England’s chief medical officer, Chris Whitty underlines that even though researchers and scientists are working at an accelerated rate to develop a vaccine to combat the novel contagion, we can’t really rely on a vaccine to contain the spread–at least for the coming winter months. Speaking to News Sky, he said, “Planning for the next winter, it would be foolish to plan on the basis we will have a vaccine.”

He further noted, “Now that may be wrong – a lot of people are doing a huge amount scientifically, logistically to make sure that’s a pessimistic statement, to try and see if we can get a vaccine at an extraordinarily fast speed but we have to check it works and we have to make sure it’s safe and these things do take time.”