open science but also open market --- In addition to the open model of Science, I would also point on the system of the free market competition. The extreme acceleration given by medical research, which could count on extraordinary financial resources compared to normal times (similar to what happened during the space race in the 60s) was just the first leg of a relay played by companies fighting each other to patent first the discoveries made. As a result, the open market system has provided a number of vaccines, more or less comparable in effectiveness, which have helped making important steps forward. True, we are still in a sort of experimental phase, as shown by the increasing number of cases, almost one year after the first doses were distributed. The way is still long, but science has helped taking the right direction.

Source author: Vojko Bratina vbratina@katamail.com