Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for COVID-19 and pandemic response plan.
The COVID-19 pandemic unleashed an unprecedented health crisis in society, revealing the lack of preparation to face such a major event. However, the pandemic also revealed opportunities and challenges to minimize its impact and improve preparedness for future crises. Through the articulation of the five sectors of the Pentahélix, the Mexican model of innovation has made important advances in the response to the pandemic, including the development of medical devices, the strengthening of the health infrastructure and the production of vaccines.
During the pandemic, cooperation in the field of Humanities, Sciences, Technologies and Innovation has been crucial to promote national innovation and reduce technological dependence in the health sector. To rapidly respond to the crisis, efforts were undertaken to identify and support the development of candidate vaccines already in the late stages of development.
Currently, three vaccine developments supported by the Government of Mexico are in various phases, including the Patria vaccine, a viral vector vaccine developed by Avimex®. This vaccine is the result of cooperation between the public and private sectors, and has made it possible to establish a vaccine manufacturing plant, obtain all the elements of the supply chain, and optimize all scientific, technological, regulatory, financial, and legal aspects of the vaccine. development.
In addition to the vaccines, two models of 100% Mexican invasive mechanical ventilators, Gätsi and Ehecatl-4T, were developed in record time. These devices have helped more than 33,000 severe COVID-19 patients in 92 public hospitals in 24 states.
The Patria vaccine, which is in the final stage of clinical development, uses an avian virus that is harmless to humans as a vector, which carries the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus on its surface, generating an immune response in humans. . This vaccine offers multiple advantages, including its stability, not needing to be frozen, and the ability to easily adapt to other infectious agents.
Despite the challenges, the Patria vaccine has proven to be safe, immunogenic, and effective against COVID-19, which is why the Government of Mexico plans to request its approval and produce the necessary doses for the 2023-2024 winter vaccination.
The continued circulation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus means that the Patria vaccine will be crucial to protect the Mexican population. In addition, its innovative and flexible technological platform allows rapid adaptation to new variants of the virus or other infectious agents. This opens the door for future developments, such as the intranasal COVID-19 vaccine, and strengthens Mexico’s ability to independently produce high-quality vaccines.