‘No guarantee’ of a vaccine as Johnson warns restrictions could last into 2021
Boris Johnson has warned there is no guarantee that a vaccine will be found for Covid-19, raising the prospect of social restrictions lasting into the new year.
The Prime Minister said he was hopeful the UK was at the forefront of developing a vaccine, but added that society would have to be “ever more flexible” in tackling the illness until a treatment is found.
“I’m hearing some very encouraging things from what’s going on at Oxford to achieve a vaccine,” Mr Johnson said at the Downing Street briefing.
But he added: “This is by no means guaranteed.
“I believe I’m right in saying that even after 18 years we still don’t have a vaccine for Sars.
“What I can tell you is that the UK is at the forefront of concerting international activity to try to deliver a vaccine.”
He said the government was putting “huge sums” into finding a vaccine, but added: “If you ask me am I absolutely certain that we won’t be living with this for a long time to come, I can’t say that.
“It may be that we have to become ever more flexible, ever more agile, ever smarter in the way that we tackle, not just this infection, but potentially future infections as well.” On developing a vaccine, the UK government’s chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said it could never be guaranteed.
Speaking at the Downing Street daily briefing, he said: “It’s a tough thing to do.”
But he said there were therapeutics and drug development programmes under way, adding: “I’d be surprised if we didn’t end up with something.”
Chief Medical Officer for England Professor Chris Whitty said he was confident a means to fight the virus would emerge through a vaccine, treatment or social changes, but added: “Science takes time”.