CSIRO tests potential COVID-19 vaccines
Australia’s national science agency has begun testing potential coronavirus vaccines in what has been described as a critical milestone in the global fight against COVID-19.
CSIRO scientists are performing the first stage of testing for two vaccine candidates at the agency’s high-containment biosecurity facility in Geelong.
The pre-clinical trials, which is expected to take three months, will test the vaccine from the University of Oxford and Inovio Pharmaceuticals on animals to see if they are safe and effective.
The current number of COVID-19 cases in Australia have reached 4,860 with the death toll rising to 21. Deputy Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said on Wednesday that the virus won’t be beaten without a vaccine.
Dr Larry Marshall, chief executive for CSIRO described the testing as a critical milestone while health and biosecurity director Dr Rob Grenfell says it is very significant given the race by staff to get ready.
“Usually it takes one to two years to do this and we have apparently done it in eight weeks, so that’s actually really good,” Dr Grenfell told AAP.
The vaccine candidates were identified for CSIRO’s first trials by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, in consultation with the World Health Organisation. They’re the first of a number the CSIRO hopes to test.
Dr Grenfell revealed that one of the candidates is currently being tested overseas and if it is shown to be safe and effective in both trials, they would then begin testing it on humans.
“These types of studies are vital to give us the confidence to move into human studies,” he said.
And while he remains optimistic, Dr Grenfell said there is still time for the vaccine to be finalised, suggesting it could be 18 months away.
“The scientific ingenuity that we’re using, the global collaboration and co-operation is astounding,” he said.
“We’ve seen some momentous science across many avenues of the vaccine development pathway globally, so yes, I’m optimistic.
“At the moment, the best thing that we can all do is to maintain our social distancing and self-quarantining to minimise the spread whilst we’re waiting for effective drugs and vaccines.”