The whole world will be infected... so we must move quickly
MILLIONS could die unless an effective coronavirus jab is found fears Sarah Gilbert, the scientist behind the much hoped-for Oxford vaccine.
Professor Gilbert was one of several experts who were followed by cameras through lockdown for a Channel 4 documentary being aired tomorrow night.
Prof Gilbert says in the programme: “We need to move pretty quickly because pretty much everyone in the world is likely to be infected, if not this year, then next year, and so potentially we could still see millions of deaths.”
Her vaccine is one of 165 being developed globally and “one of three in final stage human trials”, says the film.
It is now expected to be released before Christmas, but could still take longer to reach cash-poor developing countries.
Oxford’s Dr Sandy Douglas, in charge of production, said: “We’re trying to make sure low income countries don’t miss out. But it might get down to political will.”
Prof Gilbert, whose team includes senior scientist Dr Teresa Lambe, remains optimistic. She said: “We would hope to have a lot of vaccines to start using towards the end of the year. But it really does depend on a lot of factors outside our control.” Prof Robin Shattock, at Imperial College London, shared her optimism, saying the virus is not changing very much.
“If it continues not to change, it will be a nice target,” he said.
● Race Against The Virus, Hunt For Avaccine, Channel 4, tomorrow, 9pm.