Abstract
It has been proposed that the urgency of having a vaccine as a response to SARS-CoV-2 is so great, given the potential health, economic and social benefits that we should override the established steps in the research development process. In this article I argue that whilst there are some opportunities to expedite the production of a vaccine, it is a mistake to rush the research. We should retain the existing structures represented by clear and separate ‘phasing’ of trials. I offer three reasons for this view: the existing phases of trials is morally significant; rushing fails to appropriately weigh all of the relevant risks and benefits and consent is not sufficient for the justification of additional risk. Vaccines have played a central role in global health improvements and we should not endanger such achievements for an apparent short-term gain in response to a pandemic such as SARS-CoV-2.
Highlights
The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV-2 pandemic has resulted in millions of infections and hundreds of thousands of deaths across the globe
We should not forget that the key interventions in the response so far have been public health measures those related to physical distancing
Such measures are likely to continue to be our main source of protection for the foreseeable future
Summary
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has resulted in millions of infections and hundreds of thousands of deaths across the globe. There are many different research groups across the world focused on producing a vaccine, and a number of early trials have been conducted (Mullard, 2020).
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