COVID-19 Vaccine is chased by Researchers all around the world. The World Health Organization is tracking more than 140 vaccine candidates.
COVID-19 Vaccine Importance
The virus spreads easily and the majority of the world ‘s population remains vulnerable to it. A vaccine would provide some protection by training people’s immune systems to fight the virus so that they do not get sick. This will allow lockdowns to be removed more comfortably, and social distancing to be eased.
Progress
Research is taking place at a breakneck pace. Approximately 140 are in early production, and only two dozen are currently being tested on individuals in clinical trials.
- Vaccine trials produced by Oxford University demonstrate that it can cause an immune reaction and a contract has been signed with AstraZeneca to produce 100 million doses in the UK alone.
- The first clinical trial results back in May revealed that the first eight patients taking part in the U.S. test had all developed antibodies that could neutralize the virus.
- A group in China showed that the vaccine is safe and those protective antibodies are created. It is made available to the Chinese army.
- Other completely new approaches to vaccine development are in clinical trials.
However, there is no proof as to the effectiveness of these vaccines.
When will we have a coronavirus vaccine?
A vaccine will normally take years, if not decades, to develop. Researchers expect to do the same amount of research in just a few months. Many researchers agree that the vaccine is expected to become readily available by mid-2021, about 12-18 months after the new strain, currently known as Sars-CoV-2, has first appeared.
That will be a tremendous achievement, and there are no promises that it would work. Four coronaviruses are found in humans. They cause common cold signs, and we have no antidote for either of them.
What still needs to be done?
Various study groups have developed new vaccines but much more work needs to be done.
- The vaccine must be proven to be effective in studies. This would be unsuccessful if it caused more problems than the disease
- Clinical trials would also need to demonstrate immune response from vaccinations that prevent people from becoming sick.
- A way to manufacture the vaccine on a massive scale needs to be created for the billions of potential doses
- It must get licensed by medicines regulators before it can be issued
- Finally, the big logistical task of actually immunizing the bulk of the world ‘s population will come
