Coronavirus Is Not Too Complicated, Says Moderna CEO

The US government, through its International Institutes of Health, is supporting the rapid development and distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine. There is optimism that a vaccine could be ready by early next year, as the virus is considered 'druggable.' The government has selected five companies, including Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca, Merck, Pfizer, and Moderna, to lead the effort under Operation Warp Speed. Moderna, a smaller biotech firm, uses a unique mRNA platform to expedite vaccine development, having already developed nine vaccines in the clinic.

What is the significance of the companies Johnson and Johnson, AstraZeneca, and Pfizer in the vaccine development process?

What is the purpose of injecting a set of instructions coding for a virus protein into the body?