Wed 21 October 2020:
A coronavirus vaccine is “unlikely” to ever completely eradicate the virus, and the disease may never disappear, the British government’s chief scientific adviser has warned.
“I think it’s unlikely that we’ll end up with a truly sterilising vaccine that completely stops infection. It’s likely that this disease will circulate and be endemic,” Sir Patrick Vallance told a UK government committee.
As reported by Arab News, the medical definition of endemic describes a disease that is constantly present in the population, much like seasonal flu.
“My assessment – and I think that’s the view of many people – is that’s the likely outcome,” Vallance said.
Vallance said the only disease to have ever been completely eradicated is smallpox. Vallance went on to warn that a safe and effective vaccine is unlikely to be ready until next spring at least – still far faster than the approximate five-year development time of previous vaccines.
There are several vaccines undergoing late-stage human trials in the US, the UK, China and elsewhere.
But researchers increasingly believe that a vaccine is unlikely to offer long-term protection against the virus, and may require yearly inoculations.
