London: Raising a new hope to fight against the pandemic, scientists of Oxford University and Imperial College London are extremely close to develop and test a new vaccine that could be ready in just six weeks, a UK based media reported.
“We are looking for the best-case scenario of six weeks to develop and to test a vaccine. Hopefully, that would be a game-changer for the world against the new virus," the report added.
As Britain enters a critical stage in its fight against the coronavirus, fears are mounting of the second wave of coronavirus.
The recent vaccine development comes after the experts warned about the worst fatality scenario in winter as the UK government officials are cautious about developments and the reopening of schools.
However, the head of the UK vaccine Taskforce Kate Bingham said that she is cautiously optimistic about a vaccine. She warned to keep working towards the development, but not be tempted into a celebration soon.
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Amid the fears of the second wave of coronavirus, a vaccine could be mass-produced and given to the entire population in a few months that will allow life to rapidly return to normality in next year.
Reportedly, Britain is preparing to revise its laws to allow the emergency use of any effective coronavirus vaccine before it is fully licensed — but only if the shots meet required safety and quality standards.
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In a statement Friday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative government said it was adopting “reinforced safeguards” to allow the country's medicines regulatory agency to grant temporary authorization of a COVID-19 vaccine, provided it meets safety and quality standards.
The proposed regulations would allow coronavirus vaccines to receive emergency approval allowing people to be immunized while the full licensing process is being finished. Typically, vaccines are only used after the licensing review has been completed, a process that can take several months.
"If we develop effective vaccines, we must make them available to patients as quickly as possible, but only once strict safety standards have been met," Jonathan Van-Tam, Britain's deputy chief medical officer, said in a statement.
Britain said the move was a precautionary measure and would only be used as a last resort if there was a pressing public health justification.
The government is beginning a three-week consultation period to seek advice from health experts and other stakeholders. It said the measures could be introduced as early as October.
