Part 3/7:
A central concern in managing the pandemic is understanding when a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine will be available. Traditional vaccine development involves lengthy clinical trial phases, including large-scale efficacy testing in the field that can take several months or even years. This process is essential but time-consuming, often delaying access to life-saving immunizations.
However, a controversial proposal is gaining attention: human challenge trials. Unlike conventional studies, in these trials volunteers are intentionally exposed to the virus after receiving the vaccine candidate. This method can significantly shorten the timeline, providing rapid data on vaccine efficacy within two to three months.