Coronavirus Vaccine Unlikely To Be Available Until 2021: Lawmaker

BETHESDA, MD — A vaccine for the new coronavirus probably won't be available to the public for at least another year, a Montgomery County congressional leader said.

Democratic Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin visited the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda on Friday to speak with scientists working on a vaccine for the virus, known as COVID-19.

This week, the NIH kicks off Phase 1 of clinical trials for a vaccine in Washington State, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in America.

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"They will begin the Phase 1 trials in Washington State on about 40 healthy (adults)," Van Hollen said. "That will take two to three months."

After that, Van Hollen said, the NIH will start Phase 2 of clinical trials. Tests will be conducted on older people and those who are vulnerable to more-severe infections.

"Once you do Phase 1 and Phase 2 trials, then you move to the efficacy phase," Van Hollen said. "Lots of discussions with the FDA — which, of course is not far from (the NIH) — as to how you take the information learned from trials and ultimately get it to a vaccine."

The Democrat said he was told that a vaccine is unlikely to become available for at least a year or a year and a half.

"This form of the coronavirus may well be with us for several seasons," he said.

The new coronavirus first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019 and has since infected more than 111,000 people worldwide. As of Monday morning, authorities have reported 565 confirmed cases and 22 deaths in the United States.

COVID-19 Fast Facts

• Coronavirus refers to a family of different viruses. For instance, the common cold is a coronavirus. So is SARS. COVID-19, however, is a new strain.
• According to the World Health Organization, coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning that they can spread between people and animals.
  • Symptoms include a fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
• COVID-19 can spread between people who are about 6 feet apart from each other and through respiratory droplets (produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.
• An infected person may not experience symptoms for up to 14 days.
• To combat infection, frequently wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth, sanitize frequently touched surfaces and objects, and stay home from work or school if you're feeling ill.

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