An Irish scientist has insisted a potentially life-saving vaccine for Covid-19 is "months away".
Professor James McInerney, Head of the School of Life Sciences at the University of Nottingham, said human trials for at least two potential Covid-19 treatments had begun.
He told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland: “What you’re trying to do is get a vaccine that has two properties, one property is that it actually works, that it’s not a dud, that it does produce a good immune response and the second thing is that it’s safe and it has no side-effects.
“So the regulatory process will be quite extensive, but I think the thing to say is it’s months away for a vaccine.
“This current wave will be largely finished by the time the vaccine comes online and the vaccine will really be about protecting ourselves into the future and having ways to deal with it if new strains arise.”
Prof McInerney also referred to the stark difference in outcomes for Covid-19 patients here compared to the UK highlights the two approaches taken.
He added: “I think the big thing that has happened around the world is the level of denialism, that’s varied a lot from country to country.
“And what I mean by that is that some countries are still living in denial and treating it as if it’s no worse than the flu.
“And some other countries really have responded and said there is a challenge here and they’ve stepped up to it.
“And you’ve probably got two very god examples side by side in Ireland and the UK where there was quite a strong level of denialism both in the media and with politicians.
“Whereas in Ireland people have gotten on with it, they’ve understood early and they’ve responded pretty early to the whole thing and I think you’ve seen that difference.”
