We may never get coronavirus vaccine: UK chief scientific adviser

We may never get coronavirus vaccine: UK chief scientific adviser
Developing a coronavirus vaccine is “a tough thing to do,” Sir Patrick Vallance said at a UK government coronavirus briefing, and said it may never happen. (Reuters/File Photo)
Short Url
Updated 14 May 2020
Follow

We may never get coronavirus vaccine: UK chief scientific adviser

We may never get coronavirus vaccine: UK chief scientific adviser
  • Sir Patrick Vallance added that there are promising drug development schemes underway

LONDON: The world may never develop a coronavirus vaccine, the British government’s chief scientific adviser has warned.

Developing a vaccine is “a tough thing to do,” Sir Patrick Vallance said at a UK government coronavirus briefing.

“I will say there’s been great progress made, though, and a number of vaccine programs around the world which are progressing. So far so good. So I think the chances are a bit higher than they were that you get a vaccine, but you never know until you’ve got one.”

Vallance added that there are promising drug development schemes underway. “I’d be surprised if we didn’t end up with something,” he said. “You could end up with a therapeutic or a vaccine or potentially both.”

Teams in the US, China, the UK and elsewhere are investing vast resources into developing vaccines for the virus, as well as drugs that could provide more effective treatment for those who contract it.