Quantcast
ZME Science
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    Menu
    Natural Sciences
    Health
    History & Humanities
    Space & Astronomy
    Technology
    Culture
    Resources
    Natural Sciences

    Physics

    • Matter and Energy
    • Quantum Mechanics
    • Thermodynamics

    Chemistry

    • Periodic Table
    • Applied Chemistry
    • Materials
    • Physical Chemistry

    Biology

    • Anatomy
    • Biochemistry
    • Ecology
    • Genetics
    • Microbiology
    • Plants and Fungi

    Geology and Paleontology

    • Planet Earth
    • Earth Dynamics
    • Rocks and Minerals
    • Volcanoes
    • Dinosaurs
    • Fossils

    Animals

    • Mammals
    • Birds
    • Fish
    • Reptiles
    • Amphibians
    • Invertebrates
    • Pets
    • Conservation
    • Animals Facts

    Climate and Weather

    • Climate Change
    • Weather and Atmosphere

    Geography

    Mathematics

    Health
    • Drugs
    • Diseases and Conditions
    • Human Body
    • Mind and Brain
    • Food and Nutrition
    • Wellness
    History & Humanities
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Economics
    • History
    • People
    • Sociology
    Space & Astronomy
    • The Solar System
    • The Sun
    • The Moon
    • Planets
    • Asteroids, Meteors and Comets
    • Astronomy
    • Astrophysics
    • Cosmology
    • Exoplanets and Alien Life
    • Spaceflight and Exploration
    Technology
    • Computer Science & IT
    • Engineering
    • Inventions
    • Sustainability
    • Renewable Energy
    • Green Living
    Culture
    • Culture and Society
    • Bizarre Stories
    • Lifestyle
    • Art and Music
    • Gaming
    • Books
    • Movies and Shows
    Resources
    • How To
    • Science Careers
    • Metascience
    • Fringe Science
    • Science Experiments
    • School and Study
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Science → News

Why researchers are confident that we’ll (eventually) have a COVID-19 vaccine

It could be 12 months or even more, but we will have a vaccine.

Mihai Andrei by Mihai Andrei
March 31, 2020
in Diseases, Health, News

It’s not false hope. It will be a year, a year and a half, or potentially even more, but there are strong reasons to believe that we will ultimately have a vaccine for COVID-19.

Comparison to the common cold

At first glance, it seems weird. We’re familiar with coronaviruses in general, we know they cause some common colds, we don’t have a vaccine for the common cold, so why would we have one for COVID-19?

While some coronaviruses do indeed cause the common cold, they’re far from the only virus to do so. The common cold is not a single virus, it is a term we use for infections associated with approximately 200 different viruses (noroviruses, rhinoviruses, etc). Devising a vaccine that works for all these different viruses, as well as their genetic variations and the different strains that emerge from year to year, is extremely challenging.

Meanwhile, SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is a single virus — and one which, according to recent studies, mutates at a relatively slow rate. This is encouraging because it checks all the boxes for a vaccine candidate.

Comparison with the influenza

Hopefully, we’re all done with comparing COVID-19 to influenza, but for the purpose of a vaccine, there are also valuable lessons.

We have an influenza vaccine — well, several, actually. There are multiple influenza strains and every flu season is different, in part because there are several influenza strains — but also because they mutate rapidly.

Unlike SARS-CoV-2, flu strains exhibit a high variability, which is why no flu vaccine is guaranteed 100% effective. We also have to make the flu shot yearly because of this reason, and also because antibodies generated by the vaccine can wane over time. As SARS-CoV-2 mutates slower, there’s a good chance (but not a guarantee) that the vaccine could be effective for a longer time.

Probably not before 2021

But while there is plenty of reason to be optimistic in the long run, it’s unlikely that a vaccine can be developed within 6 months. The likely time frame that we’re looking at is 12-18 months — though, in truth, it’s been about a month since we heard that timeline, so let’s be optimistic and say it’s 11-17 months. Of course, there are few guarantees regarding the timeline.

It’s not entirely unlikely that a vaccine is developed more quickly. Human trials are imminent (some have already started), and there is an unprecedented impetus to develop vaccines against the disease. But ensuring that a vaccine is safe and effective takes a long time. Most vaccinologists are even wary of the 12 months timeframe, suggesting that a year and a half is probably more realistic.

Then, even after it is demonstrated, the vaccine needs to be mass-produced and distributed, which would take enormous resources. We will, almost certainly, get there. But it will take quite some time to do so.

Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Related posts:
  1. MIT researchers confident their fusion reactor is “very likely to work”
  2. Just a few drinks can change the way memories form, eventually leading to cravings
  3. Why you still need to wear a mask after getting a COVID-19 vaccine
  4. Influenza vaccine could also help against severe Covid-19 — but we’re not entirely sure why
  5. We’re launching a horde of tiny satellites, and that might eventually make space flight unusable
Tags: coronavirusCOVID-19

ADVERTISEMENT
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
  • Reviews
  • More
  • About Us

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

Don’t you want to get smarter every day?

YES, sign me up!

Over 35,000 subscribers can’t be wrong. Don’t worry, we never spam. By signing up you agree to our privacy policy.

✕
ZME Science News

FREE
VIEW