WHO Warns, That Just Like HIV And Dengue, There May Never Be A Coronavirus Vaccine

Countries around the world are shovelling huge sums at drug companies to aid development, clinical trials and mass production of COVID-19 vaccines. But how far are we from getting a definitive cure?

AFP

According to a special envoy to the World Health Organisation (WHO) on COVID-19, there may never be a vaccine for it, just like HIV or dengue.

An effective vaccine is regarded as crucial to stopping the spread of the virus ¨C but it is unknown how long it could take to produce one.

Human trials of a vaccine developed by Oxford University began last month, with scientists aiming to have a million doses ready by September if tests go well.

US health experts have repeatedly said a vaccine is probably a year to 18 months away, though the White House said late last month that a vaccine could conceivably be in wide distribution as early as January.

Dr. David Nabarro, who also serves as a professor of global health at Imperial College London, raised the possibility in a new interview with CNN.

¡°There are some viruses that we still do not have vaccines against,¡± Nabarro told the outlet. ¡°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.¡± In that case, according to the report, treatments may be developed, but the world could still see yearly coronavirus outbreaks ¡ª with deaths ¡ª and lockdowns will need to be periodically strengthened and loosened.

Dr. David Nabarro/Source/Twitter/The Cable

¡°It¡¯s absolutely essential that all societies everywhere get themselves into a position where they are able to defend against the coronavirus as a constant threat, and to be able to go about social life and economic activity with the virus in our midst,¡± he added

It¡¯s been a challenge to develop vaccines for common rhinoviruses and adenoviruses, which, similar to the coronavirus, can cause cold symptoms, according to Nabarro.

Twitter/Reuters

An effective vaccine for dengue fever, which infects as many as 400,000 people a year according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), has eluded scientists for decades.

A vaccine to prevent dengue (Dengvaxia) is available in some countries for people ages 9-45 years old. But the WHO recommends that the vaccine only be given to persons with with confirmed prior dengue virus infection.

White House coronavirus task force expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said last month he thought it was within the ¡°realm of possibility¡± that millions of vaccines could be ready by January. Experts previously estimated that a vaccine could take 18 months, if not longer.

All Inputs:CNN/IANS