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Published on: Apr 04, 2020
3 minute read
By: Dr Rajan Choudhary

Developing A Vaccine For COVID-19? Part 1

It is often stated vaccination has made the greatest contribution to global health of any human discovery, other than clean water and sanitation, and their impact on everyday life is immediately evident. We have managed to completely eradicate two major infections from existence (smallpox and rinderpest) , and the WHO are working towards adding polio to that list.

In these cases the numbers speak for themselves. It is estimated that the eradication of smallpox in 1980 has saved 5 million lives per year, adding up to 150 to 200 million by 2018. Common vaccination programmes for polio, measles, mumps, rubella, rabies and hepatitis A have prevented nearly 200 million cases from occurring in the US alone over the past 50 years, and 4.5 billion instances of the diseases worldwide.

We have achieved a 99% immunisation rate against polio, preventing children from suffering crippling paralysis, and only 3 countries remain. Sadly, around 1.4 million children under 5 still die from preventable diseases each year as they do not have access to these life saving vaccines, but charities and public health organisations around the world are working hard to improve access.

So what are vaccines? And how will they help is in the face of the latest pandemic? Here we will go into the challenges behind making vaccines, and why a vaccine against COVID-19 is unlikely to be ready in the next few months, or even this year.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4024226/ contribution of vaccination

https://www.who.int/features/factfiles/polio/en/ polio eradication

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170303163208.htm study article

WHAT IS A VACCINE

The human body’s immune system is incredibly smart. It is able to distinguish between infective organisms, such as bacteria, viruses and parasites, from our own body’s cells, target these invaders for destruction and keep our bodies healthy. Even better, the body remembers any previous infections it has had before, recognise these previous infections even quicker and even eradicate the disease before we know we are infected.

Vaccines target the immune system’s memory by presenting them with pieces of these infective diseases. The small amounts do not cause any infective symptoms, but if the person is infected later in life their body will mount a quicker response and prevent them from falling ill. These vaccines can contain broken up parts of the organisms, “dead” organisms or “live” versions that have been severely weakened so they cannot cause any harm.

In summary, medicines treat us when we get an infection. Vaccines make sure we never suffer from an infection in the first place.

https://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center/making-vaccines/how-are-vaccines-made Making Vaccines

THE HURDLES WE FACE IN RESEARCH

Making a vaccine is a difficult process, one that can take 3–5 years and cost hundreds of millions of dollars, sometimes billions of dollars. This is because there are many difficult steps to be taken in the process of creating a vaccine that is effective, but more importantly one that is safe.

To start with the troubling organism has to be identified. For COVID-19 it took a few weeks to recognise the virus responsible, and some time more to understand its genetic code and grow the virus in lab conditions. We then have to understand the virus, how it infects, how it causes symptoms, and how it has mutated compared to the coronaviruses responsible for SARS and MERS.

After this, we have to isolate parts of the virus our immune system will recognise. This is usually the outside coat of the virus. The DNA responsible for making these parts need to be found in the virus’ genetic code, and put inside other “skeleton” viruses. This will force the dummy virus to look like coronavirus, without the ability to infect and kill someone.

These dummy viruses can be injected into animals to see if it causes an immune reaction, whether the immune system recognises it as the coronavirus responsible for COVID-19, and whether it will protect the animal from the real COVID-19. Up to now the research has likely cost a few million dollars. The next step is when the price inflates up to billions.

If the vaccine appears safe in animals, it can be tested in humans. This can be dangerous at first, since we don’t know whether a vaccine that works in an animal will work in a human. And we don’t know if there will be any side effects to the vaccine. Human testing has to be very thorough, very careful, and safe for use. If you give too much of the virus it might make the person sick, too little and it wont immunise the person. These clinical trials can take years, and if the vaccine fails at this point its back to the drawing board, to try another step.

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/10/how-to-make-an-ebola-vaccine-5-simplified-steps/454443/ ebola vaccine

Now we have a basic understanding of what vaccines are and why it takes so long to make a vaccine. In the next part we will look at why viral vaccines can cause even more problems, and how far we have come with the COVID-19 vaccine,

Dr Rajan Choudhary, London UK

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Sleep and Performance: The Silent Driver of Workplace Success

In India’s fast-paced digital work culture, sleep has quietly become one of the most overlooked pillars of productivity. While caffeine, deadlines, and long screen hours dominate the modern office routine, quality sleep remains the true driver of performance, creativity, and emotional balance.

According to NITI Aayog’s 2024 Health & Productivity Report, sleep deprivation affects nearly 68% of Indian professionals, leading to fatigue, anxiety, and reduced focus - a direct hit to workplace performance.

The Science of Sleep and Productivity

Sleep isn’t just rest - it’s restoration.
During sleep, the brain processes memory, repairs cells, balances hormones, and regulates emotional control.
Without enough of it, cognitive efficiency drops by up to 40%, as shown in a Statista 2024 workplace wellness survey.

Employees who get adequate sleep display:

Better problem-solving abilities
Faster reaction times
Improved emotional regulation
Higher motivation and engagement

In contrast, chronic sleep deprivation leads to irritability, errors, poor concentration, and slower learning.

Sleep and Mental Health at Work

Work stress and poor sleep form a vicious cycle.
Prolonged stress raises cortisol levels - which interferes with the body’s ability to fall and stay asleep. In turn, lack of sleep increases anxiety and depression risk.

A FICCI-EY 2024 study found that professionals sleeping less than 6 hours a night reported 25% lower job satisfaction and 31% higher burnout than those sleeping 7–8 hours.

Sleep directly impacts mental health, which in turn affects workplace collaboration, leadership, and creativity.

SecondMedic’s Approach to Sleep Wellness

SecondMedic offers digital solutions that integrate teleconsultations, AI-based sleep tracking, and stress management programs - empowering individuals to build better rest habits.

Key components include:

Sleep Consultations: Online sessions with wellness experts to identify causes of poor sleep (stress, diet, or screen habits).
AI Sleep Tracker: Monitors sleep patterns and provides actionable recommendations.
Mindfulness Sessions: Guided relaxation and breathing techniques to improve sleep quality.
Hormonal & Fatigue Tests: Diagnostic packages to rule out medical causes like thyroid imbalance or sleep apnea.

SecondMedic’s holistic model blends technology and medical expertise to restore the most vital aspect of health - restorative sleep.

Corporate Wellness and Productivity

Forward-thinking organizations are now investing in corporate sleep wellness programs as part of their employee health initiatives.
A Deloitte India 2024 report shows that sleep-related wellness initiatives can increase productivity by 25% and reduce absenteeism.

SecondMedic partners with companies to provide:

Sleep and stress assessments
Online wellness consultations
Customized fatigue and burnout prevention workshops

The result? Healthier employees, fewer sick days, and a happier, more focused workforce.

How to Improve Sleep and Performance

Here are actionable steps professionals can take:

Set a Sleep Routine: Go to bed and wake up at consistent times.
Avoid Screens Before Bed: Blue light disrupts melatonin production.
Limit Caffeine & Alcohol: Both affect sleep quality if consumed late.
Exercise Regularly: Light evening walks promote better sleep.
Use Sleep Tools: Track your rest cycles with digital apps like SecondMedic’s AI sleep tracker.

Consistency, not duration alone, determines sleep quality.

The Link Between Sleep and Leadership

Leaders who prioritize rest make clearer decisions and foster more empathetic workplaces.
A rested mind is a resilient mind - capable of innovation, strategic thinking, and conflict resolution.

In contrast, chronic fatigue impairs judgment and emotional control, two critical traits for leadership success.

India’s Shift Toward Sleep-Aware Work Culture

As the wellness movement grows, Indian organizations are embracing sleep as a strategic asset.
Tech firms, healthcare companies, and startups are partnering with wellness platforms like SecondMedic to integrate sleep-focused employee programs.

This cultural shift reflects a global realization - productivity is not about working longer but resting smarter.

Conclusion

Sleep is not a passive activity - it’s the foundation of high performance.
By prioritizing rest, India’s professionals can unlock sharper focus, better mental health, and sustainable productivity.

With SecondMedic’s sleep and wellness programs, individuals and organizations alike can harness the true potential of healthy sleep - the silent, powerful driver of success.

Book your sleep health consultation today at www.secondmedic.com

References

NITI Aayog – Health & Productivity Report 2024
FICCI-EY – Corporate Wellness in India 2024
Statista – Sleep & Workplace Efficiency Study India 2024
Deloitte India – Employee Wellness Trends 2024
ABDM – Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (Sleep & Wellness) – https://abdm.gov.in

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