With coronavirus spread surging in many communities across the country, interest in a vaccine and treatments is very high. As Stu Johnson reports, a University of Kentucky medical researcher estimates tens of thousands of medical scientists globally are working to find a way to render COVID-19 less threatening.
UK Chair of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Dr. Rebecca Dutch noted there’s some 170 different strategies being used to try to develop a vaccine. She said it’s important to do large scale trials to ensure a vaccine is safe as well as a good response to offer protection. Dutch is confident when it’s offered to the general population, it will be safe. “We have all the right things to do to make sure this is safe. Those things are being done. That’s why it take time. But, once it’s released, it’s released with all the safety information and with the verification that the safety studies have been done” said Dutch.
If phase three trial work proceeds as expected, Dutch said the earliest a vaccine could be ready for public distribution is the middle of the fall. The molecular and cellular biochemist says then the challenge is getting enough doses out to people across the globe.
Here's an extensive interview with Dr. Dutch about COVID-19 and vaccine work:
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