Well with there now being four vaccines that have shown good results so far we may be able to start thinking about getting out on the road and travelling. There is an analysis of the four vaccines here.

The two American vaccines require very low temperatures (-70C / -80F) to store the vaccine when transporting it whereas the Oxford University and Russian vaccines require normal fridges to store them in. I suspect that these more easily achieveable storage temperature will be one of the three criteria that will favour the British vaccine being used globally - even though it may appear to have lower effectiveness (there is evidence that giving a half dose first and then a full dose later has a much better effectiveness rate (90% compared to 70%) than two full doses. The other two criteria being availability and cost.

The Oxford vaccine is around £3 per dose compared to the Pfizer £15 per dose and the Moderna at £25 per dose - I haven't heard any price information about the Russian vaccine. The reason for the Oxford vaccine being so much cheaper is that it was part of the deal between researchers / developers at Oxford University and the manufacturer AstraZenica that there was a blanket no-profit policy and that it had to be made available to ALL countries that requested it.

The availability of the Oxford vaccine should, hopefully, be good as it is being made in around 10 different location around the world. No doubt the Pfizer and Moderna will also be. However the reports are that there will not be enough made in 2021 to get the whole world covered so it is likely that the vaccine programme will carry on into 2022 and 2023. The Oxford vaccine is readily adaptable to cope with different strains that may evolve over time - I don't know if the same is true of the others.

Hopefully this will mean that people can start travelling again but I suspect that it will be a gradual thing and rely on the traveller having been vaccinated - and having kept up their vaccination record - before being allowed entry into many countries.

It would be interesting to hear from others who may have heard additional information about other vaccines - in the UK we get more info about the Oxford vaccine than any others.

__________________
You will have to do without pocket handkerchiefs, and a great many other things, before we reach our journey's end, Bilbo Baggins. You were born to the rolling hills and little rivers of the Shire, but home is now behind you. The world is ahead.