The World Health Organization (WHO) does not expect widespread vaccinations against the novel Coronavirus (Covid-19); until the middle of next year, a spokesperson said Friday; emphasizing the importance of rigorous checks on their effectiveness and safety.
None of the candidate vaccines in advanced clinical trials so far has demonstrated a "clear signal" of efficacy at the level of at least 50 percent sought by the U.N. health agency; spokesperson Margaret Harris said.
"We are really; not expecting to see widespread vaccination until the middle of next year," the WHO spokesperson told a briefing in Geneva.
"This phase 3 must take longer because we need to see how truly protective the vaccine is, and we also need to see how safe it is;" Harris said, referring to the phase in vaccine research in which large clinical trials among people are conducted. She did not refer to any specific vaccine candidate.