Scientists are developing a ‘universal’ coronavirus vaccine which could be effective in tackling all variants of the virus.
Experts at the University of Nottingham are looking to create a jab that will target the core of the virus, rather than just the spike protein, reports the Daily Telegraph.
Vaccines which have been currently approved for use in Scotland only target the spike protein.
But with a number of variants sweeping the globe, it is believed the current vaccines will be weakened overtime - with people requiring ‘top up’ doses in the future.
It is hoped the universal vaccine will be available as early as the end of this year, reports the Mirror.
UK pharmaceutical company Scancell is among the firms researching the new jags.
Trials using mice have been encouraging, and human trials are expected in the second half of this year, it is expected.
Scancell's chief medical officer, Dr Gillies O’Bryan-Tear, said: “We don’t necessarily claim it will be a pan-coronavirus vaccine, but it has got the potential to be so simply because of where it is targeted.”
However researchers have urged people to be cautious about being too optimistic - as a universal flu jab has never been developed.
Imperial College immunologist Prof Danny Altmann, an immunologist at Imperial College, said: "There is no reason why, if we get a partner, we shouldn't be able to do it as quickly as the others have done it."
However it is not guaranteed that a new vaccine will be needed.
Prof Altmann said he believes the pandemic will be around for "two or three more years" because of the time it will take developing countries to vaccinate their populations.
"During that time, the virus will mutate, so there are plenty of opportunities for new entrants to try their hand,” he said.
Almost 1.2m Scots have so far received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine, according to the latest Scottish Government data.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has hailed the progress of the vaccination programme as ‘fantastic’.
