European Medicines Agency says COVID-19 vaccine might be ready in a year

THE HAGUE: European Medicines Agency said Thursday a vaccine for the COVID-19 might be ready in a year's time under an "optimistic" scenario, based on data from trials that are under way.

"We can see the possibility if everything goes as planned that some of them (vaccines) could be ready for approval in a year from now," Marco Cavaleri, the EMA's head of biological health threats and vaccines strategy, told a video news conference.

"These are just forecasts based on what we are seeing. But again I have to stress that this is a best-case scenario, we know not all vaccines that come into development may not make it to authorisation and disappear," he added.

"We know also that there may be delays."

The agency was however "a bit sceptical" about reports that a vaccine could be ready as soon as September.

The Amsterdam-based EU agency meanwhile played down fears expressed by the World Health Organisation that the virus "may never go away".

"I think it's a bit early to say but we have good reason to be sufficiently optimistic that some vaccines will make it," Cavaleri said.

"I would be surprised that if at the end of the day we don't have any vaccine for COVID-19."