Like President Rodrigo Duterte and the rest of the world, we want a coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine as soon as possible, perhaps, as he suggested, by the end of 2020. But we should be realistic. It would be a mistake to put life and economic recovery efforts on pause until there is a vaccine available because its development normally takes a long time to ensure both efficacy and safety.
A Covid-19 testing facility in Manila. PHOTO BY RENE H. DILAN