Business Cannot Wait Until Vaccine Found

Striking a balance between allowing economic activities restart and keeping controls tight enough to prevent a rise in infections is now likely to be the best strategy until effective vaccines become widely available globally

- Dinesh Weerakkody

World leaders wanting to end the lockdown and allow their people to move about and contribute to the national economy because many are drowning in bills as they remain shut due to the COVID-19 lockdown, will have to monitor closely for new infections and adjust the health controls they have in place until there is a proper vaccine for COVID-19.

The first Phase 1 study for a COVID-19 vaccine began in mid-March. Forty-five volunteers participated in the trial. The British government hailed the trial as a ‘promising development’.

The vaccine itself will not be available to the general public for at least a year to ensure it is both safe and effective.

As COVID-19 continues its grip on the world, the need for a vaccine to defeat the virus is urgent. The University of Oxford’s expertise in vaccinology and Astra Zeneca’s global development, manufacturing and distribution capabilities have joined forces to accelerate the production of a vaccine to combat the virus and protect people from the deadliest pandemic in two-generation.