Vaccine Experts Inject Realism Into US Gov't's COVID-19 Timeline

The Trump administration says a COVID-19 vaccine could be available in as little as 12 months, but most experts think that is overpromising unless safety or efficacy standards are sacrificed. Many are urging pivotal studies that look at clinical outcomes, not surrogates, for US FDA approval. 

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It is unlikely a COVID-19 vaccine will be widely available in 12 to 18 months, experts say • Source: Shutterstock

Skepticism abounds that a COVID-19 vaccine might be ready for wide-scale immunization in 12 to 18 months despite predictions from both scientific leaders and politicians in the Trump administration.

If "everything just worked amazingly well, I think it's conceivable that you could have pivotal data showing efficacy in 18...

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