Oxford Scientist: Coronavirus Vaccine May Be Six Months Away

Amid the prevailing assumptions that the development of a vaccine against the new coronavirus could take as much as a year, a team of scientists from Oxford University are feeling more optimistic. Professor of Vaccinology at Oxford University, Sarah Gilbert, told the Times on Saturday that a vaccine against the new pathogen could be ready by September. 

Gilbert said such a promising timeframe was "just about possible if everything goes perfectly," but added: "Nobody can promise it's going to work."

"I think there's a high chance that it will work based on other things that we have done with this type of vaccine," she said. "It's not just a hunch and as every week goes by we have more data to look at." 

Gilbert noted that the human trials are set to begin in the next two weeks. The volunteers (of which there are many) will take part in the study for six months; they will attend appointments at the Oxford Vaccine Center for Screening and Vaccination.

Britain is now the largest contributor to the worldwide effort to develop a coronavirus vaccine, having committed over £210 million to an international fund. The UK government also expressed its readiness to fund the manufacture of millions of doses in advance, should trials prove successful. In this manner, the vaccine could become immediately available to the public.

The coronavirus has affected over 1.9 million persons worldwide, with 119,212 registered deaths and 443,191 recoveries.

By Elene Dzebisashvili