Around the
world the race to develop a vaccine against the New Coronavirus continues
apace. The World Health Organization is now tracking more than 170 candidate
vaccines. In the pre-clinical stage, researchers test if the vaccine triggers
an immune response in animals. In phase 1 testing, the vaccine is given to a
small group of people to see if it is safe. Phase 2 involves a somewhat larger
research group to test dosages; and in phase 3, the vaccine is given to
thousands of people to make sure it's effective. So far there are no successful
candidates. Vaccines normally require years of testing; and time to build up
production volume. The WHO has said it doesn't expect widespread vaccinations
against coronavirus until mid-2021. But even that is optimistic.
Germany's
top biotech companies and clinics are rushing to come up with a vaccine to
defeat the novel coronavirus. Some are already carrying out human testing -
after the lengthy approval process was speeded up. The stakes are that high.
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