# 8502
As generally a `pro-vaccine’ kind of guy, it pains me to admit that a vaccine solution to the MERS coronavirus is likely several years away – assuming one can be created at all. Scientists have, after all, been working on a SARS vaccine for more than a decade and have yet to declare success.
But in the face of mounting criticism, and rising case counts, the Saudi Government has begun to actively promote the idea that a MERS vaccine could be on the horizon.
Today the Saudi MOH released the following (translated) statement that they no doubt hope will placate escalating public concerns – but that may prove very difficult to deliver on anytime soon.
20 June 1435
Revealed the official spokesman for the Ministry of Health. Khaled Marghalani about the imminent arrival of an international company specialized in the Kingdom;, to discuss the manufacture of a vaccine for the virus, Corona, and support the efforts of existing, where there is ongoing research to find a cure for this virus.
The spokesman added that in the same context will be intensified meetings on a daily basis beginning this week to members of the National Scientific Committee for Infectious Diseases and the Scientific Committee for infection control, to discuss developments in the development of virus Corona Mirs (Mers - cov) and review the results of the examination genes of the virus, which has already sent to laboratories outside the Kingdom for analysis and compare it to what has been isolated before.
He indicated d. Marghalani, the ministry called on the World Health Organization and a group of experts from Europe, Canada and the United States and the countries of East Asia and the GCC countries and other countries to meet the end of this month; to discuss the status of the virus Corona and the developments of the disease, and in the framework of consultations carried out by the ministry to step up efforts to tackle the virus and limit its spread .. pointing out that the Ministry of Health has already called on experts from the World Health Organization and the Centers infection control in all of America, Europe and other experts from the GCC countries for the same goal, and remains in constant contact to search for any progress in this area
One of the traditional obstacles to getting a vaccine to market has been economic. It can cost tens, if not hundreds of millions of dollars to create, test, and get approval for a new vaccine. Presumably, if the Saudi’s perceive the MERS threat to be great enough, they could bankroll a vaccine development project.
But beyond the staggering costs, it can take years to develop a vaccine for human use.
While a novel pandemic influenza vaccine could probably be developed and produced (in limited quantities) within six months (essentially a `strain change’, but built upon existing flu vaccine technology) we are likely still years away from having a safe, effective, and deployable vaccine against MERS – or any other novel coronavirus.
MERS is only a recently recognized threat - but its coronaviral cousin is SARS – which sparked an epidemic in 2003. While that outbreak was quickly contained, the World Health Organization has continued to urge research into, and the development of, a SARS vaccine.
In 2004 it was widely reported that China had developed, and administered a SARS vaccine to 36 volunteers, but then nothing much was heard after that. Again in 2009, China once again announced they were working on a new SARS vaccine.
Since no claims of success have been forthcoming, it is probably safe to assume that the results were not altogether encouraging.
In 2012, a PLoS One research article unexpectedly found that mice vaccinated with four different experimental SARS candidate vaccines developed the expected antibodies, but experienced lung damage when challenged with the virus.
Chien-Te Tseng, Elena Sbrana, Naoko Iwata-Yoshikawa, Patrick C. Newman, Tania Garron, Robert L. Atmar, Clarence J. Peters, Robert B. Couch
Conclusions
These SARS-CoV vaccines all induced antibody and protection against infection with SARS-CoV. However, challenge of mice given any of the vaccines led to occurrence of Th2-type immunopathology suggesting hypersensitivity to SARS-CoV components was induced.
Caution in proceeding to application of a SARS-CoV vaccine in humans is indicated.
Granted, MERS isn’t SARS, and maybe we get lucky on that point. But even then – assuming a vaccine candidate can be developed - Phase I, II, and III trials could take years.
A vaccine for non-humans – most notably camels – could possibly be created and tested quicker than a human vaccine, but early research suggests that camels are susceptible to re-infection despite having high antibody titers (see EID Journal: MERS Coronavirus In A Saudi Dromedary Herd) which raises questions over how well a vaccine would work in dromedaries.
The dramatic device of coming up with a vaccine or a `cure’ for a dreaded disease `in the nick of time’ is a age-old ploy in fiction - a Deus ex Machina (Latin: "god from the machine") – to solve the `unsolvable’ in the finale.
But the reality is, the development, testing, and deployment of a safe and effective vaccine is a major, time consuming, and expensive proposition – with no guarantees of success.
None of this is to suggest that a vaccine isn’t needed, or that the attempt shouldn’t be made. A vaccine might eventually help eradicate the virus from the host species, and that could prevent future outbreaks.
But as a short-term solution to the MERS problem, expecting the vaccine cavalry to arrive in time to save the day seems little more than wishful thinking.
