Ask a doctor - How soon will a vaccine for COVID-19 be ready?

Q. How soon will a vaccine for COVID-19 be ready?

Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.

Answered by Secondmedic Expert

The development of an effective vaccine for a novel virus is always a major challenge, and developing one against the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is no exception. Vaccine research and development is driven by a range of factors including ability to access viral strains, as well as production capacity limitations.

Currently, multiple teams around the world are racing to develop an approved vaccine. At least three vaccine candidates are being tested in clinical trials in humans, with more on their way. The World Health Organization (WHO) has established the "COVID-19 Global Access Facility," which allows for collaboration among researchers with access to relevant pathogens globally.

At this time, it's hard to predict when exactly a widely accessible and approved COVID-19 vaccine will be available, although estimates point towards 12-18 months under normal circumstances - meaning there could be good news sometime between early 2021 to late 2022 or even beyond that horizon if further delays occur. This timeline could vary depending on how quickly key pivotal trials progress over the coming months and deals with regulatory authorities can be secured prior to public launch in different parts of the world where approval may be required before distribution of any treatments or vaccines begins.

However, even once ready for widespread use it could take time for all at risk individuals across different countries worldwide get vaccinated due to potential limited supply initially from manufacturers combined with logistical considerations such as proper storage conditions needed until deployment can happen at points close enough those who need them most urgently; making this epidemic control strategy likely only one part of larger collective efforts led by governments and communities working together towards containing and preventing spread of this virus more broadly until we eventually reach herd immunity levels through natural infections or otherwise affected populations become immune via successful vaccination campaigns aided by other containment measures simultaneously implemented both locally as well as internationally moving forward into 2021 onwards without doubt illustrating immense global resilience overcoming current great challenges presented by such unprecedented events indeed!