The first human trial of a new vaccine that scientists are of the hope will protect against Coronavirus has been carried out.
The US National Institutes of Health, an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, has been working with biotech company Moderna to come out with the preventative medication.
The first person to receive the vaccine was a 43-year-old mother of two who was tested yesterday, US health official confirmed.
The first stage of the trial will test the vaccine on 45 males and non-pregnant females between the ages of 18 and 55, with them receiving a second dose 28 days after the first.
According to CNBC reports, the vaccine will not be available to the public anytime soon.
Dr. Fauci suggested that the vaccine will not be fit for public use for another 12-18 months.
The vaccine cannot cause Covid-19 – the disease triggered by the coronavirus – but contains a harmless genetic code copied from the virus.
This is unlike typical vaccines for viruses, which are made from weakened or killed viruses.
In a bid to get the medical technology ready for mass use as quickly as possible, part of the typical development process has been sidestepped.
Unlike in usual medical trials, this vaccine will not be tested to see whether it triggers an immune response in animals.
Infectious disease expert Dr. John Tregoning praised the pace of the vaccine’s development.
Dr. John told BBC that the vaccine uses pre-existing technology.
“It’s been made to a very high standard, using things that we know are safe to use in people and those taking part in the trial will be very closely monitored.
