Scientists Work on Coronavirus Vaccine

By Chelsea Boyd

As the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak rages on, one question still looms over everyone’s head: what if a vaccine is never made?

At the moment, scientists are claiming a vaccine could be ready as soon as September. Sarah Gilbert, professor of vaccinology at Oxford University, told The Times she was “80 percent confident” that the vaccine being developed by her team would work.

In the case of other deadly diseases with no vaccine, like HIV/AIDS, societies that have been affected have learned to deal with it. There has not been a cure or preventative medicine to stop the spread, but there are treatment methods to ensure a better way of life.

“There are some viruses that we still do not have vaccines against,” Dr. David Nabarro, a professor of global health at Imperial College London, said. He also serves as a special envoy to the World Health Organization on COVID-19.

“We can’t make an absolute assumption that a vaccine will appear at all, or if it does appear, whether it will pass all the tests of efficacy and safety.”

Most experts remain confident that a COVID-19 vaccine will eventually be developed since, unlike HIV, the coronavirus does not mutate rapidly.

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director Dr. Anthony Fauci suggests a vaccine could be developed in a year to 18 months. 

Photo Courtesy of PhotosForClass