COVID-19 – When Will There Be A Vaccine?

Yes, the months have stretched on, and the world is now starting to fatigue of the pandemic. Constant warnings, lockdowns, the inability to travel globally and explore new attractions and quarantines are taking a toll. Everyone is now starting to wonder when it will all be over. In other words; when will there be a publicly available vaccine that will end the state of ongoing panic?

But when asking when a vaccine will be ready, it is first very important to understand what a vaccine is, and how exactly it will help the situation. After all, a vaccine is not a silver bullet that will instantly eradicate the world of COVID-19. Instead it is a gradual, methodical process that will turn the tide, until returning the world to a balance. 

But that final balance is still some way off, even after the tide has been turned.

What Is A Vaccine?

Different vaccines are used for different viruses and must be carefully studied before being administered. Essentially a vaccination involves introducing a small, controlled amount of a virus into the human body. This stimulates the body into creating anti-bodies to combat the virus, thereby creating an immunity.

The virus is, therefore, not eradicated. Instead human bodies are made immune to the virus, essentially making the threat void.

How Close Is A COVID-19 Vaccine?

It normally takes years to develop a trusted vaccination, but the global medical industry is attempting to achieve the same results in just a few months. This is unprecedented, and a massive challenge for healthcare professionals around the world. But results are coming along at an astonishing rate. 

As of 26 August 2020, Russia has already approved a vaccination, but this vaccination has yet to be fully approved via clinical trials. However, 7 other vaccinations are undergoing large scale trials, and 15 others are undergoing expanded safety trials. Another 25 are undergoing small scale trials, and 139 more are yet to enter human trials.

Essentially, this means that good progress is being made, and it shouldn’t be long before a vaccination is approved for large scale public use. Estimates say that there should be a working vaccine before the end of the year. Though, healthcare workers and the elderly will be targeted first for vaccination, before the rest of the population is focused on.

How Are Vaccines Delivered?

But when there is a vaccine, does this mean that you can kick back, relax, and start seeking out big wins this way on your phone? Well, you could do that already, assuming you’re following health and safety guidelines.

Even after vaccines are approved for public use, which should be soon, it still doesn’t mean that the world will instantly be over the pandemic. Mass producing hundreds of millions of doses of a vaccine is a slow, and extremely logistically challenging process. This means that it could still be months, or even a year until the world is properly overcoming the threat.

Though tensions will ease with a publicly available solution to the challenge, there will still be reason to stay safe.