‘Pan-coronavirus’ vaccine shows early promise in monkeys and mice, research finds

Scientists are hopeful that, one day, they will be able to develop a vaccine that provides protection against different Covid variants along with a number of animal-based coronaviruses, finds Samuel Lovett

Scientists are working to better protect humanity against the next coronavirus-based outbreak (Getty)

A universal vaccine that could offer protection against Covid variants, along with a variety of other coronavirus infections, including Sars and Mers, has been found to be effective in monkeys and mice, scientists say.

Across the globe, research is underway to develop a “pan-coronavirus” vaccine which will retain its efficacy in the face of new and emerging variants, and also provide some level of immunity against the distant viral cousins of Sars-CoV-2.

Scientists, including Oxford’s Professor Sarah Gilbert, have been attempting to design a universal flu vaccine for years – but attention is now turning to the coronaviruses, which are similarly capable of mutating and escaping parts of the body’s immunological response.