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A coronavirus vaccine is “unlikely” to completely stop infections and the disease may never go away completely, the government’s top scientific adviser said.
Sir Patrick Vallance pointed out how smallpox was the only disease that had been completely eradicated and that, in the future, treatment COVID-19 could become more like dealing with the seasonal flu
There are currently three ongoing vaccine trials in the UK.
He told a parliamentary committee on Monday: “I think it is unlikely that we will end up with a truly sterilizing vaccine that will completely stop the infection.
“This disease is likely to be circulating and endemic.
“My assessment, and I think that is the opinion of many people, is that this is the likely outcome.
“Clearly, as management improves, as you get a vaccine that will decrease the chance of infection and severity of illness, or whatever the vaccine profile is, this starts to look more like an annual flu than a anything else.
“And that may be the direction we end up going.”
The medical definition of endemic describes a disease that is constantly present.
Sir Patrick also told the National Security Strategy Committee that he thought it was “unlikely” that a COVID-19 vaccine would be available for “any kind of widespread community use” before at least the spring of next year.
Although he said there “may” be some doses before that, Sir Patrick also said it was important not to “over-promise”.
Sir Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust medical research foundation and a member of the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), told Sky News that more than one vaccine would be available before next April.
There are currently three vaccine trials under way in the UK, with an AstraZeneca vaccine, developed by the University of Oxford, in phase three trials.
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In the House of Commons on Monday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock told MPs that “no vaccine technology is safe,” but said the government “must be prepared to roll out a vaccine as soon as one is readily available. safe”.
He explained how the government has taken steps to allow “a wider range of clinically qualified people to administer vaccines” and to provide for the granting of a UK license for a vaccine before the end of the Brexit transition period “if necessary”. .
“We all wish our scientists the best in this vital work and will give them all the support they may need,” Hancock said.
