The search for a Covid-19 vaccine is coming at a price

As billions wait with bated breath for the outcome of clinical trials on the new Covid-19 vaccines, many studies on other diseases have been halted. There are several reasons for this, not least the drop in revenue charities are receiving which is then used to fund studies. Additionally, coronavirus continues to dominate the medical landscape both in terms of the availability of doctors to do research and the willingness of patients to visit hospitals. Given the ongoing impact of the epidemic, it’s no surprise that so many resources are being piled into the search for a treatment for coronavirus. But this single-mindedness is coming at a great cost, not just for now but potentially for decades to come.

Clinical trial development of medical products such as drugs or equipment and devices are dependent on a lengthy and rigorous process. Because of a history of scandals, the process for approval of medicines for human use is now heavily regulated, expensive and time-consuming.