Countdown to a COVID-19 Vaccine: Spotlight on Lebanon

Abstract

As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, its substantial toll on health and the economy continues to unfold. The pandemic has challenged and overstretched health systems beyond capacities and the response to the pandemic has required difficult and unprecedented decisions. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions have had limited success in curtailing the spread of the virus and natural herd immunity has proven to be precarious. With all of this in hand, a vaccine appeared to be the only solution to curb the pandemic and the most promising means of restoring some semblance of normalcy to our lives. This document intends to describe the journey to a COVID-19 vaccine from the expedited production process to distribution at the country level, passing through public acceptance and ethical disputes. This document also provides an overview of considerations for COVID-19 vaccine deployment in Lebanon.