First coronavirus vaccine could be ready by September in time for possible second wave, China health boss claims
CHINA has claimed a coronavirus vaccine could be ready for use by September as the world searches for a cure.
Dr Gao Fu, a leading virologist and head of China's Centre for Disease Control, predicted the inoculation could be ready for "emergency use" by the autumn.
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It comes as scientists the world over are attempting to develop a vaccine for Covid-19 - which has killed almost 200,000 people across the globe.
Vaccines often take years to develop, but researchers are trying to achieve the goal in a matter of months.
Dr Gao however was confident that China could role out the cure before the end of 2020.
He admitted however it would only be an "emergency vaccine" - with a wider shot available at the start of next year.
He added safety of the general population must be a priority while developing the vaccine.
The scientist was clear however the inoculation could be rolled out early if there was another large scale outbreak.
Dr Gao added the vaccine may be given to healthcare workers on the frontline if it was successful in tests.
China claims it has two Covid-19 vaccines ready for clinical trials, and third which is still in development.
Many scientists believe a vaccine is unlikely to be widely available until the middle of 2021.
Meanwhile, British scientists are beginning human trials of their own vaccine - the first of its kind in Europe.
This week, Dr Gao was forced the deny spreading misinformation about coronavirus this week as pressure continues on China.
China is facing international pressure to open about the first few weeks of the outbreak - and whether or not virus could have been contained before becoming a pandemic.
The top doc insisted he "never, ever" publicly denied that coronavirus could be transmitted between people during an interview with state media.
WHO have also come under fire for their handling of the virus, with the US pulling funding and accusing them of being "China-centric".
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said reportedly wants to make sure Brits have access to the vaccine first if its developed within the UK.
Speaking yesterday, Mr Hancock said: "The upside of being the first country to develop a successful vaccine is so huge, I am throwing everything at it."
The deal with WHO however means Britain will have to share its results and work with 20 other countries including France, Germany and Italy.
US pharmaceutical company Inovio Pharmaceuticals, the University of Pennsylvania’s research facility, has also begun its own human trial.
It comes as the global coronavirus infection figure surges towards 3million, with the US still the worst impacted nation in the world.
US President Donald Trump has come under fire after he suggested disinfectant could be injected into victims to help cure Covid-19.