Scientists may not be able to develop a coronavirus-specific vaccine, some medical experts have warned. They have cited the examples of HIV and dengue, for which there is no vaccine.
There are over 100 vaccines under pre-clinical trials, while two have entered the human trial stage — one at England’s Oxford University and another in the US.
“There are some viruses that we still do not have vaccines against,” CNN quoted professor of global health at Imperial College London, Dr David Nabarro, as saying.
“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,” added Dr Nabarro, who is also a special envoy to the World Health Organization (WHO) on Covid-19.
He pointed out that the process of developing a vaccine is slow and painful.
“You have high hopes, and then your hopes are dashed. We’re dealing with biological systems, we’re not dealing with mechanical systems. It really depends so much on how the body reacts,” Dr Nabarro said.
Dean of National School of Tropical Medicine in Houston, Dr Peter Hotez, was also practical.
“We’ve never accelerated a vaccine in a year to 18 months. It doesn’t mean it’s impossible, but it will be quite a heroic achievement. We need plan A, and a plan B,” Dr Hotez told CNN.
