KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): With the number of cases and deaths due to the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) already surpassing that of SARS, teams around the world are racing to come up with a vaccine.
Developing a vaccine safe for human use typically takes years – but there is reason to believe that the process will be speedier this time around, said academician and virologist Emeritus Prof Datuk Dr Lam Sai Kit.
The vaccine never made it to the market because the virus was successfully contained with public health measures. The vaccine against MERS, meanwhile, is still being developed. One of the fears is that the Covid-19 would mutate after a vaccine is finally developed, affecting its efficacy. "Usually, a major change happens when the virus jumps species. Hopefully, if there is a mutation, it will be minor and not involve the spike protein, which is the important antigen used to produce the neutralising antibody in our immune system.
Prof Young's team of researchers have already experienced using this novel technology to produce candidate vaccines against influenza, Nipah, Ebola, and MERS. The team is optimistic that it will be able to develop the Covid-19 vaccine within six months.
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