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UN says 7 or 8 `top' candidates for a COVID-19 vaccine exist

Britain launches COVID-19 vaccine study, latest in race
Posted at 6:45 PM, May 11, 2020
and last updated 2020-05-11 19:46:12-04

The World Health Organization chief says there are around seven or eight “top” candidates for a vaccine to combat the novel coronavirus, and work on them is being accelerated.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told the U.N. Economic and Social Council the original thinking two months ago was that it may take 12 to 18 months for a vaccine.

But he said an accelerated effort is under way, helped by 7.4 billion euros ($8 billion) pledged last week for research, treatment and testing.

Tedros said more money will be needed for research and to ensure a vaccine gets to everyone.