When you're in the middle of a global pandemic, which has been destructive and disruptive on

so many levels, it's hard to have much clarity about anything.

It's even harder to have any certainty.

But one thing seems at least likely.

When history looks back, the COVID-19 pandemic will be divided into two eras, before the

vaccine and after the vaccine.

I'm assuming, of course, there is a successful vaccine.

After all the illness and death, the economic hardship, the frustration, the finger pointing,

a vaccine is the single event that will help us turn the page.

Now, vaccines typically take years to develop, not this time.

Month ago, the first American vaccine candidate went into phase three clinical trials, which

means we could be very close, and there are a number of other promising vaccines.

Today, on Freconomics Radio, we hear from the chief medical officer at the biotech

firm that developed this first U.S. vaccine candidate.

When people ask me about, well, how's this been possible to move so fast?

There are three components.

We hear from a former FDA commissioner about going from successful vaccine to successfully

vaccinating billions of people.

It's like building the plane as you're trying to fly it in gale force winds of a pandemic

vortex.

And if you are the kind of person who likes to look for a silver lining and even the darkest

clouds, we hear how COVID-19 may inspire a new way to fund medical R&D.

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