Opinion | If experimental Covid-19 vaccines fail, will we accept that outcome?
- High hopes and large sums are invested in vaccines being approved and proving successful, but this is far from guaranteed
- With several vaccine candidates in their final stage of human trials, there are several hurdles still to be negotiated
Hopes are high that the first approval may come as early as October and the first vaccine may be marketed early next year, but there is an elephant in the room.
What if, in the final phase of trials, the potential vaccines don’t meet the efficacy requirements? What if – even though earlier trials should have proved they are largely safe – there are unexpected side-effects? What if the data is not strong enough and further trials are required?
In other words, what if the experimental vaccines fail? Or at least fail to deliver in time?
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Scientists at Oxford University share promising news on coronavirus vaccine trials
With billions of dollars of investment by governments and high public expectations, will the world accept it if the front-runners fail?