Don't expect first Covid-19 vaccinations until early 2021: WHO's Ryan

Researchers are making good progress in developing COVID-19 vaccines, with a handful of late-stage trials, but their first use cannot be expected until early 2021, an expert from the World Organization for Health said on Wednesday. Health (WHO).

The WHO is working to ensure an equitable distribution of the vaccines, but in the meantime, it is key to suppressing the spread of the virus, said Mike Ryan, head of the WHO emergency program, as new daily cases around the world are at almost record levels.

"We are making good progress," Ryan said, noting that several vaccines were now in phase 3 trials and none had so far failed in terms of safety or ability to elicit an immune response.

"Realistically, it will be the first part of next year before we start to see people get vaccinated," he said at a public event on social media.

The WHO was working to expand access to potential vaccines and help increase production capacity, Ryan said.

"And we must be fair about this because it is a global good. Vaccines for this pandemic are not for the rich, they are not for the poor, they are for everyone, ”he said.

Source Times of India