The disease, COVID-19, caused by the new coronaviruses is new and there is no proper evidence that can explain how it actually behaves and spreads. The disease is spreading very fast around the world, but there are no vaccines that can be used to stop it. So, people are continually looking to know how far are we from getting these life-saving medicines.
How much time it can take to have coronavirus vaccines?
More than 35 organizations and academic institutions are working at breakneck speed to create such a vaccine. The human trial of a vaccine has also started to test the effectiveness against pandemic coronavirus. On March 16, 2020, Government Health Officials announced that the trial for coronavirus has begun and a healthy volunteer from Seattle will be the first person in the U.S. to receive a dose of a new vaccine as a part of clinical testing and trial.
The name of a person to receive the jab of coronavirus vaccine is Jennifer Haller. Jennifer Haller is a 43-year-old woman and mother of two children.
The experts say that it will still take several months to get into the conclusion. However, scientists around the world are tracking research to know if this vaccine, or others also in research, will work.
Note: There are already four types of coronaviruses found in human beings which cause the common cold. Currently, there is no vaccine for any of them.
Vaccines need several tests
According to the reports, most of the vaccine we are using almost took five to fifteen years to be perfect. So, a vaccine may take an entire year, no matter how fast researchers or scientists work. Because vaccines must be rigorously tested to ensure that they will not cause other dangerous side-effects. For that, the vaccines must pass through three iterative phases of clinical trials.
The trial and testing methodology generally consists of three following phases:
1) Testing is conducted on a small number of people (typically between 20 to 80 individuals).
2) Testing is conducted on a larger number of people. It can involve 100 to 200 individuals with different characteristics, such as age and physical health, etc. These include a group of those people who the vaccine is being developed for.
3) Testing is conducted on a huge number of people typically 300 to 3,000. It is conducted to demonstrate that a given vaccine provides the expected medical effects it's intended to.
If the vaccine passes these tests, then only it could be approved for widespread use.
But even if scientists develop a vaccine, there is still a big job ahead to produce vaccines in bulk. Therefore, realistically, the vaccine for coronavirus will not be ready until at least the middle of the next year. In the meantime, researchers and scientists will continue to develop alternative medicines or vaccines to combat the spread of COVID-19.
Will there be side effects of the coronavirus vaccine?
All medicines, including common pain-killers, can be harmful if not taken with care. It is always suggested to take any medicine as prescribed by the physician. However, Researchers are monitoring the development of coronavirus vaccine to prevent any unexpected harm. It is very difficult to know what can be the side effects of an experimental vaccine without the proper clinical trial.
Aren’t drugs effective against coronavirus?
Doctors are already trying different anti-viral drugs to test if they can be beneficial against coronavirus. It was expected that a pair of HIV drugs (ritonavir and lopinavir) may be effective against coronavirus; however, the result was disappointing. Instead, trials are still on in many countries, including the US.
It is recommended to maintain good hygiene, clean your hands frequently and do not touch your face. Contact your doctor if you notice symptoms of COVID-19. These are the best ways until a vaccine or treatment is ready.
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