WHO names four vaccine candidates

In the fight against the new lung disease Covid-19, the World Health Organization (WHO) wants to speed up the search for a vaccine and effective medication. The 400 experts who have been meeting in Geneva since Tuesday have agreed on this, said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Wednesday evening in Geneva. There are four possible vaccine candidates, hopefully two of which will prove promising, said WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan. One of the most pressing tasks is the development of simpler tests for the detection of infections.

Tedros criticized that the Hong Kong-based cruise ship "Westerdam" was not allowed to dock in several ports in Asia, although there was no evidence of infections on board. "Stigmatizing individuals or countries can only hinder our work," he said. The WHO, together with the United Nations' International Maritime Organization, would appeal to governments to respect the free passage of ships and the rights of passengers.

According to Swaminathan, the first vaccine tests on humans could begin in three to four months. A certified vaccine for widespread use will probably only be available in 18 months. Several existing drugs are currently being tested to see if they can help Covid 19 patients. The WHO would develop guidelines for this as soon as possible.