Effectiveness of coronavirus vaccine could be known before end of year – Dr Fauci

His comments come amid reports plans are being made for frontline NHS staff to receive a Covid-19 vaccine within weeks.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, testifies before a House Select Subcommittee hearing on the Coronavirus, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Picture: Erin Scott/Pool via AP)

It will be known before the end of the year whether or not there is a safe and effective coronavirus vaccine, the US’s top infectious disease specialist has said.

Dr Anthony Fauci predicted such knowledge could arrive by the end of November or beginning of December, but warned there would not be enough doses to vaccinate everyone before 2021.