Most nations in the world have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. A lot of people are losing their livelihoods, and a great number have lost their jobs. Experts, and the public, are waiting for a breakthrough that will help end the spread of COVID-19. It is called a vaccine. What if scientists are not able to create a vaccine?


Learning to Live with It

If there were no vaccines developed against COVID-19, people might be forced to learn to live with it, says an article. Many cities in the world may gradually open, and some freedoms to people will return if the advice of experts is obeyed.

Also, if a vaccine does not get discovered, people will learn to live with constant testing and tracking. It will become part of the public's daily lives. Additionally, this could mean that people could be asked to self-isolate.

Furthermore, treatments can be developed, but outbreaks will be witnessed almost every year. This will lead to an increase in the global death toll caused by the novel coronavirus.

The possibility of not discovering a vaccine for the novel coronavirus is being talked about by many specialists. One of the reasons for severe talks about this concern is that it has happened before.


Viruses with No Existing Vaccine

According to Doctor David Nabarro, an Imperial College London professor of global health, there are some viruses for which vaccines were not yet discovered. Nabarro is also a special ambassador to the World Health Organization on COVID-19.

It is imperative to allow the public to be in a position where they can protect themselves against the threats of the novel coronavirus and with the opportunity to let them get their social life back and conduct economic activities.


Confidence

A lot of experts are confident that a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, will be invented. Their hopes are high for this breakthrough because, in comparison with malaria and HIV, the novel coronavirus cannot rapidly mutate.


At Least a Year

A lot of experts, including Doctor Anthony Fauci, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director, predict the creation of a vaccine against COVID-19 can be discovered in 12 to 18 months. However, some experts such as Chris Whitty, the Chief Medical Officer of England, have said that a year may be too soon for the discovery of a vaccine against the deadly virus.

According to the National School of Tropical Medicine's dean at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Doctor Peter Hotez, finding a vaccine in 12 to 18 months is a heroic achievement because it was never done before. There is a need for a Plan A and a Plan B, the doctor added.


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The Virus With No Vaccine

In 1984, HIV was discovered. During that time, it was predicted that a vaccine would be made available for testing after two years. However, fast forward to four decades and millions of deaths in the future, there is still no vaccine invented against HIV.

Since HIV's challenges to scientists are perceived as more complex than the novel coronavirus, experts are still hopeful that a vaccine against COVID-19 will be invented soon.