Explainer: How the COVID-19 vaccines were developed so quickly
The development of a new vaccine usually takes a decade. The discovery and research phase alone normally takes two to five years. The fastest vaccine ever created—for the mumps—took four years. The time it took to develop a vaccine for COVID-19 was less than a month. We may soon have a vaccine ready for widespread use that was developed, tested, approved, and distributed in less than a year.
The two most promising vaccines—independently produced by Pfizer and Moderna—were developed so quickly because they use mRNA, which does not require time-consuming steps, such as growing ingredients in chicken eggs (see more on this below). But the creation involved the collaboration of a global network of biomedical researchers, pharmaceutical companies, and government agencies.
To show how the incredible process was achieved so quickly, we’ll examine the timeline for the creation of the vaccine by Moderna.
This Week at the ERLC
Jason Thacker was on World Radio discussing how to keep kids safe online.
Russell Moore was on an AP panel about the future of the faith community.
The ERLC hosted an important conversation about the COVID-19 vaccines between Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, and Russell Moore. The online event was covered by the Tennessean and The Dispatch. Watch it here.
Chelsea Patterson Sobolik was quoted in a Baptist Press article about Medicaid and funds for Planned Parenthood
What You Need to Read
- Amy Ford with What you can do to help moms choose life: Getting the church ready to care for those with unplanned pregnancies
The pro-life movement is filled with love and opportunity. The possibilities are endless. Whether you partner with an organization that is already doing great things or start something new on your own, there is a place for you to help and serve. God has put certain strengths, gifts, talents, and passions within you so you can use them for his glory and your neighbor’s good.
- C. Ben Mitchell with Who counts as a person? Today’s question in the abortion debate
How, then, can someone who believes that human life begins at conception justify abortion or even human embryonic stem cell research? Because the question has been reframed. Of course the embryos are clearly human, and of course these tiny humans are clearly alive, but they are not persons. The argument shifts then. Yes, persons have a right to life—a right not to be unnecessarily harmed—but, the argument goes, human embryos are not yet persons. Only persons have a right to life.
- Joey Kline with Five things your kids (and you) should know about Lottie Moon
Most Southern Baptists can identify Lottie Moon’s name and pair it with both the Christmas season and China, but that’s usually where the conversation ends. So recently, as part of my never-ending quest to teach kids about the importance of missions, I went to work on a Lottie Moon lesson plan. I couldn’t have imagined how much I would learn in the process. In fact, I discovered some fun facts that I think will help you retell her story in a way that will stick in kids’ minds.
News From Capitol Hill
In a new explainer up today, Travis Wussow highlights how the Supreme Court appears to be changing course on religious liberty and the pandemic.
“Late on the evening before Thanksgiving, the Supreme Court issued an unsigned, per curiam opinion in a case titled Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo on the tensions between religious liberty and pandemic governance. The ERLC filed a brief in support of the Diocese of Brooklyn and Agudath Israel, and we are very pleased the court took up the appeal in this case.”
The justices are dealing with other similar cases from California, Kentucky, and Nevada. The ERLC will continue to file amicus briefs and be involved in these cases to defend the fundamental rights of religious liberty throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Read Wussow’s explainer here.
And on Capitol Hill, during the final weeks of the 116th Congress, the ERLC is advocating for religious freedom and human dignity across the following policy areas.
We urge Congress to provide additional charitable support for those that are suffering the most from the COVID-19 pandemic. Faith-based and charitable nonprofits are on the frontlines of caring for the vulnerable, especially in times of crisis, and the U.S. government should seek to provide the necessary support for these important organizations.
As Congress considers FY2021 appropriations, the ERLC opposes riders that would deny religious freedom and conscience protections to millions of Americans. We support conscience protection policies and the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funds from going towards abortions.
We also urge Congress to pass the Adoptee Citizenship Act. This legislation remedies the adoptees of U.S. citizens left without the rights of citizenship from the Children Citizenship Act of 2000. With bipartisan and bicameral support, Congress can easily close this loophole and help restore the integrity of American families.
In the U.S. efforts to counter the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) morally, the ERLC supports the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. By taking up this House-passed bill, the Senate can make clear to the CCP that its grave human rights violations will not be tolerated.
For more, listen to Jeff Pickering, Chelsea Patterson Sobolik, and Travis Wussow discuss these issues on this episode of Capitol Conversations from July: Immigration news, pro-life appropriations, China’s atrocities, and the next COVID-19 relief bill.
Featured Podcasts
On the WeeklyTech podcast, Dr. Jonathan Pennington, associate professor of New Testament Interpretation and director of research doctoral studies at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, joins Jason Thacker to talk about his latest book, Jesus the Great Philosopher: Rediscovering the Wisdom Needed for the Good Life, and how philosophy connects to our everyday lives.
This was a unique year for the ERLC interns as the program moved online. Students joined the policy team from all over the country. On Capitol Conversations, the interns joined Jeff Pickering and Brooke Kramer to reflect on their favorite projects, memorable meetings through Zoom, and what it’s like to be a college student during a global pandemic.
From The Public Square
New CDC Data Show Continued Decline in the U.S. Abortion Rate
Michael J. New, National Review
Last week, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released new data on the incidence of abortion in the U.S., indicating that although there was a slight uptick in the abortion rate between 2017 and 2018, the long-term decline in the abortion rate has continued. On the whole, the abortion rate in the U.S. has declined fairly steadily since 1980.
Coronavirus robs biblical Bethlehem of Christmas cheer
Jelal Hassan, Associated Press
The coronavirus has cast a pall over Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem, all but shutting down the biblical town revered as Jesus’ birthplace at the height of the normally cheery holiday season.
The Last Children of Down Syndrome
Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic
Prenatal testing is changing who gets born and who doesn’t. This is just the beginning.
Do ‘Church Ladies’ Really Have Better Sex Lives?
Matthew Saxey, Institute for Family Studies
Per a new study, women in highly religious relationships were twice as likely as their secular peers to say they were satisfied with their sexual relationship.
