The director of the Public Health, Environment and Social Determinants of Health Department (PHE) of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Maria Neira, has assured that the vaccine against COVID-19, the disease that causes the new coronavirus, will not be available this year, although she has assured that in a few weeks there will be "good news" about the treatments.
During the meetings 'Conversaciones 2020', organized by 'el Economista', Neira has pointed out that, "perhaps", in early 2021 a vaccine against the new coronavirus could be commercialized, but warned that we must be "realistic" and understand that there are only six months left to the end of the year and that there's not enough time to develop it.
"I think it is very difficult to have it this year no matter how much acceleration there is and how much support there is from all countries and from the WHO to get it, but there are many processes that need to be followed to make sure that when the vaccine comes to market it is safe," the WHO leader stressed.
However, with regard to the treatments, and after the UN agency has resumed research with the drug hydroxychloroquine, after temporarily suspending it due to a possible increase in the risk of death and heart disease, Neira has assured that in a few weeks it will be known whether or not it can be beneficial for patients.
To finish, the director of the Public Health, Environment and Social Determinants of Health Department has assured that the treatments that are currently being used, and that are being evaluated by the WHO, will provide "good news" in a couple of weeks.
[This is a translation of the original article "La OMS pone fecha a la vacuna del coronavirus" published in espanadiario.net]