The Race for a Vaccine

1. Set Focus 
Pose this essential question: In what ways can an individual’s personal decisions affect society at large?

2. Read and Discuss 
Have students read the article, marking key ideas and questions. Then ask them to answer the following questions, citing text evidence:

• What is the typical process for creating a vaccine? How is the process for creating the Covid-19 vaccine different? (Typically, creating a vaccine is worked on by one or two companies, takes a long time, involves years of research, and includes several rounds of successive testing on people. In contrast, dozens of companies are working on a Covid-19 vaccine, and some of them are conducing multiple rounds of testing at the same time.)

• If a vaccine for Covid-19 is developed, what challenges will health officials then face in vaccinating the public? (One challenge would be mass-producing the vaccine, vials, syringes, and other supplies very quickly. Another challenge would be setting up appointments for millions of people and prioritizing those with the most need in a short period of time. In addition, many people may refuse to get the vaccine.)

• Which section of the article does the sidebar “Vaccine Skeptics” elaborate on? What does it add to this section? (The sidebar elaborates on information in the section “Reasons for Optimism.” That section mentions that people might refuse to take the vaccine. The sidebar delves into why some people might refuse.

3. Core Skill Practice
Assign, print, or project the activity Making Connections. Have students use the graphic organizer to explore causes and effects described in the article.

4. Writing Prompt
Would you question the safety of a vaccine developed by the end of the year? Why or why not? Support your points with evidence from the article.

5. Classroom Debate
If a Covid-19 vaccine is developed, should the government require citizens to be vaccinated?

6. Quiz & Skills
Assess comprehension with the quiz. Use Be the Editor to review grammar skills.