Developers of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines win WHO award
Two scientists have been awarded the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Award for Global Health for their outstanding contributions to developing messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccines against COVID-19.
The WHO director-general, Tedros Ghebreyesus, presented the award to Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman of the University of Pennsylvania at the opening of the annual World Health Assembly.
Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley was also awarded for her leadership in climate action and health and her work as the chair of the Global Leaders Group on Antimicrobial Resistance.
“Professors Karikó and Weissman played a key role in alleviating the burden of COVID-19 and saved lives during the pandemic. Their leadership in this field has the potential to play a critical role in improving health worldwide,” the WHO director-general said.
The professors discovered a novel nucleoside-modified mRNA platform that bypasses adverse immunologic response.
Both scientists are winners of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2023.
The Nobel Prize panel at that time said that their discovery fundamentally changed understanding of how mRNA interacted with the immune system.
(dpa/NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
World
Over 2.2 million eligible to vote in Mongolia’s parliamentary elections
Mongolia, with a population of 3.5 million, has scheduled June 28 as the date for its next elections of the State Great Khural.
States
Cross River assembly reinstates impeached speaker
Seventeen of the 25 assembly members signed the notice to impeach the speaker.
World
Netherlands leads air defence missiles supply effort to Ukraine
The Dutch government says it will lead an initiative among some European countries to supply Ukraine with a Patriot air defence missile system.
World
South Koreans having fewer babies, population to decline from 51 million to 46 million
The number of newborn babies has been on the decline since October 2022.
States
Lassa Fever: NCDC records 14 cases, one death in six days
The NCDC boss noted that every individual, irrespective of age, is susceptible to Lassa fever, stressing the need for caution to avoid the devastating effects.
