The Coronavirus vaccine has begun distribution, with its first doses being given to the elderly, as well as vulnerable U.S. officials.

The vaccine for the virus that has been affecting the U.S. since early 2020 was initially promised to be released around December—and after 9 months, it is here. The most prominent brands—Pfizer and Moderna—are unlike any vaccine that the common citizen has recieved.

Most vaccines, such as the flu vaccine, work by introducing a harmless version of the virus to the immune system, so in the future, that our bodies recognize that the proteins are foreign and make the antibodies to fight it. The COVID vaccine works with our bodies mRNA.

According to CDC.gov, this is how the new formulation works:

“mRNA vaccines contain material from the virus that causes COVID-19 that gives our cells instructions for how to make a harmless protein that is unique to the virus. After our cells make copies of the protein, they destroy the genetic material from the vaccine. Our bodies recognize that the protein should not be there and build T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes that will remember how to fight the virus that causes COVID-19 if we are infected in the future.”

In simple terms, instead of having to have the virus introduced to our body, the vaccine will give our cells the blueprint on how to fight the virus—without ever having it.

While this news is exciting, the vaccine will be distributed by necessity, meaning that the overall ILS community will not be receiving immunity anytime soon.

“For students, it will be a while longer I think,” said Mr. James Rydborn, ILS science and STEAM teacher. “They are seen as the least effected by the virus and one of the last groups to receive it.

“The biggest problem right now is actually getting the vaccines into people arms. If this aspect could be improved it could be sooner, but I don’t see vaccines readily available to students until possibly mid 2021 or beginning of 2022,” he said.

Mr. Rydborn does not see our current hybrid model changing anytime soon. In the meantime, we have to keep implementing safe social practices, and put our health above all.