The announcement of successful vaccine trials is a significant development in the battle against Covid-19.
The virus has claimed too many lives and crippled the global economy.
It has tested all of us and will continue to do so for a long time to come.
But yesterday, judging by the enthusiasm of the scientific community, was a game-changer.
The preliminary analysis for the vaccine is off the scale, with an incredible 90 per cent success rate – rare for any vaccine.
No vaccine has gone from the drawing board to being so highly effective in such a short period of time.
It is a tribute to the collaborative effort of science and governments and the competitive edge of commerce that this potentially huge leap has been made.
There are still big challenges ahead – the vaccine has to be approved, the distribution logistics and the cost have to be worked out and the efficacy of the two jabs, taken three weeks apart, will take a while to work out.
But this is the best news we’ve had since the pandemic began.
The new vaccine represents a real chance life could return to something like normal as early as next spring.
Until then, we must keep to the rules and look after each other through a long winter.
The end is hopefully in sight.
