The two scientists whose work led to the creation of the COVID-19 vaccine have now been awarded a Nobel Prize for their work.
Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman were given the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine for their work "concerning nucleoside base modifications that enabled the development" of the vaccine against COVID-19, read an announcement from the Nobel Prize.
BREAKING NEWS
— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 2, 2023
The 2023 #NobelPrize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman for their discoveries concerning nucleoside base modifications that enabled the development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/Y62uJDlNMj
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Kariko and Weissman found that substituting pseudouridine for uridine in mRNA's chemical block eliminated a side effect in the development of the vaccine. Their work was performed at the University of Pennsylvania.
While the two scientists had published their work in 2005, roughly 14 years before the start of the pandemic, it was not until after the coronavirus pandemic began that both Pfizer and Moderna used their work to develop their COVID-19 vaccines.
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The National Institutes of Health recognized the scientists' work and their achievement in a statement on Monday.
Congratulations @kkariko & @WeissmanLab of @PennMedicine for receiving the 2023 #NobelPrize in Physiology or Medicine for their #NIH supported basic science discoveries that enabled the development of effective mRNA #COVID19 vaccines. https://t.co/rtkSd9fM01
— NIH (@NIH) October 2, 2023
Though many businesses no longer mandate the COVID-19 vaccine for their employees, a multitude of colleges in the United States require students to get vaccinated. Rep. Bob Good (R-VA) has since introduced a bill, titled the No Vaccine Mandates in Higher Education Act, that would prevent colleges that mandate the COVID-19 vaccine from receiving funding.