Adaptvac.
"It has actually saved countless thousands of people due to its speed and efficiency, so I can well support that."Kariko, 66, laid the groundwork for the mRNA vaccines and Weissman, 62, is her long-time collaborator. [L1N2I2315]
"They are the brain behind the mRNA discovery," said Mirazami. He added: "They might be too young, the (Nobel) committee usually wait until the recipients are in their 80s."
Kariko, with colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania, made a breakthrough by figuring out how to deliver mRNA without kicking the immune system into overdrive.
The Nobel Prize was founded by dynamite inventor Alfred Nobel and is awarded for achievements in Medicine, Chemistry, Literature, Peace and Physics. This year's winners are announced between Oct. 4 and 11, starting with Medicine.
Reuters
Fri Oct 01 2021
![Nobel Medicine Prize for COVID-19 vaccine? It may be too soon Nobel Medicine Prize for COVID-19 vaccine? It may be too soon](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-10/61633072313_mrna.jpg)
Phials of an mRNA type vaccine candidate for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are pictured at Chulalongkorn University during the development of an mRNA type vaccine for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Bangkok, Thailand, May 25, 2020. REUTERS
![Perang berlarutan antara punca kelewatan penghantaran Black Hawk Perang berlarutan antara punca kelewatan penghantaran Black Hawk](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/51712121864_TBADLYZAHARIjp.jpg)
Perang berlarutan antara punca kelewatan penghantaran Black Hawk
Perkara itu dimaklumkan pihak Aerotree Defence and Services Sdn Bhd iaitu syarikat yang dipertanggungjawabkan dalam kontrak perolehan perkhidmatan sewaan helikopter berkenaan.
![Polis kesan remaja lelaki hilang sejak enam hari lepas Polis kesan remaja lelaki hilang sejak enam hari lepas](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721115027_MuhammadAdiLagik.jpg)
Polis kesan remaja lelaki hilang sejak enam hari lepas
Polis sedang berusaha mengesan seorang remaja lelaki yang dilaporkan hilang oleh keluarganya di Kuala Pilah sejak enam hari lepas.
[TERKINI] Sidang media khas FAM
FAM adakan satu sidang media khas petang nanti, difahamkan berkaitan rombakan. Kepimpinan tertinggi FAM atau barisan kejurulatihan skuad Harimau Malaya?
![Penampilan pertama Trump di konvensyen GOP selepas terselamat cubaan bunuh Penampilan pertama Trump di konvensyen GOP selepas terselamat cubaan bunuh](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721113188_DonaldTrump.jpg)
Penampilan pertama Trump di konvensyen GOP selepas terselamat cubaan bunuh
Donald Trump menghadiri Konvensyen Kebangsaan Republikan pada malam Isnin, penampilan umum pertamanya sejak terselamat daripada cubaan bunuh.
![Malaysia pantau perkembangan insiden tembakan di Masjid Muscat Malaysia pantau perkembangan insiden tembakan di Masjid Muscat](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/71715148599_wismaputra.jpg)
Malaysia pantau perkembangan insiden tembakan di Masjid Muscat
Wisma Putra melalui Kedutaan Besar Malaysia di Muscat, Oman sedang giat menyelaras usaha dengan pihak berkuasa tempatan untuk mendapatkan maklumat lanjut.
![Ini antara pencapaian Pan-gon bersama Harimau Malaya Ini antara pencapaian Pan-gon bersama Harimau Malaya](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721112073_PangonHarimauMal.jpg)
Ini antara pencapaian Pan-gon bersama Harimau Malaya
Kim Pan-gon memiliki rekod yang cukup baik bersama Malaysia, menjadi pengendali Harimau Malaya paling banyak mendapatkan keputusan yang positif sejak beberapa tahun kebelakangan ini.
![Kementerian Komunikasi umum Pakej Rahmah Prabayar Siswa Kementerian Komunikasi umum Pakej Rahmah Prabayar Siswa](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721112865_FahmiFadzil.jpg)
Kementerian Komunikasi umum Pakej Rahmah Prabayar Siswa
Kementerian Komunikasi hari ini mengumumkan Pakej Rahmah Prabayar Siswa pada harga tidak melebihi RM30.
![Messi harap cepat pulih daripada kecederaan Messi harap cepat pulih daripada kecederaan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/51719647184_LionelMessi.jpg)
Messi harap cepat pulih daripada kecederaan
Kapten Argentina, Lionel Messi berharap agar beliau cepat pulih daripada kecederaan buku lali yang dialaminya perlawanan akhir Copa America.
![MARA diminta terus teroka potensi industri halal global - Ahmad Zahid MARA diminta terus teroka potensi industri halal global - Ahmad Zahid](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721105894_AhmadZahidHamidi.jpg)
MARA diminta terus teroka potensi industri halal global - Ahmad Zahid
MARA diminta untuk terus meneroka potensi antarabangsa dalam industri halal yang mempunyai prospek besar menerusi program Gate to Global (GTG).
Saya akan rindu bau durian - Kim Pan-gon
Menurut Kim Pan-gon, beliau akan tetap bangga dengan pasukan bola sepak Malaysia walaupun dimana beliau berada.
Katanya beliau akan merindui bau durian dan langit Malaysia. #AWANInews
Katanya beliau akan merindui bau durian dan langit Malaysia. #AWANInews
![Tidak perlu lagi kemas kini status COVID-19 dalam MySejahtera - KKM Tidak perlu lagi kemas kini status COVID-19 dalam MySejahtera - KKM](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721100784_TBmysj.jpg)
Tidak perlu lagi kemas kini status COVID-19 dalam MySejahtera - KKM
Jika positif COVID-19 melalui ujian kendiri, pesakit boleh mengunjungi klinik dan hospital berdekatan bagi mendapatkan pengesahan.
![Ancaman keganasan di Asia Tenggara bersifat sederhana rendah - Ahmad Zahid Ancaman keganasan di Asia Tenggara bersifat sederhana rendah - Ahmad Zahid](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41720707023_TBZahidHamidi.jpg)
Ancaman keganasan di Asia Tenggara bersifat sederhana rendah - Ahmad Zahid
Timbalan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi berkata ancaman keganasan masih wujud di rantau Asia Tenggara namun ia bersifat sederhana rendah.
![Kerajaan tanggung kerugian RM185 juta akibat lebihan vaksin COVID-19 - Dr Dzulkefly Kerajaan tanggung kerugian RM185 juta akibat lebihan vaksin COVID-19 - Dr Dzulkefly](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51720674506_DzulkeflyAhmad.jpg)
Kerajaan tanggung kerugian RM185 juta akibat lebihan vaksin COVID-19 - Dr Dzulkefly
Malaysia menanggung kerugian lebih RM185 juta akibat lebihan vaksin COVID-19 setakat 11 Jun lalu, kata Menteri Kesihatan, Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
![TPR positif COVID-19, prosiding bela diri Dr Roland ditangguh ke 23 Sept TPR positif COVID-19, prosiding bela diri Dr Roland ditangguh ke 23 Sept](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71719815159_DrRolandVictorMD.jpg)
TPR positif COVID-19, prosiding bela diri Dr Roland ditangguh ke 23 Sept
Pada 5 Julai 2021, Dr Roland didakwa atas pertuduhan membuat dan memulakan hantaran video bersifat jelik dengan niat untuk menyakitkan hati orang lain di Facebook.
![Sarawak mahu lebih ramai kontraktor Bumiputera kelas lebih tinggi - Uggah Sarawak mahu lebih ramai kontraktor Bumiputera kelas lebih tinggi - Uggah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/71719670940_TBUnggah.jpg)
Sarawak mahu lebih ramai kontraktor Bumiputera kelas lebih tinggi - Uggah
Kerajaan bukan setakat mahu melihat lebih ramai kontraktor Bumiputera berjaya malah pada masa sama mahu menambah bilangan mereka berdaftar dalam kelas yang lebih tinggi.
![KKM keluarkan perincian semakan semula SOP bagi COVID-19 dalam masa terdekat KKM keluarkan perincian semakan semula SOP bagi COVID-19 dalam masa terdekat](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/41719648068_DrDzulkeflyAhmad.jpg)
KKM keluarkan perincian semakan semula SOP bagi COVID-19 dalam masa terdekat
Kementerian Kesihatan akan mengeluarkan perincian semakan semula prosedur operasi standard (SOP) berkaitan COVID-19 dalam waktu terdekat.
![Dulu jurutera, sekarang usahawan cili Dulu jurutera, sekarang usahawan cili](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/61719073622_PetaniASrinath.jpg)
Dulu jurutera, sekarang usahawan cili
Srinath tinggalkan kerjaya sebagai jurutera perisian kerana mahu beri tumpuan pada tanaman cili secara fertigasi.
![Bantu anak-anak istimewa autisme, fahami kekurangan mereka Bantu anak-anak istimewa autisme, fahami kekurangan mereka](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/71718882192_SITINURHIDAYAHSHA.jpg)
Bantu anak-anak istimewa autisme, fahami kekurangan mereka
Suara jeritan diikuti dengan tangisan membuatkan beberapa orang pelanggan Tong Kayu Cafe, Bayan Lepas (Pulau Pinang) berhenti makan sambil menghalakan pandangan ke arah wanita itu.
![Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/71709993909_TBBERITAx.jpg)
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
![Malaysia masuk fasa hidup bersama virus COVID-19 - Dr Dzulkefly Malaysia masuk fasa hidup bersama virus COVID-19 - Dr Dzulkefly](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/71717830160_DrDzulkeflyAhmad.jpg)
Malaysia masuk fasa hidup bersama virus COVID-19 - Dr Dzulkefly
Rakyat kini berada di fasa hidup bersama virus COVID-19 dan dalam peralihan ke arah meneruskan kehidupan seperti biasa, kata Menteri Kesihatan Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.