WHO Warns COVID-19 Vaccine Isn’t Guaranteed

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) cautioned Monday that no “silver bullet” for the coronavirus may emerge from the flurry of potential vaccines entering phase 3 trials.

Multiple companies are now in late-stage COVID-19 vaccine trials, including AstraZeneca, Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, Sinopharm and Sinovac, and others anticipate starting phase 3 trials soon.

But governments should not count on a vaccine or cure and should instead take public health safety measures to curb the virus’ spread as research into potential vaccines and treatments continues, said the WHO’s Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus.

“There’s no silver bullet, and there might never be,” he said. “For now, stopping outbreaks comes down to the basics of public health and business control: testing, isolating and treating patients, and tracing and quarantining their contacts. Do it all.” — James Miessler