Finnish coronavirus vaccine to start trials on animal soon

A Finnish project to develop a coronavirus vaccine will start trials on animals soon, reported national broadcaster Yle, quoting researchers led by Kalle Saksela of the University of Helsinki.

The scientists said that their vaccine should be ready by autumn 2021, behind the leading researchers internationally.

The researchers said that they intend to plough on regardless, as production capacity might not be sufficient to ensure Finland gets enough doses of vaccine from the more advanced projects, said the Yle report.

According to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, it is focused on international efforts first, but will follow the Finnish project too, and it may come in handy as knowledge of the virus develops.

“Just as with influenza every year we seek to discover which combination goes into the vaccine, what should be in there, what is effective,” Kirsi Varhila, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health told Yle.

Researchers in Tampere are working on another vaccine, but are not as far advanced as the Helsinki group, the report added.