Coronavirus vaccine may be ready by September, says British scientist

* Clinical trials to begin in two weeks’ time ─Dr. S. Gilbert

* Reveals talks in progress with British Government to start production soon
Web Editor | ConsumerConnect
As the world continues to intensify efforts at seeking effective vaccines to combat the damage being inflicted on humanity by the pandemic, a British vaccinologist from Oxford University, has said that a vaccine against the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) may be ready as soon as September 2020.

Dr. Sarah Gilbert, a professor of vaccinology at Oxford University, which is leading one of the most advanced efforts for immunisation, told The Times Saturday, April 11, that she was “80 percent confident” that a vaccine being developed by her team of researchers would work and would become available to the general public in about five months.

Human trials are due to begin in the next two weeks, she indicated.

“I think there’s a high chance that it will work based on other things that we have done with this type of vaccine. 

“It’s not just a hunch and as every week goes by we have more data to look at. I would go for 80 percent, that’s my personal view,” stated Dr. Gilbert.

The vaccinologist said she and her team were in talks with the British Government to begin production as soon as possible.

“We don’t want to get to later this year and discover we have a highly effective vaccine and we haven’t got any vaccine to use,” she said.

Over 60 potential vaccine candidates and treatments for Coronavirus are being developed in labs around the world, most in pre-clinical stages.

At least a vaccine by a United States (US) company Moderna is already being tested in clinical trials which began last month.

In Israel, scientists at the state-funded Migal Galilee Research Institutehave said that their vaccine for coronavirus was on track to be ready for testing within “a few weeks” though it won’t be available for months because of the lengthy and sometimes bureaucratic testing and approval process.

Pharmaceutical and industry experts have warned that a vaccine may take 12-18 months to develop, following clinical trials and safety approvals.

In the US, meanwhile, researchers have opened another safety test of an experimental COVID-19 vaccine, this one using a skin-deep shot instead of the usual deeper jab.

“It’s the most important trial that we’ve ever done.

“People are beating down the door to get into this trial,” Dr. John Ervin of the Centre for Pharmaceutical Research had told the Associated Press.

The experiment, using a vaccine candidate developed by Inovio Pharmaceuticals, is part of a global hunt for much-needed protection against a virus that has triggered an economic shutdown and forced people indoors as countries try to stem the spread.

COVID-19 has affected over 1.7 million people worldwide, with more than 100,000 deaths and about 400,00 recoveries from the deadly disease.

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