Nobel prize winner Professor Peter Doherty says he's optimistic researchers can develop a vaccine for the novel coronavirus COVID-19 within 18 months. The novel coronavirus has ground the world economy to a halt with over 1, 853, 505 people infected resulting in 114,257 deaths.
While most who are infected only exhibit mild symptoms, serious cases involve respiratory and organ failure.
Scientists from around the world are racing to develop a vaccine, with the World Health Organisation saying three vaccine candidates are in the clinical testing stage, which means they are being able to be trialled on humans.
Professor Doherty told Sky News said he is "pretty certain" a strong vaccine will be developed.
"It may take some time," he said,
"There are a few problematic issues with this virus, we don't understand the virus particularly well, we've only known about it for a very short time.
"We have to be very sure about safety, you are putting vaccine into very large numbers of basically normal people, so you have to be sure it's safe.
"But I reckon we can to a vaccine within 18 months."
Image: AP
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