Israeli Scientists Claim Virus Vaccine Breakthrough

The Jerusalem Post reports:

Israeli scientists are on the cusp of developing the first vaccine against the novel coronavirus, according to Science and Technology Minister Ofir Akunis. If all goes as planned, the vaccine could be ready within a few weeks and available in 90 days, according to a release.

“Congratulations to MIGAL [The Galilee Research Institute] on this exciting breakthrough,” Akunis said. “I am confident there will be further rapid progress, enabling us to provide a needed response to the grave global COVID-19 threat,” Akunis said, referring to the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

“Given the urgent global need for a human coronavirus vaccine, we are doing everything we can to accelerate development,” MIGAL CEO David Zigdon said. The vaccine could “achieve safety approval in 90 days,” he said. It will be an oral vaccine, making it particularly accessible to the general public, Zigdon said.

A team of Israeli scientists are on the cusp of developing the first #vaccine against #coronavirus, reports @MaayanJaffe.https://t.co/WLd8oZqqOC

— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) February 27, 2020

The #MIGAL research revealed that the genetics of the poultry #coronavirus are highly similar to the coronavirus found in humanshttps://t.co/Yp6SpdnfDX

— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) February 27, 2020