Is a coronavirus vaccine on the horizon? Antiquated FDA regulations make it unlikely one will emerge in the US
As Coronavirus Infections Top 72,000, ‘We Are Learning About This as We Go’
By: Adam Smith
The Street
As the coronavirus continues its rapid spread throughout China and the rest of the world, one thing is becoming increasingly certain: There’s a lot that’s still unknown about the newly discovered and sometimes deadly pathogen.
We have no idea how far and for how long it will spread or how many it will kill. We don’t know when a vaccine will be created and even treatment is a guessing game. The virus’ true origin and its effects on the human body also remain uncertain.
“We are learning about this as we go. My understanding of epidemiology of COVID19 is different this week than it was last week or two weeks ago,” said Dr. David N. Fisman, a professor of epidemiology at the University of Toronto, in an email to TheStreet. “Welcome to emerging infectious diseases: That’s how it is.” . . .
. . .“There’s no evidence of that,” said Dr. Henry I. Miller, who for many years worked at the Food and Drug Administration, including as an assistant to the commissioner for biotechnology, and currently is a senior fellow at the Pacific Research Institute, which is described as a “free-market think tank.”
But, Dr. Miller said in an email to TheStreet, the possibility that the virus has spread undetected here also “can’t be ruled out.”
“This is the cold and flu season, after all,” he said – the coronavirus can cause deadly pneumonia but also has symptoms that could be mistaken for a variety of common illnesses: fever, cough, sore throat and stomach problems such as diarrhea, making it hard to spot.
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