Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said on Monday, July 6, that any vaccine developed to combat the novel coronavirus would likely give off limited protection.
In a live-streamed video conference hosted by the National Institutes of Health, he added that it could be assumed that any protection provided by a vaccine could at least take us through the current cycle of the pandemic.
However, he still warns that the first wave of infections is still at bay. Other health experts assume that a jab would offer some degree of protection against the disease, although it is likely going to be "finite."
Dr. Fauci: Coronavirus vaccine will be limited
Fauci adds that a coronavirus vaccine won't be like a measles vaccine, which would give you lifetime immunity. He explains that although people may need a boost to continue the protection, it would be a blur on how long it would last.
According to Fauci, the American public is expected to have an answer on a coronavirus jab before the end of the year; if not, by early 2021. Right now, more than 140 experimental coronavirus vaccines being developed were proven safe and effective.
In the meantime, the infectious disease health expert advises the public to follow strict guidelines to prevent the further transmission of COVID-19. This includes wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, and doing frequent hand-washing.
He adds that these safety measures should be used as a vehicle for the economy's safe re-opening. Fauci explains that it is not an obstacle but a pathway. He says it's impossible to create a binary thing where it's "us against them."
Francis Collins, the NIH Director, who led the interview with Fauci, responded by saying even the issue being discussed might tend to be polarized and even politicized, as such occurrences have been common lately, particularly with matters regarding the coronavirus.
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COVID-19 Vaccine Human Trials
Out of more than 140 vaccine trials recognized by the WHO currently under development, about 13 are now in human clinical trials. Entering this phase would mean that the researchers are going through various phases of meticulous testing to explore the safety, efficacy, and correct dosage of the jab in humans.
It is only upon the completion of such stages that a vaccine candidate can be deemed suitable for approval by authorities such as the Food and Drug Administration or the European Medicines Agency.
One of these vaccine candidates currently undergoing human clinical trials is the CoronaVac, which is developed by the Chinese company, Sinovac Biotech. The vaccine is now heading towards its Phase three clinical trials both in China and Brazil.
In a press release, the company's President and CEO, Weidong Yin, announced that their Phase one and two study shows that CoronaVac is safe and can elicit an immune response.
Furthermore, he concludes that their clinical studies gave promising results, which can be considered a significant development and achievement in the fight against COVID-19.
Oxford COVID-19 Vaccine
Just recently, the researchers facilitating Oxford's coronavirus vaccine candidate released encouraging news that their jab would provide protection that could last for several years.
The team leader, Professor Sarah Gilbert, says that their ChAdOx1 nCov-19 vaccine has been found to give off antibody levels of up to three times more than those who developed antibodies naturally by recovering from the disease.
Their claims are currently contradictory to what Fauci says, but Gilbert says they are optimistic based on previous studies. She remains hopeful that they will see a reasonable duration of immunity with their experimental jab, and probably even better results than naturally-acquired protection.
The Oxford vaccine is currently being tested by Pfizer and its German ally, BioNTech. Moreover, it was discovered to give off neutralizing antibodies that were 1.8 to 2.8 times more than those observed in recovered COVID-19 patients.
