Covid-19 vaccine could be ready sooner than expected – WWLP.com

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) Most public health officials had been saying it would take at least a year to develop a vaccine for COVID-19 but now, scientists in England are claiming that one could be ready by this fall.

Researchers at Oxford University have made significant progress recently in the global race to develop a vaccine. Human testing is now underway for their vaccine, and theyre hoping to have it ready for public use by September.

The FDA has strict requirements for vaccines before they are released to the public. But due to the severity of this health crisis, local doctors say they may ease back those requirements.

They may say theres no long term data but we know it protects for a couple months at least, so lets roll it out and watch how it does once its already available, said Dr. Daniel Skiest, an Infectious Disease Specialist at Baystate Medical Center.

Dr. Skiest told 22News progress is also being made right now on an antiviral medication that could help reduce the severity of symptoms.

He added that social distancing protocols would most likely continue for much longer, if it ends up taking longer to develop both a successful vaccine or an antiviral medication.

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Covid-19 vaccine could be ready sooner than expected - WWLP.com