How is scientists influence on society (Corona Virus) important to society?

What’s not clear is how long it will take to get these technologies to the people who need them or if they will do much to break through the backlog. Despite the availability of vast numbers of diagnostic tests developed early in the pandemic for use in China and elsewhere, large pharmaceutical companies and universities were able to jump into action in the US only after a federally produced diagnostic kit ran into trouble earlier this year, limiting its deployment.