UPDATE: On September 2, 2020 CDC and the U.S. President came out with news that the idea of a vaccine may be out before the election this November. More information found here.

Currently during the pandemic, masks are required virtually everywhere. No matter the type of activity, you need to follow strict guidelines to ensure everyone is safe. Likely the only way we are getting out of these guidelines and wearing these masks will be when a vaccine will be available to the public. The speculation of a vaccine has been rumored since the start of COVID, but few know how far along it is.

While there has been a lot of talk about vaccines, many theorists and bystanders state they will be nearing completion by the end of the month or were supposed to be done last year. Not many really know how long it will be for a vaccine, and it’s hard to tell due to the extensive amount of research and testing you have to go through to find one.

The Conversation New article “9 reasons you can be optimistic that a vaccine for COVID-19 will be widely available in 2021” states the U.S. government is supporting the development of several vaccines under the name Operation Warp Speed. The goal of the Operation is to provide over 300 million vaccines to the population by January 2021.

The U.S. Government is committing over eight billion dollars to the research of seven different COVID vaccines. There are a few COVID vaccines that have passed through phase I and II that are now being tested in phase III. Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society stated in their August 17 article that “experts estimate that a fast-tracked vaccine development process could speed a successful candidate to market in 12-18 months.” The Atlantic on August 29 also stated in their “I’m Optimistic we will have a COVID-19 Vaccine Soon” that “Today most scientists working in infectious disease…are saying the United States will know whether there’s an effective COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the year or early 2021, and one could become available by the end of 2021.”

People of the world can hope for vaccines to be out by January 2021, although some speculate but from The Atlantic and RAPS it could be delayed to the end of 2021. Due to the government’s heavy investment in vaccines, this ideally should make it easier for scientists and by spreading the money to seven different testing facilities.